TORONTO – Amie Archibald-Varley is concerned about the re-election of Doug Ford to Ontario’s health care system and those who work there.
The registered nurse and advocate for health equity says a wage restraint law, Act 124, passed by Ford’s progressive conservatives, is at the center of her concerns.
“We have worked and suffered throughout this pandemic,” Archibald-Varley said in an interview.
“We were hailed as heroes, we had people beating pots and pans for us. And when that came to us, and we were asked what we needed to continue to help support nurses here in Ontario, we called for repealing Bill 124. “
Progressive Conservatives introduced legislation in 2019 to limit the increase in compensation in public sector contracts to one percent annually. The provisions would be in place for three years, and Conservatives said in 2019 it was a time-limited approach to help eliminate the deficit.
When asked the day after the election whether it would ease the wage cap for health care workers, Ford said it would take inflation into account in negotiations once the agreements expire.
“I am a firm believer, when inflation is achieved, we need to treat people fairly,” Ford said, after pointing out the withholding payment his government announced for nurses last winter.
“We will sit down and negotiate fairly, no matter what the union. But I am firmly convinced of being fair to the people who are working hard, doing a great job, and trusting them, so I am very grateful to everyone, including the nurses. “
The NPD, the Liberals and the Greens had pledged during the election campaign to repeal the legislation.
A recent survey by Statistics Canada found that more than 95 per cent of doctors, nurses and other health workers surveyed said they felt more stressed due to the pandemic, while juggling a heavier workload. She also found that as a result, one in four nurses intends to leave or change jobs completely in the next three years.
Meanwhile, the Ontario Medical Association estimates that the pandemic has delayed more than 21 million patient services, including more than a million surgeries, along with considerable waiting times.
The Ontario Nurses Association said it was disappointed with the election result, but noted that most Ontarians voted for parties that wanted to overturn wage restraint legislation, which has “seriously worsened the shortage of ‘nursery”.
“Most Ontarians kept up with nurses and health professionals in this province and sent a message to the Ford government that they do not support Law 124 … and attacks on workers’ rights.” , said Cathryn Hoy, president of the organization. a written statement.
Dianne Martin, director general of the Ontario Registered Practical Nurses Association, said she hoped to work with the re-elected government to address what she called a “nursing crisis.”
“I look forward to working with the government to help them realize how bad it is, and what it looks like for patients, to their care and then, of course, work on solutions with them,” he said in an interview.
Anthony Dale, president and CEO of the Ontario Hospitals Association, wrote in a statement Friday that the province must make “strategic investments to create additional capacity” in the health care system while planning for the long term.
That commitment to working together is key, said Naheed Dosani, a Toronto-based palliative care physician and advocate for health equity.
“Overall, we’ve seen the impact of what can make health care unequal on people, and I think there’s a lot of potential for that to get worse in the coming years,” he said. “We need all hands on deck to protect our public health system.”
This begins, he said, with the repeal of Act 124 and better support for front-line workers, along with investment in retention and education.
“After all they have done to sacrifice and dedicate themselves during this pandemic, they certainly deserve at least that,” he said.
This report from The Canadian Press was first published on June 6, 2022.