Tuesday, July 19, 2022 Fighting for the Future of Ontario’s Homecare Sector CLAC has launched several advocacy campaigns to highlight the need for funding in Ontario's homecare sector News Sectors Healthcare Mississauga, ON—Thanks to the skyrocketing price of gas and abysmally low mileage reimbursement rates offered by employers, Ontarians working in the homecare sector are left with a difficult decision: fill up your tank and visit your clients in their homes, or risk not being able to afford groceries, rent, and other necessities. In response, CLAC has embarked on a multifaceted awareness campaign to bring attention to the plight of these workers—and to highlight how inaction on the part of the government may lead to a mass exodus from the field. CLAC’s Running on Empty campaign launched in late June 2022 and has been comprised of a combination of in-person demonstrations and digital advocacy efforts. The feedback so far has been tremendous. “Homecare workers, especially personal support workers employed in this sector, deserve more than what they are currently being offered by their employers, and the government,” says Kevin Gates, a representative for the organization’s ParaMed Home Health Care Services members, who provide in-home care to thousands of clients across the Durham Region. “We have been working to educate the public on this important issue, which not only affects these workers but the citizens they care for.” On June 29, representatives from the union joined ParaMed workers at an information picket in front of the Markham-based head office of Extendicare, the parent company of ParaMed, to raise awareness about the low mileage rate provided by their employer. The event also served as a kick-off to the union’s digital Running on Empty campaign, which includes a petition urging ParaMed to raise their mileage rate in light of the rising cost of gas as well as a letter-writing campaign demanding that the Ontario government offer an immediate per-hour wage increase to the homecare sector. For more information regarding this advocacy campaign, and to get involved, visit running-on-empty.ca. You might be interested in Why We Work Safely 5 Jun 2026 Standing Your Ground, and Staying Steady on the Job 4 Jun 2026 CLAC Partners with Alberta Government to Advance Skilled Trades Training and Accelerate Certification 4 Jun 2026 Strathcona Mechanical Workers Ratify New Agreement Providing Wage, Scheduling Improvements 3 Jun 2026