Monday, April 3, 2023

Pushing for Critical Change in Ontario’s Healthcare Sector

Earlier this year, CLAC stewards, members, and representatives from across southern Ontario met face-to-face with politicians as part of the union’s healthcare lobby day. Here’s what they discovered—and the progress that was made—during their talks

On March 6, a group of CLAC healthcare members and representatives descended upon Queen’s Park in Toronto with one common goal: to voice their concerns and suggestions directly to members of provincial parliament (MPPs) in the hope of affecting real-world change in their workplaces.

More than a dozen meetings were scheduled with key decisionmakers, including Paul Calandra, minister of long term care, and Monte McNaughton, minister of labour, immigration, training, and skills development. Through these talks, the healthcare members who participated in the day were given a glimpse at the behind-the-scenes processes that help form the legislation that in turn shapes their industry, for better or worse.

Sam Oosterhoff, MPP for Niagara West, also sat down with the group over lunch to hear their stories and ideas for improving conditions for those who work on the front lines. Ian DeWaard, CLAC Ontario director, led the conversation, offering suggestions on how the government can attract and retain workers in the province’s languishing long term care, homecare, and retirement home sectors.

“This government has done an excellent job looking at the construction labour shortage,” he told Oosterhoff. “Why not give healthcare the same level of attention, when we will be short 50,000 workers in the next five years?”

After the busy day’s official agenda, a lobby day reception was held at Queen’s Park where union members and representatives were afforded the opportunity to speak candidly with MPPs such as Jess Dixon (MPP for Kitchener South – Hespeler) and Mitzie Hunter (MPP for Scarborough – Guildwood) in a casual setting.

Members involved in the event were pleased with the outcome, noting that it was a rare chance for them to appeal to the politicians’ better nature.

“I hope that the MPPs’ minds were opened after hearing stories of those in healthcare who are passionate about their field,” says Reynante Trinidad, a Local 303 steward, bargaining committee member, and PSW employed by VON Canada in London. “I hope that it will lead them to be more engaged with people who are actually in this area of work and not rely on statistics alone.”

“Having the opportunity to sit with MPPs and engage in open discussions around staff shortages, wages, WSIB, and other topics of concern, and being able to answer some of their questions, was a great experience,” agrees Rhonda Gow, a Local 304 steward and PSW employed by Cedarvale Lodge Retirement and Care Community. Rhonda also serves on the bargaining committee and as secretary of the Local 303 Board.

Over the coming weeks, CLAC will be offering recommendations to these MPPs on important topics such as WSIB for retirement home workers, the potential for homecare workers to write off mileage on their income taxes, best practices for improving retention in the sector, and ways to increase flexibility in long term care scheduling to allow for better work-life balance.

MPP Natalia Kusendova, Mary Ellen Alward (CLAC representative), Stephanie Hollender, Kevin Gates (CLAC representative)

Shermin Miller, Charmaine Williams, Cindy Foulds, Stephanie Hollender, Michael Reid (CLAC representative), Rhonda Gow

Kathy Myerscough, Nicole Dowker, MPP France Gélinas, Erica Costin (CLAC representative)

Reynante Trinidad, Rachel Hubert, Jessica Armstrong, MPP Monte McNaughton, Ian DeWaard (CLAC Ontario director)

Pushing for Critical Change in Ontario’s Healthcare Sector

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