Ont. Nurses, PSWs, supporters push for better staffing, wages at for-profit LTC homes
Long-term care nurses and other health care professionals across the province – including those in northern Ontario – held information pickets on Friday ahead of upcoming contract negotiations.
A group of long-term care nurses and other health care professionals were joined by local MPPs France Gélinas and Jamie West for an information picket outside of Jarlette's Elizabeth Centre in Greater Sudbury's Val Caron community on April 12, 2024. (Amanda Hicks/CTV News Northern Ontario)
A small but mighty group turned out in the Greater Sudbury community of Val Caron, outside of Jarlette's Elizabeth Centre, a for-profit nursing home.
Union representatives told CTV News that shareholders at for-profit long-term care homes have been benefitting from profits while residents and workers are suffering.
Unionized staff and supports said they are calling for fairer wages, improved staffing ratios and for their employers to put resident care ahead of their profits.
“We want them to turn some of that back to the workers and residents,” said Michelle Beaudry, the president of the local union’s bargaining team.
“They’re making all these profits on the backs of the elderly of our province who are the most vulnerable, the most fragile and they need to put some of that money back.
Nickel Belt MPP and NDP health critic France Gélinas told those in attendance at the picket that she cannot stand for profits being put ahead of care.
“Every resident of long-term care deserves respect,” she said.
“If the owners of long-term care companies put the profit of the shareholders ahead of quality of care, we have to speak up.”
Next week more than 3,000 nurses and personal support workers represented by the Ontario Nurses' Association are heading to bargaining with their corporate employers.
Friday saw 37 information pickets held across Ontario.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Judge holds Trump in contempt, fines him US$9,000 and raises threat of jail in hush money trial
Donald Trump was held in contempt of court Tuesday and fined US$9,000 for repeatedly violating a gag order that barred him from making public statements about witnesses, jurors and some others connected to his New York hush money case. If he does it again, the judge warned, he could be jailed.
McGill requests 'police assistance' over pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University says it has 'requested police assistance' about the pro-Palestinian encampment on its lower field.
BREAKING 4 dead, including infant, in wrong-way crash involving police on Ontario's Highway 401
A wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby, Ont. last night has left four people dead, including an infant, Ontario’s police watchdog says.
New cancer treatment approved, but not everyone thinks it's what's best for patients
A new cancer treatment recently approved in Canada promises to cut treatment time down to just minutes, but experts have differing opinions on whether it's what's best for patients.
Air Canada walks back new seat selection policy change after backlash
Air Canada has paused a new seat selection fee for travellers booked on the lowest fares just days after implementing it.
Statistics Canada says real GDP grew 0.2 per cent in February
Canada's GDP rose 0.2 per cent in February, driven by a rebound in transportation and warehousing, which saw the largest recorded month-to-month rise in over a year at 1.4 per cent.
Canada's new dental program offering hope of free care to millions but many dentists aren't signed up
A new Canadian dental care program is offering the hope of free care to millions, but while 1.7 million people have signed up for the plan, only about 5,000 dentists have done the same.
Police searching for 'armed man' in Dartmouth, N.S., residents asked to shelter in place
Residents in the area of Gaston Road in Dartmouth, N.S., are being asked to shelter in place as police search for an armed suspect.
Province boots mayor and council in small northern Ont. town out of office
An ongoing municipal strike, court battles and revolt by half of council has prompted the province to oust the mayor and council in Black River-Matheson.