The Ontario government is investing in nurses across the province by providing a lump sum retention incentive.
Ontario is investing $763 million, which will work out to a $5,000 one-time payment per nurse to help retain nurses across the province and stabilize the workforce.
“A strong nursing workforce is going to be critical to supporting the province's recovery in the months and years ahead,” said Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “Simply put an investment in our nurses is an investment in our future.”
Through the temporary retention payment for nurses, the government will provide the payment of up to $5,000 for eligible full-time nurses. Eligible part-time and causal nursing staff will receive a prorated payment of up to $5,000. Payments will be paid by employers in two installments in the next few months.
“Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic nurses have stayed on the front lines with remarkable dedication and selflessness as they care for our sick and most vulnerable Ontarians, and we know that a strong nursing workforce is crucial to supporting the province’s recovery in the months and years ahead,” added Elliott.
Eligible nurses include nurses in hospitals, long-term care, and retirement homes, home and community care, primary care, mental health and addictions, emergency services, and corrections. Nurses in a management or supervisory role who were redeployed to a direct patient care role will qualify.
To receive the first payment, nurses must be employed as of March 31, and to receive the second payment nurses must be employed on September 1.
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic (March 2020), Ontario has launched programs that have added over 8,450 health care professionals to the system.
Last week, the province announced a $34 million investment over four years to increase enrollment in nursing and PSW programs at six Indigenous institutes, including funding for Seven Generations Education Institute – which operates campuses in Kenora, Sioux Lookout, and Fort Frances.
"As a former nurse with experience working in northern communities, I know that Indigenous people have faced barriers to accessing effective and culturally safe health, mental health and addictions care,” said Kenora-Rainy River MPP Greg Rickford.
The province announced a similar nursing and personal support worker training program through Confederation College in January, with a $10.6 million investment to train 500 PSWs, home support workers, and medical laboratory students in the region.