Whereas Ontario is experiencing a health human resources crisis with chronic shortages of nurses and health-care professionals in hospitals, clinical settings, long-term care, home care, and all health care environments; and
Whereas nurses and health-care professionals are the backbone of our public health-care system and provide essential care to all Ontarians; and
Whereas Ontario has the lowest RN-to-population of any province in Canada, and would need to hire 22,000 new nurses to reach the average RN staffing ratio in Canada; and
Whereas burnout and overwork are exacerbating the underlying health human resources crisis and driving nurses and other health-care professionals to leave the sector at an unprecedented rate; and
Whereas Bill 124 unfairly suppresses the wages of public sector employees to 1% despite inflation, limits the ability to negotiate freely, and contributes to staffing crises, especially in our public health care sector.
Now Therefore Be It Resolved that the Municipality of Lakeshore calls upon the Ontario government to repeal Bill 124, and recognize the severity of the health human resources crisis in Ontario; and
Be It Further Resolved that the Municipality of Lakeshore urges the Ontario government take immediate action to recruit and retain skilled, experienced nurses and health-care professionals; and
Be It Further Resolved that a copy of this Resolution be sent to:
- The Premier of Ontario, the Ontario Minister of Health, and the Ontario Minister of Long-Term Care
- The Leader of the Official Opposition, the Opposition Critic for Health, and the Opposition Critic for Long-Term Care
- All Members of Provincial Parliament representing constituencies in Windsor and Essex County
- The Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) requesting they share with all their member municipalities.