nurses

Saturday March 16, 2024

Ford's fiscal policies, including the unconstitutional Bill 124, have led to mismanagement and harm to essential workers and taxpayers, reflecting a pattern of ideological posturing and reckless spending detrimental to Ontarians' well-being.

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday March 16, 2024

The Costly Failure of Ford’s Fiscal Policies

October 5, 2012

In a time when fiscal responsibility should be paramount, the Ford government’s mismanagement of taxpayer money has reached unprecedented levels. The recent revelation that Ontario is on the hook for over $6 billion in payments to public sector workers due to the unconstitutional nature of Bill 124 is just the latest in a series of fiscal blunders. 

Bill 124, which capped salary increases for broader public sector workers at one per cent a year for three years, was not only legally flawed but also morally reprehensible. The government’s attempt to impose such stringent wage restraints on essential workers during a global pandemic was nothing short of callous. Rather than bargaining in good faith with unions, the Ford government opted for an ill-conceived legislative attack that backfired spectacularly.

Opinion: Bill 124 is no more: Good riddance to bad legislation 

June 9, 2020

This was not just about fiscal prudence; it was about ideological posturing. Ford’s attempt at union-busting and pandering to his anti-labour base failed miserably, at the expense of Ontario’s workers and taxpayers alike. The wasted tax dollars spent on fighting legal battles that were doomed to fail could have been better allocated to essential services like healthcare. 

Moreover, the Ford government’s record on spending is alarming. Despite promises to rein in excessive government spending, Ford has presided over a 27 percent increase in spending since taking office. This reckless approach to fiscal policy is unsustainable and ultimately detrimental to the well-being of Ontarians. 

News: Ontario has to pay public sector workers $6B and counting in Bill 124 compensation 

November 2, 2022

The repeal of Bill 124 is a welcome development, but it comes too late for the nurses, teachers, and other public sector workers who were unfairly impacted by its constraints. The government’s failure to recognize the detrimental effects of its policies on the healthcare system, particularly during a staffing crisis exacerbated by the pandemic, is a testament to its lack of foresight and empathy. 

Ontarians deserve better. They deserve a government that prioritizes their needs over political posturing. It’s time for the Ford government to acknowledge its mistakes, learn from them, and chart a new course that prioritizes the well-being of all Ontarians, not just a select few. The cost of failure is too high to ignore. (AI)

 

Tuesday February 6, 2024

Canada is dealing with more immigrants while also facing a shortage of doctors and healthcare workers, emphasizing the need for solutions to keep skilled professionals and help newcomers settle in.

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday February 6, 2024

The Divergent Paths of Immigrants: Canada’s Healthcare Woes and Retention Challenges

The Canadian dream for immigrants has turned into a harsh reality, prompting growing pressure to reassess immigration policies in the face of economic challenges, housing struggles, healthcare complexities, and cultural clashes.

January 19, 2024

Canada, a nation known for its welcoming stance on immigrants and refugees, is currently grappling with a paradoxical situation. On one hand, there is a steady influx of newcomers, including refugees, asylum seekers, and immigrants, drawn by the promise of a better life. On the other hand, the country is witnessing a departure of skilled professionals, particularly in the healthcare sector, and a notable percentage of immigrants choosing to leave within two decades of arrival.

The Ontario Medical Association (OMA) recently sounded the alarm, highlighting a dire shortage of family doctors across the province. With over 2.3 million residents lacking a family doctor and more than 2,500 physician positions vacant, the healthcare system is on the brink of crisis. The situation is exacerbated by an aging demographic of baby-boomer doctors planning to retire and a lack of appeal for medical students to choose family medicine due to financial concerns.

News: Family doctor shortage affects every region and is getting worse, Ontario Medical Association says

August 19, 1999

The struggles in the healthcare sector coincide with broader challenges facing immigrants. A recent study by Statistics Canada reveals that more than 15% of immigrants leave Canada within 20 years of admission, raising questions about integration difficulties and overall satisfaction. Emigration rates are higher among recent immigrants, with factors such as country of birth, admission category, and having children influencing the decision to leave.

The healthcare exodus and immigrant departure seem intertwined, painting a complex picture of Canada’s allure. Dr. Ramsey Hijazi, a family physician in Ottawa, emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating that Ontario is no longer a safe place to practice family medicine. The province’s inaction on the primary care crisis and the lack of goodwill in negotiations with physicians are driving some to consider alternative career paths or even leaving the country.

While the government claims to have added more than 10,400 new doctors since 2018 and expanded medical school access, the realities on the ground suggest a widening gap in the healthcare workforce. The Bilateral Burnout Task Force aims to reduce the administrative burden on doctors, but the exodus of healthcare professionals indicates a deeper systemic issue that needs urgent attention.

News: Many immigrants leaving Canada within years of arriving: StatCan

June 19, 2020

On the immigration front, Canada’s high retention rates are lauded, but the Statistics Canada study sheds light on pockets of concern. Immigrants from certain countries, admitted in specific categories, exhibit higher emigration rates, potentially pointing to unmet expectations, lack of economic integration strategies, and housing shortages.

As Canada welcomes a record number of immigrants, it must confront the challenges head-on. Addressing the healthcare crisis requires immediate action to retain and attract healthcare professionals. Simultaneously, a holistic approach to immigrant integration, recognizing diverse needs, and addressing housing shortages will be essential.

Canada’s reputation as a land of opportunities and inclusivity can only be sustained if it actively addresses these pressing issues. The current contrasting narrative of healthcare woes and immigrant departures demands a comprehensive and collaborative response from policymakers, healthcare institutions, and communities to ensure a prosperous and sustainable future for all residents. (AI)

Saturday January 21, 2023

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday January 21, 2023

Ontario is Hiring

August 3, 2022

Buried in the mountain of news and commentary this week around the province’s decision to allow more private sector health service delivery was another announcement by Doug Ford.

He said the province will make regulatory changes to ensure health-care workers from other provinces can overcome any bureaucratic or governance hurdles that might slow down their working in Ontario.

That makes sense, as far as it goes. There is no sound reason for different rules from one province to the next. Anything that reduces interprovincial inequity makes sense. But beyond that, this is more smoke and mirrors than meaningful improvement.

May 13, 2021

Is there a horde of medical workers — especially nurses — dissatisfied with their jobs in other provinces, yearning for Ontario? A province that has a law capping nursing salary increases at one per cent when inflation is more than six per cent? Where a court has found that law unconstitutional but the government is appealing the court’s ruling? Where other front-line jobs like police and fire are exempt from the same cap?

The health-care worker shortage is national, and even international. Any meaningful steps addressing it are welcome, but this is largely window dressing. (The Hamilton Spectator Editorial) 

 

Saturday May 21, 2022

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday May 21, 2022

Doug Ford nets another union endorsement, positions Ontario PCs as labour friendly

October 20, 2021

Doug Ford touted his union ties and tried to position his Progressive Conservatives as the labour-friendly option for voters on Tuesday, as his political rivals accused him of simply paying lip service to workers.

The Tories gained the endorsement of another construction workers’ union on the campaign trail, while the more traditionally union-friendly NDP secured the backing of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU), which represents 180,000 workers.

But Mr. Ford downplayed his tiffs with public sector workers, whose ire he’s drawn over a bill that capped wage increases at 1 per cent for three years, as he highlighted the endorsement from the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT).

“These are the people that are going to build Ontario, build Toronto, build the whole province. They’re out there slugging it out, day in and day out, no matter what type of weather it is. And we couldn’t run the province without ‘em,” Mr. Ford said at a morning press conference. “… I’ll always have their backs, always.”

February 28, 1996

He was speaking at IUPAT’s headquarters in Toronto’s north end, where he used a stencil and sprayer to paint his campaign slogan, “Get It Done” on a Progressive Conservative blue wall.

Mr. Ford, who’s seeking re-election in next month’s vote, kyboshed attempts to compare his Tories to a previous PC government in Ontario.

In the seven years Mike Harris led the province, he earned a reputation for being anti-union.

Mr. Ford said that’s not his position, nor was it the position of his late father, who served as a Progressive Conservative MPP under Mr. Harris for several years.

“I’m not gonna judge any other any other party. I’ll tell you, our families, be it my dad or my brother Rob or [nephew] Michael, we’ve supported the hard working women and men in this province, the union members,” Mr. Ford said. “We always have. I love ‘em.”

But Mr. Ford hasn’t always had a friendly relationship with unions.

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath noted Mr. Ford has been at loggerheads with unions representing public employees over legislation passed in 2019 that caps pay raises in the public sector at 1 per cent or less.

August 29, 2019

He declined Tuesday to commit to repealing the bill – something several unions have been requesting since the legislation passed – saying instead that he’d “treat them fairly” when the three-year raise freeze is over.

Mr. Ford has also feuded with teachers’ unions, first during lengthy contract negotiations and later over his policies for reopening schools during the pandemic.

Ms. Horwath, whose New Democrats have historically been the party most closely aligned with unions, said workers should pay attention to the changes in Mr. Ford’s tune.

“I don’t change my mind about my support for unions and working people,” Ms. Horwath said at a campaign stop on Tuesday. “We’ve seen Mr. Ford attack unions, we’ve seen him attack working people, many, many times. The Conservatives always do that. (The Globe & Mail)