Nurses in Ontario will receive incentive payments of up to $5,000 CAD
Ontario has confirmed that it will invest more than $700 million CAD to make incentive payments to nurses in the province.
According to the Ontario government, making the $763 million CAD investment will help retain nurses in health care and stabilize the province's current nursing workforce.
Payments of up to $5,000 CAD will come from employers in two ways. The entire amount will be paid in a lump sum to full-time nurses. Nurses with other conditions of employment will be paid proportionately in two installments. Nurses in the first category must be employed on March 31 and nurses in the second category must be employed on September 1 to receive payment.
Nurses who assisted in hospitals, long-term care services, nursing homes, acute care and correctional facilities, patients' homes, and others who worked directly with patients during the pandemic will be eligible to receive incentive payments.
Health Minister Christine Elliott said the plan is designed to support nurses so that Ontarians continue to have access to the care they need during the COVID-19 pandemic and may need in the future.
"Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, nurses have remained on the front lines with amazing dedication, caring for our sick and most vulnerable residents of Ontario, and we know that a strong health workforce is critical to supporting the province's recovery in the months and years ahead," she said in a written statement.
Another focus of provincial health policy is attracting new nursing staff. To this end, the Ontario government intends to revive the Late Placement Nurses Initiative, the New Graduates program. There are plans to work with the Ontario Hospital Association to provide leave for nurses who are exhausted from their hard work.
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