OCSA Statement on Ontario Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review
Toronto, Nov 4, 2021
- Today, the Ontario Government released the Ontario Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review: titled “Build Ontario,” which made a commitment to invest $548.5 million over three years in the home and community care sector. A news release of the 2021 Fall Economic Statement can be read here.
This investment will expand home care and community care services, support additional staff including personal support workers and connect patients to the services they require. $61 million was also committed to expand home care services to enable the transition of patients recovering from surgeries or living with complex conditions from hospitals back into their homes. It is our understanding from communication with the Ministry of Health, there will be further investments to come for community support services (CSS). This is welcome news to OCSA and a serious step in the right direction.
The Economic statement also included a WeRPN Bridging Program. Through this program, Ontario is adding 900 registered nurses (RNs) and 700 registered practical nurses (RPNs) to increase nursing capacity to the home and community care sector. The program is upskilling personal support workers to registered practical nurses, and registered practical nurses to registered nurses.
“We appreciate the Ontario government’s willingness to invest in home and community care and launch a bridging program to recruit more RNs and RPNs,” said Deborah Simon, CEO of the Ontario Community Support Association. “Over one million people receive home community care services, and the need is growing. This funding will help enable individuals to receive care at home and in their community which is where Ontarians want to be. However, more must be done to address wage disparities in our sector.”
The health care system is experiencing a dire staffing shortage and the bridging program will support bringing more RPNs and RNs into the home and community care sector. We appreciate the dedicated investment in the Economic Statement to our sector, however, the challenge remains, due to Bill 124, that these investments cannot go into wages beyond one per cent. As we have noted on several occasions, the challenge remains that PSWs and Nurses in the home and community care are the lowest paid in the entire health system. Our sector is experiencing a significant shortage of PSWs and has lost over 3,000 nurses.
This alarming attrition rate of staff is due to these compensation disparities, and organizational capped salaries due to Bill 124, Protecting a Sustainable Public Sector for Future Generations Act, which restricts providers from increasing salaries beyond a one per cent annual pay increase. Both have made recruitment and retention of home and community care staff extremely difficult.
We are pleased to see investment for the sector but will continue to stress to government that without appropriate staffing in our sector, pressure on Long-Term Care will increase as well as our ability to clear hospital post-surgical backlogs. Achieving wage parity for our sector is critical.
About OCSA
Ontario Community Support Association (OCSA) represents close to 230 not-for-profit organizations that provide home care and community support services that help seniors and people with disabilities live independently in their own homes and communities for as long as possible. These compassionate and cost-effective services improve quality of life and prevent unnecessary hospitalizations, emergency room visits and premature institutionalization. They are the key to a sustainable health care system for Ontario. For more information, visit www.ocsa.on.ca
and https://twitter.com/OCSAtweets.
To arrange an interview and more information please contact:
Janice Bedore
Executive Assistant
416-256-3010
1-800-267-6272, ext. 224
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ONTARIO, March 1, 2025 - This March, the Ontario Community Support Association (OCSA) is proud to stand with communities across Ontario in support of March for Meals, an annual campaign highlighting the essential role of Meals on Wheels programs. Delivered in 181 communities across the province, these programs provide nutritious meals, social connection, and safety checks for vulnerable seniors and adults with disabilities. Meals on Wheels Ontario, with the support of belairdirect, encourages Ontarians to show their support for March for Meals and the local Meals on Wheels programs that serve their communities. Together, these programs deliver over 3 million meals annually and provide vital assistance to nearly 70,000 Ontarians. As the demand for nutritious and affordable meals grows, so too do the challenges faced by local programs—including underfunding and volunteer shortages. Now more than ever, community support is essential to ensuring these programs continue to provide a lifeline to those who need it most. “Meals on Wheels programs are a cornerstone of home and community care in Ontario, ensuring that seniors and adults with disabilities have access to healthy meals, social connection, and safety checks,” says Deborah Simon, CEO of OCSA. “However, these programs face growing demand and funding challenges. March for Meals is an opportunity for all Ontarians to rally around these essential services and support their sustainability so that no one is left behind.” During the month of March, community-based Meals on Wheels programs across the province will host special events, engage local officials, and encourage community participation to raise awareness and support for these critical services. OCSA invites Ontarians to learn more about the impact of Meals on Wheels and explore ways to get involved. For more information on March for Meals and how you can support your local Meals on Wheels program, visit Meals on Wheels Ontario . About OCSA The Ontario Community Support Association (OCSA) champions a strong, sustainable home and community care sector in Ontario. The association represents over 220 not-for-profit organizations that deliver high-quality services that help seniors, people with disabilities, and those with complex care needs remain independent in their homes and communities. These proactive and cost-effective services prevent unnecessary hospitalizations, emergency room visits and premature institutionalization. For more information visit www.ocsa.on.ca or @OCSATweets For media inquiries please contact: Karla Sealy (she/her) Manager of Communications 416-256-3010/1-800-267-6272, ext 242 karla.sealy@ocsa.on.ca
Voter support strongly linked to party policies on Home and Community Care
Calls on all candidates to pledge to support home and community care
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OCSA is being hosted on the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples and is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. We also acknowledge that Toronto is covered by Treaty 13, signed with the Mississaugas of the Credit and the Williams Treaties signed with multiple Mississaugas and Chippewa bands.
