The funding in the amount of $373 million is to allow the wage increase to continue until March 21, 2022, and is expected to help attract and retain more workers in long-term care, in hospitals, in community care, and in social service roles.
“Personal support workers and direct support workers are essential in our fight against COVID-19, and we are extending these temporary wage enhancements in recognition of their dedication to protecting the health and well-being of Ontarians during the pandemic,” said health minister Christine Elliott.
“Our government is protecting our progress by ensuring we attract and retain these essential healthcare workers so that our province’s most vulnerable patients continue to have access to the high-quality care they need.”
The province said the extension would provide wage enhancement for more than 158,000 workers in publicly funded roles.
This includes $3 per hour for roughly 50,000 workers in long-term care, $3 per hour for roughly 38,000 workers in home and community care, $2 per hour for roughly 10,000 workers in public hospitals and $3 per hour for roughly 60,000 eligible workers in children, community and social services for providing direct care to clients.
