Ontario’s Government needs to tell the whole truth on why there is a staffing crisis in the community health sector

BY MICHAEL THOMAS

Ontario’s community health sector is facing a critical staffing crisis. Why may you ask? Please be patient with me while I take you through the diplomatic dance of an explanation, we will get to the layman’s term before this article closes, trust me.

Ten Ontario community health organizations are jointly releasing a new report that shows a widening wage gap between community healthcare workers and their counterparts in hospitals, schools, and other parts of the healthcare system.

According to their report, here are some of the stumbling blocks that stand in the way of these community workers and the patients who so desperately depend on the crucial services that they provide.

The community sector is more than $2 billion behind on wages, compared to their peers doing similar work in hospitals and other sectors. The new report shows that despite the rising cost of living and a competitive healthcare job market, community health sector staff experienced an average salary increase of only 1.53% in 2023, with some roles projecting a 0% increase.

This is pathetic in comparison to the 11% increase awarded to hospital nurses and the 8% increase for emergency medical services. As a result, the community health sector is seeing an exodus of workers to other fields and other provinces and countries, making it increasingly difficult to recruit and retain essential health workers.

The findings of recent research revealed that 94% of respondents identify compensation as the single most significant challenge for recruitment and retention. In all this, there are some real authentic sufferers, just in case you are wondering, here are their names: primary care, home care, mental health and addictions care, and long-term care.

The press release went on to state that without action, the foundation of Ontario’s health care system is at risk, with the potential to see diminished access to essential services in the community, increased strain on already overburdened hospitals and emergency departments, elevated health care costs, and care that is too hard and slow to access for millions of individuals and their families. Here is a quote from one of the ten community health organizations.

“It’s time for Ontario to invest in the community health sector. Decades of underfunding have led to critical staffing shortages, increasing wage disparities, and the growing inability of our community workforce to make ends meet. We are ready to work with the government to address this crisis and build an entire continuum of healthcare that supports access for all Ontarians.” Alisha Tharani, CEO, Addictions and Mental Health Ontario.

Even though the community health workforce remains steadfast in their commitment to support the wellbeing of Ontarians, as this letter rightfully states, it is important to note that every situation has a breaking point.

I agreed with many of the points in this press release, but I believe that there is more that needs to be revisited here and now. A little over three years ago, Canada’s present government in their never-ending quest to inject everyone, mandated injections for “ALL HEALTHCARE WORKERS.” Workers who were exceptionally dedicated and very experienced, workers who had been on the same community care beat for 20-plus years were fired when they refused the shot.

Ontario’s Health Department, Premier, and Mayor all were complicit in pushing those same workers out the door. These were Health Care Providers who went from “Essential Workers” to a “Fringe Minority” in a few short months.

These were workers who had children to feed and rent to pay. It is only recently that we Ontarians found out what our dear Mayor was up to while he was issuing all these mandates to the poor working class.

With all his health mandates, he refused to stay six feet apart from the young intern at city hall. I say all this to let the reading public know that there is much more to this community healthcare staffing shortage than meets the eye.

Do not get me started!!