Dear , Yesterday, the Ontario government released its annual Budget, Ontario’s Action Plan: Protecting People’s Health and Our Economy that further builds on the commitments outlined by its COVID-19 Action Plan to Protect, Support and Recover. (more details below)
While WeRPN welcomes commitments to recruit and retain nurses in LTC and retirement homes and additional investments in IPAC, we were disappointed by limited direct support for RPNs in 2021 Ontario Budget. In the weeks and months ahead, WeRPN will continue championing the priorities of Ontario’s RPNs. Read our full statement:https://tinyurl.com/j33cts5f
Funding Opportunities for RPNs Applications are now open for two RNFOO Awards: The Connie Clerici Nurse Entrepreneur Award will be given to a nurse or nurses who is/are either
aspiring entrepreneurs who have applied for support to enable them to establish their business OR
career entrepreneurs who need support to expand their products or services in an existing business.
The Nurse Innovator Award offers nurses with new and original ideas and methods access to financial support and mentorship to create the changes they imagine. Application deadline May 8th 2021. Learn more here
Seeking RPNs in Northern Ontario for COVID-19 study
Colleagues at Laurentian University are recruiting RPNs to participate a research study to study to explore the mental health of nurses in northern Ontario working during the COVID-19 global pandemic. This study aims to understand the perspective and experiences of nurses; their support needs to cope with the COVID-19 crisis, and its consequences. Participants are asked to complete a 15 minute survey. Read the letter of invitation (updated link)
Key Provincial Updates and Resources for Health Professionals
Yesterday, Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy tabled the 2021 Budget, Ontario’s Action Plan: Protecting People’s Health and Our
Economy, in the Legislature. This Budget builds on previous phases of Ontario’s Action Plan to respond to COVID-19, outlined in the March 2020 economic and fiscal update and the November 2020 Budget.
The primary focus of the 2021 Budget is supporting Ontarians through the final stretch of the COVID-19 pandemic, with a particular emphasis on protecting the health of Ontarians, as well as promoting economic recovery and a return to normalcy.
The 2021 Budget is composed of two pillars: Protecting People’s Health and Protecting Our Economy. Details on the Health pillar are included below
The “Protecting People’s Health” pillar contains a total of $16.3 billion in supports over four years. Measures that fall under this pillar focus on defeating COVID-19, fixing the province’s long-term care system, and caring for Ontarians, through investments in hospitals, mental health, and victim supports.
Spending under this pillar falls under three priority areas:
Defeating COVID-19:
Ontario’s vaccine rollout will receive an investment of more than $1 billion for administration and distribution. Of this amount, $50 million will support vaccinations in First Nations and urban Indigenous communities.
Investments in testing, contact tracing, and personal protective equipment (PPE) to control and prevent the spread of COVID-19. An additional $2.3 billion will be dedicated to testing and contact tracing in 2021-22, while the Ontario
Together Fund will receive a $50 million top up to further increase domestic PPE production.
Increasing hospital capacity to provide care for COVID-19 patients and address procedural backlogs created by the pandemic. An additional $1.8 billion will be invested in the hospital sector in 2021-22.
Protecting communities that have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19 through a $50 million investment, plus an additional $4 million directed towards First Nations, Métis, and Inuit populations.
Fixing the Long-Term Care System:
Further investments for long-term care residents and facilities, including $650 million to protect residents through the duration of the pandemic. Over the next four years, up to $246 million will be used to prioritize facility upgrades such as air conditioning, and $933 million will be dedicated to building more long-term care beds, in line with a long-standing promise.
Improved staffing in long-term care through ongoing efforts to train, recruit, and retain more personal support workers (PSWs) and nurses.
Caring for Ontarians:
Expanding hospital infrastructure to accommodate demand for modern facilities in growing communities, with an additional $3 billion since the 2020 Budget; communities include political priority areas like Peel Region, Ottawa and southwest Ontario.
Addressing mental health and addictions needs, with $175 million in additional support in 2021-22, as part of the government’s existing commitment of $3.8 billion over ten years, and the creation of mobile mental health clinics for rural and underserved communities.
Supporting vulnerable people and building safer communities, through housing support for victims of domestic violence and survivors of human trafficking, as well as $2.1 million to support victims of crime.
As of 10:30AM today, Ontario reported 336,070 confirmed cases (increase
of 2,380), 312,709 resolved cases, 7,280 deaths.
The Ministry is also reporting that 894 patients are hospitalized with COVID-19, 332 are in ICU and 212 are vented. To view these additional details:click here Click Here to read the latest Ministry of Health Daily Report
World Health Organization Situation Reports are also available here
In the News For an interactive map tracking all cases across Canada and internationally, click here
Below are some key stories from today that may be of interest to our members
We will continue to monitor this situation and keep you updated as more information becomes available. Thank you for the important work that you're doing and the sacrifices you're making to keep Ontarians safe. We appreciate everything that you're doing each and every day.
Should you have any questions or concerns, please contact Tiff Blair at tblair@werpn.com
Sincerely,
WeRPN Team
WeRPN 5025 Orbitor Drive Building 5, Suite 200 Mississauga, Ontario L4W 4Y5