Health Minister Christine Elliott was in Belleville Monday to announce what the province calls a historic investment in the nursing workforce.
Nurses across several sectors of the health care system will receive a retention payment.
Elliott says the $763 million investment will help retain nurses and stabilize the current nursing workforce so Ontarians continue to have access to the care they need during the COVID-19 pandemic and into the future.
“Through this retention payment Ontario will provide a lump sum payment of up to $5,000 for eligible full-time nurses and a pro-rate payment of up to $5,000 for eligible part-time and casual nursing staff.”
The payment will be paid by employers in two instalments, with the first expected in the next few months.
Nurses eligible to receive the payment include those in hospitals, long-term care and retirement homes, home and community care, primary care, mental health and addictions, emergency services, and corrections, as well as range of other community based and developmental services including youth justice.
Nurses in a management or supervisory role who were redeployed to a direct patient care role will also qualify.
The announcement was made at 12:00 p.m. on Monday at Bayshore Home Health on Millennium Parkway in Belleville.
The full media conference is available below.
