GUELPH — Mike Schreiner made the following statement in response to today’s announcement about expanded vaccine availability:
“I am glad that this government is finally expanding booster eligibility, but I am concerned that this government has yet to shore up our healthcare system to prevent collapse.
Our healthcare human resource capacity is at a breaking point. And while vaccines are our number one tool in the fight against COVID-19, we cannot normalize the closure of emergency departments and leave healthcare workers understaffed facing unbearable working conditions.
To prevent overwhelming our system, I am calling on the government to immediately:
- Repeal Bill 124 to allow free and fair collective bargaining and give all nurses the raise they deserve
- Hire more nurses
- Increase per person healthcare investments to put Ontario in line with other provinces
- Legislate ten paid sick days for workers