GUELPH – MPP for Guelph Mike Schreiner joined union advocates calling on the government to make urgent investments in public healthcare and social services to improve outcomes for patients and conditions for workers.
“The government has been starving health care and social services for years. It’s people, patients and workers who are paying the price,” said Schreiner.
“Health and social services workers across the province are overworked and underpaid. They are holding our systems of care together with love and duct tape.
They’re burnt out trying to provide patients with the high-quality care they deserve without the resources they need. Meanwhile, the government continues to cut.”
“Paramedics deserve to receive the same pay and retention benefits seen in other emergency services. Without these benefits, Paramedics in Guelph-Wellington and across the province will continue to face a retention and burn-out crisis. We call on the province to invest in providing Paramedics with the pay and retention benefits they deserve,” Allan Rogers, Staff Representative of OPSEU/SEFPO Local 57.
“We can’t keep going on like this. The most vulnerable in our community and the staff that care for them deserve dignity, respect and proper resources. Funding must be restored by this government so workers can provide the necessary services without sacrificing themselves,” said Sandra MacDonald, President of CUPE Local 4392.
“CUPE Local 57 urges the Ford Government to adequately fund public hospitals and services. Chronic underfunding contributes to staff burnout and longer wait times for patient care,” said Mark Zinger, Vice President of CUPE Local 57.
“Instead of using tax dollars to line the pockets of private shareholders, it’s time for this government to make real investments to care for Ontarians and the people who care for us.
We will continue to stand up for people and workers in the fight for strong social services and publicly funded, publicly delivered healthcare,” said Schreiner.