Ottawa health-care workers protest to repeal Bill 124
Nurses and other frontline health-care workers say a law the Ford government passed in 2019 is fueling a critical hospital staffing shortage, and they want it repealed.
Members from various unions protested Bill 124 in front of the Civic Campus of the Ottawa Hospital on Tuesday. They say the law is unfair to a profession dominated by women.
“We have this bill that says, ‘No - you can’t negotiate, you’re not worth more than one per cent,’” said Rachel Muir, the Ontario Nurses’ Association bargaining unit president for the Ottawa Hospital. “It’s devaluing, it’s demoralizing, it’s very misogynistic.”
Bill 124, introduced by the Ford government in 2019, is meant to “ensure that increases in public sector compensation reflect the fiscal situation of the province,” the government says.
But Muir and others argue it restricts unions’ ability to negotiate collective agreements in a fair and equitable manner. The bill caps increases in salaries or benefits to a maximum of one per cent for three years.
Muir says the bill has made already strained health-care staffing levels even worse.
“There’s beds that are going to remain empty, not because we don’t have patients to put in them, but because we don’t have front line health care workers to care for those patients.”
Muir says that vacancies are up, including those for permanent full-time nursing positions.
“In the range of 200 to 260 on any given month,” she said. “That is up significantly from pre-pandemic, where we were averaging a 100 to 150 per month. And that is just for nursing, that does not include any of the other front line workers here.”
A spokesperson for the Ottawa Hospital didn’t give specific job vacancy number, but said the hospital has increase recruiting efforts during the pandemic.
“The Ottawa Hospital (TOH) continues to recruit nurses and other health-care professionals,” Rebecca Abelson said in a statement. “Throughout the pandemic, recruiting efforts have been ramped up to address the increased need for hospital care. We are exploring new recruitment and training strategies to ensure we provide the highest level of support to our staff and patients.”
Nurses like Kelly Johnston, who works in a COVID-19 unit, has seen long hours and stress.
“It’s been really challenging,” she said. “We’ve been faced with significant staffing challenges, from nurses to orderlies to our clerks. We’ve had staff get sick.”
The Ford government has also previously announced that eligible Ontario nurses will be getting up to $5,000 in incentive pay to stay on the job.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Nearly half of China's major cities are sinking, researchers say
Nearly half of China's major cities are suffering 'moderate to severe' levels of subsidence, putting millions at risk of flooding especially as sea levels rise.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
Judge says 'no evidence fully supports' murder case against Umar Zameer as jury starts deliberations
The judge presiding over the trial of a man accused of fatally running over a Toronto police officer is telling jurors the possible verdicts they may reach based on the evidence in the case.
Sports columnist apologizes for 'oafish' comments directed at Caitlin Clark. The controversy isn't over
A male columnist has apologized for a cringeworthy moment during former University of Iowa superstar and college basketball's highest scorer Caitlin Clark's first news conference as an Indiana Fever player.
Health Canada to change sperm donor screening rules for men who have sex with men
Health Canada will change its longstanding policy restricting gay and bisexual men from donating to sperm banks in Canada, CTV News has learned. The federal health agency has adopted a revised directive removing the ban on gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, effective May 8.
Prince Harry formally confirms he is now a U.S. resident
Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the British throne, has formally confirmed he is now a U.S. resident.
'Shopaholic' author Sophie Kinsella reveals brain cancer diagnosis
Sophie Kinsella, the best-selling author behind the 'Shopaholic' book series, has revealed that she is receiving treatment for brain cancer.
LeBlanc says he plans to run in next election, under Trudeau's leadership
Cabinet minister Dominic LeBlanc says he plans to run in the next election as a candidate under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's leadership, amid questions about his rumoured interest in succeeding his longtime friend for the top job.
U.S. vetoes widely supported resolution backing full UN membership for Palestine
The United States vetoed a widely backed UN resolution Thursday that would have paved the way for full United Nations membership for Palestine, a goal the Palestinians have long sought and Israel has worked to prevent.