Nurses and the Provincial Government

ONA members represent the voice of experience in every sector of our health care system. We believe Health Minister Smitherman and Premier McGuinty will learn much about the front-lines of our health care system when they listen to the voices of nurses.

ONA is advocating for a renewed commitment to our public health care system. This strong commitment to medicare and better health care is shared by nurses and their patients.

Nurses support the governments' goals of greater transparency, integration and accountability in our health care system. Transformation must not be accomplished on the backs of nurses.

Front-line nurses are proud of the quality care they deliver to their patients. Quality care is increasingly a challenge to deliver given the heavy workloads and understaffing our members face each and every day. ONA believes the immediate priority for health care should focus on stabilizing our system by adding more nurses and allied health professionals.

Nurses are demanding a healthy and safe work environment. Labour Minister Peters has more work to do to ensure nursing workplaces protect the health and safety of workers delivering care to Ontario patients. Healthy workplaces are an important tool to facilitate the recruitment and retention of nurses and other health care professionals.