OCHU president Michael Hurley and Sharleen Stewart president of SEIU Healthcare were joined by the three leaders of the opposition (NDP, Liberal, and Green) for a media conference on Thursday, January 6, 2022, to call on Premier Doug Ford’s Ontario government to immediately recall the legislature for an emergency session to confront the harsh reality of the province’s health staffing crisis starting with the urgent repeal of Bill 124.
OCHU/CUPE and SEIU also pressed the Premier to facilitate a sector-wide stakeholder meeting to develop a human resources plan of action for the health sector.
With COVID-19 hospitalizations in Ontario rapidly rising, urgent action is needed to address a provincial health care system staff shortage, said Hurley and Stewart.