Ford administration has announced that Ontario is investing $763 million to provide Ontario’s nurses with a lump sum retention incentive of up to $5,000 per person.
According to the news release:
- Eligible full-time nurses in Ontario will receive a lump sum payment of up to $5,000
- Eligible part-time and casual nursing staff will receive a prorated payment of up to $5,000
- The payment will be paid by employers in two installments.
Who is eligible:
Nurses who are working in the following areas and employed as of March 31 and September 1 will receive the first installment and second installment respectively:
- hospitals
- long-term care and retirement homes
- home and community care
- primary care
- mental health and addictions
- emergency services, and corrections
- other community-based and developmental services including youth justice.
- nurses in a management or supervisory role who were redeployed to a direct patient care role
“Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic nurses have stayed on the front lines with remarkable dedication and selflessness as they care for our sick and most vulnerable Ontarians, and we know that a strong nursing workforce is crucial to supporting the province’s recovery in the months and years ahead,” said Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health announcing the retention payment. “As we continue to build up our nursing workforce, this investment will support the nurses we currently have so that Ontarians continue to have access to the care they need during the COVID-19 pandemic and into the future.”
The province says this payment will help to retain nurses across the health sector and stabilize the current nursing workforce during this critical time to ensure patients continue to access the health care they need and deserve.
The news release does not mention when the payment will be disbursed.