RNAO provides federal and provincial governments with budget advice

RNAO provided the federal government with a set of recommendations to consider as it prepared its spring budget. While the country’s economy continues to be affected by after effects due to the pandemic, including high inflation, RNAO argues those most affected by the downturn need help the most.

In its federal pre-budget submission,  RNAO outlined recommendations in the following five policy areas: nursing, health care, social and environmental determinants of health, and fiscal capacity. The recommendations include expanding our publicly funded health system to cover pharmacare, dental care and home care, creating a national nursing human resources strategy, implementing housing strategies, ensuring clean water for all communities, and generating sufficient revenue to pay for necessary services. 

RNAO also submitted a pre-budget submission to the provincial government to ensure nurses’ views reflect spending priorities to improve the health of Ontarians. In its provincial pre-budget submission, RNAO’s recommendations include raising nurses’ compensation, increasing the number of NP-led clinics, supporting and funding a comprehensive harm reduction approach, protecting the Greenbelt and implementing a more progressive tax system. 
 
RNAO President Dr. Claudette Holloway represented the association at a community budget consultation in Toronto on Jan. 26, 2023. (See above for a photograph of RNAO Board President Dr. Claudette Holloway with MPP Rick Byers, parliamentary assistant to the minister of finance.)

She reinforced the need for the government to address the nursing crisis by including in its spring budget action on compensation and solutions to tackle workload concerns and to attract, retain and educate the next generation of nurses.

(Update: Since the release of the provincial budget, RNAO has announced via media release how the budget falls short of what is needed to solve the nursing crisis. RNAO also responded to the announcement of the federal budget by stating that the federal government must act as guardian of Canada's universal health system.)
 

Queen’s Park on the Road

RNAO has wrapped up another successful round of meetings between members and their elected representatives. A total of 36 visits took place over the fall and winter as part of Queen’s Park on the Road. This year, 110 members took advantage of the opportunity by setting up virtual or in-person meetings with their local MPPs. In those meetings, members raised issues related to the nursing crisis, including compensation, workload and opportunities for professional development. They also pressed MPPs about people who continue to struggle with substance use and mental health. Check out our QPOR photo gallery for a look.