The June 2022 provincial election saw nine RNs (two incumbents) seeking election in various ridings across Ontario. This rise in political ambitions is long overdue, according to RNAO CEO Dr. Doris Grinspun. “We need to be in the legislature and in politics in general. That is what nursing needs and that is what the public needs,” Grinspun says (Ottawa Sun, May 12). Nurses have dealt with unsustainably high levels of stress and burnout due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the nursing shortage, leading many to want to be part of the change we all want to see. “As nurses, we are taught to be advocates for our patients and families. This feels like a very natural next step,” says Tyler Watt (above, second row right), who ran for the Liberal party in the Nepean riding (Ottawa Sun, May 12). Fiona Jager (above, top left) ran for the Green Party in Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands. “As a nurse, I’m deeply aware of the need for changes to the way we approach health care – both in the interest of patients and health-care workers,” she says (Global News, April 19). “That includes addressing the social determinants of health, like making housing more accessible and communities more caring and connected.” The two RNs who ran for re-election – Natalia Kusendova and Laurie Scott, both PC – won their seats in Mississauga Centre and Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock, respectively. The other five candidates (above, clockwise) were: Angela Kennedy (PC), Sarah Waljii (NDP), Marjan Kasirlou (Lib), and (not pictured) Aisha Jahangir (NDP) and Soo Wong (Lib). RNAO hosted a panel discussion during Nursing Week 2022, to allow the candidates to share their motivation for running with nursing colleagues. Watch for a more in-depth feature about their political ambitions in the Summer 2022 issue of RNJ.