Gélinas releases statement celebrating Nursing Week

QUEEN’S PARK - On International Nurses Day and to mark Nursing Week 2023, NDP Health Critic France Gélinas issued the following statement:

"As we celebrate the invaluable contributions of nurses during Nursing Week, we also recognize the challenges they have faced and continue to face. This Nursing Week, it is essential for the Ford Conservatives to recognize the incredible contributions of nurses and demonstrate genuine appreciation through meaningful actions.

Whether you are a registered nurse, a registered practical nurse, a nursing student or a nurse practitioner we are all in this together. You are all essential. Our nurses are the backbone of our healthcare system. They are the ones who keep it going, who make sure we get the care we need when we need it.

The pandemic exposed deep cracks in our healthcare system, including understaffing, underfunding, and the need for better protection for our essential workers. As a result, it is clear now more than ever that we must invest in more nurses and frontline staff and improve access to mental health services.

As we forge ahead, we must unite with our nurses and all healthcare workers. We must back them up with the necessary resources instead of fighting them in court. Our nurses have challenged Doug Ford's unconstitutional Bill 124 in court and advocated for better wages and working conditions - their efforts will have a lasting impact, forging a better future not just for nurses but all those who make our province a safe and healthy place to live.

Witnessing the tremendous strides in your collective efforts to secure safer workplaces, fair compensation, and care for patients, throughout Ontario has been remarkable. Together you are laying the groundwork for a better future for Ontario.

On behalf of all Ontarians, I would like to express our heartfelt gratitude toward nurses for their unrelenting commitment and care. You have our support, and we will continue to work with you to create a healthcare system that works for all Ontarians."