Gélinas – PSWs still waiting for $3 pandemic pay

QUEEN’S PARK – France Gélinas, MPP for Nickel Belt and NDP Health critic, questioned the Minister of Health Christine Elliott this morning regarding the government’s pandemic pay promise, which has yet to materialize.

“At the end of September this year, it was announced that PSWs working in the Ontario health care system would receive a $3 pandemic pay increase until the end of March 2021,” Gélinas said.

“Many PWSs have reached out to me to say that they have yet to see this support. Long-term care operators have also connected with me to say that they have not received any of the money that the government promised for PSWs."

The minister indicated in her response, “people should be receiving that (the monies) imminently” but did not offer a firm date.

“The pay increase for our PSWs was a key pillar of the government plan to prepare for the second wave of COVID-19,” said Gélinas. “But here we are at the end of November and still nothing.”

The NDP believes pandemic pay should go to all essential workers, and should be retroactive.