Supporting Frontline Health Care Heroes


Extending temporary wage enhancement for personal support workers

Our PC government knows that personal support workers (PSWs) and direct support workers play a critical role in providing care for our most vulnerable patients, and we recognize the sacrifices these frontline health care heroes are making during the COVID-19 pandemic to deliver exceptional care to our most vulnerable.

That’s why we are investing $239 million to extend the temporary wage enhancement for PSWs and direct support workers stabilize, attract and retain the workforce in publicly funded home and community care, long-term care, public hospitals and the social services sectors.

“Our government values personal support workers and direct support workers for the critical role they play in providing care for our most vulnerable patients and the sacrifices they are making during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Christine Elliott, MPP for Newmarket—Aurora, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “These frontline health care heroes are determined, caring and compassionate professionals and these wage enhancements are recognition of the extraordinary work they do each and every day.”

PSWs are the backbone of long-term care, and this temporary wage enhancement is one more example of how our government is continuing to enhance and modernize this sector to make it a better place for residents to live and a better place for staff to work. 

These temporary wage enhancements will continue until June 30, 2021, when the Ontario government will review the wage enhancement to inform next steps.

The province has been providing a temporary wage increase since October 1, 2020 to over 158,000 workers who deliver publicly funded personal support services, including:

  • $3 per hour for over 38,000 eligible workers in home and community care;
  • $3 per hour for approximately 50,000 eligible workers in long-term care;
  • $2 per hour for approximately 10,000 eligible workers in public hospitals; and
  • $3 per hour for approximately 60,000 eligible workers in children, community and social services providing personal direct support services for the activities of daily living.

Since day one, our government has been committed to supporting our frontline health care heroes, including PSWs and direct support workers as they play a critical role in providing care for our most vulnerable patients. That is why we also invested over $115 million to accelerate training for up to 8,200 new personal support workers for Ontario’s health and long-term care sectors.

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