A program to augment Ontario’s health-care workforce by certifying foreign-trained nurses to become personal support workers (PSWs) came grinding to a halt as the COVID-19 pandemic took hold. Now, as Ontario scrambles to handle a surge in cases, the province is doing little to revive the program.

For 10 years, Ontario’s long-term care homes have been tipped off when government inspectors were coming, allowing the homes to prepare for what are meant to be unannounced visits, the head of the province’s association for personal support workers told investigators earlier this month. Read Full Post

   OPSWA’s President, Miranda Ferrier, met with Premier Ford, Minister Fullerton, Minister of LTC, and Minister Elliott, Minister of Health, to discuss issues in the PSW Profession.

Personal support workers have been overlooked and overworked during the COVID-19 pandemic. Immigrant PSWs share their experiences fighting on the frontlines.