On October 1, 2020 Premier Doug Ford's government implemented a Temporary Wage Enhancement for personal support workers and direct support professionals working the on the frontlines during the COVID-19 pandemic. The province has renewed the wage enhancement four times so far, with it currently being scheduled to end March 31, 2022.

The increase includes $3 per hour for eligible workers in home and community care, eligible workers in long-term care, and eligible workers in children, community and social services, as well as $2 per hour for eligible workers in public hospitals.

Back in July of this year, Ford told reporters he would make the Temporary Wage Enhancement permanent.

“I know it was temporary, but they’re gonna have a $3 increase in pay," he said in North Bay. “I've always said folks, PSW's are overworked, underpaid and they deserve every single penny, times 10. So we're going to keep that in place. It's a guarantee. We are going to do it," CTV News reports.

It was implemented originally to attract more people to work in public services, but we maintain that the raise is needed on a permanent basis to ensure hardworking care givers receive the pay fair they deserve, as well as to attract future potential employees. Even Ford himself admitted that PSW's are "overworked and underpaid" - so why hasn't he made this a permanent increase, like he promised many months ago?

Many agencies are still facing issues, despite nearing the other side of the pandemic, such as a severe lack of staffing. Employees are often forced into overtime despite already having to work extra hard to keep up with new COVID-19 protocols.

Doug Ford, please follow through on your word and make this a permanent raise!

Thank you,

-PSW's/support workers and caregivers of Ontario.