In just a few hours we are closing in on 1,000 signatures! Thank you for signing and caring about this issue - let's keep the momentum going.
Writing our elected officials can draw even more awareness to the treatment of midwives in Ontario and increase the potential for real change. Once you have signed and shared the petition, please take less than 5 minutes to send an email to your MPP and Christine Elliot, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care. Here's some help to make it easy:
GOVERNMENT CONTACTS:
- Find your MPP's contact details
- Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, Christine Elliot's email: christine.elliott@pc.ola.org
- And Premier Doug Ford's contact page for good measure
EMAIL TEMPLATE (to customize):
I am writing to express my anger and disappointment in the Ford government's decision to cut all operational grants to the College of Midwives of Ontario. As one of thousands of Ontarians who supports and has thrived under the care of these much-needed professionals during pregnancies and birth, I am disappointed in the government's apparent disregard for women's healthcare. Midwifery is NOT the area cuts should take place.
The 910 midwives of Ontario are absolutely critical to pre and post-natal care in the Ontario healthcare system. They remain vastly underpaid, under-appreciated and in high-demand by the hundreds of thousands of women who want to choose their services, services which save healthcare spending. They already pay a substantial sum for their College accreditation each year (much higher than their healthcare counterparts) and the Ford government's cuts place an additional undue burden. Until there are more midwives to fully fund the operational needs of the College, the government has a responsibility to ensure this critical oversight body is well-resourced. The College exists for the safety and protection of the public.
This cut is just part of a broader context of the provincial government de-valuing their profession. Ontario midwives are STILL trying to get the government to come to the table to discuss remedies to the pay equity gap. An issue which the Human Rights Tribunal ruled in their favour this September, that there has been a lack of pay increase and contract negotiations due to gender-based discrimination.
There's so much more to be said, but a midwife I care about summed it up best...
"I am feeling undervalued as a midwife, and I'm scared of what the financial burden could be on midwives in the future to keep the College running. This sends the message again that this government does not care for the midwifery profession nor for the families we work with."
Do you care about the midwifery profession and the families it serves?
- If so, what are you going to do to ensure the government re-instates funding for its College?
- What will you do to help bring the Ford government to the table for discussions about the Human Rights tribunal ruling regarding gender-based pay discrimination facing midwives in Ontario?
- How will you make sure the voices of your constituents like me are heard - will you sign and share this petition?
Thank you for what I anticipate will be a thoughtful response that directly addresses my questions to you.
Regards,
Your constituent