Ontario healthcare workers still waiting for promised pandemic pay

Hundreds of thousands of Ontario’s frontline health-care workers are still waiting on a promised pandemic pay premium.

The government says approximately 375,000 workers have not received the pay bump but that the funding is coming soon.

Premier Doug Ford announced the premium in late April.

At the time, he said it was a way of recognizing the sacrifices essential workers make as they
fight the spread of COVID-19.

It included a $4 hourly raise over the next four months and a monthly bonus of $250 if they work more than 100 hours in a month.

The government says it has provided written funding commitments to employers.

That will be followed by the flow of money.

But unions representing hospital workers have said not everyone in the facilities are included, leading to low morale.