NDP: Time to deliver pay equity and justice for Ontario’s midwives

QUEEN’S PARK –– On International Women’s Day, the Ontario NDP is renewing its call for pay equity and fairness for midwives across the province who provide essential health care to families. MPP Dr. Robin Lennox (Hamilton Centre) and MPP France Gélinas (Nickel Belt) have released the following joint statement:

“Midwives provide care to 30,000 families each year, yet burnout and attrition are reaching crisis levels because this government refuses to address inequitable compensation,” said Dr. Lennox. “On International Women’s Day, we stand with Ontario’s midwives and demand immediate implementation of the mediator’s recommendations, including fair redress for Bill 124. Respecting midwives means protecting access to quality care for families across our province.”

“In 1994, the Ontario NDP brought midwifery into our public health system, ensuring families could access this care for free and that midwives were paid fairly,” said Gélinas. “Decades later, midwives are still fighting for pay equity. On International Women’s Day, we are calling on Premier Ford and Health Minister Sylvia Jones to respect Mediator Beverly Mathers’ recommendations and finally deliver justice for these essential, female-dominated health professionals.”