RNAO’s ongoing media profile: Your March 2025 report
This month, RNAO CEO Dr. Doris Grinspun penned two letters to the editor. A letter to the Toronto Star (March 11) focused on the ongoing nursing staffing shortage, while the one published in Calgary Herald (March 18) responded to low vaccination rates despite a cross-country measles outbreak. Grinspun was also featured in a story related to the Ontario government looking into removing internal trade barriers that make it difficult for workers to move between provinces. RNAO President NP Lhamo Dolkar is also quoted in a story about the recent injunction to keep supervised consumption services (SCS) sites operating.
In Toronto Star, Grinspun commented on the unsafe nurse-patient ratios at Niagara Health. “RNAO has repeatedly documented how nursing shortages and unsafe patient loads endanger both nurses and patients. It is horrifying to read that patients may have died due to these reckless policies,” writes Grinspun. She calls on both Niagara Health and the Ontario government to take swift action to correct this and keep both patients and nurses safe.
The letter published in Calgary Herald focused on the measles outbreaks happening across Alberta and the rest of Canada, stressing the need for people to be vaccinated. “Governments and public health leaders must step up and reinforce the importance and safety of vaccination – a message we continue to champion in Ontario. Albertans deserve better. There is no place for ideology in health care,” writes Grinspun.
Grinspun told CBC News (March 27) that nursing is one of many professions that would benefit from less red tape on certifications between provinces. She said that harmonizing credential recognition and lowering registration fees to help nurses move and work across the country should be part of Premier Ford’s legislation. “Let’s solve the issues of human resource challenges that we have, whether it is in the health-care sector or in other industries,” said Grinspun.
On March 28, Justice John Callaghan granted an injunction to allow 10 SCS sites to remain open despite provincial legislation that shuts down their operation as of April 1. In a media release (March 31), Grinspun said “Justice Callaghan recognizes that SCS sites serve some of the most marginalized people in our society and that these sites are an important ‘gateway to health and social services.’ Those using the services of SCS sites are getting help in a safe, judgment-free setting that allow nurses and other health-care workers to establish therapeutic relationships with people.” Dolkar told the Canadian Press (March 31) the premier must stop this legislation which shuts down these sites. “Premier Ford has the power to make one of the most consequential decisions in his career — to save lives — by rescinding the government’s legislation to shut down (supervised consumption) sites,” said Dolkar.
RNAO continues to speak out alongside its members on topics related to nursing and health. Stay up-to-date on media coverage by visiting RNAO in the news. If you’re interested in speaking with reporters on issues related to nursing, health and health care, complete a short survey.
