Premier Doug Ford visited Georgian College's Barrie campus today to tour the nursing department on the same day his provincial government announced almost $600,000 in funding to boost the school’s student enrolment.
The Ontario government announced on Thursday that it is providing up to $564,308 to help increase enrolment in nursing education programs at Georgian College. Funding will support up to 62 new practical nursing students.
Ford was joined by Minister of Colleges and Universities Jill Dunlop (Simcoe North MPP), Attorney General Doug Downey (Barrie-Springwater-Oro-Medonte MPP), Barrie-Innisfil MPP Andrea Khanjin and Barrie Mayor Jeff Lehman for a tour Georgian College’s practical nursing classes and get a first-hand look at their training.
Ford says it is “absolutely spectacular” what Georgian College is doing for providing human resources for provincial health care.
“This is what we need to do right across the province. As the population grows and as the baby-boomers grow, we’re going to need more health-care workers,” Ford said.
“We wouldn't have made it through this pandemic without the great doctors and nurses and PSWs (personal support workers) and all the front-line health-care folks that work in the hospitals. We are very grateful for them.”
The funding is part of the province's $35-million investment to help increase enrolment in nursing education programs at publicly assisted colleges and universities across Ontario.
The new spaces are expected to be available for the fall of 2021 and/or winter of 2022 cohorts, and will support the addition of more than 1,100 registered practical nurses (RPNs) and 873 registered nurses (RNs) to the health-care system.
Ford also toured the COVID-19 vaccination clinic at the Holly Community Centre in Barrie's south end following his stop at the college. He also visited Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (RVH) this morning.
Provincial COVID-19 numbers also continue a downward trend and Barrie has had days with cases reaching as low as one or zero.
Ford commended local leaders for getting the city there.
“They’re the reason the numbers are down," he said. "They’ve worked so hard — the health unit, the hospital. The mayor has done an incredible job as well.
“It's a Team Ontario approach. We transferred so many patients up to the hospital here from other regions, and the Royal Victoria (Regional Health Centre) has done an incredible job supporting the rest of the province," the premier added.
Lehman also praised the work being done by front-line health-care workers. He also mentioned what has been happening at the Sperling Drive vaccination clinic (the former city police headquarters), which he said has “been unbelievable and it's amazing what they have been able to do.”
Ford said Ontario has come a long since the start of the pandemic, using a football reference to illustrate his point. He said we’re “on the five-yard line and we just need to get more people vaccinated so we can get into Step 3” of the provincial reopening plan.
