With 50 years of experience, ONA knows how to advocate with government and stakeholders to make positive changes for health-care workers and their patients, clients and residents.
We played an important role in making legislative changes to improve working conditions for health-care workers, particularly around needlestick injuries and workplace violence prevention legislation.
Our Communications and Government Relations Team (CGRT) arranges regular meetings with government policy-makers and legislators to ensure that our voice is heard loud and clear. They proactively monitor Queen’s Park for proposed legislative changes that could impact ONA members, and work with leadership to develop key messages, submit briefs, make presentations to standing committees and advocate for amendments.
ONA has a seat at the table on many government committees and working groups, such as the current Roundtable on Workplace Violence and the Joint Provincial Nursing Committee.
An important component to any government relations activity is providing an official submission to the government on a particular topic or issue. This gives an “on-the-record” account of a particular organization’s response. ONA makes submissions to the provincial government and to committees of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario on a range of topics, to influence change and create dialogue. From the annual budget cycle to changes to health-care services and practices, ONA provides a front-line nurses’ voice on the issue.
We understand how government works who is in government, and we stay abreast of current health policy trends and nursing workforce statistics to reinforce our positions. Our government relations experts also develop and implement strategies to influence government policy and legislation, through letters, online campaigns and lobbying events. They support Local leaders who reach out to their Members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs) to discuss – face-to-face – issues that affect patients in their communities.
