TORONTO February 4, 2026 – The Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA) is raising serious concerns about staffing decisions being made by Southeast Public Health (SEPH), particularly around the layoff of the public health unit’s sole nurse practitioner.
“It is a dangerous decision to lay off the only nurse practitioner, who provides specialized, essential care to the most vulnerable and underserved members of the community,” said ONA President Erin Ariss, RN. “Given the ongoing instability within SEPH, this layoff reflects the troubling nature of recent decision making. We are demanding that the employer immediately reverse this decision.”
ONA is also calling for clear and consistent communication for both staff and residents within the SEPH catchment area regarding the availability of services at six locations beyond March 1.
In November 2025, staff were advised that some would be reassigned to different worksites by March 1, 2026, and were instructed not to schedule services at six offices after that date. The affected locations include Almonte, Gananoque, Kemptville, Napanee, Perth, and Trenton.
At a SEPH Board of Health meeting on Wednesday, January 28, concerns were raised about how service levels for residents would be maintained after March 1.
Following the meeting, some SEPH staff were told they could resume booking certain consultations at the identified offices after March 1. However, this guidance has not been communicated clearly or consistently to all staff.
ONA is urging the employer to release a comprehensive plan well in advance of March 1 that clearly outlines which programs and services will continue at the satellite offices. “We are concerned that reassigning staff to other locations will increase travel time, reduce time available for direct patient care, and ultimately result in fewer services for residents,” said Ariss.
“Given the employer’s past failure to keep its Board of Health fully informed, I question whether the Board is even aware that SEPH’s only nurse practitioner is being laid off,” Ariss added.
ONA represents 68,000 registered nurses and health-care professionals, along with 18,000 nursing student affiliates, who provide care in hospitals, long-term care facilities, public health, community settings, clinics, and industry
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