GUELPH, ON, October 29, 2026 – Registered nurses (RNs) and nurse practitioners (NPs) providing primary care services to thousands of patients held an information picket today at the Guelph Community Health Centre (CHC) to demand a fair contract. They were joined by Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA) Provincial President Erin Ariss, RN, Vice-President Grace Pierias, RN and community members. The information picket was held as nurses escalate their efforts to pressure their employer to negotiate fair wage increases that recognize the value of their care and address the rising cost of living.
“These nurses are being forced to fight for fair and equitable wages, which should never happen in a sector that provides vital primary care to thousands of patients,” said Ariss. “These nurses are being paid far less than those in other sectors, and even less than nurses in CHCs in other cities. With extraordinary increases in the cost of living, many nurses are making the difficult decision to leave primary care, resulting in a revolving door of staff at Guelph CHC. The people in these communities deserve continuity of care.”
Despite the Ford government’s announcement that it will connect every Ontarian with a primary care provider, “more and more primary care providers are choosing to leave due to low wages and high workloads,” said Ariss. “These nurses must have a fair contract or many will be forced to leave the jobs they love. Losing these nurses will have an adverse impact on patients – especially those with complex health issues, including newcomers, low-income populations and those struggling with mental health and addictions. This will have a cascade effect on our already overburdened hospitals. We are here today united with community members ready to show this employer, that we are ready to take them on.”
The RNs and NPs have been negotiating with their employer since the summer and have held one day of conciliation talks. They provide primary care for the people of Guelph, Wellington, Waterloo, Cambridge, Kitchener, Grey, Bruce and Dufferin. A second day of conciliation talks is scheduled for November 9. More than 2.5 million Ontarians are without a primary care provider because low wages and unreasonable workloads are driving skilled workers to other health sectors that pay better.
Since last week, hundreds of health-care workers and community members have sent email messages to this employer demanding a fair contract.
ONA is the union representing 68,000 registered nurses and health-care professionals, as well as 18,000 nursing student affiliates, providing care in hospitals, long-term care facilities, public health, the community, clinics and industry.
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