THUNDER BAY - A month after Premier Doug Ford announced a pandemic pay boost for many frontline health workers, it appears most have yet to see the money.
The Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre and St. Jospheph's Care Group both said they are still awaiting guidance on implementing the policy, which gives those on a provincial list a $4-an-hour top-up. It also includes a $250 lump sum every four weeks for those who have worked over 100 hours.
The bonus is retroactive to April 24 and is scheduled to end Aug. 13, adding up to about $3,500 over four months for those working full-time.
"The Ontario government's April 25 announcement of Pandemic Pay for frontline workers was welcome news," said St. Joseph's CEO Tracy Buckler. "We are awaiting further details on how that pay will be implemented, and are hopeful that all healthcare workers will be recognized for their dedication and commitment in working to contain COVID-19."
Asked about the delay at a Thursday press conference, Ford said it should soon be resolved. He pointed to updates made to the list - such as belatedly adding paramedics - as a partial explanation, adding the province was working with the federal government, which is providing part of the funding.
"We're just making sure we have the right amount of people on the list, because it seemed to start off small and ended up growing like a mushroom," he said. "We're going to get going on that, and people will start seeing additional pay, hopefully next week."
The premier emphasized that workers would be backpaid to April 24, regardless of the delay in disbursing the money.
Randy Rath from CHCH TV in Hamilton, who asked the question, said some long-term care homes had taken it upon themselves to add the bonus to employees' pay cheques, while others had not.
