Yellowknife – Personal support workers (PSWs) are integral to Canada’s health care system, providing essential care to seniors, individuals with disabilities, and vulnerable populations in the comfort of their own homes and communities. Given their critical role, PSWs must be offered supportive working conditions to ensure Canada has enough PSWs to support Canadians, now and in the future.
Today, Michael McLeod, Member of Parliament for the Northwest Territories, on behalf of Mark Holland, Canada’s Minister of Health, and Lesa Semmler, Minister of Health and Social Services for the Northwest Territories, announced a bilateral agreement to invest $5.3 million over five years to support PSWs across the Northwest Territories (NWT).
Through this agreement, the NWT will be able to support the recruitment and retention of new PSWs by:
- Hiring PSW educators in each Health and Social Services Authority to provide ongoing training and support; and
- Enhancing PSW education programs to meet labour market demands through expanding the Aurora College PSW program to increase the number of qualified PSWs.
This is an amendment to the Aging with Dignity bilateral agreement, announced with the Northwest Territories on February 13, 2024, as part of the Government’s Working Together to Improve Health Care for Canadians plan. This agreement will strengthen our health care workforce and safeguard the quality of care for vulnerable populations, promoting a more resilient and equitable health care system for all Canadians.
“Reaching this agreement is another step in our collaborative efforts to build a stronger public health system for people in the Northwest Territories. Personal support workers are the foundation of quality care for our seniors, individuals with disabilities, and vulnerable populations. By investing in recruitment and retention initiatives, we are ensuring PSWs and Canadians receive the support they deserve.” – Mark Holland, Minister of Health