New Brunswick spending close to $50 million towards special care wages
The New Brunswick government is committing close to $50 million to increase wages for the people who work with a portion of the province's vulnerable population.
Finance Minister Ernie Steeves announced a $44.9 million increase in wages for personal support workers in home support and special care homes.
An additional $9.7 million will go towards wage increases for those who work in group homes, community residences, family support and attendant care.
Steeves said New Brunswick remains one of the oldest provinces in the country and the province's population that is 65 years old or over increased by over 6,400 people in 2022.
“Current projections suggest that by 2030 this population cohort will increase by 45,000 individuals. To keep up with the growing demand for senior care, we need to be innovative in our approach,” said Steeves.
Steeves said caring for the more vulnerable members of the province’s society is an important task that’s handled by professionals in a crucial sector of the health-care system.
“We continue to face recruitment and retention issues in this sector and we need to do more to ensure our vulnerable population is properly cared for,” said Steeves.
Seniors advocate Cecile Cassista attended the budget announcement in Fredericton Tuesday and was very encouraged with what she heard.
“I have to say that the government is heading the right way and I think it's because many of us have been echoing that we need these changes,” said Cassista.
The Coalition for Seniors and Nursing Home Residents’ Rights executive director is happy seniors are being recognized.
“I think it’s very important that our health-care system improves,” said Cassista. “I am very encouraged. I came here not thinking that. I came here thinking, ‘Well, you know what, it’s just another budget,’ but certainly I have to say I have to commend all those who worked on it,” said Cassista.
Jan Seely, the president of the New Brunswick Special Care Home Association, was also very pleased to see what she called a “significant” increase in funding from past budgets.
“We have a long way to go to bring wage parity with our other parts of long-term care, to recognize the value of these employees and the hard work and the essential services they provide every day, but we are optimistic with this announcement,” said Seely.
Seely spoke from a special care home in Oromocto, N.B., and said there was a great deal of excitement among the workers there about the fact they've been recognized by the province.
“The government seems to be invested in lifting this profession up to where it needs to be and to support this sector,” said Seely.
“Without home support workers and special care home workers in particular serving this vulnerable clientele, these foundational services hold up the rest of our health-care system. So, unless we properly support this sector, we're going to see increased use of hospitals and increased need for nursing homes.”
Seely added that special care homes are the next best thing to being at home.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.