CP, September 12, 2005

Toronto - Ontario's 51,000 registered nurses have a new deal, but the union says it won't alleviate the provincial shortage.

The new settlement, awarded by an arbitrator, gives RNs a three-percent wage increase effective April 1, 2004, a further three percent as of April 1 this year and another two per cent Jan. 1, 2006. ... Ontario

CNW, September 9, 2005

The Ontario Nurses' Association (ONA) today launched a $2 million public affairs campaign to pressure the provincial government to invest in nurses and repair the crisis in quality patient care.

"ONA has launched the 'Not Enough Nurses' campaign because nurses ñ and most importantly, their patients - know the government has yet to deliver on its campaign promise to hire 8,000 more nurses," said ONA President and registered nurse Linda Haslam-Stroud. ... Not enough

CNW, September 2, 2005

Toronto - The Ontario Nurses' Association (ONA), in its first year as a member of the Ontario Federation of Labour, joins with other unions across the province in commemorating Labour Day 2005 as an occasion on which to demand justice for working people.

"Labour Day's origins lie in efforts by workers to acquire important rights and make working life more democratic in this country," says ONA President Linda Haslam-Stroud, RN. ... ONA

Newsinferno.com, August 24, 2005

A series of significant lawsuits against the government of Ontario involving Toronto nurses infected by SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) have been allowed to continue after a ruling by a judge of the Ontario Superior Court. ... Lawsuits

LTVNews.com, August 24 2005

Registered nurses at Sault Area Hospital (SAH) have raised serious concerns with their employer about the impact of excessive workloads and staffing issues on patient care.

"We have documented 24 reports raising concerns about the impact of excessive workloads and staffing issues on patient care and on the health and safety of our members working at SAH. We explained our concerns and provided recommendations to our employer on August 8 and August 23, in an effort to prompt immediate action," said ONA Local 46 Coordinator and Bargaining Unit President Glenda Hubley, RN, who represents 540 RNs at SAH. ... Sault

Colin Perkel, Canadian Press, August 24, 2005

Toronto - At least three lawsuits alleging the Ontario government put the province's economic interests ahead of the safety of its nurses during the deadly SARS outbreak two years ago have been allowed to proceed.

A judge gave the green light to three suits involving Toronto nurses infected by SARS: a $600-million class action brought by Andrea Williams, infected on the verge of a second outbreak in May 2003; a $12-million suit brought by the family of nurse Nelia Laroza, who died in June 2003; and a suit on behalf of 53 other infected nurses, where each seeks more than $17 million in damages.

The third suit also includes the family of nurse Tecla Lin, who died from SARS in July 2003.

CNW, August 23, 2005

Toronto - Ontario nurses are hailing a judge's decision today that grants the family of registered nurse Tecla Lin the right to sue the province of Ontario for negligence in her death from SARS.

The Ontario Nurses' Association (ONA) is suing the Ontario government on behalf of the Lin family and 52 other nurses for negligence in the handling of the SARS outbreak, arguing officials failed to provide adequate and timely information alerting nurses on how to protect themselves. ... Judge's decision

CBC News, August 23, 2005

An Ontario judge ruled Tuesday that two lawsuits launched over Ontario's handling of the SARS crisis two years ago can proceed.

Both lawsuits charge that the government put the province's economic interests ahead of the safety of its nurses.

One suit is a $600 million class action by Andrea Williams, a nurse who became infected with SARS on the verge of a second outbreak in May 2003. Williams was exposed to SARS while undergoing a surgical procedure at North York General Hospital in Toronto. ... SARS

Bloomberg, August 23, 2005

Ontario nurses who contracted SARS during a 2003 outbreak in Toronto can proceed with lawsuit over claims the provincial government failed to protect them adequately, a judge ruled.

Ontario Superior Court Judge Maurice Cullity today rejected a request from government lawyers to dismiss the lawsuit filed by The Ontario Nurses Association, a union representing 51,000 nurses in the province.

The case was filed on behalf of a 58-year-old nurse who died July 2003, and 52 other nurses who contracted severe acute respiratory syndrome, more commonly known as SARS. ... Ontario

Cassandra Szklarski, Canadian Press, April 8, 2005

Toronto - Health-care workers weren't told how to protect themselves from SARS until 15 days after the same information was provided to doctors, a group of the province's nurses allege in a lawsuit against the Ontario government.

Lawyers for 53 nurses who became infected with SARS during a deadly outbreak in Toronto two years ago were expected to argue Friday for the right to proceed with the suit, which seeks $8.5 million in general damages and $10 million in punitive damages.

The suit is also seeking an undetermined amount of special damages.

In a statement of claim, the Ontario Nurses Association accuses the province of negligence in its handling of the 2003 outbreak, alleging that officials waited too long before informing nurses about how best to protect themselves from the mysterious disease.

CNW, May 18, 2004

Toronto - Today's budget announcements about healthcare are an indication the Liberal government clearly understands the challenges front-line nurses are facing in Ontario.

"The healthcare elements in the budget are small steps to improving the quality of patient care and the worklife of Ontario nurses," said Linda Haslam-Stroud, RN, President of the Ontario Nurses' Association (ONA). ... Budget