Home care nurses in Ontario protest for equal wages and benefits aligning with those given to hospital nurses.

In a striking development, home care nurses in Ontario, represented by the Ontario Nurses' Association, are negotiating for fair pay, highlighting a long-standing disparity between their earnings and those of their hospital counterparts.

According to Lorna Thompson, a home care nurse and union advocate, the gap in wages has become more apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic. Home care nurses, she asserts, deserve equal pay to hospital nurses, as they have the same education and licensing requirements.

Data from the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board reveals that over the last two years, there were 2,100 violent workplace incidents in homes involving nurses. The rate of workplace violence is five times higher for home care nurses compared to their counterparts in other nursing sectors.

Erin Ariss, the union's provincial president, emphasises the additional risks home care nurses face on the job. These include visiting homes alone, driving lengthy distances between patients, and caring for far too many patients to properly visit and treat all of them each day.

Thompson also points out that, over time, wages in home care have slid and have not kept up with the rate of inflation over the last decade. If home care wages had kept up with inflation, they would be 14% higher, Thompson said.

The pay disparity between home care and hospital nurses became more apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic. Home care nurses with the Victorian Order of Nurses for Canada can make upwards of $20 less per hour than hospital nurses, according to Thompson.

Many home care nurses left their positions during the pandemic for better pay in hospitals. This trend has put a strain on the home care system, with Thompson stating that home care nurses are often the only people who can help if an emergency occurs in the home.

The Ontario Nurses' Association is currently negotiating a new deal with the Victorian Order of Nurses for fair pay for home care nurses. However, the Victorian Order of Nurses for Canada did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

It is important to note that this report was first published on September 8, 2025, by The Canadian Press. The organization where the home care nurses are striking is the "United Nurses of Alberta (UNA)," and they belong to the province of Alberta in Canada.

As the negotiations continue, the future of fair compensation for home care nurses remains uncertain. However, one thing is clear: the vital work they do in caring for patients in their homes deserves recognition and equitable pay.

Home care nurses in Ontario protest for equal wages and benefits aligning with those given to hospital nurses.