January 29, 2026 will mark 790 days since construction of a new main entrance began at St. Paul's Hospital expanding its main entrance interior by more than 6,500 square feet. At the same time, hospital workers, CBO workers, and long-term care staff across the province have gone 1,034 days without a contract, all while working through a persistent and dangerous staffing crisis.
These timelines tell a story—not of scarcity, but of misplaced priorities.
Healthcare does not run on concrete, glass, or branding. It runs on people.
While millions are spent on visible capital projects, frontline workers are stretched thin, burned out, and leaving the profession. A modern entrance does not reduce wait times, prevent errors, or improve patient outcomes. Adequate staffing does.
That money could have been used to: Settle fair contracts and improve wages to retain experienced staff, Hire permanent, full-time workers instead of relying on overtime and agencies. Improve staffing ratios in hospitals, long-term care, and community-based organizations.
Invest in staff safety, mental health supports, and functional workspaces.
Strengthen community and home-based care to reduce hospital congestion. Allowing contracts to lapse for nearly three years is not cost-saving—it creates instability, fuels burnout, increases turnover, and puts patients at risk.
Labour stability is patient safety.
This is not just about dollars. It’s about values.
We call on healthcare leadership and funders to:
- Settle fair contracts now
- Invest in staffing, retention, and worker well-being
- Prioritize patient safety over optics
- Respect the workers who make care possible!
People before projects. Care before concrete. Fair contracts now!