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There is a severe shortage of personal support workers across the province, something the union Unifor recently said is so significant that some funded long-term care beds in Thunder Bay have not been able to open.

Grace Welch, who is a member of the advisory committee on the issue, recently said that PSW training programs are having a hard time finding applicants, even when tuition is free.

Fullerton said a staffing strategy will be in place by the end of 2020. The study is expected to be complete by April. One part of it will be to address adequate levels of funding in long-term care, answering a recommendation of the public inquiry.

“The sector is experiencing a severe shortage of personal support workers and other key roles, and that’s why our government is taking action to help Ontarians fill these fulfilling, in-demand jobs,” said Fullerton.

Among other things, the study will look at ways to keep workers and staff, an ongoing issue for PSWs, whose jobs are often demanding, dangerous and poorly paid.

To date, the province says it has implemented 18 recommendations that arose from the public inquiry and 40 are underway. The inquiry made 91 recommendations.

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