Dear Members, we have been busy! Our advocacy work is essential to ensuring that government understands what we do and allows us the ability to influence policy and decisions. Our goal is to see more investments in the 2024 Budget. Here is some of the work we have been busy with.
2024 Budget
Last week, I, attended the Minister of Finance’s pre-budget consultations in Brampton to discuss the shortage of MLTs and MLPAO’s 2024 Pre-Budget submission. I outlined how the Ontario government can help by creating a plan for medical laboratory professionals that includes:
Funding for a Laboratory Externship Program and Preceptors to support clinical placements for students and to hire additional staff, such as recently retired MLTs, to support students in a preceptor role.
Funding for a scaffolding program that will enable publicly funded academic institutions and hospital systems to upskill MLA/Ts and General MLTs.
Expand the Learn and Stay Grant to more MLT programs including those at Conestoga College, St. Lawrence College, and Ontario Tech University as these programs train MLTs who work in Eastern, Northern and Southwestern Ontario which will further aid with retention in these parts of the province.
Targeted recruitment and retention strategies that have worked for other health professionals and extend these initiatives to medical lab professionals.
Funding for an Ontario Simulation Laboratory that will allow students to complete some disciplines (technical skills) by simulation which will reduce the time needed for clinical placements.
Local Advocacy
On Friday January 12th, Jeff Booth Director of the Regional Laboratory Services for Windsor Regional Hospital and I met with Andrew Dowie, MPP for Windsor-Tecumseh. Interesting conversation as Andrew was well aware of the challenges of lab as he has been speaking with Medical Laboratories of Windsor. The allowed us to speak to the differences between hospital, community and public health labs. We shared that the shortage of MLTs is affected all of these labs. He was receptive with your message and promised to share is concerns with the MOH.
On Monday January 15th we meet with Ministry Ross Romano to discuss announcement to close the 6 public health labs in the province. We discussed the impact this may have to northern Ontario residents and shared our solutions we have included in the 2024 Budget. He was knowledgeable and receptive to our information.
As we continue these conversations with government official, we are always trying to push the agenda to advocate for more funding.
Did you know that you can help? Our website includes an advocacy page for our 2024 Pre-Budget submission where we have created a template letter that you can download and personalize which you can send directly to your local MPP.
We need the province to develop a health human resource plan that addresses training, recruitment and retention of medical laboratory professionals. It is imperative the province makes immediate investments to address the labour shortage to ensure all Ontarians, including those in rural, remote and northern communities, have timely access to testing and results.
Regulation
We understand that regulation is at the top of minds of many of our members. We were invited to attend a meeting that was being hosted by the CMLTO that included Dr. Karima Velji, Alison Henry, David Lamb and the CSMLS. As more information becomes available, we will share.
ICYMI
Our lobby day in November was a great success! We were joined by the Ontario Pathologist Association and several lab leaders from across the province lobbying at Queen’s Park informing and educating government officials on the needs of lab professionals across Ontario. Our team met with over 30 government representatives including the Office of the Premier, Ministry of Colleges and Universities, the Ministry of Labour, Training, Immigration and Skills Development and the Ministry of Red Tape Reduction. The group also met with Minister of Health Sylvia Jones and Opposition Health Critics France Gélinas (NDP) and Adil Shamji (Liberal).
Together we can make a difference. We encourage you to send a letter to your MPP and then follow up. If you have any questions, please contact us at mlpao@mlpao.org
Michelle Hoad, CAE
Chief Executive Officer
Medical Laboratory Professionals’ Association of Ontario