Ontario Nurses' Association Targets For-Profit Nursing Homes Over Pandemic Care Failures
Event summary
- ONA staged a protest at the OLTCA AGM on March 23, 2026, demanding an end to corporate profits in nursing homes.
- 4,400 ONA nursing home members will negotiate a new collective agreement in April, pushing for staffing ratios and fair wages.
- Extendicare reported $96.6M in net earnings in 2025, a 28% increase, while Southbridge Care Homes does not publicly report profits.
- For-profit nursing homes had 25% higher hospitalization and 10% higher mortality rates during the pandemic.
The big picture
The protest highlights a growing tension between for-profit nursing home operators and healthcare workers over pandemic-era care failures. With Extendicare reporting significant profits and Southbridge Care Homes operating without transparency, the ONA is pushing for systemic changes in a sector where non-profit facilities are shrinking under the current government's policies. The outcome of these negotiations could set a precedent for labor relations and regulatory oversight in Ontario's long-term care industry.
What we're watching
- Regulatory Pressure
- Whether the Ford government will mandate safe staffing ratios and increase funding to the sector.
- Profitability vs. Care
- How for-profit nursing home chains will respond to demands for reinvestment in staffing and resident care.
- Union Influence
- The pace at which ONA can leverage its 68,000 members to drive policy changes in long-term care.