Ontario investing $2.4 million to expand Brock University’s nursing program

The province of Ontario is investing an additional $2.4 million in Brock University’s nursing program, to expand the program to train up to an additional 60 nurses by 2029. 

With communities across Ontario facing nursing shortages, the Ontario government is stepping up to try to ensure that more nurses are trained to fill the gaps in the system across the province. 

The funding is intended to help train more nurse practitioners, registered nurses and registered practical nurses, as more needs are identified at hospitals, long-term care homes, community health centres, and primary care clinics.

“Our government is connecting more people to care by increasing enrolment for frontline health-care workers and providing new options for learning,” said Sam Oosterhoff, MPP for Niagara West. “As part of the province’s record support of Ontario’s health-care system, this expansion of local Nursing seats will ensure more direct care for residents in Niagara.” 

The funding for Brock University is part of a larger $56.8-million provincial investment in nursing programs across the province, with the stated goal of adding 2,200 nursing professionals to Ontario’s workforce by 2029. 

The province has also committed an additional $500,000 to help Brock University purchase nursing critical supplies and laboratory equipment, to ensure nursing students have the tools they need to get proper training and ensure they’re ready to start their careers. 

Brock University President and Vice-Chancellor Lesley Rigg commented on the government of Ontario’s funding announcement. 

“We’re equipping the next generation of health-care leaders with the skills necessary to save lives and provide compassionate and effective care,” said Rigg. “Thanks to the Government of Ontario’s investment, more Nursing students will have the opportunity to learn from our world-class instructors and gain valuable experience working in local health-care settings, making a difference in the community throughout their studies.”

Ontario’s Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security added a comment as well. 

“Through this investment, our government is growing our critical health-care workforce and protecting Ontario’s access to excellent care, close to home, now and into the future.” 

According to the Ontario Nurses’ Association, as of last year Ontario had the lowest number of registered nurses per 100,000 people of any province in the country and would need to add 25,000 registered nurses in order to catch up to the national average. 

While adding 2,200 nursing professionals to the province’s roster over the next four years won’t help Ontario erase its full backlog, expanding nursing training is an important way for the government to try to address the issue head-on.