Finance committee  We're on the same page. We have good examples. The CARE program is a good example for people who are already here.That's a good example, and we need to do more of that. We also need to do reading programs.

Finance committee  You gave the example of the Philippines. In the last few years, numerous hospitals have closed in Manila because they don't have enough nurses, even though they're known to produce nurses--

Finance committee  --and because it has been transformed into a business proposition--

Finance committee  That's absolutely--

Finance committee  First, let me make a correction. There are actually more people who want to come into nursing than we can admit to the schools.

Finance committee  This problem results from infrastructure issues, the need to fast-track faculty, the need to support clinical placements, etc. We are asking for the full support we need to increase nursing education as well as support for infrastructure and clinical placements. We're asking for $135 million to support nursing education and $250 million to support 10,000 additional full-time RN positions.

Finance committee  And then if we produce them, while we still should keep our borders open to those who individually choose to make this country their home--and you have two good examples with strong accents who have done so--we do oppose very strongly the active recruitment by either governments or employers going abroad and taking their nurses, or doctors for that matter.

Finance committee  Reading programs, so they're not treated as second-class citizens. And they have entry, like people with disabilities, to full-time employment, to all the positions so there are no structural barriers to become, for example, administrators, deans. How many deans, both in nursing and otherwise, how many CEOs in hospitals do you know who don't look like most of us around this table, meaning white women or men?

Finance committee  Thank you and good afternoon. My name is Doris Grinspun and I'm the executive director of the Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario, RNAO. RNAO is the professional organization for registered nurses who practise in all roles and sectors across Ontario. Nurses want this budget to help build a healthier society, and I'm proud to bring our message to you today.