The Government of Canada and the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador signed an amendment to the Aging with Dignity Agreement, providing Newfoundland and Labrador access to more than $25 million in new funding to support Personal Support Workers (PSWs) and related professions. This funding is being provided over five years (2024-25 to 2028-29), extending the existing Aging with Dignity (AWD) Agreement by one year.
Federal funding will help Newfoundland and Labrador support wage increases for Home Support Workers (HSWs) who assist individuals in their homes with daily living activities, enabling many clients-particularly older adults and those with complex needs-to age safely in place.
The wage increases aim to attract and retain HSWs by raising pay from $17.05 per hour in 2023 to $21.05 by 2027. These annual raises help address the challenges of recruiting staff in rural and remote areas, where long travel distances and lack of public transport make the work more demanding. This amendment reflects the commitment made in 2023 through the Working Together to Improve Health Care for Canadians plan to provide PTs with $1.7 billion to support PSW wage increases, as well as recruitment and retention of PSWs.
Progress on PSW initiatives and broader commitments to improve the health care system will be measured against targets that Newfoundland and Labrador will publicly report on annually.
In addition to the funding provided through this amendment, $78 million was previously announced in May, 2024, with the signing of the original Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Aging with Dignity Agreement, to help increase access to high quality home and community care and LTC for their residents.
