Nov 28, 2024
We are happy to report that we had another successful lobby day! On Wednesday November 27th, a large team representing the MLPAO visited Queen’s Park to disseminate the message regarding our 2025 pre-budget submission.
We had three specific asks:
Support labs by funding preceptors and clinical placements. $17.8M (over three years) for clinical placements and preceptors. Estimated funding will be used to support clinical placements for students - three years at $10,000 - $20,000 / student for a total of $12M to educate 1,145 students. This funding will be used to provide clinical placements for approximately 350 students in 2025, 370 in 2026, and 425 in 2027. Employers will use $5.8M to hire additional staff to support students in a preceptor role, (similar to other health professionals), to provide hands-on training opportunities.
Alleviate on site training at hospitals and community labs by funding simulation labs at MLT programs. $12M for MLT education programs to develop simulation laboratories (approx. $2M per school). Simulation-based learning will allow students to complete some disciplines (technical skills) by simulation while reducing the time needed in the clinical placement and in turn increase the number of labs able to take students for placements. An expansion of simulation training to all publicly funded post-secondary Medical Laboratory Sciences programs will ensure lab professionals have the proper knowledge, skills and competency for all types of scenarios.
Extend the Learn and Stay Grant to ALL MLT programs. The Learn and Stay Grant was a welcome investment in the 2023 Budget and will help with MLT retention in eastern and northern Ontario. The government is encouraged to expand the Learn and Stay Grant to include MLT programs at Conestoga College, Georgian College, Humber College, Ontario Tech University, and St. Lawrence College as these programs train MLTs who work in eastern, northern and southwestern Ontario to further aid with retention in these parts of the province.
We were happy to meet with 25 different MPPs throughout the day including Hon. Sylvia Jones Deputy Premier and Minister of Health (MPP for Dufferin-Caledon) and Hon. David Piccini Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (MPP for Northumberland-Peterborough South). The meeting with Minister Jones was productive and resulted in an ask for more information regarding the need for placements and preceptors. MLPAO is in the process of collecting this data and will prepare a follow up report for the Minister. The meeting with Minister Piccini was informative as we learned the Skills Development Fund Capital Stream could be an avenue for us to apply for funding for simulation labs.
Other notable meetings include: