The Minister of Long-Term Care in Ontario said that the province will grant $1.25 billion in the next fiscal year for hiring and retaining staff.

The province has committed to ensuring that long-term care residents receive, on average, four hours of direct care daily by March 31, 2025.

The funds announced today are for one-third of a four-year commitment worth $4.9 billion to hire and retain more than 27,000 registered nurses, registered practical nurses, and personal support workers.

Direct care also includes personal care, such as assistance with eating, bathing, and dressing, as well as helping patients move and providing medications.

The government said the province met its interim target of three hours of care in 2021-22, but it cannot yet say whether the target will be met for this year, as there are still two weeks left in this fiscal year.