On March 31, 2023, the members of the Association of Ontario Midwives (ASFO) and the Government of Ontario successfully ratified a new one-year funding agreement.

The new agreement provides an investment of $16 million to increase compensation and expand access to midwifery services. By working together, the Government of Ontario and ASFO ensure that Ontario families can look forward to:

More options in patient-centered care provided by midwives, especially closer to home for easier and faster access to midwifery services – whether giving birth comfortably at home, in the hospital, or at the birthing center in Ottawa or Toronto or Six Nations culturally safe care for Indigenous families without the need to travel long distances.

In this context, Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, said: "The important work midwives do has a significant impact on the lives of parents and newborns. Therefore, we welcome this step toward a stronger partnership through an agreement that benefits both midwives and growing families."

It is noted that, in total, this agreement has cost more than $16 million for compensation and improving midwifery services, including:

A 1% wage increase for all midwives in Ontario starting April 1, 2023

An increase in operational funding to address rising rents, overhead expenses, and supply costs increased funding to improve clinical equipment and birth supplies funding to compensate travel costs, especially for midwives who travel to communities 24 hours a day, seven days a week funding to integrate and upgrade IT systems to provide more effective digital health solutions and data security;

This agreement will also support care provided by Indigenous midwives in First Nations communities, whether in urban or rural areas. Indigenous midwives provide important and culturally safe care before, during, and after birth, as well as traditional ceremonies and healing programs.

Midwives in Ontario play an important role in the public healthcare system. Therefore, the government will continue to work with ASFO to support the work of midwives in Ontario and ensure that midwives continue to provide high-quality care for families and newborns across the province.