Midwives infuriated: Health Minister’s recent announcement about prescribing restricts midwives
Date: October 30, 2023
Toronto, October 30, 2023: Midwives across the province are infuriated over the Ministry of Health's announcement that outdated rules regarding prescribing powers will not be updated. The rules hinder midwives from providing optimal care. The Ministry of Health is giving Ontarians until November 13 to provide feedback and midwives are asking Ontarians to speak out.
Althea Jones, President-Elect of Association of Ontario Midwives, bridging gaps in Black reproductive health
Date: September 12, 2023
Meda release Toronto: Jones is the driving force behind Ancestral Hands Midwives, a non-profit led by Black midwives that addresses reproductive health disparities. The midwives serve Black communities by providing respectful, racially concordant care. Jones is determined to tackle anti-Black racism in health head-on by focusing on increased access to midwifery among Black communities. “A key component of redressing systemic racism is representation—ensuring that Black individuals see themselves reflected in their care providers.”
Plan for health care unveiled today by Health Minister Sylvia Jones missing updates for midwifery
Date: February 2, 2023
TORONTO, February 2, 2023 – Ford government’s plan for health care, unveiled today by Health Minister Sylvia Jones, should include updates for midwifery to ensure Ontarians have access to the medication and tests they need from their midwives. The AOM is calling for Ontario to allow midwives access to all medication approved by Health Canada, within the scope of midwifery practice.
Midwives keep winning in the fight to close the gender pay gap
Date: June 13, 2022
Media release
TORONTO, June 13, 2022 – The Ontario government has lost a second legal appeal, this time with the highest court in the province. The Ontario Court of Appeal decision released June 13, 2022, resoundingly and without hesitation upholds the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontari…
Ellen Blais receives inaugural Layton Indigenous Leadership Award
Date: May 6, 2022
Ellen Blais, Indigenous midwife and Director of Indigenous Midwifery at the Association of Ontario Midwives, receives the inaugural Layton Indigenous Leadership Award in recognition of championing the reclamation of Indigenous midwifery.
Midwives call on Ford government to stop fighting pay equity in court and invest in closing gender wage gap instead
Date: November 8, 2021
Media Release TORONTO: Midwives defend their right to pay equity on Nov. 10 as the Ford government appeals a decision made in favour of midwives, this time in the Ontario Court of Appeal. The government already lost an appeal in 2020 at Divisional Court. Through the appeal, government refuses to accept midwives are underpaid because their work is associated with women. This refusal jeopardizes the rights of midwives to be paid fairly.
Midwives share spotlight in CBC report of Ford's lost court cases
Date: September 15, 2021
Media Release TORONTO, Sep. 15, 2021: AOM President calls on the Ford government to stop violating the Human Rights Code and withdraw their appeal. Ontario midwives have been listed in a CBC report cataloguing the many courtroom losses of the Ford government as public groups bring cases forward to uphold their rights. Many of the cases listed have been appealed by government.
Ontario midwives call for immediate reunification of Afghan ‘forgotten families’ with their refugee parents in Canada
Date: August 19, 2021
Media Release TORONTO, Aug. 19, 2021: A group of 105 Afghan refugees who are currently living in Canada fear for the safety of their family members who have been left behind in Afghanistan. Many of these refugees were leaders working for Canadian government projects and Canadian development agencies towards the improvement of sexual and reproductive health for women and girls in Afghanistan. They were forced to flee Afghanistan in response to threats of violence and death from the Taliban because of their work. Collectively, they left behind their 105 spouses and 270 children, many of whom have been living in hiding from the Taliban for the two to five years since their departure.
Midwives and Nishnawbe Aski Nation Sign Relationship Accord
Date: March 25, 2021
Media Release TORONTO: The Association of Ontario Midwives (AOM) is honoured to embark in a partnership with the Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) through the signing of a historic relationship accord. A ceremony was held over Zoom. The Accord will work to return Indigenous midwifery withi…
Giinwi (before colonization) Gaazhi (what we used to do) Maamwiziying (together) Ndaadzikeying* (to assist in giving life): Improving access to Indigenous midwifery
Date: March 4, 2020
Media release THUNDER BAY: The Association of Ontario Midwives, with support from Chiefs of Ontario and Nishnawbe Aski Nation, will convene a gathering of Indigenous communities March 6–7, 2020 to envision concrete pathways to increase and improve access to Indigenous midwifery and new and…