Since then, 4,601 health-services workers have returned to the public system, resulting in more stable, consistent and supportive patient care for people throughout the province.

“The people who clean our hospitals and care homes, provide food and care to our loved ones, deserve to be treated like the valued members of the public health team that they are,” said Premier Eby. “This anniversary is an important milestone in the work started by John Horgan and Adrian Dix to reverse the failed privatization policies of the past, deliver fairness to workers, and better care for people. To all those coming back to the public sector, I say: Welcome home.”

The change comes after almost 20 years of these workers having their services contracted out to private companies. This paved the way for years of contracting out, contract flipping and layoffs that saw 9,000 people, mostly women, lose jobs and benefits.