Proud of my Nursing Association
My province has the privilege, albeit a confusing privilege, to have 3 professional nursing associations. We have one to regulate us, and protect the public (College of Nurses of Ontario), one to protect jobs and negotiate labor relations (Ontario Nurses Association, aka our union), and one to represent our professional values (Registered Nurses Association of Ontario). I am a proud support of all three and think they serve incredibly important roles. However, the RNAO is the only membership that is really optional, and many nurses in Ontario and other provinces wonder why I pay $300 a year for my membership. I can tell you many reasons, but today I had one more.
Today I received an email from RNAO called an Action Alert. Basically, an email that there is something a foot. It may be a sexist tv campaign, a new proposed bill to support, or in this case the local Mayor trying to get rid of a transit plan that would affect the health of our city. They summarize the issues, contextualize the debate, and make it as easy as giving your name, postal code, email, and clicking a button to take part in a letter writing campaign. See below for the the summary of arguments. Now the reason I think this important, is because how many other nursing organizations are able to truly lobby and voice their concerns about issues that are not about nursing jobs or standards or practice. I'm proud to be an RNAO member because they fight for my values as a nurse, now sure there are some small differences, but I'm happy to have an organization that fights for issues of social justice, poverty and environmental issues. In the end they are all health issues, and therefore extremely important to me and my patients. If you are in Ontario I hope you are a member, if you are not than I hope you can be just as proud of your nursing organizations as I am.Amplify’d from www.rnao.org
It’s About Equity: Neighbourhoods in the northeast and northwest of Toronto have the highest and fastest growing percentage of low-income, immigrant, single-parent and children and youth populations. Residents in these neighbourhoods have to travel farther to find employment yet they have the least access to rapid transit. The four light rail transit priority projects would bring transit to more than six times as many low-income residences as the proposed subway extension.
It’s About a Healthier Environment: Public transportation emits 45 to 95 per cent less smog-causing pollution than travel by private vehicles. Transit City will relieve traffic congestion by removing more cars off the road and result in greater reduction of greenhouse gas emissions than the subway option.
It’s About Using Public Funds Responsibly: The proposed subway extension will provide huge capacity trains to a relatively small number of people in only one section of the city. The neighbourhoods the subway would serve do not have a high enough population density to justify this most expensive transit option. Mayor Ford’s desire to seek funding from the private sector to design and build the proposed Sheppard subway extension would ultimately cost the City much more.
What you can do:
- Take a few moments to email the letter below to Mayor Ford. A copy will automatically be sent to all Toronto City Councillors, Premier McGuinty, Ontario MPPs with Toronto ridings, and Metrolinx Board of Directors. You are welcome to edit the letter to share insights from your nursing practice and life experiences on why a strong transit system is essential for good health and vibrant communities.
- Please share this action alert with your colleagues, neighbours, friends, and family and ask them to endorse this call for action. They are welcome to use the format below and/or they are also welcome to send an email through http://emailthem.ca/transitcity/
- The Toronto Environmental Alliance is seeking volunteers to help with this Transit City Campaign to do outreach by phone or in person. More information is available at http://torontoenvironment.org/actioncentre/volunteer/currentpostings
