Media Advisory - North York Family Health Team Workers, Patients and Marit Stiles Leader of the ONDP to Rally and Picket Outside Board Chair's Office Amid Ongoing 12-week Strike

TORONTO, Jan. 9, 2026 /CNW/ - On Monday, January 12, primary care workers and patients from North York Family Health Team (NYFHT) will be rallying and picketing outside the office of the Chair of the Board of Directors, Dr. Timothy Li. They will be joined by Marit Stiles, leader of the Ontario New Democratic Party.

After being a protracted strike of more than 12 weeks, these members of the Ontario Nurses' Association (ONA) continue to demand a first collective agreement with fair wage increases and no concessions.

More than 95,000 patients have been impacted by this strike because the NYFHT Board of Directors mismanaged provincial funding meant for retention and recruitment. The striking workers will picket outside the board chair's office demanding he restore care to patients and end the strike.

For more than 12 exhausting weeks, these workers have walked the picket line to secure a fair first collective agreement. Patients who aren't receiving the timely primary care they need and deserve are being forced into overcrowded emergency departments, especially in the midst of an unusually severe flu season. The responsibility for this lies with employers like North York Family Health Team, who are at fault for this crisis.

WHO: Marit Stiles, Leader of the Ontario New Democratic Party
Rita Ha, Bargaining Unit President
Striking primary care workers and NYFHT patients

WHAT: Striking North York Family Health Team workers and patients picket and rally outside board chair's office.

WHEN: Monday, January 12, 2026 at 12 p.m.

WHERE: 1110 Sheppard Ave E, North York ON M2K 2W2

ONA is the union representing over 68,000 registered nurses and health-care professionals, as well as 18,000 nursing student affiliates, providing care in hospitals, long-term care, public health, the community, clinics, and industry. 

SOURCE Ontario Nurses' Association

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