Thank you to Ottawa Centre MPP, Joel Harden, for putting his foot down about the Ford Government’s dishonest promotion of Bill 218. This bill is tailored to create barriers for families to hold long-term care providers accountable for the illness or death of their loved ones and cannot be accepted in this province.
The Ontario Health Coalition has filed a formal complaint to the integrity commissioner over Bill 218, asking it to look into donations made to the Ford government by the LTC industry. The OHC has also called for an investigation into any personal links between the government and the for-profit Long-Term Care industry.
Yesterday, the PCs voted to pass #Bill218, which protects the profits of long-term care companies at the expense of families seeking justice.
Ford isn't looking out for the "little guy", he's looking out for the big LTC operators, their lobbyists and executives. #onpolipic.twitter.com/X1Dfd2MPij
Today, the Ontario Health Coalition submitted a complaint to the Integrity Commissioner to investigate political donations and high-level personnel links between the for-profit long-term care industry and key ministers & MPPs in the Ford Government prior to the passage of Bill 218, which indemnifies for-profit long-term care homes from liability for negligence during the COVID-19 pandemic. Please find pasted below and attached the full text of our complaint to the Integrity Commissioner.
The complaint was discussed in a press conference that was held this morning, which you can view a recording of here. We have been informed that Bill 218 may be moved up and may be debated for its Third (and final) Reading this afternoon.
We have asked the Ford government to:
1. Extend the hearings so that the families of the deceased get a chance to be heard. Fifty-eight people applied for standing and only 15 were heard. PC MPPs hold a majority on Standing Committees and did not allow a second day of hearings to hear from all who applied.
2. Carve out long-term care homes and retirement homes from Bill 218. Using its majority, PC MPPs voted down amendments to that effect.
3. We are now asking MPPs with conflicts of interest to recuse themselves from the vote.
Thank you to everyone who has and continues to send letters to MPPs asking them to stop this Bill and amend it to exclude long-term care and retirement homes.
For a quick summary of the issue, RANKANDFILE.CA has published an excellent exposé of the extensive connections between the @OntarioPCParty and the for-profit LTC lobby:
The pandemic has exposed grave problems with how we take care of our seniors. In particular, the dangers of the extensive presence in most provinces of private, for-profit owners operating long-term care homes.
The many tragedies resulting directly from private, for-profit homes — have led to calls on the federal and provincial governments to make long term care public.
The federal government, through the crown corporation Public Sector Pension Investment Board, is the sole owner of Revera Inc. – and therefore the owner of Canada’s second-largest chain of for-profit long-term care facilities. Join us in calling on the government to make Revera Inc. public. This will be the first step in bringing all privately-owned, for-profit long-term care facilities where they belong – into public ownership and operation.
A Virtual Townhall Meeting was held jointly with the Public Service Alliance of Canada on September 16th, 2020 at 7PM EST.
See the Ottawa Health Coalition’s public statement on Revera Inc. below.
Excerpt: “ The long trend of downsizing and rationing of our vital health care services must end. Our health care system was founded on principles of equity and compassion…. In Ottawa, like other communities across Ontario, health care providers, patients and their families are dealing with a health care system not living up to the promise of the Canada Health Act.”
Cut funding for and eliminate 25 out of 35 local public health units across Ontario;
Eliminate 49 out of 59 local paramedic & ambulance services, and eliminate 12 of 22 local dispatch units;
Impose more real-dollar cuts to local hospitals,
Impose real-dollar cuts to long term care homes and cancel two special funds that provide support to long-term care homes.
We are also hearing about home care services being privatized in local communities and there are major cuts to care provision staff in the provincial agencies including the LHINs.
What Federal action is needed for Long Term Care, Pharmacare and for a healthy Environment? During this Federal election we will be deciding on the future of public healthcare!
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You are invited to an open public meeting with an expert panel on long term care to explore ways to rebuild public capacity, improve quality and accountability for seniors’ care in the Ottawa Area.
