| TORY SAYS ONTARIO SENIORS DESERVE HIGH-QUALITY LONG-TERM CARE |
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| Monday, 16 April 2007 19:00 |
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PC Party Leader says reliability of long-term care services at risk under McGuinty Liberals TORONTO, April 17, 2007 – Progressive Conservative Leader John Tory today said that the future of reliable, world-class long-term care services for Ontario seniors are at risk as a result of Dalton McGuinty’s broken promises. “Dalton McGuinty has failed some of Ontario’s most vulnerable citizens - those living in Ontario’s long-term care facilities,” said Tory. “In the space of a generation, the number of people over 75 in Ontario will double. There is no better way we can repay Ontario seniors, the very people who cared for us, than to give them the peace of mind that we, too, will be there for them.” Tory detailed the first part of what a PC government will do to address Ontario’s long-term care deficit during a speech to the Ontario Long Term Care Association and Ontario Retirement Communities Association. He said he will upgrade remaining sub-standard long-term care beds to the highest ‘A’ level standard. Today there are 35,000 Ontarians living in lower standard long-term care beds that meet design standards from 1972. During his remarks Tory said a PC government would upgrade all beds to meet the tightest ‘A’ level standards. This means eliminating all three and four bed wards, ensuring all long-term care residents have the dignity of an en-suite bathroom, wheelchair accessible halls and the opportunity to sleep, eat and spend time with their families in a comfortable environment with relative privacy and improved dignity. Tory said that, if elected, a PC government would also work with the Ontario Medical Association to provide incentives for doctors to work on long-term care teams, ensure Bill 140 does not hinder front-line care with additional administrative regulations and further address how home care and similar supports can be strengthened. Tory said addressing the situation facing long-term care is essential to fixing the major challenges faced by Ontario’s health care system. He said the PC Party is committed to helping Ontario seniors, as evidenced by the party’s commitment to eliminate the regressive health tax and cap increases in property assessments which will remove serious financial barriers and allow many seniors to remain in their homes. “Over three years ago, Dalton McGuinty’s government vowed to start a revolution in long-term care. Yet, Dalton McGuinty’s 2007 budget delivered a mere $14 million or one minute of additional care per resident each day, no new funding to expand capacity and no commitment to capital renewal. That doesn’t sound like a revolution to me.” “Long-term care is more than a moral issue. It’s a fundamental issue of fairness. There is no better legacy we can leave future generations, than to set an example and a foundation of compassion and care.” -30- Backgrounder ONTARIO SENIORS DESERVE BETTER DALTON MCGUINTY’S BROKEN PROMISES HAVE FAILED ONTARIO’S SENIORS AND THEIR FAMILIES… During the 2003 election, the McGuinty Liberals promised to build a strategy for seniors that would, “guarantee our seniors will be treated with respect and dignity.” Meanwhile 35,000 long-term care residents – close to 50 per cent of the entire resident population - continue to live in homes that meet design standards from 1972; In December 2003, Minister of Health & Long-Term Care George Smitherman vowed to take immediate action, saying he wanted to start a “revolution” in long term care; In December 2006, Smitherman introduced a heavily criticized bill that did nothing to address the real problems in long-term care in Ontario; and In the 2007 budget, Dalton McGuinty’s $22 billion spending spree failed once again to fulfill his promises to address the long-term care deficit. Stakeholders expecting some $390 million were devastated to find a mere $14 million in increased funding for nurses. Dalton McGuinty’s government has no vision for long-term care. Far from a revolution, under Dalton McGuinty’s weak leadership, Ontario is now facing an unprecedented crisis in long-term care. ONTARIO’S GROWING LONG-TERM CARE DEFICIT… As of October 2006, there were more than 18,000 people on a waiting list for a long-term-care bed. This is an increase of more than 4,000 from October 2005. As of early 2007, Waterloo Region had 669 people waiting for long-term care. In Ottawa, the list sits at a staggering 1,349. In North Bay, the number is over 300. The Quinte region has almost 1,000 seniors waiting and local hospitals are struggling as a result. Dalton McGuinty’s failure to initiate a capital renewal of Ontario’s older long-term care beds has resulted in half or 35,000 of Ontario’s long-term care residents living in lower standard long-term care beds. STAKEHOLDER RESPONSE… "I've been in long-term care for 20 years…Is this government sending the message that those living in B and C homes are not worthy of the same comfort, privacy and dignity as those in new homes? I had hoped that Bill 140 would recognize this inequality and outline a capital renewal and retrofit plan. Instead, Bill 140 did nothing to address the modernization of older homes or the equality of those residents living in them. Rather, the government introduced the limited licences ... with no plan for the future." (Fraser Wilson, CEO Omni Health Care) IN CONTRAST, JOHN TORY WILL HELP SENIORS… Investment in long-term care is not a one-time thing. Dalton McGuinty has refused to continue any investment in long-term care. The first component of a PC Government plan for comprehensive long-term care will: Upgrade the remaining 35,000 lower standard long-term care spaces to the highest ‘A’ level standard; Eliminate three and four-bed wards; Ensure all long-term care residents have the dignity of an en-suite bathroom and wheelchair accessible halls; Ensure all long-term care residents have the opportunity to sleep, eat and spend time with their families in a comfortable environment that provides relative privacy and the dignity they deserve. Work with the Ontario Medical Association to provide incentives for doctors to work on long-term care teams; Ensure Bill 140 does not hinder front-line care by imposing additional administrative regulations; and Further address how home care and similar supports can be strengthened. -30- |