TORONTO – The United Steelworkers union (USW) is calling on the Ontario government to commit today to fast-tracking legislation that will vastly improve care for residents of long-term care homes across the province.
“Bill 13, the Time to Care Act, heads to second reading in the legislature this evening. This is the perfect time for Doug Ford’s Conservative government to do the right thing and pass this legislation into law,” said Marty Warren, USW Director for Ontario and Atlantic Canada.
The Time to Care Act, a private member’s bill advanced by New Democrat MPP Theresa Armstrong, will legislate a standard of four hours of hands-on care per resident per day in long-term care homes.
The bill faces second reading this evening, with a vote by MPPs expected to follow tomorrow. However, the Official Opposition NDP and long-term care advocates are calling on the government to agree to fast-track and pass the legislation into law.
“Everyone – except to date the Ford government – agrees that raising the minimum standard of care in Ontario’s long-term care homes is vital and long overdue,” Warren said.
“This standard of care has even been recommended by the government’s own commission that is investigating the catastrophic deaths and suffering in the long-term care system during the pandemic,” he added.
“What is this government waiting for?”
“Opposing or delaying passage of this legislation is cruel and a betrayal to residents and staff of long-term care homes across Ontario,” said Audra Nixon, a personal support worker in a long-term care facility and the president of the USW District 6 Health Care Council that represents thousands of workers.
“Every day this legislation is delayed is another day that our seniors are denied the level of care and dignity they deserve. It is another day that workers in under-staffed homes face impossible demands, debilitating stress and the heartbreak of witnessing first-hand the suffering of vulnerable residents they care for,” Nixon said.
Marty Warren, USW Director for Ontario and Atlantic Canada, 416-243-8792
Audra Nixon, President, USW District 6 Health Care Council, 613-551-1386, ranixon@xplornet.ca
Bob Gallagher, USW Communications, 416-544-5966, 416-434-2221, bgallagher@usw.ca
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