THUNDER BAY - With the COVID-19 pandemic having a devastating impact in long-term care facilities across the province, the Ontario government said it will be looking into what it is calling a broken system.
On Monday, Minister of Long-term Care Merrilee Fullerton, said the Ontario government will launch an independent commission into long-term care in the province, which is expected to begin in September.
“We have been clear the long-term care system in Ontario is broken,” Fullerton said in a media release. “We must act quickly and decisively, and that is why an independent non-partisan commission is the best way to conduct a thorough and expedited review.”
Opposition parties have been calling for a full independent public inquiry into the situation in long-term care both during the COVID-19 pandemic and the decades prior, though the government never committed to a pubilc inquiry.
“As we all take steps to contain this pandemic, the Commission will get down to work and provide us with guidance on how to improve the long-term care system and better protect residents and staff from any future outbreaks,” Fullerton said.
There are outbreaks in 189 long-term care homes in the province, with 2,526 cases and 1,389 deaths.
“Since day one of COVID-19, our top priority has been to protect the health and safety of all Ontarians. That includes the most vulnerable members of our society like residents in long-term care,” Fullerton said. “Our government offers our condolences to the families who lost a loved one to COVID-19 while residing in a long-term care home.”
The provincial government will be finalizing the details of the of the commission over the next few months, including determining the terms of reference, membership, leadership, and reporting timelines.
“Ontarians need and deserve answers, and let me assure you, they will get them," Fullerton said.
