February 22, 2008

Honourable George Smitherman
Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care
80 Grosvenor St, 10th Flr, Hepburn Block
Toronto, ON M7A 2C4

Minister Smitherman,

Ontario’s long-term care system is under strain and deserves your attention. It is deplorable that the Ontario Federation of Labour had to resort to filing a complaint with the Ontario Human Rights Commission due to your government’s inaction.

Minister, as noted in today’s Toronto Star “nursing homes are making incontinent residents wear dirty diapers until they are 75 per cent full of urine.” This situation clearly demonstrates that long-term care is not on your government’s radar.

The Ontario Human Rights Commission stated it does not have the resources to investigate this “compelling” issue. However, it is your responsibility as Minister of Health and Long-Term to ensure seniors receive the care and dignity they deserve.

New Democrats believe that our seniors in long-term care homes deserve a guaranteed minimum standard of nursing and personal care of 3.5 hours a day. As the OFL notes, current policies direct workers to ration the amount of incontinent care products due to budgetary and time constraints. A minimum standard of hands-on care would ensure that, at the very least, our seniors get the basic support they need every day.

New Democrats are on the side of Ontario seniors. After a lifetime of building our province and communities, our seniors deserve the highest standard of care. There are many competing demands in our health care system, but I urge you to make long-term care a priority.

Sincerely,

France Gélinas
MPP for Nickel Belt
NDP Critic for Health and Long-Term Care