MPP Gates questions Ford government for Long-Term Care inspection failures

QUEEN’S PARK – NDP MPP Wayne Gates (Niagara Falls riding) questioned the Premier today on recent revelations that the province remains well short of the needed inspectors for Ontario’s long-term care homes.

“The Premier promised he would double the number of long-term care inspectors, so we would have one inspector for every two homes in the province,” said Gates. “But last week, CBC reported that although there are 624 long-term care homes in the province, only 234 inspectors are currently working. That means this government is 78 inspectors short.”

The province’s largely private, for-profit long-term care sector was devastated during the COVID-19 pandemic. A recent Ombudsman report noted that during the first seven weeks of the pandemic, there were zero inspections from the province.

“Why did the Premier choose to break another promise to the people of Ontario and once again fail our seniors,” said Gates. “Think about the seniors who suffered in long-term care. Think about the 6,000 seniors who lost their lives. Think about the families that will never be the same again.”

Minister Cho refused to outline any timeline for when the province would have the necessary number of inspectors for the province’s long-term care homes.

“How many more seniors need to die in long-term care before this government holds for-profit homes accountable?” asked Gates.