February 8th, 2021

NDP’s Singh calls on Hillier to investigate vaccine queue-jumping

QUEEN’S PARK – NDP Deputy Leader and Official Opposition critic for Long Term Care, Sara Singh has written an open letter to Ret. Gen. Rick Hillier, chair of the province’s COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Task Force, after the chair of the board of directors at Villa Leonardo Gambin long-term care home in Woodbridge confirmed that vaccines were given to people who do not work or live at the home, including himself.

This case of “queue jumping” follows a similar complaint at a Brantford retirement home that’s currently being investigated by the Retirement Homes Regulatory Authority.

Singh is calling on Ret. Gen. Hillier to conduct an immediate public investigation to determine who received the vaccine from these homes and whether other homes have been distributing the vaccine to board members, or executive staff and their friends and families.

Open Letter

General Rick Hillier (retired)
Chair, COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Task Force
c/o Ministry of the Solicitor General
George Drew Bldg 18th Flr, 25 Grosvenor St
Toronto, ON M7A 1Y6

February 8, 2021

Dear General Hillier:

I am writing to raise with you concerning use of the extremely limited COVID-19 vaccines and to call on you to conduct an immediate investigation.

A nurse working at the Villa Leonardo Gambin long-term care home in Woodbridge has revealed some startling information about Ontario’s vaccine distribution. In a grievance filed by the union LiUNA Local 3000, this front-line health worker asserted that she was told to “give out vaccines to ineligible people and falsely classify them as caregivers”. The Chair of the home’s Board of Directors confirmed that vaccines were given to people who do not work or live at the home, including himself.

On February 4, the Brantford Expositor also revealed that the Retirement Homes Regulatory Authority is investigating after a complaint of COVID-19 queue-jumping at a Brantford retirement home.

The limited supply of vaccines Ontario has received to date is jarring; what is even more concerning is the possibility that individuals are jumping the queue and using vaccine for themselves, instead of the seniors for who desperately need them.

I am calling on you to ensure a complete and public investigation of who received the vaccine from these homes and whether other homes have been distributing the vaccine to board members, or executive staff and their friends and families. Furthermore, I am calling on you to communicate with all organizations that are to receive the vaccine on the proper distribution of all of the doses, including instructions on who is to be first in line to receive any additional doses available.

Sincerely,

Sara Singh
NDP critic for Long Term Care