News + Events

Reader letter: Too many empty promises on fixing long-term care

(March 13, 2021) By: Windsor Star The Ontario government has done nothing but offer empty promises and rhetoric in response to the absolute chaos that is happening long-term care homes across the province. A recent story in a major Canadian newspaper indicated some say it’s time to shut down for-profit long term care homes. There […]

Empty promises to protect seniors

(March 12, 2021) By: Ken Brown, Windsor Star The Ontario government has done nothing but offer empty promises and rhetoric in response to the absolute chaos that is happening in long-term care homes across the province. A recent story in a major Canadian newspaper indicated some say it’s time to shut down for-profit long term […]

RELEASE & REPORT: Almost 4,000 Dead in Long-Term Care as We Approach End of Wave 2: Wave 2 Deaths Exceed Wave I

(March 12, 2021) Toronto – As the devastation of the second wave of COVID-19 abates, we are left with certainty that Ontario failed to adequately prepare its health care setting despite months of warning. The Ontario Health Coalition has been tracking COVID-19 outbreaks in health care settings since mid-March, and released a new report today […]

Why The Problem of Privatization in Long-Term Care Goes Beyond Corporate Ownership

(March 11, 2021) By: Zaid Noorsumar, Press Progress The privatization of long-term care in Canada has been a major focus of political talking points amidst the tragic losses of life during the pandemic, as residents have died at a higher rate in for-profit homes (a pattern consistent with decades of research demonstrating a link between poorer quality […]

Why The Problem of Privatization in Long-Term Care Goes Beyond Corporate Ownership

(March 11, 2021) By: Zaid Noorsumar, PressProgress The privatization of long-term care in Canada has been a major focus of political talking points amidst the tragic losses of life during the pandemic, as residents have died at a higher rate in for-profit homes (a pattern consistent with decades of research demonstrating a link between poorer quality and […]

Coronavirus: Canada marks 1 year since 1st long-term care death

(March 8, 2021) By: Global News Monday marks one year since the first COVID-19 death of a resident living inside of one of Canada’s long-term care homes. It happened in B.C., but as Morganne Campbell reports, in Ontario many are also reflecting on the year that was and say the province is far from a […]

‘Maddening’: Faster Ontario Vaccine Rollout May Have Saved These Lives

(March 7, 2021) By: Emma Paling, HuffPost Ian McMahon and his 10 siblings felt terrified as they watched the first wave of COVID-19 devastate nursing homes across Ontario in spring 2020. But no one got infected at the Windsor, Ont. home where their father, George Arthur McMahon Sr., lived. They celebrated George’s 87th birthday in […]

LTC coalition passes declaration to ‘fix’ long-term care in Canada

(March 5, 2021) By: Mike Baker, Yahoo News The percentage of long-term care COVID-19 deaths in Canada is the highest in the world, Natalie Mehra, executive director of the Ontario Health Coalition, told a group of around 50 Haliburton area residents earlier this month. Speaking during a town hall forum hosted by the Haliburton-City of […]

Pilot pharmacy program to deliver COVID vaccine

(March 5, 2021) By: Antonella Artuso, Toronto Sun Ontario is moving up its vaccination timelines and beginning a pilot inoculation program at some pharmacies but many questions about when and where people will get their shots remain unanswered. “We’re recalibrating our timelines now because of the news with respect to (newly-approved) AstraZeneca and the vaccines […]

Long-term care overhaul needed before system ‘runs out of runway’

(March 5, 2021) By: Ellwood Shreve, Stratford Beacon-Herald The COVID-19 pandemic has worsened the devastating impact chronic staff shortages in long-term care have had on residents, says the CEO of a provincial umbrella group for Ontario care homes. Responding to a virtual protest organized by the Ontario Health Coalition Wednesday that gave voice to frustrated […]

More than 600 Peel residents have died from COVID-19, most lived in LTC and retirement homes

(March 5, 2021) By: Sabrina Gamrot, BramptonGuardian.com Peel Region is an identified Ontario COVID-19 infection hot spot, specifically among those under the age of 35. However, the highest percentage of deaths are not in that age group. According to Peel Public Health’s COVID-19 dashboard, the median age of those who have died is 85, despite […]

Activists at virtual protest slam province over long-term care home ‘crisis’

(March 4, 2021) By: Ellwood Shreve, The Sun Times Speaking with her father is often a heartbreaking experience for Lucinda Allaer. The 88-year-old resident of Fairfield Park in Wallaceburg will beg his daughter to get him out of the nursing home, where he’s been isolated for weeks while officials work to curb a devastating COVID-19 […]

County supports long-term care changes

(March 4, 2021) By: Joseph Quigley, Yahoo News County council agreed to support a movement for improvements at long-term care (LTC) homes, though disagreed with local advocates’ desire to end for-profit homes. Council voted to write a letter of support for the Haliburton-CKL (City of Kawartha Lakes) Long-Term Care Coalition. The advocacy group is joining […]

C-K long-term care reps participate in virtual protest

(March 4, 2021) By: Jenna Cocullo, The Chatham Voice Five local health coalitions continued their efforts to transform Ontario’s long-term care home policies and funding structure with a virtual protest held on Wednesday afternoon. Chatham-Kent long-term care (LTC) representatives and family members of LTC residents shared stories from the front lines. The event was organized […]

Activists at virtual protest slam province over long-term care home ‘crisis’

(March 4, 2021) By: Ellwood Shreve, Windsor Star Speaking with her father is often a heartbreaking experience for Lucinda Allaer. The 88-year-old resident of Fairfield Park in Wallaceburg will beg his daughter to get him out of the nursing home, where he’s been isolated for weeks while officials work to curb a devastating COVID-19 outbreak […]

New vaccine, new priority age group

(March 4, 2021) By: Antonella Artuso, Ottawa Sun Ontarians aged 60 to 64 are the target audience for the AstraZeneca vaccine, Solicitor General Sylvie Jones said. “We have a plan that will involve having individuals over the age of 60 to have access to the AstraZeneca (shot),” Jones said Wednesday. “Because as (the National Advisory […]

Personal stories back health coalition call to tackle long-term care crisis

(March 4, 2021) By: Ellwood Shreve, Sarnia Observer Speaking with her father is often a heartbreaking experience for Lucinda Allaer. The 88-year-old Fairfield Park resident will beg his daughter to get him out of the Wallaceburg nursing home, where he’s been isolated for weeks while officials work to curb a devastating COVID-19 outbreak that’s infected […]

UPDATE: ‘Protect our loved ones’

(March 3, 2021) By: Paul Pedro, BlackburnNews.com About 3,000 participants at a virtual rally about the long-term care crisis heard several activists share their pain and thoughts about the way their loved ones are and were treated at those homes during the COVID-19 pandemic. The rally was hosted by the Ontario Health Coalition on Wednesday. […]

OHC Demanding Ontario Do More To Fix The LTC Crisis

(March 3, 2021) By: CKXSFM.com Staff, CKXSFM.com Local health advocates are once again calling on the province to do more to protect residents in long term care. The Ontario Health Coalition is holding an online protest today to demand more be done for what local chair Shirley Roebuck calls a province-wide issue. “We want to […]

Health Coalitions to Host Virtual Protest

(March 2, 2021) By: HeartFM Health Coalitions across Southwestern Ontario will shine a light on how the pandemic has affected long-term care homes during a virtual protest tomorrow. OXFORD COUNTY – Health Coalitions across Southwestern Ontario including Oxford County are hosting a virtual protest on Wednesday. Chair of the local Health Coalition Bryan Smith says […]

EVENT: Southwest Ontario Online Protest for Long-Term Care Crisis

(March 3, 2021) Printable Save Our Seniors posters can be found below. To email your local MPP and Premier Doug Ford to take action now and Save our Seniors, click here. ————– There are 4 Save Our Seniors posters to choose from. To select the poster you wish to print, simply click the link found […]

55% of Ontario’s nursing home workers opted for vaccine

(February 26, 2021) By: Julie Ireton, CBC News Minjung Choi, associate director of care at Fountain View Care Community, gets a dose of COVID-19 vaccine at a clinic in Toronto on Dec. 15, 2020. Just over half of Ontario long-term care workers have been inoculated so far, according to the province. (Evan Mitsui/CBC) Despite the fact long-term […]

2 fois plus de cas actifs de COVID chez le personnel des foyers que les résidents

(February 25, 2021) By: Maud Cucchi, ICI Radio-Canada.ca Dans les foyers de soins de longue durée, en Ontario, le personnel est deux fois plus contaminé à la COVID-19 que les résidents, selon les dernières données disponibles. PHOTO : GETTY IMAGES / JOE RAEDLE Si le nombre de résidents atteints de la COVID-19 continue de décroître dans les […]

‘Ludicrously low’: Ontario PSW announcement shocks advocacy group

(February 23, 2021) By: Derek Dunn, Inside Ottawa Valley (Metroland Media Group) A group representing hundreds of health-care groups is shocked by the Ontario government’s announcement that it would help create only 373 new personal support workers (PSWs). “I am furious and gobsmacked,” said Natalie Mehra, executive director of the Ontario Health Coalition. “I mean, […]

PSW training program won’t solve the crisis in LTC staffing, critics say

(February 23, 2021) By: Elizabeth Payne, Ottawa Citizen (Print Edition) An innovative Ottawa program that matches people who have difficulty entering the workforce with jobs will train up to 120 personal support workers in the next 10 months. The Earn as You Learn program run by Pinecrest-Queensway Community Health Centre in conjunction with two career […]

‘Profound’ care crisis; Critics say PSW training push not enough

(February 23, 2021) By: Elizabeth Payne, Ottawa Sun (Print Edition) An innovative Ottawa program that matches people who have difficulty entering the workforce with jobs will train up to 120 personal support workers in the next 10 months. The Earn as You Learn program run by Pinecrest-Queensway Community Health Centre in conjunction with two career […]

Ontario’s PSW plan woefully inadequate, critics charge

(February 23, 2021) By: Yahoo! News Canada As of Monday, 129 long-term care homes in Ontario were in the grips of a COVID-19 outbreak. Most of the cases at those homes involve workers. (iStock – image credit) “Shocking,” “appalling,” “offensive” and “disappointing” are just some of the words critics are using to describe the Ontario […]

New PSW training program not nearly enough to solve staffing crisis in long-term care, say critics

(Feb. 22, 2021) By: Elizabeth Payne, Ottawa Citizen An innovative Ottawa program that matches people who have difficulty entering the workforce with jobs will train up to 120 personal support workers in the next 10 months. The Earn as You Learn program run by Pinecrest-Queensway Community Health Centre in conjunction with two career colleges will […]

Ford government investing over $4-million to train 300-plus personal support workers

(February 22, 2021) By: 680 News Martima, a Personal Support Worker with West Neighbourhood House’s Parkdale Assisted Living Program, makes her way to see a resident at Toronto’s May Robinson apartments, part of TCHC seniors housing, in Toronto, on Friday, April 17 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young The Ontario government is […]

Hamilton to receive funds to train more PSWs for long-term care

(February 22, 2021) By: Maria Iqbal, The Hamilton Spectator Two Hamilton-area sites are among the recipients of new provincial funding to train more workers for long-term care, but critics say it’s not nearly enough. ParaMed Inc. and Mohawk College of Applied Arts and Technology are both set to receive funds as part of a provincial announcement to train 373 more personal […]

RELEASE: OHC Responds to Ford Government’s PSW Announcement with Incredulity: 373 PSWs for Long-Term Care Nowhere Near What is Needed

(February 22, 2021) Toronto –Today the Ford government announced funding to train 373 new long-term care PSWs in Lanark and Renfrew, North Bay, Hamilton, Ottawa, the Greater Toronto Area, Kitchener, London and Burlington. This number of PSWs would not be enough to improve care in one middle-sized town, let alone across nine regions encompassing half […]

RELEASE & REPORT: The Spread of COVID-19 Pre- and Post- Winter Lockdown in Ontario Workplaces & Schools

(February 22, 2021) Toronto— The Ontario Health Coalition released its new report today tracking the spread of COVID-19 in workplaces, schools and childcare prior to the stricter lockdown and since, as well as the spread of the virus in the general population, The Spread of COVID-19 Pre- and Post- Winter Lockdown in Ontario Workplaces & […]

Plea To Avoid All Unnecessary Travel

(February 12, 2021) By: Mike Ebbeling, Dryden, ON, Canada / CKDR News A stern warning from the Ontario Health Coalition, a group representing health care unions, as Manitoba begins to reopen Friday. Executive Director Natalie Mehra is urging local residents to avoid all non-essential travel and pleading with Manitobans to not cross the provincial boundary. […]

The ‘Northern Bubble’ ~ Complacency is not an option.

(February 12, 2021) By: Lynne Brown, SaultOnline “The virus doesn’t move, people move it. If we stop moving, the virus stops moving.” Covid-19 and the B.1.1.7. (UK) variant are showing a worrisome spread inside the ‘northern bubble’. The advice from Ontario’s Public Health officials, the Ministry of Health and Longterm Care and the Ontario Health […]

Money not the only solution to fixing long-term care

(February 12, 2021) By: Catherine Whitnall, MyKawartha Competition can be healthy, but not when it comes to long-term care. The pandemic has contributed to countless long-term-care home deaths across Ontario and shone a light on a system that some say was broken long before the virus’ first case — a catalyst for a recent virtual […]

NWHU reporting 11 new COVID-19 cases, will move to yellow protect zone

(February 12, 2021) By: Doug Diaczuk, Thunder Bay, Tbnewswatch / iStock DRYDEN, Ont. – The number of cases in the Northwestern Health Unit catchment area climbed by 11 on Friday and public health officials are warning that even though the region will be moving into the yellow or protect category of the province’s COVID-19 response […]

LEVY: If it’s Friday, there must be new vaccine numbers

(February 13, 2021) By: Sue-Ann Levy, Toronto Sun Ontario Premier Doug Ford watches as a health-care technician prepares syringes of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for front-line health-care workers at a UHN (University Health Network) clinic at the MaRS building on January 7, 2021. PHOTO BY JACK BOLAND /Toronto Sun/Postmedia Network Three days ago on the day that […]

Readers react to Sault Star stories

(February 12, 2021) By: Brian Kelly, The Sault Star Ontario Education Minister Stephen Lecce POSTMEDIA FILE PHOTO The provincial government is pushing back the March break to April. Ontario Education Minister Stephen Lecce said the move will prevent people from gathering and avoid a repeat of the Christmas holidays when COVID-19 numbers spiked, including in […]

Health Coalition urging northerners to avoid non-essential travel

(February 11, 2021) By: Doug Diaczuk, Thunder Bay, Tbnewswatch THUNDER BAY – A growing number of COVID-19 variant cases arising in Ontario, including parts of the north, and the anticipated easing of restrictions next week has the Ontario Health Coalition strongly urging residents to stay home and avoid all non-essential travel. “We are calling on the […]

Stay home and keep out of Northern Ontario, says Health Coalition

(February 11, 2021) By: Len Gillis, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Sudbury.com An online news conference hosted by the Ontario Health Coalition (OHC) on Wednesday has put out the word that Northerners do not want outsiders travelling to the North and at the same time, OHC is urging Northern Ontario residents to stay in their own […]

COVID outbreak at North Bay apartment building has turned deadly, involves variant

Analysis (February 17, 2021) By: Chelsea Papineau, CTV News SUDBURY — The North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit has confirmed its area’s second COVID-related death, nine months after the first. Health officials made the announcement Wednesday morning and say it is linked to the COVID-19 outbreak at North Bay’s Skyline-Lancelot Apartments that has infected […]

RELEASE: COVID-19 Health Care Outbreaks are Still Fatally High: Long-Term Care Deaths Surpass Wave I & COVID-19 Infections 50% More than Wave I

(February 17, 2021) Toronto – The results of the Ford government’s inaction prior to the winter holidays are in, and the second wave of COVID-19 now has 50% more long-term care cases than the first wave. The Ontario Health Coalition has been tracking COVID-19 outbreaks in health care settings since mid-March, and released a new […]

Sudburians react to the reopening of the region

Analysis (February 16, 2021) By: Jaime McKee, CTV News SUDBURY — It has been a long six weeks for many people in Sudbury, who have been trying to find ways to stay entertained since Boxing Day while having limited options. “We just try and play outside, got two young children. Skating rinks, snowmobiling, ice fishing. […]

LTC coalition passes declaration to ‘fix’ long-term care in Canada

(February 16, 2021) By: Mike Baker, The Echo Haliburton County “Demanding Care for our Elders!” More than 50 local residents from across Haliburton County and the City of Kawartha Lakes came together online last week and unanimously passed a declaration detailing changes to fix long-term care in Ontario. The percentage of long-term care COVID-19 deaths […]

How Ontario is limiting wage increases, paid sick days for front-line workers

(February 15, 2021) By: Chelsea Nash, Rabble.ca At any time, but particularly during a pandemic, imposing limits on workers’ ability to bargain for fair wages and better benefits is “unconstitutional,” say union leaders. Ontario’s Bill 124, passed into law in November 2019, is the subject of an ongoing constitutional challenge brought forward by a coalition […]

COVID-19: What you need to know for February 12

(February 12, 2021) By: TVO.org staff TVO.org reporters and editors are tracking stories about the coronavirus pandemic in all regions of the province. Here’s what Ontarians need to know. Provincewide Per today’s government report, there are 1,076 new cases in Ontario, for a total of total of 283,587 since the pandemic began; 763 people are in hospital, […]

Health coalition rejects call for Northern Ontario bubble

(February 11, 2021) By: PJ Wilson, Timmins Daily Press This undated electron microscope image made available by the U.S. National Institutes of Health in February 2020 shows the Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, orange, emerging from the surface of cells, green, cultured in the lab. Also known as 2019-nCoV, the virus causes COVID-19. The sample was isolated […]

Ontario blames shortages for unfinished COVID-19 vaccinations in long-term care

(February 11, 2021) By: Rob Ferguson, Muskoka Region (Metroland Media Group) Ontario is blaming a shortage of vaccines for falling shy of its latest target to get first COVID-19 shots into vulnerable residents of long-term care. About 9,200 seniors in 41 nursing homes were awaiting the chance at initial jabs, the government said Wednesday, as 11 more […]

200 cases possibly linked to variant

(February 11, 2021) By: Antonella Artuso, Toronto Sun Ontario reported just over 1,000 new COVID-19 cases Wednesday as the provincial government began lifting its stay-at-home order. Of the 1,072 new cases, 393 were in Toronto, 196 in Peel and 125 in York. Ontario conducted 52,504 COVID-19 tests in the prior 24 hours and the testing […]

Ontario reports 1,072 new COVID-19 cases; Since peaking in early to mid-January, numbers have been generally falling

(February 11, 2021) By: Antonella Artuso, Windsor Star TORONTO Ontario reported just over 1,000 new COVID-19 cases Wednesday as the provincial government began lifting its stay-athome order. Of the 1,072 new cases, 393 were in Toronto, 196 in Peel and 125 in York Region. Ontario conducted 52,504 COVID-19 tests in the prior 24 hours, and […]

Health coalition rejects call for Northern Ontario bubble; However, members do call for tight and clear travel restrictions

(February 11, 2021) By: Pj Wilson, Sudbury Star Northern Ontario “can’t afford people coming up from southern Ontario” as a more virulent form of the novel coronavirus is spreading, Northern members of the Ontario Health Coalition said Wednesday. Speaking at a virtual news conference, representatives from across the North stopped short of calling for a […]

Stay home and keep out of Northern Ontario, says Health Coalition

(February 11, 2021) By: Len Gillis, Sudbury.com Natalie Mehra (left), executive director of the Ontario Health Coalition, speaks at a press conference in 2018. (File) An online news conference hosted by the Ontario Health Coalition (OHC) on Wednesday has put out the word that Northerners do not want outsiders travelling to the North and at the same […]

U.K. variant requires new safety measures – coalition

(February 11, 2021) By: North Bay Nugget The Ontario Health Coalition, citing COVID-19 variant outbreaks in Ontario municipalities, including North Bay, is calling on the provincial government “to immediately provide clear, enhanced and enforced safety measures” to protect residents of the province. The coalition released tracking information on all the cases of the U.K. variant […]

OP-ED: Not ending private long-term care would be a deadly mistake

posted February 11, 2021

(February 11, 2021) On February 1, The Toronto Star published an opinion column titled “Ending private long-term care would be an expensive mistake.” Both on the facts and the ethics we disagree. “Resident mortality has been more common in privately owned homes,” begins the op-ed by Dr. Bob Bell. This detached language obscures the painful […]

COVID-19 : 1072 nouveaux cas et 41 morts en Ontario

(February 10, 2021) By: ICI Radio-Canada.ca Les nouvelles infections sont à la baisse en Ontario depuis la mi-janvier, mais pas les cas liés aux variants. PHOTO : CBC/ANDREW LEE Pour une deuxième journée de suite, le nombre de nouveaux cas de coronavirus en Ontario se situe juste au-dessus de la barre des 1000. Des 1072 nouvelles infections […]

Coalition wants tighter restrictions to prevent inter-provincial travel

(February 10, 2021) By: Elaine Della-Mattia, Timmins Daily Press Getty Images The Northern Ontario Health Care Coalition is urging Ontarians to stay in their own regions as the March break nears and the province begins to reopen. Representatives from the grassroots organization hosted a press conference Wednesday urging Ontarians to stay at home even as […]

Northern leaders with the Ontario Health Coalition asking people to stay home

(February 10, 2021) By: CBC News The spread of COVID-19 in Ontario since the holidays has northern Ontario health advocates bracing themselves for what March Break might hold. They are urging people to stay home as much as possible. (Markus Schwabe/CBC) The co-chair of the Sudbury Health Coaltion is setting an example for other northerners and […]

Ontario Health Coalition criticizes Ford government over COVID-19 variants

(February 10, 2021) By: Chris Dawson, BayToday.ca Natalie Mehra, executive director of the Ontario Health Coalition. File Photo by Doug Diaczuk – Tbnewswatch.com. The Ontario Health Coalition is urging the province to do a better job of protecting Ontarians from the COVID-19 U.K. variant of concern, which includes the recent outbreak at the Lancelot Apartments in North Bay. […]

Ontario Health Coalition pumps brakes on northern bubble

(February 10, 2021) By: Christian D’Avino, CTV News Analysis SAULT STE. MARIE — With growing discussion on implementing a travel bubble in northern Ontario, the province’s health coalition said not so fast. The Ontario Health Coalition held a press conference Feb. 8, in which its northern members weighed in on the possibility of the north […]

RELEASE: Ontario Health Coalition Releases Tracking of UK Variant COVID-19 As COVID-19 U.K. Variant Spreads Ford Government Can Not Fail Us Again: Stronger Enforced Public Health Measures Are Missing

(February 10, 2021) Toronto – The Ontario Health Coalition has tracked all the cases of the U.K. variant (B. 1.1.7) for which we can find public information. The Coalition released the data today with a call for the Ford government to take fast action to protect Ontarians. The spread of the variant in Ontario is […]

Long-Term Care Homes and ‘Directive 3’ ~ A Hopeful Sign for Caregivers & Families

(February 9, 2021) By: Lynne Brown, SaultOnline Natalie Mehra (top left) is Ontario Health Coalition Executive Director. OHC has been holding zoom meetings with families, caregivers, health professionals and more since the outset of the pandemic. Long-Term Care has been a priority for OHC advocacy. (source: OHC on twitter) The COVID-19 pandemic continues to be […]

Health coalition speaks out after some Ontario nursing homes ban essential caregivers

(February 9, 2021) By: Daina Goldfinger, Jump Radio Toronto’s medical officer of health Dr. Eileen de Villa said on Monday that the U.K. COVID-19 variant was confirmed in an outbreak at Roberta Place, a nursing home in Barrie, Ont., where she said 127 residents and almost half the staff have tested positive, and 40 individuals […]

The anatomy of an outbreak: How COVID-19 wreaked havoc at Grace Villa

(February 9, 2021) By: Maria Iqbal, Yahoo! News Hamilton’s worst outbreak was declared over last month, but questions linger about what happened and why. From Nov. 25 to Jan. 20, Grace Villa long-term-care home on the east Mountain had 234 COVID-19 cases. Of its 156 residents, 44 died with COVID-19. Since then, concerning allegations about […]

TODAY’S SHOW: Ontario set for regional reopening – are we ready?, pressure to vaccinate, why we’re not getting the cold, flu this year, need for laneway houses

(February 8, 2021) By: Peter Shurman, 640 Toronto’s Morning Show Analysis TODAY’S GUESTS: Dr. Timothy Sly, epidemiologist and professor emeritus at Ryerson University’s School of Public Health Dr. Mikal Skuterud, Professor of economics at the University of Waterloo Natalie Mehra, executive director of the Ontario Health Coalition Dr. Jesse Papenburg, a pediatric infectious-disease physician at […]

RELEASE: Health Coalition Calls on Ford Government to Stop For-Profit Long-Term Care Chain Companies from Banning Essential Caregivers: COVID-19

(February 8, 2021) Toronto/Sudbury – The Ontario Health Coalition has been hearing from family members of loved ones in long-term care homes who are being stopped from getting into the homes to provide support and care for their loved ones. This is happening in a range of long-term care homes across Ontario, and the Coalition […]

Doctor claims Ontario ‘bungled’ vaccine rollout for seniors

(February 7, 2021) By: Donald Macdonald, Sudbury Star A doctor who works in Ontario long-term care homes accuses those charged with distributing the COVID-19 vaccine of “bungling” the process so badly that many of the vulnerable seniors who need it most won’t get their first dose until this week. Amit Arya, a palliative care doctor […]

Doc claims province ‘bungled’ vaccine rollout for seniors

(February 6, 2021) By: Sue-Ann Levy, Toronto Sun A health-care worker prepares to administer a Pfizer/BioNTEch coronavirus disease (Covid-19) vaccine at The Michener Institute, in Toronto on Dec. 14, 2020. PHOTO BY CARLOS OSORIO /AFP via Getty Images A doctor who works in Ontario long-term care homes accuses those charged with distributing the COVID-19 vaccine of “bungling” […]

Protesters: provincial government failing long-term care residents

(February 3, 2021) By: Lori-Anne Little, The Wellington Advertiser Kristin Hunter, a Guelph resident who spoke about her father, John Hunter, took part in the Jan. 29 online protest organized by the Ontario Health Coalition. WELLINGTON COUNTY – Over 19,000 people from across the province joined a Jan. 29 online protest to demand action from […]

Why is the Ford government making long-term care homes more like jails?

(February 3, 2021) By: Ellen Badone, The Hamilton Spectator Residents of Ontario’s long-term-care homes and their families have been dealing with lockdowns and visitor bans for nearly a year now. Since July 2020, I have conducted over 90 Zoom or phone interviews with relatives of long-term-care residents, as well as registered nurses (RNs), personal support […]

Far too many deaths in LTC

(February 3, 2021) By: Colin MacKay, Belleville Intelligencer (Print Edition) Two revelations have stood out over the past year due to COVID-19. The most notable revelation has been Long Term Care (LTC) homes. Far too many deaths have occurred in these homes. While the other revelation, which is not that surprising, students learn best at […]

‘This is a war’ against COVID-19, says former mayor Jim Gordon, and a Northern Bubble would be a powerful weapon

(February 2, 2021) By: Jenny Lamothe, Sudbury.com Former Sudbury mayor and MPP Jim Gordon told Sudbury.com that his recent calls for a Northern Bubble and participation in a discussion panel are because he believes Sudbury, and Northern Ontario “needs to stand up and fight back.” (File) Former Sudbury mayor and MPP Jim Gordon told Sudbury.com […]

Declaration to fix long-term care made by local group

(February 1, 2021) By: Lindsay Advocate “We, residents from across Haliburton County and the City of Kawartha Lakes, and friends, gathered together virtually, declare that we are of consensus that to fix long-term care, we need to…” so begins the Haliburton-City of Kawartha Lakes Declaration to Fix Long-Term Care, passed unanimously by some 50 residents […]

Conestoga offers fast-track training for personal support workers

(January 31, 2021) By: Michelle Ruby, Brantford Expositor Conestoga College has developed some innovative ways to turn out qualified personal support workers more in demand than ever during the pandemic. The school is offering a PSW-FAST Program, delivered virtually, so it can reach rural and remote locations across Ontario, said Sarah Pottier, chair of PSW and […]

LEVY: Ford government dropped the ball big-time on seniors

(January 30, 2021) By: Sue-Ann Levy, Toronto Sun There have so far been 3,502 deaths in LTC homes — 3,491 residents and 11 staff Foon Hay Lum, 111, died during a COVID-19 outbreak at Mon Sheong Homes seniors’ residence in April 2020. PHOTO BY SUPPLIED Helen Lee never thought she’d see a repeat of what she […]

The Jamie West Show interview with Natalie Mehra – January 30, 2021

(January 30, 2021) By: Jamie West, Global Radio 900 CHML Jamie West interviews Natalie Mehra, executive director of the Ontario Health Coalition, about the current crisis in Ontario long-term care homes as well as potential solutions. Click here for original audio (Interview with Natalie Mehra begins at 23:40)

Online protest points to devastating numbers at Roberta Place in Barrie, Ont., in calls for immediate action

(January 29, 2021) By: Kim Phillips & Roger Klein, CTV News BARRIE, ONT. — The management company of a Barrie long-term care home devastated by a COVID-19 outbreak has published an open letter after a report by Ontario’s ministry of long-term care revealed widespread violations. In the letter posted Friday, Jarlette Health Services president David […]

Happening Today: Join Live-Stream to Call for Immediate Action on the Long-Term Care Crisis

(January 29, 2021) By: Sault Online OHC calling for immediate help for Ontario’s seniors. TORONTO, Jan. 29, 2021 – In the last week 207 residents and staff died as a result of COVID-19 in Ontario’s long-term care homes. More than one person in Ontario’s long-term care is dying per hour now. Care levels have declined […]

ONLINE PROTEST POINTS TO DEVASTATING NUMBERS AT ROBERTA PLACE IN BARRIE, ONT., IN CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE ACTION

(January 29, 2021) By: Kim Phillips, 92.3 The Dock The management company of a Barrie long-term care home devastated by a COVID-19 outbreak has published an open letter after a report by Ontario’s ministry of long-term care revealed widespread violations. In the letter posted Friday, Jarlette Health Services president David Jarlette said that “despite proactive […]

Inspection reports from Hamilton’s biggest and deadliest COVID outbreak

(January 28, 2021) By: Joanna Frketich, The Hamilton Spectator / Maria Iqbal, The Hamilton Spectator Public health inspections revealed issues with Grace Villa’s staffing, cleaning and infection control during the city’s worst and deadliest outbreak of COVID-19. But ensuring residents had proper care was beyond the department’s scope, so public health services says it met […]

Ontario’s Care Crisis /w Natalie Mehra

(January 26, 2021) By: The Scarlet Standard In this episode we are joined by Natalie Mehra, executive director of the Ontario Health Coalition (OHC). We discuss the ongoing crisis in Ontario’s private long term care system, the imminent need for paid sick days, and revisit the question of vaccine distribution. Unsurprisingly, we conclude that Doug […]

8 more deaths and 93 new cases reported in Niagara

(January 26, 2021) By: Allan Benner, St. Catharine’s Standard Niagara’s COVID-19 death toll continues to climb, as close to 100 more people were diagnosed with the virus Tuesday. Niagara Region Public Health reported eight more COVID-19 deaths Tuesday — following the deaths of at least 22 Niagara residents who were infected with the virus since […]

Experts’ Scathing Letter Decries ‘Humanitarian Crisis’ In Ontario Care Homes

(January 26, 2021) By: Emma Pauling, Huffpost Canada TORONTO — More than 200 doctors and researchers are calling for immediate action to quell COVID-19 outbreaks in Ontario’s nursing homes, describing current conditions as “a grave humanitarian crisis.” “We’re just so appalled by what’s going on,” Dr. Amit Arya, a palliative care physician who works in long-term care in the Greater […]

Families and groups call on Ford to act on Ontario’s long-term care COVID-19 crisis

(January 25, 2021) By: CanIndia News The Ontario Health Coalition (OHC) says that 100 groups and families are speaking with one voice when they took issue with the Premier and Minister of Long-Term Care’s statements that “Everything is hunky dory here” (Premier Ford) and repeatedly, there are no long-term care homes with a staffing crisis […]

New outbreak at Juravinski Hospital as Hamilton reports two new COVID-19 deaths

(January 25, 2021) By: Maria Iqbal, Yahoo News A third Juravinski Hospital unit is in outbreak as the city reported two new COVID-19 deaths and 71 new cases on Friday. Public health reported two new COVID-19 deaths overall, but also increases to death tolls tied to ongoing outbreaks. One of the new deaths appears to […]

Ottawa police asking for help developing new mental health response strategy

(January 25, 2021) By: Josh Pringle, CTV News Ottawa OTTAWA — The Ottawa Police Service is setting up a “Guiding Council” to develop its new Mental Health Response Strategy. A report for Monday’s Ottawa Police Services Board meeting outlines plans to establish the arms-length council, made up of representatives from five community networks, to help […]

LEVY: Retirement homes cost residents a lot of money but have little oversight

(January 24, 2021) By: Sue-Ann Levy, Toronto Sun Pnina Ptasznik was horrified last April when she got on a Zoom call to find her 88-year-old mom staring into space with only “no, no, no” coming out of her mouth. Toronto’s L’Chaim Retirement Home was in a COVID outbreak at the time, but Freda Rosenblatt repeatedly […]

‘Fox guarding henhouse’; Retirement homes blasted on oversight

(January 24, 2021) By: Sue-Ann Levy, Ottawa Sun Pnina Ptasznik was horrified last April when she got on a Zoom call to find her 88-yearold mom staring into space with only “no, no, no” coming out of her mouth. Toronto’s L’Chaim Retirement Home was in a COVID-19 outbreak at the time, but Freda Rosenblatt repeatedly […]

EVENT: PROTEST: Ontario’s Long-Term Care Crisis

(January 25, 2021) Printable Save Our Seniors posters can be found below. To email your local MPP and Premier Doug Ford to take action now and Save our Seniors, click here. To view a recording of the live-stream protest on Facebook (no login required), click here. ———— PROTEST: ONTARIO’S LONG-TERM CARE CRISIS Join mass live-stream […]

RELEASE: Health Coalitions call for Federal Leadership to Defend Public Health Care

(January 25, 2021) (Ottawa) Seven health coalitions, representing concerned Canadians from PEI to British Columbia, are calling for stronger federal action on health care ahead of Monday’s opening of Parliament. Canada’s universal, public health care system requires federal vision and leadership. Health coalitions across Canada recognize the federal government’s extraordinary contribution of resources and support […]

Long-term care in crisis

(January 24, 2021) By: Jodi Lundmark, Chronicle Journal Debbie Shubat’s mother Amy is 92 years old and has dementia, and she’s a resident of Southbridge Roseview long-term care home. “I can’t stop thinking about her,” said Shubat during a virtual press conference held by the Ontario Health Coalition on Friday. “I dream about her and […]

Coalition of families, health-care organizations declare crisis in Ontario’s LTC homes

(January 23, 2021) By: Megan Delarie, Toronto.com Group says the reality of long-term care homes is not how the Ford government portrays it. A coalition of 100 health-care organizations and relatives of long-term care residents is accusing the provincial government of downplaying what it says is a deadly crisis in Ontario’s long-term care (LTC) homes. […]

LEVY: Upset families of LTC residences accuse province of not taking second wave seriously

(January 23, 2021) By: Donald Macdonald, Sudbury Star Jennifer Penny’s 81-year-old mom died of COVID-19 on Boxing Day, two days after staff at her Niagara Falls long-term care home claimed she was “doing well” despite testing positive for the virulent virus. In an emotional presentation to an Ontario Health Coalition (OHC) Zoom media conference — […]

Get vaccines to LTC homes: Advisory group

(January 23, 2021) By: Holly Mckenzie-Sutter, Brockville Recorder & Times TORONTO Refocusing Ontario’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout on longterm care residents would prevent 115 deaths and hundreds more cases by the end of March, according to projections from a team of experts advising the government on the pandemic. The report predicted that giving a first dose […]

Health Coalition calls for immediate action on ‘profound’ COVID-19 long-term care crisis

(January 23, 2021) By: Sydenham Current Staff, Sydenham Current The Ontario Health Coalition is calling for immediate action from the Province of Ontario to address the “profound” crisis impacting long-term care in Ontario, amid the COVID-19 pandemic. During a press conference on Friday, Ontario Health Coalition officials said critical staffing and care shortages, unsafe conditions, […]

COVID-19 Update: Canada Considers Non-Essential Travel Ban; Homegrown Vaccine Begins Human Trial

(January 23, 2021) By: Megan DeLaire, YorkRegion.com A coalition of 100 health-care organizations and relatives of long-term care residents is accusing the provincial government of downplaying what it says is a deadly crisis in Ontario’s long-term care (LTC) homes. In a tearful Zoom teleconference on Jan. 22, three days after Premier Doug Ford said the […]

Woman “Devastated” By Impact On LTC Homes

(January 22, 2021) By: Colin Redston, Country1053.ca The daughter of a Southbridge Roseview resident is among those sharing painful stories of family members in long-term care homes during the second wave of the pandemic. Debbie Shubat spoke on a Zoom call Friday hosted by the Ontario Health Coalition featuring other relatives of residents, and representatives […]

Ontario Health Coalition says iron ring around long-term care is broken

(January 22, 2021) By: Doug Diaczuk, tbnewswatch.com THUNDER BAY – When Debbie Shubat learned her mother Amy contracted COVID-19 last November while living in Southbridge Roseview Manor, she was devastated and says she has been living in a nightmare ever since. “Every time I hear her, the little I do hear from her, and see […]

Coronavirus: Speed up vaccines to Ontario long-term care homes to prevent deaths and cases, experts say

(January 22, 2021) By: Holly McKenzie-Sutter, JumpRadio TORONTO — Refocusing Ontario’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout on long-term care residents would prevent 115 deaths and hundreds more cases by the end of March, according to projections from a team of experts advising the government on the pandemic. The report predicted that giving a first dose to all long-term care […]

‘My beautiful, precious mother deserves better’: Barrie woman wants long-term-care home changes

(January 22, 2021) By: Chris Simon, Simcoe.com Anna Tomlinson is worried for her mother’s safety. The Barrie woman hasn’t seen her mom, Gloria, in person for about a month. Gloria has late-stage dementia and is residing in a long-term-care facility within the city. When lockdown measures came into effect, Tomlinson and her sister were prohibited […]

Rick Mercer’s advice to young adults looking to hook up: Picture Doug Ford in your bedroom

(January 22, 2021) By: Rob Ferguson, CambridgeTimes.ca Facing continued resistance to stay-at-home orders, Ontario is turning to comedy in a new social media campaign aimed at getting the message across — including a plea for young adults not to “hook up” because of COVID-19. Doug Ford’s government has enlisted comedian Rick Mercer in a video rant where he makes […]

Feeling the pinch, Maxville Manor gets proactive

(January 21, 2021) By: Todd Hambleton, Cornwall Standard-Freeholder (Print edition) MAXVILLE Close to Highway 417 and just over a half hour from the Ottawa area, Maxville isn’t that far off the beaten path. And when it comes to Ontario’s long-term care personal support worker shortage, Maxville Manor is feeling the crunch – but so are […]

Ontario Health Coalition determined to hold Ford’s feet to the fire

(January 21, 2021) By: Renfrew Today The Ontario Health Coalition (OHC) continues to push for better treatment of the Province’s seniors who reside in long-term care settings. The OHC disputes Premier Ford’s assessment that everything is “hunky-dory.” The coalition says that across the province, in outbreak or not, many long-term care homes have dangerously low […]

RELEASE: Ontario Long-Term Care COVID-19 Crisis: 100 Organizations Send Clear Message to Premier Ford, This is an Emergency, We Need Action Now

(January 22, 2021) Click here for printable version of the release found below. Click here for a video of the press conference. Toronto – 100 organizations representing more than one million families of loved ones in long-term care, residents, care workers, health professionals, advocacy groups, seniors’ groups and community groups held a press conference today […]

REPORT: Shocking Number of Long-Term Care Homes with Majority of Residents Infected – Data updated to January 19

(January 22, 2021) Click here for full version of the health care outbreaks report with a list of all outbreaks. A summary of the report can be found below. Having become alarmed at how many long-term care homes have COVID-19 outbreaks that are out of control in which a significant proportion of the residents have […]

REPORT: Wave 2 Continues to Devastate Long-Term Care, Far Surpassing the 1st Wave – Data updated to January 19

(January 22, 2021) Click here for full version of the health care outbreaks report with a list of all outbreaks. A summary of the report can be found below. The second wave of COVID-19 in Ontario’s long-term care homes has now far […]

A TRAGEDY THAT DIDN’T NEED TO HAPPEN

(January 21, 2021) By: Mary Catherine McCarthy & Margot Young, Our Times Part of the Sienna chain, the St. George Care Community LTC facility, in Toronto, has had one of the worst outbreaks in Ontario. The Sienna chain has also had some of the highest COVID numbers in Ottawa. PHOTOGRAPH: COURTESY SEIU HEALTHCARE Residents, workers, […]

Whitby deals with new lockdown as businesses and individuals battle isolation

(January 20, 2021) By: Tim Kelly, DurhamRegion.com Whitby resident Lori Lopes, an active Facebook user and administrator of 581-member strong Whitby Voters Facebook page, knows the impact of a lockdown. Lopes, who is also a front-line health-care worker as a nurse, closely follows both health advice through the Ontario Hospital Association and also what her […]

Daughter shares heartbreaking LTC story

(January 20, 2021) By: Paul Pedro, BlackBurnNews.com A woman whose elderly father lives at Fairfield Park nursing home in Wallaceburg is calling for changes to the home’s staffing levels, which she says are not sufficient. Lucinda Allaer shared her experience during a Zoom meeting hosted by Chatham-Kent’s branch of the Ontario Health Coalition on Monday […]

Sudbury column: Give city executives chance to do the right thing

(January 20, 2021) By: Dot Klein, Sudbury Star Open letter to city council: Coun. Ward 11 Bill Leduc agreed to read this letter to you at the closed council meeting scheduled for Jan. 11. Earlier, I wrote an open letter to Mayor Brian Bigger requesting he sit down with both Ed Archer and Tony Cecutti […]

Waterloo Region pauses COVID-19 vaccine clinic amid supply shortage

(January 18, 2021) By: Katherine Hill, CTV News Kitchener KITCHENER — Region of Waterloo Public Health has paused its COVID-19 vaccine clinic due to a supply shortage. The clinic will pause until Jan. 24, the region said in a news release. Pfizer announced last week that it is retooling its production line so that it […]

Health Advocates Renew Calls For Better Care For Seniors

(January 18, 2021) By: CKXS.com A local woman is sharing her family’s story in hopes of getting the Ford Government to better protect those living in long term care through the pandemic. Lucinda Allaer’s father lives at Fairfield Park in Wallaceburg and says while she believes the staff do the best job they can with […]

Private virtual health services are booming in a ‘policy vacuum’

(January 17, 2021) By: Theresa Boyle, YorkRegion.com When over-the-counter medication failed to quell a sudden and intense allergic reaction, the Toronto senior turned to her computer in search of a remedy. A quick Google search brought her to the website of Maple Corp., one of the country’s largest providers of virtual health care. In no […]

‘Spreading further’: New COVID-19 outbreak in Burlington under investigation

(January 16, 2021) By: Louie Rosella, InsideHalton.com Halton Region on Jan. 15 is reporting an outbreak at The Williamsburg Retirement Home in Burlington. It was declared Jan. 13 and is affecting the “entire facility,” according to health officials. No cases have been identified as of yet but that is expected to change shortly, according to officials. This […]

Paid sick leave is a good idea whose time has come

(January 14, 2021) By: Karl Nerenberg, Rabble.ca The COVID-19 pandemic has made the idea of paid sick leave for all workers suddenly popular. When he was leader of the Ontario Conservative party, John Tory did not favour obliging employers to pay workers when they were sick. Now, as mayor of Toronto, Tory is all for […]

Ford government facing pressure to institute paid sick days in COVID-19 response

(January 13, 2021) By: Ricardo Veneza, CTV Windsor WINDSOR, ONT. — The Ontario government is facing continued pressure to reinstitute paid sick days in the province as part of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. On Wednesday, the Official Opposition at Queen’s Park renewed calls for the Doug Ford-led government for paid sick days to […]

Executive elitism carries a high price for St. Joe’s

January 13, 2021 By: Spectator Editorial, The Hamilton Spectator Credibility in the eyes of the public is hard won and easily lost. Speaking from inside an industry that has taken its fair share of tarnish — for reasons fair and unfair — we know this to be true. For public institutions, that cherished quality […]

RESOURCES: Briefing for Long-Term Care Families: Access for Visitors and Essential Caregivers

(January 14, 2021) A briefing for long-term care families about access to homes for visitors and essential caregivers took place on January 13, 2021. A video recording of the meeting can be found below and via the link here. Analysis Long-term care resources *Note: These resources are for long-term care only. For retirement home resources, […]

COVID-19 Outbreaks in Health Care Settings Threaten to Topple Devastating Records Set in the First Wave

(January 12, 2021) By: Lynne Brown, Sault Online The second wave of COVID-19 in long-term care has sharply escalated, today surpassing the peak of the first wave, and is spreading further across the province than the first wave. The Ontario Health Coalition released its latest tracking report covering the large outbreaks in health care […]

How does privilege work? In Ontario, politicians risked infamy for beaches while essential workers risked their lives to put food on the table

(January 12, 2021) By: Dr. Maria Daniel & Dr. Amanpreet Brar When people in power talk, the bare minimum is that they lead by example and walk the walk, instead of breaking the very rules they create for the rest of the public. Unfortunately, that isn’t the case, even with those who are supposed […]

Ontario long-term care homes need ‘immediate emergency intervention,’ advocates say

(January 12, 2021) By: CBC News Coalition demands province launch recruitment strategy right now to prevent more COVID-19 deaths. Long-term care homes in Ontario need “immediate emergency intervention with whatever resources are available” to prevent more deaths from COVID-19, advocates said on Tuesday. Natalie Mehra, executive director of the Ontario Health Coalition, a network […]

‘Current emergency’: New COVID-19 outbreak hits Burlington and triggers public health investigation

(January 12, 2021) By: Louie Rosella, Burlington Post Halton Public Health is investigating a new coronavirus outbreak in Burlington. Halton Region revealed today (Jan. 12) that an outbreak has been declared at Mount Nemo Christian long term care home in Burlington. So far, one person is infected and the outbreak, declared Jan. 10, is affecting the […]

Amberwood Outbreak Impacting 19 Residents, 3 Staff; Another 7 cases of COVID confirmed in Sudbury

(January 12, 2021) By: Jim Moodie, Sudbury Star (Print Edition) One-third of active COVID-19 cases in Sudbury and districts are related to an outbreak at a local retirement home. Public Health Sudbury and Districts confirmed Monday there are currently 22 cases associated with Amberwood Suites on Regent Street. Nineteen residents and three staff members […]

Health-care workers battled burnout before COVID-19 — now it’s even worse, experts warn

(January 12, 2021) By: Lauren Pelley, CBC News 78% of nurse respondents reported feelings of burnout, pre-pandemic survey found. While Lhamo Dolkar worked on the front lines as a registered nurse in the early months of the pandemic, her precautions after coming home from a shift were a stressful but necessary routine. First, the Whitby, […]

Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie ‘wouldn’t hesitate’ to call in military if COVID-19 cases worsen at long-term-care homes

(January 11, 2021) By: Steve Cornwell, Mississauga News Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie is calling on senior levels of government to do more to bolster local long-term-care (LTC) homes, but said she’s not calling for military assistance just yet. Crombie made the call at a recent press conference, hours after the news of Maureen Ambersely’s death, a […]

Former hospital CEO to get more than $1M payout after losing job following Caribbean vacation

(January 11, 2021) By: Joanna Frketich, Cambridge Times Dr. Tom Stewart will get a payout as high as $1.1 million after losing his job as CEO of St. Joseph’s Health System over a Caribbean vacation. “For the staff and the community it feels like a slap in the face,” said Natalie Mehra, executive director of the Ontario […]

LEVY: Second wave ignites ‘humanitarian crisis’ in long-term care homes

(January 11, 2021) By: Sue-Ann Levy, Toronto Sun It’s been like a runaway train in Ontario long-term care homes. Despite the numerous press conferences hosted by Premier Doug Ford and his senior ministers over the past few months promising changes to address the concerns raised by the Canadian military last May, the second wave has […]

NDP, Green Party leaders attend Toronto rally into long-term care home crisis

(January 10, 2021) By: Muriel Draaisma, CBC News Leaders of two federal political parties attended a rally outside a Toronto long-term care home on Sunday. NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh and Green Party Leader Annamie Paul joined a crowd of demonstrators outside St. George Care Community, a for-profit facility operated by Sienna Senior Living. Both leaders called on the federal government to […]

Cedarvale Lodge gets Moderna vaccine as caregiver tests positive

(January 10, 2021) By: Mike Anderson, Georgina Post For Lisa Snow, the news that her mother Carolynn would be first-in-line for the Moderna vaccine at Cedarvale’s long-term care home brought more than a sense of relief; it brought an end to constant worry. “We lost my aunt to Covid at River Glenn, so for the […]

“Horror show” unfolding in long-term care: OHC

(January 10, 2021) By: CP24 OHC leader Natalie Mehra says the lack of care at some long-term care homes is leading residents to suffer from hunger and dehydration. Click here for original video

RELEASE: COVID-19 Outbreaks in Health Care Settings Threaten to Topple Devastating Records Set in the First Wave

(January 11, 2021) The second wave of COVID-19 in long-term care has sharply escalated, today surpassing the peak of the first wave, and is spreading further across the province than the first wave. The Ontario Health Coalition released its latest tracking report covering the large outbreaks in health care settings, including long-term care, hospitals and […]

‘Very disappointing’: Strong reaction to Paul Woods’s trips to U.S. during pandemic

(January 9, 2021) By: Andrew Lupton, CBC News LHSC boss had admonished staff for flouting rules, said they needed to set high standard Friday’s news that London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) CEO Paul Woods made five trips to visit family in the United States since March drew a swift and sharp reaction from a local […]

The Jamie West Show Interview With Natalie Mehra

(January 9, 2021) By: Jamie West, OMNY FM Natalie Mehra, executive director at the Ontario Health Coalition, and Jamie West discuss COVID-19 outbreaks and staffing issues at long-term care homes, and vaccine rollout plans. Click here for original interview (Interview with executive director Natalie Mehra begins at 11:45)

At-home learning for Ontario elementary students extended to Jan. 25

(January 8, 2021) By: John Schofield, The Lawyer’s Daily Ontario is extending remote learning for elementary school students in Southern Ontario until Jan. 25 and extending the public health lockdown in Northern Ontario to align with the lockdown in the province’s south. However, elementary and secondary school students in Northern Ontario’s seven public health unit […]

Health Coalition calls for stronger measures to control COVID-19 across Ontario

(January 8, 2021) By: Sydenham Current Calling COVID-19 a “crisis situation”, the Ontario Health Coalition is calling for stronger measures and stronger supports for people impacted. “(Thursday, January 7, 2021 was) the deadliest day of the pandemic so far, 89 people died in the last 24-hour period,” Health Coalition officials said in a press release […]

COVID-19 : Coalition Santé Ontario inquiet pour la santé des préposés et des patients dans les foyers de longue durée

(January 8, 2021) By: CHOQ FM Le 7 janvier 2020 – À Scarborough, Tendercare Living Centre, un foyer des soins de longue durée, compte à ce jour 64 morts alors que le coronavirus continue à se répandre rapidement parmi les patients et les préposés. Selon Radio-Canada, la Coalition Santé Ontario, un réseau qui rassemble plus […]

COVID-19 Crisis Situation In Ontario: Deadliest Day of the Pandemic

(January 8, 2021) By: The Bullet January 7th is the deadliest day of the pandemic so far, 89 people died in the last 24-hour period. By every measure the situation is critical, and there can be no question remaining that stronger measures are needed to control the devastation the virus is wreaking. At the same time, stronger […]

Thunder Bay MPPs speak out on Southbridge Roseview situation

(January 6, 2021) By: Gary Rinne, TBNewsWatch Michael Gravelle and Judith Monteith-Farrell cite pandemic preparedness and communications issues. THUNDER BAY — Thunder Bay’s two MPPs say they received “heartbreaking” pleas for help from the families of residents of the Southbridge Roseview long-term care home, where COVID-19 has claimed 20 lives to date. Thunder Bay-Superior North Liberal MPP Michael […]

RELEASE: Emergency: COVID-19 Crisis Situation In Ontario Requires Stronger Measures AND Stronger Supports for People Impacted, Today is Deadliest Day of Pandemic So Far

(January 7, 2021) Toronto – Today is the deadliest day of the pandemic so far, 89 people died in the last 24-hour period. By every measure the situation is critical, warns the Ontario Health Coalition, and there can be no question remaining that stronger measures are needed to control the devastation the virus is wreaking. […]

Long-Term Care Outbreaks Worsen

(January 5, 2021) By: Tara Losinski AND Peter Muggeridge Ontario is reporting 35 new deaths in long-term care and a record number of nursing homes are experiencing outbreaks of COVID-19. Today, provincial data shows that that 219 homes are dealing with an outbreak, smashing the mark of 190 set during the first wave. This means that over […]

NDP calling for more transparency on COVID-19 cases in the workplace

(January 5, 2021) By: Sudbury Star Ontario’s NDP is picking up on a suggestion that the Ontario Health Coalition made in November — that the public should be made aware when there is COVID-19 in the workplace. NDP’s Workplace Health and Safety critic Wayne Gates, along with NDP leader Andrea Horwath, are calling on the […]

Death toll from COVID-19 in Ontario long-term care homes continues to rise

(January 5, 2021) By: Morganne Campbell, Global News Nearly one third of Ontario’s LTC homes are battling a COVID-19 outbreak as families and advocates continue to call for more assistance. Morganne Campbell reports. Click here for original video

PM offers ‘targeted help’ to deal with COVID-19 outbreaks in Ont. long-term care homes

(Tuesday, January 5 2021) By: Codi Wilson, CP24 Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the federal government has reached out to the province to offer “targeted help” to bring COVID-19 outbreaks in Ontario long-term care homes under control. Speaking at a news conference on Tuesday afternoon, the prime minister said military deployments, enhanced testing, and isolation […]

COVID-19 Update: Singh Urges Trudeau to Fix Long-Term Care; New Poll Blasts Federal Vax Rollout

(January 5, 2021) By: Tara Losinski and Peter Muggeridge, Zoomer Long-Term Care Outbreaks Worsen Ontario is reporting 35 new deaths in long-term care and a record number of nursing homes are experiencing outbreaks of COVID-19. Today, provincial data shows that that 219 homes are dealing with an outbreak, smashing the mark of 190 set during the first […]

Sudbury mayor, administrators failing to lead

(January 5, 2021) By: Dot Klein, Sudbury Star (Print Edition) Dear Mayor Brian Bigger: I am not going to argue with you on the appropriateness of the discipline measures you applied to Ed Archer, chief administrative officer for the City of Greater Sudbury, when he made derogatory remarks about Ward 3 Coun. Gerry Montpellier. I […]

Health authorities to identify workplaces with significant COVID-19 outbreaks

(January 4, 2021) By: Sara Mojtehedzadeh, St. Catharines Standard Toronto health authorities will begin naming employers with significant COVID-19 outbreaks, following long-standing concerns about the lack of public reporting on essential workplaces struck by the virus. After months of demands from worker advocates, as well as the city’s own board of health, details on outbreaks […]

RENEWED CALL FOR MILITARY SUPPORT AND RED CROSS SUPPORT IN WINDSOR-ESSEX

(January 4, 2021) By: Rob Hindi, AM800 CKLW Tracey Ramsey speaks to the media, July 9, 2018. (Photo by AM800’s Kristylee Varley) The co-chair of the Windsor Health Coalition says the region is devastated by the loss of a local health care worker. Tracey Ramsey says Sheila Yakovishin was a Unifor member who spent more […]

Executive director Natalie Mehra interview with Matt Holmes of Newstalk 610 CKTB

(January 3, 2021) By: Matt Holmes, Newstalk 610 CKTB Ontario Health Coalition executive director Natalie Mehra speaks with Matt Holmes to discuss the long-term care crisis and the need for military intervention to help the long-term care homes in crisis. Link to the interview

Ontario sees 5,839 new cases of COVID-19 and 95 deaths over 2 days

(January 2, 2021) By: CBC News Province broke another single-day record on Saturday with 3,363 new COVID-19 cases. Ontario is reporting a two-day total of 5,839 new cases of COVID-19 and 95 additional deaths. Ontario’s health ministry did not release COVID-19 daily figures on New Year’s Day. The province saw 2,476 cases on Friday and 3,363 cases on Saturday. […]

GROUP CALLS FOR MILITARY INTERVENTION IN ONTARIO LONG-TERM CARE HOMES

(January 2, 2021) By: Staff, The Canadian Press People protest outside the Tendercare Living Centre long-term-care facility during the COVID-19 pandemic in Scarborough, Ont., on Tuesday, December 29, 2020. This LTC home has been hit hard by the coronavirus during the second wave. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette A non-profit that represents health-care professionals and patients […]

ONTARIO HEALTH COALITION ASKING FOR MILITARY ASSISTANCE AT RAVAGED LONG-TERM CARE HOMES

(January 2, 2021) By: Newstalk 1010 – iHeartRadio A non-profit that represents health-care professionals and patients is calling for military intervention in Ontario’s long-term care homes to help control outbreaks of COVID-19. The executive director of the Ontario Health Coalition says redeploying the Canadian Armed Forces to the hard-hit facilities is not the group’s first […]

Ontario Health Coalition calling for another military intervention in pandemic-stricken long-term care homes

(January 2, 2021) By: Staff at Durham Radio News A health advocacy group in Ontario is calling for the armed forces to once again intervene in the long-term care crisis. The Ontario Health Coalition, which represents patients and health-care workers, says that while it isn’t their first choice, there aren’t many options while the outbreaks […]

Public workers urge Ford government to send in the military to help with growing long-term care COVID outbreak nightmare

(January 2, 2021) By: Rhythm Sachdeva, St. Catharines Standard It’s time for the Ontario government to send the military into long-term-care homes, the Canadian Union of Public Employees says. With growing COVID-19 outbreaks in the province’s care homes, “We are tragically losing the battle to protect long-term care residents,” CUPE Ontario secretary-treasurer Candace Rennick said […]

DEATH TOLL AT SCARBOROUGH LONG-TERM CARE HOME WITH COVID-19 OUTBREAK CLIMBS TO 60

(January 2, 2021) By: Bryann Aguilar, Newstalk 610 CKTB – iHeartRadio The death toll at a Scarborough long-term care home experiencing an outbreak of COVID-19 has climbed to 60 as eight more residents have died. North York General Hospital, which took over the management of Tendercare Living Centre in December, updated the number of fatalities […]

Scores of people protest conditions at Tendercare after 60 deaths due to COVID-19

(January 2, 2021) By: Muriel Draaisma, CBC News Protesters call on province to take further action as Scarborough home battles outbreak Maureen McDermott, a protester, wondered aloud at the rally how many people have to die before Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Long-Term Care Minister Merrilee Fullerton bring in the Canadian Armed Forces. (Keith Burgess/CBC) Scores […]

ONTARIO HEALTH COALITION CALLS FOR MILITARY INTERVENTION AT LONG-TERM CARE HOMES BATTLING OUTBREAKS

(January 2, 2021) By: Heather Seaman, Newstalk 1010 – iHeartRadio The Ontario Health Coalition, a non-profit that represents health-care professionals and patients, is calling on the government to redeploy the Canadian Armed Forces to help contain outbreaks at hard-hit long-term care homes across the province, struggling to contain COVID-19 outbreaks. One of the biggest outbreaks […]

Today’s coronavirus news: Former talk show host Larry King hospitalized with COVID-19 in Los Angeles; Ontario reports two-day total of 5,839 COVID cases, 95 deaths

(January 2, 2021) By: Star Staff, Toronto Star 6:56 p.m.: Former talk show host Larry King is reportedly hospitalized with COVID-19 in Los Angeles. King, 87, is being treated at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, ABC News reported Saturday. The Brooklyn born King hosted “Larry King Live” on CNN from 1985 to 2010 and more recently, helmed “Larry […]

These numbers reveal a worrying trend in Ontario long-term-care home deaths

(January 1, 2021) By: Jenna Moon & Andrew Bailey, Toronto Star Without immediate action and extra interventions to protect residents of Ontario’s long-term-care homes, the next few weeks could mean disaster, experts warn. An analysis by the Star of the number of deaths in Ontario’s long-term-care homes is already showing a worrying trend. The data […]

York Region medical officer of health steps in after COVID-19 outbreak at Villa Leonardo Gambin

(January 1, 2021) By: Rosie DiManno, St. Catharines Standard The associate director of care at Villa Leonardo Gambin gets out a curt “no comment’’ and hangs up the phone. The chief administrator at Villa Leonardo Gambin didn’t answer her phone — although she was definitely there on New Year’s Day — or respond to phone […]

Coronavirus: Military intervention needed at Ontario long-term care homes, group says

(January 1, 2021) By: Global News Staff, Global News A non-profit that represents health-care professionals and patients is calling for military intervention in Ontario’s long-term care homes to help control outbreaks of COVID-19. The executive director of the Ontario Health Coalition says redeploying the Canadian Armed Forces to the hard-hit facilities is not the group’s first […]

York Region medical officer of health steps in after COVID-19 outbreak at Villa Leonardo Gambin

( January 1, 2021) By: Rosie DiManno, Toronto Star The associate director of care at Villa Leonardo Gambin gets out a curt “no comment’’ and hangs up the phone. The chief administrator at Villa Leonardo Gambin didn’t answer her phone — although she was definitely there on New Year’s Day — or respond to phone […]

At the end of 2020, we’re looking back at some of the Hamilton pandemic stories that made headlines in 2020. HAMILTON REGION A year of uncertainty: How COVID-19 unravelled in Hamilton in 2020

(December 30, 2020) By: Jennifer Moore, The Hamilton Spectator The pandemic of 2020. Hamilton residents are quickly wrapping up a year of uncertainty with more uncertainty. Rumours began early in the new year about a deadly virus coming out of China. The first hint of the coming world crisis began in earnest with contaminated cruise […]

Province needs to call in the military again to help Ontario’s long-term-care homes, says health coalition head

(December 30, 2020) By: Jeremy Nuttall, St. Catharines Standard Measures taken to protect those in Ontario’s long-term-care homes have been a failure and the military should once again be sent into the facilities, says the executive director of the Ontario Health Coalition. Natalie Mehra said, as the second wave of COVID-19 continues to ravage Ontario, the conditions […]

Province needs to call in the military again to help Ontario’s long-term-care homes, says health coalition head

(December 30, 2020) By: Jeremy Nuttall, Toronto Star Measures taken to protect those in Ontario’s long-term-care homes have been a failure and the military should once again be sent into the facilities, says the executive director of the Ontario Health Coalition. Natalie Mehra said, as the second wave of COVID-19 continues to ravage Ontario, the conditions inside […]

Backlash after Ontario scales back COVID-19 vaccinations over Christmas holidays

(December 29, 2020) By: Bill Kelly and Dr. Amit Arya Dr. Amit Arya is a palliative care physician who works in long-term care facilities and is an Ontario Health Coalition board member Only five of a possible 17 vaccination clinics across Ontario were in operation over the Christmas holidays as staffing challenges forced the province […]

As doctors who work in long-term care homes and serve marginalized populations, we believe it’s well past time to end for-profit long-term care

(December 29, 2020) By: Dr. Amit Arya, Dr. Naheed Dosani, Dr. Silvy Mathew and Dr. Andrew Boozary, Toronto Star Dr. Amit Arya is a palliative care physician who works in long-term care facilities and is an Ontario Health Coalition board member We’re almost a year into this pandemic and the inhumane horror in long-term care […]

Long-Term Care Is ‘Dangerous.’ What’s Ontario’s Plan For Alternatives?

(December 25, 2020) By: Sherina Harris, HuffPost Canadians want to age at home. Will the pandemic help them get support? Every night for the last five months, Robin Nelson has laid down to sleep beside her mom Ann’s hospital bed, on the couch in her living room. In August, Ann was sent to hospital — […]

Ontario nursing home battling COVID-19 outbreak

(December 24, 2020) By: Dr. Amit Arya, CBC News Dr. Amit Arya is a palliative care physician who works in long-term care facilities and is an Ontario Health Coalition board member Doctors are sounding the alarm over an outbreak in an Ontario nursing home. Tendercare Nursing Home in Scarborough is reporting 158 active cases of […]

‘A preventable tragedy:’ Palliative care doctor Dr. Amit Arya says we’ve failed Long-term care residents

(December 24, 2020) By: Ismaila Alfa and Dr. Amit Arya, Metro Morning with Ismaila Alfa Dr. Amit Arya is a palliative care physician who works in long-term care facilities and is an Ontario Health Coalition board member Click here for interview

What Doug Ford Has (And Hasn’t) Done Since ‘Horrific’ Military Report On Nursing Homes

(December 23, 2020) By: Emma Paling, HuffPost The premier’s tears didn’t translate into action, families and experts say. Ontario Premier Doug Ford fights back tears as he answers question about a disturbing report from the Canadian military regarding five Ontario long-term-care homes in Toronto on May 26, 2020. TORONTO — Seven months have passed since […]

Ontario locks down on Boxing Day, but essential workers still work. Without protections like paid sick leave, it just won’t work

(December 23, 2020) By: Sabina Vohra, Dr. Naheed Dosani, Dr. Seema Marwaha and Semir Bulle When the province-wide lockdown starts on Boxing Day, Ontario’s essential workers will still be going to work. In truth, they will be going into work so the rest of us can stay home. They need to be protected. But what […]

Ontario’s Lockdown Ignores Workplaces Hard Hit by COVID Outbreaks

(December 23, 2020) By: Anya Zoledziowski, Vice World News Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s attempts to temper the concerning rise in COVID-19 infections don’t go far enough, experts say, because he hasn’t mandated paid sick leave for workers, and essential workplaces seeing outbreaks—including warehouses and food processing plants—will continue to operate without further restrictions. Ford announced […]

Hamilton breaks new record in active COVID cases

(December 22, 2020) By: Maria Iqbal, The Hamilton Spectator Hamilton reported a record number of active cases and three new deaths Tuesday. The city has 101 new cases, with active cases jumping to 992, an increase of 41 from the previous day. The previous record was 979 active cases, reported Dec. 20. All numbers are as of 3 p.m. the […]

How did all of this happen again?

(December 22, 2020) By: Anne Jarvis, Windsor Star (Print Edition) What happened at The Village at St. Clair long-term care home in Windsor? How did the novel coronavirus spread to so many residents and staff so fast? The outbreak was first reported Dec. 8. A week later, 89 residents and staff had been infected. By […]

LONG TERM CARE FACILITY COVID-19 OUTBREAKS OUT OF CONTROL

(December 21, 2020) By: Matt Holmes, Newstalk 610 CKTB Matt Holmes Speaks with Natalie Mehra – Executive Director Ontario Health Coalition regarding long term care facility outbreaks now out of control Link to the interview

‘Darker shade of grey’; Top doc dour while Ford says T.O., Peel staying in lockdown

(December 19, 2020) By: Antonella Artuso, Toronto Sun (Print Edition) Ontario is keeping all existing lockdowns in place and adding Hamilton to the grey zone. “After assessing trends in key public health indicators, Peel Public Health and Toronto Public Health will remain in the grey-lockdown level to be reassessed on Jan. 4, 2021,” a government […]

Fullerton Monitoring Roseview Outbreak

(December 18, 2020) By: Colin Redston, Country 105 The province is keeping a close watch on the COVID-19 outbreak at Southbridge Roseview that’s taken twelve lives. Long-Term Care Minister Merrilee Fullerton they’re staying on top of the situation at the Thunder Bay home, as they do with all outbreaks. “We touch base daily with the […]

Grip of coronavirus tightens at city long-term care facility; At least two residents dead, 105 cases confirmed at The Village at St. Clair

(December 18, 2020) By: Dalson Chen, Windsor Star (Print Edition) The coronavirus situation at The Village at St. Clair – a Windsor long-term care facility under the Schlegel Villages corporation – has worsened with the deaths of at least two residents and the number of cases at the site entering the triple digits. A letter […]

More than 400 COVID-19 cases at Amazon warehouses in Ontario amid concern over industrial spread of virus

(December 18, 2020) By: Brodie Thomas, Calgary Herald Amazon distribution facilities around Canada’s biggest airport have seen more than 400 COVID-19 cases, a source said Thursday, as concern mounts about the virus’s spread in industrial workplaces that face few government restrictions. Many municipalities in Ontario are now under sweeping lockdowns to try to curb the […]

Union representing staff at Hamilton’s Grace Villa describes ‘horrible’ outbreak

(December 18, 2020) By: Ken Mann, 900 CHML Global News 21 residents of Grace Villa have died of COVID-19, since an outbreak was declared Nov 25. A union representative for long-term care workers at Grace Villa — the site of Hamilton’s deadliest COVID-19 outbreak — has offered a glimpse inside the embattled home. Ricardo McKenzie with the Service […]

Lockdown in Toronto, Peel to continue past Monday: Ford

(December 18, 2020) By: Antonella Artuso, canoe.com Dr. David Williams, Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer (centre) Premier Doug Ford and Health Minister Christine Elliott attend a news conference at the Ontario Legislature in Toronto on Wednesday November 25, 2020. PHOTO BY CHRIS YOUNG /THE CANADIAN PRESS Ontario is keeping all existing lockdowns in place and adding Hamilton to […]

Survey details ‘horrific’ conditions in Ontario long-term care homes

(December 18, 2020) By: Doug Diaczuk, tbnewswatch.com A survey by the Ontario Health Coalition of staff in long-term care facilities experiencing an outbreak of COVID-19, including one in Thunder Bay, details how staffing shortages are resulting in horrific conditions inside. THUNDER BAY – From empty hallways, inadequate personal protective equipment, to a lack of cleaning, […]

Understanding the Ontario Health Coalition’s report on the COVID-19 crisis in Long-Term Care Homes

(December 18, 2020) By: London Live with Mike Stubbs, Global News Radio The Ontario Health Coalition released a report that details the ongoing COVID-19 crisis in the province’s long-term care homes. The report looks at current conditions in long-term care, where we are at in the second wave compared to the first, and the alarming […]

COVID-19 outbreak at Windsor long-term care home worsens with more cases, more deaths

(December 18, 2020) By: Dalson Chen, Windsor Star The novel coronavirus situation at The Village at St. Clair — a Windsor long-term care facility under the Schlegel Villages corporation — has worsened with the deaths of at least two residents and the number of cases at the site entering the triple digits. A letter circulated […]

Ontario sees second day of record new COVID-19 cases

(December 17, 2020) By: Antonella Artuso, Toronto Sun Ontario reported 2,000-plus more COVID-19 cases for the second day in a row. As Toronto Mayor John Tory urged the public to stay home for the holidays, the city confirmed 780 new cases Wednesday. A spokesperson for Premier Doug Ford’s office would only say the government intends […]

Local MPPs want more help for long-term care home outbreak

(December 17, 2020) By: Alana Hadadean, CTV News Windsor The Village at St. Clair in Windsor, Ont. (Courtesy The Village at St. Clair / Facebook) WINDSOR, ONT — Windsor NDP MPPs are sounding the alarm for the provincial government to step in and take action to protect residents and healthcare workers. “This is a crisis […]

Three residents of Schlegel Villages die due to COVID-19 outbreak

(December 17, 2020) By: Staff, CTV News Windsor WINDSOR, ONT. — Three residents at The Village at St. Clair have passed away from COVID-19 following an outbreak at the long-term care facility. The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit said Thursday that three residents from the same long-term care home have died – a man in his […]

Report Calls For LTC Staffing Reform

(December 17, 2020) By: Vic Krasowski, Country 105 The National Guard / CC A scathing report from the Ontario Health Coalition on the state of long-term care homes and the pandemic. It examined the situation at the homes since the second wave of COVID-19 began. Coalition Executive Director Natalie Mehra says the report shows over 700 people […]

Ontario’s Long-Term Care Interventions Came ‘Perilously Late’: Report

(December 17, 2020) By: Sherina Harris, HuffPost Fifty crosses have appeared on the side lawn of the Camilla Care Community nursing home in Mississauga, Ont. on May 10, 2020. The Ontario Ministry of Long-Term Care acted “perilously late” and “underused” its powers to mandate takeovers of long-term care homes during the pandemic, according to a new report. As […]

Government must invest in long-term care, including rigorous inspections

(December 17, 2020) By: Keith Leslie, The Hamilton Spectator The Ontario government should be ashamed that the second wave of COVID-19 has been even more devastating than the first in long-term-care homes, especially after Premier Doug Ford promised an “iron ring of protection” for 70,000 vulnerable citizens. So far, 2,400 long-term-care residents and eight staff […]

Long Term Care Homes Continue to Struggle During the Second Wave of COVID-19

(December 17, 2020) By: 104.7 Heart FM The Ontario Health Coalition has released a 66 page report outlining why long term care homes continue to be the hardest hit during the second wave of COVID-19. ONTARIO – In the past 24 hours alone, 18 residents of Long Term Care homes in Ontario have died and […]

Doug Ford commits up to $1.9 billion a year to give nursing-home residents more hands-on care

(December 17, 2020) By: Rob Ferguson, Queen’s Park Bureau Ontario has put a price tag on its promise to dramatically improve staffing in nursing homes so residents can get an average of four hours daily hands-on care by 2025, but critics say most people now in long-term care won’t live to see it. In a […]

REPORT: COVID-19 Second Wave Survey of Staff in Long-Term Care Homes with Large Outbreaks

(December 18, 2020) The Ontario Health Coalition had been conducting surveys of front-line staff in homes with large outbreaks (more than 10 staff and/or residents infected) across Ontario from mid-November to December of 2020. We have collected 88 surveys filled in by long-term care staff who work in dozens of different long-term care homes that […]

Unifor, others call for action after home outbreak

(December 16, 2020) By: Mark Brown, blackburnnews.com The Village At St. Clair, July 25, 2014, three days before it officially opens. (photo by Mike Vlasveld) Opposition MPPs have joined union and health representatives in calling on the government to protect health care workers. In the wake of a major outbreak at the Village of St. […]

RELEASE: Health Coalition Disappointed with Ford Government’s Staffing Report Announcement: No Recruitment Drive Announced, Timelines for Staffing Improvements Mean Slight Improvements Year After Next

(December 17, 2020) Toronto – As more and more long-term care homes fall into dire staffing crises, the Ontario Health Coalition expressed its anger and disappointment with the government’s staffing report released today. “We expected that they would launch a recruitment drive right now because long-term care is in the worst crisis it has ever […]

COVID-19 outbreaks spread at Victoria Hospital in London, Ont.

(December 16, 2020) By: Kate Dubinski, CBC News The London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) has declared one new outbreak at Victoria Hospital Wednesday but has yet to comment about how many patients or staff members are involved. Level Two outbreaks were declared in the sub-acute medicine unit and the short term admissions unit in the […]

RELEASE & REPORT: A Call to Conscience: New Report on the COVID-19 Crisis in Long-Term Care in Wave 2 Reveals Huge Gaps in Ford Government’s Response

(December 17, 2020) Click here for full report Click here for slideshow with a quick sample of just a few of the exploding outbreaks in long-term care Click here for printable version of media release Media Release Coalition Calls for Urgent Improvements as Staffing and Care is Collapsing & Large Outbreaks Spread Toronto – In […]

Here’s what COVID-19 has taught us over the past year

(December 15, 2020) By: Veronica Appia, toronto.com Back in March, Ontarians were getting fined for sitting on park benches — alone. Patients were being denied masks at their local health clinics and hospitals. People were going around calling the virus “the great equalizer.” Now, nine months later, much of what experts and citizens thought they […]

RELEASE & REPORT: Updated Report on the Spread of COVID-19 in Non-Health Care Workplaces Shows Huge Growth in Manufacturing, Schools, Construction and Retail

(December 15, 2020) Toronto– It is evident that the “lockdowns” in hotspots and measures in most Public Health Unit regions have been inadequate to stem the spread of COVID-19 and the numbers are alarming, according to a new tracking report released today by the Ontario Health Coalition here: https://www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca/index.php/report-covid-19-outbreaks-in-non-healthcare-settings-data-updated-to-december-2/ The numbers released by Public Health Ontario […]

Today’s coronavirus news: Trudeau announces first batches of COVID-19 vaccine arrived in Canada; Five TDSB schools to close Monday; Ontario reports 1,677 new COVID-19 cases, 16 deaths

(December 13, 2020) By: Staff, Toronto Star 7:58 p.m. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took to Twitter Sunday evening to announce that the first batch Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines had arrived in Canada. “This is good news. But our fight against COVID-19 is not over. Now more than ever, let’s keep up our vigilance,” tweeted Trudeau. Ontario is expected […]

Newest data shows 7 ‘large outbreaks’ at Peel long-term-care and retirement homes

(December 11, 2020) By: Sabrina Gamrot, Caledon Enterprise Large outbreaks described as more than 10 people testing positive The newest data from the Ontario Health Coalition (OHC) found seven long-term-care and retirement homes in the region are battling “large outbreaks,” where more than 10 people have tested positive for COVID-19. The largest outbreak has been reported at Tyndall […]