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Ontario Health Coalition among groups calling for transparency in LTC inquiry
Posted: May 29, 2020
(May 28, 2020)
By: Durham Radio Group
The Ontario Health Coalition is one of dozens of groups that are calling on the Ford government to ensure any inquiry into the state of long-term care (LTC) homes is open, public and transparent.
In a joint open letter to the provincial government, the groups say a “full public commission or inquiry into the province’s overall response to COVID-19” is critical to preventing similar outbreaks in the future.
They’re also asking for any public inquiry into LTC homes be independent and unbiased.
According to the groups, this means allowing voices from families, residents, staff, unions, public interest groups and advocates to take part. They add that the inquiry should not, under any circumstances, be led by any partisan interests or LTC owners or operators.
Finally, the letters are calling for the premier to put forward a “coherent plan” to slow the spread of COVID-19 in LTC and retirement homes.
That means addressing staffing problems, improving access to personal protective equipment (PPE), better testing methods and contact tracing, and bringing in minimum standards of care for LTC homes.
In addition to the Ontario Health Coalition, groups like the Bowmanville Nurses Association, Canadian Association of Retired Persons, the Ontario Council of Hospital Unions (OCHU), Unifor Local 222, and the United Steelworkers have signed on to the letter.
Click here to read the open letter from the Ontario Health Coalition or for more information.
