McGuinty Government’s nursing homes Bill
falls short, says MPP Arnott
Needs of seniors living in wards
ignored by McGuinty Government
On January 16th at Queen’ Park, MPP Ted Arnott joined
PC Health Critic Elizabeth Witmer for the first day
of public hearings on Bill 140, the Long-Term Care
Homes Act. The hearings are being conducted by the
all-party Standing Committee on Social Policy.
“We’re
hearing from long-term care providers, administrators,
caregivers, residents and their families. Based on
what we’ve heard, there are a number of significant
problems with the Government’s long-term care Bill,”
said Mr. Arnott.
The
PC Members are calling on the Provincial Government
to amend Bill 140 to provide for a capital renewal
plan that would eliminate three and four-bed ward
rooms, and give residents a better quality of life.
Also
at issue is the Government’s proposed regulatory framework.
“Long-term
care providers say the regulations are one-sided,
and that the Bill places the burden of administrative
costs squarely on the shoulders of health care providers.
The Government should be providing more resources
to provide care for residents rather than creating
excessive paperwork,” said Mr. Arnott.
Last
November, the Legislature unanimously passed MPP Elizabeth
Witmer’s Private Member’s Resolution calling for an
effective capital renewal plan for Ontario’s 35,000
older B and C beds, so that all seniors would be treated
equally.
MPPs
Witmer and Arnott are renewing that call for a capital
plan and are urging the McGuinty Government to keep
its election promise and provide an additional $6,000
in per resident funding. Moreover, they are calling
for a complete overhaul of the flawed licensing scheme
contained in Bill 140
