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1227 - 4/22/2022 1:50:55 PM  

Government of Canada Invests More than $379 Million to Support Canadians Living in Long-Term Care in Ontario
 

For Immediate Release  - April 21, 2022

“We have been working closely with LTC facilities locally throughout the pandemic as they have  been going above and beyond to provide support for our seniors, who have been  disproportionately impacted. I am so pleased to see the Federal Government sign this  agreement with Ontario, which will lead to improved patient care and outcomes.” 
Lloyd Longfield - Member of Parliament for Guelph  

As we recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, we must address the existing challenges that  were made worse for many Canadians, including those living in long-term care (LTC) homes. Over the last two years, we have seen gaps in infection prevention and control, staffing, and  infrastructure, with tragic effects on residents, their families, and those working in LTC homes. We know that these challenges remain and as a government, we must continue to do more to  ensure all seniors get the quality care they deserve. 

Today, the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Health, and the Honourable Kamal Khera,  Minister of Seniors, announced the signing of the Safe Long-Term Care Fund (SLTCF) agreement with Ontario. Through this agreement, Ontario is receiving more than $379 million from the $1 billion investment made in the 2020 Fall Economic Statement (FES). 

“All Canadians should have access to the safe, quality health care they need and deserve, and  furthermore, all seniors deserve to be treated with dignity and appropriate care, when and where they need it. Today’s agreement with Ontario will help address the challenges affecting  long-term care homes that have been made worse by the pandemic. Our government will  continue to be there for seniors in Ontario, and everywhere in Canada, by working with all  provinces and territories to strengthen our health care system.”   The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos Canada’s Minister of Health 

Since its introduction in FES 2020, SLTCF has helped provinces and territories to improve  infection prevention and control in LTC homes across the country. Ontario, with this investment,  has built on existing projects in LTC homes by funding the following initiatives:  

• Support for retention measures for existing staff; 

• Support for an adequate supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) for staff and  visitors; 

• Support for strengthened infection prevention and control measures and training;

• Virtual care tools and services for LTC home residents and staff;

• Support for regular testing of staff and visitors; and, 

• Support for vaccine administration, providing hotels and other accommodations to staff  to reduce travel pressure and potential exposure to families. 

“The COVID-19 pandemic exposed uncomfortable truths and gaps in how seniors are cared for  in long-term care homes. One of the greatest tragedies of this pandemic is the lives lost in long term care homes. During my time volunteering as a registered nurse at one of the hardest hit  long-term care facilities in Ontario, I saw first-hand this heartbreaking reality. Our government is committed to making improvements to the quality of life of seniors and ensuring that Canadians  working in long-term care are treated with respect. With this investment, long-term care facilities  in Ontario will have the resources they need to improve their infrastructure and build on their  initiatives to provide a safe environment for those living and working in these homes.” The Honourable Kamal Khera  Canada’s Minister of Seniors 

The Government of Canada will continue to work collaboratively with the provinces and  territories to drive positive healthcare outcomes for Canadians. Our government recently  announced an investment of $2 billion to help our provincial and territorial partners significantly  reduce the backlog of surgeries delayed because of COVID-19. 

This investment is part of a  broader list of priority areas in health care, which are: 

• Reduce backlogs and support our health care workers;  

• Enhance access to family health services 

• Improve mental health and substance use services; 

• Help Canadians age with dignity, closer to home; and  

• Use health data and digital health more effectively. 

By focusing on these areas, we will help ensure that our health care system is better suited to  keeping everyone healthy and safe, including seniors living in LTC homes.  

“Under the leadership of Premier Ford, Ontario is implementing its plan to fix Long-Term Care.  Our plan includes over $13 billion to build over 58,000 new and upgraded beds, in new, state-of the-art facilities across the province. This funding will also assist in the hiring of an additional  27,000 healthcare professionals, as we achieve our goal of 4 hours of care per resident per day.  We look forward to working with the federal government as we continue to implement our plan  to fix long-term care.”  The Honourable Raymond Sung Joon Cho - Ontario Minister for Seniors and Accessibility 

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