North Island-Powell River MP Rachel Blaney has called on the federal government to improve care for seniors.
A media release from the federal New Democratic Party stated the pandemic has shown Canadians the cost of government inaction and neglect in the health-care system. The release stated that families have lost their loved ones in long-term care centres across the country. On February 5, NDP leader Jagmeet Singh outlined the NDP’s plan to take profits out of long-term care and implement a care guarantee for those people.
“Every Canadian, of every age, deserves to live in dignity and be treated with respect by their government and the health-care system,” stated Singh. “Families need to know that their loved ones are safe in long-term care facilities, and that they’re getting the very best care possible. We need a government on the side of seniors, their families, and frontline health-care workers – instead of on the side of wealthy investors. The NDP will continue to fight to make sure people are ahead of profits.”
Blaney served as the NDP’s critic for seniors issues from 2017 to 2019 and recently hosted a virtual panel with BC seniors advocate Isobel Mackenzie and CanAge CEO Laura Tamblyn Watts.
“The stories that have emerged about seniors care during the pandemic have been heartbreaking, but sadly, not surprising,” stated Blaney. “I’ve heard concerns and stories from seniors and those who care for them at our town halls, through letters, phone calls and emails, and those have all helped inform this commitment to fix the way we treat and care for our elders in Canada.”
The release stated that decades of cuts to health transfers by previous Conservative and Liberal governments have hurt the health-care system, and the current government has been unwilling to reverse them. The NDP plan to address the long-term care system includes a care guarantee with a commitment to loved ones that they will have safe and dignified care as they age; a commitment to families that they can count on their loved ones receiving the care they deserve; and a commitment to workers who provide that care. The plan would take profit out of long-term care, create national standards of care with accountability mechanisms, and improve working conditions for care providers. It would also make supportive housing a priority under an expanded national housing strategy, according to the release.
“It’s time to stop talking about it and wringing our hands,” stated Blaney. “We need to take better care of seniors in Canada. This is a plan to do it.”
