(October 6, 2020)<\/p>\n
By: Sudbury Star (Print Edition)<\/p>\n
A health coalition is planning a series of protests – including one in Sudbury – to press for better care in Ontario’s longterm care homes.<\/p>\n
The Ontario Health Coalition said the Ford government needs to hire more staff, implement a minimum of four hours of hands-on care for each resident and end for-profit long-term care.<\/p>\n
“Over 1,900 Ontario residents and staff have died of COVID-19 in long-term care,” the coalition said in a release. “The funding and staffing announcements made by the Ford government over the past week increases the money but is far less than what is needed.<\/p>\n
“There is no clear recruitment plan and they will not address the longstanding issues with lack of full-time work and poor conditions.”<\/p>\n
The coalition said provincial governments in Quebec and British Columbia “acted months ago and are doing more. We are calling for immediate action by the Ford government to recruit and train staff, improve pay and working conditions and provide full-time work.”<\/p>\n
As a result, the Ontario Health Coalition has called for a Day of Action on Thursday, 11 a.m.<\/p>\n
It notes current public health guidelines forbid groups of more than 25 outside across Ontario. In accordance with these rules, the Ontario Health Coalition is holding a number of press conferences and car motorcades.<\/p>\n
“We will ask most people to be in their cars and participants will make the protest visual by affixing signs and decorating their car (safely) with messages about the need to improve longterm care and make it public.”<\/p>\n
In Sudbury, the protest will be held outside Pioneer Manor at 960 Notre Dame Ave.<\/p>\n
Similar rallies will be held throughout Ontario, including Toronto, North Bay and Sault Ste. Marie and Thunder Bay.<\/p>\n