{"id":15442,"date":"2020-12-01T13:03:50","date_gmt":"2020-12-01T18:03:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca\/?p=15442"},"modified":"2020-12-14T13:18:29","modified_gmt":"2020-12-14T18:18:29","slug":"ontario-pcs-have-raked-in-30k-from-big-nursing-home-lobbyists","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca\/index.php\/ontario-pcs-have-raked-in-30k-from-big-nursing-home-lobbyists\/","title":{"rendered":"Ontario PCs Have Raked In $30K From Big Nursing Home Lobbyists"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>(November 30, 2020)<\/p>\n<p>By: Emma Paling, HuffPost<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"share-bar-image-wrapper\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"image__src\" src=\"https:\/\/img.huffingtonpost.com\/asset\/5fc540462300002c08400c3f.jpeg?cache=Cd0iv3Qq2O&amp;ops=scalefit_630_noupscale\" alt=\"Ontario Premier Doug Ford answers questions during a briefing at Humber River Hospital in Toronto on...\" width=\"460\" height=\"302\" aria-label=\"Ontario Premier Doug Ford answers questions during a briefing at Humber River Hospital in Toronto on Nov. 24,\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"image__meta-wrapper\"><span class=\"image__credit\">FRANK GUNN\/CANADIAN PRESS<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"image__meta-wrapper\">Ontario Premier Doug Ford answers questions during a briefing at Humber River Hospital in Toronto on Nov. 24, 2020.<\/div>\n<p>TORONTO \u2014\u00a0Premier\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.ca\/news\/doug-ford\/\" data-rapid-elm=\"context_link\" data-ylk=\"elm:context_link;itc:0\" data-rapid-sec=\"{&quot;entry-text&quot;:&quot;entry-text&quot;}\" data-rapid-itc=\"0\" data-rapid_p=\"2\" data-v9y=\"1\">Doug Ford<\/a>\u2019s\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.ca\/news\/ontario-pcs\/\" data-rapid-elm=\"context_link\" data-ylk=\"elm:context_link;itc:0\" data-rapid-sec=\"{&quot;entry-text&quot;:&quot;entry-text&quot;}\" data-rapid-itc=\"0\" data-rapid_p=\"3\" data-v9y=\"1\">Progressive Conservative party<\/a>\u00a0has received at least $30,833 in donations from lobbyists hired by the private nursing home industry, a HuffPost Canada analysis has found.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Brayden Akers, who lobbies for Sienna Senior Living, has made\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/finances.elections.on.ca\/en\/contributions?contributorNames=%22Akers,%20Brayden%22&amp;fromYear=2014&amp;toYear=2020\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-rapid-elm=\"context_link\" data-ylk=\"elm:context_link;itc:0\" data-rapid-sec=\"{&quot;entry-text&quot;:&quot;entry-text&quot;}\" data-rapid-itc=\"0\" data-rapid_p=\"4\" data-v9y=\"1\">two $220-donations<\/a>\u00a0to the PCs this year;<\/li>\n<li>Andrew Brander, who lobbies for the Ontario Long Term Care Association (OLTCA), which mostly represents for-profit operators, has donated $4,303\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/finances.elections.on.ca\/en\/contributions?contributorNames=%22BRANDER%20ANDREW%22&amp;fromYear=2014&amp;toYear=2020\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-rapid-elm=\"context_link\" data-ylk=\"elm:context_link;itc:0\" data-rapid-sec=\"{&quot;entry-text&quot;:&quot;entry-text&quot;}\" data-rapid-itc=\"0\" data-rapid_p=\"5\" data-v9y=\"1\">to the party<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/finances.elections.on.ca\/en\/contributions?contributorNames=%22Brander,%20Andrew%22&amp;fromYear=2014&amp;toYear=2020\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-rapid-elm=\"context_link\" data-ylk=\"elm:context_link;itc:0\" data-rapid-sec=\"{&quot;entry-text&quot;:&quot;entry-text&quot;}\" data-rapid-itc=\"0\" data-rapid_p=\"6\" data-v9y=\"1\">its riding associations<\/a>\u00a0and its candidates since 2016;<\/li>\n<li>Extendicare lobbyist Melissa Lantsman\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/finances.elections.on.ca\/en\/contributions?contributorNames=%22Lantsman,%20Melissa%22&amp;fromYear=2014&amp;toYear=2020\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-rapid-elm=\"context_link\" data-ylk=\"elm:context_link;itc:0\" data-rapid-sec=\"{&quot;entry-text&quot;:&quot;entry-text&quot;}\" data-rapid-itc=\"0\" data-rapid_p=\"7\" data-v9y=\"1\">has donated<\/a>\u00a0$5,580 to the PCs since 2018;<\/li>\n<li>Patrick Lavelle-Tuns, who lobbies for Caressant Care, has\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/finances.elections.on.ca\/en\/contributions?contributorNames=%22LAVELLE-TUNS%20PATRICK%22&amp;fromYear=2014&amp;toYear=2020\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-rapid-elm=\"context_link\" data-ylk=\"elm:context_link;itc:0\" data-rapid-sec=\"{&quot;entry-text&quot;:&quot;entry-text&quot;}\" data-rapid-itc=\"0\" data-rapid_p=\"8\" data-v9y=\"1\">chipped in<\/a>\u00a0$5,723\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/finances.elections.on.ca\/en\/contributions?contributorNames=%22Lavelle-Tuns,%20Patrick%22&amp;fromYear=2014&amp;toYear=2020\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-rapid-elm=\"context_link\" data-ylk=\"elm:context_link;itc:0\" data-rapid-sec=\"{&quot;entry-text&quot;:&quot;entry-text&quot;}\" data-rapid-itc=\"0\" data-rapid_p=\"9\" data-v9y=\"1\">for the party<\/a>, its riding associations and its candidates since 2015;<\/li>\n<li>Leslie Noble has lobbied for Chartwell and the OLTCA, and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/finances.elections.on.ca\/en\/contributions?contributorNames=%22NOBLE%20LESLIE%22&amp;fromYear=2014&amp;toYear=2020\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-rapid-elm=\"context_link\" data-ylk=\"elm:context_link;itc:0\" data-rapid-sec=\"{&quot;entry-text&quot;:&quot;entry-text&quot;}\" data-rapid-itc=\"0\" data-rapid_p=\"10\" data-v9y=\"1\">since 2014<\/a>\u00a0has\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/finances.elections.on.ca\/en\/contributions?contributorNames=%22Noble,%20Leslie%22&amp;fromYear=2014&amp;toYear=2020\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-rapid-elm=\"context_link\" data-ylk=\"elm:context_link;itc:0\" data-rapid-sec=\"{&quot;entry-text&quot;:&quot;entry-text&quot;}\" data-rapid-itc=\"0\" data-rapid_p=\"11\" data-v9y=\"1\">donated<\/a>\u00a0$11,434 to various wings of the PC party, including the leadership campaigns of Minister\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.ca\/news\/christine-elliott\/\" data-rapid-elm=\"context_link\" data-ylk=\"elm:context_link;itc:0\" data-rapid-sec=\"{&quot;entry-text&quot;:&quot;entry-text&quot;}\" data-rapid-itc=\"0\" data-rapid_p=\"12\" data-v9y=\"1\">Christine Elliott<\/a>\u00a0and Minister\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.ca\/news\/caroline-mulroney\/\" data-rapid-elm=\"context_link\" data-ylk=\"elm:context_link;itc:0\" data-rapid-sec=\"{&quot;entry-text&quot;:&quot;entry-text&quot;}\" data-rapid-itc=\"0\" data-rapid_p=\"13\" data-v9y=\"1\">Caroline Mulroney<\/a>;<\/li>\n<li>Another OLTCA lobbyist, Ginny Roth, has\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/finances.elections.on.ca\/en\/contributions?contributorNames=%22MOVAT%20GINNY%22&amp;fromYear=2014&amp;toYear=2020\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-rapid-elm=\"context_link\" data-ylk=\"elm:context_link;itc:0\" data-rapid-sec=\"{&quot;entry-text&quot;:&quot;entry-text&quot;}\" data-rapid-itc=\"0\" data-rapid_p=\"14\" data-v9y=\"1\">contributed<\/a>\u00a0$3,353\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/finances.elections.on.ca\/en\/contributions?contributorNames=%22Roth,%20Ginny%22&amp;fromYear=2014&amp;toYear=2020\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-rapid-elm=\"context_link\" data-ylk=\"elm:context_link;itc:0\" data-rapid-sec=\"{&quot;entry-text&quot;:&quot;entry-text&quot;}\" data-rapid-itc=\"0\" data-rapid_p=\"15\" data-v9y=\"1\">to the PC party<\/a> and one of its riding associations since 2015.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>A spokesperson for Ford declined to comment. A spokesperson for Minister of Long-Term Care Merrilee Fullerton did not respond by deadline.<\/p>\n<p>In addition to being donors, those lobbyists have all also worked for Ford, his party, people in his government or past PC governments. Akers\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.ca\/entry\/more-ford-staffers-private-nursing-home-companies_ca_5edab7c6c5b61875909f5a50\" data-rapid-elm=\"context_link\" data-ylk=\"elm:context_link;itc:0\" data-rapid-sec=\"{&quot;entry-text&quot;:&quot;entry-text&quot;}\" data-rapid-itc=\"0\" data-rapid_p=\"16\" data-v9y=\"1\">used to work<\/a>\u00a0in Ford\u2019s government for Minister Greg Rickford and Brander\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/andrew-brander-417397a5\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-rapid-elm=\"context_link\" data-ylk=\"elm:context_link;itc:0\" data-rapid-sec=\"{&quot;entry-text&quot;:&quot;entry-text&quot;}\" data-rapid-itc=\"0\" data-rapid_p=\"17\" data-v9y=\"1\">worked for<\/a>\u00a0Minister Rod Phillips. Lantsman\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/melissalantsman\/?originalSubdomain=ca\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-rapid-elm=\"context_link\" data-ylk=\"elm:context_link;itc:0\" data-rapid-sec=\"{&quot;entry-text&quot;:&quot;entry-text&quot;}\" data-rapid-itc=\"0\" data-rapid_p=\"18\" data-v9y=\"1\">was Ford\u2019s spokesperson<\/a>\u00a0during his 2018 run for premier. Noble\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/leslie-noble-strategycorp\/?originalSubdomain=ca\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-rapid-elm=\"context_link\" data-ylk=\"elm:context_link;itc:0\" data-rapid-sec=\"{&quot;entry-text&quot;:&quot;entry-text&quot;}\" data-rapid-itc=\"0\" data-rapid_p=\"19\" data-v9y=\"1\">says on LinkedIn<\/a>\u00a0her connections to Conservative politics are \u201cwell known\u201d and that she\u2019s advised politicians like former premier Mike Harris. And Roth (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/crestviewstrategy\/photos\/teamcrestviewstrategy-wishes-a-warm-congratulations-and-all-the-best-to-senior-c\/1712232962186738\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-rapid-elm=\"context_link\" data-ylk=\"elm:context_link;itc:0\" data-rapid-sec=\"{&quot;entry-text&quot;:&quot;entry-text&quot;}\" data-rapid-itc=\"0\" data-rapid_p=\"20\" data-v9y=\"1\">formerly Ginny Movat<\/a>)\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/ginny-roth-17a29421\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-rapid-elm=\"context_link\" data-ylk=\"elm:context_link;itc:0\" data-rapid-sec=\"{&quot;entry-text&quot;:&quot;entry-text&quot;}\" data-rapid-itc=\"0\" data-rapid_p=\"21\" data-v9y=\"1\">has worked at Queen\u2019s Park<\/a>\u00a0and as an organizer for the PCs. Lavelle-Tuns is named in\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.hilltimes.com\/2018\/04\/16\/pc-leader-fords-tight-knit-campaign-team-stacked-federal-provincial-experience\/140492\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-rapid-elm=\"context_link\" data-ylk=\"elm:context_link;itc:0\" data-rapid-sec=\"{&quot;entry-text&quot;:&quot;entry-text&quot;}\" data-rapid-itc=\"0\" data-rapid_p=\"22\" data-v9y=\"1\">a 2018 Hill Times article<\/a>\u00a0about Ford\u2019s \u201ctight-knit\u201d campaign team.<\/p>\n<p>Movat was unavailable to comment Friday because she\u2019s on parental leave, one of her colleagues at Crestview Strategy told HuffPost by email. A spokesperson for Aker\u2019s employer, public relations firm Navigator, said the company would not comment.<\/p>\n<p>Brander, Lantsman and Noble did not respond to requests for comment. A spokesperson for Lavelle-Tuns\u2019 client, Caressant Care, did not respond either.<\/p>\n<h3>Pandemic shines spotlight on industry<\/h3>\n<p>The long-term care industry has been thrust into the spotlight this year because of the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.ca\/news\/coronavirus\/\" data-rapid-elm=\"context_link\" data-ylk=\"elm:context_link;itc:0\" data-rapid-sec=\"{&quot;entry-text&quot;:&quot;entry-text&quot;}\" data-rapid-itc=\"0\" data-rapid_p=\"23\" data-v9y=\"1\">COVID-19<\/a>\u00a0pandemic.<\/p>\n<p>About 61 per cent of the Ontarians who\u2019ve died of COVID-19 \u2014 or\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/covid-19.ontario.ca\/data\/long-term-care-homes\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-rapid-elm=\"context_link\" data-ylk=\"elm:context_link;itc:0\" data-rapid-sec=\"{&quot;entry-text&quot;:&quot;entry-text&quot;}\" data-rapid-itc=\"0\" data-rapid_p=\"24\" data-v9y=\"1\">2,231 people<\/a>\u00a0as of Monday \u2014 either lived or worked in these facilities. And multiple\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cmaj.ca\/content\/192\/33\/E946\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-rapid-elm=\"context_link\" data-ylk=\"elm:context_link;itc:0\" data-rapid-sec=\"{&quot;entry-text&quot;:&quot;entry-text&quot;}\" data-rapid-itc=\"0\" data-rapid_p=\"25\" data-v9y=\"1\">studies<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.qpbriefing.com\/2020\/05\/07\/death-rates-at-for-profit-nursing-homes-significantly-higher-than-non-profits\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-rapid-elm=\"context_link\" data-ylk=\"elm:context_link;itc:0\" data-rapid-sec=\"{&quot;entry-text&quot;:&quot;entry-text&quot;}\" data-rapid-itc=\"0\" data-rapid_p=\"26\" data-v9y=\"1\">analyses<\/a>\u00a0have found that homes run by for-profit companies had more deadly outbreaks than those run by municipalities or charities.<\/p>\n<p>Ontario\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC5075243\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-rapid-elm=\"context_link\" data-ylk=\"elm:context_link;itc:0\" data-rapid-sec=\"{&quot;entry-text&quot;:&quot;entry-text&quot;}\" data-rapid-itc=\"0\" data-rapid_p=\"27\" data-v9y=\"1\">relies more on private operators<\/a>\u00a0to run these homes than other provinces do and the industry has a long history of hiring lobbyists with connections to provincial politicians.<\/p>\n<p>This past spring and summer, while advocates and politicians called for the industry to be\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.ca\/entry\/fixing-long-term-care-homes-culture_ca_5edfe89ac5b6fe763f0f583e?utm_hp_ref=ca-long-term-care\" data-rapid-elm=\"context_link\" data-ylk=\"elm:context_link;itc:0\" data-rapid-sec=\"{&quot;entry-text&quot;:&quot;entry-text&quot;}\" data-rapid-itc=\"0\" data-rapid_p=\"28\" data-v9y=\"1\">overhauled<\/a>\u00a0or even\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thestar.com\/news\/canada\/2020\/05\/27\/ndp-leader-jagmeet-singh-wants-ottawa-to-send-military-allegations-of-nursing-home-neglect-to-rcmp.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-rapid-elm=\"context_link\" data-ylk=\"elm:context_link;itc:0\" data-rapid-sec=\"{&quot;entry-text&quot;:&quot;entry-text&quot;}\" data-rapid-itc=\"0\" data-rapid_p=\"29\" data-v9y=\"1\">taken over<\/a>\u00a0by the government, the industry\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.ca\/entry\/for-profit-homes-conservative-insiders-coronavirus_ca_5ec5922cc5b63de4aabdd95f\" data-rapid-elm=\"context_link\" data-ylk=\"elm:context_link;itc:0\" data-rapid-sec=\"{&quot;entry-text&quot;:&quot;entry-text&quot;}\" data-rapid-itc=\"0\" data-rapid_p=\"30\" data-v9y=\"1\">launched<\/a>\u00a0a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.ca\/entry\/more-ford-staffers-private-nursing-home-companies_ca_5edab7c6c5b61875909f5a50\" data-rapid-elm=\"context_link\" data-ylk=\"elm:context_link;itc:0\" data-rapid-sec=\"{&quot;entry-text&quot;:&quot;entry-text&quot;}\" data-rapid-itc=\"0\" data-rapid_p=\"31\" data-v9y=\"1\">lobbying blitz<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Lobbyists must register with the province\u2019s integrity commissioner and describe their goals, whenever they attempt to influence public policy. None of these lobbyists listed specific policy proposals, but they said they planned to engage ministers and MPPs about issues such as funding and employment policy.<\/p>\n<p>Lavelle-Tuns\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/lobbyist.oico.on.ca\/Pages\/Public\/PublicSearch\/ConsultantLobbyistPreview.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-rapid-elm=\"context_link\" data-ylk=\"elm:context_link;itc:0\" data-rapid-sec=\"{&quot;entry-text&quot;:&quot;entry-text&quot;}\" data-rapid-itc=\"0\" data-rapid_p=\"32\" data-v9y=\"1\">said he planned<\/a>\u00a0to discuss \u201cthe role nursing homes can play to help combat COVID-19.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"share-bar-image-wrapper\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"image__src\" src=\"https:\/\/img.huffingtonpost.com\/asset\/5fc543272700005e00e04893.jpeg?ops=scalefit_630_noupscale\" alt=\"NDP MPP Taras Natyshak speaks to reporters in Toronto on March 20,\" width=\"477\" height=\"318\" aria-label=\"NDP MPP Taras Natyshak speaks to reporters in Toronto on March 20,\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"image__meta-wrapper\"><span class=\"image__credit\">COLE BURSTON\/CANADIAN PRESS<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"image__meta-wrapper\">NDP MPP Taras Natyshak speaks to reporters in Toronto on March 20, 2019.<\/div>\n<p>MPP Taras Natyshak, the NDP\u2019s critic for ethics and accountability, said it is \u201cincredibly concerning\u201d to see a potential quid pro quo for the lobbyists with Bill 218. The bill\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.ca\/entry\/doug-ford-covid-liability-protection_ca_5f9094b3c5b686eaaa0dc8b4\" data-rapid-elm=\"context_link\" data-ylk=\"elm:context_link;itc:0\" data-rapid-sec=\"{&quot;entry-text&quot;:&quot;entry-text&quot;}\" data-rapid-itc=\"0\" data-rapid_p=\"34\" data-v9y=\"1\">indemnifies long-term care companies<\/a>\u00a0\u2014 and all other businesses \u2014\u00a0from some lawsuits if they expose residents to COVID-19, even through negligent actions.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s frankly grotesque,\u201d Natyshak told HuffPost in an interview.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cInstead of [the government] preparing for the second wave, they were preparing legislation to protect long-term care operators from litigation.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"content-list-component pull-quote\">&#8220;They should remember why they were elected \u2014 to serve the public and not corporate interests.&#8221;<\/h3>\n<blockquote class=\"content-list-component pull-quote\"><p><span class=\"attribution\">NDP MPP Taras Natyshak<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"content-list-component text\">\n<p>He said the MPPs who have employed these lobbyists in the past, including the premier, should skip votes on bills that could benefit the industry.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThey should remember why they were elected \u2014 to serve the public and not corporate interests.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Ontario Health Coalition (OHC), a non-partisan advocacy group,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca\/index.php\/health-coalition-requests-integrity-commissioner-investigate-political-donations-high-level-personnel-links-between-for-profit-ltc-industry-and-ford-government-prior-to-passage-of-legal-liability-bi\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-rapid-elm=\"context_link\" data-ylk=\"elm:context_link;itc:0\" data-rapid-sec=\"{&quot;entry-text&quot;:&quot;entry-text&quot;}\" data-rapid-itc=\"0\" data-rapid_p=\"35\" data-v9y=\"1\">has asked Ontario\u2019s integrity commissioner<\/a>\u00a0to investigate the government\u2019s ties to the industry and lobby groups, including these donations.<\/p>\n<p>The OHC argues that the government is inappropriately furthering the industry\u2019s interests with Bill 218.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"share-bar-image-wrapper\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"image__src\" src=\"https:\/\/img.huffingtonpost.com\/asset\/5fc5459e2300005f09400c44.jpeg?ops=scalefit_630_noupscale\" alt=\"Natalie Mehra, executive director of the Ontario Health Coalition, speaks to reporters at Queen's Park...\" width=\"488\" height=\"325\" aria-label=\"Natalie Mehra, executive director of the Ontario Health Coalition, speaks to reporters at Queen's Park in Toronto on Jan. 21,\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"image__meta-wrapper\"><span class=\"image__credit\">CHRIS YOUNG\/CANADIAN PRESS<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"image__meta-wrapper\">Natalie Mehra, executive director of the Ontario Health Coalition, speaks to reporters at Queen&#8217;s Park in Toronto on Jan. 21, 2019.<\/div>\n<p>Natalie Mehra, the organization\u2019s executive director, said it\u2019s incredibly hard for average residents and their families to get meetings with MPPs and ministers about long-term care.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPeople who donate, get in the door,\u201d she told HuffPost. \u201cThey get in the door, they get heard, they get more access.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd their donations are just the tip of the iceberg, in terms of what their relationships are with MPPs.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>A spokesperson for the integrity commissioner said the office is forbidden by law to confirm whether it is investigating a lobbyist\u2019s compliance with the rules.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.ca\/entry\/ontario-nursing-home-lobbyists-pc-party-donations_ca_5fc53f95c5b63d1b770e8a4d\"><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\">Click here for original article<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>(November 30, 2020) By: Emma Paling, HuffPost FRANK GUNN\/CANADIAN PRESS Ontario Premier Doug Ford answers questions during a briefing at Humber River Hospital in Toronto on Nov. 24, 2020. TORONTO \u2014\u00a0Premier\u00a0Doug Ford\u2019s\u00a0Progressive Conservative party\u00a0has received at least $30,833 in donations from lobbyists hired by the private nursing home industry, a HuffPost Canada analysis has found. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15442","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-ohc-in-the-news"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Ontario PCs Have Raked In $30K From Big Nursing Home Lobbyists - Ontario Health Coalition<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"(November 30, 2020) By: Emma Paling, HuffPost FRANK GUNN\/CANADIAN PRESS Ontario Premier Doug Ford answers questions during a briefing at Humber River\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca\/index.php\/ontario-pcs-have-raked-in-30k-from-big-nursing-home-lobbyists\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Ontario PCs Have Raked In $30K From Big Nursing Home Lobbyists - 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