![\"Henri](\"https:\/\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/nexus\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/1005-nb-protest.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=288\")
<\/p>\n(October 4, 2021)<\/p>\n
By: Jennifer Hamilton-McCharles, Northern News<\/p>\n
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Henri Giroux, a member of the North Bay Health Coalition, speaks to media and supporters during a small rally, Monday, outside Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli’s office. Jennifer Hamilton-McCharles\/The Nugget<\/span><\/p>\n COVID-19 opened the country\u2019s eyes to the problems in long-term care homes, but those problems have been there for many years, says Henri Giroux.<\/p>\n Giroux, a member of the North Bay Health Coalition, held a protest outside Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli\u2019s office Monday at noon to announce the \u2018Rise Up for LTC\u2019 campaign.<\/p>\n \u201cThese demands are clear and the coalition will not accept any more empty words and broken promises,\u201d Giroux told a small crowd of union workers and area residents.<\/p>\n \u201cWe need immediate action to fast-track increases in care levels and staffing to meet residents\u2019 care needs,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cPeople are tired, long-term care homes need more staff to work. We have been pushing since 2003 to get four hours of care per resident. (Former premier Mike) Harris took it out in 1996, then we pushed for it when (Nipissing MPP Monique) Smith was running in 2003. She said the government would look at it and it never happened, and it still hasn\u2019t happened.\u201d<\/p>\n Giroux said now, the Ford government says it will happen in 2025, \u201cbut we can\u2019t wait. We need it now.\u201d<\/p>\n Another demand is the enforcement of care standards through the reinstatement of annual surprise inspections, as well as accountability through fines and the loss of license for repeated non-compliance.<\/p>\n \u201cWe also need to end for-profit long-term care and ensure human rights of long-term care residents are upheld, including an end of unlawful detention, isolation and ensure full access to caregivers and families,\u201d Giroux said.<\/p>\n He said health coalitions in North Bay and Ontario will push for these demands over the next year.<\/p>\n \u201cCOVID opened people\u2019s eyes to the problems within long-term care, but these problems were here well before the pandemic hit. The difference is that only those people who had loved ones in long-term care knew about it. This has now opened many people\u2019s eyes.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital\/nexus\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/1005-nb-protest2.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=288\")
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