QUEEN’S PARK - Almost a year since it passed Second Reading with all-party support, MPP Teresa Armstrong reintroduced her bill, the Time to Care Act, which would legislate four hours of hands-on care per day for residents in long-term care homes.

“In the last 19 months, we’ve lost over 3,800 loved ones who either lived or worked in long-term care. Many of those were preventable deaths caused, in part, by understaffing and low standards for quality of care,” Armstrong said. “Like so many across Ontario, I am struggling to understand why Ford would not immediately enshrine the four hour standard of care through legislation and save families the anguish of having their loved ones neglected in long-term care.”

Last year, the Ford government announced their plan to deliver four hours of care for every resident by 2025. The plan, however, stopped short of legislating the minimum standard. Further, according to the Canadian Institute for Health Information, homes with a higher ratio of staff to residents were less likely to experience a COVID-19 outbreak.

“Ford must urgently pass my bill and finally help long-term care residents get the hands-on care they need. Also, Ford must explain to thousands of families why he doesn’t believe legislating better care for our loved ones is a priority,” said Armstrong.

In addition to reintroducing the bill, MPP Armstrong wrote to Minister Rod Philips urging him to pass the bill.

Attachment: Letter to Minister Phillips