QUEEN’S PARK — NDP Official Opposition Leader Andrea Horwath released the following statement in response to the government’s announcement about long-term care staffing:
“The NDP has been calling for an end to the practice of staff working in multiple long-term care homes for some time, so we are relieved to see the government finally take this step. It shouldn’t have taken weeks to put a stop to something that put vulnerable seniors in the crosshairs of COVID-19, and I am heartbroken knowing that this announcement is simply too late for some families.
We look forward to seeing the order to ensure there are no exceptions, because the stakes are too high to get this wrong. And it won’t be enough for the government to simply say staff can’t work in multiple long-term care homes — we need to address the reasons why they had to do this in the first place.
Respect for the health care heroes who are working in our long-term care homes means ensuring they have full-time hours and paying them a decent wage. If we don’t do that, we will continue to see staff leave and take second jobs to make ends meet.”