On February 13, 2020, Doug Ford struck an advisory panel into the staffing conditions of long-term care. Here is a thread about who he appointed to this panel.
When it was established, it was roundly criticized for not having a single representative of the workers who are in this system. There were some professors. But there were also owners/CEOs/EDs of LTC facilities. To start ...
One member was James Schlegel, owner of Schlegel homes. Collectively, there have been at least 63 deaths in their homes. Schlegel is also a big supporter of Doug Ford.
Another member was Akos Hoffer, CEO of The Perley and Rideau Veterans' Health Centre. There, at least seven people have died.
Another member was Sharon Goodwin, Senior Vice President, Home & Community Care, Victorian Order of Nurses. VON has lost a member of their staff, Arlene Reid of Brampton.
Another member was Melissa Donskov, Executive Director at the Saint-Louis Residence and Élisabeth Bruyère Residence long-term care homes. There have been at least one death in both facilities.
The staffing crisis in long-term care has become clear, thanks to the coronavirus pandemic. And politicians share so much blame. Here, Ford chooses the very people who are responsible (or who personally profit from!) poor staffing conditions. And yet -- who is dying?
It's the residents. It's the staff. Are these people every going to be brought to justice? Or the other owners? 1317 people have died in Ontario's residential care system. What will justice look like?
