For immediate release: October 25, 2023
QUEEN’S PARK—MPP Bobbi Ann Brady today stood in the Ontario Legislature to ask Long-Term Care Minister Stan Cho when construction will start for the previously-promised 348 new long-term care beds announced and 324 upgrades at six facilities in Haldimand-Norfolk.
“Nearly two years ago, there was cause for optimism for long-term care in Haldimand–Norfolk, with 334 new beds and 324 upgrades announced,” said Brady. “Two years later, and ground has not been broken at any of the six facilities where beds or improvements were announced. (Minister) what is the ministry doing to ensure these announcements from two years ago will actually go ahead and what is the plan to expedite construction?”
MPP Brady cited to her colleagues the example of Dover Cliffs, which was one of the projects announced for expansion, and that those plans have been paused after it went to tender this past spring.
“From announcement to tender, it’s been four years. I call that a snail’s pace,” said Brady. “Dover Cliffs is a Class C facility — B and C Class licenses will expire at the end of June in 2025. Where will those 70 residents at Dover Cliffs go?”
The Minister did acknowledge the issues with the increased costs of construction impacting builds and pointed to the government’s Construction Funding Subsidy. MPP Brady said that she has heard from facilities that they can not meet the timelines associated with the subsidy.
Minister Cho provided the standard answers of how much work is being done in other parts of the province, and he then conveyed that “the member chooses a peculiar way of lobbying for her riding.”
Following Question Period, Brady didn’t know whether to laugh or scoff at the Minister Cho’s suggestion because the lobbying was already done prior to the beds being announced four years ago. Opposition members duly noted the gaff and were quick to heckle the minister.
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For more information, contact MPP Bobbi Ann Brady at [email protected] or 519-428-0446
YouTube video: https://youtu.be/oazSy1l5jbw?si=AxbmdmQiOIiKoMFz