Media Release for September 21, 2007

Stairs Calls for Guaranteed Minimum Standards of Care for Seniors and a Strategy to Reduce Wait Times

RENFREW: Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke NDP Candidate Felicite Stairs says a fair deal for seniors and their families means providing the best long-term care possible, reducing health care wait times, and rolling back the Employer Health Tax. She was talking to seniors here today about Howard Hampton’s announcement this week of the NDP’s latest key commitment—a guaranteed minimum standard of 3.5 hours a day of hands-on nursing and personal care for all seniors living in long-term care homes.

“The McGuinty Liberals’ refusal to guarantee minimum standards means many seniors are denied the basic care they need,” Stairs said “Howard Hampton and the NDP will make sure residents in long-term care receive the care they deserve.”

In 2003, Dalton McGuinty promised to reinstate minimum standards of care for long-term care homes. He promised to restore the regulation requiring 2.25 hours of hands-on daily care for each long-term care resident that was cancelled by the Conservatives in 1996.

“Despite McGuinty’s promise of a ‘revolution in long term care,’ four years later there are still no minimum standards of daily nursing and personal care for seniors living in long-term care homes,” she said.

“Seniors deserve better. They have spent their lives building Ontario and caring for their families. Now they need support so they can lead vibrant, active lives. But yet again, Dalton McGuinty has let seniors and their families down.”

Stairs said the NDP will reduce hospital wait times and improve health care by certifying internationally-trained doctors to practice in Ontario. The NDP will expand home care, guarantee a daily minimum of personal care, and ensure that every provincial health dollar is invested in public health care—not private hospitals.

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Felicite Stairs with Eleanor and Colin Muirhead

Long-care homes are understaffed, which means basics like bathing, repositioning, referrals to medical care and even feeding are left undone because there is just not enough care time, she said. This shortfall has serious health and quality of life implications for both long-term-care residents and over-stretched staff.

“One of our six commitments is to hire enough nurses, personal support workers and other health care staff to guarantee a decent and proper level of hands-on care,” said Stairs. “It’s only fair, both to our elders and to the workers who care for them. Guaranteeing minimum standards of care would help to relieve strain on working families. They are often providing much of the care that ought to be provided by paid professionals.” New Democrats would also increase home care and caregiver supports so seniors who are able can live independently in their community as long as they wish. She pledged the NDP will also create more beds in long-term care facilities.

The commitment to seniors complements an earlier commitment by Howard Hampton to eliminate the Employer Health Tax. The NDP promises a Health Tax Rebate of up to $450 per person and $900 per two-income household. The revenue lost from cutting the tax will be obtained by increasing the corporate tax rate on banks and insurance companies from 14 to 14.5 percent and a two percent increase of provincial income tax for the portion of a person’s income that goes over $150,000. The NDP’s commitment will mean more money for public services.

“The NDP’s Health Tax Rebate restores the balance that was lost when Dalton McGuinty introduced his unfair Health Tax that hit families who can afford it the least. McGuinty’s Health Tax increased personal income taxes for average families by 24 per cent - while those who make more than $200,000 pay only three per cent more. That’s just not fair,” said Stairs.

She said the NDP Fair Tax Plan is a balanced approach that puts money in the pockets of lower- and moderate-income Ontarians who need it the most, while protecting health services by ensuring that banks, insurance companies and the wealthy pay their fair share.

“Howard Hampton and the NDP will make sure that seniors and working families have the support they need. They can count on New Democrats to back minimum standards of care and provide more home care,” Stairs said. “And we are the only party who can honestly say how we will pay for the things our families need.”

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