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Premier Ford welcomes ombudsman investigation into long-term care

"I need answers, I want answers" says Ford in response to investigation
Doug Ford 4
(File)

Ontario's ombudsman launched an investigation Monday into the province's pandemic oversight of long-term care homes, where more than 1,600 residents and seven staff members have died of COVID-19.

Ombudsman Paul Dube said he is starting the investigation not because of receiving complaints, which is the usual process for his office, but because of what he read in a recent military report on five long-term care homes in Ontario.

"The Canadian Armed Forces report painted a stunning portrait of the situation in long-term care during this crisis," Dube said in a statement. "Our investigation will look at the systemic issues that led to it, and will make constructive recommendations for corrective action."

The investigation will focus on whether the government oversight has been adequate to ensure the safety of residents and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic, he said.

According to the Ministry of Long-Term Care, 1,648 residents and seven staff members have died amid COVID-19 outbreaks in the facilities.

Ontario called in military assistance for five homes dealing with COVID-19 outbreaks in April. Members said they observed cockroach infestations, aggressive feeding that caused choking, bleeding infections, and residents crying for help for hours.

Investigators with the ombudsman's office will look at aspects of the system including complaint handling, emergency planning, data collection, infection and death rates and communication with long-term care home residents, staff and the public.

Premier Doug Ford said he welcomes the investigation.

"I need answers," he said. "I want answers. We need to get this fixed and we're going to get this fixed."

Ford has also said Ontario has launched a "full investigation" into the allegations in the military report and will share the results with police so they can look into any possible criminal charges.

"This has been going on, I talked to one politician who said this has been going on all the way back to (former Ontario Premier) Bill Davis and it isn't one party per sé but we will fix it," said Ford.

"Our eyes are all over this and to be very frank, everyone in Ontario's eyes are all over it. Everyone has a mother, a father, a loved one that somehow knows someone or is connected to someone within the 78,000 people that are at long-term care. We're going to fix this problem as sure as I'm standing here."

 

-With files from the Canadian Press


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