MPP Gates: Ford government admits fining seniors in LTC is just a cost of doing business

QUEEN’S PARK – MPP Wayne Gates (Niagara Falls), Official Opposition critic for Long Term Care (LTC), caught the Ford government in a tight spot as he pressed them on their decision to fine seniors under Bill 7:

“We have no idea how many seniors have been fined or forced into a Long-Term Care home against their will, because the Ford government refuses to be transparent,” said Gates. “We’ve seen awful stories of families being charged $5,200 dollars to keep their loved one close to home – but we’ve learned all of that from determined reporting, not Ford transparency.”

When asked to come clean today, Minister of Health, Sylvia Jones admitted that several people had been charged, but wouldn’t say by how much.

“The Conservative’s story keeps changing,” said Gates. “First, they claimed that no one is being charged under Bill 7. Now they admit that several seniors have been fined but won’t say how much, or how often. Seniors deserve respect but they aren’t getting that from this government”.