“We have thousands of seniors who need supports to stay in their homes as long as they can. Once they need care, they need to know the care will be there for them.” – Niagara Falls NDP MPP Wayne Gates
A News Release from Ontario’s New Democratic (NDP) Party
Posted July 18th, 2022 on Niagara At Large
Niagara Falls NDP MPP Wayne Gates
QUEENS PARK —NDP MPP Wayne Gates (Niagara Falls, Fort Erie & Niagara-on-the-Lake) was recently given a major portfolio within the NDP caucus
Gates will now be the party’s leading voice on long-term care, homecare and retirement homes as the Official Opposition critic.
“It’s no surprise this is an issue that’s close to my heart. I’ve been saying for years long-term care was broken in Ontario – but the pandemic really showed us how bad it was,” said Gates.
“We had seniors literally dying of thirst, living in filth for days at a time, crying out for care. It’s disgusting our seniors were treated that way. We won’t let this government ignore them, we’re going to propose solutions to these problems. We’ll work with them to fix it, but we won’t let them ignore it anymore. Our goal is to propose a system of seniors care that is driven by the need in our communities, not the profits of corporations,” said Gates.
Gates said the issue was particularly unique to his riding which has one of the highest density of seniors in the country.
In July 2020, Niagara Falls NDP MPP Wayne Gates, left, with St. Catharines NDP MPP Jennie Stevens immediately to his right, and over at the right side of the photo, Niagara Health Coalition leader Sue Hotte, at a shout-out in St. Catharines for more public resources for long-term care homes.. File Photo by Doug Draper
“The fact is, in my community we have thousands of seniors who need supports to stay in their homes as long as they can. Once they need care, they need to know the care will be there for them. We’re going to make sure those supports are there when they need them here in Niagara and across Ontario,” said Gates.
Gates will be squaring off against re-appointed Long-Term Care Minister, Paul Calandra, who was also appointed to be the Government House Leader.
“One of the first things I’ll say is, this file needs its own dedicated Minister, right now the Government House Leader is using it as a part-time job. With the amount of seniors we have needing long-term care and frankly the crisis the system is in, we need someone focused on doing this job full-time.
“The families needing care are depending on this system. Right now workers are doing everything they can, but they’re going without proper support. These issues addressed – you can’t do that part-time,” said Gates.
Gates also said his priorities would be holding private companies that abused seniors accountable and working to repeal Bill 124, Ford’s low-wage bill which caps the salaries of healthcare workers.
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