A Statement from Niagara Falls NDP MPP Wayne Gates
Posted September 5th, 2023 on Niagara At Large
Niagara Falls NDP MPP Wayne Gates
NIAGARA FALLS, Ontario – Niagara Falls NDP MPP Wayne Gates made the following statement regarding the appointment(by Ontario’s Doug Ford Government) of Stan Cho as Minister of Long-term Care –
“This is now Ford’s fourth Minister of Long-Term Care in almost as many years. Seniors in long-term care are incredibly important, but the way Ford passes the LTC file around like a hot potato shows they are just not his priority. With this cabinet shuffle, Ford is rearranging the deck chairs on a sinking ship.
“We need a government that is working pro-actively to prioritize seniors’ care, not one that expands a private, for-profit system that is failing residents.
“We must address our shortage of staffing and lack of beds and we must do it through a public system that puts care, dignity, and empathy first—not profits. I wish the new Minister luck in this file – maybe he can finally succeed where his successors failed. Seniors in this province deserve so much better.”
QUICK FACTS
* In 1998, the Mike Harris Conservatives were the first to privatize long-term care, paving the way for the current crisis in long-term care
* Previous LTC Ministers under Doug Ford are:
+ Merilee Fullerton (2019-2021)
+ Rod Phillips (2021-2022)
+ Paul Calandra (2022-2023)
* Fullerton oversaw the devastating impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on LTC, where we saw nearly 6,000 heartbreaking resident deaths in LTC
* Paul Calandra will now take over the Municipal Affairs and Housing file, attempting damage control for disgraced former Minister Steve Clark.
Niagara At Large 
It is a shameful mark on Ontario that we institutionalize our seniors for profit. I fail to understand why successive governments since Mike Harris do not have the moral common sense to undo the private LTC and use those saved tax payer dollars to allow our seniors to live with dignity, respect and excellent care. I fear this current government and past politicians see our seniors as financial commodities, and not the outstanding people they are who helped build this province and raised their families here.
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