Evidence of meeting #9 for Procedure and House Affairs in the 43rd Parliament, 2nd session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was elections.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Kirsty Duncan Liberal Etobicoke North, ON
Thank you.
How many resident COVID cases are there, please?
Chief Executive Officer, Ontario Long Term Care Association
We have 695 resident cases today.
Liberal
Kirsty Duncan Liberal Etobicoke North, ON
When did COVID cases start to increase? When did you start to see or have you started to see deaths going up in long-term care in the second wave in Ontario?
Chief Executive Officer, Ontario Long Term Care Association
Since September 14, we have now experienced 200 deaths in long-term care, so the date would be September 14.
Liberal
Kirsty Duncan Liberal Etobicoke North, ON
Thank you, Ms. Duncan. I'm so sorry to hear that.
With hundreds of staff cases, do you have staffing shortages? I'll start by asking a yes-or-no question.
Liberal
Kirsty Duncan Liberal Etobicoke North, ON
What is the percentage staffing shortage you have in Ontario, please?
Chief Executive Officer, Ontario Long Term Care Association
The Ministry of Long-Term Care estimated this summer that we would need to replace 6,000 PSWs, and we have critical shortages of RPNs and RNs as well.
Liberal
Kirsty Duncan Liberal Etobicoke North, ON
Could you table with the committee the shortages across the various care groups, please?
Liberal
Kirsty Duncan Liberal Etobicoke North, ON
Thank you so much.
Has Ontario put in place a staffing recruitment scheme? If so, what's the target for the province to hire, and by what date, please?
Chief Executive Officer, Ontario Long Term Care Association
The province released a staffing review study in the summertime. We anticipate that a staffing strategy will be tabled at the beginning of December, so it is still very much a work in progress.
However, the Province of Ontario has launched a number of initiatives: a return to service program for PSWs, where they hope to attract 2,000 PSWs, and this past week they've announced—
Liberal
Kirsty Duncan Liberal Etobicoke North, ON
Could I stop you there for a second, Ms. Duncan? You said 2,000. By what date, please?
Chief Executive Officer, Ontario Long Term Care Association
It was an application process where the application deadline was in October, with the intent that the individuals would be in place in November or December of this year.
Liberal
Kirsty Duncan Liberal Etobicoke North, ON
Thank you. I'm very sorry to hear how difficult this is.
If I could go to Mr. Lee, please, could you table with the committee how many care homes are in outbreak across all provinces, please? I'm looking for a yes or a no.
Treasurer, Canadian Association for Long Term Care
I will get that information and table it with the committee.
Liberal
Kirsty Duncan Liberal Etobicoke North, ON
Thank you so much.
Could you table how many staff COVID cases there are at this time across all provinces, please.
Treasurer, Canadian Association for Long Term Care
Again, I'll do my best to gather and table that information.
Liberal
Treasurer, Canadian Association for Long Term Care
Again, we will work to gather the information and table it.
Liberal
Kirsty Duncan Liberal Etobicoke North, ON
Sadly, can you also do that for deaths?
Since Ms. Duncan mentioned September 14, I'll use that date, please.
Liberal
Kirsty Duncan Liberal Etobicoke North, ON
I believe that Quebec committed to hiring 8,000 people by mid-September.
Can you tell me if that happened, please, yes or no?