When I made the suggestion about national standards for long-term care, my point was not that Ottawa would be dictating the quality of standards that would be imposed for each of the provinces. What I feel is that, yes, the federal government has an obligation to provide funding to each of the provinces, but they should also be working with each of the provinces, and why not use the best of what has worked in each of the provinces for the benefit of all Canadians who are living across Canada?
To your point, it is very different. As an example, right now I can go to see my mom, but I need to take a PCR test weekly, and I've had to do this since August. I'm fully vaccinated; my mom is fully vaccinated. In addition to the PCR test, I also have to do a rapid test, and then, once I'm in the home, I have to wear a surgical mask and a face shield. In Quebec, based on friends I've spoken to, there is no need to do a PCR test and there's no need to do a rapid test. All they have to do is wear full PPE. In B.C., they don't have to do a rapid test or a PCR test, and the only thing they have to wear is a surgical mask. Why is there a difference?
I'm at a point where, throughout this pandemic, if I could, I would have moved my mom from province to province depending on what was going on and working best for those seniors at that time. Why should I be in that situation? Why should families be put in that situation? We care, we love our loved one, we want them to have the best quality of care, and I feel that the provinces cannot expect to have a blank cheque providing funding to them without any kind of strings attached.
Each of you represent our various provinces, and I feel that each of you working as leaders can work with our provinces to try to find a solution that will be equitable and fair for all of our seniors across the country.