Thank you, Minister, for being available to the committee today.
Long-term care homes in Canada, we know, have borne the brunt of this health crisis. In my capacity as shadow minister for seniors, I have had the opportunity to meet with many individuals and groups representing front-line health care workers in long-term care facilities.
The conditions that have been described in first-hand accounts are dire and are not unique to any individual home. While many of the challenges in the long-term care sector pre-existed COVID, they were exponentially heightened by this pandemic. Immediate actions are needed to safeguard the health, safety and well-being of long-term care residents and the staff who care for them.
One of these urgent and serious challenges is a sector-wide staffing crisis. In the supplementary estimates, there is an allocation of just under $12.5 million in funds for personal support workers—training and measures to address labour shortages in long-term care and home care.
Minister, I'm wondering how these funds are being used to address the urgent labour crisis in long-term care.