Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
I thank the witnesses for joining us today for this study on an extremely important topic, one that is of particular concern to me, as I mentioned, since I worked on the issue of abuse before I was elected.
I have heard some interesting things.
Ms. Silas, you talked about standards. There are already some standard. That was noted in the armed forces report. One of the witnesses also said that, in Quebec, 80% of long-term care facilities are public and fall under the health care system. Standards have been put in place by the Quebec government, which has the jurisdiction to take action on the issue of long-term care facilities. What is missing is financial means.
What falls under federal jurisdiction, however, is the whole issue of supply and personal protective equipment. However, it was recognized that there was a deficiency in that regard during the pandemic, when those elements could have helped prevent much of the transmission of the virus.
Ms. Silas, you'll be able to comment on that, if you want, but I also have some other questions for you.
Do you think that seniors living in long-term care facilities are necessarily unable to provide for the things they need for their own existence?
Do you think that some seniors who are independent, but in precarious situations and without a family network, may choose to go to a long-term care facility?
What is the demographic reality of people living in these types of facilities?