Ontario’s long-term care homes to receive independent commission

Ontario has announced that they will be holding an independent commission state of Ontario’s long-term care homes. This is in response to the impact that COVID-19 has had on residents across the province.

An independent commission is a group that is made up from members of multiple parties and free from political agendas. They are tasked to find a resolution to a specific goal.

“We have been clear the long-term care system in Ontario is broken,” said Dr. Merrilee Fullerton, the Minister of Long-Term Care in a statement today. “We must act quickly and decisively, and that is why an independent non-partisan commission is the best way to conduct a thorough and expedited review.”

The commission is scheduled to begin in September. In the meantime, Fullerton said that the government will be finalizing details of the commission, including the membership and reporting timelines, over the next several months. “the Commission will get down to work and provide us with guidance on how to improve the long-term care system and better protect residents and staff from any future outbreaks.”

On Saturday, the Ontario Long Term Care Association, which represents a majority of the province’s private, non-profit, municipal and charitable long-term care homes, called on the Government of Ontario to commit to a public inquiry to solve longstanding and systemic issues highlighted by COVID-19.