‘We need to do a better job of caring for seniors’
Trudeau plans to raise issue with premiers during weekly call
OTTAWA—Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expects to have a comprehensive conversation with Canada’s premiers about immediate and long-term reforms of the country’s eldercare system in light of reports of neglect and abuse of seniors in facilities in Quebec and Ontario.
And while Trudeau says everything is on the table when it comes to those discussions, he and his ministers remained firm Ottawa has no plans to barge into an area of provincial jurisdiction pushing a federal agenda where it may not be wanted.
Trudeau plans to raise the situation facing long-term-care facilities with provincial and territorial premiers during their weekly COVID-19 call Thursday, he told the nation
Wednesday.
“I will once again offer our federal government’s support as they try to get the situation under control,” he said.
“We need to do a better job of caring for seniors. They raised us, they built this country, they deserve better.”
The immediate priority is ensuring residents living in longterm-care centres are getting proper care as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to rage, which includes the ongoing support being delivered by Canadian Armed Forces members in nursing homes in Quebec and Ontario.
But while Ottawa is open to having conversations about larger, systemic changes that might be necessary to improve care for seniors across Canada, the prime minister says he respects and recognizes that provinces have jurisdiction over delivery of long-term care. Meanwhile, Wednesday marked the beginning of the latest effort to ensure some measure of government accountability during the COVID-19 pandemic, while respecting physical-distancing guidelines.
A COVID-19 committee, made up of all MPs, will meet four times a week until June 18, and MPs will have a choice to be there in person or log in remotely.
On Wednesday, around four dozen were present in the chamber, while at one point as many as 171 were signed in from afar, according to Speaker Antony Rota’s office.
“Ok, let’s make history,” he said before he formally kicked off the roughly two-hour session that marked the first time Canadian MPs have gathered in a such a fashion.