ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — Health Minister Dr. John Haggie would welcome more attention to long-term care by the federal government, although Ottawa has resisted getting involved in recent years.
“I think to go back to recognizing the needs of seniors from a fiscal, funding point of view at the federal level as different from the likes of you and it would be a huge improvement for us, but also a significant sea change for the feds.”
The minister was reacting to a policy brief released last week by the Royal Society of Canada.
It was one of two reports spurred by the tragic death toll in seniors’ facilities in Canada, primarily in Ontario and Quebec. Thousands died after coronavirus infections ran rampant throughout care homes in the early part of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The other report was issued by the Canadian Forces after its members were recruited to help provide care in the two most populated provinces.
Both focused on serious deficiencies in staff ratios and training.
“We certainly have a significant seniors population we need to look after and care for, and I think COVID-19 particularly has highlighted some of the challenges there with a very vulnerable population.” — Health Minister John Haggie
Haggie said he doesn’t think Newfoundland and Labrador fares too poorly when it comes to recommendations listed in the Royal Society document.
“We’ve got some boxes ticked in pretty well every category,” he said. “So I don’t think we shape up too badly.”
But complacency is the enemy, he said.
“We certainly have a significant seniors population we need to look after and care for, and I think COVID-19 particularly has highlighted some of the challenges there with a very vulnerable population.”
The report’s nine recommendations include calls for Ottawa to immediately implement a cross-Canada assessment of long-term care needs, and to establish national guidelines on staff training and ratios, as well as protocols for visitation during viral outbreaks.
It also called for better pay, benefits and hours for those working in long-term care facilities.
Haggie said Ottawa did apply funding based on specific health needs before the Conservative government took over in 2012.
“In 2012, (then-prime minister) Stephen Harper changed that arbitrarily when the original accord faded, and replaced it with a per capita (formula),” he said. “So we’ve been on catch-up ever since.”
Twitter: @StJohnsTelegram
