Front-line LTC staff urge Ottawa voters to look at what the PCs have failed to do to fix long-term care: Media conference Tuesday

OTTAWA, Ontario--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Before voters in Ottawa head to polls later this week, area front-line long-term care staff (LTC) are urging everyone to take a close and critical look at what the Ontario Doug Ford government promised to do and what it has failed to deliver on when it comes to care for vulnerable seniors.

“Even after all that the COVID pandemic taught us about what’s needed in LTC to improve residents’ wellbeing and workers’ conditions of work, there is no meaningful workforce strategy to deal with staffing shortages and attracting and retaining new front-line care staff. Despite passing legislation for a daily resident care standard of four hours a while ago, we are sadly, not there yet,” says Ian Rayment, an area registered practical nurse (RPN) and president of CUPE Local 2770 at Ottawa’s Laurier Manor.

The waitlist for long-term care in Ontario has doubled over the past 10 years. It is expected to grow, likely surpassing 50,000 people in 2025.

According to Health Quality Ontario in the next 10 years, based on seniors’ population growth, the demand for long-term care is projected to increase by an average of 38%. But in Greater Ottawa, the demand for LTC is 43%. That’s 5% higher than the provincial average. People waited 246 days to get into LTC in the Champlain region that includes Ottawa. “That too is above the Ontario-wide average of 201 days. Only a fraction of the new 30,000 LTC beds the PC’s promised by 2028 have materialized. At the rate they are going, it will take 125 years to add that many beds, says Rayment.

At a media conference on Tuesday, February 25, 2025, at 11 a.m., in front of Extendicare Laurier Manor. Rayment and others on the LTC front-lines, will talk about why more must be done to improve resident care and directly appeal to all political parties to prioritize elder care and make it better.

WHO: CUPE Ottawa – Laurier Manor long-term care staff
WHAT: Pre-Ontario election media conference
WHEN: Tuesday February 25, 2025 – 11 a.m.
WHERE: Outside Laurier Manor – 1715 Montreal Road, Ottawa

CUPE Local 2770 represents front-line care staff at Extendicare Laurier Manor including PSWs/Health Care Aides (HCAs), resident care aides (RCAs), dietary housekeeping, activity, and laundry aides, janitors, maintenance, Registered Practical Nurses (RPNs), restorative care, behavioural supports Ontario (BSO) and more.

SY:pp/cope491