Premier Doug Ford is making it very clear that he welcomes an investigation by Ontario’s ombudsman into long-term care homes during COVID-19.
Paul Dube says a military report into the conditions at five homes in southern Ontario “painted a stunning portrait of the situation in long-term care during this crisis.”
Dube says he will investigate whether the government oversight has been adequate to ensure the safety of residents and staff.
The province called in military assistance for those impacted facilities in April.
Members said they observed cockroach infestations, aggressive feeding that caused choking, bleeding infections, and residents crying for help for hours.
Ford says “I need answers. I want answers. We need to get this fixed and we are going to get this fixed. Our eyes are all over this and to be very frank everyone in Ontario, their eyes are all over it.”
Ford notes the system has been plagued by problems for decades.
He points out he is open to investigations by the ombudsman, auditor general, the coroner and even the police.
