"The nursing home reform report released today by Ontario's Minister of Health and Long Term are steps in the right direction. However, they will not achieve results unless the Ontario government enforces a specific standard of care hours residents can receive on a daily basis," said Sharleen Stewart, President of the Service Employees International Union Local 1.on.
SEIU Local 1.on represents 12,000 nursing home workers across Ontario. They include registered nurses, registered practical nurses, health care aides and service workers."
The previous government, in July 2002, announced it would provide $100 million in additional funding to create 2,400 additional personal care and nursing positions to the 550 nursing homes in Ontario. That objective was never reached," Stewart said.
SEIU Local 1.on monitored nursing homes to see if additional staff was being added. Hiring practices showed staff were being added in administrative positions, not direct care. The money allocated for direct care was being spent on incontinent care products.
Today Health Minister Smitherman said $191 million will create an additional 2,000 direct nursing care positions, 600 of which are to be nurses.
"SEIU Local 1.on remains doubtful. The nursing home industry is opposed to a regulatory standard of care, because it limits its ability to make profits," Stewart said.
Last week Extendicare, Leisureworld and other privately operated nursing homes announced staff lay-offs. They claimed the Ontario government would not fund property taxes or increased wages and benefits as a result of new collective agreements.
In many of these facilities the level of care is falling to below two hours of care per day," Stewart claims.
In Toronto one Leisureworld facility is terminating 18 full-time and part-time staff, even though resident occupancy has not fallen.
According to the MOHLTC nursing homes offer 2.27 to 2.3 hours of care per day.
"The Ontario government must set a specific standard of care. SEIU Local 1.on for years has campaigned for 3.5 hours of care per resident per day. Currently we have the lowest standard of care in the western world," Stewart said.
"Until a standard of care is legislated, the nursing home industry will not comply," Stewart said.
SEIU Local 1.on is a 40,000 member Ontario wide local union. It is affiliated to the largest union in North America - the 1.6 million member Service Employees International Union.