As the NDP opposes the province's controversial long-term care bill, which they say will “penalize” the most vulnerable, the government answers further questions about the policy. refuses to do so.
Earlier this week, CBC News exclusively reported that seven people had been charged under Ontario's long-term care legislation (Bill 7, the Increased Bed Capacity and Quality of Care Act). The policy, which takes full effect in November 2022, allows hospitals to charge patients $400 per day if they refuse to place them in a selected long-term care bed on their behalf.
The Ministry of Health told CBC News on Tuesday that seven people have been charged since the law took effect. But the government released this information after CBC News told the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care that it had confirmed a $5,200 bill paid by a Chatham resident last year.
Chatham-Kent-Leamington MP Trevor Jones did not want to speak to CBC News about the issue during Friday's press conference about classroom additions being added to Leamington schools.
Jones said CBC News should refer to a statement issued by the Ministry of Health earlier in the week, and said this event was not the place to answer further questions on this.
CBC News also asked the Ministry of Health where in the province people received their bills, how much people paid and what hospitals do with that revenue, but the Ministry of Health did not respond to our questions. Ta.
“Due to personal health information and privacy, the Department of Health cannot comment on who the hospital has charged under Bill 7,” Health Minister Spokeswoman Hannah Jensen said in an emailed statement Thursday. ” he said.
Chatham-Kent-Leamington City Councilor Trevor Jones attended an event in Leamington on Friday but did not want to speak to CBC News about Bill 7. (Jennifer La Grassa/CBC)
Democratic Party of Japan: “There are major concerns''
After an unrelated news conference in Windsor on Friday, Windsor West NDP MP Lisa Gretzky said her government did not agree to Bill 7 “for the very reasons we are seeing it come to fruition.”
He said it was “really hard to believe” that the government was unaware that people were being charged thousands of dollars under the law.
“We are extremely concerned that that particular bill will be abused and that in some of these households people will be seriously affected, not just financially, but mentally and potentially medically and physically as well. I'm concerned about that,” Gretzky said.
Windsor West NDP MP Lisa Gretzky said she opposes Bill 7 and the impact it will have on people. (Chris Ensing/CBC)
“And if the state isn't tracking it, how can we fix it? If there's a problem, how can we fix it?”
Gretzky added that he hopes the government will invest in hospital staff so there will be more people to oversee the beds. She also said that while many people want to be able to retire at home, the government is also not investing in home health care.
“These are some of the things that the government can actually do instead of introducing legislation that actually penalizes the people who need it most,” she said.
The Ministry of Long-Term Care confirmed last month that between September 2022 and January of this year, 293 alternative care level patients were admitted to a home they did not choose.
