QUEEN’S PARK (TORONTO), ON – Personal support workers, nurses and other long-term care staff members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), will join the NDP tomorrow for the reintroduction of legislation to improve care levels for nursing home residents.
A media conference to present the new Bill is scheduled for October 4, 2016, 9:30 a.m. at the Queen’s Park media studio.
CUPE long-term care sector members have consistently urged the provincial government to legislate a four-hour care standard for residents in nursing homes. Last spring, CUPE Ontario supported the Time to Care Act (Bill 188), NDP private members’ legislation that would make a four-hour daily care standard for residents, law.
“But this Liberal government prorogued the Legislature and killed this important Bill that would improve the lives of so many vulnerable residents,” says Candace Rennick, a former long-term care worker and, now, CUPE Ontario secretary-treasurer. She is participating in tomorrow’s media conference.
“There is considerable research that shows care levels for long-term care residents must increase, and that a daily average of four hours of care would benefit them significantly,” says Rennick. “We think the provincial government has run out of excuses and they should support this NDP Bill.”
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For more information, please contact:
Stella Yeadon, CUPE Communications, 416-559-9300
