Ontario Premier Doug Ford has vowed immediate action after a report was released on conditions in the province's long-term care homes.
Members of the Canadian Forces were dispatched to five long-term care facilities, most of them in the Greater Toronto area, last month. The report, prepared by the military at the request of the federal government, told of force-feeding, residents not being changed or bathed, insect infestation, verbal and physical abuse by staff members, and other problems.
Ford, flanked by Minister of Health Christine Elliott and Minister of Long-Term Care Dr. Merrilee Fullerton at Queen's Park Tuesday afternoon, said he knew the system was in bad shape. However, Ford was taken aback by the details laid out in the report.
"Until yesterday morning, we didn't know the full extent of what these homes, what these residents were dealing with," said Ford. "Reading those reports was one of the hardest things I have done as premier... I think it is appalling. I think it is disgusting."
Fullerton reported that at least one death in one of the five homes has been referred to the coroner for further investigation, and Ford said the information will be referred to local and provincial police. The minister did mention that in those five homes, the presence of the military has helped bring conditions there under control.
"We are continuing to take action to ensure our most vulnerable people living in our long-term care homes receive safe and quality care," said Fullerton.
During his daily press briefing in Ottawa earlier Tuesday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he had reviewed the report over the weekend, shared his concerns with Ford, and offered the government's unequivocal help.
"It is deeply disturbing," said Trudeau. "There are things in there that are extremely troubling, and we need to take action. I spoke with the premier this morning to assure him that, of course, the federal government will be there to support them."
The prime minister said older Canadians have the right to be treated with a higher degree of respect and compassion.
"We need to do a better job of caring for the people who built this country," said Trudeau. "The greatest generation saw us through World War II, and we need to be there to support them properly."
The Ministry of Long-Term Care's Inspections branch will launch full investigations into the most critical allegations raised in the report.
Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath is calling on the provincial government to launch a formal public inquiry in light of the report.
"An internal investigation is not what people deserve. An internal investigation is exactly what the Ford government likes to do because it keeps everything in the backroom and everything behind closed doors and everything can be cleansed by the government before it is put out to the public," said Horwath. "That's why a full public inquiry is the only way to go here when it comes to not only the COVID impact on long-term care but on the long-term care system which has been treating people like the ones in this report today this way for years now."
Horwath is also calling for Ford to demand the resignation of Fullerton.