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Windsor

Major LTC operator seeking license transfers during pandemic

The NDP is raising an alarm after it discovered a major long-term care corporation is transferring many of its long-term care licenses to different subsidiaries.

NDP Ethics and Accountability Critic Taras Natyshak is raising concerns about Revera which has transferred seven licenses this year and has 24 license transfer requests under review. Natyshak fears the company is taking these steps to avoid widespread litigation from families and individuals who have suffered during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Thousands of families who have a loved one in long-term care are still going through hell, with more people in long-term care homes infected every day, and more people dying every day,” said Natyshak. “These families deserve protection, and if they’re failed they deserve answers, and they deserve justice. The NDP is calling on Doug Ford to halt Revera’s license transfers and hold public hearings so we can get to the bottom of why Revera is restructuring its operations like this.”

A representative from Revera said this is a process they started over a year ago and has nothing to do with the current pandemic or legal issues facing the corporation.

"This is an internal, administrative undertaking and is in no way relevant to, or motivated by, any legal actions brought against Revera. This process, a portion of which has already been completed, was originally initiated in April of 2019, well prior to the pandemic. This change has nothing to do with the pandemic or any legal actions brought against Revera since March 2020," said Revera vice-president of corporate affairs Susan Schutta.

Revera owns and operates long-term care and retirement facilities throughout Canada and the United States.

Two Chatham-Kent homes are under consideration for a license transfer, Blenheim Community Village and Village on the Ridge in Ridgetown.

"Revera has applied to transfer its licenses from one wholly-owned subsidiary of Revera to another wholly-owned subsidiary of Revera only for the long term care homes we plan to redevelop. This is an administrative, behind the scenes change and, outside of minor clerical changes, will not impact our residents, our staff, or our operations," said Schutta.

To date, neither of the homes in CK have experienced a COVID-19 outbreak.

However, Natyshak is calling on the government to halt the license transfers and launch open hearings so families can get answers about why the corporation is restructuring like this.

“What we do know is that for-profit long-term care corporations have done everything to protect themselves, instead of protecting the people in their care. Seniors and their families are paying the price for Liberal and Conservative decisions to let greedy companies privatize more and more of the sector,” said Natyshak.

There was an online process to collect comments from the public. The process closed on December 13, 2020.

License transfers for long-term care homes in Sarnia, Owen Sound, and Stratford are also under consideration.

Revera also operates homes in Windsor-Essex including Riverside Place in Windsor and Iller Lodge in Essex however, Revera is not seeking a license transfer for either of these homes at this time.

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