It takes the army to report it, join us to demand action NOW

Thank you for joining the 58,000 people who have already signed this petition. Family/friends of long-term care residents and workers have been monitoring developments on the ground for days, months, years, so we were not surprised to read the Canadian Armed Forces’s account of disturbing failures in several long term care homes in Ontario. Additional findings have been revealed today in another alarming military report on Quebec homes.

Write your MP. This is our time to act. Our time to keep pressure on the Federal Government. We have provided suggested messaging below. Please contact your MP today.

Like you, we were sickened and outraged that Canada and the provinces have allowed this human rights tragedy to occur and intensify. We commend General C.J.J. Mialkowski, Colonel T.M. Arsenault and their teams for their candour and courage in putting together the Canadian Forces report of long-term care.

Our demands in our petition remain the same: National action, and Emergency Funds.

CONTACT YOUR MP.  CALL, EMAIL, TWEET, SEND A LETTER.

Tweet this: It takes an army to expose the tragedy of long-term care. Let’s demand Nation-wide strategy and Emergency Funds NOW. sign our petition. write your MP. @CdnChange  change.org/longtermcare

Email this:

SUBJECT: IMMEDIATE FEDERAL ACTION on long-term care

Dear <MP>

The military’s reports on LTC in Ontario and CHSLDs in Quebec couldn’t be more clear. We are in the midst of national tragedy that demands nation-wide action by all levels of government. It demands leadership at a national scale.

What are you doing to ensure the federal government will protect the people in long-term care?

We call on you, along with 58,000+ signatories of the “Protect People in Long-Term Care” petition, to adopt a nation-wide strategy together with all levels of government, and to immediately implement Emergency funds to support proper staffing ratios; fair wages; training; access to testing and PPE.

You can find your MP and their contact information here: https://www.ourcommons.ca/Members/en/search?searchText=m6r%201r2&parliament=all

and for the Assemblée nationale du Québec:

http://www.assnat.qc.ca/fr/deputes/index.html?appelant=MC

NEWS 

In our May 22nd op-ed in the National Observer we, like so many others, have challenged federal and provincial governments’ piecemeal responses to the crisis, particularly in Quebec and Ontario. There has been, too little, too late. 

The death toll officially connected to LTCs continues to climb. Independent journalist Nora Loreto has been doing the math, and she says, as of May 25,  “Of the 6,545 Canadians who have died from COVID-19, I've linked 5,628 to one of 559 residential care facilities. That's 86% (85.989).” 

Like you we have been deeply disappointed and distressed by the continued absence of Federal emergency funding and a rapid, co-ordinated national strategy to alleviate abuse, neglect and suffering.

On May 6th we wrote to the Prime Minister, Minister of Health, Minister of Seniors, Minister of Labour, Minister of Finance, Deputy PM, and the Quebec Lieutenant (all members of the Federal Government’s special committee on COVID19) asking for leadership, emergency funding and a coordinated national strategy. The Honourable Deb Schulte, Minister of Seniors, acknowledged receipt of our correspondence, assuring us that it would be given “due consideration”.

However, this is just the beginning of our fight.  Together we need to ramp up the pressure to stop this human rights and health disaster. Now more than ever we must step up for residents and workers in LTC’s/CHSLDs.  The dignity and safety of hundreds of thousands are at stake. Thousands more might die under abhorrent conditions unless coordinated action happens now. 

ADDITIONAL GROUPS TO JOIN/SHARE

Share this petition on Facebook and Twitter:

change.org/longtermcare

Join Our Facebook Group: Protect long-term care - Protéger les soins de longue durée CANADA & QUEBEC

Share your personal stories and strategies.

Artists 4 Long Term Care

A social action initiative that uses art and storytelling to elevate the needs of residents and workers in long-term care facilities during Covid-19.

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artists4longtermcare 

Website: https://www.artists4longtermcare.org

Use our artwork to advocate for long-term care (no commercial use allowed): http://bit.ly/artists4longtermcare 

Thank you for putting pressure on the Federal, provincial and territorial governments to protect LTC/CHSLDs.

Sincerely,

Long-Term Care Crisis Committee / Le Comité de crise en CHSLD