FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 23, 2021

Just weeks after voting against a plan to establish universal pharmacare, Liberal and Conservative Members of Parliament have once again joined forces. This time, they are opposing removing the greed from long-term care of our loved ones in Canada.

Liberal MPs Julie Dabrusin (Toronto—Danforth), Julie Dzerowicz (Davenport) and Arif Virani (Parkdale—High Park) voted to put profits for rich corporations ahead of the care of our loved ones.

Today, the House of Commons voted on a New Democrat motion that provides a clear and pragmatic path bringing long-term care of our loved ones into not-for-profit hands by 2030.

The facts:

• 82% of Canada’s COVID-19 deaths happened in long-term care during the first wave.
• Over 12,000 long-term care residents and workers have died since the beginning of the pandemic.
• Residents and workers in for-profit long-term care homes have a higher risk of infection and death than those in non-profit homes

Yet demands for change by seniors, families, and frontline health care workers to fix this broken system are falling on deaf ears in Ottawa. Today, Liberals and Conservatives stood in the House of Commons to oppose change.

“After all we have seen, how do rich shareholders, big corporations and profits come ahead of senior care? No one should be profiting off the neglect of our loved ones. Toronto MPs need to answer for their vote today. While the other parties are busy playing games and looking out for their own interest, Jagmeet Singh and the NDP are fighting for people and focused on getting results.”

Canadians deserve better.