Ontario is launching an independent commission into the province’s long-term care system. More than 1,400 long-term care residents have died amid COVID-19 outbreaks in the facilities.
Ontario is launching an independent commission into the province’s long-term care system.
Long-Term Care Minister Merrilee Fullerton said in a statement released Tuesday that the commission will start in September, and in the meantime the government will be finalizing terms of reference, leadership and timelines.
“An independent, non-partisan commission is the best way to conduct a thorough and expedited review,” Fullerton said.
The Ontario Long-Term Care Association, opposition parties and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) have all called for a full public inquiry into the sector, rather than an independent commission.
Those advocating for a public inquiry say it would result in a more thorough accounting of the long-term care system’s failures during the crisis.
CBC News has compiled data from local health authorities that shows 1,467 deaths linked to COVID-19 at long-term care homes.
The number of long-term care homes experiencing an outbreak has grown ov