Grey Bruce MPP Bill Walker is calling on the health minister to appear before the public inquiry into long-term care following a warning from the auditor general.
Walker says the auditor is warning that increasing delays in critical-incident inspections could put nursing home residents at risk.
He says the growing backlog is unacceptable, in light of high profile abuse cases, and a public inquiry into murders in long-term care homes.
He says a backlog of 2,800 last year is up to 3,300 this year.
He says families with loved ones in long-term care deserve to know that safety is a priority.
He wants Health Minister Eric Hoskins to attend the inquiry to answer lingering questions about the well being and security of seniors.
“With only 30% of the recommendations implemented from the 2015 auditor’s report and the 2003 Casa Verde inquest, Ontarians remain very concerned and skeptical that this government can ever be trusted to take corrective action,” Walker says. “The public inquiry’s purpose is to investigate and ultimately restore confidence and trust in the long-term-care system. As such, it is imperative that the minister appear before this inquiry.”
