Wednesday, September 23, 2020

This afternoon, the second session of Canada’s 43rd Parliament opened with a Speech from the Throne delivered by Governor General, Julie Payette. The Speech marks the beginning of the government’s recovery phase response to COVID-19 after a summer of unprecedented interim spending measures intended to keep Canadians safe.

This Speech, longer than previous Throne Speeches and more serious in tone, comes as COVID-19 cases across the country continue to rise. It also comes after Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Quebec Premier François Legault called for an increase to federal health transfers, and after Canadian Association for Long Term Care (CALTC) members themselves called for dedicated funding for long-term care ahead of any second wave. 

This afternoon’s Speech was focused on protecting vulnerable Canadians and outlined the government’s plan moving forward including four foundations:

1. Fight the pandemic and save lives.
2. Support people and businesses through this crisis. 
3. Create a stronger, more resilient Canada.
4. Stand up for who we are as Canadians.

The government's commitment to long-term care:
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau did promise to include long-term care in the government’s priorities and today’s Speech from the Throne gives us a preview into what that ongoing commitment will look like. 

The Trudeau Government made five commitments to seniors’ care including:

• Working with the provinces and territories to set new, national standards for the sector. While no mention of funding was made, the Speech did reinforce that long-term care “falls under provincial and territorial jurisdiction” and that the federal government will “take any action it can to support seniors while working alongside the provinces and territories”. 
• A plan to bring forward new Criminal Code amendments to hold people accountable for the neglect of seniors. No further information was provided in terms of the possible scope or severity of these amendments.

• Take additional action to help people stay in their homes longer indicating further investments in home and community care are to come.
• Further targeted measures for personal support workers. The Speech acknowledged that personal support workers do an essential service, they help the most vulnerable in our communities, and that “the Government will continue to have their backs”.
• Increases to the Old Age Security and Canada Pension Plan survivor’s benefit to keep seniors at home longer. 

The government's other commitments to health care:
Additional health care related priorities in the Throne Speech include:

• Supporting people with disabilities.
• A commitment to create a national, universal pharmacare program, including a rare disease strategy and a national formulary.
• Increased access to primary care services in rural and remote areas.
• Expanding capacity to deliver virtual health care.
• Further increasing access to mental health resources. 

What does this mean for long-term care?
While it is disappointing that dedicated funding was not mentioned specifically in the Throne Speech, the commitment to respect provincial and territorial jurisdiction, and work closely with provincial and territorial governments on additional supports, hints at additional collaboration and more measures to come. CALTC looks forward to working closely with the federal government on the development of national standards, as well as other areas of critical financial support for the sector. 

Stay tuned for more details on this plan and path to recovery as Canadians will hear directly from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in his national address at 6:30 p.m. EST this evening. 
 

Virtual Lobby Week
CALTC will continue its 2020 advocacy efforts next week during our first ever "virtual" Lobby Week. From September 28 to October 2, members will be meeting virtually with MPs from all parties to discuss what the long-term care sector needs moving forward to keep seniors living in long-term care safe.

If you have any questions about our upcoming Lobby Week or would like to participate, please contact Liz Thompson at Liz@caltc.ca.