Liberals to upgrade long-term care beds in Ontario

TORONTO - The Liberals say they will upgrade 35,000 of the province's older long-term care beds over the next decade.

Health Minister George Smitherman says the province will ensure long-term care homes in smaller communities get an equal share of cash to upgrade their facilities.

The upgrades will start next year and the province will redevelop about 3,500 every year over the next 10 years.

Smitherman says it will cost the province $15 million a year to make older long-term care homes more comfortable.

Ontario's local health integration networks will help the province decide which long-term care facilities get the money.

Karen Sullivan, with the Ontario Long Term Care Association, says she hopes the cash will fix the current disparity that exists between new homes and older ones in the province.