TORONTO - A Toronto nursing home is barred from accepting new residents until it proves it is complying with Ontario law after the deaths of two residents prompted coroner's investigations, Health Minister George Smitherman said Thursday.

While Smitherman said he's confident the home will resolve its problems under the close watch of ministry inspectors, critics said the unusual sanction against Leisureworld Caregiving Centre's O'Connor Gate residence highlights the chronic problems plaguing Ontario's nursing homes, where caregivers have little time to attend or monitor elderly patients.

This particular home, one of 27 in Leisureworld's Ontario chain, has come under scrutiny after two high-profile deaths last month. Resident Wally Baker died April 30 after an accident involving a lift device, and fellow resident Florence Coxon died three days earlier after choking on the restraint that held her in her wheelchair.

Both deaths are being investigated by the province's coroner's office.

"I obviously have concerns that the quality of the service being provided is inconsistent and that there is the necessity for corrective actions,'' Smitherman said.

"We have confidence that the residents that are there will be appropriately cared for, but rather than challenge the home with bringing new residents into that environment at present, we asked them to spend their energy on taking corrective action.''

Leisureworld CEO David Cutler said he has "full confidence'' that in each case, his staff "followed the ministry policies and guidelines.''

"We are deeply saddened by the deaths of the two residents,'' Cutler said. "From the beginning we co-operated with the ministry and the appropriate authorities to ensure that all the facts in each case are known.''

The Health Ministry said it started looking closely at the home on May 8 following the two deaths. Inspections found "deficiencies'' in the use of physical restraints, medication, equipment maintenance and nutritional care, the ministry said.

The home now has to submit a preliminary plan by May 22 outlining how it will fix the problems. In the meantime, the ministry said there will be an inspector on-site seven days a week.

Although the province does regular inspections of Ontario's 628 long-term care homes, Smitherman said it rarely doles out punishing sanctions. In the last four years, Smitherman said the province has suspended admissions in only a dozen cases.

"It's a step we take rather infrequently,'' he said.

"It is a very, very serious step. We take our responsibilities to protect the public very, very seriously, and through investigation and compliance haven't been convinced that this home was doing as good a job as it needs to.

"We take this step; it gets their attention.''

Some questioned how the governing Liberals handled the case, wondering why they chose to issue a news release on the move.

Janet Lambert, executive director of the Ontario Long-Term Care Association, said halting admissions is "part of the normal process'' when an incident is being examined by the coroner.

"What's a bit surprising is press releasing about it,'' she said, declining to speculate further on the government's motives. "They've gone over this home with a fine-tooth comb. They would have found something because there are over 400 standards (the home must meet).''

"The care that folks are getting in the homes is excellent,'' she added.

Rather than targeting the home, Lambart said the province should investigate the safety concerns with the lift device involved in Baker's death.

But some critics said the Leisureworld case highlights the chronic problems within Ontario's long-term care homes.

Opposition Leader Bob Runciman said the Liberals have brought in new standards and requirements for nursing homes but haven't matched those expectations with proper funding or staff.

"This government has put long-term care facilities under a lot of pressure,'' he said. "It's a difficult challenge for anyone today in the long-term care sector. Staff are overworked, their budgets are under pressure on a constant basis. There is fault on both sides of this one.''

New Democrat Leader Howard Hampton said suspending admissions at one Toronto nursing home won't do anything to address the persistent problems in long-term care. At best, Hampton said the lull might simply allow staff to "catch up.''

"When you talk to family members, they say the real issue is staff are run off their feet,'' Hampton said. "They simply do not have enough time to meet the needs of all of the patients.''