Ontario NDP calls on province to reject Orchard Villa’s expansion proposal
The Ontario NDP is calling on the provincial government to reject an expansion proposal by the owner of the Orchard Villa Long-term Care Home, where dozens of people died due to the COVID-19 pandemic and alleged neglect and abuse.
The NDP issued a letter on Wednesday calling on the government to reject the proposal by Southbridge Care Homes Inc., saying the proposal is “disturbing” for the family members who lost loved ones at the home.
The for-profit company’s proposal is calling for the development of new long-term care beds and the issuance of a new license with a term of up to 30 years at their Orchard Villa facility.
“At this moment in Ontario’s history, it is not acceptable for the operator of this home to maintain their current license, much less receive an additional one for even more beds under their control,” the NDP said in the letter.
“After clearly failing to responsibly care for Ontario’s seniors, a license extension for this private corporation would be a reward instead of justice following what every Ontarian saw transpiring at their facility.”
The Canadian Armed Forces intervened at Orchard Villa and five other homes during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic to offer support. Shortly after their visit, the military issued a damning report describing the alleged horrors witnessed at each of the five homes.
The report spoke about residents being left in their beds with soiled diapers at Orchard Villa. Staff were also placing residents’ belongings out of their reach, according to the report, and some slept on bare mattresses because of supply shortages.
The report also stated that there were nursing medication administration errors, and that staff failed to sit residents up to feed and give them medication, saying that one choking incident appeared to have contributed to a resident's death.
The NDP also cited that the government’s own long-term care commission highlighted the failures of the long-term care home, saying that staff had a poor understanding of how to use personal protective equipment and failed to keep the home clean due to staff shortages.
“These reports were tragic and shocking to some, but many family members of residents told media that they were not surprised by these revelations,” the NDP’s letter said.
“Before the pandemic Orchard Villa had a Level 3 compliance history, the second-worst possible category, which the ministry categorizes as ‘actual harm/risk.’”
CTV News Toronto reached out to Southbridge Care Homes Inc. for comment on Wednesday morning but has not yet received a response.
The NDP say that Orchard Villa and Southbridge Care are currently facing four separate lawsuits related to negligence, and that Durham police are currently reviewing reports from Orchard Villa and refuse to rule out a criminal investigation.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.