Give ombud nursing home oversight

Re Bill gives ombudsman expenditure oversight, Dec. 10

The claim by former health minister Deb Matthews that Bill 8, the Accountability and Transparency Act, “sets a high standard for oversight across the public sector and is part of Ontario’s commitment to be the most open and transparent government in the country,” is flawed when the government effectively flipped a dismissive hand at the thousands who petitioned it to grant oversight authority to the provincial ombudsman over nursing homes and hospitals by excluding the ombudsman from this crucial role.

It is the ultimate betrayal to vulnerable institutionalized persons and their families to deny the independent and experienced investigative services of the people’s ombudsman, by tossing them aside to a patient ombudsman — devoid of the powers afforded to the Ontario ombudsman.

Given the abhorrent findings detailed in ministry reports on nursing homes, the government has never ensured a high standard of care for residents of long-term care (LTC) facilities. This government, their health ministers and ministry, has had more than sufficient opportunity to be transparent and accountable, yet they have consistently found excuses to deflect their duty of care.

Under the watch of four health ministers, the neglect and dis- turbing incidents continue and the legislated requirement for annual inspections to be carried out in all regulated LTC facilities still has not been met.

Interesting that the government expanded oversight over the expenditures and operations of municipalities, universities and school boards to the provincial ombudsman, yet disregarded the significant and critical need for ombudsman oversight over nursing homes where more than 75,000 reside.

For years the Liberals have adamantly refused to grant the ombudsman this authority, so it comes as no surprise a remedy was contrived through Bill 8 to deny the protection and oversight of his office to this vulnerable population. Who serves to benefit most from this appalling decision?

Ellen Watson, Aurora