Liberals and Conservatives choose profits over the care of our loved ones

OTTAWA — Today, Liberals and Conservatives joined forces to vote down an NDP motion calling to eliminate profits out of the care of our loved ones. This despite the fact that residents and workers in for-profit long-term care homes were the hardest hit during the pandemic. And despite the fact that more infections and more deaths happened in for-profit long-term care homes than in non-profit homes.
“Families are mourning the loss of their loved ones in long-term care,” said NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh. “And yet, even after seeing the devastating loss of life, Liberals and Conservative still chose to protect the profits of shareholders instead of peoples’ lives and well-being. No one should profit off the neglect of our loved ones. New Democrats choose to invest in the care of our loved ones.”
82% of Canada’s COVID deaths happened in long-term care during the first wave. Yet, demands for change by seniors, families, and frontline health workers to fix this broken system are falling on deaf ears in Ottawa. Today, Liberals and Conservative stood in the House of Commons to oppose changes to save lives.
“I have heard so many heartbreaking stories of families losing their loved ones because of poor condition in for-profit long-term care,” said Singh. “When profits are involved, that means those at the very top, like CEOs, will make cuts to increase the revenue of their shareholders at the expense of our loved ones. This is wrong. New Democrats will continue to fight to take profits out of long-term care.”