Opposition parties are calling on Premier Doug Ford to have a "dedicated" minister to oversee the long-term sector, which is again being overrun by COVID-19.

The premier announced on Friday that Paul Calandra would take on a new role as the province's long-term care minister in addition to existing duties as minister of legislative affairs and government house leader.

This followed the surprise announcement from Rod Phillips, who had been serving as the long-term care minister since June, that he wouldn't be seeking re-election and would step down from his role as MPP for Ajax in February.

"As our government’s lead voice at Queen’s Park helping to move forward important legislation, including the recently-passed Fixing Long-Term Care Act, Minister Calandra is a trusted voice at the Cabinet table and is well positioned to continue improving the care that long-term care home residents receive," said Ford in a Jan. 14 statement. "Our government will never stop working to build more long-term care home beds and improve the care provided to residents. Ontario’s seniors have given so much to our province and we will always be there for them."

But opposition leaders said given the devastation that the long-term care sector has seen during the pandemic and the crisis it's now facing, they want someone in the minister's seat whose sole focus is long-term care.

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath issued a letter to the premier on Monday, saying that Phillips' planned resignation was a chance for the government to appoint someone to tackle the "urgent crisis" in the sector.

"Instead, you opted to add another portfolio to the Minister of Legislative Affairs and Government House Leader," Horwath wrote. "Families, and experts are shocked that you would make this a part time job. I am calling on you to not only commit to a new dedicated minister but a plan of action to address the crisis unfolding in long-term care."

She noted the substantial number of residents and staff infected with COVID-19. As of Jan. 16, the province was reporting 2,548 active resident and 4,090 active staff cases of COVID-19.

"Once again, we are hearing from residents, their families and front-line staff of mass staff shortages, and residents confined to rooms for days, even weeks, at a time," Horwath stated. "I reiterate my call for an urgent staffing plan to deal with this crisis including an immediate raise for personal support workers (PSWs), hazard pay, N95 masks, and a real program for paid sick days. As importantly, we need a full-time minister to focus on the urgent task at hand."

Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner, who has called on the province to request the help of the military in long-term care homes, said the government needs to have someone leading the file who can "solely focus on this ministry."

"Because elders are so vulnerable and we have a crisis, so we need somebody who is completely focused on making sure our elders are protected," said Schreiner, who noted that more than 50 per cent of the province's homes (346 out of 626 homes) are currently in outbreak.

"Just the tragedy that so many long-term care residents have experienced in their homes is completely unacceptable," he said, going on to share the story of a woman he spoke to whose grandmother recently died from COVID-19 and the challenges the family faced prior to that in getting her a booster shot and the care she needed.

"I know that story is being played out in so many families across the province right now and we need the government to do more and we need the government to do better and we need the government to treat this like the crisis that it is," he said.

Liberal Leader Steven Del Duca echoed the calls, saying he was very concerned for those in nursing homes right now.

"Ontario needs a full-time minister to clean up this mess, not another Doug Ford stooge that doesn't show up to work," he said in a statement to QP Briefing. "Doug Ford's government is in chaos, and our parents and grandparents are the ones who will suffer. Ontario deserves better."

Politicians aren't the only ones who have said the sector needs more attention, with long-term care advocate and associate teaching professor at Ontario Tech University Vivian Stamatopoulos saying on social media that a "full time" minister is needed.

If that doesn’t change before he takes over, we’re going to have a real issue @fordnation. We need a FULL TIME Minister. Show some respect for these families. https://t.co/3HqiSW24zV

— Dr. Vivian Stamatopoulos (@DrVivianS) January 16, 2022

Asked about the calls for a long-term care minister whose sole responsibility is this sector, Vanessa De Matteis, a spokesperson for Calandra said he "takes the important responsibilities as minister of long-term care seriously as we battle the Omicron variant and work to implement our government’s plan to fix long-term care."

"Minister Calandra continues to be briefed and updated by officials about the current situation in long-term care," she added. "As minister of long-term care he will diligently serve the people of Ontario, as he has as government house leader."

Opposition parties unite in calling for ‘full-time minister’ to oversee long-term care sector

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