Brian Lynch writes about Home Care System crisis in Ontario

Dear Seeker,

The strike by 4500 personal support workers across Ontario, including Cornwall & SD&G, is further evidence that the privatized home care system in Ontario is broken. Natalie Mehra, the Executive Director of the Ontario Health Coalition has stated: “The home care system in Ontario is terribly unwieldy, inequitable, and ineffective, does not work for patients and their families, and takes for granted the poorly treated workers it relies upon.”

Home care workers in Ontario are being exploited. They are being paid poverty-level wages for a heavier workload, drive many hours without pay, have few benefits and no pensions. The exploitation of home care workers in Ontario is used by the Ontario Government to pay for corporate tax cuts and cuts to healthcare.

Under the existing home care model, 30% of home care dollars are being spent on administering private contracts instead of providing quality care to people in need and adequate compensation to home care workers.

Ontario needs a publicly owned and accountable home care system that reduces management and administration costs, gives seniors the supports they need to stay in their homes longer, and pays home care workers a decent wage.

Yours truly,

Brian Lynch
President,
SDSG Provincial NDP riding association