Ford lets long-term care corporations cash in after thousands of seniors died

Horwath calls for end to profits in care as execs score big bonuses, cushy appointment

QUEEN’S PARK — Official Opposition NDP Leader Andrea Horwath is blasting the Doug Ford government for rewarding for-profit long-term care companies that left residents to live, and die, in horrifying conditions. New revelations show the for-profit companies paid out big bonuses to executives for 2020, while the Ford government gave an Extendicare vice-president a cushy appointment.

Horwath’s NDP has released a plan to make the entire home care and long-term care home system public and not-for-profit.

According to a Globe and Mail report, Extendicare’s CEO banked $1.71 million for 2020, including a massive bonus – up from 2019’s bonus. Sienna’s outgoing CEO pocketed $4.7 million last year including a huge bonus.

Extendicare and Sienna received $157 million in public dollars to help with COVID-19.

On top of those massive rewards and payments to shareholders, the Ford government gave Lisa Pearson, Vice President of Public Affairs for Extendicare, a plum appointment to the board of the IESO.

“Executives of for-profit LTC corporations cut corners on care. They left seniors to die of dehydration and neglect. They let COVID-19 ravage their residents, and failed to provide comfort or care. Doug Ford didn’t protect seniors from those corporations – but he’s protecting and rewarding the corporations,” said Horwath.

“We should be investing every dollar into the quality of care and quality of life for our precious parents and grandparents, not shoveling public dollars into private companies that just siphon the cash away for payouts to CEOs and shareholders. I’m calling on the government to commit to getting the profits out of long-term care, and to stop standing in the way of families seeking justice.”