Historic speech from NDP’s Sol Mamakwa highlights lack of long-term care beds in Ontario’s North

NDP MPP Sol Mamakwa holds an eagle feather as he stands in the Ontario legislature in Toronto, and speaks in his language, Oji-Cree, on May 28.Minutes before it was time to ask his historic question in the Ontario legislature, NDP MPP Sol Mamakwa panicked and changed his mind about going first – quietly walking over to his party leader and house leader and looking into whether he could go second instead.

Premier Doug Ford renewed his commitment to make good on the long-standing promise that would deliver 76 additional long-term care beds to the small, rural town in northwestern Ontario. Town councillor Reece Van Breda said there is a seven-year waitlist for a long-term care bed in Sioux Lookout. The number of long-term care beds available in the region amounts to one to every 1,000 people, compared with the provincial average of 30 beds for every 1,000 people, he said.

Sioux Lookout Meno Ya Win Health Centre was built in 2010 and designed for an expansion of long-term care beds. The holdup is overwhelming the hospital’s other services, according to hospital president and chief executive officer Dean Osmond. In 2018, then-premier Kathleen Wynne promised 70 additional beds, and in 2021, Mr. Ford said he would stand by that commitment, promising to be there himself to break ground.

“Elders need to be near their loved ones. Elders should not be forced to move away from familiar surroundings in the sunset years of their life,” he said.

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