MPP Michael Mantha’s News from the Park
Algoma-Manitoulin NDP MPP Michael Mantha
Last week (Click to read last week’s column) we touched on an important Bill that New Democrats introduced titled Empowering Homecare Patients Act, 2015. This bill speaks to homecare recipients and their families across Ontario. New Democrats also introduced Bill 87 Long-Term Care Homes Amendment Act; (Preference for Veterans), 2015.This Bill seeks to:
- Amend the Long Term Care Homes Act by extending priority access for long-term care to veterans who are currently excluded (aka “modern day veterans”) if they are deemed needing long-term care in Ontario.
- It would also amend the Long Term Care Act to ensure that these veterans are given priority access to all long term care facilities in the province.
This bill important because the number of traditional (WW1, WW2, Korean War) veterans is expected to decline over the next few years.
Their population (in Canada) as of March 2014: 98, 200, Second World War 88,400; their average age is 90m Korean War: 9,800; their average age is 82.
Modern day veterans are left out: Canadian Forces Veterans: 599,200; their average age is 56
This means that a mere 1/7 veterans who require long term care, are currently left out of the system and that number will only increase as more and more modern days veterans increase.
The number of “modern day veterans” is expected to rise significantly, as will, naturally, their need for long term care as their population ages over the next few decades. According to the Veteran’s Ombudsman’s 2013-2014 report, the LTC client group with the least accessibility to long-term care and benefits are modern day veterans.
We have a duty of care to ensure that these modern day veterans who have sacrificed their lives on our behalf are given the care they need and deserve
In addition we introduced An Act to require municipalities to take action with respect to accessibility for persons with disabilities.
This bill would make it easier for businesses, restaurants and other facilities to become accessible. The bill would require municipalities to review the barriers business face in making their premises more accessible and for the swift removal of those barriers, within a year of the bill passing.
The catalyst to this legislation centres around the installation of a ramp at a restaurant in Toronto that employs deaf staff and has many patrons with disabilities. There has been an ongoing problem for this restaurant operator to have a wheelchair ramp that stretches onto the sidewalk without being fined by the city.
People with disabilities are being excluded from fully enjoying the same access to things others take for granted simply because of, in this case, hindrances from municipal enforcement. We need to change this for the better to help ensure that people can be fully included within their communities.
As always, please feel free to contact my office about this issue, or any other provincial matters. You can reach my constituency office by email at mmantha-co@ndp.on.ca or by phone at 705-461-9710/1-800-831-1899.
MPP Michael Mantha. Algoma-Manitoulin
