Retroactive decrease in funding ‘shocking’, says MPP
Thursday, April 29, 2004 - John Driscoll
A move by the Liberal government to retroactively reduce property tax funding for private operators of long-term care homes is “totally wrong,” says Laurie Scott, Progressive Conservative MPP for Haliburton-Victoria-Brock.

Homes in her area had already completed their budget preparations for this year and this surprise government initiative makes a huge difference, says Scott who met Friday in Lindsay with administrators of homes in her riding.

Many administrators were relying on that money to update and renovate homes, she says. “This government is not addressing the needs of long-term care and I find this latest move most shocking.”

The Ontario Long Term Care Association (OLTCA) met last week with government officials who have agreed to work with OLTCA in an effort to resolve the issue. If unresolved, the initiative will impact funding available for such areas as dietary, housekeeping, laundry, maintenance and repairs, capital improvements, education and training services, says Karen Sullivan, OLTCA executive director.

The funding cut, retroactive to 2003, plus an even larger funding cut announced for 2004, would cost OMNI almost $1.2 million in lost revenue, according to Fraser Wilson, CEO. Almonte Country Haven, Frost Manor in Lindsay and Village Green in Selby were to receive $200,000 each this year for “significant improvements” but the renovations have now been put on hold, he says.

Another troubling issue for homes involves an expected 1.4-per-cent increase in funding to match the annual increase in care need that has traditionally come into effect Apr. 1 but has not yet been implemented. It would have meant an additional $30 million in care funding this year across Ontario, Sullivan says.

“We are hopeful this adjustment will be implemented in the new budget,” Sullivan says. The government is scheduled to introduce the budget May 18.

The PC caucus is planning to discuss these long-term care issues this week, Scott says. “It is important that long-term care is adequately funded,” she says. “The budget will tell the tale.”