As chairperson of the Jasper long-term care home’s family council, David Kent has concerns about the Liberals’ proposed Long Term Care Homes Act. When the nursing home’s administrator, Nelly Hobbs, asked Kent if he would be interested in speaking at a public hearing on the Act in Kingston, he embraced the chance.

“I was pleased with the opportunity to express my opinion,” says Kent, whose father, John Kent, has lived at Rosebridge for three-and-a-half years.

“The main thrust of my talk was I felt they weren’t providing equal funding to all homes,” says Kent.

Those living in newer homes or ‘A’-classified homes have better social/recreational areas, more spacious dining rooms and don’t share bedrooms with two or three other people and a common washroom between them. Yet they all pay the same. Rosebridge is classified as a ‘C’ home.

“My father’s a Second World War veteran. Somehow you’re calling him a second-class citizen,” Kent told the committee.

While Kent’s father lives in a private room, as chairperson of the family council, his interests are broader than those of just his father’s. “I know there are issues about four-bed ward rooms. I can see that. I think they should be funded equally to every other place.”

The proposed Act is looking to limit the licences of ‘C’ homes to 10 years and ‘B’ homes to 12 years without a commitment for a structural renewal program to upgrade the homes to meet the standards of newer buildings. Bill 140 has raised a huge concern for long-term care with its limited licencing scheme.

Over the past two weeks, those interested in Ontario's proposed new Long Term Care Homes Act have spoke publicly during a series of hearings of the provincial government's Standing Committee on Social Policy. OMNI CEO Fraser Wilson and Almonte Country Haven Administrator Rick Gourlie also made presentations on Monday.

During his presentation, Kent also raised issue with the increased rules and regulations and the opportunity to introduce more that the Act contains. He spent most of his working career writing legislation for the federal government.

“When you write legislation you have to understand the workload it’s going to have on the people. It leads me to believe they don’t understand the situation fully. I think the people who work in these homes are dedicated people. By bogging them down, you’re not allowing them to do the work they want to do.”

The Long Term Care Homes Act 2006 or Bill 140 is currently at the second reading stage. According to the Province, the proposed Act promotes zero tolerance of abuse and neglect of long-term care home residents, restricts the use of restraints and makes it mandatory a registered nurse be on duty in the province’s nursing homes 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Reflecting on Monday’s experience, Kent says, “I felt they appreciated what my concerns are.” However, his optimism stems from the support he received by opposition politicians, he says.