REALITY CHECK: Seniors Minister brags while seniors care lags

Given that deaths in long-term care account for 82 per cent of our country’s COVID-19 deaths in the first wave (highest proportion in the OECD), it’s surprising to see Justin Trudeau’s Minister of Seniors, Deb Schulte, rush to defend her government's handling of this crisis.

While Minister Schulte claims to have been busy "working on national standards” since last summer, three for-profit long-term care providers collected millions in Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy; paid out over $172 million in shareholder dividends, while 761 residents and workers died in their facilities.

Of course, what the Minister of Seniors fails to address in her defensive retort is the NDP's call to regulate long-term care and home care with the same principles as the Canada Health Act while eliminating greed in long-term care by removing profit.

While her government is fine letting wealthy companies make millions off the neglect of our loved ones, Canadians expect their government to prioritize their care.

Maybe she's got another epic clap-back infographic coming on that... we'll wait.

Canadians and their families deserve better.