Dear Editor,
Let’s invest in what matters.
The global pandemic has revealed the dire state of long-term care in Canada.
The vast majority of all COVID-19 deaths in Canada are connected to private long-term care facilities that treat elder care as a form of profit, not a public good.
As we enter the second wave of COVID-19, it’s clear that priority #1 should be to bring long-term care under the Canada Health Act, and bring all for-profit long-term care homes under public control.
RELATED: Maple Ridge care home confirms one death as COVID-19 outbreak grows
None of that can be done without the help of the federal government.
Instead of spending tens of billions of dollars on a crude oil pipeline – a poor idea at the best of times – Justin Trudeau should be increasing funding to the provinces and putting an end to for-profit long-term care facilities.
RELATED: COVID outbreak ends at Maple Ridge seniors care home
While the Trans Mountain pipeline will only create a few hundred long-term jobs, investing in a public long-term care system could create thousands of well-paid care jobs across the country.
It’s time for Justin Trudeau to re-evaluate his priorities.
It’s time to defund the Trans Mountain pipeline and invest in protecting our most vulnerable once and for all.
Joanne Fry, Pitt Meadows
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