Windsor West MPP, Lisa Gretzky held a virtual town hall on Saturday, providing an update on her essential caregivers bill.
The town hall, which aired on Facebook Live, featured Dr. Amit Arya, a palliative care physician, Maggie Keresteci, a caregiver and advocate, Lisa Williams, mother of a son with a developmental disability who lives in a group home in Windsor, and Maureen McDermott, founder of Voices of Long Term Care.
Gretzky provided an update on the "More Than a Visitor Act," which would allow residents of congregate settings to choose their essential caregiver, and allow that person access even through the second wave of COVID-19. Bill 203 lays out that residents have a right to access these caregivers and there should be procedures and guidelines in place to make sure this can happen safely.
The bill passed second reading with unanimous support in September 2020, but has since been stuck in the committee stage.
"We could have had it at committee during the winter break, they could have called a special committee meeting," said Gretzky at the town hall. "And they haven't done that."
Since the bill was initially tabled, the Ontario government has implemented guidance for congregate care homes on caregiver access. Gretzky argued that wasn't enough.
"We are still hearing of different facilities, different organizations and agencies that are ignoring the guidance-because it is just that, it is guidance, it is not legislation, they do not legally have to follow it," she said. "Many of them are still denying residents and patients that access to their caregivers."
Lisa Williams shared the struggle she has faced with having her developmentally disabled son in a group home.
"He's non-verbal yet you can see him begging, every day...to see me," she said. Williams and her son, Shane FaceTime together every day. "We're trying to explain to him in terms at his level why I'm not there for him."
Williams said she is an essential part of her son's health and wellbeing, and hopes Bill 203 will allow her to get back into the group home.
"I shouldn't be restricted from seeing my son," said Williams.
The NDPs plan to push the government to pass the bill with unanimous consent when the legislature resumes sitting on Tuesday. Gretzky hopes to push it past the committee and third reading stages to make it law immediately.
Gretzky once again cited the need to consult with families, residents, health care workers and caregivers for developing a strategy for essential caregivers. Gretzky admitted the cost would vary from home to home, and a total cost to provincial taxpayers would not be known until the strategy is set. A petition has been made available through Gretzky's website in support of the bill.
-With files from Adelle Loiselle and Maureen Revait
