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Sault will be ‘at the top’ of long-term care priority list: Horwath

NDP leader visits, greeted by Sault New Democrat candidate Michele McCleave-Kennedy

Speaking to the ongoing plight of Sault Ste. Marie’s aging population and its needs, Ontario NDP leader Andrea Horwath announced Saturday she will add 600 long-term care beds to the community if her party is victorious in the June 7 provincial election.

Horwath made the announcement at a gathering of the local party faithful at the Gore Street Cafe, located at 164 Gore St.

Joined by Sault NDP candidate Michele McCleave-Kennedy, Horwath told reporters, “We are going to have all 600 beds in place by 2021, and my understanding is… the Finnish community (the Ontario Finnish Resthome Association) has already identified land and they’re shovel ready to add more beds, and Sault Area Hospital is in the process of identifying space in property they own as well.”

“We will have those beds up and running, all 600 beds, by 2021,” Horwath said.

Horwath said an NDP government will fund those beds.

“Sault Ste. Marie has 1,030 long-term care beds, and 587 people on the wait list for initial placement. The Sault Area Hospital and North East Local Health Integration Network say at least 449 new beds will be needed by 2021,” stated an NDP news release accompanying Horwath’s visit to the Sault.

“The 600-bed commitment is part of her (Horwath’s) plan to add 15,000 new long-term care beds province-wide over five years and 40,000 over 10 years,” the release stated.

The need for more long-term care beds has long been a priority for the community.

“Based on our aging population, our community will need the equivalent of two additional Davey Homes to meet the need by 2021,” stated Brandy Sharp Young, SAH communications and volunteer resources manager, in an email to SooToday in February.

Horwath acknowledged to SooToday her plan to provide drug and dental coverage for all Ontarians, as well as tackle student debt by converting loans to grants, will lead Ontario into deficit.

However, the NDP leader said her party has a plan to pay down that deficit.

“Our plan is one that does include deficit, but one of the things that’s different between our plan and the other two parties is we are actually going to ask the wealthiest, richest people in Ontario, the richest corporations, to help us pay for these services and so you’ll see we do project deficits initially (but) those deficits begin to reduce…(the deficit will go) downward in years four and five and we’ll be getting to balance after that,” Horwath said.


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Darren Taylor

About the Author: Darren Taylor

Darren Taylor is a news reporter and photographer in Sault Ste Marie. He regularly covers community events, political announcements and numerous board meetings. With a background in broadcast journalism, Darren has worked in the media since 1996.
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