City lacks funding to alleviate shortage

Chow says Toronto has capacity to operate more beds, but needs support from province following closure of Parkdale location

- KENYON WALLACE

Mayor Olivia Chow says Toronto could add an additional 978 long-term-care beds if the city was able to construct two planned nursing homes. Currently, there are 6,500 people waiting for a bed in the city’s 10 LTC homes alone.

In the wake of a wave of nursing home closures in Toronto, Mayor Olivia Chow says the province needs to step up to help the city step in to operate more long-term-care beds.

It’s a job Chow says Toronto has the capacity and willingness to do, but can’t because it simply doesn’t have the money.

In an interview with the Star on the state of long-term care in the city, Chow said the city has plans to build two more nursing homes, which would add to the 10 facilities it already owns and operates, and would even be interested in acquiring the right of first refusal to take over private facilities if they close.

“We have the experience and the desire, the commitment to do a lot more. We want to do more. We have sites ready to do more. We just need some financial support to be able to do so,” said Chow.

She noted that municipal nursing homes offer more stability in the long run because their operating licences do not expire and city homes do not have to contribute to dividends for shareholders — unlike for-profit facilities.