When asked about the federal government’s plan to to equalize norms in long-term care facilities, despite their operations falling under provincial jurisdiction, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the proposal is around “sharing best practices” but “we’ve seen that those institutions haven’t done a good enough job, in this pandemic particularly.”
“If this pandemic has shown us anything it’s that there are gaps that have long existed and cracks within which our most vulnerable can slip in our institutions,” Trudeau said. “To not take the moment of this crisis to reflect on how we can improve outcomes for everyone would be completely irresponsible.”
“We look forward to working with provinces across all jurisdictions to look at how we can ensure that every single senior, that every family member thinking about putting their mom and dad into long-term care, can be reassured that they’ll be well taken care of.”
The prime minister went on to send a message to children dealing the with pandemic, in advance of Trudeau’s son, Xavier, celebrating his thirteenth birthday this weekend – also marking Pierre Elliott Trudeau’s birthday on Oct. 18.
“Not having a party is tough but as families, as Canadians and as kids, we need to keep doing our part to keep safe, to protect our grandparents, to make sure that we’re slowing the spread of COVID-19,” Trudeau said. “We’ve asked an awful lot of everyone across the country, especially kids, but I want you to know that we’re going to continue asking a lot of you because I know you’re capable of it.”
