AMO’s Initial Response to the Long-Term Care COVID-19 Commission

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a disproportionate impact on residents in long-term care (LTC), as the vast majority of the deaths due to COVID-19 in Canada have been in LTC homes. This has affected families and communities across the province and country in profound and tragic ways.

The pandemic has also exposed the structural weaknesses in the LTC system, especially chronic underfunding which limited the ability to respond effectively in the first wave. The Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) welcomes the opportunity to provide initial input, AMO’s Initial Response to the Long-Term Care COVID-19 Commission. AMO is a non-partisan, non-profit association representing municipal governments. Ontario’s municipal governments work together to achieve shared goals and meet common challenges through AMO. One such cause is promoting healthy age-friendly communities which includes municipal LTC homes, operated in an efficient and effective manner.

While the provincial government is responsible for LTC legislation, regulation and program requirements, municipal governments are mandated under the Long-Term Care Act, 2007 (LTCHA) to operate 16% (100+) of the 626 LTC homes in the Province. Municipal homes pride themselves on providing high quality services and safe environments for their residents.