MPP Wayne Gates says a new motion could take pressure off Ontario’s long-term care system and help families in towns like Niagara-on-the-Lake, where many seniors rely on unpaid caregivers.
Gates is reintroducing a motion at Queen’s Park on Wednesday that would create a $1,000 monthly direct payment for Ontario’s unpaid caregivers — people looking after family or friends from home.
It’s timed with May’s National Caregiver Awareness Month, Gates said, and backed by a wide range of groups, including the Ontario Caregiver Coalition, Canadian Cancer Society and the Alzheimer Society of Ontario.
“I believe that they should be paid, just because of the number of hours that they’re putting in,” Gates told The Lake Report. “Some are still working. Some end up losing their job.”
This isn’t just the right thing to do — Gates said it makes financial sense.
“Nova Scotia, they have similar programs already,” he said. “They’re working well and they save the government money.”
Gates said this could replace up to 7.8 per cent of Ontario’s long-term care beds.
“That becomes a savings to the government of close to $300 million,” he said.
Currently, more than 3.3 million Ontarians provide unpaid care. About 300,000 are struggling financially, with 33,000 forced to quit their jobs entirely, Gates said.
“It would mean fewer families are forced to turn to long-term care,” he said.
As for budget plans, Gates said the coalition’s research would outline how the policy could be implemented and rolled out.
“(The coalition) would work with us and the government if it’s passed,” he said.
Gates said this is a win for caregivers, but it’s also a win for “our parents, our grandparents, our moms and dads who just want to stay at home” and a win for people with disabilities, “who want to live with dignity.”
This is not a tax credit but a direct payment, he said, which would immediately reduce strain on care services.
“It eases the pressures off our long-term care facilities and our social services and our hospitals,” he said.
Gates first introduced the motion in the last parliament and said this is one of the most important motions he’s bringing forward again, because of its potential impact.
NOTL is a prime example of a community that would benefit, Gates said, pointing to its aging population and high number of caregivers.
“Lots of seniors in Niagara-on-the-Lake,” he said. “And there’s a lot of people in Niagara-on-the-Lake that have caregivers.”
Gates said support is already in place from the Liberals, Greens, NDP and independent members of provincial parliament.
“I’m hoping that when we bring the motion forward — when it’s called to the legislature — that I can get support of all the parties,” he said, adding that this is a non-partisan issue.
As for when residents might start to feel its effects, Gates said that will depend on what happens once it’s formally presented and debated.
“(Residents) won’t see the change unless we can convince the Conservatives when we bring the motion forward,” he said.
Gates said he plans to reach out to the Conservatives before the motion is introduced on Wednesday to encourage support.
“To see if they’ll join us on Wednesday, as we try to highlight this motion and highlight the caregiver awareness month,” he said.
A press conference will take place on Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. at Queen’s Park.
