NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE—Ontario Health Minister George Smitherman claims he has no power to intervene to protect Niagara home care services.
More than 100 nurses, employees of the Victorian Order of Nurses, lost their jobs after the Community Care Access Centre awarded the Niagara home care contract to a for-profit company last month.
In an hour-long discussion today, Smitherman told OPSEU representatives that though he recognizes that there is “hardship” for home care workers and their clients, he won’t act unless there is evidence the law on competitive bidding has been violated.
Ontario CCACs operate under a system of “managed competition” enacted by the previous Tory government, under which community agencies like the VON are forced to compete for contracts against for-profit companies. This has resulted in displaced workers and interrupted home care services across the province.
“We’re extremely disappointed, but determined to fight on,” said Deborah Charbonneau,. President of OPSEU Local 267. “The minister says he has no power to act, even though our patients and clients have demonstrated that they want their home care to continue, and we also told him we believe there were irregularities in the bidding process.”
Home care clients in Niagara face a crisis, she said, because once the VON ends its work, there will likely not be enough home care workers to continue their services.
Smitherman told OPEU that he was not concerned about the calls from political and community leaders asking for a review of the CCAC bidding process, or the large number of residents who have signed a petition supporting the VON.
OPSEU President Leah Casselman said the union will continue to fight until the competitive bidding process is scrapped and stability returns to Ontario home care services.
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For more information:
Deborah Charbonneau, OPSEU Local 267: 905-684-2693
Rick Janson, OPSEU Communications: (416) 525-3324
