NDP Halts Personal Care Homes as Seniors Housing Wait Times Worsen
The NDP are cutting PCH beds to pay for their $3 billion worth of costly election promises: Johnson
WINNIPEG — As Manitoba seniors and their families struggle with growing wait lists for housing, Progressive Conservatives are calling on the NDP government to reverse its decision to halt hundreds of new personal care home beds across the province, Derek Johnson, Shadow Minister for Seniors and Long-Term Care, said today.
“It’s deeply disappointing that the NDP, without any consultation, has jeopardized these housing projects, and created uncertainty and anxiety for seniors,” said Johnson, the MLA for Interlake-Gimli. “Manitoba has an aging population and we need to be building more care homes, not less. Any delays to these much-needed projects will only create longer wait lists and force families to fight for housing in a system already at capacity.”
Six personal care homes, located in Arborg, Lac du Bonnet, Oakbank, Stonewall, and Winnipeg, were advanced to the planning and construction stages by the previous PC government earlier this year. All projects went through the proper Treasury Board process for approval, Johnson noted, adding that the projects would have created up to 670 new beds for seniors.
“This is nothing more than the NDP scrambling to pay for their costly election promises,” Johnson said. “But putting those costs on the backs of seniors is deplorable. The NDP needs to reverse course now and get these personal care homes built.”
One of the planned care homes that the NDP has halted is in the Lac du Bonnet constituency.
“First, the NDP folded the seniors ministry and now they’re planning to stop personal care homes,” said Wayne Ewasko, MLA for Lac du Bonnet. “The NDP is showing a lack of integrity, and a blatant disregard for the well-being of Manitobans and transparency in their decision-making.”
“Instead of creating confusion and chaos by delaying care homes for political reasons, the NDP needs to show respect to Manitoba seniors and their families, who can’t afford any more disruptions by this government,” Ewasko added.
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BACKGROUNDER INFORMATION: Wab Kinew commits to Lac du Bonnet personal care home in August 2023.
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