The Seniors Page

March 17, 2008

KLEES: Prioritize Long Term Care

(Queen’s Park) Newmarket-Aurora MPP Frank Klees today made the following statement in the Legislature:

“Mr. Speaker, I am calling on the Minister of Health to ensure that residents in Long Term Care Homes in Aurora, in Newmarket and across Ontario receive the quality of care they deserve. He can do that by prioritizing our seniors and people with disabilities who are residents of Long Term Care Homes in his government's upcoming budget.

“At a recent roundtable discussion at the Aurora Resthaven Long Term Care Home, I heard from residents, family members and staff that the services and quality of care that can be provided at current funding levels is unacceptable.

“Edith Schultz, Resthaven's administrator, pointed out that cost increases have outstripped funding increases for four straight years. I was presented with thousands of postcards gathered at a number of Long Term Care Homes, including: Southlake Village in Newmarket, The Willows in Aurora and the King City Lodge.

“I will be sending them across to the Minister. They are signed by residents, their families and staff, and ask that the government provide the $513 million of additional funding to provide the additional staff and supplies necessary to ensure an adequate level of care and quality of life for residents.

“Mr. Speaker, that is $18.75 per day for each of the residents of Long Term Care Homes in our province. We will be interested to see where our Long Term Care residents are on his government's list of priorities when the Minister of Finance tables his budget.

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References:

Frank Klees, MPP

Newmarket-Aurora

416 509 8999

KLEES: Budget Fails to Eliminate Double

Standard for Long Term Care Residents March 23, 2007

Klees supports Bill 142

An Act to amend the Highway Traffic Act with respect to school crossing guards

...when the member brought this forward, I too had to take a second look to say, "What is this all about?" Surely there must be legislation already in place that deals with this, that a crossing guard, if that crossing guard happened to see a senior or someone who is physically challenged and required some assistance, would be able to do that. Of course, that is the civil thing to do.

more....

The Bill amends the Highway Traffic Act to expand the function of school crossing guards to cover directing the movement of all persons across a highway, not just the movement of children as at present

MPP Frank Klees stands up for SENIORS

The following is a copy of the Hansard Record of Mr. Klees' statement to the Premier regarding the Ontario Drug Benefit Plan on May 5th, 2004:

Mr Frank Klees (Oak Ridges): The government talks a good game when it comes to protecting Ontario seniors and our public health care system, but many seniors have written to me because they are concerned that this government may not be walking their talk at all. They feel threatened.

Many of these letters that I have received in my office come from members of the McConaghy Seniors' Centre in Richmond Hill. I just received another package of letters from residents in a seniors' building at 71 Dunlop Street in Richmond Hill. I want to read into the record one of those letters, forwarded by Mrs Dorothy Baker on behalf of her neighbours:

"As a senior in Ontario, I wish to register my strong opposition to any changes in the Ontario drug benefit plan.

"Seniors on fixed incomes have no overtime, no bonuses and, in many cases, have no place to draw from. Many of us will not be able to afford vital medication. Please remember, we are the largest low-income group in Ontario and we simply cannot afford any more erosion into our income.

"We prefer to stay out of hospital or long-term-care facilities, but if there are any increased drug costs we will have to make the choice between food or drugs.

"You must reconsider making any changes to the ODB and must take it off the table."

This government is headed in the wrong direction. They must not go ahead with this intention of increasing costs to our seniors.

2005 Year of the Veteran- my tribute

2007 The Memory Project - Klees: Pass the Torch of Remembrance to our Young People

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for Seniors

in Ontario

Joan Ransberry YRNG

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