The Liberals say if they are re-elected, they will spend $9 billion to address shortfalls in the long-term care sector.
Speaking in Victoria, B.C., on Thursday, Justin Trudeau said the pandemic highlighted the “unacceptable and heartbreaking” conditions in too many long-term care homes.
“Seniors, families, you’re right. You deserve so much better than what we saw in too many places across the country,” said the Liberal leader.
Ottawa deployed the Canadian Armed Forces to several long-term care homes at the request of provinces and territories to help deal with the pandemic.
“It shouldn’t take a crisis like this to highlight what, unfortunately, too many people have known for too long. That we’re not doing a good enough job everywhere across the country to support our seniors and our loved ones,” said Trudeau.
Trudeau said the Liberals would train up to 50,000 new personal support workers so workers no longer have to do “endless overtime shifts.”
The party would also work with provinces and territories to increase the minimum wage for personal support workers to at least $25 an hour, he said.
According to Trudeau, the funding would also allow them to create more long-term care beds, improve facilities, and increase infection prevention.
“It’s clear to everyone in the field and to families that have loved ones they worry about that the conditions of work in long-term care become the conditions of care for our seniors,” said Trudeau.
Update on Afghanistan
The Liberal leader also provided an update on the country’s efforts to evacuate Canadians, Afghan nationals, and their families from Afghanistan.
Trudeau said Canadian Armed Forces assets and personnel have arrived on the ground to coordinate on a tactical level with the United States and allied partners.
“Two Canadian Armed Forces C-17s will be making regular flights into Kabul to support evacuation efforts,” he said.
Trudeau said he met virtually on Wednesday with members of the Afghan-Canadian community and told them they would do whatever it takes to support them.
The leader noted the “heartbreaking” images which have come out of the country in recent days following a takeover by the Taliban.
“We will continue our efforts at evacuations and I know that Canadians from coast to coast to coast will step up to support Afghans and to support resettlement, welcoming people who will build better lives not just for themselves but for all of us here in Canada.”
