We the undersigned, along with the support of SEIU and its over 46 000 members in
Ontario, demand the regulation of Retirement Homes.

Nursing homes are funded by the provincial government and are subject to a myriad of statutory obligations, including the Long Term Care Homes Act. Statutory obligations, government oversight, and funding are not only consistent with the spirit of the Canada Health Act, they have created a structure in nursing home facilities that is able to provide better care for residents and improved working conditions for the people employed in them. At present, the only statutory obligation that retirement homes are subject to is the Residential Tenancies Act. This means that Retirement Homes have roughly the same obligations as a college dorm room.

In light of the recent tragedy in Orillia at an unregulated Retirement Home. Seniors perished in this fire and many remain in critical condition due to a lack of regulatory standards. We now ask how many more lives will we lose before we regulate this industry and protect our seniors and their staff?

Please join us in this cause to further improve the working conditions of employees in all Retirement Homes and increase the safety and enrich the lives of the seniors that reside in them.