The Ontario government has announced temporary measures to prevent and alleviate the outbreak of COVID-19. With this, the government has provided $50 million of emergency funding to the long-term care home sector effective immediately. 

Implemented under the current provincial state of emergency, long-term care homes will be able to:

• Redeploy staff to different locations in facilities of the health service provider; 

• Change the assignment of work, including assigning non-bargaining unit employees or contractors to perform bargaining unit work;

• Change the scheduling of work or shift assignments;

• Defer or cancel vacations, absences or other leaves (regardless of them established by statute, regulation, agreement or otherwise);

• Employ extra part-time or temporary staff or contractors, including for the purpose of performing bargaining unit work;

• Use volunteers to perform work, including performing bargaining unit work; and

• Provide appropriate training or education as needed to staff and volunteers to achieve the purposes of a redeployment plan.

Under this order, these measures temporarily replaces the provisions of a collective agreement, including lay-offs, seniority/service or bumping provisions. 

In addition to this, Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health has also restricted residents from leaving a home for short visits with family and friends under the Long-Term Care Homes Act, 2007. Residents that wish to go outside can remain on the home’s property and maintain safe social distancing. Non-essential visits will continue to be restricted.

The government is to release updated procedures around admitting, discharging, and readmitting long-term care home residents.

For more information, please see below:

Ontario Newsroom: Ontario Implements Enhanced Measures to Protect the Safety of Residents in Long-Term Care Homes