Sault MPP Ross Romano has announced that funding has been approved for the development of 68-new long-term care beds and the redevelopment of 60 existing beds at the Finnish Rest Home.
The funding announcement made this morning follows through on a commitment for the beds that was made more than a year ago.
It’s part of the Ford Government’s commitment to invest 1.75 billion dollars to create 15-thousand new long-term care beds and redevelop an additional 15-thousand older long-term care beds to modern design standards.
A busy day for the Ford cabinet minister who also has a noon hour funding announcement at Civic Centre and a mid-afternoon announcement at Algoma University.

 

Here’s the news release from this morning…

NEWS January 24, 2020
[Sault Ste. Marie] — Today, Ross Romano, MPP for Sault Ste. Marie was at the Mauno
Kaihla Koti long-term care home on behalf of the Honourable Dr. Merrilee Fullerton,
Minister of Long-Term Care, to announce that funding has been approved for the
development of 68 new long-term care beds and the redevelopment of 60 existing beds in
Sault Ste. Marie.
Funding approval for the 68 new and 60 redeveloped beds at Mauno Kaihla Koti is the next
step toward getting shovels in the ground and getting beds built. These beds will help take
pressure off hospitals, allow doctors and nurses to work more efficiently and provide better,
faster health care for patients and their families in Sault Ste. Marie and across Northern
Ontario.
“Creating new and redeveloping older long-term care beds in the North is key to ensuring
more seniors get the support and high-quality care they need close to home,” said
Romano. “That is why our government made a commitment to making significant
investments into long-term care beds across the province. I am proud to say that as of
today, our government has funded a total of 344 new and redeveloped long-term care beds
in the Sault.”
Currently, too many Ontarians are unable to access the long-term care they need, when
they need it – and the level of care when they do receive it – is not always appropriate. That
is why the government is investing $1.75 billion to create 15,000 new long-term care beds
and redevelop an additional 15,000 older long-term care beds to modern design standards.
“We all have a family member, a loved one or friend who has needed long-term care, and
many of us will one day need it ourselves. We will all be touched by it in some way,” said
Minister Fullerton. “That is why our government is creating a 21st century long-term care
system that is resident-centred and builds the capacity we need for residents and
caregivers across Ontario.”
“Next year will mark 30 years of providing excellence in care to residents at Mauno Kaihla
Koti (MKK),” said Paul Belair, CEO of the Ontario Finish Resthome Association. “As we
move toward the next 30 years, we look forward to seeing the impact the additional longterm care beds will have on the local health system vis-à-vis the needs of its citizens. This
project represents the combined commitment of the Ontario Government and the Ontario
Finnish Resthome Association to build the long-term care sector in Sault-Algoma to levels
that will meet those needs, which we know are on the rise, particularly in the North. On
behalf of the Board, Management, staff and residents of the Finnish Resthome, we thank
the government of Ontario for this investment into a healthier future.”
The government is continuing to work with our partners in the long-term care sector to
ensure the system is responsive to the needs of Ontarians by increasing access and
reducing waitlists, while also maintaining patient safety and ensuring high standards of
care.