TYLER SHANDRO WAITS SEVEN WEEKS TO HELP SENIORS

EDMONTON – Disgraced health minister Tyler Shandro should resign after he waited more than seven weeks to provide extra support to continuing care operators struggling to cover the cost preventing and combat the spread of COVID-19.

The Alberta NDP Caucus first called for an immediate 20 per cent increase to continuing care operators on March 27^th, when seniors’ housing administrators flagged concerns with their ability to protect seniors in facilities like long-term care and seniors’ lodges. The UCP government has still not properly delivered its promised $2-per-hour wage top-up.

“This Minister failed to protect Alberta’s seniors when it mattered the most. Continuing care operators asked for help dealing with COVID-19 weeks ago and he didn’t listen. We called for surge funding to support seniors in continuing care almost two months ago and he refused. Now, the Minister announces funding retroactive to March, after infections have spread and lives have been lost. Albertans have to wonder: why did he take so long and how much suffering could have been prevented if he acted sooner?” said Alberta NDP Seniors and Housing Critic Lori Sigurdson. “Tyler Shandro must resign.”