Today the Commission has submitted the English and French-language AODA versions of its Final Report to the Minister of Long-Term Care and has posted it to this website:
Ontario’s Long-Term Care COVID-19 Commission, Final Report, April 30, 2021 [426 page – 3,838kb]
Today the Commission has submitted the complete French-language version of its Final Report to the Minister of Long-Term Care and has posted it to this website.
The Honourable Frank N. Marrocco, Angela Coke, and Dr. Jack Kitts, Commissioners of Ontario’s Long-Term Care COVID-19 Commission, submitted their Final Report to the Minister of Long-Term Care on April 30, 2021.
The Commission has posted:
Translation of this report is underway, and the complete French language version will be posted as soon as possible.
The Honourable Frank N. Marrocco, Angela Coke, and Dr. Jack Kitts, Commissioners of Ontario’s Long-Term Care COVID-19 Commission, have completed their final report and submitted it to the Minister of Long-Term Care.
The Commission has posted its transmittal letter to the Minister of Long-Term Care and will post its final report to this website once it has been released publicly by the Minister.
Transmittal Letter to Minister Fullerton April 30, 2021 [1 page –356kb]
The Commission is in the process of completing its final report, which will be submitted to the Minister of Long-Term Care on April 30, 2021 in accordance with the Terms of Reference. The final report will be available on the Commission website once it has been released publicly by the Minister.
The Commission is in the process of drafting its final report, which must be submitted by April 30, 2021. The Commissioners continue to meet with long-term care home residents to deepen our understanding of residents’ lived experience before and during the pandemic.
The Commission will be interviewing Dr. David Williams, Chief Medical Officer of Health, on Monday, February 22nd; The Honourable Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier of Ontario and Minister of Health, and Helen Angus, Deputy Minister of Health, on Wednesday, February 24th; and The Honourable Merrilee Fullerton, Minister of Long-Term Care, and Richard Steele, Deputy Minister of Long-Term Care on Friday, February 26th, as part of the Commission's investigation.
The Commission has received a number of requests to extend the deadline for written submissions. In response to these requests, the Commission is extending the deadline for written submissions to February 16, 2021. The Minister of Long-Term Care has declined the Commissioners’ request to extend the April 30, 2021 deadline for the Commission’s final report. As the Commission must prepare its final report for delivery by April 30, 2021, please note that any materials submitted after February 16, 2021 may not be considered for inclusion in the Commission’s final report.
The Commission has posted an exchange of correspondence between the Commission and the Minister of Long-Term Care in regards to the timing for the conclusion of the Commission’s investigation. The Commission will report by April 30, 2021 consistent with its original mandate.
Letter to Minister Fullerton December 9, 2020 [2 pages – 429kb]
Letter from Minister Fullerton December 23, 2020 [2 pages – 106kb]
The Commission will continue to accept submissions from members of the public and stakeholder organizations until January 31, 2021.
The Honourable Frank N. Marrocco, Angela Coke, and Dr. Jack Kitts, Commissioners of Ontario’s Long-Term Care COVID-19 Commission, released their second Interim Recommendations at 10:00 a.m. on December 4, 2020 in Ontario, Canada.
Second Interim Recommendations [6 pages – 343kb]
In response to concerns raised by families and workers, the Commission’s Terms of Reference have been amended and can be found here. The amended Terms of Reference will now allow for full and frank disclosure by individuals concerned about confidentiality.
The Commissioners today released their first interim recommendations. Over the past seven weeks, the Commission has heard from approximately 200 individuals from almost 50 different organizations in the LTC sector. While many more stakeholders are still to be heard from, the Commission felt compelled to submit these early recommendations in the short-term to help protect the lives of long-term care residents and staff in light of the current rising COVID-19 case numbers in long-term care homes.
First Interim Recommendations [5 pages – 788kb]
The commission has updated the list of its meetings and briefings here. Those interested in making submissions to the Commission can do this throughout the coming weeks and months. Please see the link above to "Share Your Views with the Commission" for more information.
A list of briefings and meetings with transcripts that the Commissioners have had to date can be found here.
The Commissioners have received briefings on staffing, funding and licensing for Long-Term Care homes as well as on the roles of the Chief Medical Officer of Health and local Public Health Units. Commissioners began meetings with provincial associations to gain their perspectives into this investigation, and will continue to do so in the coming weeks. A list of briefings and meetings that the Commissioners have had to date can be found here.
The Commissioners are mindful of the recent increase in reported cases of COVID-19 as they continue their investigation. They are interested in hearing from individuals and organizations that have been touched by the impacts the COVID-19 outbreak has had in Long-Term Care settings, as well as insights into how to prevent these impacts in the future. Information on how to share your views with the Commission can be found here.
Commission staff are continuing to reach out to organizations representing staff and long-term care home residents and their families, local long-term care operators, and locally based health professionals in different areas of the province.
This week the Commissioners have heard information on the inspection process in LTC homes, and on data collection and analysis before and during the pandemic. Commission staff have continued to reach out to organizations representing staff and residents in LTC homes, to help Commissioners collect information and plan for safe and effective consultations.
The Powerpoint of the presentations can be viewed here.
The Commissioners have begun their investigation. They, along with Commission staff, are receiving foundational briefings and information from experts and professionals in long-term care, public health, and health human resources, as well as senior government officials responsible for pandemic planning and the oversight of long-term care homes.
Commission staff are collecting relevant documentary evidence necessary to the Commission's investigation, and researching the experience of other countries' long-term care systems to provide information and context.
The Commissioners see one of the Commission’s most important goals as understanding the experience of residents and families over the course of the pandemic and will be integrating those perspectives into every aspect of their work. The Commission has been considering how best to receive information from these key stakeholders, and will begin seeking input from them in the coming weeks.
Finally, the Commissioners are mindful of the continuing public health crisis and intend to conduct their investigation in a manner that minimizes interference with the work required to combat the pandemic.
Information about the Commission's investigation will be published to the Commission's website on an ongoing basis. Individuals and entities interested in providing information may contact the Commission through the contact information posted here.
The Commission has posted its guiding principles.
Statement by the Commissioners
The Commissioners of Ontario’s Long-Term Care COVID-19 Commission are honoured to start our important task today. We have a clear mandate to investigate how and why COVID-19 spread in long-term care homes, what was done to prevent the spread, and the impact of key elements of the existing system on the spread.
We have the power to consider any further areas where the government should take action to help prevent the future spread of disease in long-term care homes.
The Commission has been asked by the government to submit a final report by next April 30.
We will be doing this work very quickly as the entire health care system prepares for a possible second wave of COVID-19.
The long-term care sector, and the health system as a whole, will also be responding to the findings and the recommendations of the Public Inquiry into the Safety and Security of the Residents in the Long-Term Care Homes System.
Associate Chief Justice Frank Marrocco, Commission Chair
Angela Coke, Commissioner
Dr. Jack Kitts, Commissioner