Dear CALTC Members,

I would like to begin by wishing you a Happy New Year and by expressing my appreciation for your continued engagement as we look ahead to our collective work in 2026.

A key initiative for the coming year is the CALTC National Survey on the State of Long-Term Care in Canada. Development of the survey is currently underway by the contracted researcher, and I anticipate sharing a draft for member feedback in the near future. In addition, I am working with Santis on plans for spring lobby meetings in Ottawa, which would replace the fall lobby day that has been held in recent years. This shift is in response to changes in the federal government’s budget cycle. Initial planning is also underway for a national fall meeting, which will focus on a review of CALTC’s strategic plan and engagement with our sponsors.

As part of this planning, a lobby day in early April is being considered in an effort to avoid dates of member events. To assess feasibility and scope, I am seeking an indication of interest from members who may wish to participate in the spring lobby meetings with the understanding that final confirmation will be contingent on the final date. Given the importance of the national fall meeting for sponsor engagement and strategic planning, members are encouraged to prioritize attendance at the fall meeting if travel decisions must be made between the two.

To support ongoing discussions with Santis regarding contract terms, it is important to understand the anticipated level of participation in the spring lobby meetings. Members who expect to attend the early April lobby day are asked to confirm their interest by email no later than January 16.

Finally, I would like to share several new and updated member resources. The updated member directory is available here; please advise if any corrections are required. In addition, the Board has approved a new governance policy and a position paper on Information Technology and Artificial Intelligence at the December meeting. The final formatted versions of these documents can be found here.

Thank you for your continued leadership and engagement in advancing long-term care across Canada.

Sincerely,
Jodi

Dear CALTC Members,

Last week, I participated in a roundtable discussion with the Minister of Health focused on the impact of information technology and artificial intelligence in healthcare. This was a valuable and informative dialogue with healthcare leaders from across Canada. It is clear that the federal government is exploring ways to support the broader healthcare system through advancements in IT and AI. I was pleased that long-term care was included in this initial discussion and took the opportunity to emphasize its importance, as well as the investments that will be required to support the sector.

In addition, I was invited to present to a federal–provincial–territorial (FPT) committee examining the role of personal support workers (PSWs) in Canada. The committee is considering competency frameworks, accountability models, and the potential for regulatory oversight. Based on the questions raised by committee members, there is a clear interest in exploring regulatory models for PSWs. As this committee provides recommendations to Deputy Ministers of Health, I intend to follow up on this work and how it may impact the LTC sector.

Advocacy efforts have also continued to better understand the exclusion of long-term care homes from the Build Canada Homes Framework, particularly after it had been communicated that LTC homes would be included in this national initiative. Feedback suggests that jurisdictional considerations contributed to this decision. However, in a recent meeting with the Secretary of State for Seniors’ office, it was noted that long-term care homes are still being considered as the government examines options to support capital needs in the sector. I have also engaged Health Canada, which is overseeing the development of a plan for the $5 billion healthcare infrastructure fund. CALTC’s infrastructure briefing note has been shared, and I will continue to follow up in 2026.

The next CEO update will be distributed on January 9, following a break during the holidays. I would like to sincerely thank CALTC members for your continued support and engagement over the past year as we navigated both challenges and successes. Your collaboration is greatly appreciated, and I look forward to what we can achieve together in 2026.

Warmest wishes for a wonderful holiday season.

Sincerely,
Jodi

Dear CALTC Members,

In my last CEO update, I shared information regarding our follow-up meeting with the Department of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities (HICC) related to long-term care home access to the Build Canada Homes program. The purpose of the meeting had been to discuss a technical briefing requested during our October lobby day; however, as previously noted, the discussion shifted unexpectedly toward CMHC, limiting the clarity we had hoped to gain. Last week, the federal government released the program’s policy framework, which explicitly states that long-term care homes are not eligible for the Build Canada Homes program—directly contradicting the information provided to us during our lobby day meetings. The framework can be accessed here. I continue to work closely with Santis on advocacy options to access to appropriate infrastructure financing, and several meeting requests have been made as we work to determine a constructive path forward. I will keep CALTC members informed of any new developments.

As approved at CALTC’s last quarterly meeting, work is progressing on our strategic objective to conduct a national survey on the state of long-term care in Canada. The researcher engaged for this project is preparing the initial draft of survey questions, expected next week. CALTC members will have the opportunity to review and provide feedback before the survey is finalized. We look forward to launching this important initiative in 2026.

I have been invited to participate in a national roundtable hosted by Canada 2020 on December 8, featuring the Honourable Marjorie Michel, Minister of Health. The session—Reimagining the Health Ecosystem: Unlocking Value through Data & Care Integration—will explore the structural shifts needed to move from segmented practice models to high-functioning, team-based care ecosystems, including the role AI can play as an active partner. This is a good opportunity to share the long-term care perspective.  I will share any key outcomes with members following the discussion.

Finally, I would like to remind members about the active poll regarding the timing of CALTC’s annual Lobby Day. With the federal budget cycle shifting from spring to fall, we must determine whether Lobby Day should move to late April or early May. We understand that a spring event may pose scheduling challenges and appreciate your feedback as we plan for our 2026 advocacy activities. Please take a moment to complete the short poll this short poll before it closes on December 12, 2025. A recommendation will be presented at the December Quarterly Meeting.

Thank you for your ongoing support.

Sincerely,
Jodi