Dear CALTC Members,

We are nearing the end of the federal election campaign and the platforms of all the parties have now been released. Earlier this week, I shared a few highlights from the Liberal and Conservative platforms as the current two front-running parties, and Santis has prepared a memo that compares the health and life science commitments in each of the major party platforms, which you can read here.  You can also follow key campaign developments through the Santis Election Tracker.

A reminder that the member election toolkit is available on the CALTC election webpage. After the election, once MP contact information becomes available, we will update the toolkit with a congratulatory letter template and MP contact details. This letter will serve as the MP’s introduction to the LTC homes in their riding, with the goal of building support and engagement for these LTC homes.  

We look forward to celebrating the 2nd National Long Term Care Day on June 13th again this year. As shared earlier, due to disruptions in Parliament’s work over the last year, we were not able to complete the steps to have National Long Term Care Day recognized with a formal declaration. However, depending on when Parliament returns to session, we will seek to have a statement read and continue our efforts to secure a formal declaration recognizing June 13th as National Long Term Care Day, with a permanent fixed date.

In the meantime, we ask that you share our “Save the Date” graphic (attached here) with your members and partner organizations to help spread the word, as I’ve received several inquiries from organizations eager to know if the day will be recognized this year, as they are planning celebrations. A toolkit will be available in early May that members and supporting organizations can use to participate in the social media campaign.

Over the last few weeks, I have made progress regarding the historical role of CMHC in supporting LTC home infrastructure, and would welcome hearing from CALTC members who may have current information on LTC home infrastructure assessments, reports on the need for new or redeveloped homes, and existing capital programs in your province. Thank you to those who have already shared information. I plan to have a draft document to share with CALTC members soon with the goal that it can be submitted to the Department of Infrastructure, Housing and Communities as work on the national housing strategy due to be renewed in 2027 gets underway.

I look forward to our next membership touchbase meeting on April 30th.

Sincerely,
Jodi

Dear CALTC Members,

As we reach the midpoint of the federal election campaign, I want to provide a brief update. While there have been some healthcare announcements from federal leaders, there have been no statements yet regarding Canada’s aging demographic or the increasing demand for long-term care. You can stay informed on key campaign developments through the Santis Election Tracker - Santis Health.

I also want to remind you that the CALTC’s election webpage is live, where you can access the member election toolkit. Additionally, our social media campaign is active, with posts scheduled throughout the campaign. We are awaiting the release of party platform documents to assess their impact on health and long-term care. The final list of candidates by riding was released on April 9th by Elections Canada, and is available here: Voter Information Service - Find your electoral district. We encourage you and all long-term care home leaders to engage with your local MP candidates.

I am also pleased to welcome Compass Marquise back to CALTC as a sponsor. We are updating the website with their credentials and are excited to learn more about their work in long-term care. Please join me in welcoming them! You can find information about all CALTC sponsors on the CALTC website.

I would also like to reiterate my request from the last CALTC Quarterly meeting for information from members on LTC home infrastructure assessments, reports on the need for new or redeveloped homes, and existing capital programs in your province. Thank you to those who have already shared information. We will use this to support a follow-up meeting with Infrastructure, Housing and Communities regarding CMHC and the new national housing strategy due in 2027.

Finally, it's been wonderful to see the recent successes of CALTC members! Congratulations to Terry Lake on being awarded an honorary degree from Thompson Rivers University and a King Charles III Coronation Medal for his leadership in healthcare education. Also, congratulations to Donna Duncan and her team at OLTCA for the success of the Together We Care Conference. I know many of you will be hosting events over the next few months, and we wish you the best!

Sincerely,

Jodi

Dear CALTC Members,

Thank you to everyone who attended yesterday’s quarterly meeting and for the valuable discussions.

As you know, the federal election is underway, and CALTC’s election webpage is now live. Our first social media posts have been shared, with more planned throughout the election period. Additionally, we’ve added a memo on tariffs to the election toolkit, which can be found here. We encourage members to use these resources to help facilitate meetings between long-term care homes and local MP candidates.

Just before the election call, I met with the Conservative Shadow Minister for Health to discuss CALTC’s key priorities and federal support for long-term care. I also shared our election materials with MPs connected to health portfolios and sent letters to the Minister of Health and the Minister of Jobs and Families, responsible for seniors under Prime Minister Carney. Given the uncertain election outcome, CALTC is actively engaging with both Liberal and Conservative candidates. Santis is providing CALTC members with an Election Tracker to monitor key developments. We will also review party platforms as they are released to assess their impact on health and long-term care.

During the 2021 federal election, Elections Canada provided a draft guidance document on voting procedures for long-term care residents and in-house polling stations. Some CALTC members have inquired about the final version, but Elections Canada has since directed us to their website and FAQs.

Lastly, I am pleased to share that I have been appointed to the National Sectoral Table on the Care Economy, which will advise on the development of a national caregiving strategy—first announced in the 2024 budget. It remains unclear whether this work will begin post-election. More details can be found here.

Please reach out if you have any questions.

Best,

Jodi