Trudeau announces $22M long-term care deal with N.B. during Dalhousie stop

The federal government and New Brunswick have signed an agreement that will see $22 million spent on improving care for residents of the province's long-term care homes.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made the announcement during a stop at Dalhousie's Golden Age seniors club on Tuesday afternoon, where he was joined by provincial Social Development Minister Bruce Fitch and federal ministers Dominic LeBlanc and Ginette Petitpas Taylor.

Trudeau acknowledged the challenges that were "laid bare by the pandemic," and the strain endured by health-care staff and long-term care residents.

"We know, especially on staffing side, it has been an incredibly difficult two years as people have been overwhelmed with work," Trudeau said, noting that people have been "stepping up" to help by coming out of retirement or volunteering in their communities.

"But we shouldn't have to rely on the kindness of each other to be able to get through the dark times. We should have strong systems in place."

The bilateral safe long-term care fund agreement is intended to bolster this system, he said.

The funding will help long-term care homes retain and hire staff, implement infection prevention and control measures, and renovate or upgrade heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, he said.

About $6.7 billion would be spent over four years to "improve the quality and availability of long-term care homes and beds," while $1.8 billion would be spent over four years to raise the wages of personal support workers to at least $25 an hour and train 50,000 more of them.

Social Development Minister Bruce Fitch thanked the Trudeau government for "trying to make life better" for New Brunswickers and the 11,600 residents of its 546 long-term care facilities.

"It's no secret New Brunswick is aging," Fitch said. 

"We want to prepare New Brunswick to better respond to and meet the needs of our seniors … and make sure they receive the care they deserve."

Fitch echoed Trudeau's acknowledgement of the challenges the long-term care system has faced during the pandemic.

"The past two years have been difficult in this sector ... and every time I'm near a mic I want to take the time to say thank you very, very much for all the hard work that the employees have put forward in helping the seniors here in the province of New Brunswick."

Last August, Trudeau said a re-elected Liberal government would spend $9 billion to address the dangerous shortfalls in Canada's long-term care sector that were exposed by the pandemic.