Advocates for older Ontarians are critical of a plan by the governing Ford PCs to bypass committee and public hearings to quickly pass legislation known as Bill 7.

The proposed law would allow older alternate level of care patients to be moved to temporary long term care homes without their consent, although not forcibly.

Bill VanGorder is chief policy and operating officer of CARP – A New Vision of Aging – and says Bill 7 prioritizes the healthcare system and not the patients themselves.

Dr. Vivian Stamatopolous is a well known long term care advocate and says family members won’t always be able to check on their loved ones if they are moved to a long term care home that’s farther away.

“And if you are not close enough to visit and really be the eyes and ears of these residents which many essential caregivers are, then you are just sending these current ALC patients to an early death,” Dr. Stamatopolous warned in a conversation with CP24.

In response, Premier Doug Ford is saying hospitals should not be used for long term care.