Question Period (18 October 2023)

From Hansard (18 October 2023)

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 Closure of Regina Lutheran Home

Mr. Love: — Mr. Speaker, this tired and out-of-touch government is failing some of the youngest people in Saskatchewan but also failing some of the oldest.

Today we’re joined in your gallery, Mr. Speaker, by Val Schalme. Her father lives at the Lutheran care home here in Regina. She’s been speaking out about this government’s decision to close her father’s home. Instead of working to ensure the Lutheran care home stays open, this government is shutting it down.

Will the Minister for Seniors meet with Val and all those here today to find a plan to keep Lutheran care home open?

Hon. Mr. T. McLeod: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I’ll begin by saying certainly welcome to Val, and I would be pleased to meet with her after question period today.

I would also like to correct the record, Mr. Speaker. It was not the government’s decision to close this. This was a business decision made by Eden Care Communities and it was done unfortunately without the involvement of SHA [Saskatchewan Health Authority] or the ministry.

We do value the long-term care services that Eden Care Communities provided as a third-party partner, and I would like to thank them for their dedicated service to support Regina residents for nearly 60 years.

Mr. Speaker, we recognize that this transition may be difficult for some residents who wish to remain in Regina Lutheran Home, and our government takes resident care very seriously. It is our expectation that the SHA and management of Regina Lutheran Home will work closely with the residents and their families to find alternative placement in other long-term care facilities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Love: — Mr. Speaker, this minister needs to get his facts straight. The facts are that Eden Care could no longer provide hundreds of thousands of dollars in charity to this government so that they could provide care for their residents. Those are the facts. The failures lie at the feet of this tired and out-of-touch government.

Mr. Speaker, Val isn’t the only one here today. Lorraine Simpson is in the gallery. Her 104-year-old father lives in the Regina Lutheran Home. She doesn’t want to see his life uprooted and disrupted. The government should be working on a plan to keep those seniors in their homes with the same urgency that they’re using to push ahead with the notwithstanding clause.

When will we see the urgent action that these families need to keep their loved ones in their home?

Hon. Mr. T. McLeod: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I said, our government takes resident care very seriously, and as I said, Mr. Speaker, for the record this was not a government decision, despite my friend’s best efforts to try and convince people otherwise.

Mr. Speaker, our government has announced that we are planning and developing 600 long-term care beds in Regina. That is our plan. We are working on it. They will not be ready tomorrow, Mr. Speaker, however we acknowledge that there is work to do in this space and that is precisely what we are doing. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Love: — Mr. Speaker, we’re also joined by Shelley Johnson, who has a loved one in the Regina Lutheran care home, and Don Gunderson, whose wife lives there.

Again that minister needs to check his facts because the Lutheran care home tried to negotiate with this government for six months to stay open, and they got no answer from this government, just like those citizens up there got no answers from this government when they contacted them. It wasn’t until this government snapped its fingers and announced that this home would be closing.

How is that fair to these seniors who built this province? Why didn’t this tired and out-of-touch government even try to find a deal to keep the Lutheran care home open?

Hon. Mr. T. McLeod: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I would also like to welcome Shelley and Don. And if they would like to meet with me after question period, I’d be happy to do so.

Mr. Speaker, the fact of the matter is that SHA did carefully examine this property and it was deemed that the property is near the end of its lifespan and therefore purchasing that property would not be viable for us to continue with. Mr. Speaker, as I’ve said, this was a business decision made by Eden Care Communities. And SHA and the Ministry of Health are doing what we can to ensure a smooth transition to find alternative placement for these residents. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Burki: — Mr. Speaker, Lutheran care home is in my constituency in Regina Coronation Park and I am proud to be their MLA and their voice in the legislature. These seniors and their families don’t want to move from their home. Why won’t ministers find the way to keep Lutheran care home open?

Hon. Mr. T. McLeod: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I’ve said, again, this was a business decision made by Eden Care Communities. We have looked at the facility. It’s not a viable option for it to continue under SHA’s management, Mr. Speaker. However it is a priority to find a placement for the Regina residents in that facility who prefer placement in Regina, and we are working to do so. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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