Ontario to build ‘much-needed’ long-term care home in Vaughan, offering ‘culturally appropriate services'

Thestar.com
Oct. 13, 2021
Dina Al-Shibeeb

Amid challenges of availability and affordability, Minister of Long-term Care Rod Phillips announced Oct. 12 that Ontario is building a long-term care home in Vaughan that’s expected to accommodate 256 residents.

The new home, which will also provide "culturally appropriate services to members of the Italian community", is estimated to open in 2026, an Ontario press release said.

Both King-Vaughan MPP Stephen Lecce and Vaughan-Woodbridge MPP Michael Tibollo accompanied Phillips at Woodbridge Vegetable Farms to make the announcement. Woodbridge has the highest concentration of Italian Canadians in Canada.

"Our government is fixing Ontario’s long-term care system and building new facilities, like the home that will be built on this site, is a key part of our plan," Phillips said.

To create the new facility, the province signed a conditional agreement of purchase and sale with Arch Vaughan Facility Inc. for a portion of 7231 Martin Grove Rd., Vaughan.

"Our government’s initiative to sell unused government lands on the condition that a long-term care home is built on the site means that more safe, comfortable and modern beds are getting built in areas where they are most needed," he said, explaining that the move is made after receiving recommendation from the long-term care commission.

In 2020, three pieces of unused government land were put up for sale under the condition that they will be long-term care facilities, Tibollo said.

"We are standing on one of these properties," he added.

The sale of this surplus government land is expected to be finalized in early 2022, a provincial news release said.

Both Lecce and Tibollo said the new home will reduce waiting lists for people seeking long-term care spaces.

"Today’s news means many of our loved ones here in Vaughan-Woodbridge can enter homes sooner, and be cared for in a comfortable and safe environment close by," Tibollo said.