CFUW KELOWNA COMMUNITY PROJECTS
We are encouraging members and others to write to their political representatives regarding standards for Long-Term Care. Here is a sample letter you can use. Below the letter is a link to a file you can consult for more information and tools to help advocate.
SAMPLE LETTER
Sections in red require you to add in local information.
DATE
FOR A LOCAL MEMBER WHO IS NOT A FEDERAL MINISTER [Name of Member], M.P.
FOR A LOCAL MEMBER WHO IS A FEDERAL MINISTER, The Honourable [name], M.P.
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0A6
Email: first name.second name@parl.gc.ca
Re: Common Standards & Long-Term Care under the Canada Health Act
Dear [Mr./Mrs./Ms. _______] / FOR A LOCAL MEMBER WHO IS A CABINET MINISTER: Dear Minister _____________,
My name is [NAME] and I am a constituent of [NAME OF RIDING]. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed long-standing negligence, inadequate care, and a lack of preparation in many Canadian long-term care (LTC) residences. These deficits resulted in high infection rates among LTC residents and staff and contributed to thousands of preventable deaths. I am writing to express my deep concern for seniors living in LTC homes and to implore you to take decisive action in protecting our elders.
I am calling on you to urge the federal, provincial, territorial, and Indigenous governments of Canada to create universal, accessible, regulated, respectful, and quality long-term care for the immediate and growing needs of elderly and vulnerable persons in Canada by placing long term care under the Canada Health Act. I am also calling for the establishment of common evidence-based standards that ensure all vulnerable Canadians can live in safety, comfort, and dignity and have access to high-quality, affordable LTC.
In the 2020 Speech from the Throne, the Government of Canada recognized how the COVID pandemic quickly evolved into a national tragedy in Canada’s LTC homes. The Government acknowledged that “[e]lders deserve to be safe, respected, and live in dignity,” and committed to an ambitious agenda that supports national standards of care and taking action to help people stay in their homes longer. These life-saving actions, however, have yet to materialize. It is unacceptable that nearly 70% of all COVID deaths in Canada have been in LTC facilities, as of March 2021.
It is clear that national standards, increased funding directly tied to providing care, increased staffing, improved working conditions, proper protective equipment, and the overall public provision of high-quality and safe LTC, are the solutions.
As Canada battles a third-wave of infections, we need our governments – federal and provincial – to work together to protect the most vulnerable in our communities. I call on you to work with all levels of government to create universal, accessible, regulated, respectful, and quality long-term care for the immediate and growing needs of elderly and vulnerable persons in Canada by placing long term care under the Canada Health Act. I implore you to act on implementing common standards of care, eliminating for-profit LTC homes, and follow through with the actions outlined in the Federal Government’s Throne Speech.
I ask that you ensure your party is committed to protecting the rights, health, and safety of elderly persons and the vulnerable in Canada.
Yours sincerely,
[NAME]
SAMPLE LETTER
Sections in red require you to add in local information.
DATE
FOR A LOCAL MEMBER WHO IS NOT A FEDERAL MINISTER [Name of Member], M.P.
FOR A LOCAL MEMBER WHO IS A FEDERAL MINISTER, The Honourable [name], M.P.
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0A6
Email: first name.second name@parl.gc.ca
Re: Common Standards & Long-Term Care under the Canada Health Act
Dear [Mr./Mrs./Ms. _______] / FOR A LOCAL MEMBER WHO IS A CABINET MINISTER: Dear Minister _____________,
My name is [NAME] and I am a constituent of [NAME OF RIDING]. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed long-standing negligence, inadequate care, and a lack of preparation in many Canadian long-term care (LTC) residences. These deficits resulted in high infection rates among LTC residents and staff and contributed to thousands of preventable deaths. I am writing to express my deep concern for seniors living in LTC homes and to implore you to take decisive action in protecting our elders.
I am calling on you to urge the federal, provincial, territorial, and Indigenous governments of Canada to create universal, accessible, regulated, respectful, and quality long-term care for the immediate and growing needs of elderly and vulnerable persons in Canada by placing long term care under the Canada Health Act. I am also calling for the establishment of common evidence-based standards that ensure all vulnerable Canadians can live in safety, comfort, and dignity and have access to high-quality, affordable LTC.
In the 2020 Speech from the Throne, the Government of Canada recognized how the COVID pandemic quickly evolved into a national tragedy in Canada’s LTC homes. The Government acknowledged that “[e]lders deserve to be safe, respected, and live in dignity,” and committed to an ambitious agenda that supports national standards of care and taking action to help people stay in their homes longer. These life-saving actions, however, have yet to materialize. It is unacceptable that nearly 70% of all COVID deaths in Canada have been in LTC facilities, as of March 2021.
It is clear that national standards, increased funding directly tied to providing care, increased staffing, improved working conditions, proper protective equipment, and the overall public provision of high-quality and safe LTC, are the solutions.
As Canada battles a third-wave of infections, we need our governments – federal and provincial – to work together to protect the most vulnerable in our communities. I call on you to work with all levels of government to create universal, accessible, regulated, respectful, and quality long-term care for the immediate and growing needs of elderly and vulnerable persons in Canada by placing long term care under the Canada Health Act. I implore you to act on implementing common standards of care, eliminating for-profit LTC homes, and follow through with the actions outlined in the Federal Government’s Throne Speech.
I ask that you ensure your party is committed to protecting the rights, health, and safety of elderly persons and the vulnerable in Canada.
Yours sincerely,
[NAME]
The ToolKit is a large file, larger than most email inboxes can handle. So here is a link to the dropbox where you can find it, view it, download the elements and use it.
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/edd0id0bea75j5g/AAD4wL6J-olgo_eYt1PR9PKwa?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/edd0id0bea75j5g/AAD4wL6J-olgo_eYt1PR9PKwa?dl=0
| brochure_nicole-_feb_2021.pdf |
CFUW Kelowna is a proud supporter of the recently formed Society for a new Performing Arts Centre.
https://kelownaperformingarts.ca/
(You can also download the brochure immediately above to circulate by email. There is a link to the website there also.)
Please support them by signing up on their website and forward to others who want to support their efforts.
Over the past sixty years we have:-
ARTS AND CULTURE
LITERACY
ENVIRONMENT
OTHER
https://kelownaperformingarts.ca/
(You can also download the brochure immediately above to circulate by email. There is a link to the website there also.)
Please support them by signing up on their website and forward to others who want to support their efforts.
Over the past sixty years we have:-
ARTS AND CULTURE
- Sponsored the arts in schools and the community
- Started the Kelowna and District Arts Council (KADAC)
- Raised funds to purchase grand pianos, seats and furnishings at the Kelowna Community Theatre
- Sponsored theatre performances and symphony concerts (Vancouver Symphony Orchestra)
- Organized a regional drama festival
- Donated to the Kelowna Art Gallery and the Kelowna Museum
LITERACY
- Started Friends of the Library and served on its board
- Started Project Literacy, served as board members and volunteered as tutors
ENVIRONMENT
- Donated to the Environmental Education Centre for the Central Okanagan
- Advocated for water conservation
- Advocated for recycling
- Donated to Mission Creek Greenway
- Contracts with the City of Kelowna as partners in the Adopt-a-Road program (see photo of the 2020 volunteers below)
OTHER
- Wrote life stories for about twenty residents of the Good Samaritan Mountainview Village
- Donated to the Salvation Army, the local Food Bank, the local Women's Shelter, Friends of Schizophrenia, Inn from the Cold, Elizabeth Fry Society, Freedom's Door, Habitat for Humanity, and NOW Canada, among other recipients
- Individual members volunteer with a wide range of community organizations, from sports to medicine, history to education groups, animal welfare to parks
