(February 7, 2023, St. John’s) – Paul Dinn, PC Official Opposition Shadow Minister for Health and Community Services and MHA for Topsail-Paradise, says government must take action on senior couples being separated when entering long-term care facilities.

After repeated calls for years to fix this issue by the PC Official Opposition, in particular MHA Paul Dinn, the Minister of Health and Community Services said the province was looking at the issue last Fall.

Since then, the Liberal Government has been silent.

“The Minister stated that they were looking at both the Nova Scotia model and the provincial models of personal and long-term care to determine whether a legislation change is possible. It’s time to update the seniors and their families of our province on if this unacceptable practice will continue,” said Dinn.

“Couples that have spent decades together deserve to spend their twilight years together as well.”

Nova Scotia enacted the Life Partners in Long-Term Care Act in 2021 which allows spouses, common-law and domestic partners to be placed together at the highest care level required.

“As the re-opening of the legislature is fast approaching, it’s incumbent on the Minister to let separated couples know if legislation will be enacted during this session to address their separation,” said Dinn.

“Seniors built our province, we owe it to them to do everything within our power to keep couples together and ensure comfort and dignity in the later years of their lives.”

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Contacts:

David Maher

Director of Strategic Communications

(cell) 709-725-0984

DavidMaher@gov.nl.ca