Lawsuit insists taxpayers should not be on the hook for CAF deployment to long term care homes

A class action lawsuit against a long term care home in Ontario is insisting that the cost of the Armed Forces deployment be covered by the facility, not taxpayers.

Hundreds of troops were deployed to various care homes in Ontario and Quebec after the facilities were hit hard by COVID-19 in April and May.

Reports from the military later documented disturbing cases of neglect and abuse.

The law firm Thomson Rogers has issued a class action proceeding claiming $15 million in damages on behalf of residents of Woodbridge Vista Care Community and their families.

Thompson Rogers said in a statement today that, in addition to the class action on behalf of resident survivors and victims, they have contacted the offices of the Right Honourable Justin Trudeau and Premier Doug Ford to insist that taxpayers are not required to pay the significant costs associated with the Canadian Armed Forces deployment and William Osler Health System's involvement at the Sienna facilities.

"These costs should be fully reimbursed by Sienna and not shouldered by the taxpayers of Ontario and Canada,” said Stephen Birman of Thompson Rogers.

“This is the second action Thomson Rogers has advanced on behalf of residents at a Sienna Senior Living facility. The reported conditions at Woodbridge Vista and the Altamont Care facilities are appalling,” added Birman.

“As a community we trust these facilities to take care of our loved ones with an expectation that the needs of our most vulnerable are looked after.”

Woodbridge Vista is a long-term care home owned by Sienna Senior Living Inc.

In recent weeks, dozens of residents at Woodbridge Vista have died “as a result of contracting COVID-19 and related illnesses and neglect.”