A patient and resident at the Sioux Lookout Meno Ya Win Health Centre is the latest to speak out against Bill 7.
Garnet Angeconeb has sent an open letter to Premier Doug Ford, Long-Term Care Minister Paul Calandra and Health Minister Sylvia Jones expressing his concerns.
The passed legislation allows hospitals to transfer patients to long-term care homes without their consent.
Angeconeb says this is cruel legislation for Alternative Level of Care patients with who he sees everyday at the Sioux Lookout hospital.
He stresses he’s impacted and notes it doesn’t make any sense for our region particularly for remote communities.
Angeconeb goes on to say he is once again experiencing a process of institutionalization, noting as a child he was taken away from his parents, loved ones and community.
Here is the full letter from Garnet Angeconeb:
Premier Doug Ford, Hon. Paul Calandra, Hon. Sylvia Jones
This is cruel legislation for the Alternative Level of Care patients with whom I see everyday here at the Sioux Lookout MenoYaWin Health Centre in Sioux Lookout, ON. I am impacted by this legislation. It just doesn’t, at least for me, make any sense for our region particularly for the remote communities. How does this forced legislation impact on the ALC patients here at the SLMHC?
The community support services at Sioux Towers have made it conditionally impossible for me to return “home” there. Therefore, I have no other choice but to stay here at the local hospital. They made me feel like an unwanted client, not to mention a stranger in my own traditional homeland.
Where is home? That is an interesting question. Having been “institutionalized” as a child through the residential school system, it seems like I’ve been through a vicious cycle. And as I enter the sunset years of my life, I am once again experiencing a process of institutionalization. As a child I was taken away from my parents, loved ones and my community. And now with this legislation, I could be taken away from my family, children, grandchildren and my community – full circle. When is this vicious cycle going to end for the vulnerable?
It’s another one of those things unless you’ve lived through it, it’s difficult to fully understand. It is difficult. It is depressing. It’s not good. Harshly but straightforwardly put, I have even thought about fast tracking the MAiD process so I can free up this hospital bed I presently occupy and save your government some money.
I know full well you will not reverse the “More Beds, Better Care Act 2022.” However, I pleaded with you to seek more appropriate solutions for northern Ontario by talking to us ordinary folks, particularly those who are directly impacted.
Meegwetch
Garnet Angeconeb
Patient/Resident at the SLMHC
