Families of Quebec seniors who died in long-term care split on idea of public inquiry
CBC
As opposition politicians at the National Assembly unite in calls for a full public inquiry into the deaths of seniors at long term-care homes during the first wave of the pandemic, families of those who died are more divided.
More than 4,000 seniors died in Quebec care homes during the first wave, often alone and in difficult conditions.
All three opposition parties in the National Assembly held a joint news conference Tuesday calling on the CAQ government to launch a full public inquiry. So far, the CAQ government does not appear open to the idea.
Patrizia Di Biase, whose mother survived the rash of COVID deaths at the Herron long-term care residence in Montreal's West Island in 2020, told CBC she supports a public inquiry.
"I like the fact of the pressure. I think it would get more results," Di Biase said. "You want for things to get better."
Patrick Martin-Ménard, a lawyer representing some of the families of residents who died, said most of his clients generally support the idea as well.
"It would ensure that it's not something that we will simply forget about, turn the page and not discuss any more," Martin-Ménard said.
Quebec has a chance to change the way these facilities are run, he said, "and we need a public inquiry to move this opportunity forward," he added.
Multiple parallel investigations are either already underway or have been completed.
A coroner's public inquiry has already heard from dozens of witnesses across the province, with more to come in the New Year.
Quebec's ombudsman also investigated the deaths and, after hearing from more than 1,000 witnesses, released her final report with 27 recommendations for change last month.
And Quebec's health commissioner also released a damning interim report into the crisis in September, with a final report expected next year.
Not all family members are keen on yet another inquiry.
Moira Davis, whose father, Stanley Pinnell, died at the Herron residence, noted the coroner's inquiry, which was supposed to wrap up this month, has already been extended several times.
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