By Cecilia Nasmith

Damning reports on conditions in Ontario long-term-care homes by members of the military Joint Task Force called in to offer emergency assistance have spurred the Royal Canadian Legion to demand better and more humane treatment for veterans and seniors in all long-term-care facilities nationwide.

The call includes a letter sent this week to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, with copies to all provincial and territorial leaders.

Dominion President Thomas D. Irvine pointed out that many veterans are in long-term care.

“To know that some of them are being mistreated and ignored is shameful,” Irvine declared.

“The fact that our governments have known for a long time that some of our most vulnerable citizens are living in deplorable conditions during their final years of life is disgraceful. We need a systemic overhaul, and now.”

With previous governments failing to address this ongoing issue adequately, the press release said, Canada now finds itself in a “deadly quagmire” that required a pandemic to expose.

“The Royal Canadian Legion vehemently condemns the life-endangering and unethical actions in long-term-care facilities in Ontario, as reported through military Joint Task Force (Central) observations,” it stated.

“These homes are failing our most vulnerable citizens. We demand that today's acknowledgement by the Prime Minister and Premier of Ontario of this 'disturbing' and 'gut-wrenching' reality be followed by immediate actions to provide safe and humane care for our veterans and seniors, in Ontario and across the country.”