온주정부 주최 공청회서 한인사회 반대 목소리 강력히 전달

편지 보내기 14일(월)까지 계속
 

 ‘무궁화한인요양원’ 소유권 이전과 관련한 주민 공청회(컨퍼런스 콜)가 지난 30일(월) 열려 한인사회의 반대 목소리가 강하게 전달됐다.

 이날 한인 2세 등을 중심으로 20명이 전화 발언에 나서, 온주정부가 영리업체 리카케어(Rykka Care Centres)에 허가하면 안되는 이유 등을 조목조목 피력했다.

 민혜기 입주자가족협의회장은 영리요양원 간병인으로 28년간 일한 경험과 리카케어가 운영하는 양로원들에서 코로나 집단감염 및 사망 등을 들어 두려움을 밝혔다.

 2세 샌드라 강씨는 현재 비영리 무궁화요양원에서 생활하는 할아버지를 코로나로 115명이나 사망한 영리업체에서 맡는다니 끔찍하다면서 리카케어에 허가를 강력히 반대했다.

 이진수 한인회장, 필립 조 한인장학재단 이사장, 조셉 웡(중국계요양원 이홍센터 대표) 등도 한인사회 목소리를 전하면서 당초 예정된 시간을 초과해 3시간 동안 진행됐다.

 한편, 무궁화요양원을 되찾기 위해 온주정부에 편지(시민의견) 보내기는 14일(월)까지 계속된다. 본보 웹사이트(budongsancanada.com) 기사의 편지 사례를 참고해 이메일([email protected]) 또는 우편으로 보내면 된다.

 이메일이나 우편의 제목에는 요양원 영문명과 프로젝트 번호(Rose of Sharon Korean Long Term Care - Project #21-010)를 적어야 한다.

 공청회 결과는 내년 초 공지되며, 정부에서 리카케어에 허가를 거절하면 재경매하거나 지난해 입찰에 참여했던 다른 곳에 다시 기회를 준다. (김효태 부장 | [email protected])

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(인수위 작성 편지 사례)

Dear Director,

Re:    Rose of Sharon Korean Long Term Care - Project #21-010
Proposed Licence Transfer of the Licence to Rykka Care Centres LP

My name is _____________. As a member of the Korean-Canadian community, I am writing to you regarding the proposed licence transfer of the only long-term care facility in the GTA for seniors of Korean heritage, Rose of Sharon, to the for-profit entity, RYKKA Care Centres LP (RYKKA).

I ask that the Ministry of Long-Term Care deny the license transfer of Rose of Sharon to RYKKA. I strongly believe that transferring the license to RYKKA would put the residents and staff of Rose of Sharon, and the future of Korean-Canadian seniors, at a greater risk.  

Several homes under RYKKA - Hawthorne Place Care Centre and Eatonville Care Centre, both of whom were included in the Canadian Armed Forces Report found to be deplorable and negligent conditions. 

Based on the track records of poor management of its Ontario long term care homes, this is not the time to entrust RYKKA with an additional long-term care home and vulnerable seniors at Rose of Sharon.

Under the current management and dedicated health care staff, Rose of Sharon has been managed well in keeping all the residents and staff safe from the deadly Covid-19 virus without any incidents. 

The Ontario government gave the Rose of Sharon Korean Long Term Care licence to Korean Community and it should remain with a Korean community not-for-profit entity that is accountable to the community with only mandate of wellness of the seniors, not profit for the shareholders.

For the reasons stated above, I appeal to Ministry of Long Term Care that RYKKA’s application for the licence transfer is denied for the safety and well-being of the residents and staff of Rose of Sharon, and the future of Korean-Canadian seniors.

Sincerely,

Name
Address
City, Province
Postal Code
Email
Phone Number

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(사례2)
 

“무궁화한인요양원은 반드시 한인들이 운영해야 합니다”

*이 글은 온주정부에 보내는 호소 편지로, 무궁화한인요양원이 한인들에 의해 운영돼야 할 타당성에 대해 쓴 것입니다. 필자는 본인의 요청에 의해 익명으로 처리합니다. 독자들께서는 이를 샘플로 해서 온주정부에 이메일로 보내주시면 고맙겠습니다. ▶보내실 이메일: [email protected]      

Dear Minister Merrilee Fullerton,

 I am writing to request that the Ministry of Long-Term Care refuse the proposed licence transfer (project #21-010) for the Rose of Sharon Korean Long-Term Care from the non-profit Licensee to the for-profit entity, Rykka Care Centres LP. This transfer will not benefit the current or future residents of the Rose of Sharon Korean Long-Term Care or the larger Korean Canadian community, but rather it will only benefit this for-profit entity for several reasons.

 Evidence has shown that when cultural care is provided, residents are more resilient and have better physical and mental health outcomes including reduced social isolation, lower rates of depression, fewer hospitalizations, and overall have better quality of life. For these reasons, Korean-Canadian families seek such care for their loved ones, and the waiting lists for ethnic long-term care homes, such as the Rose of Sharon LTC, are much longer. Additionally, given that Ontario’s racialized community is growing but continue to face lower health outcomes, ensuring cultural care that is run and informed by the community it serves instead of an entity that has no ties with the Korean-Community, such as Rykka, is imperative.

 While Rykka has confirmed their intention to maintain the cultural designation for the Korean community, there is no guarantee that Rykka will fulfill their expressed intention as they have no incentive to do so. Even if they do, there is little confidence that they will maintain Korean cultural care in the long-term or that Rose of Sharon LTC’s current standard of cultural care will be met. As the only LTC that is dedicated to care for the seniors of the growing Korean-Canadian community in Ontario, it is critical that the Rose of Sharon LTC continues to be run by the Korean-Canadian community. 

 Rykka has had a poor record of ensuring the health and safety of its residents, which was proven during COVID-19 when preventable deaths took place while within their care. Families and the community are horrified at the prospect that their loved ones could be in Rykka’s care. By contrast, Rose of Sharon has not had any COVID-19 cases and have demonstrated excellency in their ability to keep their residents safe.

 For the reasons above and more, it is not clear why the Ministry is considering the proposal to transfer the licence to Rykka when a better alternative from the Korean-Canadian community has been brought forward. The Korean-Canadian community came together and raised millions of dollars to submit a bid to transfer the licence to Arirang Age-Friendly Community Centre, a long-serving Korean-Canadian non-profit organization. I ask that the Ministry fully considers this alternative, as it will achieve better long-term outcomes for the residents of Rose of Sharon LTC and the greater Korean-Canadian community.

Sincerely,

[Name]
[Email address]

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