HomeMy WebLinkAboutMay 1, 2023 - Special Council Special Council Meeting Minutes
May 1, 2023
Hybrid Electronic Meeting
Council Chambers
6:00 pm
Present:
Mayor Kevin Ashe
Councillors:
M. Brenner
L. Cook
M. Nagy
D. Pickles
L. Robinson
Absent:
S. Butt
Also Present:
M. Carpino -Chief Administrative Officer
K. Bentley -Director, City Development & CBO
P. Bigioni -Director, Corporate Services & City Solicitor
S. Cassel -City Clerk
C. Rose -Chief Planner
N. Surti -Manager, Development Review & Urban Design
R. Perera -Deputy Clerk
1.Roll Call
The City Clerk certified that all Members of Council were present and participating in-
person, save and except Councillor Butt.
2.Disclosure of Interest
No disclosures of interest were noted.
3.Delegations
3.1 Catherine Parkes, Clarington Resident
Minister’s Zoning Order Request
-Southbridge Care Homes (Orchard Villa Long-Term Care)
-1955 Valley Farm Road
Catherine Parkes, Clarington Resident, appeared before Council to speak to the
Minister’s Zoning Order Request for Southbridge Care Homes. She stated that her
father was a resident of Orchard Villa who had passed away during the COVID-19
pandemic. She detailed an incident in March 2020, prior to Orchard Villa closing
Special Council Meeting Minutes
May 1, 2023
Hybrid Electronic Meeting
Council Chambers
6:00 pm
its doors to visitors due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, where her father was taken to
Lakeridge Health Hospital due to numerous failed attempts of administering a
catheter by a Personal Support Worker (PSW ) at Orchard Villa. She stated that
earlier during the same day, she had visited her father and discovered that he had
not been given food and was in pain due to failed attempts of inserting a catheter
by a PSW. Ms. Parkes noted that she had requested that a nurse administer the
catheter instead, however, this did not occur and her father was later taken to
Lakeridge Health Hospital due to the high level of pain he was experiencing. She
stated that it only took a few minutes for the nurses at the Lakeridge Health
Hospital to administer the catheter, and noted that as Orchard Villa had forgotten
to send a wheelchair for her father, he was left waiting at Lakeridge Health for 12
hours without any food as the transport ambulances were unavailable. She stated
that her father was only a resident at Orchard Villa for six months, and noted
other incidents where her father was not given food for multiple days during his
time there. Ms. Parkes spoke to the MZO request and referred to Section 101.e)
of the Fixing Long-Term Care Act which accounts for the consideration of past
conduct of an institution when issuing new licenses and stated that Southbridge
Care Homes did not meet this requirement to receive new licenses. She stated
that the publicly available recent incident reports for Orchard Villa illustrated that
nothing had been learned or gained from what had transpired during the
pandemic. In conclusion, Ms. Parkes asked that the Minister of Municipal Affairs &
Housing and Council decline the MZO.
A brief question and answer period ensued between Members of Council and Ms.
Parkes regarding:
•whether Southbridge Care Homes was seeking MZOs to expand their
locations in other municipalities; and,
•whether there were any current investigations underway pertaining to
Orchard Villa.
3.2 June Morrison, Pickering Resident
Minister’s Zoning Order Request
-Southbridge Care Homes (Orchard Villa Long-Term Care)
-1955 Valley Farm Road
June Morrison, Pickering Resident, joined the meeting via audio connection to
speak to the Minister’s Zoning Order Request for Southbridge Care Homes. She
noted that she was at the forefront of advocacy during the COVID-19 pandemic as
it related to the care of elders and briefly discussed the findings of the military
report that was conducted on Orchard Villa. Ms. Morrison noted that her father
was a victim of COVID-19 while residing in Orchard Villa and May 3rd of this year
marked the third anniversary of his passing. She noted that his death left her
devastated as she knew that he had suffered more than he needed to. She added
that soon the baby boomer population would be in need of temporary or long-term
Special Council Meeting Minutes
May 1, 2023
Hybrid Electronic Meeting
Council Chambers
6:00 pm
housing with elder care programs, and stated that she would like the government
to implement a program similar to the paid family caregiver program being offered
by the government of Newfoundland and Labrador. Ms. Morrison spoke to issues
surrounding the handling of the COVID-19 Pandemic by Orchard Villa including
the loss of resident’s rights to leave the property and forced dining arrangements
which effected the mental well-being of residents. She also spoke to numerous
incidents where her father had not eaten for days and that Orchard Villa had failed
to hospitalize him. Ms. Morrison referred to the letter submitted by Dr. Patricia
Spindel to the City of Pickering and noted that seniors deserved better options
than the ones being offered by the Ministry of Long-term Care or Southbridge
Care Homes. She further added that given all the reports that were conducted on
Orchard Villa, Southbridge Care Homes had not yet attempted to rectify the issues
through a public report and discussed the need for the Minister of Long-Term Care
to engage the Minister of Municipal Affairs & Housing to advocate for the refusal of
this MZO. In concluding her delegation, she stated her opposition to the MZO.
A brief question and answer period ensued between Members of Council and Ms.
Morrison regarding the recommendations of the independent commissioner’s
report that was conducted on Orchard Villa during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
3.3 Abdullah Mir, Pickering Resident
Minister’s Zoning Order Request
-Southbridge Care Homes (Orchard Villa Long-Term Care)
-1955 Valley Farm Road
Abdullah Mir, Pickering Resident, appeared before Council to speak to the
Minister’s Zoning Order Request for Southbridge Care Homes. Mr. Mir stated that
78 people had passed away while residing in Orchard Villa due to the COVID-19
Pandemic which had altered the lives of their loved ones. He stated that it was
evident that profits mattered to Southbridge Care Homes more than the wellbeing
of their residents and noted that that they were now seeking to expand their facility
with little evidence that they would prioritize the residents over profits. He
commented that MZOs were not democratic as they overrode the decision-making
powers of Pickering City Council. Mr. Mir spoke to the need for more long-term
care homes in the community where there is respect and the highest level of care
provided to the residents facilitated in a community-oriented manner. In
concluding his delegation, he asked Council to refuse the MZO.
3.4 Caroline Wells, Families of Orchard Villa LTCH Pickering
Minister’s Zoning Order Request
-Southbridge Care Homes (Orchard Villa Long-Term Care)
1955 Valley Farm Road
Caroline Wells, Families of Orchard Villa LTCH Pickering, appeared before
Council to speak to the Minister’s Zoning Order Request for Southbridge Care
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6:00 pm
Homes. Ms. Wells stated that her father had passed away during the COVID-19
pandemic while residing at Orchard Villa and that she was not made aware that he
had tested positive for COVID-19 or that his condition had deteriorated. She spoke
to numerous medical incidents experienced by her father while residing at Orchard
Villa including numerous falls, cases of sepsis, one that led to kidney failure as he
was not sent to a hospital for medical care. She spoke to abuse allegations and
that they were not investigated by Orchard Villa. Ms. Wells stated that she did not
believe Orchard Villa should receive an MZO and referred to findings of incident
reports relating to falls, temperature controls, and abuse allegations. She stated
that they did not have adequate plans in place to assure the wellbeing of their
residents during an emergency and noted that long-term care homes were
required to have an individual plan for each resident. In concluding her delegation,
she noted that it was apparent that nothing had changed and that she hoped the
MZO was not passed.
4.Matters for Consideration
4.1 Minister’s Zoning Order Request
-Southbridge Care Homes (Orchard Villa Long-Term Care)
1955 Valley Farm Road
A discussion period ensued between Members of Council regarding:
•the inadequate timeframe provided by the Province of three days for the
City to provide a response by April 27, 2023;
•the lack of evidence that consultation with the community or the families of
the residents of Orchard Villa had been conducted;
•the Ministry not following normal City process in requesting comment from
the City as stated in CAO Correspondence 35-23 attached to the meeting
agenda;
•lack of time or ability for a detailed planning review to be conducted; and,
•the proposed development not meeting the character of the existing
community.
Resolution #181/23
Moved by Councillor Pickles
Seconded by Councillor Brenner
1.That the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing be advised that the City
of Pickering cannot support the consideration of granting a Minister’s
Zoning Order (MZO) at 1955 Valley Farm Road as the families of Orchard
Villa Retirement Community and the surrounding neighbourhood have not
been adequately consulted, and the impacts of the development with
Special Council Meeting Minutes
May 1, 2023
Hybrid Electronic Meeting
Council Chambers
6:00 pm
respect to traffic, parking, municipal infrastructure, and compatibility with
the existing neighbourhood have not been adequately evaluated; and,
2.That a copy of this resolution be sent to The Honourable Paul Calandra,
Minister of Long-Term Care, MPP Peter Bethlenfalvy, all Durham MPPs,
Leader of the Opposition Party, and the Leader of the Third Party.
Carried Unanimously on a Recorded Vote
4.Confirmation By-law
By-law Number 8011/23
Councillor Robinson, seconded by Councillor Nagy moved for leave to introduce a By-law
of the City of Pickering to confirm the proceedings of May 1, 2023.
Carried
5.Adjournment
Moved by Councillor Nagy
Seconded by Councillor Cook
That the meeting be adjourned.
Carried
The meeting adjourned at 6:50 p.m.
Dated this 1st of May, 2023.
Kevin Ashe, Mayor
Susan Cassel, City Clerk
Original Signed By
Original Signed By