The financial crisis the Community Care Access Centre is currently experiencing was brought to the public’s attention in June of this year. The Champlain branch of the CCAC, responsible for providing health care and home care services to the Cornwall area, are doing their part to remedy the CCAC’s $1.47 million deficit by eliminating care provided to some elderly men and women in our community, reserving homecare for those who truly are in great need of assistance.
On Monday, July 9th 2012 a case manager from the CCAC was sent to assess my father; after the assessment she assured us that she could see his need for services and that she would fight to keep his services, insisting on further assessment by an occupational therapist to solidify his case. On Tuesday, July 10th I was informed that his services were to be discontinued, that he was deemed functional and not in need of any form of assistance.
The man deemed ‘functional and independent,” who, like many his age, fought for our country’s rights and freedom, was referred for homecare after being treated for a spinal fracture. Personal support workers were to visit daily to assist him in applying his back brace, which he is to wear during all waking hours as his osteoporosis would prevent the injury from healing. He is unable to apply the brace himself as a stroke a few years ago has severely impaired strength and range of motion in his right side.
The CCAC, whose mission is to provide assistance to the elderly in order to allow them to stay in their own homes and maintain a certain level of independence, decided that the tiny bit of assistance required to maintain this man’s independence is not necessary. The irony is that the homecare is to be reserved for the chronically ill and bedridden, yet eliminating this service would render this man bedridden. Evidently the CCAC would rather spend countless dollars providing round-the-clock care to my bedridden father rather than allow him the one hour daily to allow him to maintain his quality of life.
The June 1st 2012 article regarding the CCAC’s financial difficulties stated that they are reserving services for high-risk seniors who “have between three and five chronic illnesses as well as dementia,” yet they have just denied service to an individual who meets these criteria. This is an outrage, and simply unacceptable.
It is appalling to me that they have chosen to cut off service to individuals who require this care yet they post dozens of job ads recruiting staff for the CCAC. Perhaps they could slow unnecessary hiring instead of debilitating countless Cornwall citizens. In light of the recent issues regarding bilingualism in the health care field, and the very French caseworker sent to assess my father, I can’t help but wonder if the end result would have been different had my father responded to the caseworker in French instead of English. The injustices resulting from these issues suggest that he would have stood a better chance of keeping his services had he been as French as his caseworker.
My goal in writing this letter is not simply an attempt to regain my father’s homecare, but to inform the community that the CCAC caseworkers will prey on those whose families do not fight for them.
Bonnie Paulin – Cornwall Ontario
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Wow! What a great letter Bonnie and how lucky your father is to have you to fight for care on his behalf! It is deplorable that this is being allowed to happen! They keep cutting back and rather than promoting health, “they” choose to handle it after a person can no longer get out of bed! It is a crying shame!!!!!
I am an RN and they wouldn’t hire me at the Health Unit because I don’t speak advanced French, but I was qualified. When I had my baby at 40, they sent a 20 year old(looking)nurse who seemed to have no clue how to help me with breast feeding, BUT SHE DID SPEAK FRENCH! So would things have been different with an English nurse for you…..maybe…depends on experience. Also, “WHO” you know in this town!!!!
I don’t know what the managers of the system are thinking. I do know that the squeaky wheel gets the grease tho, so keep on squeaking!!!!! Your case is 100% valid and your father is entitled to this service and he should be allowed to maintain his dignity and independence.
A few dollars from that 623 million for bilingualsim would go a long way in helping this man. Just another example of why that Language Fairness for All group is out there fighting for…. the rights of others.
Best wishes in your fight for what your Father deserves! I hope more people will stand up.
i sympathize with you ms paulin, My aunt had suffered a stroke and osteoporosis made it almost impossible for her to get out of bed.. she was denied help too and that left a proud vital woman to the assistance of her grown children.. and funding for paid assistance by Ontario disability support … and guress what .. she is french speaking ….I suggest you direct your attentions to the Local health intergrated network.. LHIN… they are responsible for the moneis allocated to each of the 14 LHIN`s in Ontario.. ccac has a very titght scope in who to help and they are shortstaffed for all of the Champlain region I was told by a caseworker… the eohu can also direct you to the head of LHIN. The retired heart specialist from ottawa is now in charge of Champlain LHIN which is directly responsible for the CCAC.. he is ENGLISH by the way so he may understand you better..
I sense the next location for the “bus” !!!all aboard the anti french feeling that thinks french people don`t get sick!!!
Let’s not let language politics hijack another column.
I know of several very french nurses who got hired at CCAC then end up quitting several months later because of all the internal problems that they are tired of dealing with at work.
I’m very sorry for your dad & his poor to non existent care that he obviously needs to live out a near normal existence. Healthcare has been steadily failing our sick & injured especially our seniors who have worked hard all their lives,paid taxes,fought for our freedoms .The unity of all Canada is deteriorated at a fast rate as all are not being treated fairly & our elected officials are worried about only saving their own asses shameful,they’ll be getting old one day,here’s hoping that they get a taste of their own medicine!!!!
Dr Wilbur Keon is the head of the Champlain LHIN…perhaps you could forward a copy of your letter ms paulin….Lhin has a website…
I will send a copy to Dr. Keon thank you for suggesting it.
Treat your children well, the direction our health care is going, they will be your care givers.
@ Bonnie
Your letter resonates with many in our community.
Thank-you for bringing your concerns forward.
Language discrimination touches & effects ALL of us!
Your Dad’s situation is just the beginning of more HORROR stories to come.
Time for the public to stand up & demand STATE OF THE ART HEALTH CARE.Canadians deserve no less!
I’m quite sure communist Cuba has better quality health care then Canada,
What a bloody DISGRACE!
SHAME ON OUR GOVERNMENT!
Bonnie it is unfortunate that your father had fallen between the cracks of our healthcare system .
For this elderly gentlemen being physically limited and with no assistance to promote improved mobility only promotes further limitations .
I certainly hope our system recognizes the fault in their decisions and provides the needed care to him as well as the other frail people in our society !
Well as for your question “I cant help but wonder if the end result have been different had my father responded to the caseworker in french rather then English”?
My answer is this : The fact that you asked this question makes others realized that our system has started to classify its groups and perhaps treated its populous differently.
The hospitals /health system -Has become a tool of Government policy – Our fine province is not bilingual -yet policies are pushed for bilingual -we need to ask this :
Why are Provincial Government services mandated to be bilingual ?
Why is the provincial institutions requiring standards far surpassing that of the federal Government -and yet our province is NOT bilingual ?
Why is it that 80% of local citizens not allowed to work for their own Government?
Since when has 17% mean a majority in Canada?
Bonnie I hope that language is not the reason your father did not get the care needed.
But in Canadian society anymore that would not surprise me -ALL government services -have become a political tools …….
Democracy is dying 🙁
I don’t want to make this a language issue,but where do you think our government most wastes taxpayer money instead of needed healthcare for all especially our seniors after all we will all be there one day…the good Lord willing
It is being wasted in the millions & not to healthy choices .It is being spent on llanguage that we can’t eat,can’t wear it,can’t dwell in it & can’t take care of us when we become weak,injured or otherwise frail ……how ridiculous is that!!!
it is millions spent on BUREAUCRACY and fancy offices that sucks money from the health care system.. not the fact that both languages are dealt with.!!! get over it!!!!! healthcare is hurting because we apy 250,000 bucks and perks to one person in each LHIN and plus thir offices and overpaid staff and boards and other paperpusher waste.. IT IS NOT LANGUAGE if it were why is DR KEON (anglophone) in charge.. he made it to the top of the pile other anglos do to!!!!!! Let it go blaming bilingualism for hurting people is wrong and useless… But you don`t want this to be a language issue right??? i suggested ms Poulin write to DR Keon..She will at least hear from the head LHINer on this one way or the other.. He must be made aware of this because the people at the bottom won`t share this with him… it is a better direction than blaming bilingualism blindly again..
@ Mariah…..Going through the archives I came across one of your post in reponse to Roger Roy’s (from Long Sault) letter to the editor dated May 7th 2012. Of course you were the first post and you said this ” This issue is not about language” Hmmm makes one wonder doesn’t it? It seems that because no one could prove the CCH was in fact discriminating…. the english speaking people started to grasp at straws in order to stir some SH#T and started up this language BS. If one can say it’s not about language then start claiming it is about language……..kind of confusing to say the least and doesn’t do much to the groups credibility.
CCAC hires Bilingual only or should I say French only-so YES it is a LANGUAGE issue!
Hiring for language & not for skills & experience is detrimental to society!
77% of Cornwall is ENGLISH-REPRESENTATION BY POPULATION is the only answer to this MESS!!!!
Stella do you really honestly think Dr. Tombler would have written the letter in the first place just to stir up SH#T. Really?
Nope not at all Rosie but……what I am saying is “the leader of the pack” jumped on the bandwagon after the famous letter and used this letter to try and justify why he was turned down for a job. Had he truly felt that there was discrimination he would have fought it then…..which leads one to believe that he could not prove it and still can’t. Please don’t give me the excuse that the union didn’t want to fight it or about the Human Rights Code. If one feels so strongly that injustices were done and feel they have no other recourse, why not hire a lawyer. When one wants to tell the world there is discrimination in Cornwall one should put their money where their mouth is and prove it in a court of law. Then and only then can say that in fact there is discrimination in Cornwall.
BTW Rosie…..not sure why DR. Tombler come into this when I never broguht up his name. What I did say was “English speaking people. **smile**
Oh my goodness Ms Starlight!
So, better he take the few dollars he does make working part time, to hire a lawyer then to feed and house his family? good plan! Give me a break!
Just because you don’t want to believe the union wouldn’t back him up, it has to be a lie? My aren’t we just queen of the freaking world!
You do realize Carlita, lots and lots of things happen everyday that you don’t hear about, does that mean they never happened either?
Did Dr Tombler join the LFA or CLF? if not i`d say that is an indication that he does not believe it either!!!
CCH addressed the “language” confusion..job requirements are there for a reason training is vital and communcation with patients is vital and understanding and responding is vital…2 offcial languages not One only that holds all other in behind them… and merit is also included in that ..langage ,skills experience go hand are the whole package…. just because you don`t agree does not give anyone the right to deny…Dr keon is Anglophone , oppres2 .. answer that !if bilingualism is always and only the way things are done in Ontario!!!How come he got to the top of the pile eh?? you lose that argument about unilinguals losing out on great high paying jobs there… and can`t admit it because it does not fall into your misplaced one eyed argument….get over it bilingualism is a choice and it is here to stay…..and it does not affect every job… mechanics ,plumbers, doctors.dentists,lawyers….bilingual or not they are working in Ontario…..and make more money than I ever did and enjoy their freedoms too…
I hope Ms Paulin gets help for her father.. it is frustrating and life changing when you have to rely on a government agency of any reason or capacity….. to many levels make it hard to be heard … I hope she will share the response from Dr keon`s office….
FLSA(french language service act)=DISCRIMINATION
CCH & every other institute who implements the FLSA discriminates against 77% of the population & breeds segregation.
Over 217 agencies in ON have implemented the FLSA.
Time to come out of the closet & stop the insanity.
Eastern Ontario Health Unit,Alzheimer Society of Cornwall,Chateau Gardens(Lancaster),Children’s Aid Society of S,D & G,CHEO,Glengary Memorial Hospital,Kingston General Hospital to name a few!
ENGLISH NEED NOT APPLY!
The majority isn’t willing to sit at the back of the bus any longer!
Again-thank you Bonnie for standing up & saying this is wrong!
Highlander any one can apply for any position anywhere in Ontario… if you meet the qualifications and surpass the other candidates.. you get the job… if you aren`t willing to work for the qualifications……. you can`t yell Discrimination!!!.. that is totally untrue…. public service needs public professionals… the more eduction the better… tell that to Dr Keon in your complaint Highlander…
aint -verbal diarrhea again -you need to fix that !
Discrimination purely on language -tell me why 100% bilingual in health unit for 22% of the people -french only clinic -do you see English only clinic -and I am sure if they where unable to speak the language -they would still provide the service of which the french only clinic refuses to do -that is called discrimination clearly!!!
Mr.Cameron did have the education and skills for that particular job -yet french was required –
the other individual had no skills or education in that field -BUT DID SPEAK FRENCH-
That is discrimination by language -I guess that proctologist can operated on your heart because he speaks french right?
That family MD can perform surgery on you because he speaks french ?
Qualifications /merit should always be the #1 reason that that candidate should be chosen for the job!
But now the person who speaks the second language -should have the job no matter the experience ?
Tell me how service is improved if the person providing it is not necessarily the best individual for the job?
Poppycock!!!! highlander ..Cameron did not go through the channels to fix his “problem” because he was not qualified… just because someone says they are capable does not make it true …show the facts not regurgatated stories … union even knows the truth CCH has fixed th problem end of story….
Les meds once again please- facts not propaganda!
The media was informed that the union could not back Mr.Cameron as there was no” letter of understanding “-the union in fact took 5 years for that” letter of understanding”the union admitted that until that” letter of understanding’ that nurses where”disadvantaged”-in that” letter of understanding “-it stated that all things being equal that the job was to be awarded to the bilingual person .
THEREBY THE UNION HAD ALREADY AGREED THAT THE NURSES WHERE DISADVANTAGED (DISCRIMINATED ) AGAINST .
THE UNION IS FULLY AWARE BUT BECAUSE THERE WAS NO LETTER OF UNDERSTANDING NOTHING CAN BE DONE!
SO AINT /STELLA ALL YOU ARE DOING WITHOUT THE FACT IS PROPAGANDA !!
please stop the propaganda because that is what you are doing !
have a nice day :)-
It’s sorta, kinda, refreshing, that you guys are squabbling in a more, um, erm, refined manner… I appreciate the effort and if I knew the key for the appropriate smiley would use it.
The Management 🙂
You see Mr.Cameron is good enough to work in Ottawa IN A LEVEL 1 TRAUMA CENTER and have certification in his field but the standards are far superior in Cornwall (a clinic setting)!
Thereby the person who was awarded the job had absolutely no experience in that field !
Is that fair for the patient?
Was that the best person for the job ?
Was that ALL THINGS CONSIDERED EQUAL?
have a nice day:)-
admin !! yup it is getting stale!! smiley face!!!
Highlander, you seriously think administration of a regional hospital would give someone , anyone not qualified for a position a job in medicine just because they are bilingual???? what a load of poppycock!!!! If Cameron was so qualified at that time ,he would have got it.. or he would have the ONA backing him letter or no letter….i can see Ottawa has a higher budget for hiring Ottawa has more fileds of care and Ottawa has a bilingual policy as well in some hospitals.. why isn`t Chris picketting outside Ottawa hospitals???? becuase the bilingual policy is everywhere according to his followersd??? NNO I don`t buy this poppycock!!!!
Ya and they hired qualified for orange ambulance as well!
GET Your head out of the sand are u that inept to understand?
A COPY OF A LETTER I SENT TO PRIME MINISTER HARPER
Dear Prime Minister Harper:
Canadians elected you and fellow Conservatives, on the promise that if you formed the government, it would put an end to costly useless Liberal policies. I’m a Canadian supporter of Conservative policies and believe that promises made that will be most beneficial to the majority should be carried out to completion if at all possible. It is for this reason that I`m sending this e-mail with supporting files to you and all Conservative Members of Parliament. The Official Languages Act (1969) was a policy by Pierre Trudeau and the Liberals which established two Official Languages of English and French, with the object to make services available by the Federal government in either English or French where ever was necessary. By simply disregarding the words, “wherever was necessary”, that were in the Official Languages Act (1969), the Federal Government was able to force Official Bilingualism on all departments of the Federal Government across Canada. Then this newly created bureaucratic level of government grew and imposed this unnecessary and costly law upon provincial governments and business across Canada.
I’m sure you are aware that over seventy-seven percent (77 %) of the MP’s representing constituencies in the four Western Provinces are Conservative and over forty-seven percent (47%) of the MP’s representing Ontario are Conservative. In both these regions of Canada less than five percent (5%) of the population are bilingual and English remains the language of the majority as it was in 1969.
It is therefore my responsibility to express our disappointment with your Government’s continuation and even expansion of an unwanted, costly, non-beneficial Official Languages Act of 1969. There were then as it remains today, Canadian Citizens with many different language skills however, English remains the language of the majority. Forty (40) years of Official Bilingualism has increased costs to governments and business an estimated one trillion dollars, with no benefits for the majority of Canadian citizens and business. Common sense analysis of costs and benefits received clearly show it is time to discontinue this failed Liberal policy of Official Bilingualism.
I’m attaching a file indicating statistics on the 40th Parliament of Canada to provide a quick reference to all C.P.C. MP’s for their consideration. The statistics shown in this file clearly indicate the greatest support for the C.P.C. is from those regions where English is the primary language and the support would increase if your Government took the steps necessary to end costly Official Bilingualism.
There are also an increasing number of Canadians in Western Canada, Ontario and Newfoundland who would like to express disappointment with your Government`s continuation of a costly prejudicial Equalization Payment policy.
Way to go Ken!!!!!!! A very accurate portrayal of issue at hand!
Beautiful letter Ken!!!!
nice letter, ken.. wonder if you`ll share the response…since Mr Harper is meeting with mr Mulroney about improving relations with Quebec…. Canada needs PQ, too!
one question though.. how does your finely crafted letter help Ms Paulin get her father the service he needs??? she should continue to write to the LHIN and Dr Keon ….(anglohone by the way)
Les -fingers not in pain ?
Did you know that Dr.Keon was caught soliciting prostitutes ?
Yes he is a JOHN ,but of course the media did not touch him (much ) because of political sensitivities-his affiliations helped him .
Aint many questions I asked you above and you still have not answered .
You still have not explained why hiring in health unit is 100% bilingual for 78% English population ?
In fact your willing to spew your BS but not answer the questions ,tells me that you do not have the answers but agree with the policy -as you normally don’t hold back on your written Diarrhea !
Oh by the way the rest of Canada has become apathetic with regards to Quebec …apathy -for one can cry wolf only so many times -good riddance -the ROC does not care about the spoiled child Quebec has become !!!!
Ken-Thanks for the great letter you have put on paper what the MAJORITY is wondering as well as wants -lets hope we bring balance of veiwpoints to this great country !
Oh by the way Bonnie I hope your father is doing better ,lets pray that your response to the situation prevents others from falling through the cracks …if it does then all of what your said and have done was not in vain .
I personally apologize for this article to become politicized with regards to job equality issue -as there are Zealots who blindly agree with the Gov bilingual hiring policy -even though those policies benefit the interests of one cultural group and are a detriment of all other groups !
best of luck Bonnie
Highlander .. yes we all know about dr Keon`s indescretions.. as an english “zealo” (your word to describe bilingualism proponents)t.. you should be glad an anglophone got away with it!!!! the fact is, he is still head of the Champlain LHIN and he would be the best recourse for services answered anywhere in Champlain district!!! have a nice day Highlander and try not to trip over your so-called facts…
I question your so called numbers Highlander 78% are english only where in Cornwall or eastern Ontario or SDG or SDSG? or Ontario has a whole.. ?78% agree with CLF ?? I don`t think most even know CLF or LFA exists!!!78% of “english majority” agree with you?? Can`t say that`s a true statement.. have you ever done any managing or time shift scheduling work??? if the public has at least 30% of language services not english only then how do you schedule 30% worksforce 24 seven especially in healthcare emergencies?? do you schedule the same person for 24 hours 7daysa week??> do you allow for vacation , sick days, professional development days, training and other job related needs with the same 30% over and over .. 30 people out of a hundred ,to make it easier for you to understand, on call all the time 24/7 ..?? wow imagine the overtime and the exhaustion!!! In Ottawa hospitals they have a huge budget that oversses thousands of health care workers and more flexibility to employ without cutting back bilingual services.. Smaller hospitals like CCH have regional concerns too that include a need for bilingual services with less frontliners..so the frontliners must have some proficiency in both officila languages at least…Simple….but you don`t want to see those facts because it does not fit your CLF/ FLA sense of impunity.
OMG aint -“You should be glad an anglophone got away with it!!”
Now you drew lines in the sand again -no one should get away with it English or French -Oh the garbage you spew -now by your comment if he where French you would be glad he got away with it?
French first- Canadian second right?
Just because one is educated does not mean one is smart -you are a fine example of this!
Remember it is better to remain quiet then to remove all doubt….
Highlander, just to be fair i`ll bet you dollars to doghnuts if the good DR had been french speaking you would be the first on the anti french bandwagon to cut him down for being french in a position of power and control … admit it.. and you still avoided my numbers questions… nice misdirection there Highlander..Your really clutching at straws now… i`m off for a dip in the pool.. fingers are sore from explaining the facts to you!!! s`long..
Another Rant/Rant/Rant -representation by population -oh by the way its 22% not 30% -so 50% =250% above community population .
We are in Ontario not Quebec -Ontario is not bilingual .
They need a blind study and see how much people actually request services in french -far lower then the 22% I am sure ,but then we would not be hiring the french candidate right?
Simple solution hire a translator-problem solved and much cheaper for the system !
Stats are great -so therefore to provide the service 1 in every 4 should be bilingual giving and additional 3% as a margin of deviation .
Not 50 % as in hospital ,100 % in health unit ,60 % ont Gov services ,60 % courts -and yet Ontario is not even bilingual
this far surpasses federal gov services -yet they are classified bilingual …..so what is going on here?
Wait its called assimilation by legislation !!!
Aint what facts?
No.. no one should be above the law and once again you drew lines in the sand: stop making this a language issue and deal with the reality: its a job equity issue .
Please ..please stop making it a french vs English issue of which is not!
You see your group would prefer to keep this a language issue because fighting a job equity issue does not bring about division but fairness .
you continue to avoid the questions !!
The implementation of this OLA and FLSA should have never been instituted to such a point whereby government legislation allows for government jobs to be staffed by a small segment of the population who can speak/read/write French. This allows for the instituting of elitism.
If the excuse other than the fact that their grasp of the French language was the determining factor in them getting the jobs then it would be excusable.
The Press Corps is correct in their assertions. We shouldn’t finger the French Canadian community. It is only human nature to take advantage of a situation that benefits oneself or a group of others to the exclusion of all others. In this example, it is people who speak French who get the best civil service jobs.
We should instead be blaming gov’t legislation and institutions who practice these methods. It is true that government agencies are picking from a smaller list of candidates for positions. If Bilingual candidates are chosen for government positions (English and French speakers) and they represent 22% of the population or even lower/higher per se; then there is a definite exclusion of the majority here. What happens if a post-secondary educated immigrant comes to Canada and can speak/read/write a total of 5 or 6 languages but cannot speak/read/write the French language and applies to a Government of Canada job? By sheer application of ‘Official Bilingualism in Canada, this candidate cannot work in a government job. His/her knowledge actually might surpass that of a traditional bilingual candidate (English, French). Moreover, this candidate may be able to actually serve more people than a bilingual person could.
Where is the fairness in that?
ROFLMAO……….OMG that is so so funny……..please hand me a tissue……I am crying with laughter……this takes the cake.
Today you say to les habitants……”stop making this a language issue” yesterday it was a language issue, another day it was not a language issue but a hiring issue, then another day it was only hiring issue with perhaps somewhat of a language issue, then it became a language and Gov issue not a hiring issue, then it became a Gov and language issue. Talk about group confusion. Maybe you should get together again and try to get on the same page…….. Obviously you are confused…….thinking you are trying to make issues where there are none. **SMILE**
Now, this is where things are becomming very suspect for me….
The Press Corps continually makes fun/light of us writing letters to our government representatives for the concerns we have. Hymm, I sense a frightened group of people who are fearful of seeing this status quo changed.
Like my above comment, why shouldn’t immigrant minorities who have knowledge of more than two languages not get the job unless they speak French?
How is it that a Chinese person who speaks Mandarin and English but not French not be able to work in a civil service position in B.C or even Ontario or any other province for that matter?
Good point Cory -representation by population simple solution!
The other 78% are not allowed to work for their own government !
If we want to logic this up -clearly even those 22% francophones -how many are truly functional in both languages effectively at Gov standards -thereby reducing that potential from 22% to what to be Liberal in evaluation might warrant 16% -thereby only 16 % of the population can work for the government……
REEKS OF ELITISM.
Sad of all of this is all those other languages are at a loss –
But the rewards are to those privileged few that 16%
Really what does this have to do with language.. I also am affected by the changes that are happening to home care with the CCAC.. We will all be taken care of… change is hard for everyone who needs special care but the case worker is always willing to review your case…
I cannot believe everything is blamed on language..
Really? “We will all be taken care of….”. I doubt it very much. So many elderly are getting bypassed as it is. This isn’t all to do about language. It is about mismanagement of funds. Only 623 million dollars in Ontario alone. That would go a long way to fund health care for seniors and those in need trying to tap into well deserved help!