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Premier: More emphasis needed on assisted living (2 photos)

In what has become an almost routine state of affairs, Premier Kathleen Wynne spent her Saturday morning touring Sudbury alongside Liberal byelection candidate Glenn Thibeault Jan. 24.
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Finlandia resident Linda Burk speaks with premier Kathleen Wynne Jan. 24. Wynne toured Finlandia and Maison Vale Hospice Saturday, before visiting with Liberal candidate Glenn Thibeault's father Edward Thibeault, who celebrated his 101st birthday. Photo by Heidi Ulrichsen.
In what has become an almost routine state of affairs, Premier Kathleen Wynne spent her Saturday morning touring Sudbury alongside Liberal byelection candidate Glenn Thibeault Jan. 24.

She was also joined by Finance Minister Charles Souza, one of many cabinet ministers to visit the city since Wynne called the Feb. 5 byelection to choose the city's next MPP.

This time Wynne's focus was local health-care facilities, as she toured Finlandia Village and Maison Vale Hospice, before stopping in to visit Thibeault's father, Edward Thibeault, who was celebrating his 101st birthday.

Wynne also spent Jan. 23 in the city, and visited several schools.

Maison Vale Hospice vice-chair Kevin McCormick said he was pleased to show the premier around the 10-bed facility. “It highlights the vital role the hospice plays in the community,” he said.

Finlandia's Lepokoti 82-unit assisted living facility, which opened in 2012, is a model that should be replicated across the province, said Wynne.

Lepokoti, which has one and two-bedroom apartments, provides services such as meals, laundry, housekeeping and personal care, and is meant to be the bridge between independent living and a long-term care facility.

The facility has been touted as one of the solutions to the bed crisis at hospitals and long-term care facilities.

It features affordable rent, as it's subsidized by the provincial government.

“I think paying attention to the work that's been done here is really important to the decisions we make as a government and as a society,” Wynne said.

Souza didn't give any indication, however, as to whether the upcoming provincial budget will contain any new funds for similar facilities. He did say the province is committed to transforming health care.

“The majority of the budget is still health care and education,” Souza said.

“There will be increases still in program spending, just because of the demands and the needs are great. What we must do, of course, is transform the way we do some of our services.”

In response to a reporter's question about who's financing all of her recent trips to Sudbury, the premier said they're paid by the Liberal party.

“I said quite clearly when we called the byelection that I was determined to come and support Glenn,” she said.

Thibeault, who until recently was the city's NDP MP, was personally appointed the Liberals' candidate by Wynne, displacing Andrew Olivier, who is now running as an independent.

So is she considering making Thibeault a cabinet minister should he be elected next month? Wynne didn't give a definitive answer, but she did say she's looking forward to Thibeault joining her at Queen's Park.

“We are considering Mr. Thibeault as a fantastic member of the team,” she said. “I'm looking forward to having him as a member of our caucus.”

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Heidi Ulrichsen

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