Number of Ontario LTC homes requiring ‘exceptional circumstance’ bail outs growing

POLITICS Number of Ontario LTC homes requiring ‘exceptional circumstance’ bail outs growing By Isaac Callan & Colin D'Mello Global News Posted September 23, 2026 6:02 am 3 min read View image in full screen Exteriors of the peopleCare Oakcrossing long term care home in London, Ont. are photographed on Mar 24, 2022. Fred Lum/The Globe and Mail. Owned by Schlegel Villages (based in Waterloo, Ont., this long term care home has 160 beds. The Canadian Press LEAVE A COMMENT SHARE THIS ITEM ON FACEBOOK SHARE THIS ITEM ON X SEND THIS PAGE TO SOMEONE VIA EMAIL SEE MORE SHARING OPTIONS DESCREASE ARTICLE FONT SIZE INCREASE ARTICLE FONT SIZE The number of Ontario long-term care homes receiving emergency funding to bail them out in exceptional circumstances has grown in recent years, new internal data shows, as the sector worries about how it is going to care for an aging population. Data obtained using freedom of information laws shows how much money Ontario spends every year from its “homes in distress” fund, a pot set aside for long-term care operations on the brink of collapse. In the data and documents released to Global News, civil servants offered a broad overview of a funding stream that appears to be growing. “In the event a home experiences acute or unforeseen financial challenges that affects its cashflow, it can liaise with Ontario Health to assess the immediate financial risks,” staff wrote. “Ontario Health may seek support from the Ministry. In exceptional circumstances, the Ministry can approve a one-time payment to provide relief to a home to help the home achieve financial stability.” STORY CONTINUES BELOW ADVERTISEMENT The data suggests the number of exceptional circumstances where homes require an emergency bailout from the government is growing. The data, obtained by Global News using freedom of information laws, shows Ontario approves millions of dollars in emergency funding every year. In 2021-22, the Ford government spent just $2.4 million bailing out long-term care homes, with one non-profit and three for-profit homes receiving funds. That year, for-profit homes received an average of $350,000 each. Get weekly health news Receive the latest medical news and health information delivered to you every Sunday. SIGN UP FOR WEEKLY HEALTH NEWSLETTER GET STARTED BY PROVIDING YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS, YOU HAVE READ AND AGREE TO GLOBAL NEWS' TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY. In 2022-23, the total spiked to $9.7 million, although only $1.2…