Recently in the healthcare industry, new provincial data shows Ontario long-term care homes narrowly missed the four-hour daily direct care target in 2024–25, with staffing pressures especially evident in smaller and rural communities. At the same time, capacity expansion is moving forward, including construction at Belmont House in Toronto’s Annex to add 168 beds, a planned 192-bed expansion at Saint Luke’s Place in Cambridge, and the near completion of the Magellan Centre, which will combine affordable seniors housing with long-term care near transit. Meanwhile, concerns about access to essential health services are emerging in Northern Ontario, as Sudbury’s mayor urges provincial intervention to prevent the closure of the regional LifeLabs laboratory and avoid potential delays in diagnostic testing.
Data Highlights Ongoing Gaps in Ontario’s Four-Hour Long-Term Care Target
New provincial data shows Ontario long-term care homes narrowly missed the four-hour daily direct care target in 2024–25, averaging three hours and 49 minutes, with many smaller and rural homes reporting lower results. Local data from Manitoulin highlights ongoing staffing and recruitment challenges, particularly for registered practical nurses, that make it harder for smaller homes to meet provincially funded benchmarks. Sector leaders note progress since the pandemic but emphasize that workforce availability, housing shortages, and funding models continue to constrain consistent delivery of hands-on care.
Source: Manitoulin
Construction Begins on Belmont House Expansion, Adding 168 Long-Term Care Beds in Toronto’s Annex
Construction is underway on the expansion of Belmont House, a non-profit long-term care home in Toronto’s Annex, which will add 168 new beds and bring total capacity to 308. Funded through a mix of community donations and provincial capital funding, the project comes as more than 40,000 people remain on Ontario’s long-term care wait-list. Scheduled to open in fall 2028, the redevelopment reflects continued provincial efforts to expand capacity through not-for-profit operators despite local concerns related to construction impacts.
Source: Ontario Construction News
Cambridge Long-Term Care Home Expansion Progressing Toward 2029 Opening
Saint Luke’s Place in Cambridge is advancing a $94 million expansion that will add 192 long-term care beds, with construction expected to begin once municipal permits and final ministry approvals are secured. The project is targeting a 2029 opening and is funded through a combination of provincial capital funding, a construction mortgage, and $12 million in community fundraising, with $3.5 million raised to date. The expansion responds to growing local demand as long-term care wait-lists continue to rise, reflecting broader capacity pressures across Ontario.
Source: Cambridge Today
Magellan Centre Seniors Housing and Long-Term Care Facility Nears Topping Off
The seven-storey Magellan Centre near Lansdowne Station in Toronto is nearing the topping-off stage, marking steady progress on a City-led project that combines affordable seniors housing with long-term care. Developed on former TTC land, the project will deliver 57 affordable rental units for seniors alongside 256 long-term care beds, helping address growing demand for care and housing near transit. The development reflects broader municipal efforts to accelerate affordable housing and long-term care delivery through partnerships that leverage public land.
Source: Urban Toronto
Mayor Urges Province to Keep Sudbury LifeLabs Laboratory Open
Sudbury Mayor Paul Lefebvre is calling on the province to intervene in LifeLabs’ planned closure of its Sudbury laboratory, warning that transferring diagnostic testing to Toronto and Mississauga could create delays and risks for patients across Northern Ontario. The closure would result in the loss of approximately 40 medical laboratory technologist jobs and could affect test turnaround times for hospitals, long-term care homes, and rural communities that rely on the regional lab. The situation highlights broader concerns about equitable access to essential healthcare services and workforce stability in Northern Ontario.
Source: Sudbury
Is your current staffing strategy keeping up with your facility’s needs? As we move through another busy season in healthcare, it’s essential to ensure your team has dependable support and consistent coverage. Priority Healthcare’s specialists are available to help assess your staffing requirements and recommend a customized approach.
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