A recent report released on Friday highlights the need to establish an independent office to safeguard seniors in care, separate from government influence. Former judge William Burnett, assigned in 2023 to revamp the Protection for Persons in Care Office (PPCO), recommended creating a new entity with investigative authority following a damning audit by Manitoba’s auditor general in July 2023.
The PPCO, operating under the health department, investigates reports of abuse or neglect in care facilities. Despite the release of Burnett’s comprehensive 64-page report last Friday, uncertainties persist regarding the government’s commitment to implementing an independent office.
The auditor’s 2023 findings exposed significant issues within the PPCO, including dismissal of abuse claims and prolonged complaint resolution times. Burnett, engaged by the previous Progressive Conservative administration, received over $1 million for his work until August 2024. His recommendations, submitted in December 2024, propose transferring all investigatory powers from the PPCO to the new office, allowing access to health facility records and expanding investigative capabilities.
While the government has not confirmed the establishment of a new office, it plans to form a working group to collaborate with the current office and a new seniors’ advocate to execute the report’s recommendations effectively. The advocate’s role will involve identifying and assessing senior-related issues without investigatory authority.
Burnett emphasized the necessity of an independent office to rebuild public trust and ensure impartiality and accountability, given the PPCO’s longstanding problems dating back over 13 years. The NDP government’s decision to proceed with a seniors’ advocate lacking investigative powers has drawn criticism from opposition parties, with concerns raised about leaving seniors vulnerable to further abuse in care settings.
