What will N.L.'s next premier do to crack down on care home problems? We have no idea

In the wake of a report that found negligence, repeated rule-breaking and alleged abuse inside Newfoundland and Labrador personal care homes, both contenders for the province's top job are keeping their lips sealed.

John Abbott and John Hogan, the two party members running for Liberal leadership and vying to become premier, both refused interviews about last week's auditor general report on care homes.

Neither would speak to CBC News about what they would do as premier to crack down on the violations outlined in the audit, which included swapped medication, feces left uncleaned on walls and concerns about food quality and safety.

When asked for an interview, Hogan's campaign spokesperson simply said he wasn't available, even by phone.

Abbott's campaign manager replied to CBC's request in an email, saying Abbott had read the report and "views the matter as a significant priority once he becomes premier," but also said Abbott wouldn't be commenting further on the matter.

That means CBC News doesn't get a chance to ask either candidate — one of whom will be premier in several weeks — essential questions, like:

• Why did the health minister say the department was "very bad at communicating" its work to improve oversight of these homes?
• Why doesn't the auditor general have the power to demand evidence from government bodies who refuse to hand it over?
• And why are there no internal policies within the Health Department to deal with serious complaints like alleged sexual abuse?

The answers to those questions could prevent the types of scenarios that surfaced in Ontario in 2020, as reported by CBC's Marketplace.

The findings from that investigation look eerily similar to what came out of Auditor General Denise Hanrahan's report: abuse, medication errors, repeat offenders. Either Hogan or Abbott will inherit Hanrahan's report, and will oversee the Health Department's newly ordered "action plan," expected right around the time either John will start his new job.

The next premier will have some important decisions to make, like whether to follow Ontario's lead and implement an investigative body to hold offending care homes to account.

Last year, Ontario's minister of long-term care announced a 10-person team tasked with looking into complaints and allegations of abuse, capable of laying charges on care-home owners who violate the regulations designed to protect the elderly.

Could something similar happen in Newfoundland and Labrador? Without any answers from the incoming premier, it's unknown. 

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