Retirement Homes Licence fee called ‘tax on seniors’

SARNIA -- Retirement home residents will take a hit in the wallet when a new licensing system takes effect, warns a Sarniabased retirement living manager. The new Retirement Homes Regulatory Authority (RHRA) will require all Ontario retirement homes to apply for a licence to operate. About 40,000 Ontario seniors live in 700 retirement homes. Under the Retirement Homes Act, the authority will ensure facilities meet standards in cleanliness, food preparation, and emergency plans. All retirement home staff are also expected to be trained on preventing abuse and neglect, along with protection for whistle-blowers. But retirement homes will have to pony up licensing fees. Homes with fewer than 20 suites will pay an $800 application fee to be licensed. All other homes will pay $1,200. Once approved, homes will pay an annual licensing fee to the RHRA. "In effect it's a tax on seniors," said Clarke Boddy, retirement living division manager of Steeves & Rozema Group. "The re…
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