Ford announces government will take over several long term care homes, WILL NOT fire minister of long-term care

A full investigation will be turned over to police, with Ford announcing today that, effective immediately, the Ford government has begun the process of taking over management of the five homes which were in the report, including The Orchard Villa in Pickering, Etobicoke’s Eatonville, Hawthorne Place in North York, and Holland Christian Homes’ Grace Manor in Brampton.

The government has already taken over management of two homes.

Ford announced that six teams of two inspectors will be deployed to each of the five homes highlighted in the armed forces report. At least one inspector will stay in the residency, and will be in charge of reporting their findings.

Further inspections will be conducted of 13 other homes that are "facing the greatest challenge is maintaining the outbreak," said Ford.

Ford said they are prepared to shut down licenses and take over homes if necessary.

Ford also ordered officials to expedite the establishment of an independent commission "similar to the SARS" commission, which is aimed to be opened for July.

"We will get to the bottom of this, as quickly as possible," said Ford.

Ford said the commission will have the power to investigate his own government's response to the crisis, and that he would appear as a witness.

Amid calls from opposition for the firing of the Minister of Long-Term Care, Dr. Merrilee Fullerton, Ford said he would not be firing her,

Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath is called for her resignation this morning after reading the report by the Canadian Armed Forces.

Horwath said Fullerton must "immediately resign."

“In over 20 years of political service, I have never been so outraged, so disgusted, so saddened and so horrified by what I learned today,” Horwath said.