Three-quarters of the province’s nursing homes aren’t meeting the standards set by our government, with violations ranging from improper paperwork to allegations of abuse.

Three facilities in Dufferin County have violations listed in the government’s database housing inspection reports compiled from April 2007 to March of this year.

Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty vowed the government will do a “better job” of enforcing the standards the care.

This isn’t a new pledge. A few years ago, George Smitherman, the health-care minister of the day, promised to overhaul the province’s long-term care system.

Judging by the latest statistics, Smitherman’s pledge fell short and the problems continue, placing the dignity and comfort of our seniors in jeopardy.

Unions representing employees of nursing homes are now calling for  “an enforced standard of a minimum 3.5 hours of hands-on care per day for residents.”

Ontario Ombudsman Andre Marin is considering launching a full-blown investigation into the matter. He said his office has been undertaking a “pre-investigation” for the past few months.

We commend any that results in an improvement to the quality of care offered through the province’s long-term facilities.

We hope the end result will ensure the care and dignity of seniors is enhanced, protected and guaranteed. We also hope the recent pledges and promises don’t fall by the wayside once the media spotlight swings to the next controversy d’jour.

And most of all, we hope history doesn’t repeat itself and we don’t have to report again in another few years about troubles inside long-term care facilities.