received CA$6.6 million in the spring of 2021 for the FY 2020. According to a Toronto Star analysis of Extendicare's 2020 financial statements, in the first 3 quarters ending in September 2020, this for-profit company paid out nearly CA$29 million to shareholders in dividends at the same time that ParaMed received CA$82.2 million in federal wage subsidies through the program for front-line workers, the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS). The Star investigation included the three major for-profit LTC providers, Sienna Senior Living, Chartwell Retirement Residences, as well as Extendicare. The companies said that the CEWS grants went directly to their frontline workers and were not to pay dividends. Class-action lawsuits and regulatory actions There have been several COVID-related lawsuits filed against Extendicare facilities. These lawsuits include an October 2020 CA$600,000 class action lawsuit with multiple defendants against multiple homes and levels of government, a second CA$210 class action lawsuit alleging "gross negligence" filed in October 2020, regarding one of Extendicare's LTC facilities—later amended to include claims against 35 Extendicare's operations. In November 2020, the Ontario government, under Premier Doug Ford passed Bill 218, Supporting Ontario's Recovery Act—retroactive to March 17, 2020—which provides some liability protections to individuals, corporations, or other entities, including LTC corporations, against COVID-19-related legal claims that limit claimants ability to win a lawsuit "except in certain circumstances". Claimants must prove that an individual, corporation, or other entity acted in "gross negligence", not in a "good faith" or "honest" effort to comply with public health guidance and laws relating to COVID-19. See also Sienna Senior Living Chartwell Retirement Residences References External links Official website Companies based in Markham, Ontario Companies listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange Health care companies of Canada Housing for the elderly