RC120 SeptOct 2025 - Magazine - Page 21
LAKERIDGE HEALTH
SEAN MORLEY (FASKEN): I think at a high level the challenge to
helping facilitate investor participation in these projects
is aligning and de昀椀ning what public policy goals are
with respect to long-term care facilities, so that the right
framework can be created such that the public sector is
in a position where it can—in a defensible way—demonstrate that public policy goals are being achieved and the
private sector is able to understand and deliver on those
public policy objectives. I think therein lies the beginning
of a partnership.
Canadian institutions can demand a high riskweighted rate of return. How can we align investor
expectations and create a more balanced value
proposition where private capital sees long-term
care investments as both fiscally and socially
responsible?
RALPH DESANDO: In my experience, we’ve had a signi昀椀cant
challenge in obtaining institutional investment in the
long-term care sector, and it is the signi昀椀cant component
of the reputational risk that is out there and what they
want to avoid. Our approach is to focus on education and
transparency with our investors and educating them that
the risk-weighted rate of return is not going to be the same
as say in the technology sector. With consistent messaging
telling
institutions it’s okay to be part of this sector, that it’s
required for social infrastructure, you’ll see that the right
institutions that have that investment pro昀椀le and return
pro昀椀le who will enter the sector more often. We are starting
to see some of that, but the messaging needs to go further.
It really is working together to alleviate the pressure on
our entire healthcare system. I think we will see that start
to change by having boards and investment committees in
RENEWCANADA.NET
The six-storey Lakeridge Gardens Long-Term Care facility
in Ajax, Ontario was built in in under 18 months.
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2025 – RENEW CANADA 21
