The province's health minister didn't have many answers to offer when he was grilled on how alleged murders could go undetected in nursing homes for seven years.
Police revealed in Woodstock that they have arrested a 49-year-old nurse and charged her with first-degree murder in relation to the death of eight residents of two long-term care homes at which she worked.
Investigators say they believe the suspect "administered a drug," but would not elaborate.
"This is an extremely distressing and tragic thing for all of the families involved," premier Kathleen Wynne said during Question Period at Queen's Park.
NDP MPP Teresa Armstrong had asked how something like this could go on undetected for so long.
"There's obviously big, gaping holes (in the system) for this outcome to happen without it having some checks and balances," Armstrong told reporters. "It needs to be reviewed."
Health minister Eric Hoskins was questioned about nursing home oversight, but he would not comment in detail because of the ongoing police investigation.
Heath minister Eric Hoskins grilled by reporters on the Woodstock nursing home murder case pic.twitter.com/jvpzeQFaXw
— NEWSTALK1010 (@NEWSTALK1010) October 25, 2016
"I'm not hiding behind anything," he told reporters, explaining that it would be inappropriate for him to hinder police.
He repeatedly said that residents of long-term care homes can be confident of their safety.
"Police themselves provided that reassurance this morning," he said. "In addition, we have very stringent mechanisms in place to provide a high level of oversight."