Monthly Archives: April 2018

April 27, 2018: A weekly scan of new legislation and regulations important to the Ontario health sector, as well as articles of interest.

 

Bills

No new bills of interest.

 

Status of Previously Reported Bills

 

Bill	Status
Bill 14 – Personal Information Protection Act, 2018	Before the Standing Committee on Justice Policy.
Bill 31 – Plan for Care and Opportunity Act (Budget Measures), 2018	Consideration of  a Bill on April 26, 2018.
Bill 52 – Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions Act, 2018	Before the Standing Committee on Social Policy.
Bill PR79 – Kingston Health Sciences Centre Act, 2018	Ordered for Second Reading on April 11, 2018.

 

Proposed Regulations

 

Prescribed Therapies Regulation under the Psychotherapy Act, 2007

 

The College of Registered Psychotherapists and Registered Mental Health Therapists of Ontario (“CRPO”) is proposing under the Psychotherapy Act, 2007 a regulation that would allow Council to make regulations prescribing therapies involving the practice of psychotherapy, governing the use of prescribed therapies, and prohibiting the use of therapies other than the prescribed therapies in the course of the practice of psychotherapy. This new regulation would apply to all Registered Psychotherapists, both in the provision of the controlled act, as part of the practice of psychotherapy and in the broader scope of practice.

Comments due: June  15, 2018

For more information: http://www.ontariocanada.com/registry/view.do?postingId=27366&language=en

 

MOHLTC News Room

More than 500 New Long-Term Care Beds for Francophone Seniors

Markham Stouffville Hospital to get 24 hour Midwifery Care Unit

More Hospital Beds, Faster Care for Families in East Toronto

66 More Long-Term Care Beds for Francophone Seniors in Welland
Ontario Funding Additional Residency Positions for Medical Graduates

Ontario Improving Health Care Facilities for Chatham-Kent Area Patients

2018 Budget Boosts Access to Health Care for Kingston Families

 

Articles of Interest

 

Health Care

Hallway Health Care

 

Long-Term Care Homes

Thunder Bay long-term care homes respond to inspections

Province says 232 long term care beds set aside for Northeastern Ontario

 

Professional Misconduct

Sask. Nurse fined $26K for critical online post has appeal dismissed

 

Indigenous Community

Friends to the end: How the suicides of seven Indigenous girls revealed a community undone

 

Consent and Sexual Assault

What do you call it when you don’t consent to sex, but don’t not consent?

April 20, 2018: A weekly scan of new legislation and regulations important to the Ontario health sector, as well as articles of interest.

 

BILLS

 

Bill 31 – Plan for Care and Opportunity Act (Budget Measures), 2018

Introduced by Hon. Charles Sousa, Minister of Finance.  The Bill is in Second Reading debate.

The Bill amends several Acts.  Most relevant to our clients is the amendment to the Hospital Labour Disputes Arbitration Act which would deem Canadian Blood Services as a “hospital” for the purposes of that Act.  The changes acknowledge the integral services that Canadian Blood Services deliver in Ontario affecting patients, and therefore, it is in the public interest that employee strikes and lockouts be replaced with an arbitration process when resolving employee disputes.

For more information:

http://www.ontla.on.ca/web/bills/bills_detail.do?locale=en&Intranet=&BillID=5838

 

Bill 52 – Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions Act, 2018

Introduced by Teresa M. Armstrong, MPP (London–Fanshawe) – Critic, Anti-Racism Directorate; Critic, Home and Long-Term Care; Deputy Third Party Whip; Critic, Seniors’ Affairs; New Democratic Party of Ontario. The second reading of the Bill was carried on April 19, 2018, and it was referred to the Standing Committee on Social Policy.

The Bill establishes the Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions. The Bill sets out the functions and duties of the Minister (see s. 4).

For more information:

http://www.ontla.on.ca/web/bills/bills_detail.do?locale=en&Intranet=&BillID=5916

 

Bill 48 – Protecting Vulnerable Persons in Supportive Living Accommodation Act, 2018

 

Introduced by Cindy Forster, MPP (Welland) – Caucus Chair; Critic, Labour, Fairness and Work; New Democratic Party of Ontario. The first reading of the Bill was carried on April 16, 2018.

The Bill requires operators of a supportive living accommodation to hold a licence issued by the Minister and fulfill certain obligations under the Act. Supportive living accommodation is defined under s. 2(1) as residential premises where four or more persons, who are not related to the operator, reside and receive assistance with the activities of daily living from, or as arranged by, the operator. Supportive living accommodation requirements to hold a license under this Act do not include the operation of various premises, including long-term care homes, private and public hospitals, retirement homes, etc.

For more information:

http://www.ontla.on.ca/web/bills/bills_detail.do?locale=en&Intranet=&BillID=5907

 

REGULATIONS

No new proposed regulations.

 

ARTICLES OF INTEREST

 

• John Tory considers appointing mental health officer for Toronto
• New research shows there are five types of diabetes, not two
• WHO set to recognize video game addiction as ‘disorder’
• Starbucks to close more than 8,000 U.S. stores May 29 for racial-bias training
• How will the province keep pot shops away from schools? In Toronto, it won’t be easy

 

April 20, 2018: A weekly scan of new legislation and regulations important to the Ontario health sector, as well as articles of interest.

 

BILLS

 

Bill 31 – Plan for Care and Opportunity Act (Budget Measures), 2018

 

Introduced by Hon. Charles Sousa, Minister of Finance.  The Bill is in Second Reading debate.

The Bill amends several Acts.  Most relevant to our clients is the amendment to the Hospital Labour Disputes Arbitration Act which would deem Canadian Blood Services as a “hospital” for the purposes of that Act.  The changes acknowledge the integral services that Canadian Blood Services deliver in Ontario affecting patients, and therefore, it is in the public interest that employee strikes and lockouts be replaced with an arbitration process when resolving employee disputes.

For more information:

http://www.ontla.on.ca/web/bills/bills_detail.do?locale=en&Intranet=&BillID=5838

 

Bill 52 – Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions Act, 2018

 

Introduced by Teresa M. Armstrong, MPP (London–Fanshawe) – Critic, Anti-Racism Directorate; Critic, Home and Long-Term Care; Deputy Third Party Whip; Critic, Seniors’ Affairs; New Democratic Party of Ontario. The second reading of the Bill was carried on April 19, 2018, and it was referred to the Standing Committee on Social Policy.

The Bill establishes the Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions. The Bill sets out the functions and duties of the Minister (see s. 4).

For more information:

http://www.ontla.on.ca/web/bills/bills_detail.do?locale=en&Intranet=&BillID=5916

 

Bill 48 – Protecting Vulnerable Persons in Supportive Living Accommodation Act, 2018

 

Introduced by Cindy Forster, MPP (Welland) – Caucus Chair; Critic, Labour, Fairness and Work; New Democratic Party of Ontario. The first reading of the Bill was carried on April 16, 2018.

The Bill requires operators of a supportive living accommodation to hold a licence issued by the Minister and fulfill certain obligations under the Act. Supportive living accommodation is defined under s. 2(1) as residential premises where four or more persons, who are not related to the operator, reside and receive assistance with the activities of daily living from, or as arranged by, the operator. Supportive living accommodation requirements to hold a license under this Act do not include the operation of various premises, including long-term care homes, private and public hospitals, retirement homes, etc.

For more information:

http://www.ontla.on.ca/web/bills/bills_detail.do?locale=en&Intranet=&BillID=5907

 

REGULATIONS

No new proposed regulations.

 

ARTICLES OF INTEREST

 

• John Tory considers appointing mental health officer for Toronto
• New research shows there are five types of diabetes, not two
• WHO set to recognize video game addiction as ‘disorder’
• Starbucks to close more than 8,000 U.S. stores May 29 for racial-bias training
• How will the province keep pot shops away from schools? In Toronto, it won’t be easy
• The weather’s improving, with sunshine in the forecast for Toronto
• Things to do this weekend in Toronto

 

April 6, 2018: A weekly scan of new legislation and regulations important to the Ontario health sector, as well as articles of interest.

 

Bills

1. Bill 32 – Peter Kormos Memorial Act (Trillium Gift of Life Network Amendment), 2018

This Bill is reintroduced to establish a presumed consent regime in Ontario.  This Bill amends the Trillium Gift of Life Network Act to no longer require consent to be obtained before tissue can be removed from a human body. However, a person may object to the removal of the tissue prior to his or her death or a substitute decision maker may object after the death has occurred. If an objection is made, no tissue shall be removed from the body. TGLN will establish and maintain a registry of such objections.

Introduced by France Gelinas, MPP (Nickel Belt), Opposition, the Bill was carried on First Reading on March 29, 2018.

For more information: http://www.ontla.on.ca/web/bills/bills_detail.do?locale=en&Intranet=&BillID=5862

2. Bill 182, Compassionate Care Act, 2017

This Bill is reintroduced to establish a provincial framework to support improved access to hospice palliative care. This Bill enacts the Compassionate Care Act, 2017, which requires the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care to develop the provincial framework. The Act requires the Minister to set out the provincial framework one year after the Bill comes into force, and within 5 years after the report is tabled, the Minister must prepare and table a report on the state of hospice palliative care, which should be published on a Government of Ontario website.

Introduced by Sam Oosterhoff, MPP (Niagara West – Glanbrook), Opposition, the Bill was carried on First Reading on March 29, 2018.

More information: http://www.ontla.on.ca/web/bills/bills_detail.do?locale=en&Intranet=&BillID=5863

3. Bill 35 – Removing Barriers in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Act

This Bill is reintroduced. This Bill amends the Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Act, 1991  to modify the scope of practice of audiology and speech-language pathology. The Bill expands the acts that may be performed by a member of the College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologist in the course of engaging in the practice of audiology or speech-language pathology.

Introduced by Sam Oosterhoff (MPP – Niagara West-Glanbrook), Opposition, the Bill was carried on First Reading on March 29, 2018.

More  information: http://www.ontla.on.ca/web/bills/bills_detail.do?locale=en&Intranet=&BillID=5865

 

Proposed Regulations

1. Consultations – Potential Regulations for Rowan’s Law (Concussion Safety), 2018

Rowan’s Law (Concussion Safety), 2018 was passed on March 6, 2018. This new legislation will protect amateur athletes by improving concussion safety on the field and at school. It establishes mandatory requirements for annual review of concussion awareness resources that athletes, coaches, educators and parents are required to review before registering in a sport; removal from sport and return to sport protocol to ensure athletes are immediately removed from sport if they are suspected of having sustained concussion; and a concussion code of conduct that would set out rules of behaviour to minimize concussions while playing sports.

The Act is not into effect yet, except for Rowan’s Law Day, which will take place on September 28, 2018.

The government is interested in seeking input from multiple sector partners and the general public through consultation to develop the regulations to support the legislation. Once the feedback is received, the Government will draft regulations which will be posted for additional input.

Comments Due: May 7, 2018

More Information: http://www.ontariocanada.com/registry/view.do?postingId=27186&language=en

 

MOHLTC News Room

Ontario creating more long-term care beds for families in the Niagara Region

2018 Budget Boosts Access to Health Care for Peterborough Families

Better, Faster Access to Health Care Coming to the Brockville Area

2018 Budget Boosts Access to Health Care for Scarborough Families

 

Articles of Interest

Privacy

The high cost of accessing public records is a barrier to democracy, experts say

Companies will now have to tell Canadian consumers when their privacy is breached – and do it quickly

Facebook users taking closer look at privacy settings after data news

Health Care

Ontario doctors say ‘government mismanagement’ to blame for broken health-care system

Kicked, bit and hit, Ontario nurses want people to know about the violence they face

Confused and very alone: Concussion survivor calls for change to N.W.T healthcare

BC cracks down on doctors’ illegal billing with stiff penalties

Professional Misconduct

‘I will never be back to normal.’ Ontario doctor’s license suspended after more than 30 patients filed complaints

Newboro doctor with ‘special interest in pain management’ suspended for misconduct

What’s happening in our city this weekend:

Things to do in Toronto