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DDO Health Law Update

By Pam Seto on December 7, 2018

Posted in Legislative Updates, New Legislation

December 7, 2018: A weekly scan of new legislation and regulations important to the Ontario health sector, as well as articles of interest.

Bills

Bill 66–Restoring Ontario’s Competitiveness Act, 2018

This Bill was introduced by Hon. Todd Smith (Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade), Government. It was carried on First Reading on Dec 6, 2018.

This Bill amends and repeals several Acts.

Schedule 8 (Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care) of the Bill amends the following sections in the Long-Term Care Homes Act, 2007 :

Subsection 44(10) – Remove the Director from the list of persons who must be provided a written notice if the licensee withholds approval for admission.
Section 106 – The Director is allowed to determine how public consultations will be conducted
Section 112 – The Director is allowed to issue non-renewable temporary emergency licenses for a term of not more than 1 year to accommodate persons affected by a temporary emergency
Section 113 – Repealed but any short term authorizations given by the Director before the day of repeal continue to be valid until their authorization period expires

More Information: Bill 66

Regulations

No new and approved regulations.

Newsroom

Ontario’s government for the people continues fight to make life easier for Ontarians in busy fall

Articles of Interest

Marijuana

Ont. elementary school students sent to hospital after eating cannabis cookies

Marijuana is now legal in Michigan, but you still can’t take it across the border in Sault Ste. Marie

Two new walk-in clinics in Barrie will prescribe medical marijuana

Nothing hazy about results from Sudbury’s online cannabis survey

Health Care

Is Ontario’s patient ombudsman next on the Ford government chopping block

Mental Health

New free online mental health supports

Professional Misconduct

Sarnia doctor charged with sexual assault, history of convictions, investigation

Privacy

Sidewalk Labs’s vision and your data privacy: A guide to the saga on Toronto’s waterfront

What’s happening in our city this weekend:

Things to do this weekend in Toronto

DDO Health Law Update

By Pam Seto on November 30, 2018

Posted in Legislative Updates, New Legislation

November 30, 2018: A weekly scan of new legislation and regulations important to the Ontario health sector, as well as articles of interest.

Bills

Bill 63 – Right to Timely Mental Health and Addiction Care for Children and Youth Act, 2018

This Bill was introduced by Bhutila Karpoche (Parkdale-High Park), Opposition. It was carried on First Reading on Nov 27, 2018.

This Bill enacts the Right to Timely Mental Health and Addiction Care for Children and Youth Act, 2018, and it requires the Minister to ensure that a person who is less than 26 years old, resides in Ontario and has been deemed to require a mental health or addiction service receive access to the such services within 30 days.

More Information: Bill 63

Bill 64 – Noah and Gregory’s Law (Transition to Adult Developmental Services and Supports), 2018

This Bill was introduced by Lisa Gretzky (Windsor West), Opposition. It was carried on First Reading on Nov 28, 2018.

This Bill amends the Services and Supports to Promote the Social Inclusion of Persons with Developmental Disabilities Act, 2008. This Bill requires the Minister to take certain steps to assist persons receiving a children’s developmental service to transition to services and supports provided under the Act. The eligibility for services and supports would include persons receiving services before turning 18.

More Information: Bill 64

Regulations

No new and approved regulations.

Newsroom

Ontario’s Government for the People taking immediate action with health infrastructure investments in West Niagara

Articles of Interest

Opioid Crisis

Parents struggles with opioid-addicted kids highlighted in documentary

Vancouver launches opioid task force to ‘quick start’ solutions to lethal crisis

After losing their sons to lethal opioids, these two mothers are fighting back

Amid Canada’s overdose crisis, grandparents are becoming parents again

Fentanyl-detecting dogs are the newest soldiers in the battle against opioids

Marijuana

Hope for cannabis as treatment for opioid addiction

Mouldy Ontario pot recall extended to BC

Health Care

Why Ontario hospitals ‘don’t know what they want’ when it comes to fixing healthcare

Professional Misconduct

Case against Law Society of Ontario allowed to move forward

Court rejects appeal from Winnipeg lawyer disbarred for misappropriating $82K

Charities

Canada’s top-rated charities 2019

Privacy

Rogue tax workers snooping on Canadians in large numbers

What’s happening in our city this weekend:

Confessions of a Rebel Chef

The ultimate holiday gift guide 2018

Things to do this weekend in Toronto

DDO Health Law Update

By Pam Seto on November 23, 2018

Posted in Legislative Updates, New Legislation

November 23, 2018: A weekly scan of new legislation and regulations important to the Ontario health sector, as well as articles of interest.

Bills

Bill 57 – Restoring Trust, Transparency and Accountability Act, 2018.

This Bill was introduced by Hon. Victor Fedeli (Minister of Finance) and was carried on First Reading on Nov 15, 2018. Schedule 5 and Schedule 27 respectively amends the City of Toronto Act, and the Municipal Act, 2011 to revise the by-laws that prohibit and regulate smoking to include cannabis.

More Information: Bill 57, Restoring Trust, Transparency and Accountability Act, 2018.

Regulations

No new and approved regulations.

Articles of Interest

Marijuana

Ontario woman upset after legal cannabis shipment arrived late and mouldy

Health Care

Long waits, too few beds – Ontario healthcare indicators going in ‘wrong direction:’ report

Public Health says it’s not safe to eat romaine lettuce in Ontario and Quebec. So why isn’t it being recalled?

Grant supports innovation in transitional-aged youth mental health

Years after landmark case, some Ontario inmates with mental health issues still segregated for months at a time, ministry data dump reveals

Privacy

Buying cannabis with a credit card? Why you should think about privacy

What’s happening in our city this weekend:

Things to do this weekend

Netflix Canada in December 2018: What’s coming and going

DDO Health Law Update

By Pam Seto on November 16, 2018

Posted in Legislative Updates, New Legislation

November 16, 2018: A weekly scan of new legislation and regulations important to the Ontario health sector, as well as articles of interest.

Bills

Bill 55 – Safeguarding our Information Act, 2018

This Bill amends the Consumer Protection Act, 2002 to provide that if a government institution makes a request to a lender to obtain consumer personal information that the lender has entered into a credit agreement with, the lender may only disclose the PI if the consumer consents to such disclosure.

Introduced by Stephen Crawford (Oakville), Chair of Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs, Government, the Bill was carried on First Reading on Nov 14, 2018.

More Information: https://www.ola.org/en/legislative-business/bills/parliament-42/session-1/bill-55

Regulations

O.REG. 468/18 – Cannabis License Act, 2018

The Ontario government has released the new regulation on the licensing and operation of private cannabis stores, which will begin on April 1, 2018 under the oversight of the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (“ACGO”). O.REG 468/18 is in force as of November 14, 2018.

The regulation set out:

Zero-tolerance approach: Retailers are not permitted to allow anyone under age of 19 to enter their stores
Illegal cannabis retailers who were operating after Oct 17, 2018 are not eligible for Ontario cannabis sales license
Circumstances as to when applicants will be denied a license
Prohibition on the issuance of a license of any individual or organization who has an association with organized crime
Individual or entities applying for an operator license must demonstrate tax compliance status
Private recreational cannabis retail storefronts to be stand-alone stores only
Individuals with store authorization, cannabis retail managers, and all retail employees will be required to complete the approved training to ensure individuals who work in the cannabis market is trained for responsible sales

The Ontario Government news release states:

ACGO will begin accepting applications on Dec 17, 2018 and private retailing of cannabis will begin on April 1, 2019
Cannabis stores can only be open from 9 am – 11 pm

Newsroom Release: https://news.ontario.ca/mag/en/2018/11/ontario-establishes-strict-regulations-for-the-licensing-and-operation-of-private-cannabis-stores.html

E-Laws: https://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/r18468?_ga=2.69917716.561989177.1542399434-1098435314.1475610937

Articles of Interest

Marijuana

Ontario cannabis rules place restrictions on retail ownership of licensed producers

Health Care

CMA slams Ontario’s move to allow employers to require doctor’s note for minor illness

Ontario health minister examining lack of oversight at private IV infusion clinics

Antibiotic resistance costing Canadians 1 billion per year: IPAC

Watchdog says Ontario’s healthcare system is sick

Child and Youth

‘We’re talking about children’s lives here” – Ontario cuts child and youth advocate

Professional Misconduct

Former Manitoba bar president for misconduct, suspended for a year

Doctor found guilty of professional misconduct of ‘inappropriate comments’

Privacy

Google’s acquisition of health care app has Canadian privacy experts concerned

Administrators won’t remove camera pointed at school bathrooms

DDO Health Law Update

By Pam Seto on November 9, 2018

Posted in Legislative Updates, New Legislation

November 9, 2018: A weekly scan of new legislation and regulations important to the Ontario health sector, as well as articles of interest.

Bills

Bill 51, Long-Term Care Homes Amendment Act (Preference for Veterans), 2018

This Bill amends the Long-Term Care Homes Act, 2007 by enacting a definition of veteran and it requires that preference in admission to long-term care homes is given to veterans.

Introduced by Jennifer Stevens, MPP (St. Catherines), opposition, the Bill was carried on First Reading on October 30, 2018.

More Information: https://www.ola.org/en/legislative-business/bills/parliament-42/session-1/bill-51