Human Resources Legislative Update

Ontario’s New Retirement Homes Act Passes Second Reading, Referred to Committee

Human Resources Legislative Update

Ontario’s New Retirement Homes Act Passes Second Reading, Referred to Committee

Date: April 22, 2010

On April 22, 2010, Bill 21, the New Retirement Homes Act, 2010 carried at Second Reading and was Ordered referred to the Standing Committee on social policy. Bill 21 was introduced on March 30, 2010. If passed, it will provide legislative protection for seniors living in retirement homes.

Retirement homes are defined in the Act as a residential complex or part of a residential complex whose main characteristics are that the home is a place where at least the number of persons prescribed by the regulations made under the Act who are not related to the operator of the home reside and where the operator of the home makes at least two care services, which are also defined, available to the residents.

Retirement homes do not include premises that are governed by or funded under any of a number of Acts, such as the Long-Term Care Homes Act, 2007.