Furthering an initiative outlined in its 2010 Budget, on Monday May 3, 2010, the Ontario government introduced new legislation outlining new standards of accountability for hospitals. If passed, Bill 46, the Excellent Care for All Act, 2010 would: increase the accountability of healthcare providers and executives for patient care by implementing a range of specific…
Industry: Healthcare
Ontario’s New Retirement Homes Act Passes Second Reading, Referred to Committee
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…
Local Health System Integration Act Regulation Filed (Health Professional Advisory Committees)
On April 12, 2010, the government filed O. Reg. 136/10, an amendment to Regulation 264/07 (Health Professionals Advisory Committees) setting out requirements for long-term care home licensees (defined to mean a health service provider that is a licensee within the meaning of the Long-Term Care Homes Act, 2007, to submit a mandatory “reconciliation report” to…
Federal Budget Bill Carries at Second Reading, Sent to Committee
On April 19, 2010, Bill C-9, the Jobs And Economic Growth Act, carried at Second Reading and was referred to the Finance Committee. Introduced on March 29, 2010, Bill C-9 is omnibus legislation designed to amend various Acts and implement certain key measures outlined in the federal government’s 2010 Budget. In part, the Bill outlines…
Extending Access To Information Obligations To Ontario Hospitals: What Would It Mean?
In late October of last year, the Ontario Hospital Association asked the provincial government to extend coverage of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) to hospitals as a means of promoting transparency and public accountability. This bulletin outlines the basic features of Ontarios access to information regime and raises questions about…
Ontario Government Passes Workplace Violence Legislation
On December 9, 2009, the Ontario Legislature passed Bill 168, the Occupational Health and Safety Amendment Act (Violence and Harassment in the Workplace), 2009. Bill 168 will come into effect on June 15, 2010. Bill 168, which requires employers to develop policies to address workplace violence and harassment and to assess the risk of violence…
2009 Fall Issue
FOCUS ON HEALTHCARE The healthcare tightrope LEGAL DEVELOPMENTS Preparing for the AODA Negligence claims against government relating to SARS fail PROFILE To your health Download PDF
Alcohol and the Office Party
With the holiday season approaching, employers are once again planning their holiday festivities. Whether the festivity is large or small, it remains as important as ever that employers take proactive steps to ensure the health and safety of their employees who attend office parties or other celebrations. Over the years, a number of court decisions…
Effective Pandemic Planning
Employers have a general obligation under health and safety law to take all reasonable precautions in the circumstances to protect their workers. What does this entail, however, in a pandemic situation, such as the one currently facing employers? In our May 1, 2009 FTR Now – “Employer Bulletin: Influenza A(H1N1)” – we discussed some of…
AODA Update: Final Proposed Employment Accessibility Standard Released
Employers and human resources practitioners in Ontario need to know about the latest development under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (“AODA”). The Ontario government just released the Final Proposed Employment Accessibility Standard (“Final Proposed Standard”), which, if adopted as law in its current form, will broadly impact the employment practices of nearly…