Hearings begin Tuesday on proposed LTC Homes Act

Monday, January 15, 2007 Natalie Miller

The first of five public hearings on the provincial government’s proposed Long Term Care Homes Act is on Tuesday.

Bill 140 is currently at the second reading stage. According to the Province, the proposed Act promotes zero tolerance of abuse and neglect of long-term care home residents, restricts the use of restraints and makes it mandatory a registered nurse be on duty in the province’s nursing homes 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It also defines licence terms for long-term care homes of up to 25 years and provides the authority to revoke licences in cases of non-compliance.

OMNI participated in an Ontario Long Term Care Association campaign asking the government to make changes to the proposed Act and provide funding assurances for older homes, arguing the licensing limitations would give the government greater powers to close older B and C classified homes. OMNI has 13 C-class homes, one B, and two A-class homes.

Three OMNI representatives are scheduled to speak at a standing committee on social policy hearing Monday, Jan. 22 in Kingston. OLTCA Executive Director Karen Sullivan is on the agenda at Tuesday’s hearing in Toronto.

The public consultations are being held in Toronto Jan. 16 and 17, in Kingston Jan. 22, in Sudbury Jan. 23 and in London Jan. 24.

CUPE argues in a news release there aren’t enough sessions to ensure the voices of 75,000 residents, their families and staff who work in the province’s nursing homes are heard.

“This major piece of legislation will set out in law the type of care our family members and loved ones receive in long-term care facilities for decades to come,” says Sid Ryan, CUPE Ontario President, which represents caregivers in long-term care homes.

“In a democracy, it is unconscionable that the Liberal government would curtail public input into the bill, a bill which in its currently flawed state, would have a dramatic impact on how residents are cared for.”

CUPE says the Province should extend hearings to cities including Windsor, St. Catharines, Niagara, Hamilton, Peterborough, Ottawa, North Bay, Timmins and Thunder Bay.

-- More to come