On February 25, 2020, Ontario’s Minster of Health tabled Bill 175 – Connecting People to Home and Community Care Act, 2020, which significantly changes home and community care. There has been little, if any, public consultation. Care Watch is concerned that when government’s regular business resumes, the Bill could be pushed through quickly without clear information about how services will actually be delivered. This briefing note summarizes our comments, concerns, and questions; it will be a springboard for other Care Watch communications.
The government tells us that, if passed, the new legislation will make it easier for people to access home and community care in hospital, primary care, or community settings; help people connect with their care providers; and provide more choice for people with high needs to receive care in new community settings. However, Bill 175 doesn’t support these claims. Transferring planning, coordination, and delivery of home and community care services to Ontario Health Teams (and their delegates) raises concerns that services will be fragmented and inequitable; inconsistent assessments will lead to inadequate care; and privatization will swallow the public interest.
Readers are invited to review the information and consider its implications of the proposed changes to our home and community care system. Share your analysis and CW’s briefing note with your local MPP, ask questions, and seek their support for necessary legislative and policy changes.
Download PDF: Briefing Note: Bill 175-Connecting People to Home and Community Care Act, 2020
Care Watch has long supported the principles underlying the Canada Health Act (CHA). We also believe these principles are fundamental to any system for in-home and community support services. This document examines the application of the CHA’s principles to Ontario’s home and community care legislation, policies and programming.
Readers are invited to review the analysis and consider its implications and opportunities with a view to applying them to proposed changes to Ontario’s efforts to restructure our home and community care system. Share your analysis and CW’s backgrounder with your local MPP and seek their support for necessary legislative and policy changes.
Applying Canada Health Act principles to home and community support services, March 2020
View Backgrounders on Home Care Reform and The Patients First Act, 2016
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