About Bill 175 and Actions

The government rushed Bill 175 through the Ontario Legislature, while the province was in the midst of the pandemic, with very limited input from stakeholders and the public. The bill enables fundamental change to home and community care.

It also includes changes to be set in regulation, rather than remaining in legislation. The language for the regulation has not been provided for public comment.

ONA has been advocating for positive change to home and community care since last September.

• ONA set up an online email message for members and local leaders to send to Premier Ford, his Health Minister and MPPs. Send your message now.
• ONA provided an initial submission to government on their proposed concepts for a regulation in mid-April.
• ONA synthesized feedback from members and local leaders into a final submission on Bill 175 that was presented to the legislative Standing Committee on Monday, June 15 via Zoom. Click here to read the submission.

July 14, 2021: Read ONA’s Submission on Proposed Home and Community Care Regulations under the Connecting Care Act, 2019 to the Ministry of Health.

February 17, 2021:
Open Letter to Minister Elliott: Re: Protect home and community care – save care coordinator jobs
Media Release: Ontario Nurses’ Association Calls on Province to Save Care Coordination, Keep Home and Community Care Public

ONA’s Concerns

We have reviewed the government’s slide deck, Update on Proposed Home and Community Care Regulations under the Connecting Care Act, 2019. In our view, the proposals are inappropriate, untimely, unclear and untested. We strongly oppose the proposals to privatize care coordination as this would be detrimental to patient care, fiscally irresponsible and create a clear conflict of interest for Care Coordinators.

The government’s proposals still do not provide certainty to ONA members on where their jobs will go, and there is no mention of many existing HCCSS job classifications including direct clinical services, rapid response, palliative care teams, mental health services, placement coordinators and administrative staff. ONA’s position is that government must protect the jobs and employment conditions of Care Coordinators and direct care staff in the public sector. This is the best way to ensure transparency, accountability and to protect the best interests of patients and to prevent fragmentation of care and inconsistency throughout the province.

In addition, ONA strongly opposes the government’s proposals to contract out Care Coordinator jobs, opening the door to more profiteering in home care, potential conflicts of interests for health-care professionals and a significant loss of public accountability.

Our Solution

For years, ONA has advocated to integrate care coordination and home care delivery under a single public employer. ONA members and its leadership are urging the provincial government to change course immediately and promote quality, public home care services for all who need them in Ontario. There is no advantage to further privatizing home care and eliminating valuable Care Coordination in a publicly funded health-care system.

As well, the quality, scope and dignity of care at home and in the community will be undermined. We must promote a system that protects against unnecessary hospitalization or admissions to long-term care homes. We are calling on the government to adopt our recommendation to maintain four to five independent agencies that function as the umbrella agency for home care services. This would allow for Care Coordinators and direct care staff to remain independent, at arm’s length from the service providers, profit and funding. It would also allow for continued consistency and standardized oversight of care. This is the best option for patients who depend on the full scope and experience of Care Coordinators and direct care teams.