Dear Premier:
The Canadian Cancer Survivor Network (CCSN) is writing to express our concerns about Bill 175, Connecting People to Home and Community Care Act, 2020, and the impact it will have on home care services for all Ontarians, including cancer patients, survivors and caregivers.
We are concerned that this legislation will privatize home care, and also enable changes in home care regulations to be made by the provincial government without any input from the community. This means that CCSN and other organizations will not easily be able to track amended regulations or to ensure that those receiving home care actually receive the care they need.
We have recently witnessed gaps in care in private nursing homes and residences during the coronavirus pandemic which led to much higher COVID-19 diagnoses and deaths than in public nursing homes. We are thus concerned that the Ontario government is making changes that will lead to the privatization of home care without taking into consideration the full impact this would have not only on the cost of home care, but also the quality of home care for cancer patients in Ontario.
We respectfully request that you reconsider Bill 175, including the potential increase in the cost of care, the provision which moves home care from being legislated to being regulated, thereby limiting public input, the removal of public accountability, and the potential for profit to trump the level of care.
CCSN also calls for wide consultations with all concerned, including patients and patient organizations, before changes are made in home care.
Sincerely,
Jackie Manthorne
President & CEO
CC: The Honourable Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, christine.elliott@pc.ola.org
The Honourable Marilee Fullerton, Minister of Long Term Care, merrilee.fullerton@pc.ola.org
MPP France Gélinas, Critic – Health Care, fgelinas-qp@ndp.on.ca
MPP John Fraser, Health and Long Term Care Critic, Jfraser.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org