Bill 84, Nurses' Bill of Rights, 1998

Versions

B084_E

Bill 84 1998

An Act to protect the rights of nurses providing services in Ontario

Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:

Definitions

1. In this Act,

hospital" means a public hospital approved under the Public Hospitals Act\; ("hôpital")

nurse" means a member of the College of Nurses of Ontario registered under the Nursing Act, 1991. ("infirmière ou infirmier")

Nurses' Bill of Rights

2. The Province of Ontario and every hospital shall ensure that the following rights of nurses providing nursing services in hospitals in Ontario are respected and promoted:

1. Every nurse has the right to be given the opportunity and means of providing high quality nursing care.

2. Every nurse has the right to be heard and consulted by other hospital staff and employees on health care issues relating to their patients.

3. Every nurse has the right to participate in health care reform.

4. Every nurse has the right to carry out his or her duties without fear of reprisals by the hospital or other hospital staff or employees.

5. Every nurse has the right to work in a setting that is free from harassment and discrimination and that promotes professionalism and teamwork.

Deemed contract

3. A hospital shall be deemed to have entered into a contract with each nurse employed in or on the nursing staff of the hospital, agreeing to respect and promote the rights set out in section 2.

Duty of Province

4. (1) The Province of Ontario shall fund and provide resources to hospitals so as to ensure that the rights set out in section 2 are respected and promoted.

Right of action

(2) A nurse or a hospital may bring an action against the Province of Ontario for failing to comply with subsection (1).

Commencement

5. This Act comes into force on the day it receives Royal Assent.

Short title

6. The short title to this Act is the Nurses' Bill of Rights, 1998.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The purpose of the Bill is to establish a Bill of Rights for nurses providing nursing services in hospitals in Ontario.

Office of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario

Toronto, Ontario, Canada.