Bill 92 2006

An Act to amend the Ombudsman Act with respect to hospitals and long-term care facilities

Note: This Act amends the Ombudsman Act. For the legislative history of the Act, see Public Statutes - Detailed Legislative History on www.e-Laws.gov.on.ca.

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

1.  The Ombudsman Act is amended by adding the following section:

Ombudsman may investigate hospitals, etc.

14.1  (1)  Anything that the Ombudsman may do under this Act in respect of a governmental organization, the Ombudsman may do in respect of,

(a) a hospital within the meaning of the Public Hospitals Act;

(b) a private hospital within the meaning of the Private Hospitals Act;

(c) a nursing home within the meaning of the Nursing Homes Act;

(d) a home for special care within the meaning of the Homes for Special Care Act;

(e) a home or joint home within the meaning of the Homes for the Aged and Rest Homes Act;

(f) an approved charitable home for the aged or an approved charitable institution within the meaning of the Charitable Institutions Act; and

(g) an institution within the meaning of the Mental Hospitals Act.

Same

(2)  If the Ombudsman does or proposes to do anything in respect of a body listed under subsection (1), any reference in this Act to a governmental organization is deemed to be a reference to the body.

Commencement

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

Short title

3.  The short title of this Act is the Ombudsman Amendment Act (Hospitals and Long-Term Care Facilities), 2006.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Currently, under the Ombudsman Act, the Ombudsman may investigate decisions, recommendations, actions and omissions of governmental bodies and may exercise other powers necessary for an investigation. The Bill amends the Act to give the Ombudsman the same powers in relation to hospitals and long-term care facilities.