Bill 149, Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions Act, 2017

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Bill establishes the Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions. The functions and duties of the Minister are set out in section 4 of the Bill.

Bill 149 2017

An Act to establish the Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions

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,

"Minister" means the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions; ("ministre")

"Ministry" means the Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions. ("ministère")

Ministry established

2 A ministry is hereby established under the name Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions in English and ministère de la Santé mentale et des dépendances in French.

Minister

3 (1)  The Minister shall preside over and have charge of the Ministry and all its functions.

Administration of Acts

(2)  The Minister is responsible for the administration of this Act and any other Acts that are assigned to the Minister by the Legislature or by the Lieutenant Governor in Council.

Delegation

(3)  The Minister may delegate, in writing, any of the Minister's powers or duties under this or any other Act or otherwise at law to any of the following persons and may impose conditions and restrictions with respect to the delegation:

    1.  The deputy minister of the Ministry.

    2.  An associate deputy minister or assistant deputy minister of the Ministry.

    3.  A public servant employed under Part III of the Public Service of Ontario Act, 2006.

    4.  Any officer or member of the board of an agency or other entity for which the Minister has been assigned responsibility by the Lieutenant Governor in Council, or any employee of such an agency or other entity.

Duties and functions of Minister

4 It is the function of the Minister and the Minister has power to carry out the following duties:

    1.  To lead the transformation of Ontario's mental health and addictions services to ensure that every Ontarian can access the mental health and addiction supports they need, when they need it, and in their own communities.

    2.  To be responsible for developing, managing and co-ordinating the mental health and addictions system and ensuring that programs and services are delivered consistently and comprehensively across Ontario.

    3.  To update and implement the recommendations of the Select Committee on Mental Health and Addictions (2010) that remain outstanding at the moment this Act comes into force.

    4.  To lead the development of a core basket of co-ordinated mental health and addictions services that Ontarians can access close to home, allowing for regional variability and cultural sensitivity.

    5.  To lead the development of a wait times strategy to eliminate wait lists and reduce wait times for mental health and addictions services, including for children's mental health services.

    6.  To ensure that all Ontario residents have timely and equitable access to an integrated system of mental health and addictions care, including promotion, prevention, early intervention, treatment and community support programs.

    7.  To ensure that all Ontarians can seamlessly navigate mental health and addictions supports, including supports for housing, income, employment, peer support and other social services.

    8.  To be responsible for all funding decisions regarding mental health and addictions programs and services.

    9.  To consult with stakeholders to determine the best ways to deliver timely, co-ordinated, and high-quality mental health and addictions services.

  10.  To work in partnership with communities, organizations, stakeholders and governments to improve Ontario's response to public health emergencies, such as the emergency of opioid addiction and overdose fatalities, and to do so immediately upon this Act coming into force with the urgent objective to save lives.

  11.  To work with and support community partners in all efforts to reduce and eliminate stigma and the harm it causes.

  12.  To promote the values that define Canadian health care, including universality, comprehensiveness, accessibility, portability and public administration.

  13.  To promote inter-ministerial and intergovernmental co-ordination regarding mental health and addictions care.

Appointment of advisory committees

5 The Lieutenant Governor in Council or the Minister may appoint committees to perform such advisory functions as are considered necessary or desirable in order to assist the Minister in the discharge of the Minister's duties.

Annual report

6 The Minister after the close of each year shall submit to the Lieutenant Governor in Council an annual report upon the affairs of the Ministry and shall then lay the report before the Assembly if it is in session or, if not, at the next session.

Commencement

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

Short title

8 The short title of this Act is the Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions Act, 2017.