(Ottawa) The federal government is launching an online public consultation to take the pulse of the population as part of the development of legislation to improve safety in long-term care homes.
During the last election campaign, in 2021, the Liberal Party promised to present a Safe Long Term Care Act in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic which has highlighted the difficulties many long-term care centers have had in providing basic care to their patients.
The tabling of a bill on this subject is also a condition of the agreement reached by the Liberals and the New Democrats. This agreement provides for the NDP to support the Liberals in key votes in the House of Commons, allowing the minority government to remain in place until 2025, provided that some of its priority files progress in Ottawa.
Earlier this year, two expert panels presented new standards to improve health, safety and infection prevention in long-term care facilities.
However, it is not yet clear whether these new standards will serve as the basis for the development of the new law, or even if they will be applied across the country.
With its online public consultation, which will remain available until September 21, the government wishes to obtain comments from residents of long-term care centers, their families, as well as experts. It will also consult the provinces and territories before tabling a bill in the House of Commons.