Association Highlights

In 2017/2018, Home Care Ontario:

• Advocated for changes to the Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act (Bill 41) with Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, Ministry of Labour, Ministry of Small Business, including:
  • creation of a report with KPMG and OCSA providing analysis and financial implications of this Act
  • creation of report, with OCSA, for Ministry of Labour on the Impact of Bill 148 on the Home Care Sector and setting out proposed exemptions to Bill 148
  • creation of Precarious Work Survey Report (Home Care Ontario) concluding that Home Care service providers are not precarious workers, including privately funded service providers
• Issued Service Provider – PSW Referral Journey: Overall Impacts to Scheduling and Ontarians Receiving Home Care outlining the scheduling and HHR implications of Bill 41
• Advocated for the for elimination of the PSS Agency
• Issued submissions, briefing notes and attended numerous meetings, teleconferences with respect to the School Health Support Services transfer from the MOHLTC/LHINs to the MCYS/CTCs
• Created a Public Relations Campaign – More Home Care for Me and You including:
  • a White Paper Preparing Ontario’s Home Care System for the Challenges of Tomorrow, including recommendations for:
    • advocating for tax credit or caregiver allowance for Ontarians who wish to purchase care directly from reputable, legitimate home care providers
    • advocating for a marketing campaign profiling the work and contribution of the home and community care sector and promote advantages of receiving care at home
    • all 14 recommendations can be found at www.morehomecare.ca
  • Joined alliance with OHA, OLTCA, AdvantAge to discuss with Minister E. Hoskins, MOHLTC and Minister K. Flynn, MOL, the impact of the Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act, 2017 on the health care sector as well as potential solutions
  • Queen’s Park Lobby Day for members and MPPs
  • PreBudget Submission – Providing More Home Care for Me and for You
  • Creation of grassroots outreach to MPPs by members
  • Extensive media outreach including interviews, op-eds, press releases, Twitter, LinkedIn
  • Launch of Facebook page and ads
  • Launch of website – www.morehomecare.ca

• Meetings with LHIN CEOs, Senior Staff, and Boards, including informal ‘meet and greet’ receptions with members and facilitating new working relationships.
• Issued submission to the Standing Committee regarding Bill 41- Misalignment with Patients First
• Issued Optimizing Nursing in Ontario’s Renewed Home Care System (Home Care Ontario/OCSA Nursing Practice Council) highlighting the ways in which the contribution of the frontline nurse can be optimized to align with the vision of the Patients First Strategy
• Advocated for the private purchase of home care services through association members and met with provincial associations, CARP and MPPs to educate on the importance of directing consumers to reputable Home Care Providers.
• Provided vital statistical and qualitative information about home care in Ontario to support organizational intelligence.
• Provided public comment on policy and legislation impacting home care through media releases, responding to media queries, position statements, presentations and review of documents.
• Represented members at political events, consultations and conferences and maintained regular contact with key MPPs of all parties to inform about the importance of publicly funded and privately purchased home care in Ontario.
• Educated the public and other stakeholders about the role and value of the Association members through briefing notes, position statements, media releases; our website; Twitter, LinkedIn; and electronic newsletter – House Calls.
• Provided summary and analysis of provincial budget, Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act (Bill 41) and other government legislation and actions, LHIN funding decisions, political activities, Ontario PC Platform
• Presented the home care perspective to government through briefing notes and in person presentations on policy changes and province-wide issues such as: the annual budget, Ministry of Labour Changing Workplace Review, Fair Workplaces Better Jobs Act, 2017 (Bill 41), the Special Needs Strategy, Patients First Strategy and Patients First Act, 2016.
• Advocated for the unique role of the Home Care Provider.
• Provided leadership by supporting the work of Health Quality Ontario including the analysis of the home care sector and attending Health Transformation event.
• Member of the Ontario Caregiver Coalition advancing support for families with extraordinary caregiving responsibilities. 
• Represented sector on MOHLTC Drug Stakeholder updates, Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID).
• Provided support and guidance on several research initiatives specific to home care.
• Hosted member webcasts to provide information and education Bill 148/Patients First updates, human resource issues, leading practices, accreditation, public relations care and research in home care.
• Monitored and supported national and provincial research relevant to home care.
• Worked with the Home Care Ontario-OCSA Nursing Practice to ensure home care response to issues and representation on nursing initiatives.
• Worked with the Home Care Ontario Therapy & Rehabilitation Practice Council to advance the practice of therapy within the home care sector.
• Maintained relationships with cross-sectoral partners including LHINs, and provincial associations such as OCFP, OHA, CHCA, OCSA, OPSWA, PSNO, OMA, ORCA, OLTCA, AdvantAge (OANHSS)
• Hosted a Symposium, Better Home Care in Ontario – Transforming the future of Home Care
• Conducted member and public polls to support provincial advocacy and media outreach.

… and much more!