1.2 Legislation on Community Care Access Centres
Community Care Access Centres
| Year | 2009-2010 |
|---|---|
| Issue | Major changes in the status of CCACs as government agencies relative to the French Language Services Act |
| Impact following FLSC’s intervention | Legislative amendment passed requiring the CCACs to comply with the French Language Services Act |
| Current status | Responsibility for the delivery, coordination and management of home and community care services to the public is moving from the CCACs to the LHINs, which are already government agencies for the purposes of the French Language Services Act. |
In his 2009-2010 annual report, the Commissioner pointed out that the Community Care Access Centres had lost their status as government agencies.5 They had become not-for-profit organizations managed by an independent board of directors.
This change had a direct impact on the CCACs’ obligation to provide services in French. With the transfer of responsibilities, the government had removed the CCACs’ obligation to provide services in French.
Consequently, the Commissioner recommended that the Ministry correct this error.
Effectiveness of the intervention
The message was heard, and an amendment was made to the Community Care Access Corporations Act, 2001. All CCACs are now required to comply with the French Language Services Act.
Since then, there have been other changes, but in theory, they should not present any challenges. Specifically, the Patients First Act, 20166 permitted the transfer of the CCACs to the LHINs on a date specified in a Minister’s Transfer Order. The transfers of the CCACs to the LHINs are taking place, in stages, from May to June 2017. The Commissioner expects them to carry on with their previous obligations, since they were already deemed to be government agencies under the Act.
5. The CCAC coordinates patient care from hospitals to home and community services as well as long-term care facilities.
6. For more details, see http://www.ontla.on.ca/web/bills/bills_detail.do?locale=en&BillID=4215 (page consulted in March 2017).