Contemplated changes address staffing agencies in long-term care and mandatory blood testing forms
The Ontario government has said its re-introduction of the More Convenient Care Act seeks to improve hospital governance and transparency, patient care, service delivery, the future of its healthcare workforce, and the health of communities.
The More Convenient Care Act, 2025, aims to build on “Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care,” the province’s initiative to link more Ontarians with proper, publicly funded care, according to a news release from the provincial government.
“By taking bold and innovative action with this legislation, we are saving patients time and shortening wait lists, while protecting our healthcare system for the future,” said Sylvia Jones, Ontario’s deputy premier and health minister, in the news release.
The proposed legislation provides a framework for staffing agencies in the hospital, long-term care, and community health sectors to share administrative mark-up rates via the Health Care Staffing Agency Reporting Act, 2025. Ontario’s ministers said the planned changes are good news for privacy safeguards and seniors.
“With the Strengthening Cybersecurity and Building Trust in the Public Sector Act alongside the More Convenient Care Act, we’re protecting personal information and making health care more connected, transparent, and accessible,” said Stephen Crawford, Ontario’s minister of public and business service delivery and procurement, in the news release.
“Our government is tackling the challenges facing the health care sector head-on and taking concrete steps to ensure every dollar invested delivers the highest quality of care for long-term care residents across Ontario,” added Paul Calandra, Ontario’s acting minister of long-term care, in the news release.
Another contemplated change is expanding the Mandatory Blood Testing Act to authorize nurse practitioners to complete and sign testing forms. Ontario said this move seeks to increase access to care for applicants such as crime victims, correctional officers, College of Nurses of Ontario members, medical or nursing students, and paramedics.
The Police Association of Ontario (PAO) expressed support for this expansion.
“This change enhances the efficiency and accessibility of a critical process that protects first responders, including police officers, who may be exposed to potentially infectious and/or communicable diseases,” said Mark Baxter, the PAO’s president, in the news release.
The provincial government also plans to review the ambulance vehicle and equipment standards to hasten paramedics’ access to emergency care tools. The Ontario Association of Paramedic Chiefs (OAPC) welcomed this plan.
“This will reduce weight in paramedic bags as well as waste due to expiring medications,” said Greg Sage, the OAPC’s president, in the news release. “Reviewing the vehicle standards will allow for smaller ambulances and open up more options for paramedic services to take advantage of new vehicle design and technology.”
Ontario said it is also considering ways to improve the consistency and quality of mental health and addiction services. The Canadian Addiction Counsellors Certification Federation (CACCF) lauded the provincial government’s initiative to consult stakeholders for this purpose.
This move will assist the province in ensuring that addiction counsellors are “well-trained, certified, credentialled, and up-to-date with emerging trends and treatments,” said Doug Brewer, the CACCF’s executive director, in the news release.
According to Ontario’s news release, the proposed legislation will also:
