Bill C-277

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SUMMARY
Short Title
Framework on Palliative Care in Canada
State of Palliative Care in Canada

First Session, Forty-second Parliament,

64-65-66 Elizabeth II, 2015-2016-2017

HOUSE OF COMMONS OF CANADA

BILL C-277
An Act providing for the development of a framework on palliative care in Canada

Reprinted as amended by the Standing Committee on Health as a working copy for the use of the House of Commons at Report Stage and as reported to the House on March 23, 2017

Ms. Gladu

421168

SUMMARY

This enactment provides for the development of a framework designed to support improved access for Canadians to palliative care.

Available on the House of Commons website at the following address:

www.ourcommons.ca

1st Session, 42nd Parliament,

64-65-66 Elizabeth II, 2015-2016-2017

HOUSE OF COMMONS OF CANADA

BILL C-277

An Act providing for the development of a framework on palliative care in Canada

Preamble

Whereas the Final Report of the External Panel on Options for a Legislative Response to Carter v. Canada emphasizes the importance of palliative care in the context of physician-assisted dying;

Whereas the Final Report stated that a request for physician-assisted death cannot be truly voluntary if the option of proper palliative care is not available to alleviate a person’s suffering;

And whereas the Parliament of Canada recognizes the importance of ensuring that all Canadians have access to high-quality palliative care, especially in the context of physician-assisted death;

Now, therefore, Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows:

Short Title

Short title

1 This Act may be cited as the Framework on Palliative Care in Canada Act.

Framework on Palliative Care in Canada

Development and implementation

2 (1) The Minister of Health must, in consultation with the representatives of the provincial and territorial governments responsible for health, as well as with palliative care providers, develop a framework designed to Insertion start support improved access for Insertion end Canadians to palliative care — pro-vided through hospitals, home care, long-term care facilities and residential hospices — that, among other things,

(a) defines what palliative care is;
(b) identifies the palliative care training and education needs of health care providers Insertion start as well as other caregivers Insertion end ;
(c) identifies measures to support palliative Insertion start care providers Insertion end ;
(d) Insertion start promotes Insertion end research and Insertion start the collection of Insertion end data on palliative care;
(e) identifies measures to facilitate a consistent access to palliative care across Canada;
Start of inserted block
(f) takes into consideration existing palliative care frameworks, strategies and best practices; and
End of inserted block
Insertion start (g) Insertion end evaluates the advisability Insertion start of re-establishing the Department of Health’s Secretariat on Palliative and End-of-Life Care. Insertion end

Conference

(2) The Minister must Insertion start initiate the consultations referred to in subsection (1) Insertion end within six months after the day on which this Act comes into force.

Report to Parliament

3 (1) The Minister of Health must prepare a report setting out the framework on palliative care and cause the report to be laid before each House of Parliament within one year after the day on which this Act comes into force.

Publication of report

(2) The Minister must post the report on the departmental Web site within 10 days after the day on which the report is tabled in Parliament.

State of Palliative Care in Canada

Review and report

4 (1) Within five years Insertion start after the day on which Insertion end the report referred to in section 3 Insertion start is tabled in Parliament, Insertion end the Minister of Health must prepare a report on the Insertion start state of Insertion end palliative care Insertion start in Canada, Insertion end and cause the report to be laid before each House of Parliament on any of the first 15 days on which that House is sitting after the report is completed.

Publication of report

(2) The Minister must post the report on the departmental Web site within 10 days after the day on which the report is tabled in Parliament.

Published under authority of the Speaker of the House of Commons