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Bill C-277

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First Session, Forty-second Parliament,

64-65 Elizabeth II, 2015-2016

HOUSE OF COMMONS OF CANADA

BILL C-277
An Act providing for the development of a framework on palliative care in Canada
FIRST READING, May 30, 2016

Ms. Gladu
421168


SUMMARY

This enactment provides for the development and implementation of a framework designed to guarantee all Canadians access to high-quality palliative care.

Available on the House of Commons website at the following address:
www.ourcommons.ca


1st Session, 42nd Parliament,

64-65 Elizabeth II, 2015-2016

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 and implement a framework designed to give Canadians access to palliative care — provided 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 palliative health care providers;

  • (c) identifies measures to support palliative caregivers;

  • (d) collects research and data on palliative care;

  • (e) identifies measures to facilitate a consistent access to palliative care across Canada; and

  • (f) evaluates the advisability of amending the Canada Health Act to include palliative care services provided through home care, long term care facilities and residential hospices.

Conference

(2) Within six months after the day on which this Act comes into force, the Minister must convene a conference with the representatives of the provincial and territorial governments responsible for health and with palliative care providers in order to develop the framework.

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.

Review and Report

Review and report

4 (1) Within five years of the tabling of the report referred to in section 3, and every five years after that, the Minister of Health must undertake a review and prepare a report on the effectiveness of the framework on palliative care that includes his or her conclusions and recommendations regarding the framework, and cause a copy of 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

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