April 13, 2022

When we buy something, we know what we’re paying for. If it doesn’t work, we know what to do about it. We need to know the same things about home and community services. All of us – through our taxes – pay for these services, so it’s our right to know what government is doing with our money. It’s also our responsibility.

Here’s what we know

• The Canada Health Act tells us that the provincial government is accountable for how it uses public resources for health services.
• Ontarians deserve and expect clear accounting and reporting of how their money is being used.
• The Ontario Auditor General’s 2015 report raised concerns about the number of different agreements for providing home and community care services and the inconsistency in reporting of service data. The result was a lack of public accountability.
• The provincial government must hold all health services providers – whether for-profit or non-profit – accountable to the same standards and must enforce those standards.
• The provincial government must hold all health services providers – whether for-profit or non-profit – accountable to the same standards and must enforce those standards. 

What will parties do to set province-wide standards for home and community services?

How will they hold all providers accountable for meeting those standards?

What will they do if providers don’t meet standards?

Here’s what we need to know

We need to know what we are paying for. Candidates and parties must show us how they are accountable for the funding we give them for home and community services. Here are some questions you can ask.

• What is your plan for setting province-wide quality and safety standards for home and community services?
• How will you hold all health services providers accountable for meeting those standards?
• How will you know, and how will we know, if providers don’t meet them?
• What will you do if providers don’t meet standards? What consequences are you prepared to impose?

Ask, think, and then vote!