OCSA Statement on Bill 175 Proceeding to Committee During COVID-19
OCSA Analysis and Statement on Bill 175
The province had actively engaged the Ontario Community Support Association (OCSA) on the development of a new legislative framework for the home and community care sector, which led to the introduction of Bill 175 and the associated proposed regulation summary on February 25, 2020. OCSA had been supportive of the approach for developing Bill 175 and the province’s plan to modernize the sector. However, COVID19 has halted sector consultations on Bill 175 and the proposed regulations.
In the past number of months, the sector has been solely focused on responding to the COVID-19 pandemic by supporting and delivering services that enable frail seniors and adult with physical disabilities safely isolate and stay healthy during COVID-19. This is why OCSA believes that there is no need to hastily move the bill through the legislative process until further engagement with the sector. At present, OCSA strongly believes that the timing is not right to move forward with this legislation.
COVID-19 has had a great impact on the health sector and has fundamentally changed how services are delivered across the entire health sector. The passing of Bill 175 should be delayed until the COVID-19 pandemic has passed, which would enable the sector to better understand and incorporate key learnings from the pandemic response.
OCSA is calling on government to consult the sector about the lessons learned from COVID-19 in order to ensure a successful transformation of the home and community care sector for clients, providers and front-line staff. Our support of this legislation and associated regulations is contingent on open and transparent collaboration between government, the home and community care sector and other stakeholders. The recent pandemic is a great opportunity for us to learn, adapt and create resilient and sustainable systems for the future. We must make the most of this opportunity.
Summary of OCSA’s Analysis of Bill 175 and the Proposed Regulatory Framework
for the Modernization of the Home and Community Care Sector
At present, the Home Care and Community Services Act, 1994 (HCCSA) and associated regulations govern the home and community care sector. Much of the clinical and service delivery requirements in home and community care are set out in legislation and regulation as opposed to regulation and policy as is the case in other health sectors. Bill 175 proposes to repeal the HCCSA and establish the Connecting Care Act, 2019 (CCA), associated regulations and policy as the oversight framework to govern the sector. This proposal would shift the clinical and service delivery requirements from legislation to regulation and policy.
Overall, OCSA supports adopting a more patient focused regulatory system for the sector. Bill 175 moves away from rigid legislation that directs clinical services – such as service maximums and the need for client assessments –towards services that are more current and reflective of client need.
Summary of Recommendations
Bill 175
- Require Ontario Health Board meetings to be open to the public.
- Carry over the exemption from the Public Vehicles Act for transportation services funded by the Ministry of Health.
Bill 175
- Enshrine the principle that client fees should not be a barrier to accessing care in regulation.
- Develop a provincial framework for care coordination in order to ensure quality and consistency.
- Leverage existing care coordination resources to enhance front-line care and focus care coordination on those who need it most.
- Develop a clear and consistent policy framework to ensure an equitable and client focused approach to address the removal of service maximums.
- Offer support and resources for organizations, especially small organizations, that would be impacted by their designation as Health Information Custodians.
- Prescribe through regulation qualification standards and requirements for being a home and community care health service provider.
- Establish procurement guidelines for contracting services which include a preference for not-for-profit providers with a history of high-quality service.
- Do not proceed with the addition of public hospitals as a location of service for home and community care until comprehensive engagement with both the home and community care sector and the hospital sector is completed.
- Consult extensively with the sector before moving forward on the development of new regulations for residential congregate care settings.
Share
More Updates
Ontario relies on community health workers every day to treat illness, support mental health, provide care at home, help people live independently, and keep families well, and in many cases, they provide this care 24/7. They care for people of all ages and backgrounds, often with highly complex needs, and they are essential to achieving a sustainable and high performing healthcare system. Closing the wage gap is not simply about fairness; it is about protecting access to care, reducing system pressure, and ensuring Ontario ’ s healthcare investments deliver maximum impact. The ten provincial community health associations are committed to working collaboratively with the government to build a stable, sustainable community health workforce, which supports a stable and sustainable healthcare system, a goal we all share.
Ottawa, Ontario – [January 14, 2026] — The Ontario Community Support Association (OCSA) is calling on the provincial government to prioritize sustained investment in Home Care and Community Support Services in the 2026 Ontario Budget. Without action, seniors will lose essential services and hospital emergency rooms will face even greater pressures. Appearing today before the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs, OCSA CEO Lori Holloway highlighted that community-based care is a cornerstone of Ontario’s health system—keeping people healthy at home, enabling them to age with dignity and preventing unnecessary hospital and long-term care admissions. “Without new investment in Community Support Services, seniors will lose meals and personal care services, caregivers will lose day programs for their loved ones, and hospital beds will fill up as more people are stuck waiting for care that should be delivered at home,” said Holloway. OCSA represents more than 200 not-for-profit home care and community care providers across Ontario, delivering services such as high-needs home care, Meals on Wheels, assisted living, transportation to medical appointments, adult day programs for people living with dementia, and respite supports for caregivers. While the province has made recent investments in home care expansion, OCSA emphasized that these gains are fragile if the community supports that enable people to remain safely at home are allowed to erode. Community Support Services account for less than two per cent of Ontario’s total health budget, yet received no funding increase in Budget 2025 . As a result, many providers are already planning service reductions or facing difficult decisions, including reducing meal delivery routes, limiting day programs and respite services, scaling back transportation programs, and closing adult day programs for part of the week. In turn, service reductions will place additional strain on working caregivers, 69% of whom are experiencing burnout and nearly half of whom are considering leaving the workforce to care for their loved ones. “These are not abstract risks,” Holloway said. “They are real service reductions being planned right now in communities across the province.” When community supports are unavailable, patients end up in hospital and/or remain in hospital beds longer—not because they need acute care, but because the services required for safe discharge do not exist. A hospital Alternate Level of Care (ALC) bed costs approximately $730 per day , compared to $103 per day for home and community care. Ontario’s aging demographics make the issue increasingly urgent. Nearly one in five Ontarians is now over the age of 65 , and the senior population is expected to grow significantly over the next decade. OCSA is urging the government to immediately: Sustain home care through a renewed multi-year investment of $442 million investment annually, and predictable funding; Invest $150 million annually to stabilize Community Support Services and prevent service cuts; and Address workforce shortages by closing the wage gap facing community health workers, who earn 23 to 46 per cent less than their hospital counterparts. “Ontario cannot build its way out of an aging population with hospitals and long-term care beds alone,” Holloway said. “Care delivered at home and in the community is where people want to be, and it is the most cost-effective and compassionate approach for the health system.” About the Ontario Community Support Association The Ontario Community Support Association represents more than 200 not-for-profit organizations providing home care and community support services across the province. OCSA members deliver essential services that help people live independently, age at home, and reduce pressure on hospitals and long-term care. For more information visit www.ocsa.on.ca or @OCSATweets For media inquiries please contact: Karla Sealy (she/her) Manager of Communications 416-256-3010/1-800-267-6272, ext 242 karla.sealy@ocsa.on.ca
Toronto, ON – The Ontario Community Support Association (OCSA) welcomes the Government of Ontario’s announcement in the 2025 Fall Economic Statement of a $1.1 billion investment to protect and expand home care services. This significant commitment demonstrates government’s recognition of the vital role that home and community care plays in the province’s healthcare system. “The Ontario Community Support Association welcomes this significant investment in home care. Previous funding commitments have helped stabilize the sector, supporting a measurable reduction in staff turnover and fewer missed care visits. These improvements mean more Ontarians are receiving the care they need, when and where they need it. We encourage the government to continue to invest in programs like Hospital to Home and organizations that bring together home care, community support, and independent living services, which are essential to building a system that keeps people healthy, connected, and cared for at home.” — Lori Holloway, Chief Executive Officer, Ontario Community Support Association As the province looks ahead, OCSA stands ready to collaborate with the Ministry of Health and system partners to advance innovative models that integrate home care, community support, and independent living services. Together, these efforts will help build a sustainable, connected system that keeps people healthy and cared for at home. About the Ontario Community Support Association (OCSA) OCSA represents the full spectrum of organizations that deliver home and community support services across Ontario, helping people live independently and with dignity where they want to be—at home. Through advocacy, research, and member collaboration, OCSA works to strengthen the sector and build a more connected, person-centered health system. Media Contact: Karla Sealy Ontario Community Support Association Email: karla.sealy@ocsa.on.ca Website: www.ocsa.on.ca
