Presentation to Standing Committee on Social Policy on Bill 74 The People's Health Care Act
By Deborah Simon, CEO
I want to thank you for the opportunity to appear before this committee and to provide thep erspective of the not-for-profit home and community support services health sector on Bill 74, The People's Health Care Act.
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My name is Deborah Simon and I am the CEO of the Ontario Community Support Association. OCSA represents nearly 240 not-for-profit agencies across the province who provide compassionate, high quality home care, community support services and independent living services to over one million Ontarians.
There are many organizations in your ridings that provide invaluable services to seniors and people with physical disabilities such as in-home nursing and personal support, Meals on Wheels, Alzheimer day programs, transportation to medical appointments or supportive housing.
Our sector is a key part in ending hallway health care as we offer over 25 health and wellness services that keep people healthy, living in their communities, and gets them discharged faster from hospitals. This includes the delivery of over 3 million meals, providing over 2 million rides and over 225,000 clients served in Adult day programs.
We know that the current model was not working for providers or clients. We share the conclusions in the first report by the Council that home and community care services haven’t grown fast enough, that caregivers are facing bigger and bigger challenges and that there is a clear need for a long-term capacity plan for the health system.
Our association supports the government’s goal of creating seamless transitions between hospitals and home and community care – and across the entire health system. We recognize that the government’s new vision of local Ontario Health Teams who support their patients throughout their journeys through the continuum of care, offers plenty of opportunity to strengthen collaboration between providers.
The proposed model definitely has the potential to enable stronger and more direct relationships between service providers that can translate into smoother care for clients. However we do have concerns regarding the inclusion of community support services and attendant care in the core basket of services, the role of not-for-profit delivery, the role of community governance and the need to address front-line worker shortages. We would like to share 5 recommendations with you.
The first is that Ontario Health Teams must incorporate a strong model of community governance and not-for-profit delivery of services. Shared community governance will ensure Ontario Health Teams understand the health needs of their communities. This knowledge is necessary to ensure that services are tailored to what a specific community actually needs as opposed to a one-size-fits-all solution that wastes taxpayer dollars. In addition, a strong shared community governance will ensure a strong focus on upstream services – including health promotion, social determinants of health and preventative health.
The important contributions not-for-profit home and community care bring the health system cannot be overstated. Its return on investment can be measured in many ways. For example, volunteers contribute over 3 million hours of service each year, providing a value of over $78 million for free to the health care system. We must ensure these important contributions are not lost in this system transformation.
Our second recommendation is that a list of core services Ontario Health Teams are expected to deliver across the province needs to be identified. Core services must include community support services and independent living, along with home care. Keeping people healthy at home and out of hospitals isn’t achieved through home care services alone. Last year, community support services and attendant care services enabled over a million individuals to thrive in their community.
Our third recommendation relates to health human resources. For any transformation to be successful it must include a plan to support and address the continuing shortage of frontline workers across the health system.
The current shortage of personal support workers (PSW) is having ripple effects across the entire health system. People are staying in hospitals longer or delaying the start of home care services due to the lack of qualified human resources. The government needs to implement a health human resource strategy to attract and retain PSWs, nurses and other care providers in the home and community care sector. Any strategy must include a plan to close the compensation gap for front-line workers between the home and community care sector and institutionalized care, such as hospitals and long-term care.
The government should also amend the Public Sector Labour Relations Transition Act to ensure it does not become a barrier to innovative service integrations. One way to do this is to return it to its pre-2006 application, ensuring it only applies to full organizational integrations.
Our fourth recommendation is that existing local collaborations should be leveraged to build Ontario Health Teams. Good work to build partnerships across sectors has already taken place at the local level in many parts of the province. Home and community care organizations are working directly with hospitals to encompass new models of care to streamline handovers and wrap services around patients. The sector has shown itself to be supportive of integration for the benefit of patient and client care, we caution against the strategy of reducing the number of providers arbitrarily.
Our last recommendation regards public accountability. OCSA recommends that the legislation be amended to ensure that the meetings of the board of governors of Ontario Health must be open to the public. In the administration and spending of public dollars there must be strong and open public accountability.
In closing, we are convinced we can utilize the strength of this sector to help government eliminate hallway health care. We call on the government to strengthen the relationship with our sector and ensure CSS and home care play a vital role in solving hallway medicine and build a better system for people that is based on a health and wellness approach.
With the appropriate supports, our sectors alleviate hallway medicine by keeping people healthy and out of hospitals in the first place and by shortening their stay by ensuring they have appropriate supports when discharged.
At this point I would welcome any questions to further explain the rationale behind our recommendations. Thank you.
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ONTARIO, October 1, 2026 — The Ontario Community Support Association (OCSA) is marking the start of Community Support Month, recognizing the essential services, and the people behind them, that help Ontarians live safely, independently and connected at home and in their communities. This year’s theme, “Community First: Celebrating the people and services that make care at home possible,” highlights the role of community support in helping people live, recover and age in the places they know and where they feel they belong. Across Ontario, not-for-profit organizations provide services such as Meals on Wheels, transportation, adult day programs, assisted living and supportive housing, respite, homemaking, friendly visiting and hospice care. These services support independence and quality of life, help caregivers, and enable people to live safely at home for longer. They also strengthen the health system by helping prevent avoidable emergency department visits and hospital admissions, delaying or avoiding the need for long-term care, and supporting safe transitions home after a hospital stay. “Care at home is made possible by a network of people and services working together every day,” said Lori Holloway, CEO of OCSA. “Community Support Month is an opportunity to recognize that work and the difference it makes for individuals, families and communities across Ontario. It is also a reminder that strong community support is essential to a strong health system.” Community support organizations are deeply rooted in the communities they serve. Staff, volunteers and partners respond to local needs, helping older adults and people with disabilities access practical assistance, social connection and ongoing support. As demand grows and people’s needs become more complex, these organizations face increasing pressures related to funding and workforce capacity. Recognizing their contribution also means supporting their ability to continue delivering the services people rely on. Throughout October, OCSA is encouraging member organizations, community partners and Ontarians to celebrate community support by sharing stories, recognizing staff and volunteers, and highlighting the impact of services delivered at home and close to home. “Behind every meal delivered, ride provided or opportunity for connection are people who make community care possible,” added Holloway. “This month, we celebrate their dedication and invite Ontarians to learn more about the services helping people remain independent, supported and connected.” OCSA invites the public to join the conversation using #CSM2026 and learn more at www.ocsa.on.ca . Media Contact: Karla Sealy Ontario Community Support Association (OCSA) karla.sealy@ocsa.on.ca 416-256-3010 / 1-800-267-6272 ext. 242 About the Ontario Community Support Association (OCSA) The Ontario Community Support Association (OCSA) is the leading voice for home and community care in Ontario, representing hundreds of not-for-profit organizations delivering both home care and community support services across the province. OCSA members provide essential services including nursing, personal support and therapies; Meals on Wheels, transportation, caregiver supports, and other programs that help people remain safely in their homes and communities. Serving over one million Ontarians each year, OCSA works with government and system partners to advance integrated, community-based care as a cornerstone of a sustainable health system.
September, 2026 - Meals on Wheels Ontario is excited to partner with the LCBO on a province-wide fundraising campaign to support food security for seniors and people with disabilities across Ontario. Customers can purchase a reusable LCBO and Meals on Wheels tote bag, designed by Ontario artist Sarah Farquhar, at participating LCBO stores and online . 100% of proceeds from the tote bag campaign will be donated to Meals on Wheels Ontario to provide meals to seniors and people with disabilities. Funds raised through the campaign will help support clients experiencing financial hardship and help reduce barriers to accessing nutritious meals. Looking for a tote bag? Find a participating LCBO store near you. You can also purchase a tote bag online through LCBO. Share your support Picked up a tote bag? We’d love to see it! Share a photo of your tote bag on social media and tag Ontario Community Support Association so we can see and share your campaign moments. See more at MOW and LCBO Tote Campaign | Meals on Wheels | ON
