Coronavirus: Critics say Bill 218 will shield Ontario long-term care homes from lawsuits

Posted: November 17, 2020

(November 16, 2020)

By: Miranda Anthistle, Global News

A controversial piece of legislation allowing for greater protection of Ontario long-term care providers when it comes to liability claims has passed at Queen’s Park.

Bill 218 had its third and final reading on Monday and was voted through. It will bar any COVID-19 exposure-related claim against a long-term care home if the provider made an “honest” or “good faith” effort to act in accordance with public health guidelines.

In response to the legislation, critics argued it will make it harder for families to hold long-term care providers responsible for illness or death related to exposure to COVID-19.

“It’s just not fair, not fair to families. We need to have answers and accountability,” said Jeff Shabes who lost his mother, Malvina “Visia” Shabes, to the virus on Nov. 10.

“My mom survived the holocaust, but couldn’t survive COVID and I’m convinced more could have been done.”

Jeff said his 91-year-old mother spent the last year of her life at 147 Elder St. He said the private, residential care home didn’t tell the family about his mother’s symptoms until it was too late. He also described being shocked during his last visit when he didn’t see anyone wearing any PPE. Global News contacted the facility for comment, but a response wasn’t received by the time of publication.

While Jeff said he’s not sure if his family will file a lawsuit, he added he doesn’t understand how Bill 218 could be passed when it leaves long-term care providers impervious to legal action.

Others voiced their concerns at a rally on the lawn of Queen’s Park before the vote went through.

“We lost 2,000 senior citizens the first wave because of this neglect so if Bill 218 goes through, it’s free-range, they can continue doing exactly as they did through the first wave. So what did we learn? Nothing,” said Maureen McDermott, whose mother contracted COVID-19 at a long-term care home back in the spring and survived.

McDermott was joined by several others at the protest including the leader of the official opposition, Andrea Horwath.

“Here we are in the second wave and the same thing is happening again… this government has done nothing since the first wave to prevent the deaths that are now coming in the second wave,” he said.

But Merrilee Fullerton, Ontario’s minister of long-term care, said the government has learned plenty from the first wave of the virus and is much better prepared this time around.

“The data shows our homes are doing much, much better. Ninety-two per cent of our homes have not a single resident case right now,” she said.

“The vigilance, the surveillance for the majority of homes, this is working.”

However, advocates said they’re worried that Bill 218 will prevent families from being able to seek justice and hold long-term care homes responsible for negligence. The legislation will apply retroactively to March 17, 2020, which is when the province first enacted emergency measures.