Back to top

BILL NO. 265

(as introduced)

1st Session, 64th General Assembly
Nova Scotia
1 Charles III, 2023

 

Private Member's Bill

 

Commission of Inquiry into Emergency Room Deaths Act

 

Claudia Chender
Dartmouth South



First Reading: March 22, 2023

Second Reading:

Third Reading:

 

An Act to Establish a Commission of Inquiry
into Emergency Room Deaths

WHEREAS 590 people died in Nova Scotia's emergency rooms in 2022;

AND WHEREAS the number and proportion of people dying in Nova Scotia's emergency rooms was higher in 2022 than in any other year in the past five years;

AND WHEREAS Nova Scotia's emergency rooms are under great strain and have been for several years;

AND WHEREAS the state of care in Nova Scotia's emergency rooms is having the effect of undermining public confidence in their ability to deliver timely care;

THEREFORE be it enacted by the Governor and Assembly as follows:

1 This Act may be cited as the Commission of Inquiry into Emergency Room Deaths Act.

2 In this Act,

(a) "commission" means the commission of inquiry established under Section 3;

(b) "Minister" means the Minister of Health and Wellness.

3 Subject to Section 7, the Minister shall establish a commission of inquiry for the purpose of investigating the high number of emergency room deaths in the Province.

4 The commission has all the powers, privileges and immunities of a commissioner appointed under the Public Inquiries Act.

5 In carrying out its purpose under Section 3, the commission shall investigate and make recommendations respecting the state of emergency rooms in the Province, including

(a) staffing levels and vacancies;

(b) hospital patient flow;

(c) capital needs;

(d) the impact of closures;

(e) the impact of access to other levels of care;

(f) the potential need for new facilities;

(g) potential changes needed regarding working conditions for staff;

(h) inspection routines and standards;

(i) data gathering and reporting;

(j) funding levels; and

(k) any other matter the commission considers relevant.

6 The commission shall, not later than November 1, 2023,

(a) prepare and submit to the Minister a report containing the commission's findings and recommendations; and

(b) make the report public.

7 The money required for the purpose of this Act must be paid out of money appropriated for that purpose by the Legislature.

 


This page and its contents published by the Office of the Legislative Counsel, Nova Scotia House of Assembly, and © 2023 Crown in right of Nova Scotia. Created March 22, 2023. Send comments to legc.office@novascotia.ca.