New B.C. legislation puts care facilities under microscope
Substantiated complaints among info health ministry would disclose to public
VICTORIA B.C. will begin posting more information about inspection and complaint reports for child-care and seniors facilities under proposed new legislation tabled Tuesday.
The changes to the Community Care and Assisted Living Act would see local health authorities disclose substantiated complaints and summary inspection reports for both legal and illegal child care, assisted living, community care, hospice and mental-health facilities for the last five years.
While some health authorities already post certain reports online for two years, they don’t include facilities operating illegally, nor do they include some of the many different types of community care facilities, such as substance-use or seniors’ long-term-care sites.
“The legislation today is modest, but important,” said Health Minister Adrian Dix.
“It says that people should be allowed to see the results of those licensing investigations, that what they see on websites across health authorities is consistent across health authorities, whether it’s in residential care, long-term care, assisted living or in child care. Finally, it ensures that people can make informed decisions. It doesn’t take one iota away from the responsibilities of the government to ensure those facilities are safe.”
The government action comes after the 2017 death of 15-monthold Macallan Wayne Saini, known as Baby Mac, at an unlicensed daycare in east Vancouver that was operating illegally with too many children.
Though the daycare had been previously cited for violating regulations that limit unlicensed daycares to a maximum of two children, it wasn’t fined nor was that information easily available for parents to find.
The proposed legislative changes would make inspection and complaint reports public for such sites. It would include the name of the operator, business name, address and summaries of inspection and investigation reports.
Dix said last month’s provincial budget added $2.1 million to hire 16.5 full-time-equivalent health authority licensing officers over the next three years, as well as almost five full-time administrative staffers. Dix also said he hopes to see more use of fines for illegal operations that are deliberately flaunting the rules.
The proposed law does not change the maximum fine of almost $10,000.
“It absolutely brings more transparency, but it does not take away the responsibility for government to enforce the law,” said Dix.