2002/03 Annual Service Plan Report Ministry of Health Planning

Appendix 3: 2002/03 Legislative Changes

Health Planning Statutes Amendment Act, 2002 (Bill 19)

This Bill made minor amendments to the following statutes:

• Name Act
• Vital Statistics Act, and
• Survivorship and Presumption of Death Act.

It also provided for the dissolution of the Health Professions Council, the Seniors Advisory Council, the Board of Hearing Aid Dealers and Consultants, and the Emergency Medical Assistants Licensing Board.

Vital Statistics Amendment Act, 2002 (Bill 68)

This Bill updated the Vital Statistics Act to reflect existing business practices of the Vital Statistics Agency and to ensure that the legislation reflects the designation of the Agency as a special operating agency. The amendments also allowed hospitals to report births if the attending physician or nurse is not available to sign birth notices. It also facilitated the collection of vital event information across the province and repeals obsolete provisions.

Deregulation/Miscellaneous Amendments

Deregulation Statutes Amendment Act, 2002 (Bill 8)

Deregulation Statutes Amendment Act (No. 2), 2002 (Bill 35)

As part of government's deregulation initiative, portions of these Bills repealed the Supplement to the Health Act, the Health Research Foundation Act, and Part 3 of the Hospital Act. Minor amendments were also made to the Name Act, Wills Act, and the Vital Statistics Act.

Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act (No. 2), 2002 (Bill 54)

This Bill amended the Mental Health Act by amending the composition of review panels. The Minister of Health Services appoints all review panel participants to a board whose chair will then select the three persons for each review panel, including a designated patient representative.