MPP Lisa Gretzky is hopeful a bill to close a gap in Ontario's health care system will pass through the legislature quickly.
She first introduced "Dan's Law" 16 months ago.
The bill aims to allow any Canadian citizen to receive home palliative or hospice care in Ontario no matter how long they've been living in the province.
Gretzky was first made aware of the gap after Dan Duma was denied home care while dealing with a terminal liver cancer diagnosis.
He moved to Alberta for work when the GM plant closed locally but moved back to Windsor when he learned of his diagnosis. He was denied home care because there is a three-month waiting period for OHIP coverage for any Canadian relocating to the province.
"The goal of the bill is to close that gap for people that are Canadian residents who are returning to or coming to Ontario, facing the end of their life so that they can die with dignity," says Gretzky.
Gretzky had to reintroduce the bill this week after the government was prorogued at the end of March.
"There is so much support and so many health care professionals saying that this is the right thing to do and that the current gap in services is unnecessary and can be easily changed, so hopefully the government can do the right thing this time," says Gretzky.
She's hopeful it can move quickly through the legislature and be passed before the legislature rises for the election. If the bill does not pass before the election, it could be over a year before the opportunity to introduce the bill comes forward again.
