Bill C-295 aims to protect vulnerable adults in long-term care facilities. It amends the Criminal Code to hold long-term care facilities, their owners, and officers accountable for ensuring residents receive the necessities of life. The bill defines 'long-term care facility' and 'officer' within this context. If owners or officers fail to provide these necessities and endanger a resident's life or health, they could face charges.
The bill introduces measures to prevent individuals found guilty of neglecting vulnerable adults from holding positions of authority over them in the future. Courts can issue orders prohibiting offenders from working or volunteering in roles where they are in charge of or have a position of trust with vulnerable adults. The court will consider penalties already imposed under any provincial law.
Furthermore, the bill allows courts to consider it an aggravating factor during sentencing if an organization failed to fulfill its legal duty to a vulnerable adult. This means the court can impose a harsher sentence if the organization knew of the duty and did not perform it. The bill also outlines penalties for violating a prohibition order, including imprisonment. The Act will come into force 30 days after royal assent.
Crime
This bill amends the Criminal Code to create an offence related to the neglect of vulnerable adults in long-term care facilities. It allows courts to issue prohibition orders preventing convicted individuals from working with vulnerable adults and considers the failure to fulfill a legal duty to vulnerable adults as an aggravating factor in sentencing.