Bill 2220 — Provincial Health Authority Act (50th General Assembly, 2nd Session)
Bill 2220
Newfoundland and Labrador — Bills
Second
Session, 50th General Assembly
Charles III, 2022
BILL 20
AN ACT RESPECTING THE
DELIVERY OF HEALTH AND COMMUNITY SERVICES AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A
PROVINCIAL HEALTH AUTHORITY
Received
and Read the First Time ................................................................
Second
Reading ............................................................................................
Committee ..................................................................................
Amendment
Nov. 8, 2022
Third
Reading ...............................................................................................
Royal
Assent .................................................................................................
HONOURABLE TOM
OSBORNE
Minister of Health
and Community Services
Ordered to be printed by
the Honourable House of Assembly
EXPLANATORY NOTES
This Bill would enact the Provincial Health Authority Act and
repeal the Regional Health Authorities
Act and the Centre for Health
Information Act, 2018 .
This Bill would
establish the Provincial Health
Authority to provide for the delivery of health and
community services and the establishment of information systems in the province ;
prescribe the powers of the minister
in relation to the delivery of health and community services and establishment
of information systems;
vest the assets and liabilities of
the regional health authorities and the Newfoundland and Labrador Centre for
Health Information in the Provincial Health Authority;
continue the employment and benefits
of employees of the regional health authorities and the Newfoundland and
Labrador Centre for Health Information with the Provincial Health Authority;
require the establishment of health
regions in the province;
require the establishment of a
regional health council for each health region to provide advice and
recommendations to the Provincial Health Authority;
require the establishment of a
quality council and prescribe the duties of the quality council;
require the Provincial Health
Authority to provide the quality council with information required by the
quality council when requested;
require the Provincial Health
Authority to report and provide information to the minister respecting reports,
advice or recommendations received from the quality council;
require the minister to release certain
reports received from the quality council to the public; and
allow the minister and the Provincial
Health Authority to release certain reports, advice and recommendations received
from the quality council.
A BILL
AN ACT RESPECTING THE DELIVERY OF HEALTH AND COMMUNITY SERVICES AND
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A PROVINCIAL HEALTH AUTHORITY
Analysis
Short title
Definitions
Objectives and priorities
Powers of the minister
Ministerial directions
PART
PROVINCIAL HEALTH AUTHORITY
Provincial Health Authority
Authority vested
Continuity of employment
Certain rights not affected
No cause of action
Board of trustees
Remuneration and expenses of trustees
By-laws
Meetings
Quorum
Committees
Chief executive officer
Officers and employees
Responsibilities of authority re: health
and community services
Responsibilities of authority re:
information management
Authority's powers
Funding for the authority
Withholding of funding
Fiscal year
Budget
Auditor
Review or audit by minister
Request for reports etc.
Appointment of administrator
PART
REGIONAL HEALTH COUNCILS
Regional health councils
Reimbursement of expenses
Duties of regional health councils
Funding of regional health councils
PART
III
QUALITY COUNCIL
Quality council
Reimbursement of expenses
Duties of quality council
Funding of quality council
Duties of authority re: quality council
Quality council information to minister
Release of reports, advice or recommendations
by minister or authority
PART
GENERAL
No cause of action
Delegation
Regulations
SNL2022 cA-1.03 Amdt.
SNL2015 cA-1.2 Amdt.
SNL2021 cA-1.001 Amdt.
SNL2011 cA-4.01 Amdt.
SNL2021 cA-4.02 Amdt.
SNL2001 cC-12.01 Amdt.
SNL2009 cC-14.01 Amdt.
SNL2001 cC-14.1 Amdt.
RSNL1990 cC-25 Amdt.
SNL2018 cE-7.3 Amdt.
RSNL1990 cE-16 Amdt.
SNL2011 cG-7.1 Amdt.
SNL1995 cP-37.1 Amdt.
SNL2006 cH-1.2 Amdt.
SNL2016 cI-2.1 Amdt.
SNL2011 cM-4.02 Amdt.
SNL2016 cM-5.01 Amdt.
SNL1999 cM-24 Amdt.
SNL2014 cO-9 Amdt.
SNL2017 cP-3.01 Amdt.
SNL2008 cP-7.01 Amdt.
SNL2006 cP-12.01 Amdt.
SNL2012 cP-12.2 Amdt.
SNL2018 cP-37.3 Amdt.
SNL2016 cP-41.001 Amdt.
RSNL1990 cP-42 Amdt.
SNL2018 cS-5.2 Amdt.
SNL2016 cS-12.3 Amdt.
SNL2010 cS-17.2 Amdt.
SNL1993 cT-4.1 Amdt.
SNL2009 cV-6.01 Amdt.
CNLR 969/96 Amdt.
NLR 38/15 Amdt.
NLR 87/09 Amdt.
NLR 53/18 Amdt.
NLR 38/11 Amdt.
NLR 104/09 Amdt.
NLR 78/19 Amdt.
NLR 33/18 Amdt.
NLR 81/16 Amdt.
SNL2006 cR-7.1 Rep.
SNL2018 cC-5.2 Rep.
Commencement
Be it enacted by the Lieutenant-Governor and
House of Assembly in Legislative Session convened, as follows:
Short title
1. This
Act may be cited as the Provincial Health
Authority Act.
Definitions
2. In
this Act
(a) "auditor general" means the auditor general as defined in the Auditor
General Act, 2021 ;
(b) "authority" means the Provincial Health Authority established
under
section 6;
(c) "board" means the board of trustees of the authority referred to in
subsection 11(1);
(d) "by-laws" means the by-laws made by the board under
section 13;
(e) "electronic health record" means a province-wide record of a patient's health care history
that is available electronically;
(f) "health and community services"
means health and community services as defined in the
regulations;
(g) "health service provider" means health
service provider as defined in the regulations ;
(h) "health system" means the health and
community services provided in the community, hospitals and long-term care facilities
in the province;
(i) "information system" includes
(
i) the information,
applications and related technology that support the clinical and
administrative operations of the authority and other health service providers,
and
(ii) the electronic
health record and components related to the electronic health record;
(j) "learning health system" means the health
system where science, education, informatics, incentives, and culture are
applied for continuous improvement, innovation and equity;
(k) "minister" means the minister appointed under the Executive
Council Act to administer
this Act;
(l) "Newfoundland and Labrador Centre for
Health Information" means the Newfoundland and Labrador Centre for Health
Information referred to in subsection 6(2);
(m) "personal health information" means personal health information as defined in the Personal
Health Information Act ;
(n) "personal information" means personal information as defined in the Access to
Information and Protection of Privacy Act, 2015 ;
(o) "quality council" means the quality council
referred to in subsection 34(1);
(p) "quality council information" means
information in any form that is provided to or generated for or by the quality council;
(q) "regional health authority" means a
regional health authority referred to in subsection
6(2);
(r) "regional health council" means a
regional health council referred to in paragraph 30(1)(b);
(s) "social determinants of health"
means the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age; and
(t) "trustee" means a person appointed to the board.
Objectives and
priorities
3. The minister may establish objectives and
priorities for the provision of health and community services and information
systems in the province or in areas of the province.
Powers of the
minister
(1) The minister may determine
(
a) health
and community services which shall be provided by the authority;
(
b) standards
for the provision of health and community services by the authority; and
(
c) standards for the development, operation and
management of an information system.
(2) Where
the minister determines a health and community service or a standard under
subsection (1), the authority shall comply with the minister's determination.
Ministerial
directions
(1) The minister may provide directions
to the authority or the board for one or more of the following purposes:
(
a) achieving
objectives and priorities as established under
section 3;
(
b) establishing
or adopting guidelines for the authority to follow in carrying out its duties
and responsibilities and the exercise of its powers under this Act;
(
c) coordinating
the work of the authority with the programs, policies and work of the
government of the province, the agencies of the government and other persons in
the provision of health and community services in the province; and
(
d) any other purposes the minister considers
necessary.
(2) Where the minister gives directions to the authority or the board under
subsection (1), the authority or board, as the case may be, shall comply with
the directions.
PART I
PROVINCIAL HEALTH AUTHORITY
Provincial Health
Authority
(1) The Provincial Health Authority is
established as a corporation without share capital for the purposes of
Part XXI
of the Corporations Act .
(2) The authority is the successor in law to the
regional health authorities continued under the Regional Health Authorities Act and the Newfoundland
and Labrador Centre for Health Information continued under the Centre for
Health Information Act, 2018 .
(3) The authority is exempt from
section 423 of
the Corporations Act .
(4) The
authority is an agent of the Crown.
Authority vested
(1) On the date this Act comes into force
(
a) title to all property and assets of a regional health authority and the Newfoundland and
Labrador Centre for Health Information is vested in the authority;
(
b) all title and interests to real property held
in the name of a regional health authority or the
Newfoundland and Labrador Centre for Health Information immediately
before this Act comes into force are held in the name of the authority;
(
c) the authority is
charged with and assumes all of the obligations and liabilities of a regional
health authority and the Newfoundland and Labrador Centre for Health
Information;
(
d) a n agreement or
contract made between a regional health authority or the Newfoundland and
Labrador Centre for Health Information and another party before this Act comes
into force continues in force and is binding on the authority and the other
party to the agreement or contract;
(
e) existing causes of action, claims and
liabilities by or against a regional health authority
or the Newfoundland and Labrador Centre for Health Information are
unaffected;
(
f) civil, criminal or administrative actions or
proceedings pending by or against a regional health
authority or the Newfoundland and Labrador Centre for Health Information
may continue to be prosecuted by or against the authority; and
(
g) a conviction against, or ruling, order or
judgment in favour of or against a regional health
authority or the Newfoundland and Labrador Centre for Health Information
may be enforced by or against the authority.
(2) In any document, it is sufficient to cite this
Act as effecting the establishment of the authority.
Continuity of
employment
(1) The employment of an employee of a regional health
authority or the Newfoundland and Labrador Centre for Health Information continues
with the authority.
(2) The employment of an employee referred to in
subsection (1) shall be deemed to have continued with the authority without
interruption in service, and the rights, duties and obligations of the employer
and employee continue accordingly, until changed by collective agreement or
contract of employment.
(3) Where the employment of an employee is
continued under subsection (1), nothing in this Act prevents
(
a) the employment from being lawfully terminated
after the continuation; or
(
b) any term or condition of the employment from
being lawfully changed after the continuation.
(4) Service of an employee referred to in
subsection (1) with a regional health authority or the Newfoundland
and Labrador Centre for Health Information is deemed to be service with
the authority for the purpose of determining probationary periods, benefits or
any other employment-related entitlements under any Act, at common law or under
any applicable contract of employment or collective agreement.
Certain rights
not affected
9. The
establishment of the authority under
section 6 or the continuation of the
employment of employees under subsection 8(1) shall
(
a) not constitute
(
i) a breach, termination, repudiation or
frustration of any contract, including a contract of employment or insurance,
(ii) a breach of any Act or regulation, or
(iii) an event of default or force majeure under any
contract; and
(
b) not give rise to
(
i) a breach, termination, repudiation or
frustration of any licence, permit or other right,
(ii) any right to terminate or repudiate a
contract, licence or other right, or
(iii) any estoppel.
No cause of
action
(1) An action or other proceeding does not lie or cannot be instituted against the
minister, the Crown or the authority or any employees or agents of the
minister, the Crown or the authority, as a direct or indirect result of the disestablishment
of the regional health authorities and the Newfoundland and Labrador Centre for
Health Information under this Act or any regulations, orders in council,
directives, orders or decisions made under the authority of this Act.
(2) Nothing in this Act creates a cause of action
in favour of a party to a
contract with a regional health authority or the Newfoundland and Labrador
Centre for Health Information or any of their predecessors that was entered
into before the coming into force of this Act.
Board of trustees
(1) The management and affairs of the
authority shall be directed by a board of trustees.
(2) The board shall consist of
(
a) trustees appointed by the Lieutenant-Governor in Council in accordance with the
regulations; and
(
b) trustees appointed by the minister from the
regional health councils in accordance with subsection (4).
(3) The number of
trustees appointed in accordance with paragraph (2)(
a) shall be
prescribed in the regulations.
(4) For the purpose of paragraph (2)(b), one
trustee shall be appointed from each of the regional health councils.
(5) The
Lieutenant-Governor in Council shall appoint a chairperson of the board from
the trustees appointed under subsection (2).
(6) The
trustees may, in accordance with the by-laws, elect from among the trustees one
or more vice-chairpersons.
(7) The
trustees shall be appointed for a term of 3 years and may be reappointed for
one further term of 3 years.
(8) Where
a trustee resigns from the board or becomes unable to carry out the trustee's
duties and responsibilities, a person shall be appointed in accordance with
subsection (9) to replace the trustee for the remainder of the trustee's term.
(9) A person appointed under subsection (8) shall
be appointed by
(
a) the
Lieutenant-Governor in Council, where the trustee being replaced was appointed
under paragraph (2)(a); and
(
b) the minister, where the trustee being replaced was appointed under paragraph
(2)(b).
(10) The
board may act despite a vacancy in its membership.
(11) A
trustee whose term of office has expired continues to be a trustee until
reappointed or replaced.
Remuneration and
expenses of trustees
12. The authority shall pay its trustees the
remuneration and expenses that the Lieutenant-Governor in Council may
determine.
By-laws
(1) The board may make by-laws not
inconsistent with this Act or the regulations relating to its internal
organization and proceedings and for the general conduct and management of its
affairs.
(2) The
board may make by-laws respecting medical staff of the authority, including
by-laws respecting
(
a) the
granting, variation, suspension and revocation of medical staff privileges;
(
b) categories
of medical staff privileges;
(
c) the
membership of a medical advisory committee;
(
d) the
duties and functions of senior medical officers of the authority; and
(
e) rules
and regulations governing medical staff.
Meetings
(1) The board shall hold
(
a) an
annual meeting at the time and place set out in the by-laws which shall
(
i) be
open to the public, and
(ii) be
held not later than 6 months after the end of the fiscal year; and
(
b) other
meetings in accordance with the by-laws.
(2) A
trustee may, in accordance with the by-laws, participate in a meeting of the
board by means of the telephone or other communication device that permits all
persons participating in the meeting to hear one another simultaneously.
Quorum
(1) A majority of the trustees
constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business of the board.
(2) A
trustee who participates in a meeting of the board by a means permitted by
subsection 14(2) is, for the purpose of establishing a quorum, present at the
meeting.
Committees
16. The board may establish those committees
composed of its trustees that it considers necessary to assist it in carrying
out its duties and responsibilities and exercising its powers under this Act.
Chief executive
officer
(1) The Lieutenant-Governor in Council
shall appoint, after consultation with the board, a chief executive officer for
chief executive officer.
(2) The
chief executive officer, under the direction of the board, is responsible for
the day to day management and conduct of the affairs of the authority.
Officers and
employees
18. The authority may appoint the officers and
engage the employees and other persons it considers necessary to carry out the
duties and responsibilities and to exercise the powers of the authority.
Responsibilities
of authority re: health and community services
(1) The authority is responsible for
the delivery and administration of health and community services in the
province in accordance with this Act and the regulations.
(2) In carrying out its responsibilities, the
authority shall
(
a) promote and protect
the health and well-being of persons in the province and develop and implement
measures for the prevention of disease and injury and the advancement of health
and well-being;
(
b) assess health and
community services needs on an ongoing basis;
(
c) develop objectives
and priorities for the provision of health and community services which meet
the needs of the province and which are consistent with the objectives and
priorities established by the minister;
(
d) manage and allocate
resources, including funds provided by the government for health and community
services, in accordance with this Act;
(
e) ensure that services
are provided in a manner that coordinates and integrates health and community
services;
(
f) collaborate with
other persons and organizations, including federal, provincial and municipal
governments and agencies, to coordinate health and community services in the
province and to achieve provincial objectives and priorities;
(
g) collect and analyze
health and community services information for use in the development and
implementation of health and community services policies and programs for the
province;
(
h) provide information
to the residents of the province respecting
(
i) the services
provided by the authority,
(ii) how they may gain
access to those services, and
(iii) how they may
communicate with the authority respecting the provision of those services by
the authority;
(
i) monitor and evaluate
the delivery of health and community services and compliance with
(
i) standards,
(ii) objectives, and
(iii) guidelines established
or adopted under paragraph 5(1)(b);
(
j) develop
and maintain standards of care for the delivery of provincial programs;
(
k) oversee
accountability for health outcomes through monitoring and reporting on quality,
safety and performance;
(
l) establish a learning health system;
(
m) in
conjunction with the minister, develop a framework for connecting the social
determinants of health with the health system at the provincial level;
(
n) in
conjunction with the minister, implement a provincial strategy for recruitment
and retention of health professionals;
(
o) comply
with the direction for the delivery and administration of health and community
services set by the minister;
(
p) report
to the minister on matters related to the delivery of health and community
services when requested ; and
(
q) comply with
directions the minister may provide .
Responsibilities
of authority re: information management
(1) The authority is responsible for
(
a) providing
assistance and support to
individuals, communities, other health service providers and policy makers at
federal, provincial and regional levels to enhance the health and well-being of
persons in the province through the planning and delivery of health and community
services by
(
i) developing,
operating and managing a comprehensive and aligned information system that
fully integrates and uses data and health information from all components of
the health and community services system for the delivery of health care and
health system planning,
(ii) developing data and
technical standards and keeping them up-to-date,
(iii) managing provincial
health data and information assets,
(iv) preparing health
reports and conducting applied health research and evaluation, and
(
v) providing health
analytics and decision support services;
(
b) protecting the
privacy of individuals whose personal information or personal health
information is collected, used, disclosed, stored or disposed of by the
authority in accordance with the Access to Information and Protection of
Privacy Act, 2015 and the Personal Health Information Act ;
(
c) monitoring and evaluating the development,
operation and management of an information system and compliance with
(
i) standards,
(ii) objectives, and
(iii) guidelines established
or adopted under paragraph 5(1)(b);
(
d) providing the minister with information, when
requested, to enhance the health and well-being of persons in the province
through the planning and delivery of health and community services; and
(
e) carrying out other responsibilities
prescribed by the regulations.
(2) The information
system referred to in subparagraph (1)(a)(
i) shall
(
a) protect the
confidentiality and security of personal information and personal health information
that is collected, used, disclosed, stored or disposed of by the authority;
(
b) provide accurate and
current information;
(
c) be efficient and
cost-effective; and
(
d) be flexible and
responsive to the changing requirements of the system.
(3) In carrying out its responsibilities the
authority shall comply with directions the minister
may provide.
Authority's
powers
(1) The authority may
(
a) purchase,
lease or otherwise acquire personal property;
(
b) s ell,
lease or otherwise dispose of personal property;
(
c) accept
grants, gifts, bequests and donations of real and personal property and, where
the grant, gift, bequest or donation is made subject to directions or
conditions, the authority shall, unless the person from whom it is received
consents otherwise, comply with and give effect to the directions or
conditions;
(
d) u nless
prohibited by the regulations, charge fees
(
i) for
health and community services directly to the person who received the services,
and
(ii) for preparing health reports and conducting applied
health research and evaluation under subparagraph 20(1)(a)(iv);
(
e) conduct
research, provide education and training, and engage or collaborate with
persons or other organizations in the conduct of research or the provision of education
and training, in the field of health and community services;
(
f) establish,
and apply to register, charitable foundations, as that term is defined in the Income
Tax Act (Canada) in accordance with the regulations; and
(
g) exercise
the other powers that are necessary to carry out its duties and
responsibilities and exercise its powers under this Act.
(2) The
authority may, with the approval of
the minister,
(
a) purchase,
lease or otherwise acquire real property, or an interest in real property, that
it considers necessary for its purposes;
(
b) construct,
renovate, expand, convert or relocate buildings or structures;
(
c) sell,
lease or otherwise dispose of real property or an interest in real property
where the real property is no longer required for its purposes; and
(
d) make investments and loans for the purposes of
subsection 20(1).
(3) The
authority may borrow money for one or more of the following purposes:
(
a) carrying
out its day to day operations;
(
b) acquiring
real property for the use of the authority;
(
c) erecting,
repairing, adding to, furnishing or equipping a building for the use of the
authority; and
(
d) a purpose prescribed in the regulations.
(4) The
authority may enter into agreements with other organizations or governments respecting
the provision of health and community services or information systems by,
through or in cooperation with those organizations or governments.
(5) The
authority may, with the approval of
the minister, engage in health
innovation and economic development.
Funding for the
authority
(1) The minister may provide funding
to the authority for the purpose of this Act out of money appropriated by the
legislature for that purpose.
(2) Money
provided to the authority for a particular purpose shall not be expended by the
authority for another purpose without the prior approval of the minister.
Withholding of
funding
23. The minister may withhold a payment, or part of
a payment, to the authority until the authority has complied with this Act, the
regulations or a direction of the minister given under
section 5.
Fiscal year
24. The fiscal year of the authority is April 1 to the
following March 31.
Budget
(1) The authority shall, annually,
prepare and submit to the minister, at the time and in the manner required by
the minister, a budget containing estimates of amounts necessary to enable the
authority to carry out its duties and responsibilities and exercise its powers
in the coming financial year.
(2) The
minister may approve or disapprove a budget submitted under subsection (1) or
may approve a budget subject to any changes that the minister may require.
(3) Except
with the prior approval of the minister, the authority shall not make, or
contract to become liable for, an expenditure or indebtedness beyond or in
excess of the estimated amount of expenditure set out in its budget and
approved by the minister under this section.
(4) Where
the authority becomes liable for an indebtedness contrary to subsection (3),
the minister may dismiss some or all of the trustees.
(5) Where
the minister dismisses a trustee under subsection (4), the trustee does not
have a cause of action against the Crown nor a right to compensation as a
result of the dismissal.
Auditor
26. The auditor general shall, in accordance with
section 19 of the Auditor General Act, 2021 , annually, audit the
records, accounts and financial transactions of the authority.
Review or audit
by minister
(1) The authority shall keep accounts
and other financial records and information as required by the regulations.
(2) The
authority shall provide information to the minister respecting its accounts and
other financial records in the manner and at the time required by the minister.
(3) The
authority shall permit the minister to review the books of account and other
financial records of the authority.
(4) The
minister may audit the accounts of the authority either generally or with
respect to a specific transaction or expenditure and, where the minister
decides to conduct the audit, the authority shall provide the minister with the
information and other assistance required by the minister within the time
required by the minister.
Request for
reports etc.
28. Where requested to do so by the minister, the
authority shall provide the minister with the records, reports and other
documents the minister specifies in the request.
Appointment of
administrator
(1) Where the authority is, in the
opinion of the minister, in serious financial difficulty, the minister, subject
to the approval of the Lieutenant-Governor in Council, may appoint an
administrator who shall have the power to carry out the duties and exercise the
responsibilities of the authority.
(2) Upon
the appointment of an administrator, the trustees shall cease to hold office
and the trustees and the board shall no longer direct the affairs of the
authority or carry out the duties and responsibilities or exercise the powers
or conferred on the board by this Act.
PART II
REGIONAL HEALTH COUNCILS
Regional health
councils
(1) The Lieutenant-Governor in Council shall, in
accordance with the regulations, establish
(
a) health regions in
the province; and
(
b) a regional health
council for each health region.
(2) A regulation made
under subsection (1) shall
(
a) name the health
regions and describe their boundaries;
(
b) name the regional
health council for each health region; and
(
c) prescribe the appointment of members, terms of
office, composition, terms of
reference, and other matters relating to the regional health council.
Reimbursement of expenses
31. Members of a regional health council shall be
reimbursed by the authority for expenses incurred by the member in carrying out
duties under this Act, as determined by the Lieutenant-Governor in Council.
Duties of regional
health councils
(1) A regional health council shall
(
a) develop an annual plan to provide advice and
recommendations to the authority on the delivery of health and community
services in its health region;
(
b) engage with Indigenous governments and organizations in its health region in the
development of its annual plan under paragraph (a); and
(
c) engage
with social and health networks in its health region that are established to
influence health and health outcomes.
(2) A regional health council shall report
annually to the authority on the exercise and performance of its duties under
this Act.
(3) In addition to annual reports under subsection
(2), a regional health council shall provide other reports to the authority where
required by the minister.
Funding of
regional health councils
(1) The authority may provide funding
to a regional health council for the purposes of this Act.
(2) Money
provided to a regional health council for a particular purpose shall not be
expended by the regional health council for another purpose without the prior
approval of the minister.
PART III
QUALITY COUNCIL
Quality council
(1) The Lieutenant-Governor in Council shall, by
regulation, establish a quality council.
(2) The appointment
of members, terms of office, composition,
terms of reference and other matters relating to the quality council shall be prescribed in the regulations.
Reimbursement of
expenses
35. Members of the quality council shall be
reimbursed by the authority for expenses incurred by the member in carrying out
duties under this Act, as determined by the Lieutenant-Governor in Council.
Duties of quality
council
(1) The quality council shall
(
a) provide written reports to the minister
regarding the quality and performance of the health system;
(
b) provide written reports to the minister on any other matter as requested by the
minister;
(
c) develop and execute an evaluation plan for the
authority;
(
d) provide leadership for the learning health
system;
(
e) develop standards for the governance, use,
collection, disclosure, release, storage or disposition of data by the
authority; and
(
f) carry out other duties that may be prescribed
in the regulations.
(2) A report provided under paragraph (1)(
a) or
(
b) shall not include personal information or
personal health information.
(3) In carrying out its duties under this Act and
the regulations the quality council may provide reports, advice or
recommendations to the minister or the authority.
Funding of
quality council
(1) The minister may provide funding to the quality
council for the purposes of this Act out of money appropriated by the
legislature for that purpose.
(2) Money
provided to the quality council for a particular purpose shall not be expended
by the quality council for another purpose without the prior approval of the minister.
Duties of
authority re: quality council
(1) The
authority shall
(
a) provide information to the quality council,
when requested, to allow the quality council to carry out its duties and
responsibilities;
(
b) set a process, in accordance with the
regulations, for reviewing reports, advice and recommendations received from
the quality council for the purpose of reducing or mitigating risks identified
by the quality council;
(
c) notify the minister upon receipt of a report, advice
or recommendations from the quality council; and
(
d) report to the minister in the form and manner
prescribed in the regulations respecting a report, advice or recommendations
received from the quality council.
(2) Where the authority does not implement advice
or recommendations received from the quality council, the authority shall
notify the minister within the time period prescribed in the regulations.
Quality council
information to minister
(1) The minister may direct the authority to provide to
the minister, in the form set by the minister, information related to
reports, advice or recommendations received from the quality council.
(2) Information provided
under subsection (1) shall not include personal information or personal health
information.
Release of reports,
advice or recommendations by minister or authority
(1) The minister shall release a report received under paragraph 36(1)(
a) to the
public.
(2) The minister or the
authority may release reports, advice or recommendations received from
the quality council that do not include personal
information or personal health information.
PART IV
GENERAL
No cause of
action
41. An action for damages does not lie against the
minister, a trustee, an officer or an employee of the authority, a member of a
regional health council or a member the quality council personally for anything
done or omitted in good faith in the performance or intended performance of a
duty or the exercise or intended exercise of a power under this Act, or for a
neglect or default in the performance, or intended performance, of a duty, or
the exercise or intended exercise, of a power, in good faith, under this Act.
Delegation
42. The minister may, in
accordance with the regulations, delegate a duty or power to the authority
where the duty or power is conferred on the minister by
an Act of the province
and it is necessary or incidental for the authority to provide a health or
community service.
Regulations
43. The Lieutenant-Governor in Council may make
regulations
(
a) defining
"health and community services" for the purpose of paragraph 2(f);
(
b) defining
"health service provider" for the purpose of paragraph 2(g);
(
c) respecting
the appointment of trustees to the board;
(
d) prescribing the number of trustees to be
appointed to the board;
(
e) respecting
the manner in which health and community services are provided by the
authority;
(
f) prescribing other responsibilities for the
purposes of paragraph 20(1)(e);
(
g) prohibiting
the charging of fees for the purposes of paragraph 21(1)(d);
(
h) respecting
the establishment of charitable foundations by the authority;
(
i) prescribing
purposes for which the authority may borrow money;
(
j) respecting accounts and other financial
records and information that the authority is required to keep ;
(
k) establishing health regions;
(
l) establishing regional
health councils including the appointment of members,
terms of office, composition, terms of reference and other matters relating to regional
health councils;
(
m) establishing a quality council including the appointment of members, terms of office, composition, terms
of reference and other matters relating to the quality council;
(
n) prescribing other duties of the quality council
for the purpose of paragraph 36(1)(f);
(
o) respecting the process for the authority's review
of reports and advice received from the quality council;
(
p) prescribing the form and manner of a report
for the purpose of paragraph 38(1)(d);
(
q) prescribing a time period for the purpose of
subsection 38(2);
(
r) respecting the delegation of a duty or power
for the purpose of
section 42;
(
s) defining a word or expression used but not
defined in this Act; and
(
t) generally, to give
effect to the purpose of this Act.
SNL2022 cA-1.03
Amdt.
(1) Paragraph 2(
c) of the Access to Health and Educational Services Act is amended by
deleting the words "a regional health authority" and substituting the
words "the Provincial Health Authority".
(2) Paragraph 2(
d) of the Act is amended by
deleting the words "a regional health authority" wherever they appear
and substituting the words "the Provincial Health Authority".
(3) Paragraph 2(
f) of the Act is repealed and the
following substituted:
(f) "Provincial Health Authority" means the Provincial Health Authority established under the Provincial Health Authority Act ; and
SNL2015 cA-1.2
Amdt.
(1) Subparagraph 2(k)(
i) of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy
Act, 2015 is repealed and the following substituted:
(
i) the
authority as defined in the Provincial Health Authority Act ,
(2) Subparagraph 2(k)(iii) of the Act is repealed.
SNL2021 cA-1.001
Amdt.
following substituted:
(vii) the authority as defined in the Provincial Health Authority Act ,
SNL2011 cA-4.01
Amdt.
(1) Paragraph 2(
d) of the Adult Protection Act is repealed and the following substituted:
(d) "authority" means the Provincial Health Authority established
under the Provincial Health Authority Act ;
(2) Paragraph 4(1)(
a) of the Act is repealed and
the following substituted:
(
a) a facility operated by
the authority;
(3) The Act is amended by deleting the words
"an authority" wherever they appear and substituting the words "the
authority".
SNL2021 cA-4.02
Amdt.
(1) Paragraph 2(
d) of the Adult Protection Act, 2021 is repealed and the following
substituted:
(d) "authority" means the Provincial Health Authority established
under the Provincial Health Authority Act ;
(2) Paragraph 4(1)(
a) of the Act is repealed and
the following substituted:
(
a) a facility operated
by the authority;
(3) The Act is amended by deleting the words
"an authority" wherever they appear and substituting the words "the
authority".
SNL2001 cC-12.01
Amdt.
49. The
Schedule to the Child and Youth Advocate Act is amended by
deleting the reference "A regional health authority established under the Regional
Health Authorities Act " and substituting the reference " The Provincial Health Authority established
under the Provincial Health Authority Act ".
SNL2009 cC-14.01
Amdt.
50. Subsection 39(5) of the Chiropractors Act, 2009 is repealed and the
following substituted:
(5) For the purpose of
this
section "hospital" means a hospital operated by the Provincial
Health Authority under the Provincial Health Authority Act.
SNL2001 cC-14.1
Amdt.
51. The
Schedule to the Citizens'
Representative Act
is amended by
(
a) deleting the reference " A
hospital board or authority as defined in the Hospitals Act ";
(
b) deleting the reference " A health
and community services board incorporated under the Health and Community
Services Act ";
(
c) deleting the reference " Newfoundland and Labrador Centre for Health Information"; and
(
d) adding immediately after the reference " Provincial Apprenticeship Board" the reference
"Provincial Health Authority".
RSNL1990 cC-25
Amdt.
52. Subsection 7(1) of the Commissioner for Oaths Act is repealed and the following
substituted:
Other
commissioners
(1) While they hold office and by virtue of their office,
all employees employed by the government and designated by a minister, or
employed by the Provincial Health Authority established under the Provincial
Health Authority Act and designated by the chief executive officer of the Provincial
Health Authority, are commissioners for oaths and shall be so styled and may
exercise within the province the powers conferred by this Act.
SNL2018 cE-7.3
Amdt.
(1) Section 2 of the Emergency Health and Paramedicine Services Act is amended by
adding immediately after paragraph (
p) the following:
(p.1) "Provincial Health Authority" means
the Provincial Health Authority established under the
Provincial Health Authority Act ;
(2) Paragraph 2(
r) of the Act is repealed.
(3) Paragraph 6(2)(
c) of the Act is amended by deleting the words
"each regional health authority" and substituting the words "the
Provincial Health Authority".
(4) Subsection 9(2) of the Act is repealed and the
following substituted:
(2) The Provincial Health
Authority or another crown agent shall not provide emergency and paramedicine
services unless the Provincial Health Authority or crown agent holds a valid
operator licence issued under this Act.
(5) The Act is amended by deleting the words "a regional health
authority" wherever they appear and substituting the words "the Provincial
Health Authority".
RSNL1990 cE-16
Amdt.
54. Subparagraph 8.1(1)(a)(ii) of the Evidence Act is repealed and the
following substituted:
(ii) person or committee,
including a disciplinary committee, mandated to review the clinical competency
of a health care provider of the Provincial Health Authority established under
the Provincial Health Authority Act , or
SNL2011 cG-7.1
Amdt.
55. Subparagraph 2(b)(
i) of the Gunshot and Stab Wound Reporting Act is repealed and the
following substituted:
(
i) a facility operated
by the Provincial Health Authority established under the Provincial Health
Authority Act ,
SNL1995 cP-37.1
Amdt.
Section 4.01 of the Health and Community Services Act is repealed and the following
substituted:
Release of
information
4.01 Either
(
a) a board established
under
section 4; or
(
b) the department
may release information, including personal information as
defined in the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, 2015 ,
to the Provincial Health Authority in accordance with the Provincial Health Authority Act
and regulations made under that Act.
SNL2006 cH-1.2
Amdt.
57. The Health
Research Ethics Authority Act is amended by deleting the words "Eastern Regional Health
Authority" wherever they appear and substituting the words
"Provincial Health Authority".
SNL2016 cI-2.1
Amdt.
58. The
Schedule to the Independent Appointments Commission Act is amended by
(
a) deleting the statutory appointment reference
" Centre for Health Information Act, 2018 , subsections 7(2) and 13(1)";
(
b) adding immediately after the statutory appointment
reference " Pippy Park Commission Act , paragraph 4(1)(
a) and subsection 12(1)" the
statutory appointment reference " Provincial
Health Authority Act , paragraph 11(2)(a), subsection 11(5) and subsection 17(1)";
and
(
c) deleting the statutory appointment reference
" Regional Health Authorities Act , subsections 8(1) and (2) and subsection 14(1)".
SNL2011 cM-4.02
Amdt.
59. Paragraph 66(3)(
a) of the Medical Act, 2011 is repealed.
SNL2016 cM-5.01
Amdt.
60. Paragraph 4(1)(
j) of the Medical Care and Hospital Insurance Act is repealed and the following
substituted:
(
j) for the purpose of
releasing information, including personal health information as defined in the Personal
Health Information Act , to the Provincial Health Authority in accordance
with the Provincial Health Authority Act and regulations made under that
Act; or
SNL1999 cM-24
Amdt.
61. (1) Subsection 131(7) of the Municipalities Act, 1999 is amended by deleting the words " authorities as defined in the Regional Health
Authorities Act" and
substituting the words "the authority as defined in the Provincial
Health Authority Act ".
(2) Subsection 131(8) of the Act is repealed and
the following substituted:
(8) Notwithstanding
section 130 and subsections (1), (2) and (7), the minister may make regulations
to establish a water and sewage tax rate applicable to and a maximum allowable
amount of water and sewage tax payable by the owner of real property located
inside or outside a municipality that is connected to the water system or
sewage system of that municipality or to both where that real property is the
location of
(
a) a school operated
under the Schools Act, 1997 ;
(
b) the authority as defined in the Provincial
Health Authority Act ; and
(
c) a building owned by
the Crown,
and a tax rate
imposed in accordance with this subsection shall be considered to have been
imposed, with the necessary changes, under sections 130 and subsections (1),
(2) and (7).
SNL2014 cO-9
Amdt.
62. The
Schedule to the Other Post-Employment Benefits Eligibility
Modification Act is amended by
(
a) deleting the reference " Central Regional Health Authority";
(
b) deleting the reference " Eastern Regional Health Authority";
(
c) deleting the reference " Labrador-Grenfell Regional Health Authority";
(
d) deleting the reference "Newfoundland and Labrador Centre for Health Information";
(
e) adding immediately after the reference " Provincial Advisory Council on the Status of Women Newfoundland
and Labrador" the reference
"Provincial Health Authority"; and
(
f) deleting the reference " Western Regional Health Authority".
SNL2017 cP-3.01
Amdt.
(1) Paragraph 2(
b) of the Patient Safety Act is amended by deleting the words " Regional
Health Authorities Act " and substituting the words " Provincial
Health Authority Act ".
(2) Section 2 of the Act is amended by adding
immediately after paragraph (
o) the following:
(o.1) "Provincial Health Authority" means
the Provincial Health Authority established under the
Provincial Health Authority Act ;
(3) Paragraph 2(
u) of the Act is repealed.
(4) Subsections 10(5) and (6) of the Act are
repealed.
(5) The Act is amended by
(
a) deleting the words "a regional health authority" wherever
they appear and substituting the words "the Provincial Health Authority";
(
b) deleting the words "the regional health authority" wherever
they appear and substituting the words "the Provincial Health Authority";
(
c) deleting the words "Every regional health authority" wherever
they appear and substituting the words "The Provincial Health Authority";
and
(
d) deleting the words "regional health authorities" wherever
they appear and substituting the words "the Provincial Health Authority".
SNL2008 cP-7.01
Amdt.
64. (1) Paragraph 2(1)(
b) of the Personal Health Information Act is repealed and the following substituted:
(b) "authority" means the Provincial Health Authority established under the Provincial Health
Authority Act ;
(2) Paragraph 2(1)(
c) of the Act is repealed.
(3) Paragraph 4(1)(
i) of the Act is repealed.
(4) The Act is amended by deleting the words
"an authority" wherever they appear and substituting the words
"the authority".
SNL2006 cP-12.01
Amdt.
65. Paragraph 4(1)(
e) of the Pharmaceutical Services Act is repealed and the following substituted:
(
e) at the discretion of
the minister, to the Provincial Health Authority established under the Provincial
Health Authority Act ;
SNL2012 cP-12.2
Amdt.
(1) Paragraph 2(
g) of the Pharmacy Act, 2012 is repealed and the following substituted:
(g) "hospital" means a hospital operated by the Provincial Health Authority under
the Provincial Health Authority Act ;
(2) Subsection 3(2) of the Act is amended by deleting
the words " a regional health authority" and
substituting the words "the Provincial Health Authority".
SNL2018 cP-37.3
Amdt.
(1) Section 2 of the Public Health Protection and Promotion Act is amended by
adding immediately after paragraph (
v) the following:
(v.1) "Provincial Health Authority" means the
authority as defined in the Provincial Health
Authority Act ;
(2) Paragraph 2(dd) of the Act is repealed.
(3) Paragraphs 7(2)(
a) and (
b) of the Act are
repealed and the following substituted:
(
a) require the Provincial
Health Authority to prepare a public health plan every 5 years in accordance
with the regulations that sets out the goals and objectives related to the core
function areas of public health to be met during the period covered by the plan;
(
b) require the Provincial
Health Authority to compile and report information concerning the quality of
core public health programs and services provided or undertaken by or under the
authority of the Provincial Health Authority, including health indicators, as
prescribed by the regulations;
(4) The Act is amended by deleting the words "a regional health
authority" wherever they appear and substituting the words "the Provincial
Health Authority".
SNL2016 cP-41.001
Amdt.
68. Subparagraph 2(q)(vii) of the Public Procurement Act is repealed and the following substituted:
(vii) the Provincial Health
Authority established under the Provincial
Health Authority Act , and
RSNL1990 cP-42
Amdt.
69. Subparagraph 2(1)(i)(vii) of the Public Service Collective Bargaining Act is repealed and the following
substituted:
(vii) the Provincial Health
Authority established under the Provincial
Health Authority Act ,
SNL2018 cS-5.2
Amdt.
70. The
Schedule to the Salary
Restraint and Extinguishment of Severance Pay Act is amended by
(
a) deleting the reference " Central Regional Health Authority";
(
b) deleting the reference " Eastern Regional Health Authority";
(
c) deleting the reference " Labrador-Grenfell Regional Health Authority";
(
d) deleting the reference "Newfoundland and Labrador Centre for Health Information";
(
e) adding immediately after the reference " Provincial Advisory Council on the Status of Women "
the reference "Provincial Health Authority"; and
(
f) deleting the reference " Western Regional Health Authority".
SNL2016 cS-12.3 Amdt.
71. Subsection 34(5) of the Secure Withdrawal Management Act is amended by deleting the
words " an authority as defined in the Regional
Health Authorities Act " and
substituting the words "the authority as defined in the Provincial
Health Authority Act ".
SNL2010 cS-17.2
Amdt.
Section 19 of the Social Workers Act is amended by deleting the words "a
regional health authority" and substituting the words "the Provincial
Health Authority".
SNL1993 cT-4.1
Amdt.
73. Paragraph 4.1(1)(
c) of the Tobacco and Vapour Products Control Act is repealed and the following
substituted:
(
c) a facility operated
by the Provincial Health Authority established under the Provincial Health
Authority Act ;
SNL2009 cV-6.01
Amdt.
74. Paragraph 41(2)(
a) of the Vital Statistics Act, 2009 is repealed and the following
substituted:
(
a) the Provincial
Health Authority in accordance with the Provincial Health Authority Act and
regulations made under that Act;
CNLR 969/96 Amdt.
75. Item 44 in
Schedule B to the Consolidated Orders under the Public Service Collective Bargaining Act
is repealed.
NLR 38/15 Amdt.
(1) Subparagraph 2(1)(z)(iii) of the Medical Regulations under the Medical Act, 2011 is repealed and
the following substituted:
(iii) the Provincial Health
Authority established under the Provincial Health Authority Act ,
(2) Paragraph 19(1)(
c) of the regulations is
repealed and the following substituted:
(
c) the Provincial Health
Authority, acting upon the advice of or after consultation with the Medical
Advisory Committee, advises the college that the proposed sponsorship will
satisfy a community need.
(3) The regulations are amended by deleting the
words "a regional health authority" wherever they appear and
substituting the words "the Provincial Health Authority".
NLR 87/09 Amdt.
Section 2 of the Memorial University Traffic Regulations under the Memorial University Act is amended
by deleting the words " Eastern Regional
Integrated Health Authority" wherever they appear and substituting the
words "Provincial Health Authority".
NLR 53/18 Amdt.
(1) Paragraph 2(
d) of the Monitored Drugs Regulations under the Prescription
Monitoring Act is amended by deleting the words "a regional health
authority" and substituting the words "the Provincial Health Authority".
(2) Paragraph 2(
f) of the regulations is repealed
and the following substituted:
(f) "Provincial Health Authority" means
the Provincial Health Authority established under the Provincial Health Authority Act ; and
NLR 38/11 Amdt.
79. (1) Subsection 4(2) of the Personal Health Information Regulations under the Personal Health
Information Act is amended by deleting the words " Eastern Regional Integrated Health Authority" and
substituting the words "Provincial Health Authority".
(2) Subsection 4(3) of the regulations is amended
by deleting the words "Newfoundland and Labrador
Centre for Health Information" and substituting the words "Provincial
Health Authority".
(3) The regulations are amended by deleting the
words " Centre for Health Information" wherever
they appear and substituting the words "Provincial Health Authority".
NLR 104/09 Amdt.
(1) Paragraph 2(
b) of the Pharmacy Network
Regulations under the Personal Health Information Act
is repealed and the following substituted:
(b) "authority" means the Provincial
Health Authority established under the Provincial
Health Authority Act .
(2) Section 3 of the regulations is amended by
deleting the words " Centre for Health
Information" and substituting the word "authority".
(3) Section 4 of the regulations is amended by
(
a) deleting the words " Centre for Health Information" and substituting the
word "authority"; and
(
b) deleting the word " centre" and substituting the word
"authority".
NLR 78/19 Amdt.
(1) Paragraph 2(
e) of the Prescription Monitoring Regulations under the Prescription
Monitoring Act is repealed.
(2) Section 2 of the regulations is amended by
deleting the word "and" at the end of paragraph (g), deleting the
period at the end of paragraph (
h) and adding a semi colon and the word
"and" and by adding immediately after paragraph (
h) the following:
(i) "Provincial Health Authority" means
the Provincial Health Authority established under the Provincial Health Authority Act .
(3) Sections 4 to 8 of the regulations are amended
by deleting the words " Newfoundland and Labrador
Centre for Health Information" wherever they appear and substituting the
words "Provincial Health Authority".
NLR 33/18 Amdt.
82. Subparagraph 3(1)(a)(
i) of the Procurement Advisory Council Regulations under the Public Procurement
Act is repealed and the following substituted:
(
i) the Provincial
Health Authority established under the Provincial Health Authority Act,
NLR 81/16 Amdt.
83. The
Schedule to the Public
Sector Compensation Transparency Regulations under the Public Sector Compensation
Transparency Act is amended by
(
a) deleting the reference " Central Regional Health Authority";
(
b) deleting the reference " Eastern Regional Health Authority";
(
c) deleting the reference " Labrador-Grenfell Regional Health Authority";
(
d) deleting the reference "Newfoundland and Labrador Centre for Health Information";
(
e) adding immediately after the reference " Provincial Advisory Council on the Status of Women "
the reference "Provincial Health Authority"; and
(
f) deleting the reference " Western Regional Health Authority".
SNL2006 cR-7.1
Rep.
84. The Regional Health Authorities Act is repealed.
SNL2018 cC-5.2
Rep.
85. The Centre for Health Information Act, 2018 is repealed.
Commencement
86. This
Act comes into force on April 1, 2023.
King's Printer