Bill to End Age Discrimination in Post Stroke Recovery Passes Second Reading
QUEEN’S PARK – Today, in the Ontario Legislature, Bill 9, the End Age Discrimination for Stroke Recovery Patients Act, passed Second Reading and was referred to the Standing Committee on Social Policy. Currently, publicly-funded, post-stroke physiotherapy treatment is not available for those in Ontario between the ages of 20 and 64.
In his debate speech, MPP Coe referenced his predecessor, former MPP Christine Elliott, and her efforts to address the issue of age discrimination for post stroke recovery in 2015. In April of that year, Ms. Elliott introduced a motion, unanimously passed in the Legislature, directing the government to find necessary, year-end savings, to provide post stroke recovery services to those people between the ages of 20 and 64. Since that time, the Government has done nothing to address the issue.
MPP Coe said, “This is an identified problem that spans all political boundaries and each of us has an obligation to fix it.” Bill 9 seeks to ensure that any treatment recommended by a physician for a patient who is recovering from a stroke be provided, regardless of the patient’s age.
MPP Coe concluded that “This is such a simple solution, and with all-party support in this Legislature, we can make such a huge difference in the lives of so many post-stroke recovery patients and their families.”