Private Members’ Bill 21, Protection of Volunerable and Eldersly People from Abuse Act (Powers of Attorney), 2011

About Elder Abuse

Elder abuse is an unfortunate reality that we face in Ontario. According to the Government of Canada one in five Canadians believe they know a senior experiencing some form of abuse. Generally, elder abuse is any action by someone in a relationship of trust that results in harm or distress to an older person. The most commonly reported form of elder abuse is financial abuse. Financial abuse often takes place through a power of attorney.

I have introduced this Private Members’ Bill in an effort to stem the rising tide of financial elder abuse. My bill seeks to establish a voluntary registry of Powers of Attorney (POA). A POA is a substitute decision maker on matters of financial or personsal care on behalf of the grantor. If a senior chooses, those who are a power of attorney would be listed and required to submit an annual accounting of liabilities, assets, and thier compensation. This information would be available to family members and others if directed by a court. It is my hope that with this POA option available financial abuse may be detected and stopped before it occurs.

Get Involved!

I am actively seeking input and feedback on this piece of legislation. If you work in this field of you or a loved one has experienced or witnessed financial abuse I invite you to contact me at john.otoole@pc.ola.org.

Click here to view Bill 21

Click here to view John’s Press Release on Bill 21