A bill put forth by Welland MPP Cindy Forster has passed a critical vote in the legislature.
The Protecting Vulnerable Persons in Supportive Living Accommodation Act would introduce licensing rules for privately operated Supportive Living Accommodations.
The bill would also increase protections to prevent the mistreatment of seniors and vulnerable high-risk adults living in such facilities.
Increased protections include requiring housing providers to be provincially licensed in order to collect ODSP cheques and other types of support payments on a resident's behalf.
Hamilton, St. Thomas and Windsor are the three municipalities in Ontario that currently have by-laws in place setting standards of care.
Starting with Welland, an additional 45 municipalities have passed motions calling on the province to create provincially enforced standards.
Forster's bill has passed second reading and can now be scheduled for a third reading and final vote.