TORONTO - As the Ontario legislature resumed sitting today, the Ontario Health Coalition issued a warning to Ontarians to watch out for expected new health care legislation that will affect millions.

"We are anticipating the introduction of a new Long Term Care Act," said Coalition co-chair Dan Benedict. "Since so many chronic and acute care hospital beds have been closed and so many thousands of health care providers dismissed, more and more Ontarians are relying on the home and long term care system for their health care. The government has a record of endangering our health. We need to look closely at the new bill and make our concerns heard - and listened to."

In a meeting with the Coalition last December, health ministry officials confirmed their intention to roll the acts that regulate nursing homes, charitable homes for the aged and long term care facilities into this new Bill. Since this recommendation originally stemmed from the Red Tape Commission, health activists are worried that one of the goals of the new legislation is to deregulate facilities - at the expense of protection for residents.

Other concerns centre around the controversial privatization of the health care system. Forced competition leading to privatization in the home care sector has increased costs in some communities and has led to severe shortages of nurses and other staff. Widespread complaints about levels of service, confusion and lack of continuity of care have been the result.

"Ontarians must be vigilant to ensure that Ontario's Conservative government does not do to long term care the damage they did to hospitals. They must end their sale of long term care to profiteers in the private sector," warned Coalition co-chair Irene Harris. "Elizabeth Witmer has had to admit that there are serious problems with the forced privatization and public-private competition in the home care sector. The goal of a new Long Term Care Act must be to raise standards and uphold the principles of the Canada Health Act."