Bill 158, Defibrillator Training and Access Act 2019

Every year, more than 7000Ontarians will experience cardiac arrest. Using a defibrillator on someoneexperiencing cardiac arrest can dramatically improve survival rates by morethan 50 per cent.

In December 2019, I introduced aprivate member’s bill 158 intended to expand access to lifesavingdefibrillators in public spaces across Ontario. The bill would also establish adefibrillator registry so that when someone called emergency services, theoperator could quickly and easily determine the location of closest device.

My colleagues MPP Martin and MPPGelinas introduced similar bills during the legislative session. We workedcollaboratively to bring MPP Martin’s bill to the committee stage where publichearings were held in Sudbury and Toronto, so that experts and those with livedexperience could help inform the legislation.

Thank you to the Heart &Stroke, The ACT Foundation, CARE, survivors and all those who appeared beforecommittee and submitted written applications. Your input was extremely valuableand greatly appreciated.

I look forward to continuing towork with my colleagues on committee to update the legislation and pass it inthe house so it becomes law. 

Toread the three bills 140, 141 or 158, visit: https://www.ola.org/en/legislative-business/bills/current