NDP again try to change Ontario’s organ donation system to an opt-out one
Nickel Belt MPP and NDP health critic France Gélinas has reintroduced a bill aimed at increasing the availability of organs for transplant in Ontario.
The ‘Peter Kormos Memorial Act’ (Saving Organs to Save Lives), which would change organ and tissue donation in Ontario from an opt-in system to an opt-out system.
The bill is named after Welland MPP Peter Kormos, an advocate for organ donation. Kormos died March 30, 2013. Kormos was pushing to make changes to the organ donation system for years.
The bill was re-introduced at Queen’s Park on the tenth anniversary of Kormos’ death. This is the seventh time a version of the bill as been introduced to the legislator. The last time, Gélinas introduced the bill – it died on the floor because the legislature was dissolved and a provincial election was called.
- Download our app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
Gélinas told CTV News the opt-out system would not only save lives but would potentially save the healthcare system money.
“This bill will take people off transplant wait lists and out of dialysis clinics” said Gélinas, in a news release Thursday.
“It will help not only save lives, but help transplant recipients live longer, more productive lives.”
She said that everyone waiting for a transplant is receiving care in one way or another and that puts pressure on the healthcare system and comes with a cost. Gélinas went on to explain that usually following a transplant people are not so sick and become productive members of the community and often return to the workforce – but most importantly do not require dialysis or other costly care.
“So we (the NDP) are starting to make the push on the money side to show not only is this something that we can do, that we should do.”
In her interview with CTV News, Gélinas pointed to Nova Scotia, which uses a presumed consent organ donation system and has seen a 40 per cent increase in organ and tissue donation since making the change in 2021.
"It is very similar to the bill that Nova Scotia put in place,” she said.
“In Nova Scotia they've had assumed consent for organ donations for this is their third year, it works beautifully and I think Ontario is ready to do the same."
Gélinas said the first time she introduced the bill there was significant pushback against it.
“I took my time,” she said.
“I reach back to those people, I had meetings with people, I listened to them – we did changes together to the bill, so that we could come to a place where we would increase the number of organs being available.”
Gélinas said it was important to be respectful of people as most donations occur at the time of one’s death.
She said with the changes the bill no longer has pushback from labour or religious groups.
Gélinas said that people would be able to opt-out at any time in an easy-to-follow process and people can be assured their next of kin would be asked upon their death.
“We are ready,” Gélinas said.
“There are now more and more people who support and they are willing to go and talk to members of the Conservative Party … to let them know why it is important.”
Officials said as much as 85 per cent of Ontarians when asked say they would donate their organs when they died but less than half of them have completed the paperwork currently required for the provinces opt-in system.
According to Gélinas, this is the reason she continues to push for change.
Gélinas said there are currently about 1,340 people in Ontario on the waitlist for organ transplants and on average three people die every week waiting.
“All of those lives could be saved,” she said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NDP motion regarding Palestinian statehood passes after major Liberal alterations
A motion from the federal New Democrats initially calling on Canada to recognize the 'State of Palestine' passed amid widespread acrimony on Monday, after the Liberals drastically altered its wording to see the government simply work towards that aim as part of a two-state solution.
'He didn't want to die': Family of Calgary man killed in standoff speaks out
Family of a Calgary man killed after a 30-hour standoff with police last week are speaking out, sharing details of the tense and heart-wrenching experience.
Toronto family doctor who called patient's body 'perfect' suspended for 3 months: tribunal
A family doctor in Toronto has been suspended for three months after a disciplinary tribunal found that he failed to follow proper protocols while examining a patient's breasts and made inappropriate comments about her body.
Ohio mom who left toddler alone 10 days when she went on vacation pleads guilty to aggravated murder
An Ohio mother whose 16-month-old daughter died after being left home alone in a playpen for 10 days last summer while she went on vacation was sentenced Monday to life in prison with no chance of parole.
Retired teacher pleads guilty to paying for sex with 15-year-old in Collingwood, Ont.
In a Barrie courtroom on Monday, a retired high school teacher from the Niagara Region pleaded guilty to sexual touching and obtaining sexual services from a 15-year-old boy in Collingwood in 2021.
Hertz CEO out following electric car 'horror show'
The company, which announced in January it was selling 20,000 of the electric vehicles in its fleet, or about a third of the EVs it owned, is now replacing the CEO who helped build up that fleet, giving it the company’s fifth boss in just four years.
5 charged in Calgary kidnappings that targeted women
Calgary police have charged five men in a pair of kidnappings last year that targeted innocent victims.
Demand soars for solar eclipse glasses in Canada. Are they worth buying?
The demand for total solar eclipse glasses used to safely view the rare celestial event has been ramping up as sellers, along with astronomy and eye-care experts in Canada, warn that viewing the eclipse with the naked eye is dangerous.
Canadian commander of volunteer fighter group dies in Ukraine
A Canadian-born commander of the so-called Norman Brigade, a volunteer fighting group in Ukraine, has died.