FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TORONTO, August 9, 2011 – The Law Commission of Ontario (LCO) today released for public feedback a Draft Framework for the Law as it Affects Older Adults. When completed, the Framework will assist in evaluating new or existing laws, policies and practices to ensure that they take into account the circumstances and experiences of older persons, and that they promote positive outcomes for these members of society within the context of society as a whole. The LCO anticipates that the final Framework will be of benefit to legislators, policy-makers, advocacy organizations, community groups and service providers that deal with issues affecting older adults.

The Draft Framework is accompanied by an extensive Interim Report, which sets out the research and analysis on which the Draft Framework is based, and provides examples of how it might be applied.

“With the aging of Canada’s population, it is increasingly important that we have sound legal and policy approaches to issues affecting older Canadians”, said LCO Executive Director, Dr. Patricia Hughes. “While pioneering work has been done, there has not yet been a comprehensive, coherent and principled approach developed for this area of the law.”

Preliminary consultations on the development of the Framework were held in 2008. The LCO has conducted extensive research, including funding several expert research papers and co-hosting a major elder law conference in the fall of 2010. The LCO has established an expert Project Advisory Group consisting of academics, lawyers and other service providers, government representatives, advocates and seniors’ organizations.

Public consultations on the Draft Framework will run until Friday, November 18, 2011. Based on the results of those consultations, the LCO anticipates releasing a Final Framework and Report in early 2012. 

Launched in September 2007, the LCO, housed at Osgoode Hall Law School, York University, operates independently of government to recommend law reforms to enhance access to justice.

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Patricia Hughes
Executive Director
Law Commission of Ontario
(416) 650-8406
LawCommission@lco-cdo.org