Legislative Review
The final report of the review of the Dependent Adults Act and the Personal Directives Act was released in January 2007.
Amendments to the Personal Directives Act have been passed by the Alberta Legislature and will be proclaimed on June 30. The changes, including a new voluntary registry, are expected to take effect in Spring 2008. The Personal Directives Act allows Albertans to prepare written instructions in case they become incapable of making those decisions later.
Legislation to replace the Dependent Adults Act was introduced in the Alberta legislature on June 2, 2008. The Adult Guardianship and Trusteeship Act (Bill 24) has been referred to the all-party Standing Committee on Health.
Read the final report of the legislative review
.
Summaries of consultation phases:
Phase One: Questionnaire
June/July 2005
In June 2005, the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) and the Office of the Public Trustee (OPT) distributed a questionnaire to private guardians, private trustees, family members and legal advisors of dependent adults, health care providers and community groups. Albertans who were interested in completing the questionnaire could also do so online. Over 3,500 responses and eight formal written submissions were received during Phase One.
Phase Two: Public Consultation Sessions
October/November 2005
Public consultation sessions were held in eight locations across Alberta in the fall of 2005. Participants in these sessions include private guardians and trustees, parents of dependent adults, social workers, doctors, nurses, health care providers, legal professionals and private citizens. The feedback from these sessions helped frame the questions for the detailed stakeholder discussion guide and questionnaire.
Phase Three: Stakeholder Consultation Questionnaire and Consultation Sessions
December 2005/January 2006
Two questionnaires, one general and one detailed, were sent to stakeholders in December 2005 and January 2006. Stakeholders also participated in consultation sessions in January 2006. These sessions were held in Edmonton, Calgary and Red Deer and included lawyers, service providers in the developmental disability and mental health fields, health care and long-term care professionals, trustees, guardians and Aboriginal groups. Over 450 stakeholders participated in the consultations through the focus groups and questionnaires.
A summary report of the online detailed questionnaire, primarily about trusteeship issues, is also available for your information.
Feedback from the Detailed Questionnaire for Stakeholders
Phase Four: Dependent Adult Focus Groups
March 2006
Ten focus groups were scheduled with dependent adults who have guardians to gain their unique input on this legislation. Self advocates, people with developmental disabilities who are speaking on their own behalf, were also included in the sessions.
