The Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario (RNAO) is the professional association representing registered nurses (RNs) in all settings and roles across Ontario. It is the strong, credible voice leading the nursing profession to influence and promote healthy public policy. RNAO appreciates this opportunity to provide our written submission on Bill 135, Ryan’s Law (Ensuring Asthma Friendly Schools), 2013.

On December 17, 2013, RNAO sent an Open Letter to Premier Kathleen Wynne and key MPPs from all three parties, including members of the Standing Committee on Social Policy, with two key suggestions on improving student safety by strengthening Bill 135 (enclosed). RNAO reiterates the point made by MPPs from all three parties during debate that Ryan’s Law would be even stronger if it were to include other life-threatening conditions such as diabetes and epilepsy. Our hope is that a more comprehensive approach might prevent having to introduce another law that bears the name of another child’s tragic death—like Ryan’s Law or Sabrina’s Law.

The Registration Nurses’ Association of Ontario (RNAO) is the professional association representing registered nurses (RNs) working in all roles and sectors in Ontario. Our mandate is to promote healthy public policy and the role of nurses in shaping and delivering health services now and in the future. RNAO is pleased to provide a written submission to the Transitional Council of the College of Naturopaths of Ontario as part of the consultation process on a proposed controlled acts regulation.

Three recent ground breaking reports exemplify RNAO’s influential work: Primary Solutions for Primary Care; Enhancing Community Care for Ontarians (ECCO): A Three Year Plan; and RNAO’s Submission to the Government of Ontario’s Senior Care Strategy. The three, are central pillars to improve health system integration and ensure Ontario becomes a high-performing health system that achieves the ‘triple aims’ of improved patient experiences, enhanced population outcomes, and health system cost-effectiveness. The focus of these work is on locating care coordination and system navigation within primary care, with a strong emphasis on health promotion, disease prevention, chronic disease prevention and management, and mental health – resulting in a system that is upstream and more responsive to the public’s needs.

RNAO appreciates the opportunity to present this submission on Bill 13, An Act to amend the Educational Act with respect to bullying and other matters (or Accepting Schools Act, 2012) and Bill 14, An Act to designate Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week in Schools and to provide for bullying prevention curricula, policies and administrative accountability in schools (or Anti-Bullying Act, 2012) to the Standing Committee on Social Policy.