Ontario Caregiver Coalition
The voice of family caregivers
Submissions
The Ontario Caregiver Coalition regularly provides submissions to government on issues of importance to caregivers, whether to provide advice and recommendations to government as it prepares its budget, to provide input on legislation or regulations, or to respond to public consultations. Below you will find some of our recent submissions.
OHRC Family Status Consultation Submission 2026
The OHRC is now in the process of updating the Policy to reflect the changing context of caregiving in Ontario. The OCC collaborated with a number of our member organizations to provide a detailed and comprehensive submission to the OHRC, recommending changes to strengthen its interpretation of the Code to better protect caregivers.
The OCC Submission covered a broad range of issues, including reinforcing that caregiving is a human rights issue that deserves serious attention, recognizing that the lack of support for caregivers, and for those they care for, creates systemic barriers for caregivers in accessing work, housing and services and bringing a broad interpretation to the restrictive definition of “family status” in the Code, specifically addressing Indigenous understandings of care, the effects of colonialism and anti-Indigenous racism on access to supports for caregivers, and the importance of Indigenous caregivers receiving supports in a manner that is culturally safe and respects connections to community.
The OHRC anticipates releasing a revised Policy in late 2026 or early 2027.
Pre Budget Submission 2026
The Ontario Caregiver Coalition's 2026 Pre Budget Submission is focused on directly impacting caregiver financial distress, mental health services, and the need for respite for caregivers. The pre-budget submissions call for the creation of an Ontario Caregiver Support Benefit, a comprehensive respite strategy to guide the development of that system, and allocating additional funding to expand Ontario's existing mental health services for caregivers while improving access to essential home and community care for all.
Pre Budget Submission 2025
The Ontario Caregiver Coalition's 2025 Pre Budget Submission is focused on directly impacting caregiver financial distress, mental health services, and the need for respite for caregivers. The pre-budget submissions call for the creation of an Ontario Caregiver Support Benefit, a comprehensive respite strategy to guide the development of that system, and allocating additional funding to expand Ontario's existing mental health services for caregivers.
Pre Budget Submission 2024
The Ontario Caregiver Coalition's 2024 Pre Budget Submission is focused on directly impacting caregiver financial distress and needs. It highlights a new approach for how support programs for family caregivers should be developed and how access to existing programs can be increased. The submissions also address the ongoing need to strengthen home and community care.
Pre Budget Submission 2023
The Ontario Caregiver Coalition's 2023 Pre Budget Submission focused on addressing caregiver financial distress, a top policy priority for caregivers which has only become more pressing with the cost of living crisis and the pressures on Ontario's home and community care systems.
Submission on the Home and Community Care Regulations
In 2021, the Ontario government sought public feedback on revisions to the regulations under the Home and Community Care Act. The OCC recommended a number of measures to expand the remit of homemaking services, enable advocacy by caregivers for their loved ones, and strengthen self-directed care programs.