I’d like to thank the member for raising this important issue and giving us the opportunity to discuss how our government is enacting the Defibrillator Registration and Public Access Act, DRPAA. Our government is currently working on the registry for the Defibrillator Registration and Public Access Act.

For those that don’t know, defibrillation is a treatment for life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias, specifically ventricular fibrillation and non-perfusing ventricular tachycardia. A defibrillator delivers a dose of electric current to the heart. What we are really talking about is an AED, an automatic external defibrillator, which means that it automatically detects if someone is in a shockable rhythm and it speaks to the individual operating the device to tell them what to do. The usability of these devices by anyone is what makes these devices so valuable for saving lives.

We are all proud of the work of my colleague parliamentary assistant Robin Martin, MPP for Eglinton–Lawrence, whose leadership on defibrillators is making a difference for ours and future generations. Starting back in 2019, the MPP from Eglinton–Lawrence brought forward this important bill. After a lot of hard work, she was able to get all-party support for this important legislation and it passed in June of 2020.

The act imposes certain requirements respecting the installation, maintenance, testing and availability of defibrillators on designated premises or public premises. Although during the pandemic, our focus was on addressing the pressing issues of COVID-19, we are now well on our way to making this registry a reality. Our government is currently prioritizing the policy work and due diligence required to implement this act, with steady progress being made.

Although already, through extensive consultations, we have heard from more than 100 individual and organizational stakeholders from varied sectors. In addition, we sought supplementary feedback through a comprehensive online survey that received over 110 responses. Ensuring that this is done right is important with this legislation, as no one wants unintended consequences from rushed regulations or framework. We look forward to a program that will be welcomed by all parties, and that is why we are taking the time to get it right.

Let’s be clear: We welcome opposition support for this bill. It is one of the things we can all agree upon. At the heart of our government’s work is providing the people of Ontario with high-quality and responsive health care when and where they need it. We know that every second counts, and AEDs, when used in conjunction with CPR within three to five minutes after a cardiac arrest, can double survival rates. We are immensely grateful to the businesses, organizations and communities that have installed AEDs in their public spaces.

The Defibrillator Registration and Public Access Act would impose requirements on the installation, maintenance, testing and availability of AEDs on certain premises to ensure public access to these devices. It comes into force on a day to be named by proclamation of the Lieutenant Governor. We are now analyzing this valuable input to shape options for the act’s implementation.

We believe that defibrillators can save lives. That is why our government is dedicated to implementing the DRPAA in a responsive and measured way, helping to connect more Ontarians to AEDs wherever they live, work or play.

A constituent of mine, Brian Patterson, the president and CEO of the Ontario Safety League, said to me, “Public access to defibrillators has proven to save lives and has become a key element in the community safety network. They are simple to use and provide instantaneous value.”

Our government will continue to work to ensure that public access to defibrillators will be enacted, as per the Defibrillator Registration and Public Access Act.

Report continues in volume B.