On Behalf of the MSAA: Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) Annual Consultation Requirement
August 6, 2026
The Ministry for Seniors and Accessibility (MSAA) has provided clarity on the policy intent of subsection 27(2) of O.Reg. 166/11 under the Retirement Homes Act, 2010. Licensees are required to consult with the local Medical Officer of Health, or with a person designated by the local Medical Officer of Health, about identifying and addressing health care issues in the retirement home. Required on an ongoing basis and at least annually, the purpose of this consultation is to reduce the incidence of infectious disease outbreaks in retirement homes.
Licensees are responsible for consulting directly with the local Medical Officer of Health or with a person designated by the local Medical Officer of Health. A licensee may consult with their local Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) Hub to fulfill this requirement only where the local Medical Officer of Health has designated the Hub (or one or more individuals in the Hub).
It is recommended that this designation be provided in writing to licensees and reference the relevant provision of O.Reg. 166/11, though practices may vary across public health units. This will support compliance verification by RHRA inspectors.
The Ministry of Health will be providing information to public health units and IPAC Hubs to support this clarification. The RHRA is asking licensees to reach out to their local public health unit to confirm whether future consultation to fulfill subsection 27(2) of O.Reg. 166/11 is with the local Medical Officer of Health, or a designate, and seek this information in writing.
Licensees who have previously relied on local IPAC hubs to fulfill this requirement have until December 31, 2026, to reach out to their local public health unit to receive direction on who to consult. As this consultation is required annually, licensees who have not contacted or met with a public health unit within the last year may be cited upon inspection if they are unable to demonstrate attempts to arrange a consultation.
Beyond this requirement, continued engagement between licensees and their local IPAC Hubs is strongly encouraged as they can provide support that strengthen IPAC programs and practices in retirement homes.