Functions of Commission
7. (1) The Commission shall, (a) promote respect for vulnerable persons and for their rights, freedoms, autonomy and dignity; (b) provide advocacy services, (i) to help individual vulnerable persons to express and act on their wishes, ascertain and exercise their rights, speak on their own behalf, engage in mutual aid and form organizations to advance their interests, and (ii) to help individual vulnerable persons who are incapable of instructing an advocate, if there are reasonable grounds to believe that there is a risk of serious harm to the health or safety of those persons; (c) provide advocacy services to help vulnerable persons to bring about systemic changes at the governmental, legal, social, economic and institutional levels; (d) provide rights advice and other advocacy services required by the Consent and Capacity Statute Law Amendment Act, 1992, the Consent to Treatment Act, 1992, the Mental Health Act and the Substitute Decisions Act, 1992; (e) ensure that community development strategies are applied in the provision of advocacy services; (f) ensure that advocacy services are provided in a manner that takes into account the religion, culture and traditions of vulnerable persons; (g) ensure that aboriginal communities are enabled to provide their own advocacy services whenever possible; (h) acknowledge, encourage and enhance individual, family and community support for the security and well-being of vulnerable persons; (i) conduct programs of public information and education about the Commission and the services it provides; (j) conduct programs of public information and education about vulnerable persons and their rights, freedoms, autonomy and dignity; (k) establish minimum qualifications, standards and a code of conduct for advocates; (l) establish criteria and procedures applicable to, (i) the authorization of community agencies under subsection (2) to perform functions on behalf of the Commission, (ii) the authorization of persons under subsection (4) to provide advocacy services on behalf of the Commission, and (iii) the suspension or revocation of an authorization under subsection (4); (m) establish, subject to the approval of the Minister, and make available to any person on request, a written review procedure for dealing with complaints from any person relating to advocates; (n) provide training programs to advocates; (o) ensure that advocates and community agencies comply with the procedures and standards established by the regulations made under this Act. Non-profit community agencies (2) The Commission may authorize non-profit community agencies that do not provide services to vulnerable persons, other than advocacy services, to perform functions set out in clauses (1)(a), (b), (c), (d), (h), (j) and (n) on behalf of the Commission, subject to such terms and conditions as the Commission considers appropriate. Grants (3) The Commission may make grants to community agencies for the purpose of this Act. Authorization of advocates (4) The Commission may authorize a person who works for the Commission or a community agency, whether on a paid or voluntary basis, to provide advocacy services on behalf of the Commission, subject to such terms and conditions as the Commission considers appropriate. Suspension or revocation (5) The Commission may suspend or revoke an authorization under subsection (2) or (4). Public information and education (6) The programs of public information and education required by clauses (1)(i) and (j) shall be conducted for, (a) vulnerable persons; (b) family members of vulnerable persons; (c) persons who provide care and services to vulnerable persons; (d) the general public. Review procedure (7) A review procedure established under clause (1)(m) shall provide that the complainant may require a review of the complaint by a review committee that is composed of, (a) two persons who are members of the Commission, selected by the chair of the Commission; (b) two persons selected by the advisory committee established under clause 11(1)(a), who may be members of that committee or may be members of the public; and (c) one person who is appointed by the Minister. Same (8) A review procedure established under clause (1)(m) shall provide that a complainant who is not satisfied with the result of a review under subsection (7) may request a further review of the matter by the chair of the Commission. 1992, c.26, s.7.