On October 20, 2010, the Ontario government introduced Bill 122, the Broader Public Sector Accountability Act, 2010. The proposed legislation is intended to impose new rules and higher accountability standards for the broader public sector around the use of external lobbyists, consultants and expenses.

The proposed legislation would apply to hospitals and Local Health Integration Networks ("LHINs"), as well as school boards, colleges, universities, hydro entities, community care access centres, Children's Aid Societies and other public sector organizations that receive more than $10 million in government funding.

Specifically, the legislation would, if passed:

• include strict compliance provisions that may impact hospital and LHIN executives' compensation;
• expand freedom of information legislation to cover hospitals;
• require hospitals and LHINs to post expenses of senior executives online; and
• require hospitals and LHINs to report annually on their use of consultants.