Just over a month ago I said right here on Slaw [1],
…government officials [2] should also review legislation [3] relating to liability of public apologies [4] so that responsible companies like Maple Leaf are not penalized [5] in the process.
It seems someone was paying attention.
A new proposed law [6] would address this issue. The Ministry of the Attorney General of Ontario said in a release today,
The Apology Act would, if passed:
- Allow individuals and organizations, such as hospitals and other public institutions, to apologize for an accident or wrongdoing, without it being used as evidence of liability in a civil legal proceeding under provincial law
- Help victims by acknowledging that harm has been done to them — an apology is often key to the healing process
- Promote accountability, transparency and patient safety by allowing open and frank discussions between patients and health care providers
- Enhance the affordability and speed of the justice system by fostering the resolution of civil disputes and shortening or avoiding litigation.
B.C., Manitoba, and Saskatchewan have already enacted similar legislation [7].
Michel-Adrien Sheppard [8] covered [9] this topic earlier in the year.