What is The Vulnerable Persons Act?

 

On October 4, 1996, a law came into force in Manitoba called The Vulnerable Persons Living with a Mental Disability Act (the act). 

The act was developed to promote and protect the rights of adults living with a mental disability who need assistance to meet their basic needs. The legislation defines these Manitobans as "vulnerable persons". Prior to 1996 these individuals were covered under The Mental Health Act.

For more information see the brochure on The Vulnerable Persons Living with a Mental Disability Act. 

The Five Guiding Principles:

The act is based on the following five guiding principles:  

  1.  are presumed to have the capacity to make decisions are presumed to have the capacity to make decisions on matters affecting their lives, unless demonstrated otherwise.
  2. Adults with intellectual disabilities should be encouraged to make their own decisions.
  3. An adult with intellectual disabilities' support network should be encouraged to assist them in making decisions to enhance their independence and self-determination.
  4. Assistance with decision making should be provided in a manner which respects the privacy and dignity of the adult with intellectual disabilities and should be the least restrictive and least intrusive form of assistance that is appropriate in the circumstances.
  5. Substitute decision making should be invoked only as a last resort when an adult with an intellectual disability needs decisions to be made and is unable to make these decisions, either by themselves or with the involvement of members of their support network.

Five Guiding Principles Poster 

The Five Guiding Principles Poster
Publication by Community Living – Manitoba

Key Provisions of the act

Community Living disABILITY Services is for Part 2: Support Services and Part 3: Protection and Emergency Intervention sections of the act. For more information please visit the Community Living disABILITY Services website. The Office of the Vulnerable Persons Commissioner is responsible for Part 4: Substitute Decision Making.

Protection of Privacy

The personal and health information requested is being collected under the authority of The Vulnerable Persons Living with a Mental Disability Act for the purposes of administering the Substitute Decision Making provisions under Part 4 of the act.

The information collected is protected by the privacy provisions of The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA), The Personal Health Information Act (PHIA) and The Vulnerable Persons Living with a Mental Disability Act.

If you have any questions about the collection of personal information and personal health information, please contact:

Families Access and Privacy Coordinator
Manitoba Families
2nd Floor, 114 Garry Street
Winnipeg MB R3C 4V6
Telephone: 204-945-2013