The Ontario government will soon table legislation to clamp down on privacy breaches like alleged violation of former mayor Rob Ford (open Rob Ford's policard)’s medical records, says Health Minister Eric Hoskins.

“Next to health care itself there are few things more important to my ministry than protecting the privacy of individuals,” Hoskins said Wednesday.

“We need to give Ontarians confidence that their privacy is being respected and protected. We need to do a better job, all of us, at that. That’s what this pending legislation will address,” he said.

His comments came after the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner Brian Beamish recommended that two health professionals from the University Health Network be prosecuted after Ford’s medical files were allegedly accessed.

“I know he’s already provided some very specific recommendations with regards to referral of specific incidents and individuals for potential prosecution,” Hoskins said, referring to Beamish.

“This has been a very high priority for me . . . when there was an incident of a privacy breach at one of our hospitals in the fall I reached out to then-acting commissioner Beamish to speak to him about that, get his feedback.

“I met with him following his report and recommendations more generally in terms of privacy protections.”

To that end, Hoskins promised a new Electronic Personal Health Information Act (EPHIPA) and possible strengthening of the Personal Health Information Act (PHIPA).

“So, shortly we’re going to be re-introducing EPHIPA, the privacy legislation that pertains . . . specifically to this issue that we’re talking about,” the health minister said.

“We’re looking very carefully at (Beamish’s) recommendations and I want to assure Ontarians that we’re going to be making sure that legislation provides the maximum protection.

“As we reintroduce EPHIPA, that gives us an opportunity to look at all of those issues that he’s addressed and if necessary that may reflect back on PHIPA.”

Hoskins, who has met with Beamish to discuss the issue, said “there’s a wide spectrum of breaches that take place.”

“Many of them accidentally, but some of them egregious,” he said.

Attorney General Madeleine Meilleur, meanwhile, confirmed her department had received Beamish’s referral urging the prosecution of the two health-care workers at UHN.

“It’s a recommendation to the ministry and then the process will follow according to the report,” said Meilleur.

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“I don’t know when this will happen. We received it on (March 23) and we’re on the 25th today,” the attorney general said last week.

“But the process will be followed.”