From the Provincial Office of OSSTF
NEW BILLS INTRODUCED
BILL 71, LUNG HEALTH ACT
The bill, co-sponsored by Liberal MPP Ted McMeekin (Ancaster—Dundas—Flamborough—Westdale), PC MPP Jeff Yurek (Elgin—Middlesex—London) and NDP MPP France Gelinas (Nickel Belt) would establish the Lung Health Advisory Council. It would require the Minister of Health and Long Term Care to take into account the recommendations of the Council in regards to lung health issues. The bill has been fast-tracked through the first two readings and has been referred to the Standing Committee on Social Policy.
BILL 72, SAFE ROUNDABOUTS ACT
PC MPP Michael Harris (Kitchener—Conestoga) introduced a bill about regulations establishing rules of the road that apply to roundabouts. Before making a regulation, the Minister of Transportation must conduct a study about the safe use of roundabouts and must consult with members of the public.
BILL 73, REPRESENTATION AMENDMENT ACT (WAHNAPITAE FIRST NATION)
NDP MPP France Gelinas (Nickel Belt) is again seeking to change the electoral boundaries of the Wahnapitae First Nation’s reserve. Gelinas’ bill would move Wahnapitae to her riding of Nickel Belt rather than in the electoral district of Timiskaming—Cochrane.
BILL 74, TRANS DAY OF REMEMBRANCE ACT
NDP MPP Cheri DiNovo’s bill would proclaim November 20 in each year as the Trans Day of Remembrance. DiNovo’s bill would also require MPPs to observe a moment of silence in honour of trans people who have died as a result of anti-trans violence.
BILL 75, PUTTING VOTERS FIRST (ELECTION AMENDMENT)
In response to media reports that Energy Minister Glenn Thibeault sought favours from the Ontario Liberal Party before agreeing to leave the Federal New Democratic Party and run as a provincial Liberal candidate in the Sudbury 2015 by-election, NDP MPP Gilles Bisson (Timmins—James Bay) proposed Bill 75, Putting Voters First (Election Amendment) Act. Bisson’s bill would prohibit a person from accepting or applying for a bribe to become a candidate in an election, to refrain from doing so or to withdraw as a candidate in an election.
BILLS REFERRED TO COMMITTEE
BILL 7, PROMOTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING ACT, 2016
Minister of Housing, Chris Ballard’s (Newmarket—Aurora) bill to make more affordable housing available in Ontario passed 2nd Reading. The bill calls for inclusionary zoning so that more affordable units can be built. The bill has now been referred to the Standing Committee on Social Policy.
BILL 9, END AGE DISCRIMINATION AGAINST STROKE RECOVERY PATIENTS ACT, 2016
MPP Lorne Coe’s (Whitby—Oshawa) bill would ensure that any treatment recommended by a physician for a patient who is recovering from a stroke is provided to that patient promptly, regardless of the patient’s age. After languishing in committee for almost two months, Coe’s bill was re-ordered to Standing Committee on Regulations and Private Bills. This should ensure that Coe’s bill becomes law soon.
BILL 47, PROTECTING REWARDS POINTS ACT (CONSUMER PROTECTION AMENDMENT)
Liberal MPP Arthur Potts’ bill would protect consumers by prohibiting the expiration of rewards points. His bill was referred to the Standing Committee on Regulations and Private Bills.
BILL 57, KATELYNN’S PRINCIPLE ACT (DECISIONS AFFECTING CHILDREN)
NDP MPP Monique Taylor’s (Hamilton Mountain) proposed legislation would mandate that children be heard and involved in the decision-making process regarding issues of their well-being. Taylor’s bill received all-party support at 2nd Reading and was referred to the Standing Committee on Justice Policy.
BILL 67, AUDITOR GENERAL AMENDMENT ACT
PC MPP Norm Miller’s (Parry Sound—Muskoka) bill would permit the Auditor General to conduct special audits of public contractors. His bill passed 2nd Reading and was referred to the Standing Committee on the Legislative Assembly.
BILL 71, LUNG HEALTH ACT
(Please see in “Bills Introduced” Section)
BILLS PASSED
None passed this week.
IN OTHER NEWS
ONTARIO ALLIANCE AGAINST SCHOOL CLOSURE RALLY AT QUEEN’S PARK
A newly-formed group called The Ontario Alliance Against School Closures held a press conference and rally at Queen’s Park. The group wants a moratorium on school closures in the province. The group’s case was picked up in Question Period by both opposition parties. In defending the process of closing schools through the Accommodation Review Committees, Education Minister Mitzie Hunter (Scarborough—Guildwood) said, “I went through this process in my own community and, yes, the conversations were difficult. But what happened at the end of the day was that our students were actually able to move to other locations that had better programming, because we were able to take those investments and those savings and provide a more diverse set of options for students in terms of their programming. This is all about ensuring that we make the right sets of investments so that our students can get the best learning outcomes possible, and in order to do that, a decision has to be made locally.”
LIBERALS ANNOUNCE PUBLIC BUDGET CONSULTATIONS
As in past years, Finance Minister Charles Sousa (Mississauga South) announced his consultations for the 2017 Budget. Ontarians are being offered up to $3 million to help develop budget proposals in eight different policy areas, including education. The deadline for submissions is December 11, 2016.