This Week at Queen’s Park
The main focus of all parties this week in the Legislative Assembly has been the provincial budget, which was released on Wednesday afternoon.
As set out in our email to members sent Wednesday, the budget signals the government's willingness to increase spending and run a deficit for the time ahead.
General highlights of the budget announcements include:
Absent from the budget was any specific funding to accommodate the recently announced additional judicial appointments for Ontario.
Budget Reaction and Next Steps
For their part, the provincial opposition parties voiced displeasure with the budget. The provincial PCs pointed to concerns regarding deficit spending, while the provincial NDP suggested the government’s policy choices don’t go far enough to assist Ontarians.
Following the budget’s release, the Minister of Finance introduced a budget bill in the Legislature. The OBA Policy & Public Affairs department will be working with members and Section Executives in the coming days to review and analyze the bill’s contents.
Law Society of Upper Canada
Convocation meets next on April 26, 2018.
Legislation
NOTABLE GOVERNMENT BILLS (UPDATES FOR THIS WEEK)
Bill Number & Name |
Status
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Bill 3, Pay Transparency Act, 2018
Flynn, Hon Kevin Daniel
Minister of Labour
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March 26, 28 – Second reading debate.
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Bill 6, Correctional Services Transformation Act, 2018
Lalonde, Hon Marie-France
Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services
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March 27, 29 – Second reading debate.
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Bill 31, Plan for Care and Opportunity Act (Budget Measures), 2018
Sousa, Hon CharlesMinister of Finance
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March 28 – First reading carried.
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NOTABLE PRIVATE MEMBERS BILLS (UPDATES FOR THIS WEEK)
Bill 21, Liability for Climate-Related Harms Act, 2018
Tabuns, Peter
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March 26 – First Reading.
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Bill 22, Prohibiting Driving with Unlawful Handguns Act, 2018
Colle, Mike
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March 26 – First Reading.
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Bill 23, Aggregate Recycling Promotion Act, 2018
Jones, Sylvia
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March 27 – First Reading.
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Bill 24, Pathways to Post-secondary Excellence Act (Post-secondary Educational Report), 2018
Baker, Yvan
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March 27 – First Reading.
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Bill 26, Fee Waivers (Photo Card and Birth Certificate) Act, 2018
Kiwala, Sophie
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March 27 – First Reading.
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Bill 27, Stop the Calls Act, 2018
Baker, Yvan
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March 27 – First Reading.
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Bill 28, What You See is What You Pay Act (Consumer Protection Amendment), 2018
Baker, Yvan
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March 27 – First Reading.
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Regulations
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Police Record Checks Reform Act, 2015 Exemptions and Operational Requirements
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This proposal describes the specific types of screening that are being considered for exemption from the Police Record Checks Reform Act, 2015. If approved, police record checks conducted for these types of screening would not have to follow certain requirements set out in the legislation. It also includes operational procedures and protocols that providers would be required to follow when conducting police record checks under the Police Record Checks Reform Act, 2015.
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Comments Due Date: April 9, 2018
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Public Appointments Available