Submissions and Legislative Updates

A First for Ontario Legislature: MPPs can now speak Indigenous languages at Queen's Park. While members were previously allowed to only speak either English or French, an amendment passed Tuesday allows them to also address the Speaker in an Indigenous language spoken in Canada. If members wish to do so, they must notify the clerk ahead of time so interpretation and translation services can be made available.

Lawsuit Over Basic Income Cancellation: The province is facing a class action lawsuit for the cancellation of its basic income pilot project. Law firm Cavalluzzo LLP says the suit, brought forward by 4,000 people who took part in the project, claims damages for the sudden cancellation in 2018 by the Ford government. The suit is seeking damages up to $200 million.

Action! Very Soon: Housing Minister Paul Calandra says he expects to introduce the spring housing bill “very soon.” In this case, “very soon” means after the March 26 budget. “I think there are some issues the budget will help facilitate, so we’ll do it after,” he told reporters at Queen’s Park. The Ford government introduces a new Housing Supply Action Plan every spring as it aims to boost supply to reach its goal of 1.5 million new homes by 2031.

B-Day at Queen’s Park: Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy will table the next Ontario budget on March 26. In a post on X Thursday morning, he said the budget will outline how the government is “rebuilding Ontario's economy without raising taxes and fees or putting more burden on businesses and municipalities." The OBA will have full coverage of the budget and how it impacts lawyers, as well as information about relevant policy initiatives. Stay tuned!

Remembering Brian Mulroney: Premier Doug Ford is remembering the late Brian Mulroney as a “mentor” and advisor”. “You wanna talk about leadership? You wanna talk about trailblazers, visionaries? That was Brian Mulroney,” Ford said of the former prime minister who passed away on Thursday at the age of 84.

Repeal Reveal: The provincial government quietly repealed Bill 124 on Friday morning through an Order in Council, which it says was permitted through the legislation. Bill 124 capped salary increases for public sector workers. It was struck down as unconstitutional and the Court of Appeal upheld that decision. 

Bill 124 Very Repealing: The province says it will repeal a wage-cap law on public sector workers that the Court of Appeal found unconstitutional on Monday. Bill 124 capped salary increases for public sector workers at one per cent a year for three years. It was struck down as unconstitutional and the Court of Appeal upheld that decision.

Breakfast at Dougie’s: Ontario Premier Doug Ford met with his Alberta counterpart for a “working breakfast” at his home in Etobicoke, this week. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is facing criticism after introducing provincial legislation that, among other things, prohibits anyone under 18 from undergoing gender-affirming surgeries.

Courthouse expansion? Check: The Ontario government has announced the completed expansion of the Brampton courthouse. The $117 million investment in the expansion of the courthouse – one of the busiest in the province – includes six additional floors with 18 new hearing rooms, upgraded security features, and improved accessibility spaces. The government says the courthouse also boasts enhanced technology to support more virtual hearings.

Pedal down on privatization plans: The province has unveiled the next steps in their plans to ramp up the role of for-profit and private clinics in Ontario’s healthcare system. Starting in the spring, the province will begin expanding the number of licensed diagnostic and surgery centres offering things such as MRI and CT scans, endoscopies and orthopedic surgeries. The legislation the changes come under — Bill 60 — was tabled by the Ford government as a way to, hopefully, cut waiting times.