That's a wrap.
The legislature has officially risen for the year, with MPPs scheduled to return to the Pink Palace on Feb. 22. Legislators pushed through several bills this week, with some receiving the final stamp of approval to become law.
The government's final tally for the whole year is the passage of 42 bills — 20 government bills and 22 private members’ bills.
"While there is still much work to be done, I am very pleased with the progress that we have made this year," Government House Leader Paul Calandra said in a statement on Friday. "We will continue to deliver on our commitment to protecting our progress, building Ontario and working for workers to build a brighter and more prosperous future for all Ontarians."
Yesterday, Calandra informed the house that upon their return in February, MPPs will be considering a government motion about the "exciting broadcast standards of this place, based on the hard work of the Legislative Assembly committee." The proposed updates include having the MPP the Speaker has recognized to speak be the focus of the camera shot and having a sign language interpreter appear on the the screen if the house approves.
The minister also used his floor time to thank his colleagues and staff and wish them well for the holidays.
"Finally, just to say a very merry Christmas, happy holidays and season’s greetings to everyone here," he said. "None of us signed up for what we have had to go through over the last number of months, but I would think that all members of Parliament, even the ones that I very much disagree with, have risen to the occasion and have represented their communities very, very well. It is an absolute honour to serve with all of you. Thank you."
Private members' business coming up (Feb. 22–25, 2022)
Second reading of <a href="https://www.ola.org/en/legislative-business/bills/parliament-42/session-2/bill-76" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bill 76, the Lifejackets for Life Act</a>, which would require that adults ensure children 12 and under wear a personal flotation device or lifejacket while on a recreational boat or when using water equipment while being towed behind a boat. The bill was introduced by PC MPP Norm Miller.
Second reading of <a href="https://www.ola.org/en/legislative-business/bills/parliament-42/session-2/bill-78" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bill 78, the Police Services Amendment Act, </a>which was introduced this week by PC MPP Mike Harris. The bill would enable municipal police officers and First Nations Constables be named to the rank of commissioned officers.
Bills last week (Dec. 6–9, 2021)
Several pieces of government legislation and private members' bills became law this week.
Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy's <a href="https://www.ola.org/en/legislative-business/bills/parliament-42/session-2/bill-43" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bill 43, the Build Ontario Act</a>, which enacts two new statutes and amends 19 others to implement measures outlined in the fall economic statement (FES), received royal assent on Dec. 9. The document enacts a slew of measures including an increase to the minimum wage, a <a href="https://www.qpbriefing.com/2021/11/04/fes-2021-pcs-make-2022-campaign-themes-clear/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">staycation tax credit</a> and <a href="https://www.qpbriefing.com/2021/11/04/fes-2021-government-lays-out-post-vaccination-health-care-approach/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">more funding for home and community care and mental health supports</a>. The FES also<a href="https://www.qpbriefing.com/2021/11/04/fes-2021-ontarios-deficit-curtailed-in-fords-growth-reliant-economic-update/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> projected a $21.5 billion deficit</a> this year, but didn't include details on a number of the Progressive Conservatives' outstanding <a href="https://www.qpbriefing.com/2021/11/04/fes-2021-no-cuts-to-gas-prices-hydro-bills-or-middle-class-taxes-despite-promises/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">campaigns promises</a>.
Long-Term Care Minister Rod Phillips' <a href="https://www.ola.org/en/legislative-business/bills/parliament-42/session-2/bill-37/status" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bill 37, the Providing More Care, Protecting Seniors, and Building More Beds Act</a>, also received royal assent on Dec. 9. The legislation <a href="https://www.qpbriefing.com/2021/10/28/pc-government-introduces-bill-to-sure-up-long-term-care/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sets out annual targets of the personal care</a> long-term care residents are to receive per day, creates a new long-term care supervisor position, allows the minister and ministry directors to suspend a home's licence and contains new provincial offences.
The government had said the legislation will boost enforcement and oversight in the sector that saw thousands of resident deaths during the pandemic, but critics have called some of the proposed measures "<a href="https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-ontarios-proposed-long-term-care-fines-toothless-critics-say/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">toothless</a>." You can read more about the passing of this legislation <a href="https://www.qpbriefing.com/2021/12/07/ontarios-pcs-pass-bill-remodelling-the-provinces-long-term-care/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.
PC MPP Lorne Coe's <a href="https://www.ola.org/en/legislative-business/bills/parliament-42/session-2/bill-51" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bill 51, the Provincial Day of Service Act</a>, which would proclaim Sept. 11 as the Provincial Day of Service, was referred to the Standing Committee on Regulations and Private Bills.
PC MPP Rudy Cuzzetto's <a href="https://www.ola.org/en/legislative-business/bills/parliament-42/session-2/bill-50" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bill 50, the Hungarian Heritage Month Act</a>, which would proclaim the month of October in each year as Hungarian Heritage Month, was also referred to the Standing Committee on Regulations and Private Bills.
<a href="https://www.ola.org/en/legislative-business/bills/parliament-42/session-2/bill-34" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bill 34, the Anti-Asian Racism Education Month Act</a>, which was tabled by PC MPP Vincent Ke and would proclaim May each year as "Anti-Asian Racism Education Month," received royal assent on Dec. 9. Asked about her message to those who might view bills like this as purely symbolic, NDP MPP Bhutila Karpoche said "people understand the power of symbols" in such bills. "We need both (symbols and actions). If we can have movement on one, let's go for it. And in moving ahead with more of these symbolic bills will also help us move faster on the action piece," she said.
<a href="https://www.ola.org/en/legislative-business/bills/parliament-42/session-2/bill-18" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bill 18, Polish Heritage Month</a>, which would proclaim the month of May as Polish Heritage Month, received royal assent on Dec. 9. It was tabled by PC MPPs John Yakabuski and Christine Hogarth.
MPP Daisy Wai's <a href="https://www.ola.org/en/legislative-business/bills/parliament-42/session-2/bill-9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bill 9, the Non-Profit Sector Appreciation Week Act</a>, which would proclaim the third week in February each year as "Non-Profit Sector Appreciation Week," also became law on Dec. 9.
<a href="https://www.ola.org/en/legislative-business/bills/parliament-42/session-2/bill-82" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bill 82, the Day of Remembrance and Action Against Anti-Asian Racism Act</a>, was introduced by NDP MPPs Terence Kernaghan, Chris Glover, Jessica Bell and Karpoche. The bill proposes to proclaim May 10 in each year as the Day of Remembrance and Action Against Anti-Asian Racism.
NDP MPP Jeff Burch tabled <a href="https://www.ola.org/en/legislative-business/bills/parliament-42/session-2/bill-81" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bill 81, the Protecting Vulnerable Persons in Supportive Living Accommodation Act</a>, which would require people operating supportive living accommodations in some instances to have a government-issued licence.
Liberal MPP Mitzie Hunter introduced <a href="https://www.ola.org/en/legislative-business/bills/parliament-42/session-2/bill-80" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bill 80, the Local Choice for Local Elections Act (Ranked Ballot By-Laws)</a>, which would allow municipal councils to pass a by-law to bring in a ranked ballot system for local elections.
Karpoche tabled <a href="https://www.ola.org/en/legislative-business/bills/parliament-42/session-2/bill-79" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bill 79, the Right to Timely Mental Health and Addiction Care for Children and Youth Act</a>, which would require the government to ensure anyone under 26 who needs mental health or addiction support has access to services within 30 days.
NDP MPPs Kernaghan, Faisal Hassan, Doly Begum and Tom Rakocevic introduced <a href="https://www.ola.org/en/legislative-business/bills/parliament-42/session-2/bill-77" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bill 77, the Ontario Consumer Watchdog Act</a>, which would require the government to establish an independent consumer watchdog organization to oversee consumer protection matters in the province.
<a href="https://www.ola.org/en/legislative-business/bills/parliament-42/session-2/bill-75" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bill 75, the Emancipation Month Act, was introduced this week and also received royal assent on Dec. 9</a>, meaning the month of August each year will be proclaimed as Emancipation Month. The legislation was an all-party bill, tabled by Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner, Liberal MPP Hunter, PC MPP Andrea Khanjin and NDP MPP Laura Mae Lindo.
NDP MPP Bell introduced <a href="https://www.ola.org/en/legislative-business/bills/parliament-42/session-2/bill-74" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bill 74, the Mount Pleasant Public Cemeteries Act</a>, which would have the Mount Pleasant Group of Cemeteries to continue as a corporation without share capital under the name Mount Pleasant Public Cemeteries.
NDP MPP Jennie Stevens tabled <a href="https://www.ola.org/en/legislative-business/bills/parliament-42/session-2/bill-73" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bill 73, the Long-Term Care Homes Amendment Act (Preference for Veterans)</a>. The bill would require the government to ensure veterans are given  preference in admission to long-term care homes.
<a href="https://www.ola.org/en/legislative-business/bills/parliament-42/session-2/bill-72" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bill 72, the St. James Town Act (Residential Tenancies Amendments)</a>, was tabled by NDP MPP Suze Morrison. The bill makes several changes to the Residential Tenancies Act including that landlords of residential complexes with 10 or more units deposit a percentage of all rent into an account and use that money for repairs.
Karpoche also tabled <a href="https://www.ola.org/en/legislative-business/bills/parliament-42/session-2/bill-70" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bill 70, the Four-Day Work Week Act</a>, which would establish a commission tasked with developing recommendations to implement a pilot project to determine the effectiveness of a four-day work week.
NDP MPP France Gélinas tabled <a href="https://www.ola.org/en/legislative-business/bills/parliament-42/session-2/bill-68" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bill 68, the Speaking Out About Workplace Violence and Workplace Harassment Act</a>, which would protect workers against reprisal if they speak out about workplace violence and workplace harassment.
<a href="https://www.ola.org/en/legislative-business/bills/parliament-42/session-2/bill-58" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bill 58, the Endometriosis Awareness Month Act</a>, which was tabled by NDP MPP Marit Stiles received royal assent on Dec. 9. The bill would proclaim the month of March as Endometriosis Awareness Month.
Second reading of <a href="https://www.ola.org/en/legislative-business/bills/parliament-42/session-2/bill-52" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bill 52, the Stopping Illegal Handgun Smuggling Act</a>, which would crack down on illegal handguns being smuggled into Ontario, was defeated at second reading. It was tabled by NDP MPPs Peter Tabuns, Begum, Rima Berns-McGown and Morrison.
<a href="https://www.ola.org/en/legislative-business/bills/parliament-42/session-2/bill-71" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bill 71, the Keeping Students Safe on School Buses Act (Highway Traffic Amendment)</a>, which was tabled by Liberal MPP Kathleen Wynne, would make it mandatory to have three-point seat belts on forward-facing seats on school buses.
Wynne also tabled <a href="https://www.ola.org/en/legislative-business/bills/parliament-42/session-2/bill-69" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bill 69, the Education Statute Law Amendment Act (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder)</a>, which would require boards of education to develop policies and guidelines with respect to Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and teachers' colleges and early childhood education programs to provide training on this.
Other legislation that was passed during the fall session includes:
<ul>
<li class="x_MsoNormal">Bill 5, York Region Wastewater Act, 2021</li>
<li class="x_MsoNormal">Bill 13, Supporting People and Businesses Act, 2021</li>
<li class="x_MsoNormal">Bill 27, Working for Workers Act, 2021</li>
<li class="x_MsoNormal">Bill 38, Remembrance Week Amendment Act, 2021</li>
</ul>
With files from Charlie Pinkerton

Bills last week: Legislature rises until 2022 following passage of several bills

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