The legislature will sit for just two days next week as MPPs have Monday and Tuesday off to attend the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) conference in Ottawa.

Upcoming bills (Aug. 17-18, 2022)

Speaking of municipalities — the strong mayors bill will be a focal point of house debate when they return.

Government House Leader Paul Calandra told MPPs they'll spend Wednesday morning and afternoon debating Bill 3, the Strong Mayors, Building Homes Act, which gives mayors — initially those of Toronto and Ottawa — veto power over council decisions that conflict with provincial priorities, subject an override by their councils with a two-thirds majority. On Thursday morning and afternoon, they'll debate Bill 2, Plan to Build Act (budget measures), which includes changes to the Low-income Individuals and Families Tax credit.

Opposition day and private members' business coming up (Aug. 17-18, 2022)

None.

Committees (Aug. 17-18, 2022)

Several committees will be meeting to get organized: the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs, the Standing Committee on Justice Policy, the Standing Committee on Heritage, Infrastructure and Cultural Policy, the Standing Committee on Government Agencies, and the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs.

Bills last week (Aug. 8-11, 2022)

The first week of the new session saw six bills introduced. The first, as is tradition, is Bill 1, An Act to perpetuate an ancient parliamentary right, which asserts the legislature's independence from the Crown. It was tabled by the premier.

Bill 2, is the budget bill summarized above, which is the same as the legislation tabled by the finance minister before the house rose for the election.

Bill 3 is the strong mayors bill, described above.

The other three were private member's bills, each of which passed first reading.

Bill 4, the Stay Home If You Are Sick Act, is a private member's bill reintroduced by NDP MPP Peggy Sattler that would give workers 10 days of emergency leave a year, seven of which must be paid, among other things.

Bill 5, the Stopping Harassment and Abuse by Local Leaders Act, is a private member's bill from Liberal MPP Stephen Blais, which would require local politicians to comply with workplace violence and harassment policies and allow local governments to apply to court to vacation members' seats if they fail to comply with the workplace violence or harassment policies.

Bill 6, the Foreign Credentials Advisory Committee Act, is a private member's bill from Lucille Collard that would establish the Foreign Credentials Advisory Committee to review the legislation and other rules that govern the recognition of foreign credentials in Ontario.

Bills next week: AMO and strong mayors

Read this for free.