A Liberal and an NDP private member's bill both passed second reading late Thursday afternoon, but a PC motion to create a select committee on rare diseases was voted down by the Liberal government.

The two bills passed were:

Bill 165 - The licensed home inspectors act

Private member's bill from Liberal MPP Han Dong
Sets up a system for licensing home inspectors, including designating a not-for-profit corporation as the administrative authority
Referred to the regulations and private bills committee

Bill 167 - The transparency and accountability in government contracting act

Private member's bill from NDP MPP Catherine Fife
Two schedules: One that requires a public sector entity to conduct a preliminary analysis before it can initiate a procurement process for the privatization of public service, and another that makes unrelated changes to the Colleges Collective Bargaining Act
Referred to the finance and economic affairs committee

Meanwhile, the Liberals voted down a motion from PC MPP Michael Harris to create an all-party committee that would hold hearings into funding and treatments for rare diseases.

Earlier in the day, Health Minister Eric Hoskins told reporters that a better way to tackle the issue is through a working group of experts, which has already been announced.

Seen: Two private member’s bills pass second reading

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