Legislative Reports
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Legislative Reports New Auditor General and her the House, and called for Special Report the establishment of a Select Committee on Developmental On September 13, 2013, Services. Bonnie Lysyk became the 13th Auditor General of Ontario, The motion affected both succeeding Jim McCarter, government bills (five) and private member’s public Ontario who’d held the post for the nine previous years. Ms. Lysyk is bills (three) whose proposed the former Auditor General of measures include: a ban on n September 9, 2013, the Saskatchewan and previously the sale of tanning services to OHouse resumed sitting after the Deputy Auditor General and minors; consumer protection the summer adjournment and Chief Operating Officer for the with respect to wireless the five new MPPs, elected in the Office of the Auditor General of contracts; the promotion of local August 1 by-elections, took their Manitoba. food products; an amendment seats in the Chamber for the first to the Regulated Health Professions In October, Auditor General time. The House made changes to Act respecting an exception for Lysyk presented her first report the memberships on Committees, health professionals to treat a to the Legislature, a Special to include all of the new mem- spouse; and carbon monoxide Report on the Oakville Power bers. However, a new vacancy in safety. Plant Cancellation Costs, which the membership of the House was her predecessor had commenced Any of these bills that receive created when Kim Craitor, MPP at the request of the Premier. Third Reading shall be presented for Niagara Falls, resigned his The report concerned a contract to the Lieutenant Governor for seat on September 24. to build a gas-generation Royal Assent by December 13. facility in Oakville that had Financial Accountability Office Committees been awarded by the Ontario On the first day of the Power Authority (OPA) to On October 3, 2013, as fall sitting, the government TransCanada Energy Ltd. (TCE) part of a timetable motion, introduced legislation to create and executed in October 2009. the Select Committee on a Financial Accountability Office An April 2013 report by the Developmental Services was (FAO), as ordered by the House former auditor general addressed struck. The Committee’s in May, through the passage of the cancellation and relocation mandate is to consider and a motion to apply a timeline to of a gas plant in Mississauga. report its observations and the consideration of the Budget The Standing Committee on recommendations with respect bill. The bill respecting the FAO Justice Policy is continuing its to the urgent need for a was amended by the Standing examination into matters relating comprehensive developmental Committee on the Legislative to both gas plant projects. services strategy to address Assembly which, in its the needs of children, youth deliberations, had called Kevin Programming Motion and adults in Ontario with an Page as a witness, the first federal On October 3 the House intellectual disability or who Parliamentary Budget Officer. passed a motion that a timetable are dually diagnosed with an The bill was passed by the House be applied to the consideration intellectual disability and a on September 25 and received of certain business of the House. mental illness, and to coordinate Royal Assent on September 26. The motion determined the the delivery of developmental progress of eight bills through programs and services across 50 CANADIAN PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW/WINTER 2013 many provincial ministries. The Committee considered The Committee also The motion prescribes that the and amended Bill 30, An Act to considered Bill 36, An Act to Committee shall present an regulate the selling and marketing enact the Local Food Act, 2013. The interim report no later than of tanning services and ultraviolet Committee held public hearings February 26 and a final report light treatments for tanning, which on October 8 and 22 and clause- no later than May 15, 2014. The prohibits the selling of tanning by-clause consideration on Committee is composed of 4 services to persons under 18. The October 29, 2013. Government members, three bill had the support of all parties Official Opposition members and and received Royal Assent on Sylwia Przezdziecki two Third Party members. Laura October 10. The Committee Committee Clerk Albanese was elected Chair and further considered Bill 60, the Christine Elliott was appointed Wireless Services Agreements Act Vice-Chair at the Committee’s which, if passed, would govern first meeting on October 23, 2013. wireless agreements in the The Standing Committee on province. General Government tabled The Standing Committee on its Report on the Review of the Government Agencies completed Aggregate Resources Act. The two agency reviews—a review review, which included visits of the Liquor Control Board of to numerous pits and quarries Ontario and of the Workplace across Southern Ontario and one Safety and Insurance Board—and on Manitoulin Island in Northern tabled both reports. New Brunswick Ontario, began with public The Standing Committee hearings in the spring of 2012. on Public Accounts continued n September 19, 2013, On September 30, the its consideration of the 2012 Premier David Alward an- Committee held public hearings Special Report of the Office of O nounced a significant reorganiza- on Ontario Regulation 237/13, the Auditor General of Ontario tion of his cabinet. Paul Robi- concerning an industry-wide on Ornge Air Ambulance and chaud became Minister of Natural rate reduction target in the Related Services. The Committee Resources, while Bruce Northrup automobile insurance industry. is still holding hearings as well as became Minister of Public Safety The Committee’s authority continuing report writing on the and Solicitor General. to review the regulation is a issue. Bruce Fitch took on a new statutory provision contained The Committee also role as Minister of Economic in the Automobile Insurance Rate considered Sections 4.14 Development and Minister Stabilization Act, 2003, which Unfunded Liability of the responsible for Invest New was amended in a schedule Workplace Safety and Insurance Brunswick. Danny Soucy became to the Prosperous and Fair Board of the 2011 Annual Report Minister of Environment and Ontario Act (Budget Measures), of the Office of the Auditor Local Government while Jody 2013, to include a 15 per cent General of Ontario as well as Carr became Minister of Post- reduction target in the average Section 3.08 Long-term-care Secondary Education, Training of the authorized rates that Home Placement Process of and Labour. may be charged by automobile the 2012 Annual Report of the insurers. Regulations made Office of the Auditor General of Marie-Claude Blais became under this provision stand Ontario. Minister of Education and Early permanently referred to the Childhood Development and The Standing Committee Standing Committee on General Troy Lifford became Minister of on Social Policy continued its Government which may examine Justice. Hugh Flemming became study relating to the oversight, them with particular reference Attorney General in addition monitoring and regulation of to whether they are reasonable to his continuing responsibility non-accredited pharmaceutical in the circumstances and with as Minister of Health. Robert companies. The Committee respect to such other matters Trevors was appointed Minister continued to hear from witnesses as the Committee considers of Human Resources. appropriate. and commenced report writing. CANADIAN PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW/WINTER 2013 51 Québec-New Brunswick new copper roofing; restoration Conflict of Interest Parliamentary Association of the building’s masonry Commissioner façade; refurbishment of the The New Brunswick Alfred R. Landry was recently legislative dome and existing Legislative Assembly hosted the sworn in as the new Conflict exterior sculptures; repair of fourth meeting of the Québec- of Interest Commissioner. He various areas of the interior New Brunswick Parliamentary succeeds Patrick A. A. Ryan, of the building, including the Association from September who has served as Commissioner Chamber; dismantling and 27 to 29, 2013. This Association since 2005. Commissioner reconstruction of the granite was established in 2004 in order Landry was appointed a Judge steps at the main entrance; to strengthen the close ties that of the Court of Queen’s Bench and fabrication of copper exist between the Québec and of New Brunswick in 1985 and ornamentation and decorative New Brunswick Legislatures served in this capacity until cast railings. To ensure that the and to provide a regular forum his retirement in 2011. On the restoration work respected the for meetings between the two unanimous recommendation of heritage value of the building, Assemblies. the Legislative Assembly, he was the Standards and Guidelines for the appointed Commissioner under The New Brunswick Conservation of Historic Places in the Members’ Conflict of Interest delegation consisted of Speaker Canada was adopted as the model Act, effective September 1, 2013. Dale Graham, Deputy Speaker conservation philosophy. Further Carl Urquhart and Members improvements are scheduled for Fourth Session Martine Coulombe, Denis next year. Landry, Hèdard Albert, John The fourth session of the th Betts and Carl Killen. The Portrait unveiling 57 Legislative Assembly is scheduled to open on November Québec delegation consisted On October 18, 2013, the 5, 2013. This will be the final of Speaker Jacques Chagnon portrait of the former Lieutenant session before the provincial and six additional delegates, Governor, Herménégilde election, scheduled for September including four Members of the Chiasson, was unveiled in the 22, 2014. The current distribution National Assembly. Throughout foyer of the Legislative Assembly. of seats is 41 Progressive the three-day conference, The official unveiling was hosted Conservative Members, 13 delegates examined various by Speaker Graham. Joining His Liberal Members and one topics of mutual interest to both Honour in attendance was the Independent Member. jurisdictions, such as the energy current Lieutenant Governor challenges both provinces will and Graydon Nicholas Mrs. Rose Campbell face over the next 20 years.