Hansard Transcripts

Official Records for 25 November 2015

Introduction of Visitors

Ms. Lisa MacLeod: It’s my pleasure today to introduce to this House some very special guests both from my constituency and across the province of .

In the members’ gallery here, in the opposition gallery, are Gordon and Kathleen Stringer, the parents of Rowan Stringer, whom I will be introducing a bill on later on this afternoon. Please welcome them.

In addition, I’d like to introduce Paul Hunter, who is the manager of community coach development with Rugby Canada—thank you, Paul, for coming—as well as Dr. Frances Flint. She is the chair of the Ontario Athletic Therapist Association’s research and education foundation. Thank you very much, Frances, for your support of the bill.

Introduction of Bills

Rowan’s Law Advisory Committee Act, 2015 / Loi de 2015 sur le comité consultatif de la Loi Rowan

Ms. MacLeod moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 149, An Act to establish an advisory committee to make recommendations on the jury recommendations made in the inquest into the death of Rowan Stringer / Projet de loi 149, Loi créant un comité consultatif chargé d’examiner les recommandations formulées par le jury à la suite de l’enquête sur le décès de Rowan Stringer.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. ): Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

First reading agreed to.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Rick Nicholls): I recognize the member from Nepean–Carleton, Ms. MacLeod.

Ms. Lisa MacLeod: Thank you very much, Speaker. Today I’m joined in the gallery by Gordon and Kathleen Stringer, two of my constituents who are joining us at Queen’s Park today to support Rowan’s Law. Their daughter, Rowan Stringer, passed away tragically when she was 17 years old, playing rugby in our community of Barrhaven.

I am pleased to have the support of this bill from all members of this assembly. In particular, I would like to say thank you to my co-sponsors: Catherine Fife of Kitchener–Waterloo, and John Fraser, from my neighbouring community of Ottawa South. In addition, I would like to say thank you to the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport and the government House leader for making this bill a reality. This bill enacts the Rowan’s Law Advisory Committee Act, 2015. The bill establishes the Rowan’s Law Advisory Committee to review the jury recommendations made in the inquest into the death of Rowan Stringer.

Those 49 recommendations span a variety of different government departments, a variety of different jurisdictions and nongovernmental organizations. This committee would recommend how to implement those recommendations and perhaps make other recommendations with respect to head injury prevention or treatment.

The committee is required to provide its recommendations in a report to the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport, which must be tabled in the Legislature and published on a government website. The bill provides that the act is repealed one year and three months after the day it comes into force.

This is a very important piece of legislation that could save lives across Ontario. It would be the first of its kind in the great nation of Canada. I urge all members to expedite the passage of this bill.