Legislative Week in Review

• Legislative Week in Review
• November 23, 2017

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Legislative Week in Review: November 18th-23rd 2017

In the House

This week we debated:

• Bill 178, Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology Labour Dispute Resolution Act, 2017
• Bill 174, Cannabis, Smoke-Free Ontario and Road Safety Statute Law Amendment Act, 2017
• Bill 148, Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act, 2017
• Bill 177, Stronger, Fairer Ontario Act (Budget Measures), 2017
• Bill 139, Building Better Communities and Conserving Watersheds Act, 2017

 

On Sunday, the House passed Bill 178, Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology Labour Dispute Resolution Act, 2017. This Bill ended a 5 week labour dispute and got 500,000 college students back to the classrooms –where they belong. The government sought quicker passage of Bill 178, but was blocked by the NDP at every opportunity. The NDP also voted against the legislation on both second and third reading.   

On Tuesday, the House voted down its fourth Opposition Day motion. This motion, tabled by the PCs was critical of the government’s imports and exports of electricity. From 2013 to 2016 electricity exports provided $1 billion of savings to ratepayers.

On Wednesday, the House passed Bill 148, Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act, 2017. Bill 148 will raise the minimum wage to $14 an hour on January 1, 2018 and $15 an hour on January 1, 2019. The Bill also includes provisions ensuring equal pay for equal work and establishes leave for victims of domestic and sexual violence. The PCs voted against the third reading of Bill 148.    

On Thursday, the House passed second reading of Bill 174, Cannabis, Smoke-Free Ontario and Road Safety Statute Law Amendment Act, 2017. The Bill has been referred to the Standing Committee on Justice Policy. Anyone interested in speaking to the Bill should contact Clerk Christopher Tyrell by tel: 416-325-3883 or email: comm-justicepolicy@ola.org.

In Private Members’ Business:

Bill 179, Flood Avoidance, Insurance and Recovery Statute Law Amendment Act, 2017, sponsored by NDP MPP Taras Natyshak passed second reading unanimously in the House. The Bill would, if passed, provide greater protections against flooding events and assistance for flooding victims.

Bill 173, Reducing Waste One Pod at a Time Act, 2017, sponsored by PC MPP Norm Miller also passed second reading unanimously in the House. The Bill would, if passed, prohibit the sale of single use beverage pods unless they are fully compostable.

Bill 153, Organic Products Act, 2017 sponsored by NDP MPP Peter Tabuns and PC MPP Sylvia Jones also passed unanimously in the House. The Bill would, if passed, prohibit the marketing and labelling of products as “organic” unless they have been certified as organic in accordance with the Act.

In Committee

Public Hearings:

• The Standing Committee on General Government on: Bill 160, Strengthening Quality and Accountability for Patients Act, 2017
• The Standing Committee on Social Policy on: Bill 166, Strengthening Protection for Ontario Consumers Act, 2017

Clause by Clause Consideration:

• The Standing Committee on the Legislative Assembly on: Bill 142, Construction Lien Amendment Act, 2017