Ontario.

• Author: Day, Trevor
• Position: ASSEMBLEE NATIONALE

On December 21, 2006, the House adjourned for the winter recess, one week later than expected. Of the 16 bills that received Royal Assent during the fall sitting, some of the more significant were Bill 14, Access to Justice Act, 2006, which provided for the regulation of paralegals; Bill 50, Traditional Chinese Medicine Act, 2006, which created the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of Ontario; Bill 65, Mortgage Brokerages, Lenders and Administrators Act, 2006, which amended regulations in the mortgage industry in an attempt to curtail fraud; Bill 158, Public Service of Ontario Statute Law Amendment Act, 2006, which introduced amendments to public service legislation that included whistle blowing and conflict of interest provisions, and Bill 173, Legislative Assembly Statute Law Amendment Act, 2006, which revises the method for determining a Member's pay by linking it to 75 per cent of the salary of a Member of the House of Commons.

Committee Activity

During the month of November, 2006, the Standing Committee on the Legislative Assembly met to conduct clause-by-clause consideration of Bill 52, An Act to amend the Education Act respecting pupil learning to the age of 18 and equivalent learning and to make complementary amendments to the Highway Traffic Act. The Committee also held one day of public hearings on Bill 28, An Act to require the taking and analysing of blood samples to protect victims of crime, emergency service workers, good Samaritans and other persons and to make consequential amendments to the Health Care Consent Act, 1996 and the Health Protection and Promotion Act. Clause-by-clause consideration of the bill was conducted on November 30, 2006, after which the bill was reported back to the House as amended.

The Standing Committee on Government Agencies presented three reports to the House after completing its review of the Liquor Control Board of Ontario, the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation and Hydro One. The Committee conducted its Agency Review with a view to improving accountability of the agencies, and rationalizing the functions of the agencies. The three reports are currently available online at the Legislative Assembly of Ontario web site.

The Standing Committee on Justice Policy resumed public hearings on Bill 107, An Act to amend the Human Rights Code. The Committee had met previously for public hearings and had scheduled additional meetings to be held throughout November...