Ontario.

• Author: Koch, Katch
• Position: Legislative Reports/Rapport legislatifs - Ontario, Canada

In the spring session, the Legislature passed a number of bills including Bill 155, An Act to provide for a referendum on Ontario's electoral system. As stated in its title, this Bill provides that if the Citizens' Assembly on Electoral Reform recommends the adoption of an electoral system different from Ontario's current one, a referendum on the recommended electoral system shall be held in conjunction with the 2007 general election. The referendum question will be established by an order of the Lieutenant Governor in Council.

On March 22, 2007, the Budget for 2007-2008 was tabled in the House by the Minister of Finance.

Committees

The Standing Committee on General Government considered Bill 69, An Act to allow for information sharing about regulated organizations to improve efficiency in the administration and enforcement of regulatory legislation and to make consequential amendments to other Acts. The purpose of the Bill is to increase compliance in regulated sectors by, " ... among other things, empowering Ministers to authorize the collection, use and disclosure of certain information and empowering Ministers to authorize the same person or class of persons to exercise functions under multiple Acts." The Committee held public hearings on March 26 and clause-by-clause consideration on March 28, 2007. The Bill was reported back to the House, with certain amendments, on March 29, 2007 and is on the Order Paper for Third Reading.

The Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs concluded its Pre-budget consultations over the winter adjournment and tabled its report in the House on March 19, 2007.

The Standing Committee on Justice Policy held two days of public hearings on Bill 103, An Act to establish an Independent Police Review Director and create a new public complaints process by amending the Police Services Act. After one day of clause-by-clause consideration, the Committee reported the Bill back to the House with certain amendments. Bill 103 is currently on the Order Paper for Third Reading.

The Committee is currently considering Bill 165, An Act to establish and provide for the office of the Provincial Advocate for Children and Youth. This Bill proposes to establish the position of Provincial Advocate for Children and Youth, who would be an officer of the Legislative Assembly.

Other Matters

After being returned as the Member for Markham in the by-election of February 8th, Michael Chan was sworn in as Minister of Revenue on...