Ontario.

• Author: Stokes, Anne
• Position: Legislative Reports

During the summer recess, the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario elected a new leader. John Tory, who had placed second in the mayoral race for the City of Toronto last year, was elected the new leader in the place of outgoing leader and former Premier, Ernie Eves. Mr. Tory does not have a seat in the House and the Speaker recognized Bob Runciman, long serving member from Leeds-Grenville, as Leader of the Official Opposition. The two other leadership candidates, Jim Flaherty (Whitby-Ajax) and Frank Klees (Oak Ridges), were named Finance Critic and Education Critic, respectively.

The Legislature resumed on October 12, 2004. Legislation introduced to date includes a bill regarding accessibility for persons with disabilities to establish standards that apply to both public and private organizations and a bill to establish the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health that is independent of the government. This is in response to recommendations that arose from a review of services during the SARS crisis during the summer of 2003. Legislation that is being debated includes a bill to allow customers to bring their own wine to restaurants and to take a partial bottle of wine home from the restaurant.

There are several areas of debate that have generated public interest. The Minister of Health has introduced initiatives to encourage physicians, nurse practitioners, pharmacists and other health professionals to move into family health networks with OHIP payments based on capitation instead of fee-for-service. Also, the Attorney General has introduced legislation to ban the pit bull breed of dogs from all of Ontario.

Committee Activity

The Estimates Committee met over the summer recess to consider the Estimates of the Ministry of Finance, Health and Long Term Care, and Energy. It has since considered the Estimates of Municipal Affairs and Housing, and will finish with Children and Youth Services and Education.

The Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs travelled to Ontario's far north for public hearings on Bill 97, Revenue Sharing For First Nations. The Committee traveled to Sioux Lookout, New Osnaburg (Mishkeegogamang), Attawapiskat and Moose Factory on a four day tour, September 20-23, 2004. The visit to Attawapiskat on the Attawapiskat River near James Bay marked the first visit of a Legislative Committee to that community.

On June 29, 2004 a motion passed unanimously in the Legislative Assembly for the Standing Committee...