Ontario Legislative Assembly.

• Author: Tom Prins

The Ontario Legislature has witnessed several noteworthy events in the last three months.

Bob Rae, the leader of the third party, and former Premier, has resigned. Bud Wildman is acting as the interim leader for the New Democratic Party.

Thomas Stelling, the Sergeantat-Arms for almost 20 years, has also retired. When appointed, in 1976, he was 30 years old and the youngest Sergeant-at-Arms in the Commonwealth. The duties associated with his job will be split into two positions. The new Sergeant-at-Arms will plan, develop and direct a comprehensive security program and be responsible for all parliamentary ceremonial and House protocol activities. The new position, Chief of Security, will report to the Sergeant-at-Arms and ultimately the Speaker. This position carries the responsibility of establishing and directing a new Legislative Security Service.

Finally, Bill 42, An Act to reform MPP's pensions, to eliminate tax-free allowances and to adjust MPP's compensation levels, received royal assent. As the title suggests, this bill converted the MPP's pension plan into one more common in the private sector, removed tax-free allowances, and created a base salary of $78,007.

Committee Activity

Several committees also dealt with significant issues in the last couple of months. The Standing Committee on the Administration of Justice, chaired by Gerry Martiniuk conducted clause-by-clause consideration of Bill 19, Advocacy Consent and Substitute Decisions Statute Law Amendment Act, and shortly thereafter reported the bill, as amended, to the House.

The Committee also commenced hearings on the closure of halfway houses and the introduction of electronic monitoring. These hearings were atypical because, for the first time in committees, video conferencing was used. The Committee utilized this technology to reduce the cost associated with having a witness brought to present before the committee. The video conference was effective, thereby earning the comittee's approval of this method of interviewing witnesses under certain circumstances.

The Standing Committee on the Legislative Assembly, chaired by Ted Arnott presented a report on Security in the Legislative Precincts. The committee undertook this issue in response to the concerns raised by members about opening day demonstrations. The recommendations contained in the report strove to maintain a balance between the need to ensure accessibility to the public and the safety and security of the...