Poet Laureate of Ontario Act (In Memory of Gord Downie), 2019, S.O. 2019, c. 16

• Jurisdiction: Ontario

Poet Laureate of Ontario Act (In Memory of Gord Downie), 2019

S.o. 2019, chapter 16

Consolidation Period: From December 12, 2019 to the e-Laws currency date.

No amendments.

Poet Laureate of Ontario established

1 (1) There shall be a Poet Laureate of Ontario who is an officer of the Assembly.

Appointment

(2) The Assembly shall, by order, appoint a Poet Laureate of Ontario.

Qualifications

(3) The person appointed under subsection (2) shall meet the following qualifications:

1. The individual must be a person whose primary residence is Ontario and who has resided in Ontario for a period of at least six months during the 12 months preceding the selection.

2. The individual must have published at least one volume of poetry within the last 10 years or must demonstrate that his or her body of work over the years has brought honour to himself or herself and to Ontario.

Terms of office

(4) The Poet Laureate of Ontario shall hold office for a term not exceeding two years and shall continue to hold office after the expiry of his or her term until a successor is appointed.

Removal

(5) The Assembly may, by order, remove the Poet Laureate of Ontario from office, or suspend him or her, for cause.

Selection by panel or unanimous vote

2 Any order of the Assembly appointing an individual as the Poet Laureate of Ontario is not valid unless,

(a) the individual has first been selected by unanimous agreement of the members of a selection panel consisting of,

(i) the Speaker, who shall also serve as the chair of the panel,

(ii) the Ontario Legislative Librarian,

(iii) two members of the Province of Ontario Council for the Arts who have knowledge of literary activity in Ontario, jointly selected by the Speaker and the Ontario Legislative Librarian, and

(iv) the current Poet Laureate of Ontario, if any; or

(b) the order appointing the Poet Laureate of Ontario is passed by a vote of all the members of the Assembly present during the vote.

Responsibilities

3 (1) The Poet Laureate of Ontario shall,

(a) promote art and literacy in Ontario;

(b) celebrate Ontario and its people;

(c) raise the profile of Ontario poets;

(d) raise public awareness of poetry and of the spoken word;

(e) act as a spokesperson for literature in general and poetry in particular; and

(f) provide a focal point for the expression of Ontario culture and heritage through the literary arts.

Same

(2) In carrying out the responsibilities set out in subsection (1)...