Queen's Park Restoration Act, 2023, S.O. 2023, c. 7 - Bill 75

• Jurisdiction: Ontario
• Bill Number: 75
• Date: 18 May 2023

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This Explanatory Note was written as a reader’s aid to Bill 75 and does not form part of the law. Bill 75 has been enacted as Chapter 7 of the Statutes of Ontario, 2023.

Schedule 1 enacts the Queen's Park Restoration Secretariat Act, 2023. That Act establishes the Queen’s Park Restoration Secretariat. The Minister responsible for that Secretariat has the responsibility of carrying out the project to restore, refurbish, rehabilitate and preserve the Legislative Building (the “Queen’s Park Restoration Project”). Various consulting and reporting requirements are also enacted.

Schedule 2 amends the Legislative Assembly Act to facilitate the Queen’s Park Restoration Project, for example by permitting regulations to adjust the definition of “Legislative Precinct”. In addition, the Act is amended to allow for alternate commissioners on the Board of Internal Economy.

Schedule 3 amends the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act to provide that that Act does not apply to records prepared by the Office of the Assembly and provided to an institution in connection with the Queen’s Park Restoration Project until 20 years after the Queen's Park Restoration Secretariat Act, 2023 is repealed.

chapter 7

An Act to enact the Queen’s Park Restoration Secretariat Act, 2023, and to make certain amendments to the Legislative Assembly Act and the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act

Assented to May 18, 2023

CONTENTS

His Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:

Contents of this Act

1 This Act consists of this section, sections 2 and 3 and the Schedules to this Act.

Commencement

2 (1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, this Act comes into force on the day it receives Royal Assent.

(2) The Schedules to this Act come into force as provided in each Schedule.

(3) If a Schedule to this Act provides that any of its provisions are to come into force on a day to be named by proclamation of the Lieutenant Governor, a proclamation may apply to one or more of those provisions, and proclamations may be issued at different times with respect to any of those provisions.

Short title

3 The short title of this Act is the Queen’s Park Restoration Act, 2023.

SCHEDULE 1
QUEEN’S PARK RESTORATION SECRETARIAT ACT, 2023

Definitions

1 In this Act,

“Board of Internal Economy” means the Board of Internal Economy continued under section 87 of the Legislative Assembly Act; (“Commission de régie interne”)

“Deputy Minister” means the Deputy Minister appointed under subsection 2 (4); (“sous-ministre”)

“Minister” means the Minister responsible for the Queen’s Park Restoration Secretariat; (“ministre”)

“Queen’s Park Restoration Project” means the project to restore, refurbish, rehabilitate and preserve the Legislative Building including the associated systems and infrastructure, the building grounds and Lieutenant Governor’s office, as well as everything required for the temporary relocation and continuous functioning of the Legislative Assembly; (“Projet de restauration de Queen’s Park”)

“Secretariat” means the ministry known as the Queen's Park Restoration Secretariat established under subsection 2 (1); (“Secrétariat”)

Secretariat

2 (1) A ministry, to be known as the Queen's Park Restoration Secretariat in English and Secrétariat de la restauration de Queen’s Park in French, is established.

Minister to have charge

(2) The Minister shall preside over and have charge of the Secretariat.

Responsibilities of Minister

(3) It is the responsibility of the Minister to,

(a) have charge of the Queen’s Park Restoration Project;

(b) identify, secure and prepare a location suitable for the continued functionality of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario for the duration of the Queen’s Park Restoration Project;

(c) seek stable and secure funding for the Queen’s Park Restoration Project; and

(d) carry out any other functions assigned by the Lieutenant Governor in Council.

Deputy Minister

(4) The Lieutenant Governor in Council shall appoint a Deputy Minister of the Queen’s Park Restoration Secretariat who shall be the deputy head of the Secretariat.

Employees

3 Such employees as are required from time to time for the proper conduct of the business of the Secretariat may be appointed under Part III of the Public Service of Ontario Act, 2006.

Contracts

4 (1) The Minister, for and in the name of the Crown, may enter into any contract or agreement that the Minister considers advisable for the purpose of carrying out any responsibility of the Minister under this Act.

Same

(2) Public servants, under the direction of the Minister and the Deputy Minister, may enter into contracts or agreements for and in the name of the Crown to carry out the responsibilities of the Minister under this Act.

Executive project working group

5 The Minister shall establish an executive project working group to advise the Minister on the Queen’s Park Restoration Project that shall include, at minimum, representatives chosen by each of,

(a) the Minister;

(b) the Deputy Minister; and

(c) the Board of Internal Economy.

Advisory committees

6 (1) The Lieutenant Governor in Council or the Minister may,

(a) establish advisory committees to advise the Minister on the Queen’s Park Restoration Project;

(b) appoint the members of the committees, and designate one member as chair and one or more members as vice-chair; and

(c) determine the terms of reference of the committees.

Remuneration and expenses

(2) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may determine the remuneration and expenses of persons appointed under clause (1) (b).

Consultation and reports

7 (1) The Minister shall consult with, and provide reports to, a Standing Committee of the Legislative Assembly on the general plans for the Queen’s Park Restoration Project and seek input on matters that, in the Minister’s opinion, constitute substantive decisions affecting the Queen’s Park Restoration Project.

Advice of Board

(2) The Minister shall seek the advice of the Board of Internal Economy on the Queen’s Park Restoration Project.

Minister to consider all advice

(3) The Minister shall take into consideration all advice of the Board of Internal Economy with respect to the Queen’s Park Restoration Project and, subject to subsection (4), shall take reasonable steps to implement requests of the Board.

Where advice is not taken

(4) If a request mentioned in subsection (3), should not, in the opinion of the Minister, be implemented, the Minister shall provide a report to the Board of Internal Economy with a detailed explanation of the factors preventing implementation.

Progress reports

(5) The Minister shall provide the Board of Internal Economy with periodic progress reports on the Queen’s Park Restoration Project at least every three months, and at any other times requested by the Board.

Deputy Minister

(6) The Deputy Minister, or their representative, shall routinely consult with the Clerk of the Assembly or their representative. in respect of the Office of the Assembly and Board of Internal Economy’s needs and interests in the Queen’s...