This Week at Queen’s Park (and elsewhere)
The Council of the Federation, aka Canada’s Premiers, met this week to talk about issues like affordability, health care, economic growth, and Canada’s competitiveness. They even have their own website! Premier Ford championed measures to expedite “shovels in the ground” for big infrastructure projects in Ontario, specifically naming Highway 413 and the Ring of Fire.
Doug Ford is 😔 that new Toronto Mayor Oliva Chow said the city will sue the province if it expropriates land for its Ontario Place plans.
Another Mayor Rejects Omnipotence: Kingston Mayor Bryan Paterson joins the list of Mayors refusing to use the full strong mayor powers given to them by the province. He is delegating what he can to City Council members and the Chief Administrative Officer.
Assembly of First Nations: Recognition of First Nations policing as an essential service is a ‘sticking’ point in negotiations with the feds. Learn more here.
Attention Dual Citizens 🇺🇸🇨🇦: Supreme Court of Canada refuses to hear a challenge of legislation that allows account information held by Canadian financial institutions to be shared with U.S. authorities. The Federal Court case can be read here.
Didn’t get your K.C.? Premier says he didn’t “see or approve” the list, he must be surprised and pleased that his family lawyer made it. Congratulations! 🤴
OBA ADVOCACY THIS WEEK
The OBA kicked off the Civil Justice Reform Taskforce on July 12th with a policy session including a presentation from guest speaker William Bromm, K.C.
The OBA was invited by the Civil Rules Committee to provide input on the creation of a new rule mandating partial settlements. You can read the submission here.
The OBA made a submission to the Standing Committee on Heritage, Infrastructure and Cultural Policy on Bill 15 – Fairness for Road Users Act, 2022 which seeks to amend the Highway Traffic Act. The submission focuses on the serious unintended consequences that would result from the proposed wording. The submission can be found here.
The Chief Justice and Regional Chiefs will discuss the inconsistencies and lack of transparency facing the construction lien bar outside of Ontario at the next meeting of the RSJ Council in October. The OBA is looking forward to providing input to ensure construction lien lawyers will know the local rules and practices in the regions.
OBA members are invited to participate in the Ontario Business Registry’s beta Partner Portal. Learn more here.
CURRENT AND UPCOMING CONSULTATIONS:
- Building Ontario Businesses Initiative Act
- Consumer Protection for New Home Purchase Agreements
- LSO Certified Specialist Program
- Virtual Access to Court Proceedings
- LCO: Consumer Protection Act (Virtual Marketplace)
- Modes of Appearance in Family Court
- Making Ontario Target Benefit Plan Permanent
- Legal Aid Ontario Tariffs
- Five Year Review of the Child, Youth and Family Services Act
- Administrative Monetary Penalties under PHIPA
BILLS SINCE LAST UPDATE
The House sits again on September 25, 2023, but Committees continue to meet during the summer.
NEW GOVERNMENT REGULATORY CONSULTATIONS
Proposed Regulatory Change to O. Reg. 138/15 (Funding, Cost Sharing and Financial Assistance) under the Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014 Deadline for Comments: July 29, 2023
Proposed Approach for Regulations under the Building Ontario Businesses Initiative Act, 2022 Deadline for Comments: August 8, 2023 – The OBA is working on a submission
Consumer Protections Related to New Home Purchase Agreements and Price Escalations Deadline for Comments: August 13, 2023 – The OBA is working on a submission
Consumer Protections Related to New Home Purchase Agreements and Price Escalations Deadline for Comments: August 13, 2023– The OBA is working on a submission
College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario is proposing amendments to regulations made under the Medicine Act, 1991, to regulate Physician Assistants Deadline for Comments: August 11, 2023
Proposal to amend O. Reg. 509 / 18 under the Electricity Act, 1998 (“Efficiency Regulation”) Deadline for Comments: August 24
LAW SOCIETY OF ONTARIO NEWS
There are two external appointment opportunities, the Civil Rules Committee and the Ontario Judicial Council. The application deadline is July 28, 2023, click here to apply.
The next Convocation meeting is September 28, 2023.
PUBLIC APPOINTMENTS
There is still time to apply for 2 opportunities. One at the Toronto Islands Residential Community Trust Corporations, and the other on the Cochrane and Suburban Planning Board.
Have a great week!