Submissions and Legislative Updates

The Legislature rose on Thursday this week, for the winter break.  It is scheduled to resume on February 22, 2022. Plans to address COVID-19 continued to be the focus of government with announcements including, expansion of booster shots to all eligible Ontario adults beginning January 4 and investments in long-term care beds. In other news, the province announced funding for infrastructure projects in small, rural and northern communities.

This week in the Legislature, plans to address COVID-19 continued to be the focus of government with announcements including, expansion of booster shots to those 50 and over, and investments in the hospital sector. In other news, and of interest to criminal lawyers and prosecutors, the Solicitor General announced expansion of the use of eIntake to Toronto courthouses and the Auditor General released her Annual Report.

This week in the Legislature, plans to address COVID-19 continued to be the focus of government with announcements including, vaccination availability for children between 5-11 years old, and a new nursing degree at York University. In other news, the Auditor General released the Annual Report on Environment Audits and funding was announced for new schools and child-care spaces. On the legislative front, there was no new government legislation introduced this week.

This week in the Legislature, plans to address COVID-19 continued to be the focus of debate with the government announcing the ability for pharmacies to provide COVID-19 testing for symptomatic people and providing students with take-home rapid testing kits over the holidays.

This week in the Legislature, plans to address COVID-19 continued to be the main focus of government. On Thursday, the Finance Minister, released the Fall Economic Statement (“FES”), which outlines the province’s economic plan in three areas; protecting Ontario’s progress against COVID-19, building Ontario and working for workers.

This week in the Legislature, plans to address COVID-19 continued to be the main focus of government.

This week in the Legislature, plans to address COVID-19 continued to be the focus of government announcements including; access to ‘take home’ COVID-19 tests for children in public schools, and the province’s preparation to roll out vaccines to children aged 5-11 once vaccines are approved by Health Canada.

Tribunals Ontario is in the process of developing an Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) system that will provide an opportunity for parties to engage exclusively online. While we applaud the continued advancement of technology by Tribunals Ontario, we recommend inclusion of five key hallmarks in the adoption of a successful ODR system, to ensure continued access to justice for all parties involved.

This week in the Legislature the government’s plans to address COVID-19 continued to be the focus of debate with the stay-at-home order being lifted and the government announcing schools will not re-open in June for in person learning.  In other news, the government announced an investment in mental health services for children and youth.

The Legislature did not sit this week.  The government’s plans to address COVID-19 continued to be the focus of debate with the government publicly musing over reopening schools in certain regions as of May 31 and facing criticism for lack of a coherent plan.