Submissions and Legislative Updates

PCs Win Two Byelections: Premier Doug Ford’s Progressive Conservative candidates won both Ontario byelections by convincing margins on Thursday. PC candidate Zee Hamid won by more than 2,400 votes, or nine percentage points, while fellow PC Steve Pinsonneault drew 57 per cent of the votes in the Tory stronghold of Lambton-Kent-Middlesex.

Need for Speed: The Ontario government is raising the speed limit from 100 km/h to 110km/h on 10 additional sections of provincial highways. The changes will apply to certain sections of Highways 401, 403, 406, 416 and 69.

Pain at the Pumps: Premier Doug Ford lashed out about the sharp rise in gas prices this week. But what is causing it? Well, prices at Ontario gas stations are tied to what happens in the New York Harbour, which switched to the summer blend on April 16.

Homing In at Queen’s Park: The Ford government has unveiled a new omnibus bill focused on streamlining home building and approvals in the province. The Cutting Red Tape to Build More Housing Act includes a reduction in the amount of parking developers need to build, special rules to fast-track the construction of student accommodation and a “use-it-or-lose-it” policy. The province wants to get 1.5 million new homes built by 2031.

Parts of Panhandling Law Unconstitutional: An Ontario court has struck down sections of the province's panhandling law. The Fair Change legal clinic argued the law violated several charter rights, including freedom of expression and the right not to be subjected to cruel and unusual punishment.

A First for Ontario Legislature: MPPs can now speak Indigenous languages at Queen's Park. While members were previously allowed to only speak either English or French, an amendment passed Tuesday allows them to also address the Speaker in an Indigenous language spoken in Canada. If members wish to do so, they must notify the clerk ahead of time so interpretation and translation services can be made available.

Lawsuit Over Basic Income Cancellation: The province is facing a class action lawsuit for the cancellation of its basic income pilot project. Law firm Cavalluzzo LLP says the suit, brought forward by 4,000 people who took part in the project, claims damages for the sudden cancellation in 2018 by the Ford government. The suit is seeking damages up to $200 million.

Action! Very Soon: Housing Minister Paul Calandra says he expects to introduce the spring housing bill “very soon.” In this case, “very soon” means after the March 26 budget. “I think there are some issues the budget will help facilitate, so we’ll do it after,” he told reporters at Queen’s Park. The Ford government introduces a new Housing Supply Action Plan every spring as it aims to boost supply to reach its goal of 1.5 million new homes by 2031.

B-Day at Queen’s Park: Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy will table the next Ontario budget on March 26. In a post on X Thursday morning, he said the budget will outline how the government is “rebuilding Ontario's economy without raising taxes and fees or putting more burden on businesses and municipalities." The OBA will have full coverage of the budget and how it impacts lawyers, as well as information about relevant policy initiatives. Stay tuned!

Remembering Brian Mulroney: Premier Doug Ford is remembering the late Brian Mulroney as a “mentor” and advisor”. “You wanna talk about leadership? You wanna talk about trailblazers, visionaries? That was Brian Mulroney,” Ford said of the former prime minister who passed away on Thursday at the age of 84.