Nouvelles législatives et présentations

The 2020 Ontario Budget was released on November 5 at Queen's Park.  The Budget, originally scheduled for release in March, was postponed as the government focused its efforts on emergency management during the pandemic. 

This week in the legislature the government continued to be focused on COVID-19 related issues including funding in health care, education and housing supports.  The government faced scrutiny for proposing arts and science degree granting powers for the Canada Christian College under a COVID-19 omnibus bill. 

This week in the Legislature, the government’s plans to address COVID-19 continued to be the focus of debate and the focus of government announcements including, funding for mental health supports for children and youth and advising against ‘trick-or-treating’ on Hallowe’en.  

The Legislature did not sit this week, as a result no new legislative matters proceeded. Of interest to family lawyers, the Standing Committee on Justice Policy held public hearings on Bill 207, Moving Ontario Family Law Forward Act, 2020, at which the OBA appeared.  The government made a number of announcements this week to address ongoing concerns and impacts of COVID-19. 

This week in the Legislature, the government’s plans to address COVID-19 continued to be the focus of debate and the focus of government announcements.  With COVID-19 daily cases continuing to be above 500 and a backlog in Ontario’s COVID-19 testing, the government came under fire for reluctance to put in place further restrictions on businesses and lack of preparedness for the second wave.

This week in the Legislature, the government’s plans to address COVID-19 continued to be the focus of debate and the focus of government announcements.  With COVID-19 daily cases rising to the highest level since the outbreak occurred, the government focused on rolling out its plan for the second wave. On the legislative front, of particular interest to family lawyers, the Moving Ontario Family Law Forward Act, 2020 passed second reading. 

This week in the Legislature, the government’s plans to address COVID-19 continued to be the focus of debate and the focus of government announcements. 

The Legislature sat on Monday and Tuesday this week.  There were no new bills introduced.  The Legislature adjourned this week, for the session, and will return on September 14, 2020.

The Legislature sat on Monday through Wednesday this week this week.  No new bills were introduced, however the government brought motions to time allocate Bill 195, Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act, 2020 and Bill 197, COVID-19 Economic Recovery Act, 2020, which were introduced last week. The motions would move the two bills to 3rd Reading next week, without committee hearings, when the legislature is scheduled to sit again on July 20th.

On Tuesday, the government introduced Bill 195, Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act, 2020. The legislation allows for the government to continue the use of existing emergency powers otherwise restricted for use under a Declaration of Emergency. The current Declaration of Emergency was introduced on March 17th and has been renewed within each consecutive two week period.