Submissions and Legislative Updates

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 returned this week after adjourning on July 21.  The government introduced two pieces of legislation, Bill 202, Soldier’s Aid Commission Act, 2020 and Bill 204, Helping Tenants and Small Businesses Act, 2020. The main issues this week revolved around the government’s back to school plans and the rise in COVID-19 cases. 

The OBA provided a submission to the Office of the Attorney General on the appropriate defined value of “small estate” under the Estates Act and several other areas of estates law reform.

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.

The OBA wrote a letter to the Minister of Long-Term Care and the Minister for Seniors and Accessibility on July 14th, asking for immediate action to address the current crisis faced by people living in long-term care homes and particularly vulnerable older Ontarians. The letter outlines five specific recommendations for measures to be implemented immediately.

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.

The OBA submission raised three specific issues that it would like to see addressed with respect to the proposed Legal Aid Services Act in Bill 161: (1) Ensuring additional funding for court-ordered services currently covered directly by the Attorney General; (2) Clarifying a fair process regarding information disclosure for lawyers who represent LAO clients; and, (3) Clarifying proportional representation on the LAO Board.