Robin Lennox

Dec 3, 2025Second Reading

Division 1716309670 · Result unavailable · December 3, 2025

Bill 70

Bill 60, Fighting Delays, Building Faster Act, 2025

## Summary - Bill 60 (Fighting Delays, Building Faster Act, 2025) changes many Ontario laws to speed up building, transit delivery, and certain government decisions. It also changes tenant–landlord rules, road use rules, planning powers, and how water and wastewater may be run. - Key themes: faster transit work, tighter timelines at the Landlord and Tenant Board, limits on reducing car lanes, new powers for provincial planning decisions, updates to development charges, and a new model for water and wastewater services. - Speeds transit projects and lets Metrolinx access and alter municipal roads and infrastructure needed to build, run, or maintain transit. - Shortens several notice periods (often from 30 to 15 days) and lets the Minister remove immediate hazards near transit corridors. - Lets the Minister’s planning orders proceed without needing to match provincial policy statements (except in the Greenbelt), and posts them online. - Limits cities from reducing marked car lanes for bike lanes (unless regulations allow). Sets proof-of-status rules for driver’s licences and Ontario Photo Cards. - Changes tenant law: faster non‑payment evictions, new pre‑payment to raise tenant issues at hearings, and an exception to “one month’s rent” compensation for some landlord‑use evictions. - Adjusts development charge rules, adds a class for land acquisition, requires “local service” policies, and allows a transit station fee on residential projects at occupancy. - Transfers Peel water and sewage utilities to Mississauga, Brampton, and Caledon, and creates a new “water and wastewater public corporation” model the province can apply elsewhere. ## What it means for you - Tenants - Non‑payment eviction notices can take effect as soon as 7 days after notice (was typically longer). - To raise your own issues (like repairs) at a non‑payment hearing, you must first pay half the claimed arrears (unless regulations later say otherwise). - The Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) may have limits (set by regulation) on when it can refuse an eviction as unfair. - In “landlord’s own use” cases, landlords do not have to pay the one‑month compensation if they give at least 120 days’ notice and end the tenancy at the end of a term. - Landlords - Faster timelines for non‑payment cases and clearer rules on “persistent late payment” (to be set by regulation). - You may not owe “one month’s rent” compensation for your own-use evictions if you give long, end‑of‑term notice. - LTB review requests must be filed within 15 days, unless extended. - Drivers and cyclists - Municipalities are generally not allowed to reduce the number of marked car lanes to add a bike lane unless regulations permit it. Projects already under contract or started can proceed. - The province may reimburse cities for certain costs of providing information for bike-lane changes ordered under the Act, but not for installing bike lanes. - Applicants for certain driver’s licences may have to prove Ontario residency, legal status in Canada, and ability to work (for some licence/vehicle classes). - People applying for an Ontario Photo Card - You may have to prove Ontario residency and legal status in Canada. - Home builders and developers - Development charge by‑laws must create a separate “land acquisition” class. Limits apply to long‑range cost estimates. - Cities must publish annual DC statements by June 30 and give DC studies and by‑laws to the Minister on request. - Municipalities must adopt “local service policies” that say which works are paid by developers as local services. - A transit station charge can apply to residential projects and be paid at occupancy; financial security may be required. - Municipalities and local councils - Metrolinx can require access, changes, or connections to municipal roads and infrastructure (including bridges, tunnels, life‑safety systems) for transit construction, operation, and maintenance. - Shorter notice periods apply for certain transit‑related directions. - New reporting duties to the Minister for transit‑oriented community sites. - Upper‑tier municipalities can designate community improvement areas and give or receive grants/loans without needing specific official plan wording. - Planning: some Minister decisions need not match provincial policy statements (except in the Greenbelt). Certain Minister orders gain streamlined posting (not the full regulation process). - Peel region residents (Mississauga, Brampton, Caledon) - Water and sewage utility control will move from the Region of Peel to the three lower‑tier cities on a date set by the Minister or by January 1, 2029. - Water and wastewater customers in areas designated under the new Act - The province can designate a new “water and wastewater public corporation” to run local water/sewage services. - The corporation can set and collect fees; unpaid amounts can be added to property tax bills. - Rates may be set in a plan reviewed by the Minister; if not approved, rates can be set by regulation. - Municipal staff, assets, and duties can be transferred to the corporation by by‑law. - Contractors and trades - Construction Act changes clarify holdback rules when contracts are terminated or abandoned and set timing for notices. Some transition rules and regulation powers shift to the Minister. - Farmers and rural property owners - More on‑farm sewage works will need approval if they exceed set daily capacity limits, or if multiple systems on a lot pass certain thresholds. - Tow and storage operators - If the province sets maximum rates by regulation, you do not need to file your rate list with the Director. - Property owners near transit lines or highways - The Minister can inspect and remove immediate hazards near transit corridors. - Certain provincial highway controls and designations are stated not to count as “expropriation” or damage requiring compensation. ## Expenses No publicly available information. ## Proponents' View - Will speed up transit and housing by cutting red tape and shortening notice periods. - Gives the province the tools to coordinate big, complex projects across city lines, including access to municipal infrastructure. - Keeps traffic moving by limiting lane reductions and aligning road standards. - Strengthens ID integrity for licences and photo cards. - Eases backlogs at the LTB with clearer forms, deadlines, and standards, so both tenants and landlords get quicker decisions. - Brings clearer, more predictable rules for construction payments and municipal development charges. - Creates a modern, unified option to manage water and wastewater, supporting growth while protecting public health. ## Opponents' View - Shifts power from local councils to the province: Minister’s planning orders need not match provincial policy statements (outside the Greenbelt), and key orders avoid the full regulation process. - Limits cities’ ability to add bike lanes or redesign streets, which critics say harms road safety and climate goals. - Tilts LTB processes toward faster evictions: shorter timelines, required pre‑payment by tenants to raise issues, and less discretion for the Board. - Removes one‑month compensation for some “landlord’s own use” evictions, which tenant groups say reduces tenant protections. - The new water/wastewater corporation model reduces local control, allows fees to be added to tax bills, and grants broad legal immunity, raising accountability and affordability concerns. - Transit and highway changes narrow property owners’ ability to seek compensation for impacts near corridors and highways.

Votes • Robin Lennox

Third Reading of Bill 60 to amend various Acts and enact the Water and Wastewater Public Corporations Act, 2025.

Nov 27, 2025Royal Assent

Bill 60

Ontario's 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness

## Summary This bill creates a province‑wide plan to end homelessness in Ontario within 10 years. It sets clear goals, creates an advisory committee, and requires public annual reports so people can track progress. - Sets a 10‑year target to eliminate homelessness using a “housing‑first” approach (move people quickly into permanent housing with no preconditions). - Defines “deeply affordable” rent as no more than 30% of a person’s gross income. - Requires a plan to increase supportive housing and expand portable rent help through the Canada‑Ontario Housing Benefit. - Builds a better data system to track homelessness, deaths, returns to homelessness, and the number of supportive, transitional, and deeply affordable units. - Creates a Homelessness Advisory Committee within 90 days, with up to 11 members, including people who have experienced homelessness and housing advocates. - Requires an annual public report on progress; the government can add more reporting items by regulation. - Takes effect once it becomes law. ## What it means for you - People experiencing homelessness - Faster moves into permanent housing under a housing‑first model. - More supportive housing (homes with on‑site or connected services). - More access to portable rent help that can be used in private rentals. - Your voice may be represented on the advisory committee. - Low‑income renters - Potential growth in “deeply affordable” units, where rent is capped at 30% of income. - Possible help paying rent through an expanded housing benefit. - Service providers and shelters - Shift toward housing‑first placements and supportive housing. - New data reporting to track outcomes like housing placements and returns to homelessness. - Municipalities and Indigenous partners - Closer coordination with the province on housing targets and data systems. - Annual provincial reporting on local homelessness trends and available units. - Taxpayers and the public - Clear, yearly updates on how many people are unhoused, who found housing, who returned to homelessness, and how many affordable units exist. - More transparency about what is working and where gaps remain. - Landlords - More tenants may use portable housing benefits to help pay rent. ## Expenses No publicly available information. ## Proponents' View - A time‑bound goal and housing‑first approach will move people into stable homes faster. - Investing in housing and supports can save money by lowering health, jail, and shelter costs compared with doing nothing. - Annual public reports increase transparency and help target what works. - Lived‑experience voices on the advisory committee keep the plan grounded in real needs. - More supportive housing and portable rent help can make private market units affordable right away. - A stronger data system will guide smarter spending and reduce people cycling back into homelessness. ## Opponents' View - The bill does not guarantee funding or set binding housing targets, so results may fall short. - A 10‑year promise to “eliminate” homelessness may be unrealistic without major new investment. - Added data and reporting could create administrative burden and raise privacy concerns. - Relying on portable benefits may not be enough if rents keep rising or units are scarce. - The advisory committee is small (up to 11 members) and advisory only; it cannot enforce action. - The bill mentions affordability goals but does not change zoning, rent rules, or approvals that affect housing supply and costs.

Votes • Robin Lennox

Oct 23, 2025Second Reading

Second Reading of Bill 28, An Act establishing a homelessness elimination strategy.

Bill 28

Ontario Budget Cuts Fuel Taxes, Adds Fertility Credit

## Summary - Bill 24 is Ontario’s 2025 budget bill. It changes many laws at once. - The bill lowers some fuel and alcohol taxes, creates a new fertility treatment tax credit, bans municipal road tolls, and sets new rules for traffic cameras and bike lanes in Toronto. It also raises penalties for illegal tobacco and for breaking securities laws. Key changes - Fuel taxes: Sets gasoline and diesel tax at 9 cents per litre starting July 1, 2025. Ends provincial tax on propane. - Family support: Creates a refundable Ontario fertility treatment tax credit worth 25% of eligible costs, up to $5,000 per year, for expenses after Dec. 31, 2024. - Alcohol: Cuts the spirits tax at distillery retail stores by half (61.5% to 30.75%) on Aug. 1, 2025; updates beer taxes and small-brewer rules; allows alternate rates for coolers and hard seltzers. - Roads: Bans municipal road tolls province‑wide and blocks Toronto from adding a vehicle‑permit tax. Requires the province to restore a lane for cars on parts of Bloor St., University Ave., Avenue Road (including Queen’s Park Crescents), and Yonge St. by reconfiguring bike lanes. - Cameras: Cities must publish speed‑camera and red‑light camera locations and may have to post signs. Contracts can’t pay camera vendors per ticket. The province can direct how systems operate. - Markets and enforcement: Doubles top fines for securities and commodity‑law offences to $10 million; raises administrative penalties to $5 million; gives CIRO (the investment industry regulator) formal investigation powers. Increases fines for illegal tobacco and adds new large‑quantity offences. - Other: Lets government send more tax and property assessment notices by email, creates a historical parks fund, tightens oversight of the cannabis retail corporation, and authorizes up to $27 billion in provincial borrowing. ## What it means for you - Drivers and commuters - Gas and diesel taxes set at 9¢/L as of July 1, 2025. Propane no longer taxed under the Gasoline Tax Act. - No new city road tolls anywhere in Ontario. Toronto is also blocked from adding a vehicle‑permit tax. - In Toronto, one lane on parts of Bloor, University, Avenue Road (including Queen’s Park Crescents), and Yonge will be restored for cars by reconfiguring existing bike lanes. - Cities must post where speed and red‑light cameras are located and may have to add warning signs. The province can require changes to how these systems run. - Families seeking fertility care - New refundable credit: 25% of eligible fertility treatment costs, up to $5,000 per year. - Applies to expenses paid after Dec. 31, 2024, for services provided in Canada, and not reimbursed by insurance. - Either spouse can claim, but only one credit per couple per year. - Shoppers and producers of alcohol - Spirits bought at distillery retail stores may cost less after Aug. 1, 2025, due to a lower tax rate. - Beer tax rules for microbrewers change; the small beer manufacturers’ tax credit is updated. Prices for some craft beer could change. - The government can set alternate tax rates for coolers and hard seltzers (up to 7.1% alcohol), which could change prices. - Smokers and retailers - Much higher fines for illegal tobacco. New offences for holding very large quantities, with possible jail time. - Investors and financial firms - Higher fines (up to $10 million) and penalties (up to $5 million) for breaking securities and commodity‑futures laws. - CIRO investigators get clear powers to compel documents and testimony. Most retail investors won’t notice changes unless involved in misconduct. - Property owners and employers - Property assessment and Employer Health Tax notices can be sent electronically. - Assessment rules clarify when and how notices are provided; data‑sharing rules are updated. - Municipalities - No authority to toll roads. New limits and duties on automated camera enforcement (publish locations, possible signage, no per‑ticket vendor pay). The province can set criteria for “community safety zones.” - Park users - A new Historical Parks Account may help track funding for historical parks. Day‑to‑day park use is unchanged. ## Expenses Estimated budget impact: No publicly available information. - The bill lowers some provincial tax rates (gasoline, diesel, spirits at distilleries) and adds a new refundable fertility tax credit, which reduce provincial revenue. - It raises fines for illegal tobacco and capital‑markets offences, which could increase revenue if enforced. - It removes potential municipal revenue tools (no tolls; limits on a Toronto vehicle‑permit tax). - It authorizes up to $27 billion in provincial borrowing through the Ontario Loan Act, 2025. ## Proponents' View - Helps with affordability by keeping fuel taxes lower and cutting certain alcohol taxes. - Supports family building with a refundable fertility treatment tax credit. - Improves road safety transparency by publishing camera locations and adding signage, while banning per‑ticket vendor deals. - Eases congestion in Toronto by restoring a lane for cars on key streets and preventing local road tolls. - Cracks down on illegal tobacco and financial misconduct with stronger penalties and better investigative tools. - Modernizes government service by allowing electronic notices and clearer rules. ## Opponents' View - Undercuts municipal control: bans local tolls, limits Toronto’s options, and lets the province override cities on bike lanes and camera operations. - Reconfiguring bike lanes may reduce cycling safety and reverse progress on active transportation. - Fuel tax cuts may conflict with climate goals and reduce funds available for public services. - Alcohol tax cuts could increase consumption‑related harms; benefits may be uneven. - The fertility credit may mainly help those who can already afford costly treatments, and administration could be complex. - Borrowing authority of up to $27 billion raises concerns about provincial debt levels.

Votes • Robin Lennox

Third Reading of Bill 24 to implement Budget measures and amend various statutes.

Second Reading of Bill 24 to implement Budget measures and amend various statutes.

Bill 24

Bill 11, More Convenient Care Act, 2025

## Summary This Ontario law, called the More Convenient Care Act, 2025, changes several health laws to make care more connected, add transparency, and set new privacy rules. It creates a new public health board in Hamilton, expands French-language obligations for a provincial health service organization, requires reporting by health staffing agencies, and sets up a digital health identifier system with privacy safeguards. - Creates an independent Board of Health for the City of Hamilton and clarifies how it works with the city. - Applies the French Language Services Act to the province’s health service organization so people can get more services in French. - Requires temp health staffing agencies to report billing and pay-rate data to the Minister of Health; allows the government to publish some of it. - Requires local medical officers of health to get the Chief Medical Officer of Health’s written approval before issuing broad “class orders” (orders to a group of people). - Lets nurse practitioners handle many tasks in the Mandatory Blood Testing program, not just physicians. - Sets up rules for a new “digital health identifier” (a unique ID to confirm a patient’s identity for online health services), with strict privacy, access, and breach-notice rules. ## What it means for you - Hamilton residents - A new Board of Health is set for Hamilton. The city will appoint all board members and supply the staff. The board will still follow provincial public health rules and report to the city each year. - Day-to-day public health services (inspections, vaccinations, etc.) should continue, but decisions will come from a local board rather than the city acting directly as the board. - Francophone patients and families - The province’s health service organization must provide services in French like a government agency. This should mean better access to information and help in French, especially for system-wide services. - Patients using online health services - A new digital health identifier will help confirm who you are when you access your health records or services online. - You must give express consent (clear “yes”) for your personal health information to be used for this purpose, unless a future regulation says otherwise. - Privacy safeguards include approved practices reviewed by the Information and Privacy Commissioner, public summaries of safeguards, and notices to you if there’s a privacy breach. - If your digital ID is inactive for two years, it must be securely deleted. You can withdraw consent at any time (going forward). - Health workers and staffing agencies - Temporary health staffing agencies that send workers (like nurses or PSWs) to hospitals or long-term care homes must report aggregate billing and pay-rate data to the Minister at least every six months and keep certain records for three years. - Fines can apply for breaking the rules (up to $10,000 for an individual and $25,000 for a corporation). The government may publish some of the reported information. - Hospitals and long‑term care homes - You may see more transparency about agency rates. Contracts and invoices tied to prescribed data must be kept for three years. - Some digital identity steps will rely on your systems and links with the “prescribed organization” that runs the digital health identifiers. - People exposed to another person’s blood (first responders, victims) - Nurse practitioners can now do many tasks in the Mandatory Blood Testing process, which could speed up access to tests and results. - Public health measures - Before a local medical officer issues a “class order” to a group (for example, during an outbreak), they must notify and get written approval from Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health. This adds provincial oversight and may change the speed or timing of local orders. - When changes take effect - Most parts take effect on Royal Assent. The staffing agency reporting rules and many digital health identifier rules will start on a future date set by the government. Nurse practitioner changes start on the later of July 1, 2025, or Royal Assent. ## Expenses No publicly available information. ## Proponents' View - A local Hamilton Board of Health improves accountability, gives clearer roles, and keeps services stable under provincial standards. - Applying French-language rules to the health service organization improves access and equity for Francophone communities. - Reporting by staffing agencies increases transparency on high agency costs and helps the province manage spending and reduce over-reliance on temp staff. - Requiring provincial approval for class orders ensures consistent, evidence-based public health actions across Ontario. - Allowing nurse practitioners to participate in blood testing orders makes the process faster and more accessible, especially in underserved areas. - Digital health identifiers make it easier and safer for people to access their health records online, with strong, reviewed privacy protections and breach notifications. ## Opponents' View - Central approval for local class orders could slow urgent public health responses and reduce local flexibility. - Publishing agency rate information and adding reporting rules may shrink the supply of agency staff or increase administrative burdens that could raise costs. - The digital health identifier system concentrates sensitive data and gives the Minister broad regulation-making powers, which some see as privacy risks if consent rules are relaxed later. - Excluding some records from freedom-of-information laws at the prescribed organization could reduce transparency. - Deleting inactive digital IDs after two years could inconvenience people who return to the system after a gap. - Having the city supply staff while a separate board governs Hamilton public health may blur accountability or create workplace tensions.

Votes • Robin Lennox

Third Reading of Bill 11 to enact or amend various Acts related to health care.

Bill 11

Ontario Speeds Homes, Schools and Transit

## Summary - Bill 17, the Protect Ontario by Building Faster and Smarter Act, 2025, changes several Ontario laws to speed up housing, schools, long‑term care, and transit projects. - It limits some municipal controls, standardizes what information cities can ask for, and gives the Province new tools to get data and set conditions on projects. Key changes - Long‑term care home projects no longer pay development charges. - Cities must accept certain planning documents if signed by prescribed licensed professionals. - Cities and school boards cannot use official plans or zoning to ban elementary or secondary schools on urban residential lots; portable classrooms face fewer approvals. - The Province can cap minimum building setbacks on many urban residential lots (with exceptions like the Greenbelt). - Development charge payment rules change so many home projects pay at occupancy; if different timing rules would cost more, the lower total applies. - The Province can direct municipalities and their agencies to share data and documents for transit and other provincially funded projects. - Transit‑oriented community deals face fewer approval steps, and the Province can register and enforce related agreements. - Municipalities are clarified not to have authority to pass by‑laws about construction or demolition beyond the Building Code. ## What it means for you - Homeowners and renters - On many urban residential streets, houses and small buildings may be allowed closer to lot lines once the Province sets the new setback percentage. This could mean more homes on a block and less space between some buildings. Greenbelt and non‑urban residential areas are excluded. - You may see new or expanded schools and child care in your neighbourhood, since cities cannot zone them out on urban residential land. - Portable classrooms can be added at schools with fewer city approvals, including in Toronto. - Seniors and families needing care - Long‑term care homes will not pay development charges. This removes a major up‑front cost and may help more beds get built faster. - Builders and developers - For most residential projects (not just rental), development charges are due at occupancy (earlier of occupancy permit or first occupied), not at building permit. You may be asked for financial security in prescribed cases. You can still pay early if you choose. - If two different timing rules for development charges would produce different totals (including interest), the lower total applies. - Cities can withhold building permits until required development charges are paid or properly deferred. - Credits can be moved across services that regulations treat as a single service. - Planning submissions prepared by prescribed licensed professionals must be accepted as meeting information requirements. - If the federal Canadian Construction Materials Centre is reviewing an innovative product, Ontario’s Building Materials Evaluation Commission will pause its own review. - Parents, students, and school boards - It will be easier to place schools and child care on urban residential lots across Ontario. - Portable classrooms face fewer planning hurdles, which can speed up response to crowding. - Municipalities and local boards (including Toronto) - You cannot use official plans or zoning to ban schools on urban residential land. - The Province can set what planning information you may require and will treat certain professional‑prepared materials as meeting those requirements. - For a period, some official plan changes need the Minister’s written approval; changes made without it after May 12, 2025 are deemed not adopted. This temporary rule will be repealed on a future date set by the Province. - You may be directed to share data, contracts, and other documents with the Province or its agencies to support transit and other provincially funded projects, within timelines set by the Minister. - Development charge revenues will change: no charges on long‑term care, later payment for many residential projects, and some process changes. - Your authority to pass by‑laws about construction or demolition is clarified as limited by provincial law (Building Code). - Transit riders and neighbours near stations - Transit‑oriented community projects may move faster because some land deals won’t need cabinet approval, and the Province can register and enforce agreements tied to these projects. ## Expenses Estimated fiscal impact: likely lowers municipal development charge revenue and shifts when payments arrive; provincial administration costs appear limited. - Cities will collect no development charges for long‑term care homes; this reduces municipal revenue for growth‑related infrastructure. - For many residential projects, charges are paid at occupancy instead of at building permit, which delays cash flow to cities. - Allowing the lower of two charge‑timing calculations can reduce what’s ultimately paid on some projects. - Municipalities may face added administrative work to share data and adjust planning processes; the bill does not include new provincial funding for this. - No provincial cost figures are provided in the bill text. No publicly available information. ## Proponents' View - Speeds up building of homes, schools, long‑term care, and transit by cutting delays and standardizing rules across municipalities. - Makes schools and child care easier to place in growing neighbourhoods, helping families sooner. - Removes development charges on long‑term care to encourage faster expansion of beds and lower project costs. - Lets builders pay development charges at a more practical time (when a building can be occupied), improving project cash flow. - Sets a cap on setbacks to allow more housing on existing lots while keeping clear exceptions (like the Greenbelt). - Ensures the Province can quickly get the information it needs to deliver major transit and infrastructure projects. ## Opponents' View - Shifts power from local councils to the Province, reducing municipal control over planning, data, and how projects are conditioned. - Cuts or delays development charge revenues, which may push cities to raise property taxes, fees, or cut services to fund growth‑related infrastructure. - Smaller setbacks could reduce yard space, privacy, and tree cover on some urban streets. - Accepting professional‑prepared documents as “meeting requirements” may limit municipal review and reduce quality control. - Allowing schools by‑right on urban residential land could increase traffic and parking pressures without local mitigation. - Fewer approval steps for transit‑oriented land deals and stronger use of provincial orders may reduce public oversight and local input.

Votes • Robin Lennox

Third Reading of Bill 17 to amend various Acts respecting infrastructure, housing and transit and to revoke a regulation.

Bill 17

Ontario bans public drug use, toughens trespass

## Summary - Ontario’s Safer Municipalities Act, 2025 creates a new law that bans using illegal drugs in public places and updates trespass sentencing rules. - It gives police the power to tell people to stop using drugs in public, order them to leave, take and destroy drugs, and arrest people who do not comply. - It also tells courts to consider tougher penalties for trespassing after notice to leave, or when someone is likely to trespass again. Key points: - Using illegal drugs (like fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, meth) in public places is banned, unless in a supervised consumption site or another legal exemption applies. - “Public place” means anywhere the public is allowed, and includes tents used as homes on public land if that use is not allowed by law. - Good Samaritan rule: if you seek emergency help (for yourself or someone else) or stay to help, you can’t be charged under this new law based on evidence found because you sought help. - Police can direct you to stop using and/or leave; if you do not comply, you can be charged, asked for ID, and arrested. - Penalties: up to a $10,000 fine, up to six months in jail, or both. - Courts must treat certain trespass situations as more serious when setting the fine, including staying after being told to leave and being likely to trespass again. - The government can make more rules later, including when officers may escort someone to health or social services instead of laying a charge. ## What it means for you - People who use drugs in public: - You can be told to stop or leave a park, sidewalk, transit area, library, or similar public place. - Police can seize and destroy drugs found in plain view near you, no matter the amount. - If you ignore directions, you can face a fine up to $10,000 or up to six months in jail. - If police believe you failed to comply, they can require your name, date of birth, and address. Refusing is another offence. - Using drugs inside a supervised consumption site remains allowed. - People calling 911 or helping in an emergency: - If you call for emergency help or stay to help, you cannot be charged under this Act based on evidence found because you sought help. - People living in encampments on public land: - Tents used as homes on public land (where not allowed by law) are treated as part of the public place. - Police can order you to stop using drugs there or to leave that area. Not complying can lead to charges. - Property owners and businesses: - Trespass penalties can be tougher if someone stays more than 24 hours after being told to leave (or after a longer time you set in the notice) or if the court finds the person likely to trespass again. - The maximum trespass fine stays at $10,000, but judges must treat those factors as more serious. - Local governments and service providers: - The province may set rules allowing officers to take people to health, shelter, housing, mental health, or addiction services instead of charging them in some cases. This could affect demand for services. - The province can also define more clearly what counts as a “public place.” ## Expenses No publicly available information. - Enforcement could increase policing, court, and lab (drug analysis) workloads. - If regulations are used to escort people to services, municipalities and community agencies could see higher demand without new funding specified in the bill. ## Proponents' View - Public spaces will be safer and cleaner for families, workers, and businesses by reducing open drug use and discarded needles. - Police get clear tools to stop public drug use, seize illegal drugs, and act quickly when people do not comply. - The Good Samaritan protection encourages people to call 911 during overdoses without fear of being charged under this Act. - Linking people to health, shelter, and addiction services (through possible escorts) can connect them with help. - Stronger trespass sentencing helps address ongoing problems when people ignore notices to leave. ## Opponents' View - Criminal penalties may push people who use drugs into more hidden places, which can increase overdose risk and reduce contact with health workers. - Fines up to $10,000 and possible jail time can deepen poverty and harm people with addictions and people who are homeless. - Broad police powers (including arrest without a warrant and drug destruction) may lead to uneven enforcement and more confrontations, especially affecting encampments. - Supervised consumption sites are limited in number and hours, so the exemption may not cover many real-life situations. - The law adds enforcement without adding funding for housing, treatment, or mental health care, so underlying problems may not improve.

Votes • Robin Lennox

Third Reading of Bill 6 to enact the Restricting Public Consumption of Illegal Substances Act, 2025 and amend the Trespass to Property Act.

Bill 6

Ontario fast-tracks mines, rewrites species law

## Summary Bill 5 is a wide-ranging Ontario law aimed at speeding up building and resource projects, limiting certain foreign involvement in energy, and reshaping how the province protects species and heritage sites. It creates new powers to fast-track mines and special economic zones, changes endangered species rules, and allows procurement rules that restrict goods and services by country of origin. - Lets the government limit who energy agencies can buy from based on country/region of origin (applies to electricity and gas sectors). - Repeals and replaces the Endangered Species Act with a new Species Conservation Act (phased in), narrowing some habitat definitions and shifting to permits/registrations set by regulation. - Gives the Minister strong tools to speed mining approvals and to suspend or cancel claims and licences to protect the “strategic national mineral supply chain,” with no compensation. - Expands Ontario Heritage Act powers (inspections, seizures, and orders) and lets Cabinet exempt properties from archaeological requirements to advance provincial priorities (transit, housing, health, infrastructure). - Creates Special Economic Zones where “trusted proponents” or projects can be exempt from, or have modified, provincial and municipal rules. - Exempts Ontario Place redevelopment instruments from Environmental Bill of Rights public notice rules; terminates an old agreement and approval tied to the Eagle’s Nest mine; exempts specified Chatham‑Kent landfill activities from certain environmental assessments. ## What it means for you - Energy customers - Energy agencies can be told not to buy equipment or services from certain countries. This could change which companies supply energy projects. - No direct change to your bill is stated. - Property owners and developers - Species protection shifts to a new system of registrations and permits. Some processes that once were automatic are now set by regulation or Minister decisions. - Inspectors can enter land (not homes) to check for species compliance or artifacts; officers can stop vehicles and issue orders to halt activities or require fixes. - Cabinet can exempt properties from archaeological assessment requirements if it helps key priorities like transit or housing, possibly reducing delays. - Mining sector workers and companies - A new team can coordinate permits to speed mine approvals. Service standards may apply; fee refunds are possible if ministries miss them. - The Minister can suspend system functions, block or end prospector licences, deny leases, or cancel claims to protect the mineral supply chain—without compensation. - Municipalities - In Special Economic Zones, provincial regulations can exempt trusted proponents or projects from provincial or municipal by‑laws, or modify how those rules apply. - Cabinet can also modify or exempt archaeological requirements on specific properties for provincial priorities. - Indigenous communities - Artifacts seized or collected may be deposited with an Indigenous community. - The mining permitting team may support coordination on the Crown’s duty to consult. The law does not change constitutional consultation duties. - Environmental and heritage advocates - The new species law narrows the definition of “habitat” and gives Cabinet discretion over which COSSARO‑assessed species are formally listed. - Public notice under the Environmental Bill of Rights does not apply to instruments tied to the Ontario Place project and related activities. - Businesses seeking to invest - Special Economic Zones can streamline rules and approvals for designated projects and “trusted proponents.” - Energy and gas sector procurement may exclude suppliers based on geographic origin, affecting eligibility. ## Expenses No publicly available information. ## Proponents' View - Speeds up building of mines and infrastructure to create jobs and support Ontario’s economy and supply chains. - Protects critical mineral projects and energy systems by limiting risky foreign involvement in procurement. - Reduces red tape with coordinated permitting teams, service standards, and the ability to tailor rules in Special Economic Zones. - Keeps species protection while allowing social and economic needs to be considered; focuses resources where risks are greatest. - Modernizes heritage and archaeology oversight, including clearer authority to secure and store artifacts and to advance priority projects. - Moves key projects like Ontario Place forward by removing duplicative notice steps. ## Opponents' View - Weakens species protections by narrowing “habitat,” giving Cabinet discretion not to list all assessed species, and replacing some mandatory plans and hearings with Minister‑led processes. - Grants broad powers to suspend, deny, or cancel mining rights without compensation, and limits legal recourse through immunity and bar‑on‑proceedings clauses. - Allows exemptions from provincial and municipal rules in Special Economic Zones, potentially reducing local control and public input. - Limits public notice and comment for Ontario Place instruments under the Environmental Bill of Rights. - Country‑of‑origin procurement limits could reduce competition, increase costs, or raise trade concerns. - Expanded inspection and order powers (including vehicle stops and warrantless entry to non‑dwelling places) may raise civil liberties and due process concerns.

Votes • Robin Lennox

Vote on adoption of the committee report for Bill 5, Special Economic Zones and Species Conservation Acts.

Third Reading vote on Bill 5, Special Economic Zones Act and Species Conservation Act replacements.

Bill 5

Ontario Eases Trade, Speeds Worker Licensing

## Summary - This law aims to make it easier to trade, work, and sell across provincial borders within Canada. It also creates a day to promote buying Ontario and Canadian goods. - It sets up “mutual recognition” rules so Ontario can accept goods and professional licences from other provinces that sign on. - It creates a path for direct-to-consumer alcohol sales across provinces, if the government makes agreements and directs the LCBO to set it up. - It speeds up and simplifies how Ontario certifies workers who are already licensed in another province, and creates a one-time, six‑month temporary certification option in some occupations. - It protects the government and regulators from most lawsuits tied to these changes. Key changes: - Last Friday of June becomes “Buy Ontario, Buy Canadian Day.” - Some decision timelines switch to calendar days to speed up labour mobility applications. - If Ontario declares another province a “reciprocating” partner, goods approved there must be accepted here without extra testing or fees, and licensed service providers are entitled to an equivalent Ontario licence. - The LCBO must implement cross‑border alcohol shipping to consumers if the Minister tells it to, and the Minister can make agreements with other governments to enable this. - Ontario regulators must acknowledge applications quickly, decide faster, publish their requirements, and report on labour mobility. Fines apply for knowingly false claims when using the temporary certification path. ## What it means for you - Consumers - You may be able to order wine, beer, or spirits from other provinces for home delivery if Ontario signs agreements and the Minister directs the LCBO to set up the system. - More brands and products from across Canada could be available in Ontario without extra delays. - A new day each June encourages buying Ontario and Canadian goods. - Workers and job seekers - If you are already licensed in the same occupation in another province, Ontario must make a decision faster (acknowledge within about two weeks; decide within about a month). - Ontario regulators cannot make you complete major extra training, tests, or experience to get certified here (with limited exceptions set by future rules). - In some named occupations (to be set by regulation), you can get a one‑time, six‑month “deemed certification” in Ontario after you submit proof of your out‑of‑province licence and required info. During that time, you must follow all Ontario practice rules. - Making false claims to get temporary certification can bring fines up to $25,000 for a first offence and $50,000 after that. - Employers and businesses - Hiring out‑of‑province licensed workers should be quicker and simpler. - If Ontario and another province are “reciprocating,” goods that meet that province’s standards must be accepted in Ontario without extra tests, fees, or approvals. Goods still must follow other Ontario laws (for example, safety, labeling, or sales rules). - Potential new direct sales channels for alcohol makers, depending on government agreements and directions to the LCBO. - Professional regulators and colleges - Must publish all added requirements for out‑of‑province applicants, acknowledge applications within 10 business days, decide within 30 calendar days, give reasons, and report on labour mobility. - Broad regulation‑making powers allow the government to set conditions, exemptions, and timelines, and to name occupations eligible for temporary certification. ## Expenses No publicly available information. ## Proponents’ View - Cuts red tape so people and products can move more easily across Canada, which can lower costs and speed up access to goods and services. - Helps fill labour shortages by letting qualified workers start sooner in Ontario. - Gives consumers more choice and convenience, including potential home delivery of alcohol from other provinces. - Supports local pride and awareness through a day that promotes buying Ontario and Canadian products. - Keeps protections in place because goods and licensed workers must still follow Ontario laws once here. - Increases transparency and predictability with clear timelines and published rules for applicants. ## Opponents’ View - Accepting other provinces’ standards could weaken Ontario’s own standards for some goods or services, which may raise safety or quality concerns. - Professional regulators may have less flexibility to require extra training or tests they believe are needed for public safety. - The government gets very broad powers to set rules (including the ability for regulations to override laws and apply retroactively), and there are lawsuit shields, which critics say reduce accountability. - Direct-to-consumer alcohol shipping could shift sales away from existing retailers and the LCBO’s current model, affecting revenue and local stores. - Many benefits depend on other provinces agreeing to “reciprocate,” so results may be uneven or delayed. - Heavy reliance on future regulations creates uncertainty about how, when, and where these changes will apply.

Votes • Robin Lennox

Third Reading of Bill 2 to enact the Buy Ontario, Buy Canadian Day Act, 2025 and the Ontario Free Trade and Mobility Act, 2025.

Bill 2

Bill 10, Protect Ontario Through Safer Streets and Stronger Communities Act, 2025

## Summary Bill 10 (Protect Ontario Through Safer Streets and Stronger Communities Act, 2025) changes several Ontario laws on policing, courts, bail, family safety, auto theft, and illegal drug activity in buildings. The aim is to give police more tools, strengthen victim protection, tighten parts of the justice system, and target organized crime. Key changes: - Lets Ontario police ask for short‑term help from police services in other Canadian provinces or territories. - Expands who can apply for a restraining order on behalf of a person at risk (with consent or court approval). - Updates the sex offender registry to include more offences and apply child‑related travel reporting rules to more offenders. - Allows police to seize electronic devices used to steal cars, even if possessing one is not a stand‑alone offence. - Creates a new law that penalizes landlords who knowingly allow drug production or trafficking on their property, with strong police powers and large fines. - Changes how provincial judges are recruited and placed, including a 5‑year commitment to a court location and new selection rules. - Requires bail sureties (people who promise to supervise an accused) to share information set by regulation. ## What it means for you - Landlords and property managers - You must not knowingly allow your unit or building to be used for drug production or trafficking. If you knew and did not take reasonable steps to stop it, you face heavy fines and possible jail time (for individuals) and cost recovery by police. - Police can remove non‑residents from a site during an investigation, and can close non‑residential premises linked to a drug charge until the case ends (with limited exceptions). Courts can require a cash bond to reopen. - You may be billed for enforcement costs if you knowingly allowed the activity. If you took reasonable steps to prevent it, that can be a defence against penalties and costs. - Tenants and small business occupants - If a location is alleged to be used for drug production or trafficking, police can require non‑residents to leave and can close non‑residential spaces. Residences cannot be closed under this power, but non‑residents may be required to leave during police action. - Entering a closed site is banned until the case finishes unless a court allows entry. - Drivers, auto technicians, and retailers - Police can stop a vehicle, search it, and seize electronic car‑theft devices (for example, tools that intercept or copy key signals) if they have reasonable grounds. Devices may be forfeited after 30 days unless you prove lawful possession to a court. - Possessing such a device is not itself a ticket or charge under this Act, but the device can still be taken and kept. - Victims of intimate partner violence and families - More people (like certain prescribed helpers or others with court permission) can apply for a restraining order on your behalf, with your consent. Orders can clearly ban direct or indirect contact. - People acting as bail sureties - If you are a surety, or were one and now owe money on a forfeited recognizance, you must provide information as set by regulation. Not doing so is an offence. - People convicted of sex offences - Voyeurism now counts as a sex offence for Ontario’s registry in more cases. Special travel and in‑person reporting rules for those convicted of offences against a child apply even if federal registration rules do not. - Communities and local police boards - OPP detachment boards must take part in picking permanent detachment commanders. - The Inspector General can impose temporary measures (like suspending a board member or issuing directions, and, in some cases, appointing an administrator) when there are urgent risks to public trust or policing. - Prospective judges and the legal community - Judge applicants will be classified as “not recommended,” “recommended,” or “highly recommended.” The Attorney General (AG) can only choose from recommended lists, must match language and location needs, and can set extra criteria for the advisory committee. - New judges must agree not to request a transfer to a different court location for 5 years unless there are special circumstances. ## Expenses No publicly available information. - The bill creates new duties for police, the Inspector General, courts, and the judicial appointments committee. - Some costs tied to drug‑related enforcement can be billed back to convicted people or to landlords who knowingly allowed illegal use. - Fines and forfeitures may offset a portion of enforcement costs. ## Proponents' View - Helps fight auto theft by letting police remove the tools used to steal cars quickly, even before charges. - Targets drug production and trafficking in commercial and rental spaces, with strong penalties and the ability to recover policing costs from those who enabled it. - Improves protection for people at risk of intimate partner violence by making it easier for trusted others to help them get restraining orders. - Strengthens community safety by allowing cross‑border police assistance within Canada and urgent interim action when police boards or services risk public trust. - Makes the sex offender registry more comprehensive, especially for offences against children. - Modernizes and speeds up judicial hiring while ensuring courts in high‑need areas keep their judges for at least five years. - Improves bail administration by requiring sureties to provide key information. ## Opponents' View - Seizing auto‑theft devices without creating an offence may raise civil liberties concerns and risks capturing lawful tools used by locksmiths or auto technicians. - Allowing closure of non‑residential premises before a conviction may harm small businesses or workers who are not involved in wrongdoing. - Heavy fines and cost recovery aimed at landlords could push stricter tenant screening or faster evictions, affecting renters who are innocent. - Expanded police powers and cross‑jurisdiction assistance need clear rules and oversight to prevent overreach or confusion about accountability. - Changes to judicial appointments, including AG‑set criteria and a 5‑year no‑transfer commitment, could be seen as reducing judicial independence or making recruitment harder in some regions. - Broadening the sex offender registry and special reporting rules may duplicate federal requirements and increase burdens without clear evidence of added public safety.

Votes • Robin Lennox

Third Reading vote on Bill 10 regarding Measures Respecting Premises with Illegal Drug Activity Act, 2025.

Second Reading of Bill 10 to enact the Measures Respecting Premises with Illegal Drug Activity Act, 2025 and amend Acts about public safety and justice.

Bill 10

Bill 49, Northern Highway 11 and 17 Safety Act, 2025

## Summary This bill aims to improve safety on Northern Ontario’s main highways, especially in winter. It focuses on more truck inspections, stronger traffic enforcement, tougher testing for new commercial drivers, and direct provincial control of winter road work on key routes. - Requires weigh scales and truck inspection sites on Highway 11 (north of North Bay) and Highway 17 to be open and staffed at least 12 hours every day. - Directs the province to ensure the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) has enough officers to enforce traffic laws. - Requires new commercial truck drivers to be tested by a government-certified examiner before they can be licensed. - Puts the Ministry of Transportation in charge of winter maintenance on those stretches of Highway 11 and all of Highway 17 (the Ministry can still use contractors). - Takes effect as soon as it becomes law. ## What it means for you - Workers and families in Northern Ontario - You may see more OPP patrols and more active weigh stations. - Winter road work on Highways 11 and 17 will be run by the Ministry of Transportation, which could mean faster and more consistent snow clearing and sanding. - You could face fewer long closures in storms, but also occasional slowdowns near inspection sites and during active plowing. - Commercial truck drivers - Expect more open scales and inspections along Highways 11 and 17. Keep paperwork, vehicle, and load within legal limits to avoid delays and fines. - If you are a new driver, you must pass a road test with a Ministry-certified examiner to get your commercial certificate and license. Scheduling could take longer if demand is high. - Trucking companies - Plan for more frequent inspections and enforcement in the north. Non‑compliance (weight, brakes, logs, etc.) is more likely to be caught. - Update training programs to align with testing by Ministry-certified examiners. There may be added time and administrative steps for new hires. - Driving schools and testers - Commercial licensing road tests must be done by examiners certified by the Ministry. Schools may need to get staff certified or partner with certified examiners. - Local communities along Highways 11 and 17 - Potential safety benefits from stronger enforcement and more active inspections. - Possible new public jobs tied to maintenance and enforcement in the region. ## Expenses Expected to increase provincial costs for staffing inspections, OPP traffic enforcement, and managing winter road maintenance on Highways 11 and 17. - No publicly available information. - Costs would include keeping inspection sites open at least 12 hours daily and boosting OPP traffic enforcement capacity in the north. - Bringing winter maintenance under direct Ministry management may require more provincial staff, equipment, or expanded contracts. ## Proponents' View - More inspections and OPP presence will deter speeding, unsafe passing, and poorly maintained trucks, reducing crashes. - Government-certified testing for new commercial drivers will raise training standards and cut down on weak or inconsistent testing. - Ministry-run winter maintenance will improve accountability and consistency, helping keep these key routes open during storms. - Safer, more reliable highways support northern communities, emergency access, and the flow of goods across the province. - Fewer closures and collisions could reduce overall social and economic costs. ## Opponents' View - Requires more public spending on staffing and equipment without a clear cost estimate or funding plan. - “Sufficiently staffed” enforcement is vague and may pull officers from other areas or lead to hiring challenges. - More inspections could slow freight and raise costs for trucking companies, which might be passed on to consumers. - Limiting commercial road tests to Ministry-certified examiners could create bottlenecks and longer wait times for new drivers. - Shifting winter maintenance management to the Ministry could disrupt existing contractor systems and reduce efficiency during the transition. - Focuses on Highways 11 and 17 while other northern roads may face similar safety issues.

Votes • Robin Lennox

Nov 3, 2025Second Reading

Second Reading of Bill 49 to amend the Highway Traffic Act and Public Transportation and Highway Improvement Act regarding northern highway safety.

Bill 49

Bill 56, Building a More Competitive Economy Act, 2025

## Summary - Bill 56 (“Building a More Competitive Economy Act, 2025”) changes many Ontario laws. Its stated goals are to speed approvals, improve labour mobility, and lower costs for business. - The bill limits some local clean water rules, changes road safety tools, updates rules for forests and species at risk, and expands who can do certain health tasks or use professional titles. - Clean Water: Narrows what local drinking water source protection plans can require for activities labeled high risk; speeds up approvals and allows approvals by default if deadlines are missed; requires certain government permits and approvals to align with source protection policies. - Roads: Ends automated speed enforcement (photo radar) in Ontario law; lets the Minister order municipalities to install school‑zone signs and, if needed, install them directly. - Health workforce: Lets regulations name additional people who can do certain health tasks (like dental device work, hearing aid dispensing, or radiation-related tasks) or use protected titles; creates a fast‑track pathway for out‑of‑province health professionals to be registered within two business days, with limits on extra requirements; allows temporary suspensions if important information surfaces after registration. - Forestry: Allows one forest management plan to cover multiple areas; removes the yearly harvest approval requirement; expands stop‑work powers and penalties; gives the Minister, not Cabinet, power to approve operating manuals. In related changes, certain forestry operations done under approved plans are not subject to some species‑at‑risk prohibitions or orders. - Species at risk: Clarifies that protections cover parts and products of listed species; updates when habitat protection orders can be used; aligns other laws and lists. ## What it means for you - Drivers and parents - Automated speed enforcement (photo radar) would end. Tickets based on that system would stop. Municipal contracts linked to these systems could not be used to sue the Province or cities for losses due to the repeal. - The Minister can require your city to install school‑zone signs by a set date. If the city does not act, the Province can install the signs. - Residents and water users - Local drinking water protection plans would have fewer types of policies they can apply to some government decisions. In many cases, they may either prohibit new high‑risk activities or set policies that other permits must be designed to achieve, using standard wording set by the Minister. - Updates are intended to happen faster. If the Minister does not act on a submitted plan change within a time limit, it is approved by default. - Patients and families - More health workers could be allowed, by regulation, to perform certain tasks (for example, work on dental devices or dispense hearing aids) or use certain professional titles, under set conditions. - People moving from other provinces could join Ontario health Colleges faster, often without extra exams or training, unless needed for public safety. Colleges could still impose limits or refuse based on safety or conduct concerns. - Health professionals - Out‑of‑province applicants to prescribed Colleges must be registered or referred for refusal within two business days. Colleges are limited in adding extra training or exams but can set standard fees and require good‑character evidence and proof of good standing. - If important information is found within a year of fast‑track registration, a Registrar can temporarily suspend or add limits while the Registration Committee reviews the matter. - Pharmacists, pharmacies, and other prescribers - Definitions change so regulations can name additional people for certain roles (such as “pharmacist” or “pharmacy technician”) in limited contexts. Some duties in the Act still apply only to College members. - Pharmacies generally must receive drugs at the pharmacy location, with an exception if it is in the best interest of a patient. - Forestry workers and companies - One management plan can cover multiple units, and the annual harvest approval step is removed. Stop‑work orders and administrative penalties apply across both licences and permits. - Forest operations done in Crown forests under approved plans, on behalf of the Crown or under a licence, are exempt from certain species‑at‑risk prohibitions and orders. - Environmental and heritage stakeholders - Protections for species at risk are clarified to include parts and products; the Minister can issue habitat protection orders in more situations. - Several statutes are updated to refer to the Canadian Free Trade Agreement. Minor wording fixes are made to the Ontario Heritage Act. ## Expenses No publicly available information. ## Proponents' View - Speeds up approvals and reduces “red tape” for water planning, forestry operations, and professional licensing. - Helps fill health care shortages by moving qualified workers from other provinces into practice quickly. - Keeps public safety tools focused on consistent school‑zone signs, while removing automated speed enforcement systems that some view as costly or unfair. - Aligns rules with the Canadian Free Trade Agreement and improves labour mobility for workers and large projects. - Provides clearer, more flexible rules by letting regulations name additional qualified people for specific health tasks and titles. - Clarifies species protections while allowing managed forestry to proceed under approved plans. ## Opponents' View - Limits what local source protection plans can require and increases Minister control, which may weaken community‑driven drinking water safeguards. - Repeals automated speed enforcement, which critics say could reduce speed compliance and safety, especially near schools. - Lets non‑members, named by regulation, use protected health titles or perform specific tasks, which some fear could lower standards or confuse patients. - Exempts certain forestry operations from species‑at‑risk prohibitions and orders, which critics say could harm vulnerable species and habitats. - Shields governments from contract claims tied to ending photo radar, raising concerns about fairness and accountability. - Concentrates decision‑making power (for example, Minister approval of forestry manuals) and reduces external oversight.

Votes • Robin Lennox

Vote on the Third Reading of Bill 56, An Act to amend various Acts.

Nov 3, 2025Royal Assent

Bill 56

Bill 61, Ontario Artificial Intelligence, Talent and Innovation Strategy Act, 2025

## Summary - This bill would require Ontario to create and keep a long‑term plan to grow artificial intelligence (AI), talent, and innovation. The goal is to make Ontario a national and global leader within 10 years. - It sets clear objectives for startups, research, talent, productivity, safety and privacy, investment, and computing infrastructure. - It creates an Artificial Intelligence Advisory Committee to give advice, consult the public, and publish annual progress reports. The Minister must respond publicly and appear before a legislative committee each year. Key changes: - Requires a province‑wide AI, talent, and innovation strategy with measurable targets and yearly progress reporting. - Establishes an advisory committee (up to 21 members) with seats for industry, AI safety groups, civil liberties and disability groups, health care, Indigenous groups, major industries, privacy regulators, labour, post‑secondary, and students/youth. - Committee must publish an initial report within 6 months of being formed and then publish annual reports; the Minister must respond within 90 days and table reports in the Legislature. - Calls for support of AI startups, university incubators, research and development, talent pipelines, and investment (domestic and international). - Encourages investments in computing capacity and “sovereign” AI so data and key tech stay under Canadian control. - Broad, flexible definition of AI that can be updated by regulation; the Act will be reviewed every three years. ## What it means for you - Workers and students - Potential for more training, internships, and jobs in AI and related fields. - Efforts to keep Ontario graduates here and encourage those abroad to return. - Exact programs and benefits will depend on the strategy the government designs. - Startups and businesses - Possible new incentives, support for incubators, and help accessing computing power for AI development. - A push to attract investment into Ontario AI firms. - Public reporting may highlight best practices on safety and privacy, but the bill itself does not add new business rules. - Universities and colleges - Likely more focus and support for AI research, commercialization, and startup incubation. - Annual measurement of progress could drive new partnerships with industry. - Investors - Potential incentives and a clearer pipeline of AI companies and projects in Ontario. - Emphasis on “sovereign” capacity and local computing infrastructure may create new investment opportunities. - General public - Annual public reports on progress and a requirement for the Minister to explain results each year. - Strategy includes goals to protect safety and privacy. - No new duties or fees for individuals in this bill. - Civil society and Indigenous communities - Guaranteed seats on the advisory committee to shape recommendations and raise concerns about rights, equity, and access. - Timeline - Committee set up within 3 months of the law taking effect. - First public report from the committee within 6 months after it is formed. - Minister appears before a legislative committee each year; the law is reviewed every three years. ## Expenses No publicly available information. ## Proponents' View - Ontario needs a clear plan to grow AI jobs, startups, and productivity; this puts responsibility and timelines on the government. - Keeps and attracts talent by supporting training, research, and incubators, which can raise wages and living standards. - Builds computing capacity in Canada and “sovereign” AI so data and key technologies stay under Canadian control. - Includes safety, privacy, civil liberties, disability, and Indigenous voices to make growth responsible and fair. - Annual public reports and required minister updates improve transparency and accountability. ## Opponents' View - The bill sets goals but no specific programs or funding; it could become a plan without real action. - The AI definition is very broad and can be expanded by regulation, which may create uncertainty for businesses. - The advisory committee is appointed by the Minister and could be politicized; a large committee may slow decisions. - May duplicate federal initiatives and add bureaucracy rather than results. - Goals like “sovereign” AI and more computing capacity could require large, costly investments without clear guardrails. - Safety and privacy are listed as objectives, but the bill sets no new rules or enforcement to ensure them.

Votes • Robin Lennox