Bill 183 2011

An Act to amend the Ombudsman Act and the Police Services Act with respect to investigating designated public bodies

Note: This Act amends or repeals more than one Act.  For the legislative history of these Acts, see the Table of Consolidated Public Statutes – Detailed Legislative History at www.e-Laws.gov.on.ca.

Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:

Ombudsman Act

   1.  (1)  The Ombudsman Act is amended by adding the following section:

Ombudsman may investigate designated public bodies

   14.1  (1)  Anything that the Ombudsman may do under this Act in respect of a governmental organization, the Ombudsman may do in respect of,

  (a)  a university, college of applied arts and technology or other post-secondary institution;

  (b)  a society within the meaning of the Child and Family Services Act;

   (c)  a board within the meaning of the Education Act;

  (d)  a home for special care within the meaning of the Homes for Special Care Act;

  (e)  a long-term care home within the meaning of the Long-Term Care Homes Act, 2007;

    (f)  the office of the Independent Police Review Director within the meaning of the Police Services Act;

  (g)  a private hospital within the meaning of the Private Hospitals Act; and

   (h)  a hospital within the meaning of the Public Hospitals Act.

Reference to a governmental organization

   (2)  If the Ombudsman does or proposes to do anything in respect of a body listed in subsection (1), any reference in this Act to a governmental organization shall be read as a reference to the body.

   (2)  Subsection 14.1 (1) of the Act, as enacted by subsection (1), is amended by striking out "and" at the end of clause (g), by adding "and" at the end of clause (h) and by adding the following clause:

    (i)  a retirement home within the meaning of the Retirement Homes Act, 2010.

Police Services Act

   2.  Section 97 of the Police Services Act is repealed.

Commencement and Short Title

Commencement

   3.  (1)  Subject to subsection (2), this Act comes into force on the day it receives Royal Assent.

Same

   (2)  Subsection 1 (2) comes into force on the later of the day this Act receives Royal Assent and the day section 35 of the Retirement Homes Act, 2010 comes into force.

Short title

   4.  The short title of this Act is the Ombudsman Statute Law Amendment Act (Designated Public Bodies), 2011.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Bill amends the Ombudsman Act and the Police Services Act to give power to the Ombudsman to do anything it may do with respect to a governmental organization under the Ombudsman Act to a university, hospital, long-term care home, school board, children's aid society, retirement home and the office of the Independent Police Review Director.