Bill 162 2016

An Act to establish a commission of inquiry into illegal trade and trafficking of people, drugs, money, tobacco and weapons

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

Appointment of commission

   1.  (1)  Within 60 days after this Act comes into force, the Premier of Ontario shall recommend to the Lieutenant Governor in Council that a commission be appointed under section 3 of the Public Inquiries Act, 2009,

  (a)  to inquire into and report on illegal trade and trafficking of people, drugs, money, tobacco and weapons; and

  (b)  to make recommendations, including recommendations for legislative measures, directed to the avoidance of illegal trade and trafficking of people, drugs, money, tobacco and weapons.

Commission's term of office

   (2)  The commission shall hold office until three months after the commission submits its final report to the Lieutenant Governor in Council, but the Lieutenant Governor in Council may extend the term of office of the commission.

Removal for cause

   (3)  The Lieutenant Governor in Council may remove the commission for cause on the address of the Assembly.

Powers of commission

   2.  The Public Inquiries Act, 2009, except for clause 3 (3) (d) and section 20, applies to the commission and to the inquiry.

Start of inquiry

   3.  The commission shall begin the inquiry within 60 days after being appointed.

Reports

   4.  (1)  The commission shall submit an interim report to the Lieutenant Governor in Council within six months after the inquiry begins.

Final report

   (2)  The commission shall submit a final report to the Lieutenant Governor in Council within 12 months after the inquiry begins.

Report to be made public

   (3)  The commission shall make the final report public within 10 days after submitting it to the Lieutenant Governor in Council.

Commencement

   5.  This Act comes into force on the day it receives Royal Assent.

Short title

   6.  The short title of this Act is the Commission of Inquiry into Illegal Trade and Trafficking of People, Drugs, Money, Tobacco and Weapons Act, 2016.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Bill requires the Premier to recommend to the Lieutenant Governor in Council that a commission be appointed to inquire into and report on illegal trade and trafficking of people, drugs, money, tobacco and weapons and to make recommendations, including recommendations for legislative measures, directed to the avoidance of those phenomena. Except for the deadline for submitting reports, the Public Inquiries Act, 2009 applies to the commission and the inquiry. The commission must begin its inquiry within 60 days after being appointed and must make an interim report in six months and a final report in 12 months.