Bill 218 Royal Assent (PDF)
EXPLANATORY
NOTE
This Explanatory Note was written as a reader’s
aid to Bill 218 and does not form part of the law.
Bill 218 has been enacted as Chapter 22 of the Statutes of Ontario, 2024.
SCHEDULE 1
BUILDING OPPORTUNITIES IN THE SKILLED TRADES ACT, 2021
The Building Opportunities in the Skilled Trades Act, 2021 is amended to provide that a certificate of qualification in a trade may be issued to a member or veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces who holds a prescribed credential with respect to the trade.
SCHEDULE 2
FAIR ACCESS TO REGULATED PROFESSIONS AND COMPULSORY TRADES ACT, 2006
Currently, section 9.1 of the Fair Access to Regulated Professions and Compulsory Trades Act, 2006 sets out specific timelines within which regulated professions must respond to applications for registration from domestic labour mobility applicants. The Act is amended to provide that different timelines may be prescribed by regulations for such applicants or classes of applicants.
SCHEDULE 3
REMEMBRANCE WEEK ACT, 2016
The Schedule renames the Remembrance Week Act, 2016 as the Remembrance Day and Veterans’ Week Act, 2024. The preamble to the Act is repealed and replaced.
The new section 1 of the Act provides that the seven-day period in each year that begins on November 5 and ends at the end of November 11 is proclaimed as Remembrance Day and Veterans’ Week. The new section 5 sets out suggestions for ways to honour veterans during this week. The new section 6 provides that the Minister who has responsibility for the administration of this Act may honour veterans through various recognition efforts, including by bestowing awards.
SCHEDULE 4
SOLDIERS’ AID COMMISSION ACT, 2020
The Schedule amends the Soldiers’ Aid Commission Act, 2020 to add an additional object of the Commission.
Bill 218 2024
An Act to amend various Acts with respect to honouring military veterans
CONTENTS
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Contents of this Act |
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Commencement |
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Short title |
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Building Opportunities in the Skilled Trades Act, 2021 |
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Fair Access to Regulated Professions and Compulsory Trades Act, 2006 |
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Remembrance Week Act, 2016 |
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Soldiers’ Aid Commission Act, 2020 |
Preamble
The Government of Ontario:
Remembers the debt we owe to Canadian veterans, who have put their lives on the line, serving our country in times of war and peace to defend our freedoms and values.
Recognizes the toll these sacrifices have had on veterans and their families, and our duty as a province to continue supporting them as they transition into civilian life.
Is committed to expanding provincial recognition of our veterans and promoting access to the Soldiers’ Aid Commission financial assistance program.
Therefore, His Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:
Contents of this Act
1 This Act consists of this section, sections 2 and 3 and the Schedules to this Act.
Commencement
2 (1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, this Act comes into force on the day it receives Royal Assent.
(2) The Schedules to this Act come into force as provided in each Schedule.
(3) If a Schedule to this Act provides that any provisions are to come into force on a day to be named by proclamation of the Lieutenant Governor, a proclamation may apply to one or more of those provisions, and proclamations may be issued at different times with respect to any of those provisions.
Short title
3 The short title of this Act is the Honouring Veterans Act, 2024.
SCHEDULE 1
BUILDING OPPORTUNITIES IN THE SKILLED TRADES ACT, 2021
1 Clause 10 (2) (a) of the Building Opportunities in the Skilled Trades Act, 2021 is repealed and the following substituted:
(a) holds a certificate of apprenticeship in the trade, has experience or qualifications that the Registrar considers equivalent to those required to obtain such a certificate or is a member or veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces who holds a prescribed credential with respect to the trade;
2 Clause 65 (1) (i) of the Act is amended by adding the following subclause:
(i.1) prescribing credentials for the purposes of clause 10 (2) (a),
Commencement
3 This Schedule comes into force on the day the Honouring Veterans Act, 2024 receives Royal Assent.
SCHEDULE 2
FAIR ACCESS TO REGULATED PROFESSIONS AND COMPULSORY TRADES ACT, 2006
1 Subsection 9.1 (4) of the Fair Access to Regulated Professions and Compulsory Trades Act, 2006 is amended by striking out the portion before clause (a) and substituting the following:
(4) A regulated profession shall make a registration decision within 30 business days after receiving an application for registration from a domestic labour mobility applicant and everything required by the regulated profession in respect of the application, or within such time as may be prescribed for a prescribed class of applicant, and shall provide the applicant with,
. . . . .
2 Clause 34 (1) (c) of the Act is repealed and the following substituted:
(c) establishing time limits for compliance with any provision or provisions of this Act, including establishing a maximum time period within which a regulated profession shall make registration decisions in respect of applicants or prescribed classes of applicants and establishing a process for granting exemptions from a time limit;
Commencement
3 This Schedule comes into force on the day the Honouring Veterans Act, 2024 receives Royal Assent.
SCHEDULE 3
REMEMBRANCE WEEK ACT, 2016
1 The title of the Remembrance Week Act, 2016 is repealed and the following substituted:
Remembrance Day and Veterans’ Week Act, 2024
2 The preamble to the Act is repealed and the following substituted:
Preamble
Remembrance Day commemorates the armistice signed to end the First World War at 11:00 a.m. on November 11, 1918, being the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of that year.
The people of Ontario must never forget the extraordinary courage and profound sacrifice made by the men and women who bravely and unselfishly gave their lives for and served Canada in times of war and in peace.
As a gesture of respect for them, it is appropriate to proclaim the week preceding Remembrance Day in each year as Remembrance Day and Veterans’ Week to recognize veterans and to honour the memory of those who gave their lives by observing two minutes of silence on Remembrance Day itself.
Poppies are worn during Remembrance Day and Veterans’ Week as a symbol of remembrance, appreciation and respect.
Veterans deserve to be treated with respect and any act that disrespects veterans should be condemned, including committing the act of stolen valour.
3 Section 1 of the Act is repealed and the following substituted:
Remembrance Day and Veterans’ Week
1 The seven-day period in each year that begins on November 5 and ends at the end of November 11 is proclaimed as Remembrance Day and Veterans’ Week.
4 Subsection 3 (1) of the Act is amended by striking out “Remembrance Week” at the end and substituting “Remembrance Day and Veterans’ Week”.
5 Section 5 of the Act is repealed and the following substituted:
Remembrance Day and Veterans’ Week observance
Suggestions for honouring veterans
5 The following are suggestions for ways to honour veterans during Remembrance Day and Veterans’ Week:
1. Attending or volunteering at a remembrance or veteran appreciation event.
2. Visiting a war museum, memorial or cenotaph.
3. Learning about the contributions of veterans across Ontario.
4. Inviting a veteran as a guest speaker to an event to honour and recognize their contributions.
5. Carrying out acts of appreciation to honour veterans.
6. Supporting campaigns that honour veterans.
7. Contributing to the upkeep of a memorial or cenotaph.
Recognition
6 (1) The Minister may honour veterans through various recognition efforts, including by bestowing awards.
Definition
(2) In this section,
“Minister” means the member of the Executive Council to whom responsibility for the administration of this Act is assigned or transferred under the Executive Council Act.
Commencement
6 This Schedule comes into force on the day the Honouring Veterans Act, 2024 receives Royal Assent.
SCHEDULE 4
SOLDIERS’ AID COMMISSION ACT, 2020
1 Section 3 of the Soldiers’ Aid Commission Act, 2020 is amended by adding the following paragraph:
1.1 To assist the Minister in promoting the financial assistance program administered by the Commission in order to increase awareness of the program for the benefit of veterans and their family members.
Commencement
2 This Schedule comes into force on the day the Honouring Veterans Act, 2024 receives Royal Assent.