Committee Index Instructions

What are the Hansard Indexes?

Hansard indexes can help you find information in the committee transcripts. Information is organized by SUBJECT (e.g. Health care) or SPEAKER (e.g. Smith, Hon. M.M.). There are two indexes for committee debates called the COMMITTEE SUBJECT INDEX and the COMMITTEE SPEAKER INDEX.

In all indexes, information appears as entries with main headings, subheadings, and page locators. The subject index is an alphabetical list of subject headings followed by the names of members who spoke about the subject and one or more page references. The speaker index is an alphabetical list of members’ names, followed by one or more subject headings and page references.

Page references are hyperlinked directly to the top page of the Hansard transcript in which the information appears. Scroll down the web page to find the information you are looking for, or use the CTRL-F function on your browser to find relevant keywords on the web page. You can also click on the PDF link at the top of the web page to view the PDF file and use CTRL-F to go directly to the page number(s) you are looking for.

How do I use the Committee Subject Index?

Searching by subject

You can search for information by SUBJECT. Subject headings summarise the overall content of a debate. They include names of committees, initiatives, institutions, people, publications, etc. The indexing term is not necessarily the term used in the printed Hansard. For example, a speaker may refer to “First Nations” or “Native peoples” in the verbatim text, but all related terms on this topic will be indexed under the term “Aboriginal peoples.” Subject entries in general refer to Ontario unless otherwise stated. In some cases, subheadings are used to break down large topics in more detail.

Examples:

Affordable housing
construction
DiNovo, JP212

Harmonized sales tax (HST)
impact on electricity rates
Aggelonitis, E133-E135

Toronto Transit Commission (TTC)
essential service designation
Hillier, G215

Searching by Bill title

Bills are also indexed by title in the subject index.

Examples:

Accounting Professions Act, 2010 (Bill 158)
amendments
Berardinetti, JP43

Health Protection and Promotion Amendment Act, 2011 (Bill 141)
amendments
G?linas, SP377-SP384

Toronto Transit Commission Labour Disputes Resolution Act, 2011 (Bill 150)
section 22
Hillier, G221

Searching for procedural information

Procedural headings are used for committee business, including committee reports, divisions (recorded votes) and rulings or statements made by committee chairs.

Examples:

Chair's rulings/statements
Narcotics Safety and Awareness Act, 2010 (Bill 101)
Preamble, SP299

Committee business
subcommittee reports
Dunlop, JP244

Divisions (recorded vote)
appointments to agencies/boards/commissions/etc.
eHealth Ontario, A27

Searching for French-language debates

All substantive debates in French are indexed under the heading “French-language debates.”

Examples:

French-language debates
Budget des d?penses
Minist?re de la Sant? et des Soins de longue dur?e (2010-2011)
Bisson, E358-E359
Loi de 2010 modifiant des lois en ce qui concerne l'apprentissage des jeunes enfants ? temps plein,
projet de loi 242
Lalonde, SP42
Nominations pr?vues
Central West Local Health Integration Network
Carroll, A91-A92

Cross-references

There are two types of cross-references found in the subject index. “See” references direct the user from an unused subject heading to the subject heading under which entries will be found in this index. “See also” references direct the user to a related heading in the index which may be of interest.

Examples:

Air ambulances. see Ambulance services—air ambulances

Physicians. see Doctors

Advertising. see also Election advertising

Unions. see also Workers’ rights—right to unionize

How do I use the Committee Speaker Index?

You can search for information in House debates by SPEAKER. Speakers are listed alphabetically by last name. Browse the list of speakers; all items that a particular member spoke on are found here. This includes subject-based entries, index entries for individual bills and procedural headings.

Example:

Flynn, K.D. (LIB, Oakville)
Automobile insurance
anti-fraud task force, F649
Full Day Early Learning Statute Law Amendment Act, 2010 (Bill 242), SP8, SP10
Mental health and addictions strategy, MH10
Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care
estimates (2010-2011), E387-E389

Questions or comments?

Call us at 416-325-3708; 416-325-7411 or email us at hansard@ola.org.