Legislative Assembly of Ontario

The committee met at 0900 in committee room 1.

Enhancing Professional Care for Animals Act, 2024 Loi de 2024 sur l’amélioration des soins professionnels prodigués aux animaux

Consideration of the following bill:

Bill 171, An Act to enact the Veterinary Professionals Act, 2024 and amend or repeal various acts / Projet de loi 171, Loi visant à édicter la Loi de 2024 sur les professionnels vétérinaires et à modifier ou à abroger diverses lois.

The Chair (Mr. Aris Babikian): Good morning, everyone. The Standing Committee on the Interior will now come to order. We are here to conduct clause-by-clause consideration of Bill 171, An Act to enact the Veterinary Professionals Act, 2024 and amend or repeal various acts.

As always, please wait until I recognize you before starting to speak, and as always, all comments should go through the Chair. Are there any questions before we begin? I see none.

Are there any comments or questions to any section or schedule of the bill? And if so, to which section? None.

We will now begin clause-by-clause consideration of the bill. Bill 171 is comprised of three sections, which enact two schedules. To deal with the bill in an orderly fashion, I suggest we postpone these three sections to dispose of the schedules first. Is there an agreement on this? Yes. Okay.

We will start with schedule 1. There are no amendments to sections 1 and 2 of schedule 1. Does the committee agree to bundle them together? Yes? Okay.

I’m going to put the question. All in favour, please raise your hand. Thank you. Schedule 1, sections 1 and 2 are carried.

We go to schedule 1, section 3. I understand the official opposition has an amendment. MPP Bourgouin, please go ahead.

Mr. Guy Bourgouin: I move that subsection 3(1) of schedule 1 to the bill be amended by adding the following paragraph:

“11.1 To ensure equitable access to animal health care, including services provided at not-for-profit veterinary facilities.”

The Chair (Mr. Aris Babikian): Any debate on the motion?

Mr. Guy Bourgouin: The reason we’re asking is just to give equitable access. We’ve heard from stakeholders asking for non-profits, and we believe this would help to facilitate that.

The Chair (Mr. Aris Babikian): Any further debate? Seeing none, I’m going to put the question. All in favour of motion 1, please raise your hand. All in opposition, please raise your hand. The motion is lost.

Shall schedule 1, section 3 carry? All in favour? All opposed? None. Schedule 1, section 3 is carried.

Schedule 1, section 4: I understand the government has a motion. MPP Yakabuski.

Mr. John Yakabuski: I move that paragraphs 4 and 5 of subsection 4(2) of schedule 1 to the bill be struck out and the following substituted:

“4. One veterinarian member who is a faculty member at a school of veterinary medicine of a university in Ontario and who is selected in accordance with the by-laws.

“5. One veterinary technician member who is a faculty member at an educational institution in Ontario that is authorized to grant diplomas or degrees in veterinary technology and who is selected in accordance with the by-laws.”

The Chair (Mr. Aris Babikian): Any further debate? MPP Yakabuski.

Mr. John Yakabuski: This is simply to provide consistency throughout the bill with regard to language, Chair.

The Chair (Mr. Aris Babikian): Any further debate? I see none. I’m going to put the question. All in favour of motion 2 on schedule 1, section 4, please raise your hand. All in opposition? I see none. Motion 2 on schedule 1, section 4 is carried.

Now we move to the third amendment. Again, it’s from the government’s side. MPP Yakabuski.

Mr. John Yakabuski: I move that subsection 4(3) of schedule 1 to the bill be amended by striking out “paragraphs 1 and 2 of subsection (2) and”.

The Chair (Mr. Aris Babikian): Any further debate? I see none. Okay, I’m going to put the question. All in favour of amendment 3 on schedule 1, section 4, raise your hand. All in opposition? I see none. The amendment is carried.

Shall schedule 1, section 4, as amended, carry? All in favour? All in opposition? I see none. Carried.

We move to schedule 1, section 5. There are no amendments to sections 5 to 8 of schedule 1. Does the committee agree to bundle them together? Yes? Okay, we will bundle them together. All in favour, please raise your hand. All in opposition? I see none. Sections 5 to 8 are carried.

We move to schedule 1, section 9. There is an amendment from the government. MPP Yakabuski?

Mr. John Yakabuski: I move that subsection 9(4) of schedule 1 to the bill be struck out and the following substituted:

“Authorized activities—students

“(4) Despite subsections (1) and (3), a student may carry out an authorized activity if the student is doing so while fulfilling the requirements to become a member and the activity is done under the supervision or direction of a veterinarian member.”

The Chair (Mr. Aris Babikian): Any further debate? No? Any further debate from the government side? No? I will put the question. All in favour of amendment 4, please raise your hand. All in opposition? I see none. Section 9 is carried—

Interjection.

The Chair (Mr. Aris Babikian): Shall schedule 1, section 9, as amended, carry? All in favour? Any opposition? I see none. Carried.

There are no amendments to sections 10 to 16 of schedule 1. Does the committee agree to bundle them together? Yes? Okay, all in agreement.

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All in favour of sections 10 to 16, please raise your hand. All in opposition? Seeing none, schedule 1, sections 10 to 16, carries.

We move to schedule 1, section 17. There is a government amendment, MPP Yakabuski.

Mr. John Yakabuski: I move that clauses 17(5)(b) to (e) of schedule 1 to the bill be struck out and the following substituted:

“(b) if the licensing committee directs the registrar to refuse to issue the licence, of the reasons for that decision and of the applicant’s right to a hearing or review under section 27;

“(c) if the licensing committee directs the registrar to impose terms, conditions and limitations on the licence, of the reasons for that decision and of the applicant’s right to a hearing or review under section 27;

“(d) if the licensing committee directs the registrar to issue a licence after the applicant successfully completes examinations set or approved by the committee, of the reasons for that decision and of the applicant’s right to a hearing or review under section 27;

“(e) if the licensing committee directs the registrar to issue a licence after the applicant successfully obtains the additional experience, education or training specified by the committee, of the reasons for that decision and of the applicant’s right to a hearing or review under section 27; and”.

The Chair (Mr. Aris Babikian): Further debate? Seeing none, I will put the question. All in favour of motion 5, please raise your hand. Thank you. Any opposition? Seeing none, motion 5 carries.

Shall schedule 1, section 17, as amended, carry? All those in favour? Any opposition? Seeing none, schedule 1, section 17, carries.

There are no amendments to sections 18 to 24 of schedule 1. Does the committee agree to bundle them together? Yes? All in favour of sections 18 to 24 of schedule 1, please raise your hand. Any opposition? Shall schedule 1, section 18 carry? All in favour? Carried.

We move to schedule 1, section 25. We have an amendment from the government side. MPP Yakabuski.

Mr. John Yakabuski: I move that clauses 25(4)(b) and (c) of schedule 1 to the bill be struck out and the following substituted:

“(b) if the accreditation committee directs the registrar to refuse to issue or renew the certificate of accreditation, of the reasons for that decision and of the applicant’s right to a hearing or review under section 27;

“(c) if the accreditation committee directs the registrar to impose terms, conditions and limitations on the certificate of accreditation, of the reasons for that decision and of the applicant’s right to a hearing or review under section 27; and”.

The Chair (Mr. Aris Babikian): Any further debate on motion 6? All in favour of motion 6, please raise your hand. Any opposition? I see none. Motion 6 is carried.

Shall schedule 1, section 25, as amended, carry? All in favour? Any opposition? I see none. Schedule 1, section 25 is carried.

We move to amendment 7 of schedule 1, section 26. There is an amendment from the government side. MPP Yakabuski.

Mr. John Yakabuski: I move that subsection 26(2) of schedule 1 to the bill be amended by striking out “the applicant” and substituting “the holder of the certificate”.

The Chair (Mr. Aris Babikian): Any further debate? I see none. All in favour of amendment 7, please raise your hand. Any opposition? I see none. Motion 7 on section 26 is carried.

Now, shall schedule 1, section 26, as amended, carry? All in favour? Any opposition? I see none. Schedule 1, section 26 is carried.

There are no amendments to sections 27 to 34 of schedule 1. Does the committee agree to bundle them together? Yes? Okay. All in favour of bundling sections 27 to 24, please raise your hand.

Interjection.

The Chair (Mr. Aris Babikian): Okay, my apologies.

Sections 27 to 34 of schedule 1: All in favour, please raise your hand. All in opposition? I see none. Carried.

We move to schedule 1, section 35. There is an amendment from the government side, amendment 8. MPP Yakabuski.

Mr. John Yakabuski: I move that subsection 35(1) of schedule 1 to the bill be amended by striking out “section 33” in the portion before clause (a) and substituting “sections 33 and 36”.

The Chair (Mr. Aris Babikian): Any further debate? I see none. All in favour of amendment 8, please raise your hand. Any opposition? I see none. Amendment 8 is carried.

Shall schedule 1, section 35, as amended, carry? All in favour? Thank you.

There are no amendments to sections 36 to 43 of schedule 1. Does the committee agree to bundle them together? All in favour of sections 36 to 43 of schedule 1, please raise your hand. Any opposition? I see none. Carried.

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We move to schedule 1, section 44: amendment 9 from the government side. MPP Yakabuski.

Mr. John Yakabuski: I move that clause 44(1)(b) of schedule 1 to the bill be amended by adding “or former member” after “the member”.

The Chair (Mr. Aris Babikian): Any further debate? All in favour of amendment 9 please raise your hand. Any opposition? Amendment 9 carries.

Shall schedule 1, section 44, as amended, carry? All in favour? Any opposition? Carried.

Schedule 1, section 45: There are no amendments to sections 45 to 53 of schedule 1. Does the committee agree to bundle them together? Bundled. All in favour, please raise your hand. Any opposition? Sections 45 to 53 of schedule 1 carry.

We move to schedule 1, section 54. We have amendment number 10 from the government side. MPP Yakabuski.

Mr. John Yakabuski: I move that clause 54(2)(b) of schedule 1 to the bill be amended by adding “or investigations and resolutions committee, as the case may be,” after “the registrar”.

The Chair (Mr. Aris Babikian): Any further debate on amendment 10? I see none. All in favour, please raise your hand. Any opposition? I see none. Amendment 10 carries.

Shall schedule 1, section 54, as amended, carry? All in favour? Any opposition? Section 54 carried, as amended.

Schedule 1, section 55: There are no amendments to sections 55 to 62 of schedule 1. Does the committee agree to bundle them together? All in favour of bundling sections 55 to 62, please raise your hand. Any opposition? Carried.

Schedule 1, section 63: amendment 11 from the government. MPP Yakabuski.

Mr. John Yakabuski: I move that section 63 of schedule 1 to the bill be amended by adding the following subsection:

“Application, subss. (6) to (8)

“(8.1) For greater certainty, subsections (6) to (8) apply only with respect to hearings regarding fitness to practise.”

The Chair (Mr. Aris Babikian): Any further debate? All in favour of motion 11 please raise your hand. Any opposition? Motion 11 carried.

Shall schedule 1, section 63, as amended, carry? All in favour? Any opposition? See none. Carried.

There are no amendments to sections 64 to 68. Does the committee agree to bundle them together? Thank you. All in favour, please raise your hand. Any opposition? Seeing none, sections 64 to 68 carry.

We move to schedule 1, section 69. We have amendment 12 from the government side. MPP Yakabuski?

Mr. John Yakabuski: I move that paragraphs 3 and 4 of subsection 69(1) of schedule 1 to the bill be struck out and the following substituted:

“3. A party to a hearing by the board in respect of a decision by the licensing committee related to the issuance of a licence or the imposition of terms, conditions or limitations on a licence.

“4. A party to a hearing by the board in respect of a decision by the accreditation committee related to the issuance or renewal of a certificate of accreditation or the imposition of terms, conditions or limitations on a certificate of accreditation.”

The Chair (Mr. Aris Babikian): Thank you. Any further debate? Seeing none, all in favour of amendment 12, please raise your hand. Any opposition? Motion 12 carries.

Shall schedule 1, section 69, as amended, carry? All in favour? Thank you. Any opposition? Seeing none, carried.

There are no amendments to sections 70 to 76 of schedule 1. Does the committee agree to bundle them together? Yes? Thank you. Sections 70 to 76: All in favour, please raise your hand. Any opposition? Seeing none, carried.

We move to section 77 of schedule 1. We have amendment 13 from the government side. MPP Yakabuski?

Mr. John Yakabuski: I move that paragraph 1 of subsection 77(5) of schedule 1 to the bill be struck out and the following substituted:

“1. An order of the board excluding the public from a hearing or preventing the public disclosure of matters disclosed in a review or hearing, including banning the publication or broadcasting of those matters.”

The Chair (Mr. Aris Babikian): Thank you. Any further debate? Seeing none: All in favour, please raise your hand. Any opposition? Motion 13 carries.

Shall schedule 1, section 77, as amended, carry? All in favour, please raise your hand. Any opposition? Carried.

There are no amendments to sections 78 to 90 of schedule 1. Does the committee agree to bundle them together? Thank you. All in favour of sections 78 to 90 of schedule 1, please raise your hand. Any opposition? Carried.

We move to schedule 1, section 91. There is amendment 14 from the government side. MPP Yakabuski.

Mr. John Yakabuski: I move that subsection 91(1) of schedule 1 to the bill be struck out and the following substituted:

“No personal liability or liability of college

“91(1) No cause of action arises against the college or any of the following persons for any act done in good faith in the exercise or performance, or intended exercise or performance, of the person’s powers, duties or functions under this act or for any alleged neglect, default or other omission in the exercise or performance in good faith of those powers, duties or functions:

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“1. A current or former member of,

“i. the council,

“ii. the transition council, or

“iii. a committee of the college.

“2. A current or former,

“i. registrar,

“ii. investigator appointed under section 46,

“iii. assessor appointed by the quality assurance committee,

“iv. alternative dispute resolution facilitator under section 45, or

“v. employee or agent of the college.”

The Chair (Mr. Aris Babikian): Any further debate? Seeing none, all in favour of motion 14, please raise your hand. Any opposition? Seeing none, motion 14 is carried.

Shall schedule 1, section 91, as amended, carry? All in favour? Any opposition? Seeing none, carried.

Schedule 1, section 92: There are no amendments. All in favour of schedule 1, section 92, please raise your hand. Any opposition? Seeing none, section 92 is carried.

We move to schedule 1, section 93. We have amendment 15 from the government side. MPP Yakabuski, go ahead.

Mr. John Yakabuski: I move that subsection 93(1) of schedule 1 to the bill be amended by adding the following paragraph:

“7.1 prescribing exceptions for the purpose of section 10 or 11 or limiting or clarifying the exceptions set out in sections 2 and 3 of schedule 1;”

The Chair (Mr. Aris Babikian): Any debate? Seeing none, all in favour of motion 15, please raise your hand. Any opposition? Seeing none, motion 15 is carried.

Shall schedule 1, section 93, as amended, carry? All in favour, please raise your hand. Any opposition? Seeing none, carried.

There are no amendments to sections 94 to 97 of schedule 1. Does the committee agree to bundle them together? Thank you. All in favour of sections 94 to 97, please raise your hand. Any opposition? Seeing none, sections 94 to 97 of schedule 1 are carried.

We move to schedule 1, section 98. There is a government amendment number 16. MPP Yakabuski.

Mr. John Yakabuski: I move that paragraphs 27 and 36 of subsection 98(1) of schedule 1 to the bill be struck out.

The Chair (Mr. Aris Babikian): Any further debate? Seeing none, all in favour of amendment 16, please raise your hand. Any opposition? Seeing none, motion 16 is carried.

Shall schedule 1, section 98, as amended, carry? All in favour? Any opposition? Seeing none, carried.

We move to schedule 1, section 99. There are no amendments. All in favour, please raise your hand. Any opposition? Seeing none, section 99 is carried.

Section 100 of schedule 1, amendment 17 from the government side: MPP Yakabuski.

Mr. John Yakabuski: I move that subsection 100(3) of schedule 1 to the bill be struck out and the following substituted:

“Changes to membership

“(3) If the membership of the council under the Veterinarians Act changes before the transition date, the membership of the transition council shall change accordingly.

“Powers and duties of transition council

“(3.1) The transition council shall have the following powers and duties at the following times:

“1. During the period that begins on the commencement date and ends on the first council date, the transition council may make any regulations, by-laws or standards that the council could make under this act, but such regulations, by-laws or standards shall not come into effect before the transition date.

“2. During the council transition period, the transition council,

“i. may do anything that is necessary or advisable for the implementation of this act and anything that the council could do under this act, and

“ii. shall conduct elections of the first council for the purposes of section 4 and ensure that the council is established within nine months after the transition date.”

The Chair (Mr. Aris Babikian): Any further debate on motion 17? Seeing none, all in favour of motion 17, please raise your hand. Any opposition? Seeing none, motion 17 is carried.

Shall schedule 1, section 100, as amended, carry? All in favour? Any opposition? Seeing none, carried.

There are no amendments to sections 101 to 122. Does the committee agree to bundle them together? Thank you. All in favour of sections 101 to 122 of schedule 1, please raise your hand. Any opposition? Seeing none, sections 101 to 122 of schedule 1 are carried.

Shall schedule 1, as amended, carry? All in favour? Any opposition? Seeing none, schedule 1, as amended, is carried.

Schedule 2, section 1: There are no amendments to sections 1 to 6 of schedule 2. Does the committee agree to bundle them together? Thank you. All in favour of sections 1 to 6 of schedule 2, please raise your hand.

Interjection.

The Chair (Mr. Aris Babikian): No, we didn’t.

All in favour? Any opposition? Seeing none, carried.

We will go now to the entire schedule 2. Schedule 2: Shall the schedule carry? All in favour? Thank you.

Shall section 1, contents of this act, carry? All in favour? Any opposition? Seeing none, carried.

Shall section 1 carry? All in favour? Any opposition? Seeing none, carried.

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Shall section 2 carry? All in favour? Any opposition? Seeing none, section 2 is carried.

Section 3, short title: All in favour, please raise your hand. Any opposition? Seeing none, carried.

Shall section 3 carry?

Mr. Ric Bresee: Mr. Chair?

The Chair (Mr. Aris Babikian): Yes?

Mr. Ric Bresee: Just for clarity, if I may: Did I hear section 7 of schedule 2?

The Chair (Mr. Aris Babikian): No, section 2.

Mr. Ric Bresee: Section 7 of schedule 2? I didn’t think I heard that.

The Chair (Mr. Aris Babikian): I have to ask the committee for unanimous consent to open schedule 2. I have unanimous consent. Okay, we will open it again.

I’m going to put the question: Shall section 7 of schedule 2 carry? All in favour, please raise your hand. Any opposition? Seeing none, carried.

We’re going to go back to schedule 2 again. Shall schedule 2 carry? All in favour? I see no opposition. Schedule 2 is carried.

We will put section 2 for a vote again. So, all in favour of section 2, please raise your hand. Any opposition? Seeing none, section 2 is carried.

Section 3, short title: All in favour, please raise your hand. Any opposition? Seeing none, section 3, short title, is carried.

Shall section 3 carry? All in favour? Any opposition? I see none. Section 3 is carried.

Shall the preamble of the bill carry? All in favour? Any opposition? Seeing none, the preamble is carried.

Shall the title of the bill, as amended, carry? All in favour?

Interjection.

The Chair (Mr. Aris Babikian): So, the title of the bill—please raise your hand. Any opposition? I see none. The title of the bill is carried.

Shall Bill 171, as amended, carry? All in favour? Any opposition? Seeing none, Bill 171, as amended, is carried.

Shall I report the bill to the House? All in favour? Thank you. So I will report the bill to the House.

Thank you very much, committee, for your patience. The meeting is over.

The committee adjourned at 0945.

STANDING COMMITTEE ON THE INTERIOR

Chair / Président

Mr. Aris Babikian (Scarborough–Agincourt PC)

Vice-Chair / Vice-Président

Mr. Guy Bourgouin (Mushkegowuk–James Bay / Mushkegowuk–Baie James ND)

Mr. Aris Babikian (Scarborough–Agincourt PC)

Mr. Guy Bourgouin (Mushkegowuk–James Bay / Mushkegowuk–Baie James ND)

Mr. Rudy Cuzzetto (Mississauga–Lakeshore PC)

Mr. Andrew Dowie (Windsor–Tecumseh PC)

M^me Dawn Gallagher Murphy (Newmarket–Aurora PC)

Mr. Kevin Holland (Thunder Bay–Atikokan PC)

Mr. John Jordan (Lanark–Frontenac–Kingston PC)

Mrs. Karen McCrimmon (Kanata–Carleton L)

Ms. Sandy Shaw (Hamilton West–Ancaster–Dundas / Hamilton-Ouest–Ancaster–Dundas ND)

Mr. John Yakabuski (Renfrew–Nipissing–Pembroke PC)

Substitutions / Membres remplaçants

Mr. Ric Bresee (Hastings–Lennox and Addington PC)

Mr. Lorne Coe (Whitby PC)

Mr. Brian Saunderson (Simcoe–Grey PC)

Clerk / Greffière

Ms. Thushitha Kobikrishna

Staff / Personnel

Ms. Simone Bittman, legislative counsel