Assemblée législative de l'Ontario

The committee met at 1400 in committee room 1.

The Chair (Mr. Shafiq Qaadri): Thank you, colleagues. I officially call the justice policy committee to order. As you know, we are here for a triple-header: Bills 149, 180 and 182—Rowan Stringer, Workers Day of Mourning and Ontario Down Syndrome Day.

Rowan’s Law Advisory Committee Act, 2016 Loi de 2016 sur le comité consultatif de la Loi Rowan

Consideration of the following bill:

Bill 149, An Act to establish an advisory committee to make recommendations on the jury recommendations made in the inquest into the death of Rowan Stringer / Projet de loi 149, Loi créant un comité consultatif chargé d’examiner les recommandations formulées par le jury à la suite de l’enquête sur le décès de Rowan Stringer.

The Chair (Mr. Shafiq Qaadri): We will begin by considering Bill 149 with reference to the death of Rowan Stringer, officially known as An Act to establish an advisory committee to make recommendations on the jury recommendations made in the inquest into the death of Rowan Stringer.

Do we have any comments before we proceed to the clause-by-clause consideration of these bills? If not, I invite the first motion to be presented by the government. Mr. Fraser.

Mr. John Fraser: I move that subsection 2(2) of the bill be struck out and the following substituted:

“Membership

“(2) The committee shall be composed of no more than 15 members appointed by the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport and shall consist of the following:

“(a) No more than three persons nominated by the Minister of Children and Youth Services.

“(b) No more than three persons nominated by the Minister of Education.

“(c) No more than three persons nominated by the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care.

“(d) No more than three persons nominated by the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities.

“(e) No more than three persons nominated by the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport.”

The Chair (Mr. Shafiq Qaadri): Any comments?

Let me just back up. We need to just go through section 1 for which, so far, no motions have been presented. Can I take it as the will of the committee that section 1 has carried? Carried.

Ms. MacLeod, you have the floor.

Ms. Lisa MacLeod: I just wanted to say thank you to the government for bringing this forward. I think it improves the bill in order for us to encourage the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities to be part of this. It has strengthened the bill.

While we’re concerned primarily with youth concussions in sport, I think it’s important that all amateur athletes in Ontario are protected, and certainly, that means those on our university campuses.

As the introducer of the bill, I support the introduction of this motion by my colleague and co-sponsor of the bill.

The Chair (Mr. Shafiq Qaadri): Any further comments on government motion 1 before we proceed to the vote? Mr. Fraser.

Mr. John Fraser: I do want to say one thing. This was very much a very collaborative effort, and although it’s a government motion that is being put forward, it is, indeed, actually a motion by all of the committee, and it was worked out last week.

The Chair (Mr. Shafiq Qaadri): I salute the new spirit of collegiality, Mr. Fraser and Ms. MacLeod.

Mr. Hatfield, would you like to make any comments?

Mr. Percy Hatfield: Thank you for the opportunity. Good afternoon. I would just like to say that I’m in full support of what has been proposed.

The Chair (Mr. Shafiq Qaadri): We’ll proceed to the vote. Those in favour of government motion 1? Those opposed? Government motion 1 carries.

We now move to government motion 2. Mr. Fraser.

Mr. John Fraser: We withdraw that motion.

The Chair (Mr. Shafiq Qaadri): To repeat, government motion 2 has now been withdrawn.

We now proceed to government motion 3. Mr. Fraser.

Mr. John Fraser: I move that subsection 2(5) of the bill be struck out and the following substituted—

The Chair (Mr. Shafiq Qaadri): Mr. Fraser, you’re missing the letter (b) there.

Mr. John Fraser: I move that clause 2(5)(b) of the bill be struck out and the following substituted:

“(b) review legislation, policies and best practices from other jurisdictions respecting head injuries;

“(b.1) make recommendations on how to implement the jury recommendations, how to prevent and mitigate head injuries in sports and how to create awareness about head injuries in sports; and”

The Chair (Mr. Shafiq Qaadri): Thank you. Comments? Ms. MacLeod.

Ms. Lisa MacLeod: Again, as the person who introduced the bill, I support this government amendment. As my colleague Mr. Fraser said, he and Catherine Fife, our other co-sponsor, and I were involved with this.

Just in terms of rationale, it’s important that we strengthen that recommendation on the jury recommendations and how they would be implemented. But I think that it’s also important—and this is something that we’ve found over the past year as we’ve been engaged in this legislation—that Ontario will become Canada’s first jurisdiction with concussion legislation. But there are other places, particularly in every single state in the United States, that are engaged in concussion awareness and better protocols, so I think that this is a welcome addition, as we encourage this committee that is going to be set up to look south of the border and perhaps elsewhere around the world to ensure that our athletes and others who may have a concussion are best protected.

I support it and I thank them and my staff, as well as Catherine’s and John’s, and the government House leaders for initiating this.

The Chair (Mr. Shafiq Qaadri): Thank you, Ms. MacLeod.

Any further comments before we proceed to the vote? Seeing none, those in favour of government motion 3? Those opposed? Government motion 3 carries.

Shall section 2, as amended, carry? Carried.

We’ve received no motions or amendments for sections 3, 4 and 5 en bloc. May we consider them en bloc? Shall sections 3, 4 and 5 carry? Carried.

Shall the title of the bill carry? Carried.

Shall Bill 149, as amended, carry? Carried.

Shall I report the bill, as amended, to the House? Agreed.

Thank you, colleagues. We have now officially disposed of Bill 149. We congratulate all those involved.

Applause.

The Chair (Mr. Shafiq Qaadri): I once again salute one of my former professors, Professor Charles Tator of neurosurgery at Toronto Western Hospital and University of Toronto, for his leadership in this role.

Workers Day of Mourning Act, 2016 Loi de 2016 sur le Jour de deuil pour les travailleurs

Consideration of the following bill:

Bill 180, An Act to proclaim a Workers Day of Mourning / Projet de loi 180, Loi proclamant un Jour de deuil pour les travailleurs.

The Chair (Mr. Shafiq Qaadri): We now move to Bill 180, originally introduced by Mr. Hatfield, An Act to proclaim a Workers Day of Mourning. I believe that we have received no amendments or motions.

Mr. Hatfield, would you care to make a comment?

Mr. Percy Hatfield: Thank you for the opportunity, Chair. I would just like to thank all members of the committee today for their consideration of this bill. It was supported unanimously in the House, as you know, at second reading. It just puts in compliance a standardization that all schools—especially schools—will fly the flag at half-mast on April 28, the Day of Mourning. It’s been my experience in Windsor that one board would do it and the other one wouldn’t. They may fly it at half-mast at the board office but not at the schools.

Part of the purpose of the bill is as a teaching tool. We’ve heard from elsewhere that this could be used in the schools to create more awareness for young people getting into a job for the first time, being aware of the health and safety on their shop floor, the restaurant floor, whatever it is. If we can do anything to raise the consciousness of health and safety, then we’ve accomplished something.

The Chair (Mr. Shafiq Qaadri): Thank you, Mr. Hatfield.

Any further comments on Bill 180 before we proceed to—Ms. Martins?

Mrs. Cristina Martins: I just wanted to thank the member opposite for introducing this bill and engaging in what I believe is an important debate on this issue.

As you know, I represent a riding that is home to many Italian and Portuguese immigrants who came to this country many years ago. Many of them, to make ends meet—perhaps not having the language skills at the time—worked in the construction industry, and many of them were victims, as it turns out, of injuries in the workplace. So I do support the formal recognition of April 28 as the Workers Day of Mourning and I want to congratulate the member opposite for bringing this forward.

The Chair (Mr. Shafiq Qaadri): Thank you. Any further comments on Bill 180 before we proceed to—Mr. Fraser?

Mr. John Fraser: I would just like to thank the member from Windsor–Tecumseh for bringing this bill forward. I think that it’s critical in continuing to raise awareness of our workplace injuries and unnecessary workplace deaths.

The Chair (Mr. Shafiq Qaadri): Thank you. Further comments? Seeing none, shall sections 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the bill carry? Carried.

Shall the title of the bill carry? Carried.

Shall the preamble carry? Carried.

Shall Bill 180 carry? Carried.

Shall I report the bill to the House? Carried.

Congratulations, Mr. Hatfield.

Applause.

Ontario Down Syndrome Day Act, 2016 Loi de 2016 sur la Journée ontarienne de la trisomie 21

Consideration of the following bill:

Bill 182, An Act to proclaim Ontario Down Syndrome Day / Projet de loi 182, Loi proclamant la Journée ontarienne de la trisomie 21.

The Chair (Mr. Shafiq Qaadri): We’re now considering Bill 182, An Act to proclaim Ontario Down Syndrome Day, originally proposed by MPP Joe Dickson. Again, we have received no motions or amendments. Are there any comments any members would like to make before we proceed to the consideration of the vote? Mr. Potts.

Mr. Arthur Potts: Yes, I would just like to take a moment to commend member Dickson for this bill. I know it’s an issue that has been foremost in his mind. I know he wished he could be here to speak to it directly, but kudos to him and kudos to the House for supporting this.

The Chair (Mr. Shafiq Qaadri): Any further comments from any other colleagues? Seeing none, with reference to Bill 182, shall sections 1, 2 and 3 carry? Carried.

Shall the title of the bill carry? Carried.

Shall the preamble carry? Carried.

Shall Bill 182 carry? Carried.

Shall I report the bill to the House? Carried.

Thank you, colleagues. I believe that is a world record which I hope will stand.

If there are no further benign comments or any other expressions of collegiality—yes, Mr. Fraser?

Mr. John Fraser: I just want to congratulate you on a very well-run meeting. That’s about three minutes and 20 seconds a bill.

The Chair (Mr. Shafiq Qaadri): Your congratulations are both deserved and accepted. Thank you, Mr. Fraser.

The committee adjourned at 1411.

CONTENTS

Monday 6 June 2016

Rowan’s Law Advisory Committee Act, 2016, Bill 149, Ms. MacLeod, Ms. Fife, Mr. Fraser / Loi de 2016 sur le comité consultatif de la Loi Rowan, projet de loi 149, Mme MacLeod, Mme Fife, M. Fraser JP-325

Workers Day of Mourning Act, 2016, Bill 180, Mr. Hatfield / Loi de 2016 sur le Jour de deuil pour les travailleurs, projet de loi 180, M. Hatfield JP-326

Ontario Down Syndrome Day Act, 2016, Bill 182, Mr. Dickson / Loi de 2016 sur la Journée ontarienne de la trisomie 21, projet de loi 182, M. Dickson JP-327

STANDING COMMITTEE ON JUSTICE POLICY

Chair / Président

Mr. Shafiq Qaadri (Etobicoke North / Etobicoke-Nord L)

Vice-Chair / Vice-Président

Mr. Lorenzo Berardinetti (Scarborough Southwest / Scarborough-Sud-Ouest L)

Mr. Lorenzo Berardinetti (Scarborough Southwest / Scarborough-Sud-Ouest L)

Mr. Bob Delaney (Mississauga–Streetsville L)

Mr. Randy Hillier (Lanark–Frontenac–Lennox and Addington PC)

Mr. Michael Mantha (Algoma–Manitoulin ND)

Mrs. Cristina Martins (Davenport L)

Ms. Indira Naidoo-Harris (Halton L)

Mr. Arthur Potts (Beaches–East York L)

Mr. Shafiq Qaadri (Etobicoke North / Etobicoke-Nord L)

Ms. Laurie Scott (Haliburton–Kawartha Lakes–Brock PC)

Substitutions / Membres remplaçants

Mr. John Fraser (Ottawa South L)

Mr. Percy Hatfield (Windsor–Tecumseh ND)

Ms. Lisa MacLeod (Nepean–Carleton PC)

Clerk / Greffier

Mr. Christopher Tyrell

Staff / Personnel

Mr. Eric Chamney, legislative counsel

Ms. Vanessa Yolles, legislative counsel