Doug Ford put the feverish early election speculation to rest this week — after igniting the firestorm days earlier — allowing all in Ontario politics to rest easy and shore up their summer vacation plans.
It also means MPPs can focus on the last two weeks of the spring sitting to pass landmark bills like the Preventing Unethical Puppy Sales Act, which are central to the government’s agenda.
No governing party would dare face the electorate without showing voters they’ve done everything possible to protect our favourite furry friends.
Most of next week’s legislative time is dedicated to the aforementioned puppy mill bill. The house will also spend a decent chunk of time on the government’s latest housing bill, which is actually a key part of their agenda.
On Monday, MPPs will spend the entire day on third reading debate of Bill 185, the Cutting Red Tape to Build More Homes Act, from Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Paul Calandra.
The bill walks back some big changes from Bill 23. It allows municipalities to raise development charges without having to phase them in over five years. Municipalities love it because it gives them access to a huge source of revenue. The development industry hates it because it makes building homes more expensive.
Other consequential changes include exempting universities from the Planning Act to help them build more student residences.
On Tuesday morning, it’s on to Bill 159, Solicitor General Michael Kerzner's Preventing Unethical Puppy Sales Act. It would ban puppy mills and allow the government to make regulations prohibiting the sale of dogs under certain circumstances.
The afternoon is dedicated to two housing bills. Time will be split between Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner’s Bill 45 to permit six to 11-storey buildings as of right on major streets. Then it’s back to Bill 185.
The evening sitting will see debate on Bill 192, the Patient-to-Nurse Ratios for Hospitals Act, from NDP MPP France Gelinas. The bill would, surprisingly, set maximum patient-to-nurse ratios.
Wednesday morning and afternoon are all puppy mill bill.
In the evening, NDP MPP Jennifer French’s bill will see second reading debate. The EV-Ready Homes Act would require new homes to have rough-ins installed for electric vehicles.
“Electric vehicles are the future, but we are not yet EV-ready,” French said in a news release. “New homes should be built with the future in mind. Installing home charging infrastructure can be expensive — but it’s far more cost-effective when it is already roughed-in.”
After introducing his last bill, Calandra ruled out such a change on the grounds it would make building homes more expensive.
On Thursday morning, it’s back to the puppy mill bill. In the afternoon, it’s on to Bill 194, the Strengthening Cyber Security and Building Trust in the Public Sector Act, from Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery Todd McCarthy.
McCarthy’s bill would allow his ministry to set cybersecurity regulations for the broader public sector, which includes hospitals, schools, children's aid societies and other public institutions. That includes requiring institutions to report data breaches to the ministry and allowing McCarthy to intervene when an attack occurs.
Next week’s committee circuit is quite light. The public accounts committee meets on Monday afternoon to write reports on three audits: one on highway planning and management, another on reducing urban flood risk, and the third on invasive species management.
The procedure and house affairs committee has a Tuesday morning meeting on committee business. It’s a closed session.
Finally, the government agencies committee will do its regularly scheduled review of intended appointments.
