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[37] Bill 151 Original (PDF)

Bill 151

Bill 1512000

An Act to provide for

mandatory drug treatment

for Members of the

Provincial Assembly

with a substance abuse problem

Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:

Office established

1. (1) The Office of Drug Testing and Surveillance of the Members of the Legislative Assembly is established and shall be composed of such persons as are appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council.

Programs established

(2) The Office shall establish a urine specimen collection and testing program and a mandatory treatment program designed to fulfil the objectives of this Act.

Urine specimen

2. Every member of the Legislative Assembly shall provide to the Office established under section 1 that member's urine specimen at least three times a year as specified by the Office and at such additional times, selected at random, as the Office may determine.

Testing

3. (1) Every specimen provided under section 2 shall be tested for psychoactive substances.

Same

(2) In order for the Office established under section 1 to ensure that the provision of the specimens shall be carried out with adequate safeguards to protect against tampering of the specimens, all specimens shall be provided to the office under direct supervision of a representative of the Office.

Participation in treatment program

4. (1) Every member of the Legislative Assembly whose urine specimen shows the presence of psychoactive substances shall participate in a mandatory treatment program established under section 1.

When benefits cut off

(2) Every member who does not participate in a mandatory treatment program in contravention of subsection (1) is not entitled to any remuneration, allowance or benefits under the Legislative Assembly Act or the Legislative Assembly Retirement Allowances Act.

Same

(3) Every member who does not participate in a mandatory treatment program in contravention of subsection (1) and the immediate family members living in the same household are not entitled to collect from or participate in any financial assistance program of the Government of Ontario.

Commencement

5. This Act comes into force on the day it receives Royal Assent.

Short title

6. The short title of this Act is the What is Good for the Goose is Good for the Gander Act, 2000.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The purpose of the Bill is to require members of the Legislature to undergo substance abuse testing. There is provision for a rehabilitation program for those members who test positive for substance abuse. Members who test positive and refuse to enter into the rehabilitation program would lose the right to collect their remuneration and benefits as members. Those members and their immediate families residing with them would also be precluded from collecting financial aid from government programs.