36th Parliament, 1st Session

No. 219 No 219

Votes and

Proceedings

Procès-verbaux

Legislative Assembly

of Ontario

Assemblée législative

de l'Ontario

1st Session,

36th Parliament

1re session,

36e législature

Tuesday,

August 26, 1997

Mardi

26 août 1997

PRAYERS

1:30 P.M.

PRIÈRES

13 H 30

The Speaker delivered the following rulings:

On Thursday, August 21, 1997, the member for Algoma (Mr Wildman) rose on a point of order. He asked the Speaker to rule on the orderliness of Bill 152, An Act to improve Services, increase Efficiency and benefit Taxpayers by eliminating Duplication and reallocating Responsibilities between Provincial and Municipal Governments in various areas and to implement other aspects of the Government's "Who Does What" Agenda.

The Government House Leader (Mr Johnson) and the member for St. Catharines (Mr Bradley) also spoke to the issue.

The essential concern raised by the member for Algoma was that the bill was an omnibus bill that seeks to amend many unrelated pieces of legislation.

I agree that Bill 152 is an omnibus bill. Omnibus bills have been the subject of much procedural scrutiny in the course of the 35th and 36th Parliaments because governments have increasingly used them as vehicles for submitting related proposals for the consideration of the House. There may come a time when an omnibus bill is procedurally unacceptable and when the long title will not save the bill.

The procedural concern that has been raised about such bills is that the proposals in them are not related. However, Bill 152 is not such a bill. I have examined the bill carefully, and it does appear to have a theme of relevancy -- a tangible link -- among its components.

Therefore, while the member may have a legitimate grievance, that alone does not make the bill out of order. All I can say is what I have said on a previous occasion, namely that the House has it within its power to establish rules or guidelines that will in the future alleviate concerns such as the one raised by the member for Algoma.

I thank the member, as well as the Government House Leader and the member for St. Catharines for their submissions.

Yesterday, the member for Hamilton Centre raised a point of order with respect to the decisions of the Sub-committee of the Standing Committee on Resources Development and a document produced by the Ministry of Labour.

The Ministry of Labour document states that the clause-by-clause review of Bill 99 is to begin on August 25, 1997. This is obviously an error since yesterday was August 25 and to the best of my knowledge clause-by-clause consideration did not commence. While there is no doubt that it is incorrect information, I do not believe that it anticipates any decision of this House. In accordance with an order of this House, clause-by-clause consideration of the bill will happen; the fact that the document has an incorrect start date is neither out of order nor does it constitute a prima facie case of privilege.

The member for Hamilton Centre also raised the issue of a Sub-committee decision being subsequently overridden by the full Committee. The member will know that the Speaker will not rule on matters that are before committees, however, in a general way I want to state that with few exceptions, any decision of a Sub-committee must be approved by the full committee. It is not out of order for the full committee to amend or defeat Sub-committee reports.

I find then that there is nothing out of order.

INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

DÉPÔT DES PROJETS DE LOI

The following Bill was introduced and read the first time:-

Le projet de loi suivant est présenté et lu une première fois:-

Bill 153, An Act to provide more protection for animals by amending the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. Ms I. Bassett.

Projet de loi 153, Loi prévoyant une protection accrue des animaux en modifiant la Loi sur la Société de protection des animaux de l'Ontario. Mme I. Bassett.

The following Bill was introduced, read the first time and referred to the Standing Committee on Regulations and Private Bills:-

Le projet de loi suivant est présenté, lu une première fois et déféré au Comité permanent des règlements et des projets de loi privés:-

Bill Pr86, An Act to establish the Scarborough Entertainment and Convention Corporation. Mr J. Brown (Scarborough West).

PETITIONS

PÉTITIONS

Petition relating to Restructuring the provincial-municipal relationship (Sessional Paper No. P-228) (Tabled August 26, 1997) Mr B. Wildman.

Petition relating to Catch and release methods of sport fishing in Eastern Ontario (Sessional Paper No. P-242) (Tabled August 26, 1997) Mr J. Cleary.

Petition relating to Demanding public hearings on the Review of the Occupational Health and Safety Act discussion paper (Sessional Paper No. P-249) (Tabled August 26, 1997) Mr D. Christopherson.

Petition relating to a Variance allowing only standby chlorination to be used in Milton's water delivery system (Sessional Paper No. P-269) (Tabled August 26, 1977) Mr T. Chudleigh.

Petitions relating to Enacting legislation to require women to wear tops in public places (Sessional Paper No. P-278) (Tabled August 26, 1997) Mr S. Conway, Mrs J. Munro and Mr B. Wood (London South).

Petition relating to Withdrawal of Bill 136 (Sessional Paper No. P-290) (Tabled August 26, 1997) Mr D. Christopherson.

Petitions relating to Predatory Gas Pricing Legislation (Sessional Paper No. P-299) (Tabled August 26, 1997) Mr R. Bartolucci and Mr M. Gravelle.

ORDERS OF THE DAY

ORDRE DU JOUR

Debate was resumed on the motion for Second Reading of Bill 136, An Act to provide for the expeditious resolution of disputes during collective bargaining in certain sectors and to facilitate collective bargaining following restructuring in the public sector and to make certain amendments to the Employment Standards Act and the Pay Equity Act.

Le débat reprend sur la motion portant deuxième lecture du projet de loi 136, Loi prévoyant le règlement rapide des différends lors des négociations collectives dans certains secteurs, facilitant les négociations collectives à la suite de la restructuration dans le secteur public et apportant certaines modifications à la Loi sur les normes d'emploi et à la Loi sur l'équité salariale.

After some time, pursuant to Standing Order 9(a), the motion for the adjournment of the debate was deemed to have been made and carried.

Après quelque temps, conformément à l'article 9(a) du Règlement, la motion d'ajournement du débat est réputée avoir été proposée et adoptée.

The House then adjourned

at 6:00 p.m.

À 18 h, la chambre a ensuite

ajourné ses travaux.

6:30 P.M.

18 H 30

ORDERS OF THE DAY

ORDRE DU JOUR

Debate was resumed on the motion for Second Reading of Bill 148, An Act to deal with matters relating to the establishment of the new City of Toronto.

Le débat reprend sur la motion portant deuxième lecture du projet de loi 148, Loi traitant de questions se rapportant à la constitution de la nouvelle cité de Toronto.

After some time, pursuant to Standing Order 9(a), the motion for the adjournment of the debate was deemed to have been made and carried.

Après quelque temps, conformément à l'article 9(a) du Règlement, la motion d'ajournement du débat est réputée avoir été proposée et adoptée.

The House then adjourned

at 9:30 p.m.

À 21 h 30, la chambre a ensuite

ajourné ses travaux.

le président

Christopher M. Stockwell

Speaker

Responses to Petitions:-

Réponses aux Pétitions:-

Petition relating to Rent Control Legislation (Sessional Paper No. P-64):

(Tabled August 19, 1997) Mrs M. Boyd.

Petition relating to Clarification of federal legislation on going topless in public places (Sessional Paper No. P-272):

(Tabled August 18, 1997) Mr J. Ouellette.