Government of Ontario Bills Passed:

The Investing In Ontario Act, 2008
Ensures a portion of future surpluses will go to municipalities for infrastructure, such as improving roads and bridges, expanding transit and upgrading social housing.

The Budget Measures and Interim Appropriations Act, 2008
Measures announced in the 2007 Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review and 2008 Budget, including:

• The elimination of the Capital Tax for corporations primarily engaged in manufacturing and resource activities and a 21 per cent Capital Tax rate cut for all corporations retroactive to January 1, 2007, on the way to full elimination in 2010.
• An investment of $1.5 billion in skills training for new careers, expanded postsecondary student aid and places to learn.
• $1 billion in new municipal infrastructure in 2007-08.

The Fairness for Military Families Act, 2007
Ensures an employee who is a reservist is entitled to take a leave without pay if deployed and that family of Canadian Forces members are exempt from any waiting period for provincial health insurance.

Christopher’s Law (Sex Offender Registry) Amendment Act, 2008
Ensures the Sex Offenders Registry be notified quickly if a sex offender is released into the community, providing the police with more tools to prevent, investigate and solve sex crimes.

The Healthy Food for Healthy Schools Act, 2008
Amends the Education Act to regulate the trans fat content of food and beverages sold in a school cafeteria.

The Access to Adoption Records Act, 2008
Allows an adopted person to prevent the sharing of their personal information and allows the parents of a person put up for adoption to prevent the sharing of their personal information.

The Toronto Public Transit Service Resumption Act, 2008
When TTC workers walked off the job, the Ontario government quickly passed this legislation requiring workers to return.

The Payday Loans Act, 2008
Licenses all payday lending industry operators and bans controversial lending practices.

The Ontario French-language Educational Communications Authority Act, 2008
Sets out the objectives, powers and structure of the Ontario French-language Educational Communications Authority, which develops educational broadcasting and communications material and administers distance education programs.

Bill 64, Cosmetic Pesticides Ban Act, 2008
This Act prohibits the use and sale of pesticides that are used for cosmetic purposes, which have been deemed an unnecessary health risk.

Bill 69, Smoke-Free Ontario Amendment Act, 2008
Prohibits smoking in cars with children.

Bill 41, Highway Traffic Amendment Act (Speed-limiting Systems), 2008
A new requirement that commercial motor vehicles driven on a highway must have an active speed-limiting system.

Bill 80, The Algoma University Act, 2008
Re-establishes Algoma University College as a university.

Government of Ontario Bills Introduced:

Bill 50, Provincial Animal Welfare Act, 2008
Better protection for animals, including those in zoos, with regulations calling for jail time, fines and a lifetime ban on owning animals for those violators.

Bill 85 Photo Card Act, 2008
Would allow Ontarians to use an enhanced driver’s licence as an alternative to the passport when crossing Canada-U.S. borders by land and sea.
 
Bill 97, Increasing Access to Qualified Health Professionals for Ontarians Act, 2008
New legislation that would ease the way for internationally trained health care providers to practice in the province.

Bill 77, Services for Persons with Developmental Disabilities Act, 2008
Lays the groundwork for the province to modernize and improve service delivery for adults with a developmental disability.

Bill 90, The Colleges Collective Bargaining Act, 2008
Would give part-time and sessional college workers the right to bargain collectively for the first time in Ontario history.

Bill 99, Lake Simcoe Protection Act, 2008
This legislation would require the province to develop a comprehensive plan to protect and restore Lake Simcoe’s watershed and address the issue of phosphorus discharge.

(As of June 25th, 2008)