The Ford government has unveiled a new spring justice bill at Queen’s Park.
Known as the Protecting Ontario’s Streets and Communities Act, the massive bill touches on a wide range of issues, from youth detention centres to adoptions and drug enforcement powers for transit officers.
Here’s a rundown of some of the main points in the legislation introduced by Solicitor General Michael Kerzner.
Public website listing high-risk offenders
OPP will launch a central website next year that will publicly name high-risk offenders and provide information about them when a police chief issues a notice to the community about them.
Changes to youth detention centres
The ministry is proposing changes that would allow staff to temporarily place youths in rooms with lockable doors. The province says the ability of staff to place youths in “secured areas” would make the facilities safer for both the youth and staff in the facilities by enabling better control during weapon searches and other events.
Options to address retail theft
The Ministry of the Attorney General plans to create a dedicated prosecution team for organized retail theft. The prosecution team would prioritize the most serious cases and provide early investigative advice to police.
The government says it will also explore the feasibility of using Automated Licence Plate Recognition (ALPR) cameras on major provincial highways to address retail theft.
The province also wants to do something about what it says is the costly misuse of fire alarm pull stations, though it’s not clear what.
Expanding Drug Enforcement powers to transit constables
The bill would deliver on a previous commitment to empower special constables on transit services to order people to stop consuming drugs, direct them to leave an area, confiscate the drugs, make an arrest or lay a provincial offence charge if someone fails to comply.
Develop a provincial strategy to combat money laundering
The province says it wants to look at ways to get tough on money laundering, including compelling people to disclose how they acquired valuable assets if they are connected to unlawful activity.
Stronger oversight of private and intercountry adoptions
Citing Growing international concern over protecting children’s best interests when it comes to private intercountry adoptions (when local parents adopt children from other countries), the province says it wants to give the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services the ability to issue directions where concerns are identified with an adoption practitioner’s practice. It also wants to introduce new compliance tools for adoption licensees to address issues that may arise, and expand licensing refusal and revocation grounds when it comes to adoption licenses.
Restrict purchase of Chinese-made drones for government use
The Ford government previously announced their plan to restrict the use of Chinese-made drones for government use in order to improve the security of government technology.
Strengthen SIU oversight
The province is proposing changes to the SIU act that would allow the Lieutenant-governor to extend oversight for special constables or other groups authorized to carry firearms through regulation.
The government says this would ensure SIU oversight of groups authorized to carry and use firearms.
Vulnerable sector checks
Changes in the bill would make it possible for bodies other than police services to conduct vulnerable sector record checks for those in a position of trust or authority over children or other vulnerable individuals. The province says the move would free up police resources and speed up checks.
Victims of harassment could sue more easily
The legislation would make it easier for people to take legal action for harassment, even if there’s not been a criminal conviction. The province says people would not need to prove they suffered harm in order to bring the case and the lower civil standard of proof would apply.
The province says the move would make it easier for victims of criminal harassment to get compensation.
Ban medically unnecessary procedures on dogs and cats
The bill would prohibit procedures such as declawing for cats, ear cropping and devocalization for dogs, unless deemed necessary by a veterinarian to treat injury or disease.
