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Legislative Update – December 20, 2019

2020 1/22 | Connects Page, Provincial Updates

A photo of Queen's Park in Toronto from the front on a sunny day.
The Legislative Assembly of Ontario is recessed for the winter break and is scheduled to return on February 18, 2020, after Family Day. 

2020 Pre-Budget Consultations

On December 18, Minister of Finance Rod Phillips launched the first of a series of budget consultations that will run across Ontario throughout the months of January and February.  During that time, Ontarians will be invited to participate via an online survey, attend an in-person session (details below) and/or, send in a written submission. The deadline for the survey and written submissions is February 11, 2020.  The Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs will hold Pre-Budget Consultation public hearings in Toronto on January 17, 2020 and in Sioux Lookout, Thunder Bay, Kitchener-Waterloo, Belleville, and Niagara during the week of January 20, 2020. Interested people who wish to be considered to make an oral presentation to the Committee on January 17, 2020, or during the week of January 20, 2020, are required to provide their contact name, mailing address, phone number, and email address directly to the Clerk of the Committee by 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 9, 2020, in order to be registered. Those who do not wish to make an oral presentation but wish to comment on the issue may send a written submission to the Clerk of the Committee at the email or mailing address below by 6:00 p.m. on Friday, January 24, 2020. The clerk, Julia Douglas, can be reached at comm-financeaffairs@ola.orgStanding Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs details Ministry of Finance news release Details about 2020 Budget consultations 

The Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) Right to Read Public Hearings

Earlier in the fall, the OHRC announced its intention to conduct a public inquiry into potential human rights issues that affect students with reading disabilities in Ontario’s public education system. On December 18, the OHRC announced details regarding the The “Right to Read” inquiry that will be reaching out to parents, students and educators across the province to hear about their experiences, challenges and concerns. The inquiry is also assessing whether school boards use scientific evidence-based approaches to meet students’ right to read. The OHRC selected eight school boards to assess their compliance with their obligation to provide equal treatment to students with reading disabilities. The English public school boards involved include: the Hamilton Wentworth District School Board; the Keewatin-Patricia District School Board, the Lakehead District School Board, the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board, the Peel District School Board, and the Thames Valley District School Board.  Public hearings will begin on January 14, 2020 in Brampton, January 29 in London, February 25 in Thunder Bay and March 10 in Ottawa. There is an online survey for students with reading disabilities or their parents and guardians. A separate survey will be available for educators and others. OPSBA will follow up as to how the Association might participate.  OHRC website for more information, including student/parent/guardian survey OHRC news release

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