The Bill enacts the Ontario Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience Act, 2024. The Act provides that the Minister of Environment, Conservation and Parks or such other member of the Executive Council as may be assigned the administration of this Act under the Executive Council Act shall develop and publish a strategic action plan that aims to ensure that Ontario citizens, communities, infrastructure and natural environment are protected from the risks and impacts of climate change. The Act also requires the Minister to establish an arm’s length Ontario Climate Adaptation Fund to support the implementation of adaptation and resilience activities included in the strategic action plan. The Minister is also required to establish the Ontario Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience Resource Centre. The Lieutenant Governor in Council is required to establish a Whole-of-Government Climate Adaptation Co-ordination Secretariat that, among other things, will co-ordinate and assist with the implementation of science-aligned climate adaptation plans for all government ministries and agencies, including formulating and implementing policy, legislation and regulations.

The Bill amends the Building Code Act, 1992 to add a new section 15. Section 15 provides that in constructing a house to which the section applies, the builder shall ensure that a minimum 200 amp panel board, a conduit that is not less than 27 mm trade size and is equipped with a means to allow cables to be pulled into the conduit and a square 4-11/16 inch trade size electrical outlet box are installed in the garage or carport or adjacent to the driveway. This is required in order to permit the future installation of electric vehicle supply equipment that conforms to section 86 of the Electrical Safety Code.

SCHEDULE 1
BUILDING OPPORTUNITIES IN THE SKILLED TRADES ACT, 2021

The Schedule amends the Building Opportunities in the Skilled Trades Act, 2021 to provide that the regulations may set out alternative criteria for academic standards.

SCHEDULE 2
EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS ACT, 2000

The Employment Standards Act, 2000 is amended as follows:

New sections 8.5 and 8.6 of the Act establish certain requirements with respect to publicly advertised job postings. Complementary amendments are made to the record-keeping requirements in section 15 and the regulation-making authorities in subsection 141 (1).

Section 50 of the Act is amended so that employers retain the right to require evidence of entitlement to sick leave but are not permitted to require a certificate from a qualified health practitioner.

Section 132 of the Act, which sets out the fines applicable for convictions under the Act, is amended to increase the maximum fine for an individual to $100,000.

SCHEDULE 3
FAIR ACCESS TO REGULATED PROFESSIONS AND COMPULSORY TRADES ACT, 2006

The Schedule amends the Fair Access to Regulated Professions and Compulsory Trades Act, 2006 to add new sections requiring regulated professions to have policies respecting what alternatives to the documentation of qualifications that is normally required will be acceptable and to have plans addressing how they will enable multiple registration processes to take place concurrently. The sections also include requirements respecting the contents of the policies and plans and other related provisions.

SCHEDULE 4
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY ACT

The Occupational Health and Safety Act is amended. Here are some highlights:

The Act is amended to impose duties on constructors and employers with respect to the maintenance of washroom facilities. Complementary amendments are made.

The definitions of “workplace harassment” and “workplace sexual harassment” are updated to include certain virtual activities.

Section 3 of the Act is amended to provide that the Act applies to telework performed in or about a private residence.

Various provisions of the Act that require the posting of information are amended to provide that the information may be posted in a readily accessible electronic format. New subsection 1 (5) establishes the requirements that must be met for information to be posted in a readily accessible electronic format for the purposes of the Act.

SCHEDULE 5
ONTARIO IMMIGRATION ACT, 2015

The Schedule amends the Ontario Immigration Act, 2015 to provide that an individual who is appointed to conduct an internal review may delegate the individual’s powers or duties under the appointment.

SCHEDULE 6
WORKPLACE SAFETY AND INSURANCE ACT, 1997

Section 14 of the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997, which provides that certain workers are entitled to benefits under the insurance plan for posttraumatic stress disorder arising out of and in the course of the worker’s employment and that the posttraumatic stress disorder is presumed to have arisen out of and in the course of the worker’s employment, unless the contrary is shown, is amended to include two new categories of workers. Transitional matters are provided for and complementary amendments are made.

Section 15.1 of the Act, which creates presumptions that apply to certain firefighters and fire investigators, is amended to establish a presumption in respect of primary-site skin cancer. Related amendments are made to provisions of that section and to section 15.2.

The Bill enacts the Justice for Soli Act (Stop Criminalizing Mental Health), 2024. The Act requires the Government of Ontario to recognize that a correctional facility is not an appropriate environment for a person experiencing a mental health crisis and that mental illness should not be criminalized.

The Bill amends the Taxation Act, 2007.

Section 31 is amended to increase the Ontario small business deduction rate from 8.3 per cent to 9.9 per cent. The business limit for a taxation year for the purposes of the small business deduction is increased from $500,000 to $600,000.

The formula in clause 32 (1) (b) for calculating the surtax to be added by an Ontario small business is also amended to reflect the increase of $500,000 to $600,000.

The amendments are deemed to have come into force on January 1, 2024.

The Bill enacts Lydia’s Law (Accountability and Transparency in the Handling of Sexual Assault Cases), 2024. Section 2 of the Act provides that the Attorney General shall prepare and publish a progress report describing the extent to which the Ministry of the Attorney General has implemented certain recommendations set out in the Auditor General’s Report and shall lay the progress report before the Assembly. Section 3 of the Act requires the Standing Committee on Justice Policy to establish a working group to review the progress report and report on their review to the Assembly. Section 4 of the Act provides that the Attorney General shall review the efficiency of the Victim Quick Response Program and report the results of the review to the Assembly. Section 5 of the Act requires police services that receive a sexual assault complaint from persons who are 16 years of age or older to make the person aware of the Independent Legal Advice Program.

The Bill proclaims the month of February in each year as Chinese Heritage Month.