This Explanatory Note was written as a reader’s aid to Bill 65 and does not form part of the law.
Bill 65 has been enacted as Chapter 14 of the Statutes of Ontario, 2023.

The Bill amends the Remembrance Week Act, 2016 to require members of the Legislative Assembly, on the last sessional day before Remembrance Day in each year, to pause and observe two minutes of silence in honour of those who died serving their country in wars and in peacekeeping efforts. Members are also permitted to make speeches.

Bill 65 2023

An Act to amend the Remembrance Week Act, 2016

His Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:

1 Section 4 of the Remembrance Week Act, 2016 is repealed and the following substituted:

Moment of silence, Legislative Assembly

4 (1)  On the last sessional day before Remembrance Day in each year, immediately after Introduction of Visitors during the Morning Routine,

  (a)  the members of the Legislative Assembly shall pause and observe two minutes of silence in honour of those who died serving their country in wars and in peacekeeping efforts; and

  (b)  following the two minutes of silence, members are permitted to give speeches for 15 minutes, with five minutes allotted to the party recognized as the Official Opposition, five minutes allotted to the recognized party from which the Government is chosen and five minutes allotted to any other recognized parties and independent members as a group.

Definition

(2)  In this section,

“recognized party” has the same meaning as in subsection 62 (5) of the Legislative Assembly Act.

Commencement

2 This Act comes into force on the day it receives Royal Assent.

Short title

3 The short title of this Act is the Honouring Our Veterans Act, 2023.