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Ontario Assembly Bill

Ontario Bill 94

43rd Parl. 1st Sess.
April 04, 2023
Keeping 2SLGBTQI+ Communities Safe Act, 2023
  • This is a bill called Bill 94, enacted in 2023 in Ontario, Canada. It consists of two schedules: the 2SLGBTQI+ Community Safety Zones Act and the Ontario 2SLGBTQI+ Safety Advisory Committee Act. The 2SLGBTQI+ Community Safety Zones Act establishes designated zones where acts of intimidation towards the 2SLGBTQI+ community are prohibited within 100 meters of the zone's boundary. These acts include causing disturbances, distributing hate propaganda, making offensive remarks, or engaging in protests that promote homophobia and transphobia. The Attorney General has the authority to designate these safety zones for a specific period of time. Violating these prohibitions can result in a fine of up to $25,000. Peaceful protests and demonstrations are not affected by this Act, and the Superior Court of Justice can grant injunctions to prevent violations. The Ontario 2SLGBTQI+ Safety Advisory Committee Act establishes an advisory committee chaired by the Associate Minister of Women's Social and Economic Opportunity. The committee is composed of members of the Legislative Assembly and is responsible for making recommendations to improve the safety of the 2SLGBTQI+ community and prevent hate crimes and incidents. The committee advises the Associate Minister on various matters, including housing, health, education, hate crime prevention, and other relevant issues. The committee consults with stakeholders, reviews public submissions, conducts surveys, and reviews applicable documents. The committee must provide an annual report to the Associate Minister, which is then tabled in the Legislative Assembly and published on a government website. The Associate Minister responds to the report and proposes actions in response to its findings. Financial support may be provided to implement the recommendations, subject to the availability of appropriated funds. Overall, this bill aims to establish safety zones for the 2SLGBTQI+ community and create an advisory committee to address their safety concerns and make recommendations for improvement.
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Context: Assembly - Apr/4/23
MPP Kristyn Wong-Tam
  • Apr/4/23 11:30:00 a.m.
  • Re: Bill 94 

The bill has two schedules, so please bear with me.

Schedule 1 enacts the 2SLGBTQI+ Community Safety Zones Act, 2023. The act provides that the Attorney General may designate 2SLGBTQI+ community safety zones. The act prohibits persons from performing an act of intimidation within 100 metres of the boundary of a property that is designated as a 2SLGBTQI+ community safety zone. Every person who contravenes the prohibition is guilty of an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of not more than $25,000.

Schedule 2: This schedule enacts the Ontario 2SLGBTQI+ Safety Advisory Committee Act, 2023, which provides for the establishment and composition of an Ontario 2SLGBTQI+ safety advisory committee. The act requires the Ontario 2SLGBTQI+ safety advisory committee to make recommendations with respect to various matters relating to improving the safety and preventing hate crimes and hate-motivated incidents against two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and additional sexually and gender-diverse people in Ontario. The act also requires an annual report setting out the findings and recommendations of the Ontario 2SLGBTQI+ safety advisory committee.

Mr. Fraser moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 95, An Act to amend the Excellent Care for All Act, 2010 with respect to the patient ombudsman / Projet de loi 95, Loi modifiant la Loi de 2010 sur l’excellence des soins pour tous en ce qui concerne l’ombudsman des patients.
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  • Rabble!
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