​MPPs rose for summer recess after yesterday’s session and return on September 24, 2018. Their return follows the 2018 International Plowing Match and Rural Expo, held this year from September 18 to 22, 2018, in Pain Court, Chatham-Kent, Ontario. This is traditionally a photo-op for party leaders and many politicians. The legislative session ended with the passage of Bill 5, Better Local Government Act, 2018. The government had introduced a time allocation motion that included the bill skipping the committee stage and receiving just one hour of debate at third reading.

Recreational Cannabis Legalization – Update

On August 13, 2018, the PC government announced that the province’s recreational cannabis retail model will include a private retail system, replacing the former government’s plan to operate government-run cannabis standalone stores. Beginning on the federal legalization date of October 17, 2018, recreational cannabis will exclusively be sold online via the Ontario Cannabis Store. The province will introduce legislation for a private retail model that, if passed, would be launched by April 1, 2019. A government news release stated “the private retail store model will be developed in consultation with the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, the City of Toronto, Indigenous communities, police, the cannabis industry association and other key stakeholders to ensure safe, responsible sales.”

OPSBA will continue to monitor this issue and its implementation and request school boards be part of the retail store consultation.

Click here for the news release

Click here for the backgrounder

Broader Public Sector Executive Compensation – Update

On August 13, 2018, the Treasury Board Secretariat issued a memo and fact sheet announcing a suspension of the “current approach to broader public sector executive compensation while it completes a full regulatory review of the program.” The new framework regulation, Ontario Regulation 406/18: Compensation Framework, is effective as of August 10, 2018.  Click here for OPSBA President Cathy Abraham’s comments.

Deputy Minister of Education Changes

On August 10, 2018, the government issued memos regarding the retirement of the current Deputy Minister of Education, Bruce Rodrigues, and the appointment of Nancy Naylor as the new Deputy Minister, effective August 30, 2018.