HomeMy WebLinkAboutZurich Citizens News, 1977-08-24, Page 12Page 12
Citizens News, August 24, 1977
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By JACK RIDDELL
MPP Huron -Middlesex
Last February I reported to
you on the changes which had
been made in the Rules of the
Ontario Legislature, based upon.
research and study material, and
the recommendations of the
Ontario Commission on the
Legislature, otherwise known as
the Camp Commission.
It is generally agreed that
these new rules have made a
considerable improvement in the
operation of the Legislature.
The daily Question Period has
been lengthened to one h• ur, and
during this extended time more
Members have been able to
question Ministers about im-
portant matters of concern. Also
the Question Period is much
improved because statements by
Ministers are given in advance.
(or at least simultaneously) to
Opposition Members, making
prompt and informed questions
and responses possible.
Any amendments proposed to
legislation must be circulated in
advance to the Members of the
House, and access to background
material is made available to
r — �
Reception
and Dance
for
PAT AL1
and
GERARD CHARRETTE
(Bridal Couple)
Sat., Aug. 27
DASHWOOD COMMUNITY
CENTRE
Music by
MOZART'S MELODY MAKERS
Everyone Welcome
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Rules changed
Members on any government bill
or policy statement. More
thorough and detailed
preparation of material for
debates on the Ministry
Estimates is possible, as the
schedule for their consideration
is established well in advance.
Even the weekly order of
business, as slated by the House
Leaders, is given a formal and
much wider distribution. This
means that participation in
debates can be planned in ad-
vance.
One important change in the
Rules of the House permits a
Private Member's Bill to be
voted upon and, if passed by a
majority of Members, to be
enacted into legislation. This
means that, for the first time in
Ontario, someone other than a
member of the Cabinet may
hope to have a Bill of his own
become law. It has been very
interesting to note how well this
new system has worked.
Each Member may gain the
opportunity to have a Bill of his
own choice debated. All that is
necessary is to submit his name,
and the selection as to the order
of debate is made by. means of a
"lottery draw". Each week,
during the session, two Private
Member's Bills are debated, with
each of the political parties
taking a turn in sequence.
Mr. Lorne Maeck, the Member
for Parry Sound, was chosen first
on the initial ballot, held for the .
Spring Session of the Legislature.
Much to everyone's surprise, by
an odd coincidence," he was
h
c osen first again in the lottery
for debate of Private Member's
Bills in the Fall, His Bill to permit
the withholding of Treatment
where Death is Inevitable
received second reading, but died
on the Order Paper, when the
Legislature was dissolved for the
recent Provincial Election. He
has not, to date, indicated
whether or not he intends to
reintroduce this Bill.
The first Bill to receive the
required three readings and to
become law was legislation to
allow advertising in weekly
newspapers on . the Thursday
before a - Provincial Election.
This was passed unanimously on
April 21, 1977. It was sponsored
by Mr. Jack Johnson, the
Member for Wellington-Dufferin-
Peel. Her Honour, the Lieutenant
Governor granted the Bill Royal
Assent, and consequently, Mr.
Johnson will go down in Ontario
parliamentary history as the first
person to have had a Bill passed
as a Private Member.
. "LOTS OF LUCK"
for another successful
"ZURICH BEAN
FESTIVAL"
from
HEIMRICH'S
of
ZURICH
- Quality Giftware
- Coro Jewelry
- Health & Beauty Aids
- School & Office Supplies
PHONE 236-4941
As I mentioned to you in my
earlier Report, if twenty Mem-
bers object to the legislation, a
Bill will not proceed through the
various stages of debate. Several
controversial matters have been
blocked in this way,
One such Bill was to provide for
greater Freedom of Information.
It was felt that such legislation
was not necessary at this point in
time, as the Government had
appointed a commission to study
the matter.
A proposed measure to en-
courage the Government to
establish a register of all lands
owned by the Province, or any of
its agencies, was found ac-
ceptable. The register would
include the date of the purchase,
commissions paid, and the
establishment of guidelines for
future purchases. This resolution
was felt to be in the spirit of the
move toward increasing access
to Government transactions.
After a very interesting debate,
the legislation was passed.
As there were only three -op-
portunities to debate Private
Member's Bills in the Spring
Session, there is considerable
interest in future developments
in connection with this particular
rule revision. The first three Bills
to be introduced in the Fall
Session will be those of Mr. Lorne
Maeck (Parry Sound), Mr. John
Eakins (Victoria-Haliburton)
and Mr. Michael Cassidy
(Ottawa -Centre) .
Incidentally, the Rules make it
quite clear that no Private
Member's Bill may involve the
expenditure of public money.
This is in accordance with the
age-old parliamentary tradition
that only the Government has the
right to collect and impose taxes,
and to spend the taxpayers'
money.
s
We extend a sincere
WELCOME
to Zurich's Twelfth annual
BEAN FESTIVAL
Please feel free to drop in and meet us
DELICIOUS
FULL COURSE MEALS
SERVED IN OUR DINING ROOM
5 P.M. - 7:30 P.M.
ENTERTAINMENT IN THE
LOUNGE
"DWIGHT JAMES"
DOMINION
HOTEL 236 4371
WELCOME
TO THE
VILLAGE OF ZURICH
Residents of the Village of Zurich extend a
warm welcome to all those who are
attending the Bean Festival
Corporation of the
VILLAGE OF ZURICH
FRED HABERER
REEVE CLERK
Claude Gelinas, Isidore Laporte, Ray McKinnon, Leroy Thiel
COUNCILLORS
SHARON BAKER