(QUEEN’S PARK) MPP Randy Hillier (Lanark-Frontenac-Lennox and Addington) has introduced two motions that will transform Queens Park and the role of private members. These motions will bring greater rights and responsibilities for private members to challenge unfair regulations. “Everyday I hear from my constituents about regulations that affect their daily lives. Presently, all regulations are written and adopted behind close doors with no legislative scrutiny, and have far reaching and negative consequences”.
Unlike other jurisdictions, there is no method for private members to question regulations in the Province of Ontario. One of Mr. Hillier’s motions would allow private members to initiate a debate on the merits of a regulation in the Legislature. Mr Hillier’s second motion would empower the Standing Committee on Regulations and Private Bills to ensure that regulations do not make unusual or unexpected delegations of power, such as what has happened with the ORNGE, e-health and the OLG debacles.
“Although these motions are procedural in nature, their power should not be underestimated”, said Mr Hillier. “We have seen in instances like ORNGE and the G-20 fiasco that the government is able to delegate power in an unacceptable manner. Presently, there is no mechanism to ensure that Ontario's 1/2 million regulations provide value or benefit to our constituents; these two motions will remedy this legislative failing”.
The Standing Committee on Regulations and Private Bills passed both of Mr Hillier’s motions unanimously on the 4th of April. They have now been referred to the Standing Committee of the Legislative Assembly, where if adopted they will become a vast new tool for MPPs to represent their constituents.
In a presentation to Mr Hillier’s committee, a research officer of the Legislature noted that the only reason why Ontario does not have these private members’ rights was due to a clerical error some 50 years ago.
“It’s time to correct this error”.
Randy Hillier, MPP Lanark Frontenac Lennox, is a co-founder of the Lanark Landowners Association, which was brought to life to address government imposition on the rights of private property owners, and to address the regressive regulatory impositions that government was bringing down upon farmers and business owners in rural Ontario.
In 2006, Randy resigned as President of the OLA in order to run as a candidate for the Progressive Conservatives. Randy was elected in the 2007 provincial election.
Randy a long-time resident of Lanark County, an electrician by trade and member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), continues to co-publish and edit rural Ontario’s successful magazine “The Landowner.”
