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Bill 6, Poet Laureate of Ontario Act (In Memory of Gord Downie), 2019

Hatfield, Percy

Royal Assent received. Statutes of Ontario 2019,

chapter 16

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Status

Debates

Royal Assent

As Amended by Standing Committee

Original

Bill 6 Royal Assent (PDF)

EXPLANATORY

NOTE

This Explanatory Note was written as a reader’s

aid to Bill 6 and does not form part of the law.

Bill 6 has been enacted as

Chapter 16 of the Statutes of Ontario, 2019.

The

Bill establishes the office of the Poet Laureate of Ontario in memory of Gord

Downie. The qualifications and selection process for the Poet Laureate are set

out. The responsibilities of the Poet Laureate include promoting art and

literacy, celebrating Ontario and its people and raising the profile of Ontario

poets.

Bill 6 2019

Act to establish the Poet Laureate of Ontario in memory of Gord Downie

Her

Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the

Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:

Poet

Laureate of Ontario established

(1) There

shall be a Poet Laureate of Ontario who is an officer of the Assembly.

Appointment

(2) The

Assembly shall, by order, appoint a Poet Laureate of Ontario.

Qualifications

(3) The

person appointed under subsection (2) shall meet the following qualifications:

1. The

individual must be a person whose primary residence is Ontario and who has resided

in Ontario for a period of at least six months during the 12 months preceding

the selection.

2. The

individual must have published at least one volume of poetry within the last 10

years or must demonstrate that his or her body of work over the years has

brought honour to himself or herself and to Ontario.

Terms

of office

(4) The

Poet Laureate of Ontario shall hold office for a term not exceeding two years

and shall continue to hold office after the expiry of his or her term until a

successor is appointed.

Removal

(5) The

Assembly may, by order, remove the Poet Laureate of Ontario from office, or

suspend him or her, for cause.

Selection by panel or unanimous vote

Any

order of the Assembly appointing an individual as the Poet Laureate of Ontario is

not valid unless,

(

a) the

individual has first been selected by unanimous agreement of the members of a

selection panel consisting of,

(

i) the

Speaker, who shall also serve as the chair of the panel,

(ii) the

Ontario Legislative Librarian,

(iii) two

members of the Province of Ontario Council for the Arts who have knowledge of

literary activity in Ontario, jointly selected by the Speaker and the Ontario

Legislative Librarian, and

(iv) the

current Poet Laureate of Ontario, if any; or

(

b) the

order appointing the Poet Laureate of Ontario is passed by a vote of all the

members of the Assembly present during the vote.

Responsibilities

(1) The

Poet Laureate of Ontario shall,

(

a) promote

art and literacy in Ontario;

(

b) celebrate

Ontario and its people;

(

c) raise

the profile of Ontario poets;

(

d) raise

public awareness of poetry and of the spoken word;

(

e) act

as a spokesperson for literature in general and poetry in particular; and

(

f) provide

a focal point for the expression of Ontario culture and heritage through the

literary arts.

Same

(2) In

carrying out the responsibilities set out in subsection (1), the Poet Laureate

of Ontario shall undertake activities including, but not limited to,

(

a) writing

poetry, occasionally for use in the Legislature if called upon by the Speaker

or the Lieutenant Governor;

(

b) visiting

schools, presenting or arranging poetry readings and assisting with writing

workshops or other activities;

(

c) advising

the Legislative Library regarding the collection of the Library and

acquisitions that may enrich its cultural holdings; and

(

d) performing

such other duties as may be requested by the Speaker, the Lieutenant Governor

or the Legislative Library in relation to this Act.

Honorarium

(1) The

Board of Internal Economy may authorize the Speaker to pay an honorarium to the

Poet Laureate of Ontario.

Reimbursement

of expenses

(2) The

Board of Internal Economy may authorize the Speaker to provide reimbursement to

the Poet Laureate of Ontario for expenses related to travel and other expenses

related to the purposes of this Act, if the expenses have been approved in

advance by the Speaker.

Commencement

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

Short

title

The

short title of this Act is the Poet Laureate of

Ontario Act (In Memory of Gord Downie), 2019 .

Bill 6 As Amended by Standing Committee (PDF)

This

reprint of the Bill is marked to indicate the changes that were made in

Committee.

The

changes are indicated by underlines for new text and a strikethrough for deleted text.

______________

EXPLANATORY

NOTE

The

Bill establishes the office of the Poet Laureate of Ontario in memory of Gord

Downie. The qualifications and selection process for the Poet Laureate are set out.

The responsibilities of the Poet Laureate include promoting art and literacy,

celebrating Ontario and its people and raising the profile of Ontario poets.

Bill 6 2019

Act to establish the Poet Laureate of Ontario in memory of Gord Downie

Her

Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the

Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:

Poet

Laureate of Ontario established

(1) There

shall be a Poet Laureate of Ontario who is an officer of the Assembly.

Appointment

(2) The Lieutenant Governor in Council

shall appoint the Poet Laureate of Ontario on the address of the Assembly for a

term not exceeding two years.

Appointment

(2) The Assembly shall, by order,

appoint a Poet Laureate of Ontario.

Qualifications

(3) The

person appointed under subsection (2) shall be the

person selected in accordance with

section 2 and shall meet the

following qualifications:

1. The

individual must be a person whose primary residence is Ontario and who has

resided in Ontario for a period of at least six months during the 12 months

preceding the selection.

2. The

individual must have published at least one volume of poetry within the last 10

years or must demonstrate that his or her body of work over the years has

brought honour to himself or herself and to Ontario.

Term of office

(4) The Poet Laureate of Ontario shall

hold office for the term specified in the appointment and shall continue to

hold office after the expiry of his or her term until a successor is appointed.

Terms of office

(4) The Poet Laureate of Ontario shall

hold office for a term not exceeding two years and shall continue to hold

office after the expiry of his or her term until a successor is appointed.

Removal

(5) The Lieutenant Governor in Council

may remove the Poet Laureate of Ontario for cause on the address of the

Assembly.

Removal

(5) The Assembly may, by order, remove

the Poet Laureate of Ontario from office, or suspend him or her, for cause.

Selection committee

(1) The

Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport shall, every two years or more

frequently if necessary, establish a selection committee to select a Poet

Laureate of Ontario, which committee shall consist of the following

individuals:

1. Two members

of the Province of Ontario Council for the Arts, as continued by the Arts Council Act , who have knowledge of literary activity

in Ontario.

2. Subject to

subsection (2), the current holder of the office of Poet Laureate of Ontario.

Same

(2) For the purposes of paragraph 2 of

subsection (1), if no Poet Laureate of Ontario has been appointed or if the

current holder of the office is unavailable, the individuals mentioned in

paragraph 1 of subsection (1) shall select a third individual to form the

selection committee.

Selection by

panel or unanimous vote

2 Any order of

the Assembly appointing an individual as the Poet Laureate of Ontario is not

valid unless,

(

a) the individual has first been selected by

unanimous agreement of the members of a selection panel consisting of,

(

i) the Speaker, who shall also serve

as the chair of the panel,

(ii) the Ontario Legislative Librarian,

(iii) two members of the Province of

Ontario Council for the Arts who have knowledge of literary activity in

Ontario, jointly selected by the Speaker and the Ontari o Legislative

Librarian, and

(iv) the current Poet Laureate of

Ontario, if any; or

(

b) the order appointing the Poet Laureate of

Ontario is passed by a vote of all the members of the Assembly present during

the vote.

Responsibilities

(1) The

Poet Laureate of Ontario shall,

(

a) promote

art and literacy in Ontario;

(

b) celebrate

Ontario and its people;

(

c) raise

the profile of Ontario poets;

(

d) raise

public awareness of poetry and of the spoken word;

(

e) act

as a spokesperson for literature in general and poetry in particular; and

(

f) provide

a focal point for the expression of Ontario culture and heritage through the

literary arts.

Same

(2) In

carrying out the responsibilities set out in subsection (1), the Poet Laureate

of Ontario shall undertake activities including, but not limited to,

(

a) writing

poetry, occasionally for use in the Legislature if called upon by the Speaker

or the Lieutenant Governor;

(

b) visiting

schools, presenting or arranging poetry readings and assisting with writing

workshops or other activities;

(

c) advising

the Legislative Library regarding the collection of the Library and

acquisitions that may enrich its cultural holdings; and

(

d) performing

such other duties as may be requested by the Speaker, the Lieutenant Governor

or the Legislative Library in relation to this Act.

Honorarium

(1) The

Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport may pay an honorarium to the Poet

Laureate of Ontario.

Reimbursement of expenses

(2) The Minister of Tourism, Culture and

Sport may provide reimbursement of expenses related to travel within Ontario

and other expenses of the Poet Laureate of Ontario related to the purposes of

this Act, if the expenses have been approved in advance by the Minister.

Honorarium

(1) The

Board of Internal Economy may authorize the Speaker to pay an honorarium to the

Poet Laureate of Ontario.

Reimbursement of expenses

(2) The Board of Internal Economy may

authorize the Speaker to provide reimbursement to the Poet Laureate of Ontario

for expenses related to travel and other expenses related to the purposes of

this Act, if the expenses have been approved in advance by the Speaker.

Commencement

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

Short

title

The

short title of this Act is the Poet Laureate of

Ontario Act (In Memory of Gord Downie), 2019 .

Bill 6 Original (PDF)

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Bill establishes the office of the Poet Laureate of Ontario in memory of Gord Downie. The qualifications and selection process for the Poet Laureate are set out. The responsibilities of the Poet Laureate include promoting art and literacy, celebrating Ontario and its people and raising the profile of Ontario poets.

Bill 6 2018

An Act to establish the Poet Laureate of Ontario in memory of Gord Downie

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

Poet Laureate of Ontario established

(1) There shall be a Poet Laureate of Ontario who is an officer of the Assembly.

Appointment

(2) The Lieutenant Governor in Council shall appoint the Poet Laureate of Ontario on the address of the Assembly for a term not exceeding two years.

Qualifications

(3) The person appointed under subsection (2) shall be the person selected in accordance with

section 2 and shall meet the following qualifications:

1. The individual must be a person whose primary residence is Ontario and who has resided in Ontario for a period of at least six months during the 12 months preceding the selection.

2. The individual must have published at least one volume of poetry within the last 10 years or must demonstrate that his or her body of work over the years has brought honour to himself or herself and to Ontario.

Term of office

(4) The Poet Laureate of Ontario shall hold office for the term specified in the appointment and shall continue to hold office after the expiry of his or her term until a successor is appointed.

Removal

(5) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may remove the Poet Laureate of Ontario for cause on the address of the Assembly.

Selection committee

(1) The Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport shall, every two years or more frequently if necessary, establish a selection committee to select a Poet Laureate of Ontario, which committee shall consist of the following individuals:

1. Two members of the Province of Ontario Council for the Arts, as continued by the Arts Council Act , who have knowledge of literary activity in Ontario.

2. Subject to subsection (2), the current holder of the office of Poet Laureate of Ontario.

Same

(2) For the purposes of paragraph 2 of subsection (1), if no Poet Laureate of Ontario has been appointed or if the current holder of the office is unavailable, the individuals mentioned in paragraph 1 of subsection (1) shall select a third individual to form the selection committee.

Responsibilities

(1) The Poet Laureate of Ontario shall,

(

a) promote art and literacy in Ontario;

(

b) celebrate Ontario and its people;

(

c) raise the profile of Ontario poets;

(

d) raise public awareness of poetry and of the spoken word;

(

e) act as a spokesperson for literature in general and poetry in particular; and

(

f) provide a focal point for the expression of Ontario culture and heritage through the literary arts.

Same

(2) In carrying out the responsibilities set out in subsection (1), the Poet Laureate of Ontario shall undertake activities including, but not limited to,

(

a) writing poetry, occasionally for use in the Legislature if called upon by the Speaker or the Lieutenant Governor;

(

b) visiting schools, presenting or arranging poetry readings and assisting with writing workshops or other activities;

(

c) advising the Legislative Library regarding the collection of the Library and acquisitions that may enrich its cultural holdings; and

(

d) performing such other duties as may be requested by the Speaker, the Lieutenant Governor or the Legislative Library in relation to this Act.

Honorarium

(1) The Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport may pay an honorarium to the Poet Laureate of Ontario.

Reimbursement of expenses

(2) The Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport may provide reimbursement of expenses related to travel within Ontario and other expenses of the Poet Laureate of Ontario related to the purposes of this Act, if the expenses have been approved in advance by the Minister.

Commencement

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

Short title

6 The

short title of this Act is the Poet Laureate of Ontario Act (In Memory of Gord Downie), 2018 .

Date Bill stage Event Outcome Committee

December 12, 2019

Royal Assent

Royal Assent received

December 12, 2019

Third Reading

Vote

Carried

December 12, 2019

Third Reading

Debated

December 10, 2019

Second Reading

Motion to arrange proceedings

November 27, 2019

Second Reading

Ordered for Third Reading

November 27, 2019

Second Reading

Reported as amended

November 27, 2019

Second Reading

Consideration of a Bill

Standing Committee on Regulations and Private Bills

September 20, 2018

Second Reading

Ordered referred to Standing Committee

Standing Committee on Regulations and Private Bills

September 20, 2018

Second Reading

Vote

Carried

September 20, 2018

Second Reading

Debated

July 30, 2018

First Reading

Vote

Carried

Debates and Progress

First Reading

July 30, 2018

Committee

Second Reading

September 20, 2018

Mr. Percy Hatfield, Hon. Sylvia Jones, Mr. Ian Arthur, Mr. Lorne Coe, Ms. Sandy Shaw, Mr. Dave Smith

September 20, 2018

Declared carried. Referred to the Standing Committee on Regulations and Private Bills.

Committee

Standing Committee on Regulations and Private Bills

November 27, 2019

November 27, 2019

Reported to the House as amended. Ordered for third reading.

Third Reading

Motion to Arrange Proceedings

December 10, 2019

Declared carried.

December 12, 2019

Mr. Percy Hatfield, Mr. John Fraser, Hon. Lisa MacLeod, Ms. Sandy Shaw, Mrs. Gila Martow, Mr. Ian Arthur, Mr. Dave Smith, Ms. Jill Andrew, Ms. Doly Begum, Mr. Gilles Bisson, Mme France Gélinas, Mrs. Lisa Gretzky

Declared carried.

Royal Assent

Thursday, December 12, 2019

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