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Bill 218, Honouring Veterans Act, 2024

Ford, Michael D. Minister of Citizenship and Multiculturalism

Royal Assent received. Statutes of Ontario 2024,

chapter 22

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Status

Debates

Royal Assent

Original

Bill 218 Royal Assent (PDF)

EXPLANATORY

NOTE

This Explanatory Note was written as a reader’s

aid to Bill 218 and does not form part of the law.

Bill 218 has been enacted as

Chapter 22 of the Statutes of Ontario, 2024.

SCHEDULE 1

BUILDING OPPORTUNITIES IN THE SKILLED TRADES ACT, 2021

The

Building Opportunities in the Skilled Trades Act, 2021

is amended to provide that a certificate of qualification in a trade may be

issued to a member or veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces who holds a

prescribed credential with respect to the trade.

SCHEDULE 2

FAIR ACCESS TO REGULATED PROFESSIONS AND COMPULSORY TRADES ACT, 2006

Currently,

section 9.1 of the Fair Access to Regulated Professions

and Compulsory Trades Act, 2006 sets out specific timelines within which

regulated professions must respond to applications for registration from domestic

labour mobility applicants. The Act is amended to provide that different

timelines may be prescribed by regulations for such applicants or classes of

applicants.

SCHEDULE 3

REMEMBRANCE WEEK ACT, 2016

The

Schedule renames the Remembrance Week Act, 2016 as

the Remembrance Day and Veterans’ Week Act, 2024 .

The

preamble to the Act is repealed and replaced.

The

new

section 1 of the Act provides that the seven-day period in each year that

begins on November 5 and ends at the end of November 11 is proclaimed as

Remembrance Day and Veterans’ Week. The new

section 5 sets out suggestions for

ways to honour veterans during this week. The new

section 6 provides that the Minister

who has responsibility for the administration of this Act may honour veterans

through various recognition efforts, including by bestowing awards.

SCHEDULE 4

SOLDIERS’ AID COMMISSION ACT, 2020

The

Schedule amends the Soldiers’ Aid Commission Act, 2020

to add an additional object of the Commission.

Bill 218 2024

Act to amend various Acts with respect to honouring military veterans

CONTENTS

Preamble

Contents

of this Act

Commencement

Short

title

Schedule 1

Building

Opportunities in the Skilled Trades Act, 2021

Schedule 2

Fair

Access to Regulated Professions and Compulsory Trades Act, 2006

Schedule 3

Remembrance

Week Act, 2016

Schedule 4

Soldiers’

Aid Commission Act, 2020

Preamble

The Government of Ontario:

Remembers

the debt we owe to Canadian veterans, who have put their lives on the line,

serving our country in times of war and peace to defend our freedoms and

values.

Recognizes

the toll these sacrifices have had on veterans and their families, and our duty

as a province to continue supporting them as they transition into civilian

life.

committed to expanding provincial recognition of our veterans and promoting

access to the Soldiers’ Aid Commission financial assistance program.

Therefore,

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

the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:

Contents

of this Act

1 This Act consists of this section, sections 2

and 3 and the Schedules to this Act.

Commencement

(1) Except as otherwise provided

in this section, this Act comes into force on the day it receives Royal Assent.

(2) The

Schedules to this Act come into force as provided in each Schedule.

(3) If

a

Schedule to this Act provides that any provisions are to come into force on a

day to be named by proclamation of the Lieutenant Governor, a proclamation may

apply to one or more of those provisions, and proclamations may be issued at

different times with respect to any of those provisions.

Short

title

3 The

short title of this Act is the Honouring Veterans Act, 2024 .

SCHEDULE 1

BUILDING OPPORTUNITIES IN THE SKILLED TRADES ACT, 2021

Clause 10 (2) (

a) of the Building Opportunities in the

Skilled Trades Act, 2021 is repealed and the following substituted:

(

a) holds

a certificate of apprenticeship in the trade, has experience or qualifications

that the Registrar considers equivalent to those required to obtain such a

certificate or is a member or veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces who holds a

prescribed credential with respect to the trade;

Clause 65 (1) (

i) of the Act is amended by adding the following subclause:

(i.1) prescribing

credentials for the purposes of clause 10 (2) (a),

Commencement

This

Schedule comes into force on the day the Honouring

Veterans Act, 2024 receives Royal Assent.

SCHEDULE 2

FAIR ACCESS TO REGULATED PROFESSIONS AND COMPULSORY TRADES ACT, 2006

Subsection 9.1 (4) of the Fair Access to Regulated

Professions and Compulsory Trades Act, 2006 is amended by striking out

the portion before clause (

a) and substituting the following:

(4) A

regulated profession shall make a registration decision within 30 business days

after receiving an application for registration from a domestic labour mobility

applicant and everything required by the regulated profession in respect of the

application, or within such time as may be prescribed for a prescribed class of

applicant, and shall provide the applicant with,

. . . .

Clause 34 (1) (

c) of the Act is repealed and the following substituted:

(

c) establishing time limits for compliance

with any provision or provisions of this Act, including establishing a maximum

time period within which a regulated profession shall make registration

decisions in respect of applicants or prescribed classes of applicants and

establishing a process for granting exemptions from a time limit;

Commencement

This

Schedule comes into force on the day the Honouring

Veterans Act, 2024 receives Royal Assent.

SCHEDULE 3

REMEMBRANCE WEEK ACT, 2016

The title of the Remembrance Week Act, 2016 is repealed and the following

substituted:

Remembrance

Day and Veterans’ Week Act, 2024

The

preamble to the Act is repealed and the following substituted:

Preamble

Remembrance

Day commemorates the armistice signed to end the First World War at 11:00 a.m.

on November 11, 1918, being the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of

that year.

The

people of Ontario must never forget the extraordinary courage and profound

sacrifice made by the men and women who bravely and unselfishly gave their

lives for and served Canada in times of war and in peace .

a gesture of respect for them, it is appropriate to proclaim the week preceding

Remembrance Day in each year as Remembrance Day and Veterans’ Week to recognize

veterans and to honour the memory of those who gave their lives by observing

two minutes of silence on Remembrance Day itself.

Poppies

are worn during Remembrance Day and Veterans’ Week as a symbol of remembrance,

appreciation and respect.

Veterans

deserve to be treated with respect and any act that disrespects veterans should

be condemned, including committing the act of stolen valour.

Section 1 of the Act is repealed and the following substituted:

Remembrance

Day and Veterans’ Week

The

seven-day period in each year that begins on November 5 and ends at the end of

November 11 is proclaimed as Remembrance Day and Veterans’ Week.

Subsection 3 (1) of the Act is amended by striking out “Remembrance Week” at

the end and substituting “Remembrance Day and Veterans’ Week”.

Section 5 of the Act is repealed and the following substituted:

Remembrance

Day and Veterans’ Week observance

Suggestions

for honouring veterans

The

following are suggestions for ways to honour veterans during Remembrance Day

and Veterans’ Week:

1. Attending

or volunteering at a remembrance or veteran appreciation event.

2. Visiting

a war museum, memorial or cenotaph.

3. Learning

about the contributions of veterans across Ontario.

4. Inviting

a veteran as a guest speaker to an event to honour and recognize their

contributions.

5. Carrying

out acts of appreciation to honour veterans.

6. Supporting

campaigns that honour veterans.

7. Contributing

to the upkeep of a memorial or cenotaph.

Recognition

(1) The

Minister may honour veterans through various recognition efforts, including by

bestowing awards.

Definition

(2) In

this section,

“Minister”

means the member of the Executive Council to whom responsibility for the

administration of this Act is assigned or transferred under the Executive Council Act .

Commencement

This

Schedule comes into force on the day the Honouring

Veterans Act, 2024 receives Royal Assent.

SCHEDULE 4

SOLDIERS’ AID COMMISSION ACT, 2020

Section 3 of the Soldiers’ Aid Commission Act, 2020

is amended by adding the following paragraph:

1.1 To

assist the Minister in promoting the financial assistance program administered

by the Commission in order to increase awareness of the program for the benefit

of veterans and their family members.

Commencement

This

Schedule comes into force on the day the Honouring

Veterans Act, 2024 receives Royal Assent.

Bill 218 Original (PDF)

EXPLANATORY

NOTE

SCHEDULE 1

BUILDING OPPORTUNITIES IN THE SKILLED TRADES ACT, 2021

The

Building Opportunities in the Skilled Trades Act, 2021

is amended to provide that a certificate of qualification in a trade may be

issued to a member or veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces who holds a

prescribed credential with respect to the trade.

SCHEDULE 2

FAIR ACCESS TO REGULATED PROFESSIONS AND COMPULSORY TRADES ACT, 2006

Currently,

section 9.1 of the Fair Access to Regulated Professions

and Compulsory Trades Act, 2006 sets out specific timelines within which

regulated professions must respond to applications for registration from domestic

labour mobility applicants. The Act is amended to provide that different

timelines may be prescribed by regulations for such applicants or classes of

applicants.

SCHEDULE 3

REMEMBRANCE WEEK ACT, 2016

The

Schedule renames the Remembrance Week Act, 2016 as

the Remembrance Day and Veterans’ Week Act, 2024 .

The

preamble to the Act is repealed and replaced.

The

new

section 1 of the Act provides that the seven-day period in each year that

begins on November 5 and ends at the end of November 11 is proclaimed as

Remembrance Day and Veterans’ Week. The new

section 5 sets out suggestions for

ways to honour veterans during this week. The new

section 6 provides that the Minister

who has responsibility for the administration of this Act may honour veterans

through various recognition efforts, including by bestowing awards.

SCHEDULE 4

SOLDIERS’ AID COMMISSION ACT, 2020

The

Schedule amends the Soldiers’ Aid Commission Act, 2020

to add an additional object of the Commission.

Bill 218 2024

Act to amend various Acts with respect to honouring military veterans

CONTENTS

Contents

of this Act

Commencement

Short

title

Schedule 1

Building

Opportunities in the Skilled Trades Act, 2021

Schedule 2

Fair

Access to Regulated Professions and Compulsory Trades Act, 2006

Schedule 3

Remembrance

Week Act, 2016

Schedule 4

Soldiers’

Aid Commission Act, 2020

Preamble

The Government of Ontario:

Remembers

the debt we owe to Canadian veterans, who have put their lives on the line,

serving our country in times of war and peace to defend our freedoms and

values.

Recognizes

the toll these sacrifices have had on veterans and their families, and our duty

as a province to continue supporting them as they transition into civilian

life.

committed to expanding provincial recognition of our veterans and promoting

access to the Soldiers’ Aid Commission financial assistance program.

Therefore,

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

the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:

Contents

of this Act

1 This Act consists of this section, sections 2

and 3 and the Schedules to this Act.

Commencement

(1) Except as otherwise provided

in this section, this Act comes into force on the day it receives Royal Assent.

(2) The

Schedules to this Act come into force as provided in each Schedule.

(3) If

a

Schedule to this Act provides that any provisions are to come into force on a

day to be named by proclamation of the Lieutenant Governor, a proclamation may

apply to one or more of those provisions, and proclamations may be issued at

different times with respect to any of those provisions.

Short

title

3 The

short title of this Act is the Honouring Veterans Act, 2024 .

SCHEDULE 1

BUILDING OPPORTUNITIES IN THE SKILLED TRADES ACT, 2021

Clause 10 (2) (

a) of the Building Opportunities in the

Skilled Trades Act, 2021 is repealed and the following substituted:

(

a) holds

a certificate of apprenticeship in the trade, has experience or qualifications

that the Registrar considers equivalent to those required to obtain such a

certificate or is a member or veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces who holds a

prescribed credential with respect to the trade;

Clause 65 (1) (

i) of the Act is amended by adding the following subclause:

(i.1) prescribing

credentials for the purposes of clause 10 (2) (a),

Commencement

This

Schedule comes into force on the day the Honouring

Veterans Act, 2024 receives Royal Assent.

SCHEDULE 2

FAIR ACCESS TO REGULATED PROFESSIONS AND COMPULSORY TRADES ACT, 2006

Subsection 9.1 (4) of the Fair Access to Regulated

Professions and Compulsory Trades Act, 2006 is amended by striking out

the portion before clause (

a) and substituting the following:

(4) A

regulated profession shall make a registration decision within 30 business days

after receiving an application for registration from a domestic labour mobility

applicant and everything required by the regulated profession in respect of the

application, or within such time as may be prescribed for a prescribed class of

applicant, and shall provide the applicant with,

. . . .

Clause 34 (1) (

c) of the Act is repealed and the following substituted:

(

c) establishing time limits for compliance

with any provision or provisions of this Act, including establishing a maximum

time period within which a regulated profession shall make registration

decisions in respect of applicants or prescribed classes of applicants and

establishing a process for granting exemptions from a time limit;

Commencement

This

Schedule comes into force on the day the Honouring

Veterans Act, 2024 receives Royal Assent.

SCHEDULE 3

REMEMBRANCE WEEK ACT, 2016

The title of the Remembrance Week Act, 2016 is repealed and the following

substituted:

Remembrance

Day and Veterans’ Week Act, 2024

The

preamble to the Act is repealed and the following substituted:

Preamble

Remembrance

Day commemorates the armistice signed to end the First World War at 11:00 a.m.

on November 11, 1918, being the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of

that year.

The

people of Ontario must never forget the extraordinary courage and profound

sacrifice made by the men and women who bravely and unselfishly gave their

lives for and served Canada in times of war and in peace .

a gesture of respect for them, it is appropriate to proclaim the week preceding

Remembrance Day in each year as Remembrance Day and Veterans’ Week to recognize

veterans and to honour the memory of those who gave their lives by observing

two minutes of silence on Remembrance Day itself.

Poppies

are worn during Remembrance Day and Veterans’ Week as a symbol of remembrance,

appreciation and respect.

Veterans

deserve to be treated with respect and any act that disrespects veterans should

be condemned, including committing the act of stolen valour.

Section 1 of the Act is repealed and the following substituted:

Remembrance

Day and Veterans’ Week

The

seven-day period in each year that begins on November 5 and ends at the end of

November 11 is proclaimed as Remembrance Day and Veterans’ Week.

Subsection 3 (1) of the Act is amended by striking out “Remembrance Week” at

the end and substituting “Remembrance Day and Veterans’ Week”.

Section 5 of the Act is repealed and the following substituted:

Remembrance

Day and Veterans’ Week observance

Suggestions

for honouring veterans

The

following are suggestions for ways to honour veterans during Remembrance Day

and Veterans’ Week:

1. Attending

or volunteering at a remembrance or veteran appreciation event.

2. Visiting

a war museum, memorial or cenotaph.

3. Learning

about the contributions of veterans across Ontario.

4. Inviting

a veteran as a guest speaker to an event to honour and recognize their

contributions.

5. Carrying

out acts of appreciation to honour veterans.

6. Supporting

campaigns that honour veterans.

7. Contributing

to the upkeep of a memorial or cenotaph.

Recognition

(1) The

Minister may honour veterans through various recognition efforts, including by

bestowing awards.

Definition

(2) In

this section,

“Minister”

means the member of the Executive Council to whom responsibility for the

administration of this Act is assigned or transferred under the Executive Council Act .

Commencement

This

Schedule comes into force on the day the Honouring

Veterans Act, 2024 receives Royal Assent.

SCHEDULE 4

SOLDIERS’ AID COMMISSION ACT, 2020

Section 3 of the Soldiers’ Aid Commission Act, 2020

is amended by adding the following paragraph:

1.1 To

assist the Minister in promoting the financial assistance program administered

by the Commission in order to increase awareness of the program for the benefit

of veterans and their family members.

Commencement

This

Schedule comes into force on the day the Honouring

Veterans Act, 2024 receives Royal Assent.

Date Bill stage Event Outcome Committee

November 19, 2024

Royal Assent

Royal Assent received

November 6, 2024

Royal Assent

Royal Assent received

November 6, 2024

Third Reading

Vote

Carried

November 6, 2024

Third Reading

Question put

November 6, 2024

Third Reading

Debated

November 6, 2024

Second Reading

Ordered for Third Reading

November 6, 2024

Second Reading

Vote

Carried

November 6, 2024

Second Reading

Question put

November 6, 2024

Second Reading

Debated

November 6, 2024

Second Reading

Debated

Debate adjourned

November 5, 2024

Second Reading

Debated

Debate adjourned

November 4, 2024

First Reading

Ordered for Second Reading

November 4, 2024

First Reading

Vote

Carried

First Reading

November 4, 2024

Carried

Ordered for Second Reading

Second Reading

November 5, 2024

Principal Debaters

Cho, Hon. Raymond Sung Joon

Scarborough North

Kerzner, Hon. Michael

York Centre

McGregor, Hon. Graham

Brampton North

Sabawy, Sheref

Mississauga—Erin Mills

Stevens, Jennifer (Jennie)

St. Catharines

Questions and Responses

Coe, Lorne

Whitby

Taylor, Monique

Hamilton Mountain

November 6, 2024

Principal Debaters

Fraser, John

Ottawa South

Gélinas, France

Nickel Belt

Glover, Chris

Spadina—Fort York

Harden, Joel

Ottawa Centre

Kernaghan, Terence

London North Centre

McCrimmon, Karen

Kanata—Carleton

McGregor, Hon. Graham

Brampton North

Sattler, Peggy

London West

Schreiner, Mike

Guelph

Smith, Laura

Thornhill

Stevens, Jennifer (Jennie)

St. Catharines

Yakabuski, John

Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke

Questions and Responses

Gates, Wayne

Niagara Falls

Sabawy, Sheref

Mississauga—Erin Mills

November 6, 2024

Debated

Carried

Ordered for Third Reading

Third Reading

November 6, 2024

Debated

Question put

Carried

Royal Assent

November 19, 2024

Royal Assent received

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