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Bill 3, Stopping Anti-Public Health Harassment Act, 2021

Horwath, Andrea

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Status

Debates

Original

Bill 3 Original (PDF)

EXPLANATORY

NOTE

The

Bill enacts the Stopping Anti-Public Health Harassment

Act, 2021 . The Act prohibits persons from engaging in harassing

behaviours while in a safe zone established by the regulations. The listed

behaviours relate to a person’s enforcement or adoption of public health

guidelines relating to COVID-19. Certain exceptions are provided for.

Every

person who contravenes the prohibition is guilty of an offence and is liable on

conviction to a fine of not more than $25,000.

Bill 3 2021

Act to prohibit harassment based on enforcement or adoption of public health

measures relating to COVID-19

Her

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

Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:

Prohibitions

in safe zones

(1) While

in a safe zone established under the regulations, no person shall,

(

a) advise

or attempt to advise a person against following public health guidelines

relating to COVID-19;

(

b) dissuade

or attempt to dissuade a person from following public health guidelines

relating to COVID-19;

(

c) inform

or attempt to inform a person concerning public health guidelines relating to

COVID-19;

(

d) perform

or attempt to perform

an act of disapproval concerning public health guidelines

relating to COVID-19, by any means, including oral, written or graphic means;

(

e) persistently

request that another person refrain from following public health guidelines

relating to COVID-19; or

(

f) do

anything prescribed for the purposes of this clause.

Exceptions

(2) Subsection

(1) does not apply,

(

a) to

anything done in the course of a person’s work at a place within a safe zone;

(

b) to

anything occurring between a person attempting to access goods or services

within a safe zone and someone who is accompanying the person with the person’s

consent.

Offence

Every

person who contravenes

section 1 is guilty of an offence and is liable on

conviction to a fine of not more than $25,000.

effect on peaceful protests, etc.

For

greater certainty, nothing in this Act prevents peaceful protests or labour

demonstrations such as picketing or other efforts by workers to improve their

wages or working conditions.

Regulations,

safe zones around hospitals, schools, businesses, etc.

The

Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations,

(

a) prescribing

areas as safe zones, including areas around hospitals, schools, businesses or

other locations, for the purpose of

section 1;

(

b) prescribing

actions for the purpose of clause 1 (f).

Commencement

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

Short

title

The

short title of this Act is the Stopping Anti-Public

Health Harassment Act, 2021 .

Date Bill stage Event Outcome Committee

November 4, 2021

Second Reading

Vote

Lost on division

November 3, 2021

Second Reading

Deferred vote

November 3, 2021

Second Reading

Debated

October 5, 2021

First Reading

Vote

Carried

Debates and Progress

First Reading

October 5, 2021

Committee

Second Reading

November 3, 2021

Ms. Andrea Horwath, Ms. Christine Hogarth, Mr. Gurratan Singh, Mrs. Belinda C. Karahalios, Mrs. Robin Martin, Ms. Jill Andrew, Mr. John Fraser, Mme France Gélinas, Mr. Mike Schreiner

Vote deferred.

November 4, 2021

Lost on division.

Committee

Third Reading

Royal Assent

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