Schedule 1 Safe Access to Abortion Services Act, 2017 Schedule 2 Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act Her 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 — Bill 163 (41st Parliament, 2nd Session)

Bill 163, 41-2

Ontario — Bills

2ND SESSION, 41ST LEGISLATURE, ONTARIO 66 ELIZABETH II, 2017 Bill 163 (Chapter 19 of the Statutes of Ontario, 2017)

An Act to enact the Safe Access to Abortion Services Act, 2017 and to amend the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act in relation to abortion services The Hon. Y. Naqvi Attorney General 1st Reading October 4, 2017 2nd Reading October 17, 2017 3rd Reading October 25, 2017 Royal Assent October 25, 2017

EXPLANATORY NOTE This Explanatory Note was written as a reader’s aid to Bill 163 and does not form part of the law. Bill 163 has been enacted as

Chapter 19 of the Statutes of Ontario, 2017.

SCHEDULE 1 SAFE ACCESS TO ABORTION SERVICES ACT, 2017 The

Schedule enacts the Safe Access to Abortion Services Act,

Section 1 provides that the purpose of the Act is to protect access to abortion services.

Section 2 defines a number of terms, including the following: 1. A clinic is a place, other than a place in a hospital, whose primary purpose is to provide abortion services. 2. A facility is either a place, other than a clinic, where abortion services are provided or the office of certain protected service providers. 3. Protected service providers are people who work in clinics or certain health professionals who provide, or assist in the provision of, abortion services. Sections 3, 4 and 5 set out prohibitions.

Section 3 prohibits certain activities in access zones for clinics or facilit ies. The prohibited activities include advising a person to refrain from accessing abortion services, informing a person concerning issues related to abortion services, performing certain acts of disapprova l, certain persistent requests and certain actions for the purpose of dissuading a person from accessing abortion services or dissuading a protected service provider fro m providing abortion services. Further prohibited activities can be prescribed.

Section 4 prohibits certain activities in access zones for residences o f protected service providers. The prohibited activities include performing certain acts of disapproval, certain persistent requests and certain actions for the purpose of dissuading a protect ed service provider from providing abortion s ervices.

Section 5 prohibits, in any area, certain activities done for the purpose of dissuading protected service providers from providing abortion services. Sections 6 and 7 establish access zones for clinics, prescribed facilities and residences of pr otected service providers. Those sections provide for the extent of the zones and provide for certain property to be excluded. Sections 8 to 12 provide for enforcement.

Section 8 provides for offences.

Section 9 p rovides that a person may not be convicted of an offence for contravening a prohibition in an access zone unless the person knew, or was given notice of, th e location of the access zone.

Section 10 provides for a right to damages for losses resulting from contraventions.

Section 11 provides for injunctions.

Section 12 provides for powers of arrest without a warrant.

Section 13 provides for regulations.

SCHEDULE 2 FREEDOM OF INFORMATION AND PROTECTION OF PRIVACY ACT The

Schedule amends the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act to remove an existing restriction on the application of the Act to records relating to the provision of abortion services (in subsection 65 (5.7) of the Act) and replace it with a narrower restriction set out in su bsections 65 (13) and (14) of the Act. A new subsection 65 (15) is added to confirm that the Act continues to apply to statistical or other information relating to the provision of abortion services that is no t referred to in subsection 65 (13).

Bill 163 2017

An Act to enact the Safe Access to Abortion Services Act, 2017 and to amend the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act in relation to abortion services CONTENTS 1. Contents of this Act 2. Commencement 3.

Short title

Schedule 1 Safe Access to Abortion Services Act, 2017

Schedule 2 Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act Her 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 2

(1) Subject to subsections (2) and (3), 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 Protecting a Woman’s Right to Access Abortion Services Act, 2017 .

SCHEDULE 1 SAFE ACCESS TO ABORTION SERVICES ACT, 2017 CONTENTS PURPOSE 1. Purpose of Act

INTERPRETATION 2.

Definitions PROHIBITIONS 3. Prohibitions in access zones for clinics or facilities 4. Prohibitions in access zones for residences 5. Harassment of providers ACCESS ZONES 6. Access zones for clinics and facilities 7. Access zones for residences ENFORCEMENT 8. Offences 9. Limit on conviction - knowledge or notice of zone 10. Damages 11. Injunction 12. Arrest without warrant REGULATIONS 13. Regulations COMMENCEMENT AND

SHORT TITLE 14. Commencement 15.

Short title PURPOSE Purpose of Act 1 The purpose of this Act is to protect access to abortion services by protecting the safety, security, health and privacy of persons seeking to access these services and of persons providing, or assisting in the provision of, these services.

INTERPRETATION

Definitions 2 In this Act, “abortion services ” means lawful services provided for the termination of pregnancy including prescribing, dispensing or administering a drug to terminate pregnancy; (“services d’interruption volontaire de grossesse”) “clinic” means a place, other than a place in a hospital, whose primary purpose is to provide abortion services; (“clinique”) “facility” means, (

a) a place, other than a clinic, where abortion services are provided including, for greater certainty, a hospital, health centre or pharmacy where abortion services are provided, or (

b) the office of a person who is a protected service provider within the meaning of clause (

b) of the definition of “protected service provider”; (“établissement”) “prescribed” means prescribed by the regulations made under this Act; (“prescrit”) “property”, in relation to a clinic, facility or residence, means, (

a) property within the meaning of the Land Titles Act if that Act applies to the land where the clinic, facility or residence is located and clause (

c) does not apply, (

b) property within the meaning of the Registry Act if that Act applies to the land where the clinic, facility or residence is located and clause (

c) does not apply, (

c) property within the meaning of the Condominium Act, 1998 or as prescribed for the purposes of this clause, if that Act governs the land where the clinic, facility or residence is located as described in clause 2 (3) (

a) of that Act, or (

d) property, as prescribed for the purposes of this clause, if none of clauses (a), (

b) or (

c) apply; (“unité foncière”) “protected service provider” means, (

a) a person who works at a clinic, or

3 (

b) a person who provides, or assists in the provision of, abortion services and who is, (

i) a member of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, (ii) a member of the College of Nurses of Ontario, (iii) a member of the Ontario College of Pharmacists who holds a certificate of registration as a pharmacist, or (iv) a regulated health professional prescribed for the purpose of this subclause. (“fournisseur de services protégé”) PROHIBITIONS Prohibitions in access zones for clinics or facilities 3

(1) While in an access zone established under

section 6 for a clinic or facility, no person shall, (

a) advise or persuade, or attempt to advise or persuade, a person to refrain from accessing abortion services; (

b) inform or attempt to inform a person concerning issues related to abortion services, by any means, including oral, written or graphic means; (

c) perform or attempt to perform

an act of disapproval concerning issues related to abortion services, by any means, including oral, written or graphic means; (

d) persistently request that, (

i) a person refrain from accessing abortion services, or (ii) a protected service provider refrain from providing, or assisting in the provision of, abortion services; (

e) for the purpose of dissuading a person from accessing abortion services, (

i) continuously or repeatedly observe the clinic or facility or persons entering or leaving the clinic or facility, (ii) physically interfere with or attempt to physically interfere with the person, (iii) intimidate or attempt to intimidate the person, or (iv) photograph, film, videotape, sketch or in any other way graphically record the person; (

f) for the purpose of dissuading a protected service provider from providing, or assisting in the provision of, abortion services, (

i) continuously or repeatedly observe the clinic or facility or persons entering or leaving the cl inic or facility, (ii) physically interfere with or attempt to physically interfere with the provider, (iii) intimidate or attempt to intimidate the provider, or (iv) photograph, film, videotape, sketch or in any other way graphically record the provider; or (

g) do anything prescribed for the purpose of this clause. Exception (2) Clauses (1) (a), (b), (

c) and (

d) do not apply, (

a) to anything done in the course of a person’s work at the clinic or facility; or (

b) to anything occurring between a person accessing, or attempting to access, abortion services and someone who is accompanying the person with the person’s consent. Prohibitions in access zones for residences 4 While in an access zone established under

section 7 for the residence of a protected service provider, no person shall, (

a) perform or attempt to perform

an act of disapproval , directed at or about the provider, concerning issues related to abortion services, by any means, including oral, written or graphic means; (

b) persistently request that the provider refrain from providing, or assisting in the provision of, abortion services ; or (

c) for the purpose of dissuading the provider from providing, or assisting in the provision of, abortion services, (

i) continuously or repeatedly observe the residence, (ii) physically interfere with or attempt to physically interfere with the provider or a member of the provider’s household, (iii) intimidate or attempt to intimidate the provider or a member of the provider’s household, or

4 (iv) photograph, film, videotape, sketch or in any other way graphically record the provider or a member of the provider’s household. Harassment of providers 5

(1) No person shall, for the purpose of dissuading a protected service provider from providing, or assisting in the provision of, abortion services, (

a) repeatedly approach, accompany or follow the provider or a person known to the provider; (

b) continuously or repeatedly observe the provider; (

c) persistently request that the provider refrain from providing, or assisting in the provision of, abortion services; or (

d) engage in threatening conduct directed at the provider or a person known to the provider. Same

(2) No person shall repeatedly communicate by telephone, fax or electronic means with a protected service provider or a person known to the provider, for the purpose of dissuading the provider from continuing to provide, or assist in the provision of, abortion services, after the person being communicated with has requested that such communica tions cease. ACCESS ZONES Access zones for clinics and facilities 6

(1) An access zone is established, (

a) for each clinic; and (

b) for each facility prescribed for the purpose of this clause. Extent of zone - clinics

(2) The access zone for a clinic consists of, (

a) the property on which the clinic is located and the area within 50 metres, or such other prescribed distance not exceeding 150 metres, from the boundaries of the property; or (

b) such area with different boundaries, as may be prescribed for the purpose of this clause. Extent of zone - facilities

(3) The access zone for a facility consists of, (

a) the property on which the facility is located and the area within the prescribed distance, not exceeding 150 metres, from the boundaries of the property; or (

b) such area with different boundaries, as may be prescribed for the purpose of this clause. Limitation

(4) No part of an area prescribed for the purpose of clause (2) (

b) or (3) (

b) may be further than 150 metres from the closest boundary of the property on which the clinic or facility is located. Certain property excluded

(5) The access zone for a clinic or facility does not include real property that one or more persons has the exclusive right to use or occupy if none of those persons is the occupier of the clinic or facility. Regulations only on request, after notice

(6) A regulation prescribing a facility for the purpose of clause (1) (

b) or prescribing anything in relation to a clinic or facility for the purpose of subsection (2) or (3) may be made only if the occupier of the clinic or facility, (

a) has requested the regulation; or (

b) has been given notice of the intention to make the regulation and a reasonable opportunity to make written submissions before the regulation is made. Revocations not affected (7) Subsection (6) does not apply to, (

a) a regulation that revokes anything prescribed for the purpose of subsection (2) in relation to a clinic that ceases to be a clinic; or (

b) a regulation that revokes the prescription of a facility for the purpose of clause (1) (

b) or that revokes anything prescribed for the purpose of subsection (3) in relation to a facility that ceases to be prescribed for the purpose of clause (1) (b).

5 Access zones for residences 7

(1) An access zone is established for the residence of each protected service provider. Extent of zone

(2) The access zone for a residence consists of the property on which the residence is located and the area within 150 metres, or such other prescribed lesser distance, from the boundaries of the property. Certain property excluded

(3) The access zone for a residence of a protected service provider does not include real property that one or more persons has the exclusive right to use or occupy if none of those persons is the provider or a member of the provider’s household. ENFORCEMENT Offences 8 A person who contravenes subsection 3 (1) or

section 4 or 5 is guilty of an offence and, on conviction, is liable, (

a) in the case of a first offence under this Act, to a fine of not more than $5,000 or to imprisonment for a term of not more than six months, or to both; (

b) in the case of a second or subsequent offence under this Act, to a fine of not less than $1,000 and not more than $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term of not more than one year, or to both. Limit on conviction - knowledge or notice of zone 9 A person may not be convicted of an offence for contravening subsection 3 (1) or

section 4 unless the person kne w or, at any time before the contravention, was given notice of, the location of the relevant access zone. Damages 10 A person who suffers loss as a result of a contravention of subsection 3 (1) or

section 4 or 5 by another person has a right of action for damages against that person. Injunction 11 On application by a person, including the Attorney General, the Superior Court of Justice may grant an injunction to restrain a person from contravening subsection 3 (1) or

section 4 or 5. Arrest without warrant 12 A police officer may arrest without warrant a person the officer believes, on r easonable and probable grounds, has committed, or is committing, an offence under this Act. REGULATIONS Regulations 13 The Attorney General may make regulations, (

a) prescribing anything that is referred to, in this Act, as prescribed; (

b) setting out, for information purposes, the names and locations of the clinics in Ontario and descriptions of the access zones established under

section 6 for those clinics. COMMENCEMENT AND

SHORT TITLE Commencement 14 The Act set out in this

Schedule comes into force on a day to be named by proclamation of the Lieutenant Governor.

Short title 15 The

short title of the Act set out in this

Schedule is the Safe Access to Abortion Services Act, 2017.

SCHEDULE 2 FREEDOM OF INFORMATION AND PROTECTION OF PRIVACY ACT 1 (1) Subsection 65 (5.7) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act is repealed.

(2) Section 65 of the Act is amended by adding the following subsections: Non-application of Act, provision of abortion services

(13) This Act does not apply to information relating to the provision of abortion services if, (

a) the information identifies an individual or facility, or it is reasonably foreseeable in the circumstances that it could be utilized, either alone or with other information, to identify an individual or facility; or (

b) disclosure of the information could reasonably be expected to threaten the health or safety of an individual, or the security of a facility or other building. Same, pharmacies

(14) A reference in subsection (13) to a facility includes reference to a pharmacy, hospital pharmacy or institutional pharmacy, as those terms are defined in subsection 1 (1) of the Drug and Pharmacies Regulation Act. Related statistical information

(15) For greater certainty, this Act applies to statistical or other information relating to the provision of abortion services th at does not meet the conditions of clause (13) (

a) or (b). Commencement 2 This

Schedule comes into force on the day the Protecting a Woman’s Right to Access Abortion Services Act, 2017 receives Royal Assent.

Document details

Collection	Ontario — Bills
Citation	Bill 163, 41-2
Type	bill
Volume / chapter	p41 s2 bill 163 bill text 41 2 en b163ra e.pdf
Language	en
Format	json
Source	PROVINCIAL
Identifier	dfeb78fe77dc350600937cf7cbc6b8f169c822bd

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