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Bill 31, Marriage Amendment Act, 2025

Rae, Matthew

Smith, Dave

Current status:

Royal Assent received. Statutes of Ontario 2025,

chapter 20

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Status

Debates

Acts affected

Royal Assent

Original

Bill 31 Royal Assent (PDF)

EXPLANATORY

NOTE

This Explanatory Note was written as a reader’s

aid to Bill 31 and does not form part of the law.

Bill 31 has been enacted as

Chapter 20 of the Statutes of Ontario, 2025.

The

Bill amends the Marriage Act to authorize a member

of the Assembly to solemnize marriages under the authority of a licence if they

have given written notice to the Minister. The authorization would last for a

period of 12 months after the day the person ceases to be a member of the

Assembly.

Bill 31 2025

Act to amend the Marriage Act

His

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

Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:

1 (1) Subsection 24 (1) of the Marriage Act is amended by adding the following

paragraph:

3.1 A

member of the Assembly who has given written notice to the Minister indicating

an interest in solemnizing marriages.

(2) Section

24 of the Act is amended by adding the following subsection:

Same

(2) Subsection

(1) continues to apply to a person described in paragraph 3.1 of that

subsection for a period of 12 months after the day the person ceases to be a

member of the Assembly.

Commencement

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

Short

title

The

short title of this Act is the Marriage Amendment Act,

2025 .

Bill 31 Original (PDF)

Bill 31 2025

EXPLANATORY

NOTE

The

Bill amends the Marriage Act to authorize a member

of the Assembly to solemnize marriages under the authority of a licence if they

have given written notice to the Minister. The authorization would last for a

period of 12 months after the day the person ceases to be a member of the

Assembly.

Act to amend the Marriage Act

His

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

Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:

1 (1) Subsection 24 (1) of the Marriage Act is amended by adding the following

paragraph:

3.1 A

member of the Assembly who has given written notice to the Minister indicating

an interest in solemnizing marriages.

(2) Section

24 of the Act is amended by adding the following subsection:

Same

(2) Subsection

(1) continues to apply to a person described in paragraph 3.1 of that

subsection for a period of 12 months after the day the person ceases to be a

member of the Assembly.

Commencement

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

Short

title

The

short title of this Act is the Marriage Amendment Act,

2025 .

Date Bill stage Event Outcome Committee

December 11, 2025

Royal Assent

Royal Assent received

December 4, 2025

Third Reading

Vote

Carried

December 4, 2025

Third Reading

Question put

December 4, 2025

Third Reading

Debated

December 4, 2025

Second Reading

Ordered for Third Reading pursuant to the Order of the House

December 4, 2025

Second Reading

Discharge the Order of referral to Committee of the Whole House

December 4, 2025

Second Reading

Motion to arrange proceedings

October 23, 2025

Second Reading

Ordered referred to Committee of the Whole House

October 23, 2025

Second Reading

Vote

Carried

October 23, 2025

Second Reading

Question put

October 23, 2025

Second Reading

Debated

May 28, 2025

First Reading

Ordered for Second Reading

May 28, 2025

First Reading

Vote

Carried

First Reading

May 28, 2025

Carried

Ordered for Second Reading

Second Reading

October 23, 2025

Bresee, Ric

Hastings—Lennox and Addington

Leardi, Anthony

Essex

Pinsonneault, Steve

Lambton—Kent—Middlesex

Smith, Dave

Peterborough—Kawartha

Smyth, Stephanie

Toronto—St. Paul's

Vanthof, John

Timiskaming—Cochrane

Question put

Carried

Ordered referred to Committee of the Whole House

December 4, 2025

Motion to arrange proceedings

Discharge the Order of referral to Committee of the Whole House

Ordered for Third Reading pursuant to the Order of the House

Third Reading

December 4, 2025

Questions and Responses

Gilmour, Alexa

Parkdale—High Park

Rae, Matthew

Perth—Wellington

Smith, Dave

Peterborough—Kawartha

Smyth, Stephanie

Toronto—St. Paul's

Question put

Carried

Royal Assent

December 11, 2025

Royal Assent received