Bill 56, Enhancing Government's Power to Respond to Emergencies, Passed By the Legislature

In June Bill 56 was passed in the last session of the legislature. The Emergency Management Statute Law Amendment Act, 2006 (Bill 56) received third reading June 13 and Royal Assent on June 20.

The legislation gives the Premier and/or Cabinet the power to:   

• Order the evacuation of an area, control travel into an area and requisition property
• Stop price gouging
• Authorize those who would not otherwise be eligible to do so, to perform certain duties. For example, allowing doctors from other jurisdictions to work in Ontario for the duration of the declared provincial emergency
• Close certain private or public places, such as beaches, if necessary
• Authorize facilities, such as electrical generating facilities, to operate as necessary to address the emergency.

Bill 56 includes strict guidelines for determining whether or not a provincial emergency should be declared. There is also a maximum 14-day limit for the initial declaration and the Premier must file a report on the emergency in the legislature within 120 days of the declaration being lifted.

Bill 56 amends the Emergency Management Act, passed in 2003, as well as the Employment Standards Act, 2000 and the Workplace and Insurance Act, 1997.