Queen’s Park Restoration Act, 2023

March 07, 2023

Legislative Affairs

Today, the Ontario government introduced the Queen’s Park Restoration Act, 2023, that, if passed, would create a stable foundation for a complex, multi-year restoration of the Ontario Legislative Building. This project would be led by government in collaboration with the Legislative Assembly of Ontario and overseen by parliamentarians from all parties.

Establishing the Secretariat Responsible for the Restoration Project (Queen’s Park Restoration Act, 2023)

If passed, this legislation would:

  • Establish a ministry called the Queen’s Park Restoration Secretariat that would be responsible for the Restoration Project. The Secretariat would have the same structure and authorities as other government ministries.
  • Ensure that the needs of the Assembly are respected by defining the oversight role of parliamentarians and setting clear reporting and consultation requirements between the Secretariat and a Standing Committee of the Assembly and the Board of Internal Economy (BOIE).
  • Establish authority to create advisory committees within the Secretariat and an Executive Project Working Group to advise on the project.
  • Create various delegation and sub-delegation authorities between the BOIE, the Speaker, the Minister, the Deputy Minister, or employees of the Secretariat.
  • Create wind-down provisions for the project at its completion.

Providing Appropriate Oversight (Amendments to the Legislative Assembly Act)

The legislation would also amend the Legislative Assembly Act to provide the appropriate oversight for the project by mirroring the roles and responsibilities assigned in the Queen’s Park Restoration Secretariat Act, 2023. These amendments would:

  • Ensure continued operation of the BOIE by allowing the board to appoint alternate commissioners if a member is absent and/or unable to fulfill their duties, and upon dissolution of the parliament.
  • Allow the responsibility for the legislative precinct to be temporarily assigned to the Secretariat to facilitate the relocation of the Assembly during the construction work on the Ontario Legislative Building.

Continuing Existing Exemption for the Office of the Assembly (Amendments to the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act)

Currently, most records of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario are exempt from freedom of information requests. The legislation would extend this exemption under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) for records prepared by the Assembly and disclosed to the Secretariat or other FIPPA institutions.

The exemption would survive until 20 years after the repeal of the Queen’s Park Restoration Secretariat Act, 2023.

Other project records created by or in the custody of the Secretariat remain subject to typical freedom of information requirements.

The proposed amendment is in line with the existing broad exemption for the Office of the Legislative Assembly that protects the autonomy of the Assembly and allows uninterrupted information sharing between the Assembly and the government throughout the project.