MPP Arnott calls for increase in number of Private Members’ Bills debated at Queen’s Park

The rules governing the proceedings at the Ontario Legislature need to be changed to allow more Private Members’ Bills and Resolutions to be called for debate and voted upon, says Waterloo-Wellington MPP Ted Arnott.

To push for this idea, Mr. Arnott introduced a Resolution in the Legislature on May 31st. It encourages the Government to increase the number of Private Members’ Ballot Items (Bills and Resolutions) from two per week, as is currently the case, to three per week.

When it is sitting, the Ontario Legislature presently convenes on Thursday mornings from 10 a.m. to 12 noon for Private Members’ Public Business. Two one-hour debates take place, allowing for discussion and votes on two Private Members’ Bills or Resolutions.

“While this appears to be a modest reform, my proposal would actually allow an MPP to have a Bill or Resolution debated every 12 months or so,” Mr. Arnott said. “Currently, individual MPPs wait about 18 months between debates on their Ballot Items.”

Mr. Arnott’s idea is not new. In 2002, an all-party Standing Committee of the Legislature unanimously recommended more time for debate of Private Members’ Bills and Resolutions. During the 2003 Provincial election campaign, the PC Party of Ontario included in its platform a commitment to allow for more free votes and more debate time for Private Members’ initiatives.

“Giving MPPs more opportunities to raise issues during Private Members’ time would be a step in the right direction in terms of enhancing democracy,” Mr. Arnott stated. “We’ve talked about enhancing the role of the Private Member for years, yet very little concrete action has been taken towards this objective.”

During his almost 16 years in the Ontario Legislature, Mr. Arnott has brought forward numerous Private Members’ Bills and Resolutions designed to solve problems which constituents have brought to his attention.

For example, he has a Bill before the House that supports the right of Double Hatter fire fighters to volunteer as fire fighters on their free time. He has advocated for debt retirement, so that the Government pays down the Provincial debt in good years. He has supported the Healthy Babies, Healthy Children Program. He proposed a Provincial Sales Tax exemption on new car booster seats that the current Government made mandatory for older children. Recently, he called for an action plan to protect factory jobs. These are among many other Private Members’ initiatives that he has introduced throughout the years.

“I’m hopeful that the Government will act upon this proposal, and allow more Private Members’ Bills and Resolutions to be debated,” Mr. Arnott concluded.