Ontario avoids public hearings on bills; 1 would boost education minister's powers

Ontario Premier Doug Ford's government is limiting debate and skipping public hearings on an education bill that would make it easier for the minister to take control of school boards and a housing bill critics say will make life harder for renters.

The legislature is in its third week of sitting since resuming after an extended summer break and a motion today from government house leader Steve Clark fast-tracks three bills.

The motion would speed up an energy bill, and both limit debate and skip the committee hearing stage for housing and education bills.

Education Minister Paul Calandra has already put five school boards under supervision, and the education bill now set to be fast-tracked would give him the power to appoint supervisors to even more boards, as well as put more police officers in schools.

He suggested that once his bill passes, the government will take control of more school boards.

"I think I've been pretty straightforward with people when I've been telling them what my goals are with Bill 33," he said after question period.

"One of the first news conferences, I said to not only boards that are in deficit positions but those boards that are in a surplus position: govern yourselves accordingly. Put more money back into the classrooms. Support teachers in delivering quality education and if you don't I'm going to step in. Bill 33 allows me to do that."

One such target, Calandra suggested, is the Near North District School Board. Last week he ordered the North Bay-area school board to take immediate steps to resolve what a government report described as "overwhelming dysfunction."

The board chair has said in a statement that the board "affirms its commitment to promptly address all identified items."

Last month, the government sped up three other bills and avoided public hearings on legislation that included a controversial move to end the province's speed camera program.

Liberal parliamentary leader John Fraser said the process of law making requires thought and deliberation, which is missing when committee time is skipped.

"Bill 33 is part of that — they're talking about fundamentally changing the education system in Ontario," he said.

"The government doesn't want to listen and when you stop listening to people, that's when things start to go downhill."

The committee stage is not only when members of the public and advocates get a chance to weigh in on legislation, it is also when amendments can be made. The Ford government does not have a track record of tabling bills that need no amendments, Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner said.