Bill 23 explained in plain English
Protecting Vulnerable People Against Picketing Act, 2011
Ontario legislature bill summary, status, timeline, sponsor, votes, and official sources.
At a glance
Official Legislative Assembly of Ontario snapshot for 40th Parliament, 1st Session. Representative vote breakdowns appear when the Assembly publishes an Ayes and Nays page for the bill.
Our plain-language take, written for civic education.
Source: By PoliticalData.ca
Bill 23, the Protecting Vulnerable People Against Picketing Act, 2011, prohibits picketing at supported group living residences for individuals with developmental disabilities in Ontario.
This Ontario bill, if passed, would prevent picketing (protesting or demonstrating) outside of residences that provide group living with support services for people with developmental disabilities. It aims to balance the right of residents to live peacefully without harm or threats of harm, with the right of individuals to express information about labour disputes. The bill would make it illegal to picket these specific residences in connection with a labour dispute. It also prohibits encouraging or causing such picketing. Individuals or trade unions found to have contravened these prohibitions could be liable for damages, and trade unions could have their property seized to cover these damages, with some exceptions for certain benefit funds. Violating the bill's provisions could result in fines.
- Prohibits picketing at supported group living residences in connection with a labour dispute.
- Prohibits counselling, procuring, supporting, or encouraging conduct that violates the picketing prohibition.
- Prohibits taking action or omitting to take action if it is likely to cause another person to contravene the picketing prohibition.
- Establishes civil liability for damages resulting from contravening the picketing prohibitions.
- Makes trade unions liable for damages from contraventions and allows for the seizure of union property, with exceptions for certain benefit funds.
- Creates offences for contravening the picketing prohibitions, with penalties of fines for individuals and corporations.
- States that each day a contravention continues is a separate offence.
- Defines 'supported group living residence' by referencing the Services and Supports to Promote the Social Inclusion of Persons with Developmental Disabilities Act, 2008.
- States that a trade union is an entity that can be sued and prosecuted in its own name for the purposes of this Act.
- Individuals residing in supported group living residences.
- Persons involved in labour disputes.
- Trade unions.
- Employers.
- Individuals and organizations that may engage in picketing.
- Individuals and organizations that may counsel, procure, support, or encourage picketing.
- The right of individuals residing in a supported group living residence to peaceful enjoyment of their home, free from harm and threats of harm.
- The right of individuals to freedom of communication and expression to provide information about a labour dispute.
- The obligation not to picket a supported group living residence in connection with a labour dispute.
- The obligation not to counsel, procure, support, or encourage conduct that contravenes the picketing prohibition.
- The obligation not to take action or omit to take action if it is likely to result in another person contravening the picketing prohibition.
- The obligation to pay damages resulting from contravening the picketing prohibitions.
- The right for a trade union's property to be exempt from seizure for damages under specific conditions related to pension and benefit funds.
- The Act comes into force on the day it receives Royal Assent.
- Individuals and trade unions may be liable for damages resulting from contraventions.
- Property held by or for the benefit of a trade union or its members may be subject to execution, seizure, or attachment for damages, with exceptions for certain benefits.
- Individuals convicted of an offence may be liable for a fine of not more than $2,000.
- Persons who are not individuals (e.g., corporations, trade unions) convicted of an offence may be liable for a fine of not more than $25,000.
- Each day that a contravention continues is considered a separate offence.
- Contravention of sections 3 or 4 makes a person civilly liable for damages.
- Contravention of sections 3 or 4 is an offence.
- Conviction for an offence can result in a fine of up to $2,000 for an individual.
- Conviction for an offence can result in a fine of up to $25,000 for a person who is not an individual.
- Each day of continued contravention is a separate offence.
- The bill does not specify what constitutes 'harm and threats of harm' in the context of residents' peaceful enjoyment of their home.
- The bill does not define 'labour dispute'.
- The bill does not explicitly state who has the authority to enforce the provisions or lay charges.
- The specific 'other benefits' that may be prescribed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council for exemption from property seizure are not listed in the bill.
- The bill does not detail the process for determining damages or enforcing civil liability beyond stating that property is subject to execution, seizure, or attachment.
This bill uses the definition of 'supported group living residence' from this Act.
Source: Section 2(1)
Generated using AI from official bill text. Not legal advice. It is written by PoliticalData.ca for civic education, automatically checked and spot-reviewed before publishing.
Official textProcess Snapshot
Vote Summary
This bill is still active. We only show vote counts after the legislature publishes a recorded division.
No published representative vote breakdown
This bill is still moving through the process. When a recorded division is published, representative positions can be listed here.
Official sources
Status, sponsor, votes, and timeline on this page are drawn from these official legislative sources and public records. Each summary above is attributed to its own source.
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