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OntarioDid not become law (session ended)43rd Parliament, 1st Session

Bill 202 explained in plain English

Lower Fares, Better Service on the Union Pearson Express Act, 2024

Ontario legislature bill summary, status, timeline, sponsor, votes, and official sources.

At a glance

Jurisdiction
Ontario Legislature
Legislature / Parliament
Legislative Assembly of Ontario
Session
43rd Parliament, 1st Session
Bill number
Bill 202
Full title
Lower Fares, Better Service on the Union Pearson Express Act, 2024
Current status
Did not become law (session ended)
Latest event
Ordered for Second Reading
Last updated
May 29, 2024

Official Legislative Assembly of Ontario snapshot for 43rd Parliament, 1st Session. Representative vote breakdowns appear when the Assembly publishes an Ayes and Nays page for the bill.

Chamber
Legislative Assembly of Ontario
Current Stage
Ordered for Second Reading
Latest Activity
May 29, 2024
Plain-language explanation
In plain English (our explanation)

Our plain-language take, written for civic education.

Source: By PoliticalData.ca

AI-assisted, reviewed before publishing
Short Version

Bill 202 requires the creation of a committee to review the Union Pearson Express and make recommendations on its electrification, fare integration with the TTC, and capacity improvements.

What It Means

This bill, known as the Lower Fares, Better Service on the Union Pearson Express Act, 2024, amends the Metrolinx Act, 2006. It requires the establishment of a committee to review the Union Pearson Express (UP Express) service. This committee will make recommendations on a plan, timeline, and funding for transitioning the UP Express to electrification, integrating its fares with the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) for at least two hours of travel on a single fare at no more than the regular TTC fare, and increasing its capacity. The committee must consult with the public and report its recommendations to the Minister within six months of its establishment. The Minister must then table this report in the Legislative Assembly and inform the Assembly of proposed actions within specified timelines.

What This Bill Does
  • Requires the Corporation (Metrolinx) to establish a committee to review the Union Pearson Express (UP Express) service.
  • Specifies the composition of the committee, including representatives from the City of Toronto, Toronto Transit Commission, transit workers, planners, engineers, the construction industry, and public transit users.
  • Outlines the committee's mandate to recommend a plan, timeline, and funding estimates for the UP Express to achieve electrification, full fare integration with the TTC, and increased capacity.
  • Mandates consultation with various groups, including the public, residents along the route, and transit users.
  • Requires the committee to submit a report of its recommendations to the Corporation and the Minister within six months of its establishment.
  • Requires the Minister to table the committee's report in the Legislative Assembly.
  • Requires the Minister to inform the Legislative Assembly of their proposed actions in response to the committee's recommendations.
Who Is Affected
  • The Corporation (Metrolinx)
  • The Union Pearson Express Review Committee members
  • The Minister responsible for Metrolinx
  • The Legislative Assembly of Ontario
  • Users of the Union Pearson Express
  • Residents in areas served by the Union Pearson Express
  • Users of public transit in the Greater Toronto Area
  • Employees working in areas served by the Union Pearson Express
  • Representatives of the City of Toronto
  • Representatives of the Toronto Transit Commission
  • Transit workers
  • Members of the Ontario Professional Planners Institute
  • Transportation engineers
  • Representatives of the construction industry
Rights, Duties, Or Obligations
  • The Corporation has the duty to establish the Union Pearson Express Review Committee within 60 days after the "Clean Trains Now Act, 2024" receives Royal Assent.
  • The committee has the mandate to make recommendations on electrification, fare integration, and capacity increases for the UP Express.
  • The committee is obligated to consult with the public and other specified groups.
  • The committee must report its recommendations within six months of establishment.
  • The Minister is required to table the committee's report in the Legislative Assembly and respond with proposed actions.
Important Dates
  • The Act comes into force on the day it receives Royal Assent.
  • The Corporation must establish the committee within 60 days after the "Clean Trains Now Act, 2024" receives Royal Assent.
  • The committee must provide its recommendations in a report within six months after it is established.
  • The Minister must table the report in the Legislative Assembly within 30 days after receiving it.
  • The Minister must inform the Assembly of proposed actions within 60 days after tabling the report.
Financial Or Tax Impacts
  • The committee's mandate includes making recommendations regarding funding estimates for achieving its goals.
  • The Lieutenant Governor in Council may prescribe remuneration and expenses for committee members by regulation.
Uncertainties Or Limits
  • The specific individuals who will be members of the committee are not named, only the categories of representatives and experts are listed.
  • The remuneration and payment of expenses for committee members are subject to regulation by the Lieutenant Governor in Council, meaning the exact amounts are not specified in the bill.
  • While the bill outlines several areas for UP Express improvement (electrification, fare integration, capacity), the exact nature and scope of these improvements are to be determined by the committee's recommendations.
  • The exact actions the Minister will propose in response to the committee's recommendations are not predetermined by the bill.
Laws Or Regulations Affected
Metrolinx Act, 2006
amends

Adds a new section (8.1.1) that mandates the establishment and outlines the duties, composition, mandate, and reporting requirements of the Union Pearson Express Review Committee.

Source: Section 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 text

Process Snapshot

Step 1
First reading
May 29, 2024
Step 2
Second reading
Date not listed
Step 3
Committee review
Not reached yet
Step 4
Third reading
Not reached yet
Step 5
Royal assent
Not reached yet

Vote Summary

No published recorded division

This bill is still active. We only show vote counts after the legislature publishes a recorded division.

Sponsor
Jessica Bell
New Democratic Party of Ontario | University—Rosedale
Jurisdiction
Ontario Legislature

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.

How this data is sourced