Bill 52 explained in plain English
Public Health Accountability Act (In Honour of Dr. Sheela Basrur), 2022
Ontario legislature bill summary, status, timeline, sponsor, votes, and official sources.
At a glance
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.
Our plain-language take, written for civic education.
Source: By PoliticalData.ca
This bill amends the Health Protection and Promotion Act to change the appointment, removal, and term of office for the Chief Medical Officer of Health, making them an officer of the Legislative Assembly, and establishes a select committee during public health emergencies.
Bill 52, also known as the Public Health Accountability Act (In Honour of Dr. Sheela Basrur), 2022, makes changes to the Health Protection and Promotion Act in Ontario. The bill aims to change how the Chief Medical Officer of Health (CMOH) is appointed, removed, and their term of office. It also establishes a select committee of the Legislative Assembly if an emergency related to public health or a pandemic is declared. The CMOH will become an officer of the Assembly, with their appointment and removal process involving the Legislative Assembly. The bill also clarifies the role of the Associate Chief Medical Officer of Health and makes provisions for a temporary CMOH. Finally, it outlines rules for the CMOH's salary, benefits, pension, expenses, and other work restrictions. A select committee is also to be appointed if an emergency related to public health is declared.
- Amends the Health Protection and Promotion Act to change how the Chief Medical Officer of Health (CMOH) is appointed, removed, and their term of office.
- Makes the CMOH an officer of the Legislative Assembly.
- Specifies that the Legislative Assembly shall appoint the CMOH, typically after selection by a panel representing recognized parties, chaired by the Speaker.
- Establishes a five-year term for the CMOH, with the possibility of one reappointment.
- Allows the CMOH to continue in office beyond their term until a successor or temporary CMOH is appointed.
- Permits the Legislative Assembly to remove or suspend the CMOH for cause by a two-thirds vote, with provisions for suspension by the Board of Internal Economy when the Assembly is not in session.
- Requires the Board of Internal Economy to determine the salary and benefits of the CMOH and allows for reimbursement of reasonable expenses.
- Specifies that the CMOH is a member of the Public Service Pension Plan but allows them to opt out.
- Allows for the appointment of a temporary CMOH if the CMOH is unable to perform duties or the office becomes vacant, with appointment processes involving the Assembly or the Board of Internal Economy when the Assembly is not in session.
- States that a temporary CMOH has the powers and duties of the CMOH.
- Prohibits the CMOH from being a member of the Legislative Assembly and restricts them from holding other offices or employment without prior approval.
- Requires the CMOH to take an oath or affirmation of office.
- Establishes that if an emergency is declared under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act related to a public health event or pandemic, a select committee of the Legislative Assembly will be appointed.
- Defines the mandate of the select committee as receiving and providing advice to the CMOH regarding the emergency situation.
- Repeals section 86.3 of the Health Protection and Promotion Act.
- Amends section 86.4 of the Health Protection and Promotion Act.
- The Chief Medical Officer of Health
- The Associate Chief Medical Officer of Health
- Members of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
- The Board of Internal Economy
- The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly
- The public, in relation to public health events and emergencies
- The public service, regarding pension plans
- The Legislative Assembly has the power to appoint, reappoint, remove, or suspend the Chief Medical Officer of Health.
- The Chief Medical Officer of Health has the duty to take an oath or affirmation of office.
- The Chief Medical Officer of Health must not be a member of the Legislative Assembly and is restricted from holding other offices without approval.
- The select committee has the right to receive advice from and provide advice to the Chief Medical Officer of Health during an emergency.
- The Act comes into force on the day it receives Royal Assent.
- The Board of Internal Economy will determine the salary and benefits for the Chief Medical Officer of Health.
- The Chief Medical Officer of Health is entitled to reimbursement for reasonable expenses, subject to the approval of the Board of Internal Economy.
- A temporary Chief Medical Officer of Health will be paid a salary and benefits determined by the Board of Internal Economy and reimbursed for reasonable expenses.
- The Assembly may remove or suspend the Chief Medical Officer of Health from office for cause.
- The Board of Internal Economy may suspend the Chief Medical Officer of Health for cause if the Assembly is not in session.
- The specific grounds for 'cause' for removal or suspension of the Chief Medical Officer of Health are not detailed in the bill text.
- The bill does not specify the process or criteria for selecting members for the panel that advises on the appointment of the Chief Medical Officer of Health, other than representation from recognized parties and independent members.
- The bill does not detail the specific powers of the select committee beyond receiving and providing advice.
- The definition of 'recognized party' in the Assembly is not provided within the bill text.
- The duration and specific actions of the Board of Internal Economy during a suspension when the Assembly is not in session are outlined, but the criteria for their unanimous agreement are not detailed.
Changes the provisions related to the Chief Medical Officer of Health and Associate Chief Medical Officer of Health, including their appointment, term, removal, salary, benefits, and the establishment of a select committee during health emergencies. It also repeals section 86.3 and amends section 86.4.
Source: Section 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
The bill refers to declarations of emergency made under section 7.0.1 of this Act when establishing the select committee.
Source: Section 3(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
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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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