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Bill 205, Turn Down the Heat Act (Extreme Heat Awareness), 2024

McMahon, Mary-Margaret

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Status

Debates

Original

Bill 205 Original (PDF)

EXPLANATORY

NOTE

The

Bill enacts several measures related to the public awareness of extreme heat.

The

Bill proclaims the first week in June in each year as Extreme Heat Awareness

Week. It also requires the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks

to publish information on a Government website about extreme heat issues.

Finally,

the Bill requires information on extreme heat issues to be sent to taxpayers

along with their municipal tax bill. The Minister is required to mail that

information to households in territories without municipal organization.

Bill 205 2024

Act to proclaim Extreme Heat Awareness Week and to promote public awareness of

extreme heat issues

Preamble

The

Government of Ontario does not currently provide sufficient education on the

effects of extreme heat and growing temperatures. A comprehensive and

far-reaching educational campaign, including digital and physical resources,

would help educate Ontarians to prevent adverse health effects caused by

extreme heat events.

Insurance

claims from severe weather have more than quadrupled over the past 15 years.

The number of these incidents will continue to increase as the climate becomes

more unstable, leading to more natural disasters.

Creating

a residential extreme heat risk awareness program and declaring the first week

in June as Extreme Heat Awareness Week will increase knowledge and

understanding, which will be especially relevant for those in areas subject to

extreme heat.

Therefore,

His Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of

the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:

Extreme

Heat Awareness Week

The

first week in June in each year is proclaimed as Extreme Heat Awareness Week.

Extreme

heat awareness website

The

Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks shall publish the following

information on a Government of Ontario website:

1. Information

on what Ontarians can do to prepare for the possibility of extreme heat weather

events.

2. Information

on preventative measures that can be taken to help prevent or mitigate heat-related

health concerns.

3. A

guide to publicly-available resources in regards to extreme heat risks in

Ontario, including health risks.

4. Answers

to frequently asked questions about extreme heat in Ontario.

Mailout

in territories without municipal organization

The Minister

of the Environment, Conservation and Parks shall ensure that the information

described in

section 2 is mailed to every household in a territory without

municipal organization before the end of each year.

City

of Toronto Act, 2006

Section 308 of the City of Toronto Act, 2006 is

amended by adding the following subsection:

Extreme

heat information must be included

(2.1) The

city treasurer must send materials containing the information described in

section 2 of the Turn Down the Heat Act (Extreme Heat

Awareness), 2024 along with any tax bill they send to taxpayers.

Municipal

Act, 2001

Section

343 of the Municipal Act, 2001 is amended by adding

the following subsection:

Extreme

heat information must be included

(2.1) The

treasurer must send materials containing the information described in

section 2

of the Turn Down the Heat Act (Extreme Heat Awareness),

2024 along with any tax bill they send to taxpayers.

Commencement

(1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, this Act comes

into force on the day it receives Royal Assent.

(2) Sections

2 to 5 come into force on the day that is three months after the day this Act

receives Royal Assent.

Short

title

The

short title of this Act is the Turn Down the Heat Act

(Extreme Heat Awareness), 2024 .

Date Bill stage Event Outcome Committee

June 3, 2024

First Reading

Ordered for Second Reading

June 3, 2024

First Reading

Vote

Carried

First Reading

June 3, 2024

Carried

Ordered for Second Reading

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