School Board Update
Bill 98, Better Schools and Student Outcomes Act, 2023 receives Royal Assent
Date: July 5, 2023
As we reported previously, the Ontario Government introduced Bill 98, Better Schools and Student Outcomes Act, 2023 (Bill 98) on April 17, 2023.
On June 8, 2023, Bill 98 received Royal Assent and is now law. As a result, a number of significant amendments to the Education Act, the Ontario College of Teachers Act, 1996 and the Early Childhood Educators Act, 2007, have come into force as of June 8, 2023, while others will come into force on dates to be named later by proclamation.
Since our last publication, Bill 98 has been amended by the Standing Committee on Social Policy (the Committee). The amendments at Committee include:
- Amending the Early Childhood Educators Act, 2007 to authorize the Complaints Committee to require a member to undertake a specified continued education or remediation program
- Changes to the proposed amendments to the Education Act related to the sale, lease, or disposal of a school site, part of a school site, or a school property
- Changes to the proposed amendments to the Education Act related to alleged breaches of codes of conduct by board members providing the Lieutenant Governor in Council additional power to make regulations respecting codes of conduct and alleged breaches. This includes the power to prescribe who is given notice, time periods for referring matters to an integrity commissioner, prescribing the qualifications of integrity commissioners, and the processes by which a person can be added to the roster of integrity commissioners. In addition, prescribing rules and procedures that apply to the conduct of an investigation of an alleged breach of a code of conduct would be included in the Lieutenant Governor in Council’s powers.
For additional information on Bill 98, please refer to our School Board Update of April 20, 2023, Ontario Proposes Significant Amendments Impacting School Board Sector.
If you have any questions about Bill 98, please contact your regular Hicks Morley lawyer.
The article in this client update provides general information and should not be relied on as legal advice or opinion. This publication is copyrighted by Hicks Morley Hamilton Stewart Storie LLP and may not be photocopied or reproduced in any form, in whole or in part, without the express permission of Hicks Morley Hamilton Stewart Storie LLP. ©
