Bill 123, Reserved Parking for Electric Vehicle Charging Act, 2019
SOURCE
Versions
Bill 123 2019
An Act to amend the Highway Traffic Act respecting electric vehicle charging stations
Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:
1 The Highway Traffic Act is amended by adding the following Part:
part iii.1
Electric vehicle charging Stations
Definitions
30.1 In this Part,
“electric vehicle” means,
(a) a battery electric vehicle that runs only on a battery and an electric drive train, or
(b) a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle that runs on a battery and an electric drive train, and also uses an internal combustion engine; (“véhicule électrique”)
“electric vehicle charging station” means a publicly or privately-owned parking space that provides access to equipment that supplies a source of electricity for charging electric vehicles. (“station de recharge pour véhicules électriques”)
Improper use
30.2 No person shall leave a vehicle unattended in an electric vehicle charging station unless the vehicle is an electric vehicle and the vehicle is attached to the station’s charging equipment.
Penalty
30.3 A person who contravenes section 30.2 is guilty of an offence and on conviction is liable to a fine of $125.
Regulations
30.4 The Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations providing for any matters which, in the opinion of the Lieutenant Governor in Council, are necessary or advisable for the purposes of this Part, including,
(a) requiring the erection of signs and the placing of markings to identify electric vehicle charging stations, and prescribing the types, content and location of the signs and markings;
(b) providing for exemptions from this Part.
Commencement
2 This Act comes into force on a day to be named by proclamation of the Lieutenant Governor.
Short title
3 The short title of this Act is the Reserved Parking for Electric Vehicle Charging Act, 2019.
______________
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The Bill amends the Highway Traffic Act to add Part III.1, which provides that no person shall park a vehicle in an electric vehicle charging station unless the vehicle is an electric vehicle and it is attached to the station’s charging equipment. The Part also sets out a penalty for any contravention.
What is Parliament?
Parliament is the law-making body made up of elected politicians who are responsible for making and repealing laws. It is not the same as the government, which governs the country or the province/territory or city/town. The government is usually made up of Members of Parliament from a political party which has elected the most seats in the legislature. Parliament’s responsibility is to ensure the government is accountable, to introduce and pass laws and to debate issues. It is also responsible for examining government policy and administration. In Ontario, Parliament is referred to as the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. It may also be called the Legislature or the House.
Responsible Government
Canada’s federal and provincial governments exercise the principle of responsible government. Under this system, the Executive, also called the Cabinet, must maintain the confidence of the House – the elected representatives. A government can lose power if it loses the confidence of the House. This might occur when a vote on a major government bill, such as the budget, is lost. Although this rarely happens, it is more likely when there is a minority government – when the number of seats of the opposition totals more than the seats of the government.
The History of Parliamentary Democracy
The concept of parliamentary democracy has roots that stretch back thousands of years. The word parliament is derived from the French word parler, which means to speak. The word democracy comes from the Greek word demos, meaning people, and kratia, meaning rule. Therefore, democracy literally means “the people’s rule”. This concept dates back about 2,500 years ago to ancient Greece.
Our system of parliamentary democracy developed over many centuries in England and can be traced back to the signing of the Magna Carta in 1215. This charter attacked the absolute powers of the crown and guaranteed fundamental rights and privileges for citizens. Over time, the Magna Carta was revised, requiring the Monarch to govern with Parliament to gain consent for taxes. Parliament eventually established further rights which would make it even stronger – this became known as parliamentary privilege. In the late 17th century, a Declaration of Rights was issued by Parliament, affirming the rights of British subjects and establishing Parliament’s supremacy over the Crown.
STARLIGHTER MAGAZINE 