Blog
Laurie Scott Appointed to Premier Ford's Cabinet as Minister of Labour
June 29, 2018
QUEEN'S PARK - Premier Ford and Ontario's new Executive Council were sworn-in this morning, with Laurie Scott, the MPP for Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock, being named Minister of Labour.
"I am honoured to be joining Cabinet as the Minister of Labour," said Minister Scott.
“My colleagues and I are looking forward to getting to work for the people of Ontario," she added.
"Thank you to the people of Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock for giving me the honour of representing them,” Scott concluded.
June 29, 2018
MPP Scott's Mandatory Sexual Assault Training for Judges Bill Passes for a Second Time
QUEEN’S PARK – This afternoon, the Legislature voted unanimously in favour of MPP Laurie Scott’s Private Member’s Bill 9 (formerly Bill 120), the Mandatory Sexual Assault Law Training for Judicial Officers Act.
MPP Scott’s bill would implement mandatory sexual assault training for currently sitting judges and justices of the peace.
“I was pleased to have the opportunity to debate my bill in the Legislature again,” said Scott. “Ensuring that our judges are trained to handle sexual assault cases is a straightforward and important way that we can both protect survivors of sexual assault from being re-victimized and bring equality to the justice system.”
“It’s very simple. If you haven’t had the training, you shouldn’t hear these cases,” she added.
Despite voting in favour of this Bill at second reading the last time it was brought up for debate in November, the Liberal government has ignored it for four months.
“This is an urgent and important issue, and my proposal has broad support from survivors, stakeholders and experts. There is no reason that it shouldn’t be the law of the land,” Scott concluded.
May 03, 2018MPP Scott Reintroduces her Mandatory Sexual Assault Training for Judges Bill
QUEEN’S PARK – As a result of the Wynne government’s decision to prorogue the Legislature this week, MPP Laurie Scott was forced to re-introduce her Private Member’s Bill, the Mandatory Sexual Assault Law Training for Judicial Officers Act this afternoon.
MPP Scott’s bill would implement mandatory sexual assault training for currently sitting judges and justices of the peace.
“Although my Private Member’s Bill received the unanimous support of all parties in the Legislature at second reading four months ago, the Wynne government sat on its hands and allowed this important bill to languish in committee without bringing it up for debate,” Scott said.
“There is absolutely no reason that this Bill shouldn’t already be the law of the land, but this government’s decision to prorogue means that we’re back at square one,” Scott added.
“This government has shown us that they are all talk, and no action, when it comes to implementing real legislative measures aimed at protecting sexual assault survivors from being re-victimized,” Scott concluded.
Related: November 16, 2017 – MPP Scott Celebrates Passage of her Sexual Assault Training for Judges Bill
March 20, 2018MPP Laurie Scott Recognizes Leading Women in the Community in Honour of International Women’s Day
LINDSAY – MPP Laurie Scott hosted an awards presentation ceremony to recognize the contributions of leading women in our community, in honour of International Women’s Day.
The Leading Women, Leading Girls Building Communities Recognition program acknowledges women and girls who demonstrate exceptional leadership, inspire others through their devotion to community service and are strong role models who encourages future generations to become involved in making their community a better place for everyone.
The 2018 recipients include Bella Alderton and Penny Chatson of Women’s Resources in Lindsay, Evelyn Chamber of the Lindsay Agricultural Society and Sadie-Jane Hickson a student at the University of Guelph.
“I am thrilled to present the Leading Women, Leading Girls award to these four amazing local women. They have each demonstrated how one person can truly make a difference, and so I am proud to celebrate their hard-work contributions to our community today” said Scott.
March 09, 2018
Government Shuts Down Debate on Police Services Bill
After only a few hours of debate and public hearings, and despite serious concerns expressed by stakeholders, the Wynne Liberals are pushing Bill 175 through the legislative process.
“The Government introduced over 250 amendments to its own bill and even added four last-minute amendments during clause-by-clause in committee. This alone proves that this bill has been rushed, is not well thought-out, and is definitely not ready to become law,” said MPP Scott.
Last week, members of the Standing Committee on Justice Policy had only two days to hear feedback from the public and stakeholders on Bill 175. Shortly thereafter, the government put-forward a Time Allocation Motion further limiting debate on this legislation, including cutting off consideration of opposition amendments.
“This is an example of the disrespect this government has not only for this House and the opposition parties, but for police associations, municipalities, and all Ontarians,” Scott said.
As early as tomorrow, MPPs will have just 20 minutes per party to debate Bill 175 at the third, and final reading.
“The whole process surrounding this legislation has been so horribly mismanaged that there’s no way that this government will be able to restore any goodwill on this file.”
Joint Statement by MPP Laurie Scott and Timea Nagy on the Importance of Ontario’s First Human Trafficking Awareness Day
QUEEN’S PARK - Ontario has a horrifying and rapidly-growing human sex trafficking problem. The statistics are staggering and undeniable:
- Over 93% of human sex trafficking victims in Canada are Canadian-born
- 60% of victims in Canada are trafficked right here in Ontario
- Ontario serves as a major trafficking hub, with the proximity of cities along the 401 and other highway corridors creating easy access and aiding secrecy and invisibility
A victim can be swept up into this criminal underworld and disappear in less than 24 hours. The average age of a trafficking victim is 14, but some have been as young as 11 years old. Once they fall into this life, victims face horrific conditions that make escape very, very difficult.
The Saving the Girl Next Door Act tabled in the Legislature two years ago was the culmination of the tireless work of so many advocates, police officers, service providers and experts. Their voices helped to make the important changes proposed in the bill the law of the land, and they are a huge part of today’s important Awareness Day.
“There is great work being done across the province by steadfast advocates fighting against human sex trafficking. As information is shared and groups come together to coordinate their efforts, we develop a better understanding about how serious and widespread this horrific crime really is. What is clear is that more resources are desperately needed to save lives,” MPP Laurie Scott said.
The time is now to inform Ontarians about what is happening to their children and grandchildren in their own neighbourhoods and communities.
“When all sectors come together and work in collaboration, we will eradicate this crime indefinitely,” said Timea Nagy, who after being lured to Canada twenty years ago, now helps to fight the human sex trafficking epidemic.
Parents and guardians need to know what to look for in order to protect their children:
- They need to monitor social media and internet use;
- Stay current with the apps and social sites children are using;
- Have conversations with their children about school;
- Know their child’s friends, not just by nicknames;
- Know where their child is;
- Talk to their child about strangers; and
- Educate their child on healthy relationships.
For more information about this issue, please visit my website at http://www.lauriescottmpp.com/human_sex_trafficking
February 22, 2018
MPP Laurie Scott Hosts Successful Open Forum on Human Sex Trafficking in Toronto
MPP Laurie Scott Hosts Successful Open Forum on Human Sex Trafficking in Toronto
TORONTO – Today, MPP Scott hosted almost 200 members of the public at an open forum to mark the inaugural Human Trafficking Awareness Day in Ontario on Thursday, February 22.
“Human Sex Trafficking is one of the fastest-growing crimes in Canada and raising public awareness is an urgent priority. Most people I talk to have no idea that this is happening in our communities – big and small – so we all need to get the word out to better inform parents, grandparents and children themselves. That is why events like this are important,” said MPP Scott.
“This Thursday marks Ontario’s first-ever Human Trafficking Awareness Day. We all need to do our part to raise awareness of a crime that targets children who are on average only 14 years old,” Scott added.
MPP Scott was joined by an expert panel that included:
- Detective Sergeant Nunzio Tramontozzi of the Toronto Police Service, who has been the Officer in charge of the Human Trafficking Enforcement Team since 2014
- Karyn Kennedy, the President and CEO of Boost Child & Youth Advocacy Centre, Toronto's first Child & Youth Advocacy Centre.
- Karly, a Survivor and Community Outreach Worker for the Gender-Based Violence Program at East Metro Youth Services.
- Joseph Mari is a Senior Manager in the Anti-Money Laundering Financial Intelligence Unit at Bank of Montreal.
The moderator of the event was the Hon. Peter MacKay, former Federal Minister of Justice.
February 20, 2018
MPP Scott Celebrates Passage of her Mandatory Sexual Assault training for judges Bill
QUEEN’S PARK – MPP Laurie Scott’s Private Member’s Bill 120, the Mandatory Sexual Assault Law Training for Judicial Officers, received the support of all parties in the Legislature at second reading.
Bill 120 calls in particular for mandatory sexual assault training for currently sitting judges and justices of the peace.
“I am happy that despite their long-standing opposition, the Liberal government finally decided to vote in support of mandatory training for our judicial officers,” Scott said. “With so many recent stories of judges making insensitive comments while presiding over sexual assault cases, there is a clear and urgent need for this training for sitting judges,” Scott added.
“Requiring that all judges are properly trained to handle sexual assault cases will actually go a long way towards strengthening Ontarians’ trust in our judicial system. The Liberal government must now bring this Bill to committee, and back to the Legislature for a final vote so it can become law. Survivors of sexual assault are watching closely,” Scott concluded.
Endorsements:
On the need for Bill 120, the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario noted that since the currently available training “won’t be mandatory for current provincial judges, victims of sexual assault appearing before the provincial court still run the risk of experiencing negative and damaging comments and rulings from the presiding justice.”
Dr. Jacqui Linder, a renowned Clinical Traumatologist - “As a trauma specialist and educator, I strongly support initiatives like Bill 120 designed to increase understanding of the complex dynamics underpinning sexual assault, human trafficking and sexual violence in general”
November 16, 2017MPPs Scott and Yurek hear about the urgent need for support for victims of Human Sex Trafficking in Aylmer and London
AYLMER - Earlier today, MPP Scott joined her colleague Jeff Yurek, MPP for Elgin-Middlesex-London in Aylmer for a visit to Farmtown Canada, which is a charitable organization that provides support, housing, and care specific to the needs of sex trafficked minors.
“The average age of human sex trafficking victims in Canada is only 14 years of age. These are children who need very specialized care once they have been freed from exploitation at the hands of traffickers. Organizations like Farmtown Canada do amazing work, but they desperately need more support to face this growing crisis,” Scott said.
“The type of therapy that Farmtown Canada offers has proven very effective in helping victims recover their lives, and to help them build confidence to testify against their traffickers so that they can be brought to justice,” Scott added.
Farmtown Canada and other roundtable participants told MPPs Scott and Yurek that government resources and training are insufficient for the task they face, and that service providers and police officers are simply overwhelmed.
“This is one of the fastest-growing crimes in Canada and small towns in Ontario are not immune from this form of modern-day slavery. The Wynne government finally needs to act to support our rural communities in this fight,” Scott concluded.
November 08, 2017
MPP Scott Addresses Wynne Government's Failure on Kawartha Downs
INDSAY – Today, MPP Scott expressed profound disappointment at the decision to deny Kawartha Downs’ request for 40 racing slots; a decision that will almost certainly lead to job losses and hurt the local economy.
“It’s now clear that the Wynne government is continuing its all-out attack on the horse racing industry in this province,” stated Scott.
First, the Liberal government suddenly cancelled the Slots at Racetracks Program that helped to support this vital rural industry for many years. That decision led to 23,000 job losses and 27,000 dead horses.
Now, for the second year in a row, Kawartha Downs has had its application for additional racing slots denied.
“Kawartha Downs is trying hard to make things work in the face of this government’s attacks on the industry. But even then, the government slaps them down! How does Rural Affairs Minister Jeff Leal expect Kawartha Downs to succeed, when they’ve had both hands tied behind their back by his government?,” Scott added.
Minister Leal has feigned concern about the crisis affecting Kawartha Downs, while at the same time turning a blind eye to the decisions made by the government and its agencies, which are killing the local horse racing industry.
“It is this government that caused the current crisis, and it is their responsibility to fix the mistakes they have made. Sadly, it seems that Minister Leal is happy to watch this vital rural industry die on his watch,” Scott concluded.
October 25, 2017
