The amendments in Bill 31 provide for a wider range of
misconduct and stronger sanctions within the Ontario College of
Teachers Act, 1996.
As one of the final acts of Ontario's outgoing provincial
government, An Act to implement Budget measures and to enact
and amend various statutes (Bill 31) was introduced on March
28, 2018, and rapidly progressed to Royal Assent on May 8,
2018.
Among the various pieces of legislation affected by Bill 31 was
the Ontario College of Teachers Act, 1996 (the Act),
particularly its provisions dealing with repercussions for
professional misconduct by teachers; including sexual abuse of
students and prohibited acts involving child pornography. Broadly
speaking, these amendments result in a wider range of misconduct
being captured by the Act and for more significant sanctions for
these acts, while also providing for remedial measures designed to
assist and support pupils who are survivors of such misconduct.
