Government of Ontario Protecting People Online, On The Road

By Goldie Ghamari, MPP for Carleton

Sometimes people ask me what the best thing about the Carleton riding is.

One of the answers I give them usually catches them by surprise.

“Fishing,” I tell them. Maybe it’s not the absolute best thing about Carleton, but it’s up there.

And before you say anything, yes, I was born in Iran and came to Canada as a child and grew up in Toronto before coming to Ottawa to go to school and then making my home here. But fishing is big in Iran, especially among anglers. And although there are some fish native to Persian waters, you will also find perch, catfish, and rainbow trout there, just like here.

On Mother’s Day weekend, Ontario offered free fishing to Canadian residents anywhere in Ontario. The free fishing weekend is a great way for families to celebrate Mother’s Day.

Additional annual free fishing events coming up this year include Father’s Day weekend (June 15 and 16), and Family Fishing Week to celebrate Canada Day (June 29-July 7).

The Osgoode Township Fish, Game and Conservation Club holds a Kids Fishing Day during that week in July, and in the past, they have offered free rods and reels to kids. The event takes place at Alfred Taylor Park along the Rideau River near Osgoode.

I promised Osgoode Councillor George Darouze that I would not mention that I caught a fish before he did at the 2022 event. Or maybe I didn’t promise him I wouldn’t mention it…

Canadian residents taking part in free fishing periods need to carry physical identification issued by the provincial or federal government, showing name and date of birth.

Ontario fishing licenses can be purchased online at huntandfishontario.com. If you are buying online, always look for the Ontario logo. You can also purchase your license in person at participating Service Ontario or license issuer locations.

Outside of free fishing periods, most Canadians between the ages of 18 and 64 must have an Outdoors Card and a fishing license.

All veterans and active Canadian Armed Forces members residing in Ontario can enjoy free recreational fishing in the province any time of year.

For more information on fishing in Ontario, visit Ontario.ca/page/fishing.

Ontario Strengthening Cyber Security and Protecting People Online

The Ontario government introduced legislation that, if passed, would provide new tools to prevent and respond to cyber security threats and safeguard critical public services, such as health care and education. By enhancing cyber resilience, the government is ensuring these essential sectors remain secure and operational, protecting the safety and privacy of all Ontarians while providing them with more connected and convenient services across government.

The Strengthening Cyber Security and Building Trust in the Public Sector Act, 2024 would also strengthen safeguards for children’s personal information and lay the foundation for the ethical use of artificial intelligence in the public sector.

The legislation works to better protect the people of Ontario by:

• Strengthening cyber security in the public sector. This includes critical sectors such as hospitals, schools, and children’s aid societies. The legislation will help these organizations prevent and rapidly respond to cyber threats and attacks and minimize service interruptions, ensuring these organizations can continue to operate even when breaches occur.
• Safeguarding the data of children and youth from being stolen or used inappropriately with stronger privacy protections when they are in settings like schools. Future regulations could prevent the misuse or sale of student data for predatory marketing by third parties, ensuring children are not unduly targeted or exploited by technology providers.
• Modernizing privacy protections. Increase the authority of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario (IPC) to investigate and respond to privacy breaches and inappropriate use of personal data and mandating organizations to complete privacy impact assessments.
• Building a strong foundation in artificial intelligence (AI) governance to solidify Ontario’s leadership in the responsible adoption of AI and emerging technologies. AI has the potential to transform vital programs and enhance services for the people of Ontario and we are ensuring it is used in a transparent, accountable, and ethical way.
• Improving online customer service delivery. With the proposed changes, Ontarians who choose to opt-in can enjoy a more efficient experience with government services. The introduction of “tell us once” features mean users will not have to repeatedly enter the same information during their interactions. This not only speeds up processes but also reduces the potential for errors, making government services more user-friendly and effective.

With more than 400 artificial intelligence firms and institutions, our province is at the centre of an AI-enabled future. As part of our ongoing work to develop safe and responsible AI applications while encouraging collaboration and fostering new partnerships, the Ontario government provided the Vector Institute with up to $27 million in June 2023, to help more Ontario companies connect with Vector’s AI experts. By continuously working to strengthen our partnerships with organizations like the Vector Institute, we are ensuring Ontario stays at the forefront of AI innovation, retains top AI talent and enhances the delivery of smarter, more efficient government services.

Our government will consult key public sector stakeholders, Indigenous partners, academia, technology and AI experts, the Ontario Human Rights Commission, and the IPC as it develops regulations. As technologies continue to rapidly evolve, we are committed to continuously working with all partners to better protect Ontarians, especially our children.

Quick Facts

• Ontario is implementing new and improved digital health care tools and services to improve patient care and enhance health system coordination. By strengthening cyber security and privacy measures, Ontario is safeguarding personal data to ensure a safe and seamless health care experience for people in Ontario.
• Ontario is requesting comments on the draft bill from the public through the Ontario Regulatory Registry until June 11, 2024.
• Ontario’s Cyber Security Centre of Excellence provides guidance, best practices, and education on cyber security to the broader public sector to ensure our schools, hospitals and children’s aid societies have the best and most reliable access to every resource Ontario has to offer to prevent and respond to cyber threats and attacks.
• Ontario is engaging the AI Expert Working Group, experts from tech and AI industry and academia to provide advice and recommendations on the development of Ontario’s Trustworthy AI Framework and responsible use of AI within the public service.
• According to the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security, cyber-attacks are a growing threat to Ontario. IBM reports that the average cost of an incident in 2023 was $6.94 million.

Ontario Taking Impaired Drivers Off the Road

The Ontario government is cracking down on impaired driving by introducing legislation that, if passed, would impose stiffer penalties for those who drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs – including a lifetime license suspension for those convicted of impaired driving causing death.

Additionally, the government will require anyone convicted of impaired driving to install an ignition interlock device in their vehicle and undergo mandatory remedial education and treatment for first and second-time alcohol and drug-related offences respectively.

The proposed legislation would also increase immediate roadside license suspensions for first and second-time alcohol and drug-related offences and clarify police authority to stop vehicles and/or administer sobriety tests for drivers on or off the highway.

In response to increasing instances of cannabis-impaired driving, the government will also work to provide additional tools and training to help police officers detect drug-impaired driving and launch a province-wide campaign to highlight the dangers of drug-impaired driving, with a focus on cannabis and young drivers.

Quick Facts

• In Ontario, one in three roadway fatalities involves impaired driving.
• A 2022 roadside survey found that one in five drivers tested positive for drugs, alcohol, or both.
• The percentage of drivers killed while under the influence of cannabis more than doubled between 2012 and 2020.
• Ignition interlocks are in-car alcohol breath screening devices that prevent the vehicle’s engine from starting if it detects alcohol in the driver’s system.
• For alcohol and drug-related offences, the province is proposing to increase the first and second-time roadside license suspensions from three and seven days to seven and 14 days, respectively.
• To keep communities safe, the Ontario government is also cracking down on auto theft by introducing legislation that, if passed, would suspend driver’s licenses for people convicted of the crime.

Office Notice:

My office is open Monday to Friday, 9 am to 4 pm. If you require assistance on any matter, please contact me at any time. My staff and I will be happy to assist. Even if it’s not a provincial issue, I’ll make sure to connect you with the proper office.

Goldie

Your voice at Queen’s Park