Ministry of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. M.32

Ministry of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry Act

R.S.O. 1990, Chapter M.32

Historical version for the period December 15, 2009 to March 21, 2017.

Last amendment:  2009, c. 33, Sched. 23, s. 3.

Definitions

1. In this Act,

“Deputy Minister” means the Deputy Minister of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry; (“sous-ministre”)

“Minister” means the member of the Executive Council responsible for the administration of this Act; (“ministre”)

“Ministry” means the Ministry of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry. (“ministère”)  R.S.O. 1990, c. M.32, s. 1; 2009, c. 33, Sched. 23, ss. 3 (2, 3).

Ministry continued

2. The Ministry of the public service known in English as the Ministry of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry and in French as ministère du Développement du Nord, des Mines et des Forêts is continued.  2009, c. 33, Sched. 23, s. 3 (4).

Minister to have charge

3. The Minister shall preside over and have charge of the Ministry.  R.S.O. 1990, c. M.32, s. 3.

Duties of Minister

4. The Minister is responsible for the administration of this Act and any Acts that are assigned to him or her by the Legislature or by the Lieutenant Governor in Council.  R.S.O. 1990, c. M.32, s. 4.

Deputy Minister

5. (1) The Lieutenant Governor in Council shall appoint a Deputy Minister of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry who shall be deputy head of the Ministry.  R.S.O. 1990, c. M.32, s. 5 (1); 2009, c. 33, Sched. 23, s. 3 (5).

Protection from personal liability

(2) No action or other proceeding for damages shall be instituted against the Deputy Minister or any employee of the Ministry or anyone acting under the Deputy Minister’s authority for any act done in good faith in the execution or intended execution of the person’s duty or for any alleged neglect or default in the execution in good faith of the person’s duty.  R.S.O. 1990, c. M.32, s. 5 (2).

Liability of Crown

(3) Subsection (2) does not, by reason of subsections 5 (2) and (4) of the Proceedings Against the Crown Act, relieve the Crown of liability in respect of a tort committed by a person mentioned in subsection (2) to which it would otherwise be subject and the Crown is liable under that Act for any such tort in a like manner as if subsection (2) had not been enacted.  R.S.O. 1990, c. M.32, s. 5 (3).

Seal

6. (1) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may authorize a seal for the Ministry.

Idem

(2) The seal may be reproduced by engraving, lithographing, printing or other method of mechanical reproduction and when so reproduced has the same effect as if manually affixed.  R.S.O. 1990, c. M.32, s. 6.

Delegation of powers and duties

7. (1) Where, under this or any other Act, a power or duty is granted to or vested in the Minister, he or she may in writing delegate that power or duty to the Deputy Minister, or to any person employed in the Ministry, subject to such limitations, restrictions, conditions and requirements as the Minister may set out in the delegation.

Officers authorized to take affidavits

(2) The Minister may empower such persons employed in the Ministry as the Minister designates to administer oaths and take affidavits and declarations authorized by law in Northern Ontario or such part of Northern Ontario as the Minister prescribes in the designation, and each designee is a commissioner for taking affidavits under the Commissioners for taking Affidavits Act.  R.S.O. 1990, c. M.32, s. 7.

Function of the Ministry

8. It is the function of the Ministry to,

(a) co-ordinate the activities of and initiate policies and programs for the Government in Northern Ontario, including,

(i) preparing and recommending Government plans, policies and priorities for Northern Ontario,

(ii) establishing and administering Ministry programs and co-ordinating Government programs and services relating to Northern Ontario,

(iii) advising and participating in the planning and financing of Government programs, services and activities in Northern Ontario provided by other ministries,

(iv) improving the accessibility of the programs, services and activities of the Government of Ontario to the residents of Northern Ontario, and

(v) making recommendations regarding priorities for research of social and economic conditions of all areas of Northern Ontario;

(b) establish and administer policies, programs and services throughout Ontario,

(i) supporting mineral resource development and management and the mineral and geoscience sectors, and

(ii) supporting forest resource development and management and the forestry industry; and

(c) administer such other programs and perform such other duties as are assigned to it by any Act or by the Lieutenant Governor in Council.  2009, c. 33, Sched. 23, s. 3 (6).

Agreements

9. The Minister, with the approval of the Lieutenant Governor in Council, may make reciprocal arrangements and enter into agreements with provincial governments, municipalities and the Crown in right of Canada.  R.S.O. 1990, c. M.32, s. 9.

Establishment of programs

10. (1) Upon the recommendation of the Minister, the Lieutenant Governor in Council may establish programs,

(a) for the benefit of the residents of Northern Ontario; and

(b) for the purpose of promoting and stimulating, throughout Ontario, the development and management of mineral resources, the mineral and geoscience sectors, forest resources and the forestry industry.  2009, c. 33, Sched. 23, s. 3 (7).

Conditions for grants and assistance

(2) A program may determine conditions for grants and assistance and conditions under which services are provided by the Ministry and expenses allowed.  R.S.O. 1990, c. M.32, s. 10 (2).

Advisory committees

11. Subject to the approval of the Lieutenant Governor in Council, the Minister may establish advisory committees to the Minister and sub-committees thereto, appoint chairs and other members of such committees and sub-committees, fix the terms of reference of such committees and sub-committees and fix the remuneration and expenses of the chairs and other members of such committees and sub-committees.  R.S.O. 1990, c. M.32, s. 11.

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