Two bills put forward this month by Ottawa Centre MPP Yasir Naqvi were killed when Premier Dalton McGuinty prorogued the Ontario legislature.
One bill sought to give Ontario’s municipalities the ability to ticket out-of-province red-light runners, while the other aimed to reduce the number of lawsuits used to deter public participation.
The Enhancing Red Light Camera System Enforcement Act went through its first reading on Oct. 4. Naqvi’s Protection of Public Participation Act was also brought to Queen’s Park on Oct. 15 – the same day McGuinty announced his resignation as premier.
No bills can see the light of day while the legislature is prorogued.
Naqvi expressed a desire to find another way to introduce the changes proposed in his red light bill instead of waiting for a new bill to be introduced, the CBC reported.
Out-of-province red light runners are a significant problem in Ottawa where there are many Quebec drivers. There is currently a legal loophole that prevents Ottawa from mailing tickets to drivers outside Ontario who are caught by red light cameras.
There were 1,500 red light camera tickets that could not be issued in 2011, resulting in over $390,000 in potential fines lost to Ottawa.
Naqvi’s bills aren’t his only concern now that the provincial government is in tumult. As president of the Ontario Liberal Party, it falls upon Naqvi to organize the convention to select a new party leader.
The Ottawa Citizen reported that Naqvi may even run for the leadership post, but he said on Tuesday he had to discuss it with his wife.