Paul Miller MPP, Hamilton East—Stoney Creek

Legislative Pages are the grade seven and grade eight students who work in the Legislative Chamber of the Provincial Parliament in Toronto. They serve a Term of Duty of three to six weeks and are granted a leave of absence from school during that time. Pages participate in the legislative process, act as messengers in the Legislative Chamber, meet with politicians and officials, learn how laws are made and how the Province of Ontario is governed.  For application information, visit the Legislative Assembly of Ontario Website for more details.

Almost all of today’s seniors receive income from Canada’s Public Pensions. Basic financial support is also available to survivors and to people who become too disabled to work and their children. Income Security Programs delivers these pensions and benefits through the Old Age Security (OAS) program and the Canada Pension Plan (CPP).Together, the OAS and CPP provide a modest base upon which Canadians can build their retirement income. For forms and more information, visit the CPP and OAS page on the HRSDC website.

The Youth Opportunities Ontario program is operated by the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities and provides information on summer employment programs, business start-up services, apprenticeships and workers’ rights.  Visit the Youth Opportunities Ontario website for more details.

Passport Canada is responsible for issuing Canadian passports. For more information, visit the Passport Canada website.

You can vote in provincial and federal elections and referendums if you are a Canadian citizen and will be 18 or older on polling day.  Most people are registered in the National Register of Electors, which is used to produce the preliminary voters’ lists for provincial and federal elections, by-elections and referendums. If you voted in the last general election, you may be registered to vote at the address where you lived at that time. Elections Canada updates the Register from a number of sources, so if you have moved since then, your address change may also have been registered.  Elections Ontario also maintains its own Permanent Register of Electors. Although information is currently shared between the two organizations, it is best to check with both groups to ensure that you are on both voting lists.  If you have recently moved, turned 18, or have just become a citizen and want to ensure that your name is on the list, contact Elections Canada and/or Elections Ontario for further details.

Visit the Ontario Drive Clean website for more details. 

This Act requires that any person acting as a representative for an injured worker be either: a lawyer, a paralegal, a representative of a trade union, or a member of the Office of the Worker Advisor. Although my office is exempt from this provision, my staff are not properly trained to represent workers. This means that we cannot represent you.

However, we are able to assist you with finding the representation you deserve. Although we are unable to represent you at hearings, we are still able to review your claim file and make recommendations.

If you require assistance with any WSIB matter, please ensure you have a copy of your entire claim file. This will ensure we are able to view all the documents pertaining to your matter.

Visit the WSIB Ontario website for more information.

About the Board and the Residential Tenancies Act

• What does the Landlord and Tenant Board do?
• Who is covered by the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 (the Act)?
• How can I talk to someone about the Act?
• Where can I get a copy of the Residential Tenancies Act (the Act)?
• Where can I get copies of the Landlord and Tenant Board’s forms and brochures?

Starting a Tenancy

• Can a landlord ask a person applying for a rental unit to provide information about their income, credit references and rental history?
• Do landlords and tenants have to have a written lease or tenancy agreement?
• What information should be included in a tenancy agreement?
• Can I get a lease or rental application from the Landlord and Tenant Board?
• What information does a landlord have to give to a new tenant?
• Can a landlord charge a person a deposit or a fee for allowing them to rent a unit?
• Can the landlord refuse to rent to a person if they have a pet?

Maintenance and Repair

• Who is responsible for maintaining the unit?
• Can a tenant withhold rent because their landlord isn’t properly maintaining their building or unit?
• What should a tenant do if repairs are needed to their building or unit?
• Can a tenant pay their rent to the Board if their landlord isn’t properly maintaining their building or unit?
• Who is responsible for snow removal?
• Who is responsible for garbage removal?
• When does a landlord have to turn the heat on?  What temperature does my landlord have to keep my apartment at?
• What can a tenant do if their landlord does not turn on the heat?
• Does a landlord have to renovate a rental unit before a tenant moves in?  Or, renovate it after the tenant has lived there a couple of years?

Entering the Tenant’s Unit

• Can the landlord enter a tenant’s unit?
• Can a tenant refuse to let the landlord in if the landlord wants to enter their unit?
• What can happen if a landlord enters a unit illegally?
• Can a tenant change the locks?
• Can the landlord change the locks?

Rent

• How is the rent on a rental unit decided?
• How often can my rent be increased?
• How much can a landlord legally increase the rent this year?
• Does a landlord have to notify a tenant of a rent increase?
• Does a landlord have to give rent receipts?
• What information must be provided in a receipt?
• When is rent considered late?
• If a tenant is late with their rent, what can the landlord do?

Rent Deposits and Other Charges

• Can a landlord charge a person a deposit or a fee to rent a unit?
• Can a landlord ask a tenant to pay money to update their rent deposit?
• Does a landlord have to pay interest if a rent deposit is collected?
• Can a landlord ask for a deposit for keys?
• Can the landlord charge for additional or replacement keys?
• If the landlord changes the locks, can the landlord charge the tenant for the new keys?
• Can the landlord charge the tenant a damage deposit?
• Can a landlord charge a fee if a tenant’s rent cheque is returned NSF?

How a Tenant Can End a Tenancy

• How much notice does a tenant have to give if they want to move out?
• Can a tenant break a lease?
• What is the difference between assigning and subletting a unit?
• How can a tenant sublet their unit?
• What happens if a tenant assigns or sublets their unit without the landlord’s consent?

How a Landlord Can Evict a Tenant

• What is the process for evicting a tenant?
• Can a tenant be evicted without a hearing?
• Can a tenant be evicted in the winter?
• For what reasons can a landlord evict a tenant?
• Can a landlord evict a tenant for having a pet?
• Can a tenant be evicted for having a roommate?
• Can a tenant be evicted if the landlord wants to use the unit themselves?
• Can a tenant be evicted if the landlord sells the house and the purchaser wants to move in?
• Can a tenant be evicted for something that their roommate or a guest they allow into the rental unit does?
• What can a tenant do if the landlord gives them a Notice of Termination?

Abandoned Unit

• If the tenant didn’t give notice that they were leaving, but the landlord believes the tenant has left the rental unit – can the landlord change the locks and re-rent the unit?
• What can a landlord do with property that is left in the unit after the tenant has moved out or been evicted?

Applications to the Board

• How can I file an application with the Board?
• How much does an application cost?
• How can I pay for an application?
• How will I know if an application has been filed against me?
• What can I do if an application is filed against me?
• If the landlord files an eviction application about non-payment of rent, can a tenant stop the eviction process before the hearing?

Hearings at the Board

• What happens at a hearing?
• What issues can a tenant raise at a hearing of a landlord’s application based on non-payment of rent?
• Do I need a lawyer or agent?
• Does the Board supply an interpreter at hearings?
• Can I ask someone else to go to the hearing in my place?
• What if the hearing date is not good for me – can I have it moved to another day?
• What happens if I am late for my hearing?
• What happens if I do not attend my hearing?
• Does the Board always hold a hearing to resolve an application?

Board Decisions

• How do I find out about the decision on my application?
• If I don’t agree with the decision that is made, is there anything that I can do?
• What is an ex parte order and how can it be set aside?
• What can be done if the landlord or tenant refuses to pay the other any money they were ordered to pay by the Board?
• What can a landlord do if the tenant does not move out of the unit by the date set out in the eviction order?

If you or someone you know will soon be celebrating a special birthday or anniversary, or commemorating a special event, you can request special greetings by sending an e-mail to our office.

NOTE: The recipient or requestor must live in the riding, and scroll requests will only be processed if the recipient is a resident of Ontario.

Here is the criteria:

The Queen will send a congratulatory letter on:

• a 60th wedding anniversary and all subsequent anniversaries; or
• a 100th birthday and all subsequent birthdays.

Requests for The Queen’s greetings must be submitted at least three (3) months in advance and requires proof of date of birth or marriage, whichever is applicable (a copy of the birth certificate or marriage certificate is required).

The Governor-General will send a congratulatory letter on:

• a 50th wedding anniversary and all subsequent anniversaries; or
• a 90th birthday and all subsequent birthdays.

Requests for the Governor-General’s greetings must be submitted at least three (3) months in advance.

The Prime Minister of Canada will send a congratulatory letter on:

• a 25th or 50th wedding anniversary and all subsequent anniversaries in 5 year intervals; or
• a 65th or 70th birthday and all subsequent birthdays in 5 year intervals.

Requests for the Prime Minister’s greetings must be submitted at least two (2) months in advance.

The Premier of Ontario will send a congratulatory letter on:

• a 40th wedding anniversary and all subsequent anniversaries; or
• an 80th birthday and all subsequent birthdays.

Requests for the Premier’s greetings must be submitted at least two (2) months in advance.  Please note that congratulatory letters will not be issued more than once every five (5) years.

Your Member of Provincial Parliament, will send a congratulatory letter on:

• Any birthday or wedding anniversary; or
• Any celebratory occasion.

Requests for the MPP's greetings must be submitted as early as possible.

Social Insurance Number:

At the beginning of the application process, you will receive information about the Ontario Disability Support Program/Ontario Works. You will also be told which information and documents may be needed to complete the application process. You will need:

• Health Card Number
• Proof of Identity and Date of Birth
• Employment History/Information
• Income and Asset Statements
• Shelter Costs
• Status in Canada and Dependent Information

The application process is completed in person at your local ODSP/Ontario Works office. You will be required to complete and sign all necessary forms, including the application for assistance, and a participation agreement outlining the specific employment activities you may participate in. You will also need to provide any required information and documents.

• ON428 Ontario Tax
• ON479 Ontario Credits
• ON-BEN Application for the 2017 Ontario Trillium Benefit and the Ontario Senior Homeowners’ Property Tax Grant

Visit the Ontario Ministry of Finance website for more information.

A resident of Ontario must have a health card to show that he or she is entitled to health care services paid for by OHIP. The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care pays for a wide range of services, however, it does not pay for services that are not medically necessary, such as cosmetic surgery.

Eligibility for OHIP

Ontario residents are eligible for provincially funded health coverage (OHIP). Generally, to be eligible for Ontario health coverage you must be:

• A Canadian citizen, permanent resident or among one of the newcomer to Canada groups who are eligible for OHIP as set out in Ontario’s Health Insurance Act ; and
• Physically present in Ontario for 153 days in any 12-month period; and
• Physically present in Ontario for at least 153 days of the first 183 days immediately after establishing residency in the province; and
• Make your primary place of residence in Ontario.

OHIP coverage normally becomes effective three months after the date you establish residency in Ontario. The ministry strongly encourages new and returning residents to purchase private health insurance in case you become ill during the OHIP waiting period.

Finding a Family Doctor – Health Care Connect

Health Care Connect helps Ontarians who are without a family health care provider (family doctor or nurse practitioner) to find one. People without a family health care provider are referred to a family doctor or a nurse practitioner who is accepting new patients in their community.  To find out more information about Health Care Connect, click here.

Finding Long-term Care

Arranging care for yourself or a family member will involve a number of steps. This section of the website describes the process for arranging care, and the role you can play in the process. See the Arranging Care page for more details.

Your local Community Care Access Centre (CCAC) can help. CCACs are provincially-funded agencies that provide Long-Term Care information and referral services in your area. The information is provided free of charge. To locate the CCAC nearest you, use our CCAC Locator.

To find a suitable long-term care home, this search engine will help you.  If you require any assistance with finding a long-term care space, please contact my office..

Your first point of contact for help with applying for OSAP is the Financial Aid Office of the school you are applying to. Out-of-province students can get help by calling 1-877-OSAP411 (1-877-672-7411) during business hours.

The maximum grant/loan amounts for a typical two-term academic year are:

• $12,240 for full-time single students with no dependents
• $19,040 for full-time students who are married or in a common-law relationship or a sole-support parent

Plus, for that two-term academic year, your annual debt is capped at $7,300, even if you get more in loans. Loans are interest-free while you're studying, and for six months after you graduate.

Find out more about how OSAP can help you pay for your education.

30% Off Ontario Tuition Rebate

The 30% Off Ontario Tuition provides:

• $1680 for university and college degree students
• $770 for college diploma and certificate students

You could be eligible for 30% off your student tuition if:

• You’re a full-time student at a public college or university in Ontario
• It’s been less than four years since you left high school
• You’re in a program that you can apply to directly from high school
• You’re a resident of Ontario
• Your parents’ gross income is $160,000 or less

Please review the OSAP website for more information.

Once a death occurs the physician or coroner attending the death completes the Medical Certificate of Death and gives it to the Funeral Director to go with the body.

To register a death, a family member and the funeral director complete the Statement of Death with information about the deceased.

Once completed, the Medical Certificate of Death and the Statement of Death are submitted to the local municipal clerk’s office by the Funeral Director.

• Request Ontario Death Certificate online
• Request Ontario Death Certificate by mail

The funeral director will issue copies of a proof of death that you can use in certain situations. There are some organizations, however, that may require an official death certificate from the Province of Ontario, Office of the Registrar General.

You may need an official death certificate or certified copy for:

• Settling an estate
• Insurance purposes
• Access to/termination of government services, e.g., health card, pension, voters’ list
• Genealogy searches

Births are recorded by the province through the Office of the Registrar General, a department of the Ministry of Government Services. For applications and further information, please click on the links below.

• Apply for your newborn’s birth certificate online
• Replace your Ontario birth certificate online

If you need assistance, or require expedited service, contact my community office for help.

*If the birth happened outside Ontario and within Canada, please contact the Vital Statistics Office in the province or territory where the birth took place.

How much does a birth certificate cost?

• First birth certificate (short form —2.5″ x 3.75″) $25
• Replacement birth certificate (short form) $35
• First certified copy of birth (long form — 8.5″ x 14″) $35
• Replacement certified copy of birth (long form) $45

How can I pay?

You can pay online by VISA, MasterCard,American Express or Interac® Online. If you are mailing in your application, you can pay by cheque, money order or credit card.

How long will it take?

• Provided that the birth is registered, it should take:
• Online service — 15 business days (including delivery)
• Premium online service — (Online Only) 5 business days (including delivery) plus $30 surcharge
• Fax or regular mail service — 6 to 8 weeks plus delivery
• Expedited service — 10 days plus delivery

What if I need a birth certificate in a hurry?

As long as the birth is registered and you have proof of urgency:

2 days plus delivery and $30 surcharge

You MUST apply in person at my Community Office. Only credit card applications will be processed at the Community Office. All other applications (either cash or money order) must be made in person at the Toronto office.

What is the difference between short form and long form birth certificates?

A short form is an extract of information from the original birth registration. It is useful as basic identification.

A long form is a certified copy of the birth registration and is needed when you are:

Moving to another country

An executor for a foreign estate

Are adopting a child abroad

Filling out certain citizenship or immigration documents

Am I entitled to apply for the birth certificate?

You are entitled to apply:

• If the birth took place in the province of Ontario.
• If the application is for your own birth certificate and you are at least 13 years old.
• If the application is for your child’s birth certificate and you are named as a parent on your child’s original birth registration.
• If you are the legal guardian of a child and you can provide court documents proving that you have custody of the child.
• If you are the next-of-kin, executor or estate administrator, and the person named on the certificate is deceased. You must provide proof of death, (e.g., a death certificate or a funeral director’s statement of death, and any other documentation requested by the Office of the Registrar General). You will only be able to obtain a long form (certified copy) of a birth certificate. Short form birth certificates will not be issued for a deceased person.

The Office of the Registrar General maintains birth registrations for 95 years. For records older than this, please contact the Archives of Ontario.

Do I have a valid guarantor?

If you are applying for a birth certificate for an individual nine years of age or older you need a guarantor.

A guarantor is a Canadian citizen and someone who has known you (the applicant) personally for at least 2 years, and is currently serving in or a practicing member in good standing of a profession from this guarantor’s list.

The role of the guarantor is to certify that information provided on a birth certificate application is as complete and accurate as possible. If required, a qualified guarantor must also be available to verify the information with the Office of the Registrar General.

The following applies for each member of the household:

Each member must be a Canadian citizen, landed immigrant (permanent resident), or refugee;

At least one person in your household must be 16 years of age or older and be able to live independently;

If you or any member of the household has arrears owing to any social housing provider in Ontario, Access to Housing will require confirmation that the member has entered into an agreement with the housing provider for repayment of the arrears before your application is processed;

Your application will be rejected if any member of the household has been convicted in court or at the Ontario Rental Tribunal within the last two (2) years of an offence related to rent-geared-to-income housing under section 85 of the SHRA or a crime under the Criminal Code of Canada in relation to rent-geared-to-income assistance.

If anyone in your household has a financial interest in another home anywhere in the world, you must agree, in writing, to divest yourself of the property within one (1) year of getting housed. You do not have to make this decision before you apply but you will have to make it before you get housed.