“Is it the pleasure of the House, that the motion carries?
Carries!
Carried.
Be it resolved that the bill do now pass and be entitled in, as in the motion.”
It has been a long process and a lot of grieving, but there will be good coming from tragic loss for a Napanee family.
On May 12, 2017, 15-year old Garret Mills was at King Street Park (Napanee) with his girlfriend and best friend. The teen decided to do a chin-up on a soccer net.
The net was not anchored and came down on him. Mills died instantly.
Since then, the Mills family has worked with local politicians to find some positive out of a tragedy.
Legislation has been years in the works (Bill-99), which would make it law, to have all soccer nets anchored to the ground, in the Province of Ontario.
David Mills, aka Buzz Collins here at Quinte Broadcasting, is Garrett’s father.
He says it has gone before Queen’s Park three times now and was finally approved today (May 30, 2024).
“Which would make it mandatory by law, for mobile soccer nets to be anchored. It was the lack of anchors which allowed this soccer net to fall over.”
Mills and his wife Gwen and children (Landon, Elyiah, and Brooklynne) say they are very thankful for all the support of legislators, who have worked to get this to where it is.
“Many times I’ve wished over the last seven years that this was not a headache for me to have to pursue – to be the squeaky wheel about and that’s all I’ve been is a squeaky wheel and I cannot thank them enough.”
“For anyone, losing a child is the absolute worst. Something that no one should ever have to go through. For me, this piece of legislation is really about not calling them accidents anymore. This is a preventable incident. If we can do everything we can to make sure that we prevent these incidents, then maybe, maybe somebody doesn’t have to go through what Dave and Gwen have gone though. Mine wasn’t an accident, but I certainly understand the loss.”
It received unanimous consent.
The full presentation of the bill can be heard below.
Ontario NDP Member of Provincial Parliament Jennie Stevens also spoke on Bill-99. She is the Official Opposition Critic for Sport in the province.
“It is legislation that is built on the foundations and principals of learning from a tragedy.”
The Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Sport will have the tools to hire inspectors to look at nets and fields, to ensure they are anchored.
Kitchener Centre M.P.P Aislinn Clancy (Green Party).
“It’s an awful tragedy that no parent and caregiver should have to experience. As a social worker, I’ve walked with many families, who have lost their children. It’s nothing that people easily recover from. The grief journey is unlike anything else.”
Dawn Gallagher-Murphy is the M.P.P for Newmarket-Aurora (Progressive Conservative). She spoke of a similar tragedy in her riding.
“Young Jaime Palm, a 15-year-old girl, an athlete. Jaime died when a soccer net fell over and she was caught under the crossbar in 2014.”
Ted Hsu is the member for Kingston & The Islands and spoke on the safety concerns.
“Having features like weighted bases and anchoring systems and double-post construction for movable goals, will reduce the risk of an accident or injury. It should be a given that our kids are playing recreational sports with equipment that is safe.”
The only thing left is for Royal Assent, which is the formal signing of the legislation into law, which will happen sometime in June.
BELOW IS THE ACT
The Bill enacts Garrett’s Legacy Act (Requirements for Movable Soccer Goals), 2023.
The Act establishes requirements for organizations and entities respecting the safe usage of movable soccer goals that they make available for use by members of the public. The Act provides for inspections and requires the Minister to establish a mechanism to report complaints of alleged non-compliance with the Act.
YOU CAN READ MORE ON THE LEGISLATION BELOW
Bill 99 2023
An Act to provide for safety measures respecting movable soccer goals
His Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:
Definitions
1 In this Act,
“Minister” means the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport or such other member of the Executive Council to whom administration of this Act is assigned under the Executive Council Act; (“ministre”)
“movable soccer goal” means a freestanding structure that consists of at least two upright posts, a cross-bar and support bars and that,
(a) is designed to be,
(i) used as a soccer goal, and
(ii) movable to different locations, and
(b) meets the prescribed criteria, if any; (“but de soccer mobile”)
“prescribed” means prescribed by the regulations; (“prescrit”)
“regulations” means the regulations made under this Act. (“règlements”)
Requirements for movable soccer goals
2 Any organization or entity that makes a movable soccer goal available for use by members of the public shall,
(a) ensure that the goal,
(i) is located on a level surface,
(ii) is securely anchored in accordance with the regulations, and
(iii) meets any prescribed requirements; and
(b) meets any educational, training or other requirements that may be prescribed.
Inspectors
3 The Minister may appoint inspectors who may perform inspections, in accordance with the regulations, for the purposes of determining compliance with this Act.
Complaints
4 The Minister shall establish a mechanism by which members of the public may complain about alleged contraventions of section 2.
Offence
5 Every person who contravenes or fails to comply with this Act or any prescribed provision of the regulations is guilty of an offence and on conviction is liable,
(a) for a first offence, to a fine of not less than $100 and not more than $500; and
(b) for each subsequent offence, to a fine of not less than $500 and not more than $5,000.
Regulations
6 The Minister may make regulations,
(a) governing inspections, including the powers and duties of inspectors appointed under section 3;
(b) prescribing requirements for locating, securing and maintaining movable soccer goals, including requirements with respect to posting signs and affixing stickers;
(c) prescribing and governing any matter that this Act describes as being prescribed or done in accordance with the regulations;
(d) respecting any matter necessary or advisable to carry out effectively the intent and purpose of this Act.
Crown bound
7 This Act binds the Crown.
