Ontario’s legislature begins new session with throne speech, expected to be COVID-focused

TORONTO — Ontario’s legislature reconvenes this morning for the primary time since early June with a brand new session and speech from the throne.

The speech provides Premier Doug Ford a chance to current a renewed agenda, although it’s delivered by means of Lt.-Gov. Elizabeth Dowdeswell.

The legislature had been set to return on Sept. 13, however early final month Ford prorogued it till after the federal election, which was held Sept. 20.

The prorogation is the federal government’s first because it got here to energy greater than three years in the past, and begins a brand new legislative session.

Ford’s spokeswoman, Ivana Yelich, says the throne speech might be overwhelmingly targeted on the battle towards COVID-19, as it’s the authorities’s prime precedence.

NDP Chief Andrea Horwath says she desires to see a plan to rent extra nurses and private assist staff, cut back class sizes and assist small companies.

“I’m simply hoping that the throne speech goes to make a whole flip in the wrong way of the place Doug Ford has been taking us,” she stated Friday.

Horwath will even be pushing for the creation of security zones to guard health-care staff from intimidation and harassment.

Ontario Liberal Chief Steven Del Duca, who doesn’t have a seat within the legislature, stated his get together’s priorities embody secure lecture rooms, pushing the province to signal a child-care cope with the federal authorities, and paid sick days.

READ MORE: Doug Ford calls for unity after election as COVID-19 vaccine certificates loom

Opposition inquiries to the federal government within the new session are additionally anticipated to the touch on speedy testing for colleges and an ongoing dispute with the province’s optometrists that has led them to withdraw provincially insured eye providers.

Lengthy-Time period Care Minister Rod Phillips can be set to announce new laws governing the sector, establishing a brand new normal of a median 4 hours of direct care.