Ontario.

AuthorPrzezdziecki, Sylwia
PositionLegislative Reports - Legislative Assembly of Ontario, Canada

On February 22, the Legislative Assembly resumed after its winter adjournment for its final regular sitting period before the October 6 provincial election. Shortly thereafter, Peter Fonseca resigned his seat on March 26 in order to run as a federal candidate in the riding of Mississauga East--Cooksville, the same riding he held provincially since 2003, causing a vacancy in the membership of the House. With both the federal and provincial elections approaching, the Speaker, in a number of statements and rulings, urged members to maintain decorum in the House, particularly in the period leading up to the election campaign and asked that during Oral Questions members keep the questions relevant to provincial policy against the backdrop of a federal election.

On March 29 the Minister of Finance, Dwight Duncan, presented the 2011 Ontario Budget and introduced the budget bill (Bill 173), which. was referred to the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs. The Budget included the continuing implementation of full-day kindergarten; the extension of the current risk management program for grain and oilseed farmers, as well as the implementation of risk management programs for the cattle, hog, sheep and veal sectors and for the fruit and vegetable sector; and the creation of a Commission on the Reform of Ontario's Public Services.

Address by the Japanese Ambassador

On April 7, 2011 the Speaker adjourned the House during pleasure in order to permit an address by Kaoru Ishikawa, Ambassador of Japan to Canada. It was the first time in 25 years that a dignitary has addressed the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. The last such occasion was in 1986 when the Right Reverend Desmond Tutu, Bishop of Johannesburg, addressed the legislature. Ambassador Ishikawa shared with the House the latest developments taking place in his country in the wake of a powerful earthquake and tsunami; expressed his gratitude to Canadians and Ontarians for their messages of sympathy and condolence and for their offers of assistance; acknowledged the economic and cultural partnerships between Japan and Canada, and touched on his hope for the future of Japan-Canada and Japan-Ontario relations. The Ambassador's parting words focussed on the children of Japan who lost their parents in the disaster and his appeal that they be offered support.

Premier Dalton McGuinty, Official Opposition Leader Tim Hudak and Third Party Leader Andrea Horwath in turn offered remarks in reply to...

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