Old Institutions, New Solutions: Supporting Independent MPPs in Ontario's Assembly.

• Date: 22 December 2020
• Author: Nauta, Rachel

History, tradition, convention and precedents are important to Westminster parliamentary institutions; however, new challenges demand flexibility to adjust the rules and set new precedents when necessary. In this article, the author explains how the Legislative Assembly of Ontario has modified Standing Orders and how the Speaker is using discretion to ensure fair participation by the significant number of MLAs who sit as Independents.

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Our Westminster parliamentary institutions date back centuries, yet each new Parliament comes with challenges and changes that require us to adjust the rules and set new precedents.

In Ontario, the 2018 election brought about significant change: 17 ridings were added, 73 new Members were elected, a new governing party took power, and eight independent Members took their seats in the Legislature.

Throughout the course of the current Parliament, four additional Members became independents; for a total of 12 independent Members in the Legislature. Under the Standing Orders adopted by this Parliament, a "Recognized Party" is defined as having Membership of at least 10 percent of the total number of seats in the...