Ontario.

• Author: Grannum, Tonia
• Position: Alvin Curling appointed as Canadian Ambassador to the Dominican Republic - Legislative Assembly of Ontario conducting election for Speaker of the Legislative Assembly

On June 13, 2005 the Ontario Legislature adjourned for the summer. On August 19, 2005, Alvin Curling, MPP for Scarborough-Rouge River and Speaker of the Legislative Assembly resigned to take up an appointment as Canadian Ambassador to the Dominican Republic.

The First Session of the 38th Parliament was prorogued on September 19, 2005, and on Tuesday, October 11, 2005 the Second Session of the 38th Parliament began. The first order of business was the election of a new Speaker.

The election of the Speaker was conducted by secret ballot. Mike Brown, MPP for Alogma-Manitoulin and Ted Arnott, MPP for Waterloo-Wellington were the only two candidates for Office of the Speaker. After one ballot, Mike Brown, MPP emerged as the 39th Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

Greg Sorbara, MPP resigned as Minister of Finance and Chair of Management Board of Cabinet late on Tuesday, October 11, 2005. Due to Mr. Sorbara's resignation the Premier shuffled the Ontario Cabinet. Dwight Duncan, MPP and former Minster of Energy was sworn in as the new Minister of Finance. Donna Cansfield, MPP the former Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Energy was sworn in as the new Minister of Energy and Jim Bradley, MPP, Minister of Tourism and Recreation assumed the additional role of Government House Leader.

On Wednesday, October 12, 2005 the Members assembled in the House to hear Lieutenant Governor, James K. Bartleman deliver the Speech from the Throne. Some highlights from the Throne Speech included a money-back guarantee for online birth certificate applications, if applicants do not receive their birth certificate within 15 business days, reforms to Ontario's Drive Clean programme, a new alternative (skills / trade) high school diploma and mandatory learning until age 18.

Following the Speech from the Throne and just prior to its consideration, the Premier introduced the first bill for the Second Session of the 38th Parliament, Bill 1, An Act to perpetuate an ancient parliamentary right. The Bill is introduced to perpetuate the right of Parliament, through the representatives elected by the people, to sit and act without leave from the Crown.

Committees

On the last day before the Legislature adjourned for the summer, the House ordered that during the adjournment, in the event of the prorogation of the First Session of the 38th Parliament and notwithstanding such prorogation, certain bills shall remain on the Orders and Notices paper and be continued...