Ontario.

• Author: Pomanski, Tamara
• Position: Legislative Reports

Budget

On April 23, 2015, Finance Minister Charles Sousa presented Ontario's 2015 Budget, which carried by a vote of 55 to 44 on May 12, 2015.

New Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party

Patrick Brown, federal Conservative MP from Barrie (2006-2015), was elected as the new Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario on May 9, 2015. The Party had appointed Interim Leader Jim Wilson (Simcoe-Grey) following former Leader Tim Hudak's (Niagara West-Glanbrook) resignation last summer. After winning his party's leadership, Mr. Brown resigned his seat in the House of Commons on May 13, 2015, and has said he will seek a seat in the Ontario Legislature at the earliest opportunity. Mr. Wilson continues to serve as Leader of the Official Opposition.

Address to the House by the Premier Quebec

With unanimous consent of the House, on May 11, 2015, the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario adjourned the House during pleasure for the purpose of permitting an address to the House. Philippe Couillard, Premier of Quebec, addressed the Members of the Ontario Legislature from the floor of the Chamber. His address focused on the importance of the Ontario-Quebec relationship and on the value of partnership. The last time a Quebec premier addressed the Assembly was in the 1960s: Antonio Barrette in April 1960, followed by Jean Lesage in February 1964.

Each leader with recognized party status was allotted a reply. All remarks were delivered from the lectern at the head of the Clerk's Table. Mr. Brown, the new leader of the Progressive Conservative Party and who did not hold a seat in the legislature, was given unanimous consent to enter the floor of the Chamber for his remarks in reply.

Ombudsman and Environmental Commissioner

With unanimous consent of the House, the term of Ontario's Ombudsman, Andre Marin, was extended to September 14, 2015, or until the effective date of appointment of a permanent Ombudsman on an address of the Assembly. Mr. Marin has been the Ombudsman of Ontario since 2005.

Also, with unanimous consent, the House appointed Deputy Environmental Commissioner Ellen Schwartzel as the Environmental Commissioner for the summer while two all-party panels consider the selection of an Ombudsman and an Environmental Commissioner for new five-year terms.

Timetable motion

On June 2, 2015, the House passed a motion to apply a timetable to certain business of the House. Under this timetable motion, four government bills will be...