Ontario.

• Author: Douglas, Julia
• Position: Legislative Reports

Toward the end of a busy spring, the House voted to sit late on two evenings to ensure the completion of certain items of business prior to adjournment. The Government also advised the Speaker that the public interest required the House to meet during adjournment, resulting in the Speaker recalling the House on the afternoon of Sunday, June 2 to debate Bill 117, An Act to amend the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.

As has become traditional over the past several years, a Royal Assent ceremony was held in the Legislative Chamber on the last sitting day. Her Honour the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario assented to four government bills and five private bills before retiring from the Chamber.

The House adjourned on June 6, 2019 and is scheduled to return on October 28, 2019.

Cabinet Shuffle

Premier Doug Ford announced a major cabinet shuffle on June 20, 2019, just over a year into the government's mandate. The shuffle saw the size of cabinet change from 21 to 28 ministers, and changed the portfolios of over half the Ministers. New members of Cabinet include Paul Calandra (Minister without Portfolio and Government House Leader), Doug Downey (Attorney General), Jill Dunlop (Associate Minister of Children and Women's Issues), Stephen Lecce (Minister of Education), Ross Romano (Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities), Prabmeet Sarkaria (Associate Minister of Small Business and Red Tape Reduction), and Kinga Surma (Associate Minister of Transportation (GTA)).

Condolences and Passing of Former Member

The House expressed its condolences on the passing of two former Members from the electoral district of Peterborough: Walter Pitman, Member from October 17, 1967 to October 20, 1971 and Peter Adams, Member from September 10, 1987 to September 5, 1990.

Julia Munro, who served as a Member from June 8, 1995 until June 6, 2018, passed away on June 12, 2019. She held the distinction of being the longest serving female legislator in Ontario's history. The Legislative Assembly's flags were lowered to half-mast on the day of her funeral.

Parliamentary Officers

The Financial Accountability Officer, Peter Weltman, tabled three reports: Ontario Health Sector: 2019 updated assessment of Ontario health spending, Economic and Budget Outlook, Spring 2019 and Expenditure Estimates 2019-20: Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.

The House also received the final Annual Reports from Irwin Elman, Provincial Advocate for Children and...