Ontario.

• Author: Rennie, Eric
• Position: Legislative Reports

The First Session of the 42nd Parliament resumed for the spring meeting period on February 18, 2020. The return of the House and resumption of legislative business was noteworthy, as several new Standing Orders came into effect at 12:01 a.m. Among the changes to the Standing Orders, the Speaker is now authorized to alter the application of any Standing Order or practice of the House in order to permit the full participation in proceedings of any Member with a disability. In addition, there is now written authorization for Members to use electronic devices such as laptops and smartphones in the House and committee rooms. Previously, the use of electronic devices in these spaces was technically prohibited. However, it had been a longstanding unwritten practice that Speakers ignored them, provided they operated silently. The House adopted these and other changes to the Standing Orders in December 2019.

Provincial By-elections

Two by-elections were held on February 27, 2020, to fill the vacancies left by the resignations of Liberal MPPs Nathalie Des Rosiers and Marie-France Lalonde. The Ontario Liberal Party held onto both seats with the election of Lucille Collard in the riding of Ottawa-Vanier and Stephen Blais in the riding of Orleans.

With the addition of MPP Amanda Simard, who joined the Liberal caucus in January 2020 after sitting as an Independent Member, the Liberals now hold eight seats in the Legislature.

Ontario Liberal Party Leadership

The Ontario Liberal Party held its leadership convention on March 7, 2020, to choose a successor for Interim Leader John Fraser. Former MPP and Cabinet Minister Steven Del Duca was elected as leader on the first ballot. He does not currently hold a seat in the Legislature.

Response to COVID-19

The House has taken a number of measures to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. On March 12, 2020, the last sitting day before what was scheduled to be a constituency week, the House adopted a motion moved by Government House Leader Paul Calandra. The motion indicated that during any time the House is adjourned for the remainder of the spring sessional period, the Government House Leader may give written notice to the Speaker that the Assembly shall not meet; and the Assembly will therefore remain adjourned until written notice is given to reconvene the Assembly. The provisions of the motion will expire at 11:59 p.m. on June 4, 2020.

On March 19, 2020, the House was reconvened through Order in Council to conduct...