Ontario legislature pays tribute to Queen Elizabeth II, expected to adjourn until after municipal elections
The Ontario legislature is set to pay tribute to Queen Elizabeth II on Wednesday before it is expected to adjourn for about six weeks until after the municipal elections.
Members of Provincial Parliament will meet to reaffirm their oaths of allegiance to The King and offer the Royal Family their condolences.
They are also expected to hold a moment of silence in honour of 48-year-old Toronto police Const. Andrew Hong and 38-year-old Shakeel Ashraf, who were both killed in a shooting rampage that spanned the GTA on Monday afternoon.
MPPs have sat in the legislature regularly for the past five weeks in a summer session that saw multiple Progressive Conservative bills pass quickly into law.
The first was Bill 7, legislation that allows for the transfer of senior hospital patients to long-term care homes not of their choosing on a temporary basis.
The idea is that this will free up hospital beds for others that need it; however advocates argued that seniors will be “bullied” into moving to a home far away from family or face large fees from hospitals.
The PCs pushed this bill through without committee discussions or public hearings, something opposition parties have called anti-democratic.
The other notable piece of legislation was Bill 3, which gave the mayors of Toronto and Ottawa stronger powers just as candidates gear up for an election campaign. The powers include more control over the city budget and veto powers to override council decisions on matters of “provincial priority.”
The PCs argued that these powers will allow mayors to build housing more quickly.
MPPs are expected to return to Queen’s Park on Oct. 25, a day after Ontarians head to the polls yet again for the municipal elections.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Nanos survey says most Canadians support expansion of Old Age Security benefits, but economic experts call it 'terrible policy'
Amid new polling indicating most Canadians support boosting Old Age Security benefits by 10 per cent for seniors aged 65 to 74, a former Liberal finance minister and former Bank of Canada governor are warning the government not to pursue the policy change.
'You were innocent': Judge acquits Manitoba man 50 years after murder conviction
A Manitoba man convicted of murder 50 years ago has been acquitted. Clarence Woodhouse was found guilty in 1974 of fatally beating and stabbing a restaurant worker in downtown Winnipeg.
Health official confirms death of Ontario child following rabies diagnosis
An Ontario child has died after coming in contact with a rabid bat, a health official confirmed on Wednesday.
Los Angeles prosecutors to review new evidence in Menendez brothers' 1996 murder conviction
Prosecutors in Los Angeles are reviewing new evidence in the case of Erik and Lyle Menendez to determine whether they should be serving life sentences for killing their parents in their Beverly Hills mansion more than 35 years ago, the city's district attorney said Thursday.
Garth Brooks accused of rape in lawsuit from hair-and-makeup artist
A woman who says she worked as a hair-and-makeup stylist for Garth Brooks alleged in a lawsuit filed Thursday that he raped her in a Los Angeles hotel in 2019.
Melania Trump says she supports abortion rights, putting her at odds with the GOP
Melania Trump revealed her support for abortion rights Thursday ahead of the release of her upcoming memoir, exposing a stark contrast with her husband, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, on the crucial election issue.
Parliament 'ground to a halt' over Conservative allegations of Liberal corruption
Government business has been put on indefinite pause in the House of Commons and the Conservatives say it will stay that way until the Liberals hand over documents related to misspent government dollars.
Breast cancer patient says she had to lie to get a mammogram in Ontario
When an Ontario doctor refused to sign off on a mammogram for 38-year-old Sidra Lone, the mother of four says she was left with no choice but to lie.
184 passengers and crew evacuated as Ryanair Boeing plane catches fire on runway in Italy
More than 180 people were evacuated Thursday from a Ryanair Boeing passenger jet after it caught fire while taxiing to take off at Brindisi Airport in southern Italy.