Legislative Assembly of Ontario

Legislative Assembly of Ontario
Assemblée législative de l'Ontario (French)
41st Parliament of Ontario
Coat of arms or logo
Type
Type
History
Founded July 1, 1867 (1867-07-01)
Preceded by Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada
Leadership
Hon. Elizabeth Dowdeswell
Since September 23, 2014
Hon. Dave Levac, Liberal
Since November 21, 2011
Hon. Kathleen Wynne, Liberal
Since February 11, 2013
Patrick Brown, PC
Since September 14, 2015
Hon. Yasir Naqvi, Liberal
Since June 24, 2014
Jim Wilson, PC
Since September 11, 2015
Structure
Seats 107
Political groups

Governing Party

Opposition Parties

Elections
Last election
 June 12, 2014
Next election
 On or before October 4, 2018
Meeting place
Ontario Legislative Building, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Website
www.ontla.on.ca
Legislative Assembly of Ontario
The Ontario Legislature and Queen's Park

The Legislative Assembly of Ontario is one of two components of the Legislature of Ontario (also known as the Parliament of Ontario[1]), the other being the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario[2] The Legislative Assembly is the largest provincial deliberative assembly by number of members in Canada after the Assemblée nationale du Québec. The Assembly meets at the Ontario Legislative Building at Queen's Park in the provincial capital of Toronto.

The Legislative Assembly was established by the then British North America Act, 1867, which dissolved the Province of Canada into two new provinces, with the portion then called Canada West becoming Ontario. The Legislature has been unicameral since its inception, with the Assembly currently having 107 seats (increased to 122 as of the 42nd Ontario general election) representing electoral districts ("ridings") elected through a first-past-the-post electoral system across the province.

Like at the federal level in Canada, Ontario uses a Westminster-style parliamentary government, in which members are elected to the Legislative Assembly through general elections, from which the Premier of Ontario and Executive Council of Ontario are appointed based on majority support. The premier is Ontario's head of government, while the Lieutenant Governor, as representative of the Queen, acts as head of state. The largest party not forming the government is known as the Official Opposition, its leader being recognized as Leader of the Opposition by the Speaker.

The Ontario Legislature is sometimes referred to as the "Ontario Provincial Parliament". Members of the assembly refer to themselves as "Members of the Provincial Parliament" (MPPs) as opposed to "Members of the Legislative Assembly" (MLAs) as in many other provinces. Ontario is the only province to do so, in accordance with a resolution passed in the Assembly on April 7, 1938. However, the Legislative Assembly Act refers only to "members of the Assembly".

The current assembly was elected on June 12, 2014 as part of the 41st Parliament of Ontario. The first session of the 41st Parliament opened on July 2, 2014. On Friday May 2, 2014, the 40th Parliament of Ontario was dissolved by Lieutenant Governor David C. Onley on the advice of Premier Kathleen Wynne after the NDP and Progressive Conservative leaders said they would not support the Liberal minority government's budget.[3] The election was held on June 12, 2014, as a result of which Kathleen Wynne's Liberal Party formed a majority government.[4]

Lawmaking

In accordance with the traditions of the Westminster System, most laws originate with the cabinet (Government bills), and are passed by the legislature after stages of debate and decision-making. Ordinary Members of the Legislature may introduce privately (Private Members' Bills), play an integral role in scrutinizing bills in debate and committee and amending bills presented to the legislature by cabinet.

Members are expected to be loyal to both their parliamentary party and to the interests of their constituents.

In the Ontario legislature this confrontation provides much of the material for Oral Questions and Members' Statements. Legislative scrutiny of the executive is also at the heart of much of the work carried out by the Legislature's Standing Committees, which are made up of ordinary backbenchers.

A Member's day will typically be divided among participating in the business of the House, attending caucus and committee meetings, speaking in various debates, or returning to his or her constituency to address the concerns, problems and grievances of constituents. Depending on personal inclination and political circumstances, some Members concentrate most of their attention on House matters while others focus on constituency problems, taking on something of an ombudsman's role in the process.

Finally, it is the task of the legislature to provide the personnel of the executive. As already noted, under responsible government, ministers of the Crown are expected to be Members of the Assembly. When a political party comes to power it will usually place its more experienced parliamentarians into the key cabinet positions, where their parliamentary experience may be the best preparation for the rough and tumble of political life in government.

Coat of arms

The Legislative Assembly of Ontario is the first and the only legislature in Canada to have a Coat of Arms separate from the provincial coat of arms.

Green and gold are the principal colours in the shield of arms of the province. The Mace is the traditional symbol of the authority of the Speaker. Shown on the left is the current Mace. On the right is the original Mace from the time of the first parliament in 1792. The crossed Maces are joined by the shield of arms of Ontario.

The crown on the wreath represents national and provincial loyalties; its rim is studded with the provincial gemstone, the amethyst. The griffin, an ancient symbol of justice and equity, holds a calumet, which symbolizes the meeting of spirit and discussion that Ontario's First Nations believe accompanies the use of the pipe.

The deer represent the natural riches of the province. The Loyalist coronets at their necks honour the original British settlers in Ontario who brought with them the British parliamentary form of government. The Royal Crowns, left 1992, right 1792, recognize the parliamentary bicentennial and represent Ontario's heritage as a constitutional monarchy. They were granted as a special honour by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on the recommendation of the Governor General.

In the base, the maple leaves are for Canada, the trilliums for Ontario and the roses for York (now Toronto), the provincial capital.

The motto "Audi Alteram Partem" is one of a series of Latin phrases carved in the Chamber of the Legislative Building. It challenges Members of Provincial Parliament to "Hear the Other Side".

Media

Proceedings of the Legislative Assembly are broadcast to Ontario cable television subscribers as the Ontario Parliament Network.

Timeline of the 41st Parliament of Ontario

Party standings

Election of the Legislative Assembly of the 41st Ontario Parliament occurred June 12, 2014, as a result of which Kathleen Wynne's Liberals formed a majority government.

Affiliation Party
Leader		 Status Seats
2014 election Current
Liberal Kathleen Wynne Government 58 59
Progressive Conservative Patrick Brown Official Opposition 28 28
New Democratic Andrea Horwath Third Party 21 20
Total 107
Government Majority 9 11

Seating plan

(v • d • e)

See the following for a detailed seating plan: Official Seating Plan of the 41st Legislature(PDF)
********** Albenese Balkissoon * Walker Smith * Harris Nicholls * Martow McDonell * Pettapiece Coe * * Campbell Mantha * Hatfield Gretzky * Gates French *
Bailey MacLaren Hudak Yurek Munro Barrett Thompson Scott McNaughton Miller Hillier Forster Fife Gélinas Armstrong Natyshak Taylor Sattler
Arnott Hardeman MacLeod Wilson Jones BROWN Clark Fedeli Yakabuski Singh HORWATH Bisson Vanthof DiNovo Tabuns Miller
Levac
* Naqvi Bradley * Chiarelli Meilleur * Sousa WYNNE * Matthews Hoskins * Sandals Duguid * MacCharles Kwinter * Colle Takhar *
Qaadri Lalonde Zimmer Flynn Leal Coteau Moridi Chan Murray McMeekin Gravelle Orazietti Dhillon Delaney Berardinetti
Albanese Dickson Mangat Crack Hunter Sergio Mauro Jaczek Del Duca Damerla Wong Fraser Anderson Baker Ballard Dong
Thibeault Vernile Rinaldi Potts Naidoo-Harris Milczyn McMahon McGarry Martins Malhi Kiwala Hoggarth

The seating chamber was influenced by the British House of Commons layout and that of the original St. Stephen's Chapel in the Palace of Westminster.[8] The difference with the British layout is with the use of individual chairs and tables for members, absent in the British Commons' design.

view of the layout of the original Parliament of Ontario and that of the Upper Canada and the Province of Canada

Previous location of the legislature, once home of the legislature of Upper Canada and the United Provinces of Canada, had similar layout.

List of members

Name Party Riding Notes
     Joe Dickson Liberal Ajax—Pickering
     Michael Mantha New Democrat Algoma—Manitoulin
     Ted McMeekin Liberal Ancaster—Dundas—Flamborough—Westdale
     Ann Hoggarth Liberal Barrie
     Arthur Potts Liberal Beaches—East York
     Jagmeet Singh New Democrat Bramalea—Gore—Malton
     Harinder Malhi Liberal Brampton—Springdale
     Vic Dhillon Liberal Brampton West
     Dave Levac Liberal Brant
     Bill Walker Progressive Conservative Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound
     Eleanor McMahon Liberal Burlington
     Kathryn McGarry Liberal Cambridge
     Jack MacLaren Progressive Conservative Carleton—Mississippi Mills
     Rick Nicholls Progressive Conservative Chatham-Kent—Essex
     Cristina Martins Liberal Davenport
     Michael Coteau Liberal Don Valley East
     Kathleen Wynne Liberal Don Valley West
     Sylvia Jones Progressive Conservative Dufferin—Caledon
     Granville Anderson Liberal Durham
     Mike Colle Liberal Eglinton—Lawrence
     Jeff Yurek Progressive Conservative Elgin—Middlesex—London
     Taras Natyshak New Democrat Essex
     Yvan Baker Liberal Etobicoke Centre
     Peter Milczyn Liberal Etobicoke—Lakeshore
     Shafiq Qaadri Liberal Etobicoke North
     Grant Crack Liberal Glengarry—Prescott—Russell
     Liz Sandals Liberal Guelph
     Toby Barrett Progressive Conservative Haldimand—Norfolk
     Laurie Scott Progressive Conservative Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock
     Indira Naidoo-Harris Liberal Halton
     Andrea Horwath New Democrat Hamilton Centre
     Paul Miller New Democrat Hamilton East—Stoney Creek
     Monique Taylor New Democrat Hamilton Mountain
     Lisa Thompson Progressive Conservative Huron—Bruce
     Sarah Campbell New Democrat Kenora—Rainy River
     Sophie Kiwala Liberal Kingston and the Islands
     Daiene Vernile Liberal Kitchener Centre
     Michael Harris Progressive Conservative Kitchener—Conestoga
     Catherine Fife New Democrat Kitchener—Waterloo
     Monte McNaughton Progressive Conservative Lambton—Kent—Middlesex
     Randy Hillier Progressive Conservative Lanark—Frontenac—Lennox and Addington
     Steve Clark Progressive Conservative Leeds—Grenville
     Teresa Armstrong New Democrat London—Fanshawe
     Deb Matthews Liberal London North Centre
     Peggy Sattler New Democrat London West
     Michael Chan Liberal Markham—Unionville
     Amrit Mangat Liberal Mississauga—Brampton South
     Dipika Damerla Liberal Mississauga East—Cooksville
     Harinder Takhar Liberal Mississauga—Erindale
     Charles Sousa Liberal Mississauga South
     Bob Delaney Liberal Mississauga—Streetsville
     Lisa MacLeod Progressive Conservative Nepean—Carleton
     Chris Ballard Liberal Newmarket—Aurora
     Wayne Gates New Democrat Niagara Falls
     Tim Hudak Progressive Conservative Niagara West—Glanbrook Leader of PC party until July 2, 2014
     France Gélinas New Democrat Nickel Belt
     Victor Fedeli Progressive Conservative Nipissing
     Lou Rinaldi Liberal Northumberland—Quinte West
     Helena Jaczek Liberal Oak Ridges—Markham
     Kevin Flynn Liberal Oakville
     Jennifer French New Democrat Oshawa
     Yasir Naqvi Liberal Ottawa Centre
     Marie-France Lalonde Liberal Ottawa—Orléans
     John Fraser Liberal Ottawa South
     Madeleine Meilleur Liberal Ottawa—Vanier
     Bob Chiarelli Liberal Ottawa West—Nepean
     Ernie Hardeman Progressive Conservative Oxford
     Cheri DiNovo New Democrat Parkdale—High Park
     Norm Miller Progressive Conservative Parry Sound—Muskoka
     Randy Pettapiece Progressive Conservative Perth—Wellington
     Jeff Leal Liberal Peterborough
     Tracy MacCharles Liberal Pickering—Scarborough East
     Todd Smith Progressive Conservative Prince Edward—Hastings
     John Yakabuski Progressive Conservative Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke
     Reza Moridi Liberal Richmond Hill
     Jim Bradley Liberal St. Catharines
     Eric Hoskins Liberal St. Paul's
     Bob Bailey Progressive Conservative Sarnia—Lambton
     David Orazietti Liberal Sault Ste. Marie
     Soo Wong Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt
     Brad Duguid Liberal Scarborough Centre
     Mitzie Hunter Liberal Scarborough—Guildwood
     Vacant Scarborough—Rouge River
     Lorenzo Berardinetti Liberal Scarborough Southwest
     Jim Wilson Progressive Conservative Simcoe—Grey Chosen interim leader by the Progressive Conservative caucus on July 2, 2014.
     Patrick Brown Progressive Conservative Simcoe North Byelection on September 3, 2015 after resignation of Garfield Dunlop (PC)
     Jim McDonell Progressive Conservative Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry
     Glenn Thibeault Liberal Sudbury Elected MPP Joe Cimino resigned effective November 21, 2014 [9]
Thibeault elected in byelection February 5, 2015.[10]
     Gila Martow Progressive Conservative Thornhill
     Bill Mauro Liberal Thunder Bay—Atikokan
     Michael Gravelle Liberal Thunder Bay—Superior North
     John Vanthof New Democrat Timiskaming—Cochrane
     Gilles Bisson New Democrat Timmins—James Bay
     Glen Murray Liberal Toronto Centre
     Peter Tabuns New Democrat Toronto—Danforth
     Han Dong Liberal Trinity—Spadina
     Steven Del Duca Liberal Vaughan
     Cindy Forster New Democrat Welland
     Ted Arnott Progressive Conservative Wellington—Halton Hills
     Lorne Coe Progressive Conservative Whitby—Oshawa By-election held February 11, 2016 to replace former PC MPP Christine Elliott
     David Zimmer Liberal Willowdale
     Percy Hatfield New Democrat Windsor—Tecumseh
     Lisa Gretzky New Democrat Windsor West
     Monte Kwinter Liberal York Centre
     Julia Munro Progressive Conservative York—Simcoe
     Laura Albanese Liberal York South—Weston
     Mario Sergio Liberal York West

Officeholders

Speaker

Other Chair occupants

Leaders

Floor leaders

Whips

Front benches

Committees

There are two forms which Committees can take. The first, standing committees, are struck for the duration of the Parliament pursuant to Standing Orders. The second, select committees, are struck usually by a Motion or an Order of the House to consider a specific bill or issue which would otherwise monopolize the time of the standing committees.

Standing committees

A committee which exists for the duration of a parliamentary session. This committee examines and reports on the general conduct of activities by government departments and agencies and reports on matters referred to it by the house, including proposed legislation.[11]

Standing Committees in the current Parliament:

  • Standing Committee on Estimates
  • Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs
  • Standing Committee on General Government
  • Standing Committee on Government Agencies
  • Standing Committee on Social Policy
  • Standing Committee on Justice Policy
  • Standing Committee on Public Accounts
  • Standing Committee on Regulations and Private Bills
  • Standing Committee on the Legislative Assembly

Select committees

Select committees are set up specifically to study certain bills or issues and according to the Standing Orders, consists of not more than 11 members from all parties with representation reflecting the current standing in the house. In some cases, the committee must examine material by a specific date and then report its conclusion to the legislature. After its final report, the committee is dissolved.[11]

Select Committees in the 39th Parliament:

Mace

The ceremonial mace of the Legislature is the fourth mace to be used in Ontario.

The first mace was first used by the Chamber of Upper Canada's first Parliament in 1792 at Newark (now Niagara-on-the-Lake) and then to York (now Toronto). The primitive wooden mace, painted red and gilt and surmounted by a crown of thin brass strips. It was stolen by American troops during the War of 1812 in 1813. The mace was stored at United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland and remained in the United States until 1934 when it was returned to Ontario when President Franklin Roosevelt sent an order to Congress to return the mace.[12] It was stored at the Royal Ontario Museum for a time, and is now located in the Speaker's office at the Ontario Legislature.

A second mace was introduced in 1813 and used until 1841. The third mace was not purchased until 1845 and then transferred to the Union Parliament and finally to the Parliament of Canada in 1867. This mace was lost in the fire at the Centre Block in 1916. The current mace used in Legislature was purchased in 1867. It is topped by the St Edward's Crown with a diamond inside and head of the mace is engraved with leaves and the royal cypher of Queen Victoria.

Officers

Like the Parliament of Canada, the Legislature has procedural officers:

The Clerk of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario is the chief permanent officer of the Legislative Assembly, with the rank and status of a Deputy Minister. He or she is the principal procedural adviser and senior officer of the House. The Clerk's responsibilities include advising the Speaker and Members of the Legislature on questions of procedure and interpretation of the rules and practices of the House. The Clerk is also responsible for the overall direction and administration of the Legislative Assembly and is Secretary of the Board of Internal Economy. As Chief Executive Officer, the Clerk is accountable to the Speaker for the administrative and operational functions of the Office of the Assembly.

The other key officer is the Sergeant-at-Arms, whose role is to keep order during meetings in the Legislature. The Sergeant-at-Arms is also charged with control of the Ceremonial mace in the Legislature in session.

Other officers of the legislature include the Office of the Provincial Advocate for Children and Youth, the Ontario Ombudsman, the Environmental Commissioner of Ontario, the Integrity Commissioner of Ontario, the Auditor General of Ontario and the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario.

Membership changes


Number of members
per party by date		 2014 2015 2016
Jun 12 Nov 20 Feb 5 Aug 1 Aug 28 Sep 3 Feb 11 Mar 22
Liberal 58 59 58
Progressive Conservative 28 27 26 27 28
New Democratic 21 20
Total members 107 106 107 106 105 106 107 106
Vacant 0 1 0 1 2 1 0 1
Government majority 9 10 11 12 13 12 11 10

See also

References

External links

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