View source for Legislative Assembly of Ontario

{{Short description|Unicameral legislature of Ontario}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=December 2021}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2021}}
{{More citations needed|date=July 2013}}
{{Infobox legislature
| name          = Legislative Assembly of Ontario
| native_name   = {{nobold|{{lang|fr|Assemblée législative de l'Ontario}}}}
| coa_pic       = Ontario Legislative Assembly arms.jpg<!--Please do not change this without a thorough discussion on the Talk page-->
| coa_caption   = [[#Coat of arms|Coat of arms]]
| legislature   = [[43rd Parliament of Ontario]]
| session_room  = Legislative Assembly - panoramio.jpg
| house_type    = Unicameral house
| body          = Legislature of Ontario
| foundation    = {{Start date|1867|07|01}}
| preceded_by   = [[Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada]] (pre-confederation)<br />[[Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada]] (pre-union)
| election1     = November 14, 2023
| leader2_type  = [[Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario|Speaker]]
| leader2       = [[Ted Arnott]]
| party2        = [[Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario|PC]]
| election2     = July 11, 2018
| leader3_type  = [[Premier of Ontario|Premier]]
| leader3       = [[Doug Ford]]
| party3        = [[Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario|PC]]
| election3     = June 29, 2018
| leader4_type  = [[Leader of the Official Opposition (Ontario)|Leader of the Official Opposition]]
| leader4       = [[Marit Stiles]]
| party4        = [[Ontario New Democratic Party|NDP]]
| election4     = February 4, 2023
| leader5_type  = [[Government House Leader (Ontario)|Government<br />House Leader]]
| leader5       = [[Paul Calandra]]
| party5        = [[Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario|PC]]
| election5     = June 20, 2019
| leader6_type  = [[House Leader|Opposition<br />House Leader]]
| leader6       = [[John Vanthof]]
| party6        = [[Ontario New Democratic Party|NDP]]
| election6     = February 3, 2021
| members       = '''124'''
| structure1     = Legislative_Assembly_of_Ontario_-_Seating_Chart_by_Party.svg
| session_res    =
| structure1_res = 250px
| political_groups1  = '''[[Government of Ontario|His Majesty's Government]]'''
*{{Color box|{{Canadian party colour|CA|Conservative}}|border=darkgray}} [[Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario|Progressive Conservative]]<nowiki> (79)</nowiki>
'''[[Official Opposition (Canada)|His Majesty's Loyal Opposition]]'''
*{{color box|#F4A460|border=darkgray}} [[Ontario New Democratic Party|New Democratic]] (28)
'''Other parties'''
*{{color box|#EA6D6A|border=darkgray}} [[Ontario Liberal Party|Liberal]] (9)
*{{color box|#98CA66|border=darkgray}} [[Green Party of Ontario|Green]] (2)
*{{color box|#c3c3c3|border=darkgray}} [[Independent (politician)|Independent]] (6)
<!-- *{{color box||border=darkgray}} Vacant -->
| voting_system1 = [[First-past-the-post voting|First-past-the-post]]
| last_election1 = [[2022 Ontario general election|June 2, 2022]]
| next_election1 = [[44th Ontario general election|2026]]
| meeting_place = [[Ontario Legislative Building]], [[Toronto]], [[Ontario]], Canada
| website       = {{URL|https://www.ola.org}}
}}
The '''Legislative Assembly of Ontario''' ('''OLA'''; {{langx|fr|Assemblée législative de l'Ontario}}) is the [[legislative chamber]] of the [[Provinces and territories of Canada|Canadian province]] of [[Ontario]]. Its elected members are known as [[Member of Provincial Parliament (Canada)|Members of Provincial Parliament]] (MPPs). Bills passed by the Legislative Assembly are given [[royal assent]] by the [[lieutenant governor of Ontario]] to become law. Together, the Legislative Assembly and Lieutenant Governor make up the [[Unicameralism|unicameral]] '''Legislature of Ontario'''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 3, 1999 |title=British North America Act, 1867, para 69 |url=https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/csj-sjc/constitution/lawreg-loireg/p1t12.html |access-date=September 24, 2020 |website=Department of Justice Canada }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://speaker.ontla.on.ca/en/at-the-assembly/origins-of-mpp/|title=Origins of "MPP"|work=The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario|access-date=April 5, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310064906/http://speaker.ontla.on.ca/en/at-the-assembly/origins-of-mpp/|archive-date=March 10, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite canlaw|short title=Constitution Act, 1867|wikilink=Constitution Act, 1867|regtitle=|amended5=|amended4=|amended3=|amended2=|amended1=|type=|linkloc=Department of Justice Canada|abbr=30 & 31 Victoria|link=http://laws.justice.gc.ca/eng/Const/section-69.html|schedule=|division=|part=|subsection=|section=69|chapter=3 (U.K.)|year=1867|regnumber=}}.</ref> The assembly meets at the [[Ontario Legislative Building]] at [[Queen's Park, Toronto|Queen's Park]] in the provincial capital of [[Toronto]].
Ontario uses a [[Westminster System|Westminster-style]] [[parliamentary government]] in which members are elected to the Legislative Assembly through [[List of Ontario general elections|general elections]] using a [[Plurality voting|"first-past-the-post" system]]. The [[premier of Ontario]] (the province's [[head of government]]) holds office by virtue of their ability to [[Confidence and supply|command the confidence]] of the Legislative Assembly, typically sitting as an MPP themselves and lead the largest party or a [[Coalition government|coalition]] in the Legislative Assembly. The largest party not forming the government is known as the [[Official Opposition (Canada)|Official Opposition]], its leader being recognized as [[Leader of the Opposition (Ontario)|leader of the Opposition]].
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#Canada|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 Legislative Assembly is the second largest Canadian provincial deliberative assembly by number of members after the [[National Assembly of Quebec]].
The current assembly was [[2022 Ontario general election|elected on June 2, 2022]], as part of the [[43rd Parliament of Ontario]].
Owing to the location of the Legislative Building on the grounds of [[Queen's Park (Toronto)|Queen's Park]], the [[metonymy|metonym]] "Queen's Park" is often used to refer to both the provincial government and the Legislative Assembly.<ref name="qp-name">{{cite web|title=Legacy of a People's Park|url=http://educationportal.ontla.on.ca/en/about-parliament/history/queen-s-parc-150-years-1860-2010/legacy-of-a-people-s-park|website=Education Portal|publisher=Legislative Assembly of Ontario|access-date=January 21, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150121173830/http://educationportal.ontla.on.ca/en/about-parliament/history/queen-s-parc-150-years-1860-2010/legacy-of-a-people-s-park|archive-date=January 21, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==Lawmaking==
{{unreferenced section|date=April 2019}}
In accordance with the traditions of the Westminster system, most laws originate in the [[Cabinet of Ontario|provincial cabinet]] (government bills) and are passed by the legislature after multiple rounds of debate and decision-making. Backbench legislators may introduce private legislation ([[Private Members' Bills|private-member bills]]) or amend bills presented to the legislature by cabinet, playing an integral role in scrutinizing bills both at the debate as well as committee stages.
[[File:Ontario Legislative Building, Toronto, South view 20170417 1.jpg|thumb|left|The southern facade of the [[Ontario Legislative Building]], the meeting place for the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.]]
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.{{citation needed|date=September 2019}}
==History==
{{See also|List of Ontario general elections|List of Ontario Legislative Assemblies}}
[[File:Parliament of Ontario 1871.jpg|thumb|[[Member of Provincial Parliament (Ontario)|Members]] of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario convene in 1871.]]
The Legislative Assembly was established by the [[Constitution Act, 1867|British North America Act, 1867]] (later re-titled ''Constitution Act, 1867''), which dissolved the [[Province of Canada]] into two new provinces, with the portion then called [[Canada West]] becoming Ontario.
As such, the 1st Parliament of Ontario was one of the three legislative bodies succeeding the [[Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada]]'s [[8th Parliament of the Province of Canada|8th Parliament]].
The [[1867 Ontario general election|first election in 1867]] produced a tie between [[Conservative Party of Ontario|Conservatives]] led by [[John Sandfield Macdonald]] and the [[Ontario Liberal Party|Liberals]] led by [[Archibald McKellar]]. Macdonald led a [[coalition government]] with the support of moderate [[Ontario Liberal Party|Liberals]]. [[John Stevenson (Ontario politician)|John Stevenson]] served as the first speaker for the assembly.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://speaker.ontla.on.ca/en/at-the-assembly/speakers/|title=Speakers of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario|publisher=Legislative Assembly of Ontario|access-date=February 27, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140801101335/http://speaker.ontla.on.ca/en/at-the-assembly/speakers/|archive-date=August 1, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> Its first session ran from September 3, 1867, until February 25, 1871, just prior to the [[1871 Ontario general election|1871 general election]].
The Legislature has been [[unicameral]] since its inception, with the Assembly currently having 124 seats (increased from 107 as of the [[42nd Ontario general election]]) representing [[Electoral district (Canada)|electoral districts]] ("ridings") elected through a [[first-past-the-post]] electoral system across the province.
In 1938, the title of Member of the Legislative Assembly was officially changed to Member of Provincial Parliament. Previously, multiple terms were unofficially used in the media and in the Legislature.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://speaker.ontla.on.ca/en/at-the-assembly/origins-of-mpp/ |title=Origins of "MPP" |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310064906/http://speaker.ontla.on.ca/en/at-the-assembly/origins-of-mpp/ |publisher=The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario|archive-date=March 10, 2016}}</ref>
[[Ontario]] uses the same boundaries as those at the federal level for its Legislative Assembly in [[Southern Ontario]], while seats in [[Northern Ontario]] correspond to the federal districts that were in place before the 2004 adjustment. Ontario had separate provincial electoral districts prior to 1999.
===Timeline of the 43rd Parliament of Ontario===
The following notable events occurred during the 2022–present period:
* August 8, 2022: The [[43rd Parliament of Ontario]] begins its first session. [[Ted Arnott]], MPP for [[Wellington—Halton Hills (provincial electoral district)|Wellington—Halton Hills]], is re-elected as the [[speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario]] defeating a challenge by fellow PC MPP [[Nina Tangri]], who had been endorsed by Premier [[Doug Ford]].<ref name="arnott">{{cite news |title=MPPs defy Doug Ford, re-elect Ted Arnott as speaker of the Ontario Legislature |url=https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/2022/08/08/mpps-defy-doug-ford-re-elect-ted-arnott-as-speaker-of-the-ontario-legislature.html |access-date=August 8, 2022 |work=Toronto Star |date=August 8, 2022}}</ref>
* August 9, 2022: Lieutenant Governor [[Elizabeth Dowdeswell]] delivers the [[speech from the throne]].<ref>{{cite news |title='No easy solutions' to health care, economic issues, Ford government says in throne speech |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/throne-speech-budget-ontario-1.6545568 |access-date=August 9, 2022 |work=CBC News |date=August 9, 2022}}</ref>
* August 15, 2022: [[Andrea Horwath]], former leader of the [[Ontario NDP]], resigns her seat as MPP for [[Hamilton Centre (provincial electoral district)|Hamilton Centre]] in order to pursue a bid to become the mayor of [[Hamilton, Ontario]] during the [[2022 Hamilton, Ontario municipal election|2022 municipal election]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ola.org/en/members/all/andrea-horwath |title=Andrea Horwath |date=May 13, 2004 |publisher=Legislative Assembly of Ontario |access-date=August 15, 2022}}</ref>
*February 4, 2023: [[Marit Stiles]] is declared leader of the New Democratic Party in the [[2023 Ontario New Democratic Party leadership election|leadership election]] by acclamation.<ref>{{Cite web |title=It's a done deal: Marit Stiles will win the NDP leadership uncontested {{!}} TVO.org |url=https://www.tvo.org/article/its-a-done-deal-marit-stiles-will-win-the-ndp-leadership-uncontested |access-date=2022-12-06 |website=www.tvo.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://toronto.citynews.ca/2023/01/05/marti-stiles-ndp-leadership/|title=CityNews|website=toronto.citynews.ca|date=January 6, 2023 }}</ref>
*March 10, 2023: [[Vincent Ke]], MPP for [[Don Valley North (provincial electoral district)|Don Valley North]], resigns from the [[Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario]] caucus after allegations surface of Chinese government election interference. He will now sit as an Independent.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Toronto MPP Vincent Ke resigns from PC caucus after media report alleges ties to Beijing {{!}} TVO.org |url=https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/2023/03/10/toronto-mpp-vincent-ke-resigns-from-pc-caucus-after-media-report-alleges-ties-to-beijing.html |access-date=2023-03-10 |website=www.thestar.com|date=March 10, 2023 }}</ref>
*March 16, 2023: [[Sarah Jama]], an [[Ontario NDP]] candidate, wins the by-election held in [[Hamilton Centre (provincial electoral district)|Hamilton Centre]] to replace former Ontario NDP leader [[Andrea Horwath]], who had resigned her seat the previous summer to successfully run for Hamilton's mayorship.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/byelection-hamilton-centre-results-1.6781562 |title=NDP's Sarah Jama elected as next MPP for Hamilton Centre |date=March 16, 2023 |first=Bobby |last=Hristova |publisher=CBC News|access-date=April 6, 2023}}</ref>
*March 24, 2023: [[Merrilee Fullerton]], MPP for [[Kanata—Carleton (provincial electoral district)|Kanata—Carleton]] and [[Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services|Minister of Children, Community and Social Services]] resigns her seat for undisclosed reasons.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ontario PC cabinet minister Merrilee Fullerton resigns |url=https://www.cp24.com/news/ontario-pc-cabinet-minister-merrilee-fullerton-resigns-1.6328043 |access-date=March 24, 2023 |work=CP24.com |publisher=BellMedia |date=March 24, 2023}}</ref>
*March 31, 2023: [[Algoma—Manitoulin (provincial electoral district)|Algoma—Manitoulin]] MPP [[Michael Mantha]] removed from NDP Caucus over “misconduct” allegations.<ref name="CP01Apr23">{{cite web|url= https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/michael-mantha-ndp-1.6798600|title= Michael Mantha removed from Ontario NDP caucus amid workplace investigation|access-date= 1 April 2023|author= The Canadian Press |author-link= The Canadian Press|work= [[CBC News]]|date= 1 April 2023|archive-url= https://archive.today/20230401151654/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/michael-mantha-ndp-1.6798600|archive-date= 1 April 2023|url-status= live}}</ref>
*May 10, 2023: [[Scarborough—Guildwood (provincial electoral district)|Scarborough—Guildwood]] MPP [[Mitzie Hunter]] resigns her seat in order to pursue a bid to become the mayor of [[Toronto]] during the [[2023 Toronto mayoral by-election|2023 by-election]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ola.org/en/members/all/mitzie-hunter |title=Mitzie Hunter |date=August 2013 |publisher=Legislative Assembly of Ontario |access-date=May 10, 2023}}</ref>
*December 1, 2023: [[Kitchener Centre (provincial electoral district)|Kitchener Centre]] elects [[Green Party of Ontario|Ontario Green candidate]], [[Aislinn Clancy]]. Thus doubling Green representation in the Legislature.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Greens win 2nd seat in Ontario as Aislinn Clancy wins Kitchener Centre byelection {{!}} Globalnews.ca |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/10141078/greens-win-kitchener-centre-byelection/ |access-date=2023-12-01 |website=Global News |language=en-US}}</ref>
====Summary of seat changes====
{{43rd Ontario Legislature membership changes}}
==Media==
{{unreferenced section|date=April 2019}}
Regular Legislative Assembly proceedings are broadcast to subscribers of the [[Ontario Parliament Network]] in [[cable television|Ontario]]. A late-night rebroadcast of [[Question Period]] is also occasionally aired on [[TV Ontario|TVO]], the provincial public broadcaster.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Watch the Legislature in action {{!}} Legislative Assembly of Ontario|url=https://www.ola.org/en/get-involved/watch-legislature-action|access-date=May 31, 2021|website=www.ola.org}}</ref>
==Officers==
The Legislative Assembly of Ontario, like the federal House of Commons, also includes procedural officers who administer the business of the legislature and impartially assist the Speaker and MPPs with their duties. These officers collectively make up the Office of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.<ref>[https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/90l10 ''Legislative Assembly Act'', R.S.O. 1990, c. L.10]; Ontario, Legislature, Legislative Assembly, [https://www.ola.org/en/legislative-business/standing-orders ''Standing Orders''] (Toronto: Clerk of the Legislative Assembly, 2020), ISSN 1183-9376.</ref><ref name="McNaught">{{cite web |last1=McNaught |first1=Andrew |title=The Offices and Commissions of the Legislative Assembly |url=http://www.ontla.on.ca/library/c161tx.htm |website=Ontario Legislative Library |publisher=Office of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario |access-date=September 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010222083401/http://www.ontla.on.ca/library/c161tx.htm#2. |archive-date=February 22, 2001 |date=2000}}</ref> The Office of the Assembly consists of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker as well as the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly, [[Sergeant-at-Arms]], executive director of Administrative Services, and executive director of Legislative Library, Research and Information Services. 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, responsible for administering the legislature and advising MPPs on questions of procedure or interpretation of the rules and practices of the House. The Sergeant-at-Arms keeps order during meetings in the legislature, is charged with control of the [[ceremonial mace]] in the legislature, and is responsible for security in the House and the Legislative Precinct.
=== Independent offices protecting certain public interests ===
Additional officers of the Legislative Assembly were created to protect certain public interests, these officers are appointed by unanimous votes of the legislature and report to the legislature through the Speaker rather than to the provincial government.<ref name="McNaught" /> These officers include the [[Auditor General of Ontario|Auditor General]], [[Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario|Information and Privacy Commissioner]], [[Office of the Integrity Commissioner (Ontario)|Integrity Commissioner]], [[Elections Ontario|Chief Electoral Officer]], [[Ontario Ombudsman]], and [[Poet Laureate of Ontario]].<ref>[https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/19p16 S.O. 2019, c. 16].</ref>
==Symbols==
===Coat of arms===
{{see also|Coat of arms of Ontario#Legislative Assembly variant}}
The Legislative Assembly of Ontario is the first and only legislature in Canada to have a [[coat of arms]] separate from the provincial arms.<ref name="Coat of arms">{{cite web |url=https://www.ola.org/en/visit-learn/about-parliament/history-heritage/timeline/legislative-assembly-ontario-coat-arms |title=Coat of arms |work=Legislative Assembly of Ontario |accessdate=March 25, 2023}}</ref> Green and gold are the principal colours, as in the [[coat of arms of Ontario]]. A mace is the traditional symbol of the authority of the Speaker. Shown on the left is the current mace, while 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.<ref name=CHA>{{cite web |url=https://www.gg.ca/en/heraldry/public-register/project/1607 |title=Arms of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario |work=Public Register of Arms, Flags and Badges of Canada |publisher=Official website of the Governor General |accessdate=March 25, 2023}}</ref>
The [[coronet]] on the wreath represents national and provincial loyalties, while its rim is studded with the provincial gemstone, the [[amethyst]]. The [[griffin]], an ancient symbol of justice and equity, holds a [[Ceremonial pipe|calumet]], which symbolizes the meeting of spirit and discussion that Ontario's First Nations believe accompanies the use of the pipe.<ref name="ONTLA">{{cite web |url=http://speaker.ontla.on.ca/en/at-the-assembly/the-coat-of-arms/ |title=The Coat of Arms |publisher=Ontario Legislative Assembly |accessdate=March 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170605070436/http://speaker.ontla.on.ca/en/at-the-assembly/the-coat-of-arms/ |archive-date=June 5, 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
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.<ref name="ONTLA"/>
In the base, the maple leaves are for Canada, the trilliums for Ontario and the roses for York (now Toronto), the provincial capital.
===Mace===
[[File:First ceremonial mace of Upper Canada, used at the first meetings of Parliament in Newark, starting in 1792 - Ontario Legislative Building, Toronto, Canada - DSC00288.jpg|thumb|upright|left|The first mace used by the [[Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada|Upper Canadian Legislature]].]]
The [[ceremonial mace]] of the Legislature is the fourth mace to be used in [[Upper Canada]] or Ontario. It acts as a symbol, representing the authority of the [[Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario]] to oversee the proceedings of the assembly.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ola.org/en/photo/mace|title=The Mace|publisher=Legislative Assembly of Ontario|date=June 23, 2019}}</ref>
The first mace was used by the Chamber of Upper Canada's first Parliament in 1792 at Newark (now [[Niagara-on-the-Lake]]) and then moved to [[York, Upper Canada|York]] (now [[Toronto]]).<ref name=OntLA>{{Cite web|url=http://speaker.ontla.on.ca/en/at-the-assembly/the-mace/|title=The Mace|website=speaker.ontla.on.ca|access-date=May 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170613091445/http://speaker.ontla.on.ca/en/at-the-assembly/the-mace/|archive-date=June 13, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> The primitive wooden mace was painted red and gilt, and surmounted by a crown of thin brass strips. It was stolen by American troops as a Prize of War in 1813 at the [[Battle of York]] during the [[War of 1812]]. The mace was subsequently stored at the [[United States Naval Academy]] in [[Annapolis, Maryland]]. It remained in the United States until 1934, when it was returned to Ontario after President [[Franklin Roosevelt]] sent an order to Congress to return the mace.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=14862|title=Franklin D. Roosevelt: Message to Congress Requesting Authority to Return a Mace to Canada.|website=www.presidency.ucsb.edu|access-date=September 28, 2016}}</ref> It was initially kept at the [[Royal Ontario Museum]] for a time, and it is now located in the Main Lobby of the [[Ontario Legislative Building]].<ref name=OntLA/>
A second mace was introduced in 1813 and used until 1841.
The third mace was not purchased until 1845. In 1849, it was stolen by a riotous mob in Montreal, apparently intent upon destroying it in a public demonstration. However, it was rescued and returned to the Speaker, Sir Allan Macnab, the next day. Later, in 1854, the mace was twice rescued when the Parliament Buildings in Quebec were ravaged by fire. The mace continued to be used by the [[Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada|Union Parliament]] in Toronto and Quebec until Confederation in 1867, when it was taken to the [[Parliament of Canada]] in Ottawa, where it remained in the House of Commons until 1916. When the Parliament Buildings were gutted by fire during that year, the mace could not be saved from Centre Block. All that remained was a tiny ball of silver and gold conglomerate.<ref name=OntLA/>
[[File:Ceremonial mace, made in 1867 - Ontario Legislative Building, Toronto, Canada - DSC00276.jpg|thumb|upright|The fourth, and current, mace used by the Legislature.]]
The current mace used in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario was acquired in 1867, after [[Canadian Confederation|Confederation]]. It was provided by Charles E. Zollikofer of Ottawa for $200. The four-foot mace is made of copper and richly gilded, a flattened ball at the butt end. Initially, the head of the mace bore the crown of Queen Victoria and in a cup with her [[royal cypher]], V.R. When she was succeeded by Edward VII in 1901, her crown and cup were removed and a new one bearing Edward's cypher on the cup was installed. Eventually, it was replaced with the current cup, which is adorned in gleaming brass leaves.<ref name=OntLA/>
Through some careful detective work on the part of Legislative Assembly staff, the original cup with Queen Victoria's cypher was recently{{When|date=November 2021}} found in the [[Royal Ontario Museum]]’s collection and returned to the Legislature. It is now on display in the [[Ontario Legislative Building]].<ref name=OntLA/>
In 2009, two diamonds were installed in the mace. The diamonds were a gift to the people of Ontario from De Beers Canada to mark the opening of the Victor Mine near Attawapiskat in northern Ontario. Three diamonds were selected from the first run of the mine. Two stones, one rough and one polished, were set in platinum in the crown of the mace while the third stone, also polished, was put on exhibit in the lobby of the Legislative Building as part of a display about the history of the mace.<ref name=OntLA/>
==Party standings==
Elections to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario occurred on June 2, 2022, as a result of which the [[Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario]], led by [[Doug Ford]], was re-elected as His Majesty's [[majority government|Government]] of Ontario.
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan=2 colspan=2 | Affiliation
! rowspan=2 | Party<br />leader
! rowspan=2 | Status
! colspan=2 | Seats
|-
| [[2022 Ontario general election|2022 election]]
! Current
{{Canadian party colour|ON|PC|row-name}}
| [[Doug Ford]]
| Government
| 83
| 78
{{Canadian party colour|ON|NDP|row-name}}
| [[Marit Stiles]]
| Official Opposition
| 31
| 28
{{Canadian party colour|ON|Liberal|row-name}}
| [[Bonnie Crombie]]
| No party status
| 8
| 9
|-
{{Canadian party colour|ON|Green|row-name}}
| [[Mike Schreiner]]
| No party status
| 1
| 2
|-
{{Canadian party colour|ON|Independent|row-name}}
| N/A
| No party status
| 1
| 6
|-
! colspan=4 style="text-align:left;" | Total
! colspan=2 | 124
|-
! colspan=4 style="text-align:left;" | Government Majority
! 42
! 37
|}
===Seating plan===
<!-- {{Ontlaseating}} -->
[[File:Interior Ontario Legislative Assembly Toronto 2010.jpg|thumb|The seating chamber for the Legislative Assembly features individual chairs and desks for its members.]]
The seating chamber is similar in layout to that of the [[British House of Commons]] and the original St. Stephen's Chapel in the [[Palace of Westminster]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/building/palace/estatehistory/reformation-1834/shaping-the-commons-/|title=The Commons Chamber in the 16th Century|website=UK Parliament|access-date=September 28, 2016}}</ref> The Parliament of Ontario, however, may be easily distinguished from this model by its use of individual chairs and tables for members, absent in the British Commons' design.
The legislature's former host building and site, home to the Upper Canada and Union Houses, once boasted of a similar layout.
Last update: February 20, 2024<ref>{{cite web |title=Legislative Assembly of Ontario Seating Plan |url=https://www.ola.org/sites/default/files/common/pdf/chamber-seating-plan-feb-20-en.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240302224620/https://www.ola.org/sites/default/files/common/pdf/chamber-seating-plan-feb-20-en.pdf |archive-date=2024-03-02 |publisher=Legislative Assembly of Ontario |date=February 20, 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref>
{{43rd Parliament of Ontario Seating plan}}
''Note: Bold text designates the party leader. ''
===Membership changes===
{{#section:43rd Parliament of Ontario|Membership changes}}
==List of members==
{{#section:43rd Parliament of Ontario|List of members}}
==Officeholders==
===Speaker===
* [[Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario]]: [[Ted Arnott]] ([[Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario|Progressive Conservative]])
**Deputy Speaker (Government): [[Donna Skelly]] (Progressive Conservative)
**Deputy Speakers (Mixed-Party): [[Bhutila Karpoche]] ([[Ontario New Democratic Party|New Democratic]]), [[Patrice Barnes]] (Progressive Conservative), [[Lucille Collard]] ([[Ontario Liberal Party|Liberal]])
===Leaders===
* [[Premier of Ontario]]: [[Doug Ford Jr.|Doug Ford]] ([[Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario|Progressive Conservative]])
* [[Leader of the Opposition (Ontario)|Leader of the Opposition]]: [[Marit Stiles]] ([[Ontario New Democratic Party|New Democratic]])
* Leader of the [[Ontario Liberal Party|Liberal Party]]:  [[Bonnie Crombie]]
* Leader of the [[Green Party of Ontario|Green Party]]: [[Mike Schreiner]]
===Floor leaders===
* Government House Leader: [[Paul Calandra]] ([[Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario|Progressive Conservative]])
* Opposition House Leader: [[John Vanthof]] ([[Ontario New Democratic Party|NDP]])
===Whips===
* Chief Government Whip: [[Ross Romano]] (Progressive Conservative)
* Official Opposition Whip: [[Peggy Sattler]] (NDP)
===Front benches===
* [[Executive Council of Ontario]]
* [[Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet of the 43rd Legislative Assembly of Ontario]]
==Committees==
There are two forms that committees can take. The first, [[standing committee]]s, are struck for the duration of the Parliament pursuant to Standing Orders. The second, [[select committee (parliamentary system)|select committee]]s, 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===
{{main|Standing committee (Canada)}}
<blockquote>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.<ref name="cmte"/></blockquote>
==== Standing Committees in the current Parliament ====
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
* Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs
* Standing Committee on Government Agencies
* Standing Committee on Heritage, Infrastructure and Cultural Policy
* Standing Committee on the Interior
{{col-2}}
* Standing Committee on Justice Policy
* Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs
* Standing Committee on Public Accounts
* Standing Committee on Social Policy
{{col-end}}
===Select committees===
<blockquote>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.<ref name="cmte">[http://www.ontla.on.ca/web/go2.jsp?Page=/site-resources/supporting-content/files/glossary&menuItem=home&locale=en#P207_16952 Legislative Assembly of Ontario: Glossary] retrieved 10 February 2010</ref></blockquote>
==== Select Committees in the 39th Parliament ====
*The '''Select Committee on Elections''' completed its work on June 30, 2009.
*The '''Select Committee on Mental Health and Addictions''' completed its work on August 26, 2010.
*The '''Select Committee on the proposed transaction of the TMX Group and the London Stock Exchange Group''' completed its work on April 19, 2011.
==See also==
* [[List of Ontario general elections]]
* [[List of Ontario Legislative Assemblies]]
* [[List of political parties in Ontario]]
* [[Office of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario]]
== Notes ==
{{notelist}}
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
== External links ==
*[https://www.youtube.com/user/OntarioLegislature/videos Official YouTube channel Ontario Legislative Assembly]
*[https://www.ola.org/ Legislative Assembly of Ontario] official website
*[https://www.ola.org/en/speaker Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario]
*[http://etatscanadiens-canadiangovernments.enap.ca/fr/index.aspx Canadian Governments Compared]
{{Clear}}
{{Ontario Legislative Assemblies}}
{{Canadian Legislative Bodies}}
{{Ontario politics}}
[[Category:Legislative Assembly of Ontario| ]]
[[Category:Legislatures of Canadian provinces and territories|Ontario]]
[[Category:1867 establishments in Ontario]]
[[Category:Unicameral legislatures|Ontario]]