Ontario legislature adjourns for two-month winter break

Dec 9 2020, 2:28 pm

The Ontario legislature has adjourned for the winter break, returning in February 2021.

The motion was moved by Government House Leader Paul Calandra on Tuesday night.

“Our response to this pandemic was unique among governments in the country as we acted swiftly to ensure the continuity of essential government operations throughout the pandemic,” said Calandra in a statement.

“Without innovative COVID-19 measures at the Legislature, our government could not have been as effective in its response to this once-in-a-generation public health challenge.”

In the release, the provincial government said they had a “successful fall session” listing a number of achievements including the passage of 36 bills and the introduction of a new budget.

But Official Opposition Leader Andrew Horwath questioned why the legislature is adjourning during the height of the second COVID-19 wave.

“Ford is calling it quits at the height of the pandemic. MPPs should be staying at the legislature and working to use the $12 billion in COVID funding Doug Ford has been withholding from the people of Ontario. We can do so much more to stop the spread, and save lives – from paid sick days to supports for small businesses and a plan to hire thousands of staff in long-term care,” she said in a statement.

“Giving up, going home, and waiting for a vaccine is not a good second-wave plan.”

Ontario reported record-high numbers on Monday with 1,925 cases and the first batch of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is set to arrive in Canada next week, pending Health Canada approval.

Clarrie FeinsteinClarrie Feinstein

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