The What's happening page on ola.org has been updated with new navigational elements. This page shares news and articles on available legislative resources, upcoming events and tours, newly released videos, and more in an updated, accessible design.
What's new
The page has been organized into different sections. From the Explore section, you will find a link to the recently redesigned Video page that provides access to our broadcasts and a variety of video series that offer a deeper look into Ontario’s Legislature.
You will also find a link to the new Experience the Legislature page where you can book tours and get more information on events.
Under Recent articles, you will find previously shared articles ordered by date. Articles that link to pages with videos are now identified with Live or Watch badges.
Visit What's happening to find information on resources, featured events, and other happenings at Queen's Park.
By-elections have been called for the ridings of Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, Scarborough Southwest, and York—Simcoe. All three by-elections are set to take place on September 3, 2026.
A by-election is an election that happens in a single electoral district between general elections. By-elections occur when a seat in the Legislative Assembly is left vacant, typically by the resignation or death of an MPP. More than one by-election may be held at the same time.
How does a by-election work?
By-elections follow the same processes as regular elections. The Premier decides on the date of the by-election(s) and advises the Lieutenant Governor. The Lieutenant Governor then signs the writ(s) of election, which officially launches the by-election(s). Anyone who wants to be a candidate must register with Elections Ontario to be included on the ballot. Most candidates are nominated by a political party, but some may run as independents. On election day, the candidate who receives the most votes from registered voters becomes the constituency’s new MPP.
MPPs meet regularly in the Chamber to debate and vote on proposed legislation and other business. However, there are times, such as now, when the House is adjourned, meaning that the Legislative Assembly of Ontario is not actively meeting. During an adjournment, business outside of the Chamber continues.
MPP working outside of the Chamber
Committee meetings
Many MPPs are members of legislative committees. Committees may continue to meet when the House is adjourned to discuss bills or other specific issues that the House has asked them to review. They may hold public hearings at the Legislative Building and across the province. Check the weekly notice to see upcoming meetings.
Constituency responsibilities
When not at the Legislature, MPPs spend time in their constituencies. They’ll attend local events and meet with their constituents to learn about their needs and hear their concerns.
Ministerial roles
Some MPPs also have ministerial roles. MPPs belonging to the government’s party might be cabinet ministers or parliamentary assistants. During an adjournment, ministers continue to oversee their ministries and Cabinet may meet.
Office of the Assembly work
The Office of the Assembly provides non-partisan support to MPPs and manages the day-to-day operations of the Legislative Assembly. Visit Offices, divisions, and branches to learn more about different branches that make up the Office of the Assembly.
Tours and programs
During an adjournment, the work of the Office of the Assembly continues, and the Legislative Building remains open to the public. The Legislative Assembly offers a variety of guided tours, education programs, and events year-round. Explore our different tours and programs.
A redesigned video page is now available on ola.org. This page offers quick and accessible access to broadcasts from the Legislative Building and a variety of video series that offer a deeper look into Ontario’s Legislature.
Get an inside look at some changes to the traditional Speaker's attire.
Video transcript
Duration: 5:55
Amanda Cupido: Ontario's parliamentary fashion is rooted in Britain's Westminster parliamentary tradition, but what those traditions did not take into account is what would happen if a woman became the Speaker of the House. In April 2025, Ontario's Legislature selected Donna Skelly as the province's first female Speaker.
The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): I am so honoured and I feel so privileged that you put your trust in me.
Amanda Cupido: And since then, she's been shaking things up.
The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Well, I would say some of my colleagues say it's drinking from a fire hose, but we definitely hit the ground running. We've made a lot of changes in less than a year. Most people are embracing it. It's brought a different perspective to the building and to the role of Speaker. And I'm not going to stop.
Amanda Cupido: She's revitalized the Amethyst Room, gotten more art on display, and launched the Speaker's Series that lifts different voices from across Ontario. But one of the most historic changes has been to the Speaker's uniform. She went from wearing the classic robe to a tailored suit modeled after the 17th century outfit of the Scottish prince, Charles Edward Stewart.
The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): It's such an honour to be able to wear it, and I feel different in it as well. I feel very proud that I'm able to, as the first woman, be able to wear this particular jacket and outfit. We can't shy away from asking for minor adjustments simply because we're women. We aren't men. Our bodies are different, we work differently.And these were just minor, but they made such a difference in the way I feel and the way I'm able to do my job.
Amanda Cupido: She explains that this stems from her background in journalism, where what she wore as a news anchor acted as a tool for credibility and professionalism.
The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Your style was always a priority throughout my career, and I think that's carried on into this job. I mean, you are in many ways representing the province, and I think it's important to respect that and also embrace it and allow people to be proud of the person who is representing their province, but also this Assembly. So I take it fairly seriously. And that's one of the reasons why I wanted to work Shafiq to ensure that we had something that was fitting of the role of Speaker.
Hello. Come on in.
Amanda Cupido: Shafiq Beig is the head tailor at Harcourts, which is the official uniform supplier for all the provincial parliaments across Canada. He's been working there since 1989.
Shafiq Beig: I just take the measurements and then I make sure that they don't feel that they have a uniform on their shoulder. They should be happy to wear those items. I made, quietly, several changes in several other uniform but she has the courage to speak out because she is the first female Speaker to talk about why a female cannot have a proper uniform designed for her.
Amanda Cupido: So Shafiq got to work. He dug into the archives and pulled inspiration from all different places, including the back of his warehouse.
Shafiq Beig: I had a sample hidden somewhere which was called Bonnie Prince Charlie Jacket. It was a very old jacket, collecting dust. So I cleaned it. And I said "Would you be interested if I create something similar to this?" And she said, "This is what I'm looking for. It is not huge, it's not bulky." So I have feminized the whole jacket. But then I see this moment of history being created.
The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): It's so beautiful. It is such a beautiful, beautiful jacket. And Shafiq and I designed the pants.
We went through magazines and looked at some, some ideas, got some ideas. And so you'll see the pant has bit of a flare and a slit out the back. And we're going to have one and two buttons.
Amanda Cupido: But putting a slit in pants is not as easy as it seems.
Shafiq Beig: I thought, I'm going to destroy the garment. If I cut it at the bottom, if she doesn't like it, then I have to redo the whole thing. So I played very cleverly. I did not cut the slit. I hemmed the trousers and asked her to put it on, she tried it on, then I took a pair of scissors and slit it. How much do you want it? And exactly, I got the height of her heel and the way she wanted it to be.
So you have to be very clever to be an artist. Not simply a skilled person. It was, every bit of it, I love it. I was nervous, but I got over this nervousness because I never feel defeated. First time in my life, I said, I'm afraid because I go by the book. Life is so easy. You turn the pages, take their specification and follow it, and nobody objected any time.
Amanda Cupido: The book he's talking about is a style guide from 1920 that outlines all the measurements and rules for the Westminster Parliamentary Dress Code. It covers all ceremonial uniforms for the Commonwealth countries, and he's been following it for decades. Needless to say, none of this was in the book.
Shafiq Beig: I am the person who go by the book for my entire life, but it's the time to rewrite the book. Rewrite another chapter.
Amanda Cupido: Shafiq highlights some of the notable elements in the new uniform, including the pure wool, the crispy trim, and the defined lines.
Shafiq Beig: Every stitch you can see the love of an artist. This is my reputation. I work for this day for my entire life. I cannot fail. So finally, I was able to put together...I brought some new trimmings and I have to drop some old trimmings, but it turned out one of the most beautiful pieces of art.
Amanda Cupido: For the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, I'm Amanda Cupido.
Get an inside look at how bills become laws in Ontario.
Video transcript
Duration: 6:35
Amanda Cupido: From the moment you wake up, to the moment you go to sleep, you can see the impact of Ontario's laws. They show up as license plates on cars, hospitals filled with doctors, and the provincial parks we enjoy. They protect our rights at work, in school, and in our communities. But have you ever wondered, "Where do these laws come from? Who decides what becomes a law? And how does it all happen?"
Hi, I'm Amanda Cupido and I'm going to give you a behind-the-scenes look at where it all begins—with a bill—and explain how a bill becomes a law in Ontario. But first let's tackle "What is a bill?"
A bill is a proposed law that is introduced to the Legislative Assembly for consideration by a member of provincial Parliament (or MPP). It may be a proposal to make new laws or change existing laws. Now, bills can be public or private. Private bills originate with a municipality, company, or individual, and mostly helps a particular person or group get an exemption from the general law. We're not going to focus on these kinds of bills.
Let's talk more about public bills. There are three types: private member's public bills, committee bills, and government bills. Private member's public bills are introduced by members who are not ministers. Committee bills are introduced by the Chairs of certain standing committees, but there hasn't been one of those in over 20 years. Government bills are introduced by cabinet ministers. These tend to get the most amount of public attention and can be about spending public money or creating a tax.
So, let's focus on government bills for the rest of this video. First, let's take a peek at what they look like. There are five main elements:
the crest of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
the bill number
the long title
the sponsor
and reading and royal assent dates
Now, those dates are important. They indicate when the bill passed through all the stages of the legislative process. This process is essentially what makes it an Ontario law. But not every bill becomes a law.
Let's break down the steps for the ones that do. The first step is introduction and first reading.
Joanne McNair is a table research clerk here at the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, and she explains what this entails.
Joanne McNair: Introduction and first reading of a bill is the means by which the bill comes before the House so that the House can consider it. So any member who wants to present a bill does so during one of two proceedings. They rise in their place and ask the House for permission to bring forward the bill and that it be given first reading.
Hon. Andrea Khanjin: Thank you, Speaker. I move that leave be given to introduce a bill entitled An Act to amend various Acts, and that is now be read for the first time.
The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): Ms. Khanjin has moved that leave be given to introduce a bill entitled An Act to amend various Acts and that it now be read for the first time.
Joanne McNair: There is no debate at this stage. Once a bill has received first reading, if the House agrees to that, it is printed and distributed and also published on the website so that the public can see what the bill is all about.
Amanda Cupido: The next step is second reading.
The Deputy Clerk (Ms. Valerie Quioc Lim): Order G30, second reading of Bill 30, An Act to amend various statutes with respect to employment and labour and other matters.
Joanne McNair: The second reading debate is supposed to focus primarily on what we call the purpose of the bill, which is like the big idea behind the bill. Why do we need this law? What will this law accomplish? How will it work when it's passed? It's not meant to look at the very specific details of the bill. That comes later on in the process. Various bills get different types of debate in terms of length.
Amanda Cupido: This is the stage that gets the most debate. And, for government bills, it's usually at least six and a half hours. Then it's time for the bill to be considered by a committee where the specific details are discussed.
Joanne McNair: The committee can call witnesses, which can include experts in the field that the bill touches on. It can include interest groups who might be supportive or oppose the bill. Members of the general public who just want to have their say on the bill. And then once that process is done, once they've heard from all their witnesses, the committee begins what we call "clause-by-clause consideration."
Amanda Cupido: That means they go through line by line and vote on each section individually.
Joanne McNair: Members of the committee can propose amendments to the bill to try to improve it in some way.
Amanda Cupido: Once completed, the committee reports the bill back to the House. The House will then decide if it accepts the committee report and—spoiler—they usually do. Next, it's ordered for third reading.
Joanne McNair: This is the opportunity for members to have a final say on the bill in its final form, because we can't make any more amendments at this stage. Amendments happen only in committee.
The Clerk-at-the-Table (Ms. Julia Douglas): Order G60, resuming the debate adjourned earlier today on the third reading of Bill 60, An Act to amend various Acts and to enact the Water and Wastewater Public Corporations Act 2025.
Amanda Cupido: This stage tends to be short, and occasionally there's not even any debate. Basically, if a bill receives its third reading, it's considered passed by the House, but it is still not a law.
Joanne McNair: For a bill to become an actual law, it needs the agreement of the crown, what we call "royal assent," and the crown in Ontario is represented by the lieutenant governor.
The Speaker (Hon. Donna Skelly): May it please your honor, the Legislative Assembly of the province has at its present meeting thereof, passed certain bills to which in the name and on behalf of the said Legislative Assembly, I respectfully request Your Honour's assent.
Joanne McNair: All bills that are passed by the House that have received third reading are presented to the lieutenant governor, who signs them in the sovereign's name. And that act is what makes the bill a law, or an Act of Parliament, and it becomes part of the public body of law, or the statutes of the province.
The Clerk of the Assembly (Mr. Trevor Day): In His Majesty's name, the Honourable Lieutenant Governor assents to these bills.
Amanda Cupido: Royal assent usually happens in the House or the Lieutenant Governor's suite. Once the bill has received royal assent, it is officially a law.
If you want to learn more about Ontario's bills, visit ola.org and select the Legislative Business tab.
For the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, I'm Amanda Cupido.
Many people visit the Legislative Assembly of Ontario’s website to learn about current MPPs. But the website also has information about past MPPs that can be useful for research or personal interest.
Visit All MPPs to see MPPs dating back to Ontario’s 1st Parliament in 1867. You can find MPPs listed by Parliament or you can select a letter to view them by last name.
If you want to learn more about a particular MPP, select their name to go to their profile page. On this page, you can see an MPP’s riding representation, parliamentary career details, and party affiliation(s).
MPPs who have passed away have an “In memoriam” section on their profile pages showing the member’s birth and death dates. If there have been any tributes in the House for the MPP since they have passed, you will also see a link to the Hansard transcript of the tribute. The In memoriam page lists MPPs who have passed away dating back to 2001.
To view members from past Parliaments in action, check out Question Period Rewind. This segment shows archived Question Periods starting from 1986 and can be seen weekdays at 11a.m. on ONT.PARL, the Parlance app, or on our video page.
This article was originally published on May 15, 2024, and was updated on May 15, 2026.
Ontario’s Legislative Building will join over 160 sites for Doors Open Toronto 2026 (opens another site) on May 23 and 24. The building will be open for a walk-through from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days, with staff available to provide interpretation and answer questions. The last entry will be at 4 p.m. to allow plenty of time to view the building before closing. No registration required.
Explore the building
Don't miss a unique opportunity to stroll the halls of democracy at Ontario's Legislative Building - the place where the province's laws are made. Stand on the floor of the Chamber—meeting place of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario since 1893—and marvel at the building's architecture, originally created by British-born architect Richard Waite, with later work by Toronto architects E. J. Lennox (Casa Loma, Old City Hall) and George Gouinlock (Canadian National Exhibition). A beautifully hand-crafted wooden and cast-iron interior contrasts with a sandstone exterior decorated with dramatic and whimsical carvings and Italian-inspired Romanesque styling.
Outside on the grounds, engage in a scavenger hunt aimed at kids, but guaranteed to be fun for the whole family.
Plan your visit
Visitors must enter through the visitors' entrance on the south side of the building, just west of the three centre archways for airport-style security check. Find more information on our website under Plan your visit.
The Legislative Assembly of Ontario has released a new Experience the Legislature page on ola.org to help plan your next visit. This page provides information about upcoming tours and events and presents it in a fresh, accessible design.
The page includes information about daily tours and weekly events scheduled for the season. There are also featured and special events offered only a few times or sometimes only once a year.
All categories include links to individual tour and event pages for details and to allow easy online sharing. You can also book your tour from these pages, if registration is required.
Tours and events will be added to Experience the Legislature as they are scheduled, and details will be added as they are confirmed.
The page also includes contact information and links to videos about the Legislative Building and grounds to watch at any time.
The Legislative Building is a top destination for Ontario products.
Members of the public can request a reservation at the In Camera Dining Room, the Legislative Assembly’s restaurant, to enjoy a delicious meal made with local produce, meats, and cheeses. The dining room has earned a Feast On (opens another site) certification for featuring food that is grown, raised, or sourced in Ontario. For a more casual setting, visit the cafeteria-style Quorum Café, which also features local ingredients.
Visit the Legislative Assembly of Ontario Gift Shop in the lobby for more Ontario-made products, including jewellery, food items, books, and more. If you can’t visit in person, you can view the online gift shop (opens another site).
For unique handmade goods, come to the building on November 21 and 22 to attend the Artisan Market. This market is a great opportunity to find unique gifts or something for yourself while supporting local artisans. Details will be available on our website this fall.
