Ontario legislature holds rare midnight sitting

The Ontario government recalled legislature for a rare midnight sitting in hopes of speeding up the passing of a controversial bill to cut Toronto’s city council nearly in half.

An earlier version of the bill was struck down by an Ontario judge last week, prompting Premier Doug Ford to invoke the notwithstanding clause to override the ruling and reintroduce legislature.

The bill was debated at a rare weekend sitting at Queen’s Park on Saturday where Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, granted the government’s request to reconvene the house at 12:01 a.m. Monday to continue the debate.

Protesters gathered inside Queen’s Park during legislature, heckling the Progressive Conservative’s with chants of “shame, shame.” The Speaker cleared the public galleries prompting those who had lined up to watch the overnight debate to continue voicing their concerns outside shouting “Let us in!” and “Our city, not Ford’s.”

Protesters eventually lined the walls outside Queen’s Park, banging and using noisemakers in an effort to drown out the Premier as he spoke around 6 a.m.

There won’t be further debate regarding Bill 31 on Tuesday. Queen’s Park closes every year to watch the International Plowing Match, this year in Chatham-Kent.

Protesters outside of QP banging on the walls, shouting and using noisemakers in an attempt to drown out @fordnation who is currently speaking inside the legislature. @morninglive pic.twitter.com/iY5Vw1sqTp

— Diana Weeks (@dweeks_CHCHnews) September 17, 2018

Shortly after 7 a.m., the crowd of protesters began to dwindle.

Group has now moved to the front entrance, amount of protesters continues to dwindle in size. @morninglive pic.twitter.com/8gfRCuhsGO

— Diana Weeks (@dweeks_CHCHnews) September 17, 2018