TORONTO - Premier Doug Ford's government reconvenes at Queen's Park on Monday for a seven-week session that is expected to be both brief and intense. Opposition parties have expressed concerns that this pattern is becoming a troubling trend in governance. The Ontario legislature will meet for the first time in 137 days, amid ongoing challenges such as a trade war with the United States, rising inflation, a struggling housing market, and approximately 700,000 Ontarians seeking employment.

This week, the Progressive Conservative government plans to introduce legislation to ban speed cameras. However, a promise to prohibit research testing on dogs and cats will not be fulfilled this fall. A new bill aimed at reducing red tape will also be presented, which includes labor mobility legislation. This legislation is part of agreements Ontario made with other provinces and territories to recognize each other's credentials for healthcare professionals.

Hannah Jensen, a spokesperson for Ford, stated, "In the face of so much economic uncertainty, our government is taking a hard look at the challenges that are holding us back and putting forward big and bold ideas to build an economy that is more competitive, resilient, while supporting workers, families and businesses across the province."

The government is also focusing on supporting sectors affected by U.S. policies. Jensen added that the government will promote Ontario-made products, reduce fees and taxes, and enhance internal trade and labor mobility across Canada. Additionally, there are plans to expedite infrastructure projects to create jobs and attract business investment.

Several pressing issues confront the government, including a scandal involving the province's skills development fund, which has allocated $2.5 billion to various companies for worker training. Ontario's auditor general recently criticized the fund's distribution process, stating it was "not fair, transparent or accountable." Auditor General Shelley Spence found that over half of the selected applications were rated poorly against the program's criteria. Furthermore, more than 60 lower-scoring applicants were approved after hiring lobbyists.

Labour Minister David Piccini, who has acknowledged his involvement in the fund's selection process, defended the initiative as essential for training workers in emerging fields. Another crisis involves Marineland, which has threatened to euthanize 30 belugas unless it receives taxpayer funding to sustain them until it can sell its property in Niagara Falls. Solicitor General Michael Kerzner, responsible for animal welfare, has not commented on the situation regarding the belugas, which are the last remaining captive whales in Canada.

In the mining sector, Mining and Energy Minister Stephen Lecce has launched a "one permit, one process" initiative to streamline government permitting for mining companies. This initiative is part of Bill 5, an omnibus bill passed in the spring that aims to expedite large projects, particularly in mining. However, the bill's provisions for creating "special economic zones" have faced backlash from First Nations, leading to a slowdown in the government's plans to designate the mineral-rich Ring of Fire as the first such zone.

The government has faced criticism for its approach to legislative processes, with some bills being rushed through without adequate debate or committee review. By the end of the year, the provincial parliament will have met for only 14 out of 52 weeks, raising concerns about democratic engagement. New Democrat Leader Marit Stiles remarked, "We lose public participation, we lose actual debate, we lose transparency."

Liberal parliamentary leader John Fraser echoed these sentiments, stating, "(The government is) going back into playing this game where some things don’t go to committee, or committee’s very limited, debate’s very limited and they’re going to rush bills through. That’s not good governance. That’s bad governance."

Changes are also expected among the political leadership. Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie, who announced her resignation following a disappointing leadership vote, will not be present at Queen's Park. The party has yet to announce a timeline for a leadership race. Additionally, the Conservative Party has lost a member after Chris Scott was expelled from caucus due to domestic violence charges. Scott has expressed confidence in the justice system but has not provided further comments on the allegations.

Speaker Donna Skelly has made updates to the legislature, including fresh paint and rearranged artwork, as the government prepares for the upcoming session.