The Liberal government delivered its speech from the Throne on Sept. 12, after Premier Kathleen Wynne prorogued the Legislature on Sept. 8. The speech was delivered by Lieutenant Governor of Ontario Elizabeth Dowdeswell and focused mainly on the economy, child care and education, electricity rebates and business development. Mention of health care issues focused on primary care investments but did not make any direct mention of mental health initiatives or improvements. This prorogation will mean that all bills that were before the legislature will have to be reintroduced. This will include the Patients First: Action Plan for Health Care legislation, which just passed first reading in June 2016. Other bills affecting persons with disabilities that will need to be reintroduced include: the Service Dogs for Persons with Disabilities Act, the Promoting Affordable Housing Act, and the Maternal Mental Health Awareness Day Act.
For more information on the Speech from the Throne, visit the Government of Ontario website.