Photo: Leonid Andronov
Every time when we pass through the Queen's Park in downtown Toronto, we will see the historic buildings. It is the Ontario Legislative Building. One time my friend took me to visit this Ontario Legislative Building, and I was deeply attracted by its Richardsonian Romanesque architectural style at first sight. But what are people doing in this building?
The Legislative Assembly of Ontario (OLA; French: Assemblée législative de l'Ontario) is the legislative chamber of the Canadian province of Ontario. Its elected members are known as Members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs). Bills passed by the Legislative Assembly are given royal assent by the lieutenant governor of Ontario to become law. Together, the Legislative Assembly and Lieutenant Governor make up the unicameral Legislature of Ontario or Parliament of Ontario. The assembly meets at the Ontario Legislative Building at Queen's Park in the provincial capital of Toronto.
What are responsibilities of the Provincial Government?
The provincial government is responsible for issues that affect the province such as: education, health care, direct taxation (sales tax), and provincial highways.
Members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs) are elected by the people of Ontario. Each MPP represents the people of their electoral district (riding) in the provincial parliament. There are 124 MPPs, one for each electoral district in Ontario.
The political party with the most MPPs will be asked to form the provincial government. Their leader becomes the Premier. Current Premier of Ontario is The Honourable Doug Ford. Some MPPs are asked to form the government, becoming Cabinet Ministers. A Cabinet Minister is responsible for the administration of one of the responsibilities of the provincial government, for example education and health.
MPPs work in the Legislative Chamber and building in Toronto, and in their communities.
Photo: The Legislative Assembly of Ontario
In the legislative building...
MPPs have many responsibilities.
For example, they:
• Discuss, debate, vote and pass laws
• Speak about events in their riding
• Ask questions to the government about issues and concerns in Ontario and their communities
• Read petitions from people in their riding
• Take part in committee meetings that study bills carefully before they become laws
In the riding...
MPPs work in their riding and in their communities,
where they:
• Meet with the people they represent and help solve their problems
• Go to events in their communities, such as fundraisers or community picnics
• Present awards
• Meet with interest groups in their communities
Arts in the Ontario Legislative Building
Ontario’s Legislative Building rises above the historic grounds of Queen’s Park in downtown Toronto. It took six years to build from 1886 until 1892, and was officially opened in 1893. It was designed in the Richardson Romanesque style of architecture, which typically features elements from northern Italian structures such as heavy stonework, rounded archways, domed towers, and detailed carvings. The exterior walls were made of pink sandstone quarried from the Credit Valley near Orangeville, Ontario. Large pieces of stone were brought to Queen’s Park and carved on the grounds by English stonecutters. The roof was covered in slate from Vermont, and copper was used over the roof domes.
Inside, the building featured cast iron columns and detailing, oak floors and paneling, and inner walls constructed of over 10 million bricks. The Legislative Chamber was lined with beautiful wood carvings made from mahogany and sycamore, and artist Gustav Hahn painted the walls and ceiling with murals.
Two wings branch out on either side of the centre block which houses the Legislative Chamber. Inside, original oak floors and cast iron columns in the east hall contrast with Italian marble in the interior west wing of the building. The west wing was rebuilt after a devastating fire in 1909. Toronto Architect E.J. Lennox was hired to redesign the west wing, and added an additional two floors to provide more space for government offices. A new north wing was also constructed at this time. Completed in 1913, it houses the Legislative Library – a research facility for MPPs and Legislature staff.
The East Wing of the Ontario Legislative Building Photo: The Legislative Assembly of Ontario
The West Wing of the Ontario Legislative Building Photo: The Legislative Assembly of Ontario
The North Wing of the Ontario Legislative Building Photo: The Legislative Assembly of Ontario
DO YOU KNOW:
What are the federal and provincial government responsible for?
Did you know the active and informed citizenship?
How are laws made?
What are the responsibilities of the Parliamentary figures and their roles?
Do you know grades 7 and 8 students can participate in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. How to participate the program and be selected? What are your responsibilities?
Come join our Legislative Assembly of Ontario event on July 27, 2023. You will get the answers via a series of activities and games.
Target: elementary and secondary school students and their parents (separate groups)
Including:
Visit to the Legislative Chamber
A tour of the Legislative Building
Participatory activities
Opportunity to observe a legislative debate from the public gallery if House is in session
All information are from The Legislative Assembly of Ontario.
Maple Study Link academic consultants can help students who plan to study in Canada estimate the maximum credits they can transfer, create a personalized study plan, and provide tracking services. To ensure that students can complete the Ontario secondary school courses in Canada on time, obtain the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), and progress to the ideal institutes and career.