NDP: Ford Conservatives move to shut down debate, skip public hearings on bill that would politicize judicial appointments

QUEEN’S PARK – Marit Stiles, Leader of the Official Opposition NDP is sounding the alarm on the Ford government’s latest attempt to shut down debate and committee hearings on the 2025 budget and other government legislations including a bill that would politicize judicial appointments and provide guns to special constables:

“After a massive public backlash to his power-grabbing Bill 5, Doug Ford is canceling public hearings altogether on four more government bills. His controversial bill to bring in US-style politicized courts and his massive new budget bill will not see the committee floor, and debate will be cut back to no more than an hour. What is he trying to hide?”

BACKGROUND:

• The government has tabled time allocation motions for Bills 10, 11, 13, and 24 — this will mean no further second reading debates or committee for these Bills

• Bill 10, Protect Ontario Through Safer Streets and Stronger Communities Act, 2025, calls to “streamline” judicial appointments by giving the government unchecked power to determine the criteria for the appointment of judges

• Media reports confirm that Bill 10 also seeks to arm special constables without any specific details or explanation