Ontario’s members of provincial parliament were back at Queen’s Park on March 23 for a new session of Ontario’s legislature, and Niagara Falls MPP Wayne Gates, who represents Niagara-on-the-Lake, says there is plenty to tackle.
Gates, a New Democratic Party member, said it is difficult to know what the government will bring forward. Unlike the previous Liberal government, which he served under from 2014 to 2018, he said the Progressive Conservatives do not provide advance notice of legislation.
“They don’t tell us until the day they’re actually tabling the bill, in most cases,” he said. “Which is totally unfair to the opposition. … That’s not how it was ever done before.”
He expects the provincial budget to pass Thursday, calling it one of the first orders of business this session. He also anticipates changes to the Ontario Student Assistance Program, including a shift toward loans over grants and an end to the tuition freeze.
Gates said he does not know when the government will introduce legislation on amalgamation or other governance reforms, but believes it will.
“I don’t know when they’re going to do changes to Niagara … but he’ll bring that forward in a bill,” he said.
This will be the first sitting at Queen’s Park since December. The legislature is scheduled to sit for eight weeks, following a pattern of two weeks on and one week off heading into summer.
The legislature sat only 51 days in 2025, something Gates criticized.
“I think it’s ridiculous and shameful how little we have sat since the last election,” he said. “It’s a disservice quite frankly to the residents of NOTL … we deserve better.”
He said fewer sitting days limit his ability to hold the government accountable.
“If the provincial parliament is not sitting in Queen’s Park, it means I can’t ask questions of people high up in the government, which means my job is compromised,” he said. “They can appoint people like Bob Gale to agencies, and I can’t ask questions.”
Not everyone shares that view.
Coun. Erwin Wiens, who describes himself as having conservative views but wanting to work with any provincial government, said he prefers a collaborative approach.
“I don’t want to be critical of the government, I want to partner with them,” he said. “You get more bees with honey than you do with oil.”
Wiens said the legislature has sat as much as needed, adding he is not in a position to judge the exact number of days. He also said having provincial officials active in communities like NOTL is beneficial.
“That has been a real benefit to the town,” he said.
He identified health care as a top provincial priority for the town.
“The biggest day-to-day issue provincially is the health care that affects our residents,” he said.
Wiens also pointed to infrastructure, policing, education, wastewater and agriculture as key concerns. He said farmers are struggling with rising costs, including fuel, and supports a rebate to offset high diesel prices.
“With the price of diesel, with the price of everything going on, our farmers now are struggling with being able to get affordable food on the table,” he said.
He added he hopes the province will assist the town with heritage matters, including extending needed designations.
Wiens said he think him and Gates agree on some aspects of Destination Niagara, like the Niagara District Airport. Gates welcomed the recent Air Canada bus announcement connecting the airport to Toronto Pearson Airport, but said residents should be consulted about the airport’s impacts.
Both also support the Shaw Festival, with Gates adding support for museums.
They differ, however, on wastewater policy. Proposed provincial legislation would allow the creation of new public corporations for water and wastewater services.
Wiens said a municipal corporation could be viable, pointing to NOTL Hydro as an example. Gates, citing the partial privatization of Hydro One, said the move could open the door to privatization.
On governance and amalgamation, Wiens supports keeping 12 municipalities while reforming the regional structure.
“Every day is budget day,” he said, adding there are always ways to find savings.
Despite his criticisms, Gates said he has worked with the government on several initiatives, including a new hospital, expanded GO Train service — though he said more is needed — a $35-million grant for the Shaw Festival, hiring nurse practitioners and funding for MRI operations.
He said he remains focused on his role as an opposition MPP.
“When I feel the government is pushing something I think is wrong, I’m going to stand up and speak up on behalf of the residents,” he said.
