Tory MPP’s bid to be speaker could give Liberals virtual majority
Posted October 26, 2011 8:02 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A Tory MPP’s bid to be the Speaker of the Ontario legislature gives the Liberals hope for a virtual majority.
Frank Klees, re-elected to the riding of Newmarket-Aurora on Oct. 6, announced Tuesday he will run for the position of Speaker.
If he were to win, he would give up his seat, and the Progressive Conservatives and the NDP together would have the same number of seats as the Liberals – 53.
When votes at Queen’s Park come to a tie, the Speaker traditionally supports the government.
PC Leader Tim Hudak, who beat Klees in the 2009 Tory leadership race, says the MPP turned down two key critic portfolios offered to him.
The MPP says his decision doesn’t mean he disapproves of Hudak.
With files from The Canadian Press
