The beginning of the end

Mr. Ford goes to Washington

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BILLS, BYELECTIONS, BARBECUES

It’s the final countdown.

There isn’t much left on the Order Paper when it comes to the government’s agenda, except the omnibus justice Bill 119, which is expected to hit the six-and-a-half-hour mark needed for a second-reading vote tonight or tomorrow.

But there are still some end-of-session rituals to get through before MPPs scatter for summer. That includes private bills, usually dealt with en masse, and a possible chamber visit from the Lieutenant Governor to give Royal Assent to the remaining crop of bills. That includes Bill 9, which enshrines a municipal code of conduct and allows councillors to boot bad-behaving politicians, and Bill 110, the Billy Bishop takeover legislation.

The NDP, meanwhile, has been blitzing the Clerk’s table with PMBs so they’re on the record, and NDP Leader MARIT STILES will want to land her jabs in Question Period while she still can, setting the tone for summer.

DOUG FORD and the PCs are …