MPPs return to Queen’s Park amid rallies and opposition pressure

It was a busy start to the spring session for Ontario’s Members of Provincial Parliament Monday. Premier Doug Ford and his government returned to Queen’s Park after an extra long winter break.

They were met with heated questions from the opposition and the first of several rallies planned outside of the building this week.

You can find the petition from the rally mentioned in the story here.

Leading into a busy first day back at Queen’s Park, members of provincial parliament took a moment to be silent in honour of a Hamilton boy who died in December.

“In honour of the life of Max Simao, who tragically died on Dec. 11, 2025, and whose parents are visiting Queen’s Park today — agreed?,” asked Donna Skelly, the MPP for Flamborough–Glanbrook.

The brief pause was in recognition of 7-year-old Simao, who died late last year while exiting a city bus with a parent.

“I wish they didn’t have to, but we’re here now, and it meant a lot to hear our son be honoured,” said Simao’s father Chris.

Simao had autism, and his parents say he should have been in school when the accident happened, but had recently been modified to half days, as the school couldn’t provide enough support for him.

WATCH MORE: Parents of Hamilton boy with autism killed by HSR bus cite lack of school supports

That’s part of the reason Simao’s parents, Chris and Emily, made their way to Queen’s Park from Hamilton Monday — to show their support at a rally outside demanding the government for better support education, including for students with special needs.

“Enough is enough,” said Chris. “Max unfortunately wasn’t the only child to pass away because of this government’s negligence. There was unfortunately another boy up in Trenton a few years ago — it should have ended there, and well, we’re here today. It has to stop before another family has to suffer the tragedy we did.”

“I’m ashamed of this government,” said Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles. “I’m ashamed that so many of these families have had to be here for eight years fighting these fights, and that their son isn’t here today to see all of these people fighting for him and for kids like him.”

The Minister of Education responded during the question period.

Education funding will likely stay a hot topic at Queen’s Park this week, as Ford and his finance minister are set to table their budget on Thursday.

WATCH MORE: Ontario tightening FOI laws to keep premier, cabinet ministers’ records secret

Inside the legislature Monday, conversation focused on a controversial new proposal that would exempt e-mail and cell phone records of the premier, cabinet ministers, and their staff from disclosure under freedom-of-information laws.

Ford’s government says the move brings them more in line with the federal and other provincial governments.

“There are two groups that are concerned about it, it’s the opposition who should talk to their federal partners, and the media,” said Ford. “Everyone else is more concerned about other things.”

The opposition didn’t agree with him.

“We’re getting an unprecedented amount of emails, I just did a town hall last week,” said Ontario Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner. “People are asking what we are going to do to hold the government accountable. They just want a government that’s honest.”

“He’s hiding,” said Ontario Liberal Party Leader John Fraser. “He’s making it retroactive. There must be something really, really bad there to take this kind of step.”

Another rally will be held outside of Queen’s Park Tuesday, this one organized by student groups against recent OSAP cuts to grant and loan programs for students.

WATCH MORE: Opposition says Ford using latest announcement to distract from proposed FOI changes