Ontario's premier is defending her decision to prorogue the legislature and deliver a throne speech next week, saying it's the only way her government can lay out its priorities in the lead-up to the spring election.
Kathleen Wynne denied the move is an attempt to wipe the slate clean before the June 7 vote or get a head start on the campaign, as her political opponents have suggested.
The decision to deliver the throne speech was announced yesterday and requires the government to briefly shut down the legislature.
The Liberals have stressed no sitting days will be lost because the closure will take place this week over March Break, and said all government bills and motions introduced before prorogation will be reintroduced as soon as the legislature resumes.
The opposition parties have accused the Liberals, who are lagging in the polls, of trying to hit the reset button ahead of the election.
The throne speech will come just a week before the Liberal government is set to table its 2018 budget, which is expected to include an approximately $8 billion deficit.