Both MPPs from Lambton were absent as the Ontario government agreed to fast track its controversial Unleashing the Economy Act legislation – Bill 5.

Government House Leader Steve Clark asked the legislature to limit debate on Bill 5 to 12 hours this afternoon and evening at the committee level and return it to the legislature Wednesday for a final vote. Conservative majority easily passed the changes 71-42.

Neither Lambton-Kent-Middlesex MPP Steve Pinsonneault nor Sarnia-Lambton MPP Bob Bailey were in the house for the bill and did not register a vote for or against the compressed time frame.

Premier Doug Ford, fresh of his trip to Alberta for the Premier’s Conference, was sitting on the front row supporting the limited debate on the bill which puts an end to the Environmental Assessment for a regenerative recycling project at the Dresden dump.

T