It is with profound sadness that the Legislative Assembly of Ontario reacts to the news of the death of our beloved Sovereign, the Queen of Canada, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. On behalf of all Members of our Legislature, deepest condolences are extended to His Majesty The King and to the Royal Family. We wish them peace and strength during this difficult time.
 
The citizens of our province and our country are mourning the loss of not only their Queen, but the loss of a remarkable individual who devoted her life to serving her people. Her Majesty carried out public duties with dignity and passion for over seven decades – an extraordinary achievement, and one which we will always reflect on with gratitude and respect. 
 
The Queen was no stranger to Queen’s Park and Ontario’s Legislative Building. Her Majesty made her first trip here while still Princess in 1951 just months prior to her accession to the throne. In subsequent visits to these grounds in 1973, 1984, and 2010, The Queen was greeted by thousands of well-wishers who came here in vast numbers to see her. During Her Majesty’s final visit here in 2010, she unveiled a permanent legacy to this site by dedicating a plaque describing the history of this park and marking the 150th anniversary of its founding as a public space by her great grandfather, the future King Edward VII, in 1860. 
 
Our thoughts and prayers will be with His Majesty The King and the Royal Family in the days and weeks ahead. 
 
Hon. Ted Arnott 
Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario