Premier Doug Ford is defending a controversial new law granting his government powers to extend emergency orders despite recent opposition from within his own party.
Ford ejected a member of the Progressive Conservative caucus, legislator Belinda Karahalios, Tuesday after she voted against the bill.
Ford says the law is necessary to protect the health and safety of people across the province and he could not tolerate the now former Tory legislator voting against it.
The premier denied that her vote against the bill is a sign of broader dissatisfaction with the sweeping law.
Ford says he spent two days with Karahalios last week and she never voiced any disapproval.
Karahalios called the bill an ``unnecessary overreach'' on parliamentary democracy shortly after the vote.