Ontario's governing Liberals are expected to introduce a bill to retaliate against any state that adopts Buy American provisions as the provincial legislature resumes sitting today for the final session before a spring election.
Premier Kathleen Wynne said earlier this month that the first piece of legislation her government will pass is a bill aimed at countering protectionist measures put in place by some U.S. states.
The planned bill would reduce procurement opportunities for states that adopt Buy American provisions by allowing provincial officials to write regulations targeting individual states.
The opposition parties have said they would review the legislation when it is tabled, but have also called the move a reckless political gambit from the Liberals as they fight to remain in power.
The legislature resumes at a time of political upheaval, with both opposition parties dealing with significant changes in their ranks.
Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath recently removed her chief of staff after he was accused of not taking seriously sexual misconduct allegations brought to him during his time at Manitoba's legislature. He has denied he was told about the formal complaints
The Progressive Conservatives, meanwhile, are in the middle of a leadership race that has exposed a growing rift between party factions. The contest was launched after the party's former leader, Patrick Brown, resigned amid allegations of sexual misconduct, which he has repeatedly denied.
Brown, who has since mounted a campaign to clear his name, announced on Friday that he planned to run for his old job _ just hours after he was booted out of the Tory caucus.
The Barrie, politician will have to sit as an independent when he returns to the legislature. He was not present Tuesday.