Brief: Ford government delays Orders of Ontario

Don’t hold your breath for the 2018 Orders of Ontario. Queen’s Park Today has learned the highest honour in the province — traditionally bestowed in January — has been pushed back for months because there’s no one to pick the winners.

The Speaker, cabinet secretary and chief justice of the day have permanent spots on the nine-person advisory council that recommends the honourees to the lieutenant governor, but the premier has yet to formally replace the six other vacancies.

The six pending appointees are expected to join the council by the end of March, with the nominees chosen in spring and a ceremony slated for sometime this fall.

The deadline for the 2019 nominations is still March 31, and winners will be unveiled as usual around January 2020.