The holiday season has kicked off with some extra oomph at Queen's Park this year, with its pink palace decked out in more Christmas lights and decor than it's used to, as the Speaker seeks to make the building more open and enticing to the public.
Outside the Ontario legislature — where there was little more than one large tree wrapped in festive lights in years past — hedges and tree trunks across the massive lawn are now lit, along with lighted decorations in the shape of reindeer and strings of lights lining the main entrance.
Inside, the grand staircase has long put on a grand show at Christmas, with twinkling trees, banisters wrapped in lights and poinsettias lining the steps.
This year, the holiday decor has expanded throughout the building, now including a large tree of plastic poinsettias, real poinsettias spanning beyond the grand staircase, giant chandeliers of lights hanging above the ground floor, archways of lights in the hallways, and Christmas trees outside the chamber doors.
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Donna Skelly, who was named Speaker earlier this year, said she is on a mission to make the legislature more open, accessible and welcoming to the public.
The legislature is a beautiful building and even more so at Christmas, Skelly said.
She recalled one time in December, not long after being elected, when she was walking down the hall after an evening sitting, heels in hand and feet pitter-pattering along the thick, green carpet, thinking how fortunate she was to work there.
"When I was elected Speaker, I wanted to make sure that other people right across the province had the same opportunity to come here, and would want to come here," she said.
"One of the things I did notice is that the exterior was a little underwhelming ... Whether it's the lack of decorating or even the investment in maintaining this building, it's been somewhat neglected over the years, and I just wanted to make sure it was given the respect it deserved."
Politicians of all stripes stood Tuesday to give the decorations a standing ovation after Liberal member Adil Shamji heaped praise upon them during question period.
"Madam Speaker, may I begin by complimenting you on your spectacular transformation of the legislature," he said.
"Between the decorations, the trees, (and) the cheer, it’s a reminder that Christmas is almost here.
Shamji then launched into an attack on the government's embattled Skills Development Fund.
Meeting minutes of the Board of Internal Economy — the non-partisan body responsible for the finances and administration of the legislative assembly — suggest even grander plans were afoot.
The board approved spending $500,000 to buy holiday decor this year, and an annual amount of $150,000 for storage, installation and removal of that decor.
Skelly could not provide a total amount for what was actually spent, but she said it ended up being a fraction of that budget and most of the decor is rented.
"Initially, there was a hope that we could light up the entire building," she said. "The (legislative) building in B.C. is lit up. We have purchased some permanent light bulbs outside, but ... we're under budget, much under budget."
Noah Jarvis, Ontario director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, said it's possible in future years the spend will increase to actually hit $500,000, since there is a reference in the minutes to annually reviewing the issue with an eye to further "improve" decor.
"At the end of the day, Queen's Park doesn’t need to be decorated to the T," he said. "Average Ontarians are able to decorate their properties for far less money."
The decor was set up earlier than usual this year, Skelly said, which meant using fake trees instead of real ones. She also plans for it to stay up through to Orthodox Christmas in January.
Skelly said the goal of bringing more people to the legislature is personal to her. Coming from northern Ontario, she says there is a disconnect with Queen's Park.
"My very first trip as Speaker was to my hometown, to my high school in Sudbury," she said. "It's an all-girls high school, and I went back to speak to them, and it really tugged at the heartstrings.
"I'm making a genuine effort to make sure that this building is available and that people in Ontario want to come here. It is their home, and I want them to ... feel that they are welcome at Queen's Park."
To that end, the legislature hosts a number of events through the year, but in particular during the holiday season.
A holiday artisan market is taking place Saturday. There will be a Taste the Holidays event at the assembly gift shop Dec. 1, the same day that annual children's choir lunchtime Christmas performances start.
As well, festive light events, which were also offered last year, are starting later in December. Members of the public can tour the building, see Santa, hear carollers and make holiday crafts.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 22, 2025.
