EX-CONSERVATIVE OUT AS DEPUTY SPEAKER FOR REFUSING SHOT

A former Tory who was kicked out of Ontario’s governing caucus for refusing to be vaccinated against COVID-19 is out as deputy speaker at the legislature. Chatham-kent-leamington representative Rick Nicholls, shown, who now sits as an independent in the legislature, said he would resign from the position. Nicholls said he will stay on as an independent but won’t run for re-election in the provincial election next year. Nicholls was removed as a PC in August after he failed to show proof of vaccination or a medical exemption, as Premier Doug Ford had asked all caucus members to do. “I want to thank the media for letting me know that the government has actually already selected a replacement for me. Yes, that’s correct. The government didn’t let me know,” Nicholls said.