Ontario enshrines new Poet Laureate position honouring late Gord Downie

TORONTO — Ontario has a new Poet Laureate position named in honour of the late Tragically Hip singer Gord Downie.

Local MPP Jim McDonell reports this week that members of Downie’s family were on hand at Queen’s Park as legislators from all parties supported final reading of the Poet Laureate Act In Memory of Gord Downie.

There’s been no word yet on how the provincial government will select Ontario’s first Poet Laureate and when. Intended to promote art and literacy, the new role results from a private member’s bill introduced by Windsor-Tecumseh legislator Percy Hatfield, which won favour on all sides of the Legislature governed by the Doug Ford Conservatives.

I was fortunate to be joined by members of the Downie family and my wife yesterday as my bill to create the position of Poet Laureate of Ontario in Gord Downie's name was passed unanimously in the House. Thank you all for your support #onpoli #ontariopoetlaureate pic.twitter.com/dxxIWcZsam

— Percy Hatfield (@PercyHatfield) December 13, 2019