A panel of three justices of the Ontario Court of Appeal at Osgoode Hall has decided to sleep on it.

After listening to arguments both for and against granting the Ford government a stay of last week’s court decision that declared its legislation to reduce the size of city council (Bill 5) unconstitutional, the court will release its decision Wednesday at 10 a.m.

If the stay’s granted, it’s almost certain the municipal election would be held with 25 wards.

A lawyer representing the province told the proceedings if the government’s request is granted, he was given instructions to say the government will not proceed with a vote Thursday on the new Bill 31.

Opponents say the province has not met any legal test for a stay.