MPPs are heading back to the legislature at Queen’s Park today for the first time since early June. The government has a number of items on its agenda, from banning speed cameras to cutting red tape. Follow along here for updates as the legislature resumes.
3:10
Minister of Natural Resources Mike Harris says the government is “keeping a close eye” on what’s happening at Marineland, where the fate of some 30 beluga whales in captivity is uncertain.
Harris said the government is in talks with various stakeholders “to make sure that we can expedite anything that should come up over the next little while.”
3 p.m.
The government has tabled legislation to ban speed cameras as part of a larger bill aimed at cutting red tape and making Ontario’s economy “more competitive.”
The government says that the ‘Building a More Competitive Economy Act’ will end the use of municipal speed cameras in favour of “focusing on alternative traffic-calming measures such as speed bumps, speed cushions and roundabouts, as well as enhanced signage and education campaigns to keep Ontario among the safest jurisdictions in North America.”
The legislation comes as parent groups around the province hold protests today, saying the move will make kids less safe.
The Ford government has characterized speed cameras as a “cash grab.”
Pressed by reporters on the issue, Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria said the province shares concern around reducing speed, but disagrees on the method.
“I think our purpose is to prevent the speeding in those zones and I think everyone is well intentioned in the fact that we want to stop speeding in these zones,” Sarkaria said. “We want to ensure that we have effective tools, effective measures. So we agree on the end purpose.”
1:55 p.m.
Education Minister Paul Calandra has introduced a bill to vacate the office of a Catholic school board trustee who allegedly refused to repay the government for a trip to buy art in Italy.
Calandra had promised to fire Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board Trustee Mark Watson if he did not repay about $10,000 Calandra said was still owing for the trip.
“The trustee named is refusing to pay back the money that he spent on what for all intents and purposes, what is a vacation. And this bill really quite simple, would fire that trustee for refusing to pay back the money that he owes to parents, students and teachers,” Calandra said in the legislature.
In a written statement, Calandra added that if passed, the legislation would bar the trustee from serving on another school board for five years.
“We expect every school board to direct resources to the classroom, not on luxury trips and wasteful spending,” Calandra said in the statement.
He added the incident demonstrates why the province is eyeing an overhaul of the school board system.
“This trustee’s refusal to repay what he owes is exactly why we are reviewing Ontario’s school board governance model, because too often trustees lose sight of their responsibility to students,” Calandra wrote.
1:45 p.m.
Minister of Red Tape Reduction Andrea Khanjin has introduced a new bill to amend various acts to reduce red tape and delays, one of the Ford government’s first pieces of legislation this session. Several ministers are expected to hold a news conference this afternoon to provide more details about the bill.
12:45 p.m.
Labour Minister David Piccini faced a barrage of questions from reporters over the Skills Development Fund and how the money was doled out during the break in the legislature.
Piccini continued to defend the fund, saying his party “has the backs of workers,” as reporters asked why he intervened to prioritize some parties that scored lower than others in their applications.
He did not directly answer when asked if government money went to PC Party donors, saying “people are free to donate” to whoever they like.
He said his office worked with bureaucrats on allocating the funds, but it was important to make sure that “government priorities” were supported.
“I pay my own way, and I’m happy to work with the Integrity Commissioner. We welcome it,” Piccini said. “But this is about funding important programming that’s changing people’s lives, supporting first responders, supporting our construction sector. President Trump’s launched an all assault on our economy.”
11:50 a.m.
Premier Doug Ford took few questions himself during Question Period, but he did respond to one from NDP MPP Lisa Gretzky about job losses in Windsor, saying his government has “created the environment, the conditions to have companies come here and invest.”
He said his government plans to pursue mining in the Ring of Fire, as well as increasing nuclear power to create jobs.
11:10 a.m.
The house gets noisy after Liberal MPP John Fraser asks for a definition of a conflict of interest, a question that goes to Government House Leader Steve Clark, who was once found by the Ontario Integrity Commissioner to have broken conflict of interest rules around his handling of the Greenbelt file when he was housing minister.
After the house settles, Clark fires back that the government doesn’t need a pop quiz to stand up for workers.
11 a.m.
Question Period has kicked off, with NDP Leader Marit Stiles grilling the government on the Skills Development Fund and the auditor general’s report.
Labour Minister David Piccini is defending the fund, saying it has resulted in a boost in youth apprenticeships.
Stiles fires back that one in four youth still don’t have a job.
She adds a zinger to Piccini; “How was Paris,” a jab at a report that he attended a wedding in Paris with those who stood to benefit from millions in government grants from his ministry.
10:50
The legislatures kicks things off with a collective “Go Jays Go” in support of the Blue Jays, who are looking to punch their ticket to the World Series tonight in Game 7 against the Mariners.
10:45 a.m.
As MPPs meet inside the building, a group opposing police-in-school programs is holding a protest on the front lawn.
10:30 a.m.
The Ontario legislature is now in session, starting off with member statements. There is lots of mention of jobs, housing and the economy, as well as the Skills Development Fund.
10 a.m.
Liberal MPP John Fraser, who leads his party in the legislature, started the morning with a news conference outlining his party’s priorities for the fall session and slamming the Ford government for “scandals, stunts and mismanaged funds,” particularly with regards to the Skills Development Fund.
The government has faced tough questions over how they decided who to dole out money to from the $2.5 billion fund, with a CTV News analysis showing at least $100 million went to organizations or lobbyists with ties to the premier’s office.
“The simple thing they need to do is just disclose, be transparent, be fair, let the chips fall where they may,” Fraser said, flanked by the rest of the Liberal caucus. “If they don’t do that, what it just means is the premier just thinks it’s okay to do this, it’s okay to treat taxpayers’ money like their own personal piggy bank. That’s what it says to me.”
Fraser also pointed to lost jobs in construction and manufacturing, along with high youth unemployment, and said the government is failing to protect workers.
9:30 a.m.
It’s a busy morning at Queen’s Park. In addition to what’s happening in the legislature, the Ontario Medical Association is holding a news conference with a large contingent calling on the provincial government to take urgent action on issues within Ontario’s health-care system.
