McGuinty Liberals hiding from scrutiny, says MPP Arnott
Queen's Park – Under the guise of making the Ontario Legislature more ‘family-friendly,' the McGuinty Liberal Government appears ready to use its majority to ram through changes to the schedule of legislative business at Queen's Park.
Among the changes is a provision to move Question Period from the afternoon to 10:45 in the morning—a move condemned by both critics and academic observers, who consider it a blatant attempt to avoid scrutiny by reducing time available for opposition MPPs to research and prepare their questions.
“It strikes at the very heart of our parliamentary democracy,” said Wellington-Halton Hills MPP Ted Arnott during his speech on April 23 rd , when he and other MPPs debated the government motion.
Following up with a question to the Premier on April 28 th , Mr. Arnott cited Dr. Graham White, one of the foremost experts on the Ontario Legislative Assembly. Moving Question Period to the morning, said Dr. White, “represents an entirely unnecessary threat to the effectiveness of the assembly in performing one of its key functions: holding the government to account.”
In a highly unusual intervention, members of the Queen's Park press gallery voted unanimously that this motion is not in the public interest and makes it more difficult for them to do their jobs.
“Premier McGuinty's proposal will not make the Legislature family-friendly,” stated Mr. Arnott. “It is nothing but a cynical attempt to evade the scrutiny of the opposition, the media, and the public.”
To read the April 23 Hansard Report, click here
To read the April 28 Hansard Report, click here |
