Your Question Period Briefing

Order! Welcome to your Question Period briefing and Happy International Women's Day.

The main event:

Interim PC leader Vic Fedeli kicked things off by reading the words of Finance Minister Charles Sousa back to him: Sousa had promised, repeatedly, that Ontario would have balanced budgets for years to come. That was until yesterday, when he announced the 2018 budget will include a deficit of up to 1 per cent of the GDP.

Fedeli's questions about the finance minister's change of fiscal tack prompted heckles from his fellow Tories, wanting to know what had changed in both official languages: "Qu'est-il passé?" and "What happened?"

It echoed a theme the PCs have been promoting since Sousa's announcement Wednesday.

LIBERAL BROKEN PROMISES:
“We’re looking at a balanced budget in this coming budget...next year as well, and the year after that.” - @SousaCharleshttps://t.co/hBRCkODEkE #onpoli

— Ontario PC Press (@PCPressOffice) March 7, 2018

It was Fedeli's last Question Period as leader — barring any very unexpected twists or turns in Tory politics.

Other major issues:

In health: The PCs asked more questions about long long-term care waitlists. NDP Leader Andrea Horwath, having returned from a southwestern Ontario tour, kicked off the third party's questions by asking about Stuart Cline, who died after waiting in Mexico for five days for a transfer back to Ontario while being told there were no beds available for him. The NDP found another man who says he experienced similar delays during a medical crisis. Health Minister Helena Jaczek maintains there have been beds available and says the government is looking into what kind of communication breakdowns led to the problems in these cases.

In finance: PC MPP Raymond Cho said the residents of his riding pay the highest auto insurance rates in Canada and asked why they're being "gouged by the Kathleen Wynne Liberals." Finance Minister Charles Sousa replied by offering details of the province's Fair Auto Insurance Plan.

In environment: NDP MPP Taras Natyshak asked about well water in Chatham Kent, which residents say had turned brown because of construction at a nearby wind turbine site owned by Samsung. He wanted to know why the government conducted a "simple health hazard investigation" on that water. David Zimmer, acting as the minister of the environment and climate change because Chris Ballard wasn't present, said the ministry has undertaken a review of water quality data to assure residents the water is safe, and — thus far — the analysis has not shown a connection between water quality and the construction activity.

And the award for Best Drama goes to: Natyshak, who got himself named — i.e., ejected from the chamber — for holding up a glass of dark brown water and yelling at the minister to ask if he'd drink it. After being warned to stop, he yelled again, and Dave Levac named him. He walked out, with his caucus giving him a standing ovation.

Quote of the day:

"Don't give me that much choice, it's like a candy store." -Speaker Dave Levac, warning MPPs that so many of them were being disruptive that he had many options to choose from concerning who to warn. It got a good chuckle out of Todd Smith.

Spotted: Half-empty PC benches. Perhaps a few MPPs are busy with the leadership race.

In post-Question Period scrums:

Zimmer said again that the well water in Chatham Kent is safe.

Sousa said he wouldn't disclose any more details about his forthcoming budget, or the deficit it will include.

Attorney General Yasir Naqvi responded to Toronto Mayor John Tory's request for an inquiry into how Toronto police handled the missing persons investigations that are now connected to accused serial killer Bruce McArthur. "We will consider the issue of an inquiry," said Naqvi, but added it's too early in the investigation at this point.

Naqvi was also asked about marijuana dispensaries opening right back up again following police raids. He said that those dispensaries are illegal now, but once legalization occurs, the province will have more legal tools to deal with dispensaries that are not run by the province.

Naqvi also weighed in on the passage of the Safer Ontario Act, which occurred with a vote just following Question Period. He said the police oversight bill had taken a lot of work — five years and three different ministers of community safety.

PC MPP Todd Smith commented on the troubles his party is having getting all members verified so they are able to vote in the PC leadership race. "I can't explain it. I don't know if it's a Canada Post issue, if it's a party issue," he said. "I do feel for the people who didn't get their mail, it sucks for them. They should be part of the process." Smith is supporting Christine Elliott, who is the only one of the four leadership candidates not to call for the party to extend voting for a week to deal with the problems.

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath said the Liberals are set to propose a "candy-store budget." "They're like kids in a candy store. The budget's here and they're going to give away candy for everyone. That's something New Democrats have watched Liberals do for a long time now."