New caucus rules weren't punishment, they were the house leader's idea: Ford

Premier Doug Ford says he wants his caucus to challenge him and bring forward their ideas.

And the new, strict rules his caucus has to follow were the house leader's idea and not punishment, the premier said on Friday.

On Monday, at least 20 PC MPPs voted via secret ballot against Nina Tangri, Ford's preferred choice for Speaker of the House, to re-elect Ted Arnott as the chamber's referee.

In a PC caucus meeting after the vote, an "upset" Ford told members that they needed to "support one another and the team," one MPP in the meeting recounted (under the condition their identity remain secret).

In the same meeting, government house leader Paul Calandra told MPPs of new rules they have to follow, which were perceived as discipline for the Speaker vote, the MPP and two other well-connected conservative sources told QP Briefing.

PC MPPs mustn't travel internationally, won't have requests to skip votes accepted and must surrender their phones in caucus meetings, while ministers must attend question period and answer for themselves, instead of delegating that duty to their parliamentary assistants, sources said.

Read More: Ontario PC caucus punished after Ford’s pick loses Speaker vote: sources

After a funding announcement in Dundalk, Ont., on Friday, Ford said "no, not at all" when asked if the clampdowns were his idea, and why they were necessary.

"As my cabinet ministers heard me say yesterday in cabinet, I want people to ask questions. I want people to challenge," Ford said.

"We have 83 members, all very diverse — different ideas. I really encourage it," the premier said of his caucus. "As for the international travel — or anything else — I believe in, you know, (running) a very good but tight ship, moving forward. We have — and I'm honestly saying this — we have the brightest and best caucus I've ever seen. ... We're just going to move forward."

In response to another question, Ford challenged the characterization of the new rules as being "punishment" to MPPs.

They track with Calandra's style of managing caucus, the premier said.

"That's the house leader," Ford said. "Paul Calandra's one of the best house leaders going. ... By the way, he has the toughest job out of anyone.

"Making sure 83 team members from all over Ontario — again, with diverse ideas, different areas of jurisdictions they represent ... move forward," Ford said.

When the PC caucus met after the Speaker's vote, Calandra told members that "trust is something that must be earned, not given," according to the MPP, who added that "it feels as if we're grounded, stuck in detention after school."

Ford's and Calandra's spokespeople declined to confirm or deny what sources shared about what MPPs were told at their caucus meeting on Monday. Caucus discussions are "confidential," both said.

"However, none of the measures described are out of the ordinary for political parties," said Owen Macri, Calandra's chief of staff. "MPPs are expected to be available for their legislative duties."

Although he was asked on Friday, the premier did not say how long PC MPPs will be barred from travelling internationally or have strict legislative assignments.