Tuesday was the first question period at Queen's Park since December and the opposition parties had plenty of ammo.
First up was the news reported by The Trillium's own Charlie Pinkerton and Global News that lobbyists and developers attended the premier's daughter's wedding festivities, including a stag-and-doe event described as a pay-to-play affair that funded the wedding.
It was the day's highlight of question period because it was one of only two questions the premier himself answers. Government House Leader Paul Calandra (who frequently takes over for the premier) took all of the other questions on this topic on the premier's behalf and said little. Calandra also stickhandled the opposition's questions' about the Emergencies Act commission finding that the province was "absent" from the response to the convoy's occupation of Ottawa last year.
NDP leader Marit Stiles: When a government as rich and powerful as this one makes decisions that favour developers over farmers, shareholders over sick people, we have a problem. To the premier: since this House rose, more concerns have been raised about his relationship with developers profiting from his greenbelt carve-up and their attendance at family events. Can the premier explain to Ontarians how they are supposed to believe that these developers weren’t given a heads-up about his plan for the greenbelt?
Interjections.
Speaker Ted Arnott: Members will please take their seats. The premier.
Premier Doug Ford: Well, first of all, I welcome the first question from the leader of the opposition. Regarding any family matters, my family is separate from the political process. They aren’t involved.
I had an opportunity to speak to the integrity commissioner, Mr. Speaker. I asked him for his opinion, and he found there was no violation. Again, this event was cleared by the integrity commissioner.
And that was that. Ford spoke once more to weigh in on a health-care question, touting his government's plan to open up some surgical procedures to private clinics and allow pharmacists to prescribe medication for some common illnesses.
You can watch all of question period here.
