FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
QUEEN’S PARK – “I am flabbergasted at what happened today. It is clear to me now that neither the Liberal government, nor the third party NDP, believe that parents should have a say in Ontario’s education system and how our children learn in this province,” said Ontario PC MPP Rob Leone.
Today at Queen’s Park, the Liberals moved a time allocation motion, a strong-arm procedural tactic sometimes employed by governments to shut down debate on a matter they want to ram through the legislature.
Since Bill 122 was sent to committee, close to 100 amendments have been put forward by the Liberals and the NDP, many suggested by the labour unions. In that same time period, the PC Caucus has put forward just two amendments, with the sole purpose of safeguarding extracurricular activities for students come the fall.
“It remains unclear to me why the government will not even consider supporting two simple amendments to this bill,” added Leone. “Minority governments are supposed to be about compromise yet this Premier seems more focused on silencing her opponents. Are they so deeply in the pocket of organized labour that they are prepared to sell students and parents down the river?”
Leone was extremely critical of the NDP noting that Andrea Horwath and her party normally oppose time allocation motions on the grounds that they limit debate and stifle democracy. The about face was stunning.
“What makes Bill 122 a special case? I’m inclined to conclude that the Liberals and NDP have made a deal to shut parents out of the education debate in this province. This is yet another reason why we need to change the team that governs Ontario.”
-30-