For immediate release
June 5, 2007

DALTON MCGUINTY TRIES TO ESCAPE ACCOUNTABILITY

QUEEN’S PARK – Today, more than three weeks ahead of schedule, Dalton McGuinty and the Liberal majority government prorogued the Ontario Legislature to avoid the remaining question periods and hit the campaign trail early.

“After four years of Liberal government we have political slush funds, lead in the drinking water and thousands of lost manufacturing jobs, but instead of working to fix the problems McGuinty prorogued the Legislature early so he can hit the campaign trail,” said Ernie Hardeman, MPP for Oxford.

According to the Legislative Calendar the spring session should have continued until June 28. The McGuinty government prorogued the Legislature this morning at 10:30 am by order-in-council. In order to end the session early the McGuinty government time allocated a number of bills to reduce debate, including two democratic renewal bills.

There are many bills which will not be passed because the Legislature was prorogued, including private members’ bills to increase organ and bone marrow donation awareness; a bill to increase fines for animal cruelty; a bill to set aggressive greenhouse gas reduction targets; and a bill to create a jobs commissioner.

“Does McGuinty think that he has solved all the problems in Ontario and there is nothing more to do? I don’t think Ontarians would agree with him,” said Hardeman. “It is sad that instead of addressing those problems the Legislature was prorogued so McGuinty can avoid question period.”

Question period in the spring session has been dominated by questions on:

“I was quite willing to keep working in the Legislature to try and help more Ontarians,” said Hardeman. “If the Liberals are out of ideas and aren’t able to solve the problems facing Ontario our party is more than ready to step in.”

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For more information, contact:
Ernie Hardeman, MPP Oxford
(416) 325-1239