By Jim Barber
If Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty went ahead with his plan to prorogue the Ontario Legislature this week (which he hadn’t done as of press time), Randy Hillier will be back in his seat when the government reconvenes after the Olympics.
Hillier, the Progressive Conservative MPP for Lanark, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington was turfed from the legislature, along with PC colleague Bill Murdoch (Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound) for their vocal protest against the McGuinty government’s introduction of the Harmonized Sales Tax.
Murdoch called McGuinty a liar in the house, and Hillier supported him. Both refused to leave after being ejected by Speaker of the Legislature Steve Peters.
There was a stand-off for nearly three days, until Hillier and Murdoch relented. They were banned from the Legislature for the remainder of the sitting.
About 10 days ago, Hillier and Murdoch approached Peters seeking to return.
“Actually, I informed the speaker that there was this seldom-used mechanism he could use. Essentially, there are three different ways a member can return to the house. Proroguing is one way, and another is an all-party motion to reinstate us. The Liberals refused to sign onto that. And then there’s this other mechanism, which is called Before the Bar. And I suggested to the speaker that if he was willing to do that, I would be willing to do that,” Hillier told The Napanee Guide late last week.
That’s where things broke down. Hillier and Murdoch were willing to appear at the entrance to the legislature and make a formal apology to the Speaker and to their fellow MPPs.
The problem is, Peters wanted to write the script for Hillier and Murdoch.
“I refused to kiss what he wanted me to kiss,” said Hillier, with a chuckle.
“What he wanted me to do was provide a scripted statement to the House in words that were done up by the clerk. I had done up a statement, that I wanted to give to the House, that reiterated my respect for the institution and for his office and for all members. But they proposed that they give me the words to say, and the words were not suitable. I don’t call it sincerity when someone else gives you the words to say.”
So, the impasse continues, and Hillier and Murdoch cannot take their seats until the legislature is recalled after the prorogation.
Hillier said he and his party are also upset with the fact that McGuinty is being coy as to when the prorogation itself will take place.
“I know he is going to prorogue, everybody does. But why he is keeping it such a confusing situation and not actually saying anything definitively, is beyond me,” said Hillier, who said it is difficult for MPPs to schedule meetings or events because they don’t know from one day to the next whether the premier is going to end the legislative session or not.
“So it’s pretty childish, and it adds some difficulty. And without a doubt, it will create some level of disappointment for some people, depending on when he actually decided.”
Hillier and Murdoch were roundly criticized by some media pundits for what was seen as childish and unparliamentary behaviour during their standoff with Peters.
Hillier brushed the criticism aside.
“That was only the academics and the elite, the chattering bunch, and I don’t represent them. I represent the people who live and work and vote in Lanark, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington, and they are the ones who are paying the bills from this [HST],” said Hillier adding that he felt the process was a success.
“We focussed public awareness and increased public awareness very sharply onto not only the HST, but how McGuinty was abusing his authority in putting it through without discussions, without debate, using closure, refusing public meetings. So, without a doubt, it was a hill worth fighting for and it’s still a hill worth fighting for.”
When the legislature resumes, Hillier and Murdoch will be back in their seats and ready to respond to what the McGuinty government puts forth in the Speech from the Throne that will kick off a new legislative session.
