Speaker says NDP motion can’t result in warrant for Ford’s phone records

Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles slammed the premier in Queen's Park over his government's proposed changes to Freedom of Information laws.

MPPs returned to Queen’s Park for the first time since rising for a break from the legislature before Christmas on Monday.

It’s been 102 days since the Ontario government met in the legislature and it’s expected to be a busy session.

MORE: MPPs return to Queen’s Park today for the first time in 102 days. Here is what you can expect

Here is a look back at what transpired.

4:30 p.m. Skelly says motion cannot result in a Speaker’s Warrant

House Speaker Donna Skelly says the NDP’s motion to obtain a Speaker’s Warrant for Premier Doug Ford’s phone records cannot result in the issuance of a warrant.

“I found out earlier today that MPP Stiles had tabled a private member’s motion, and I have to make it very clear that motions can only result in resolutions which are non-binding. I don’t act on a resolution,” Skelly said.

A process to bring a binding Order of the House that would direct Skelly to issue a warrant would have taken longer and would likely have failed anyway since the PCs command a majority in the legislature.

“Motions can only result in a resolution, which is non-binding,” Skelly said.

She said it would not be her decision to issue the warrant, either way.

Joshua Freeman, CP24.com journalist

1:20 p.m. Legislature resumes for afternoon

The legislature is back in session for the afternoon and several opposition motions have been introduced, including the NDP’s version of a law to forbid reselling ticket prices above face value.

Joshua Freeman, CP24.com journalist

12:30 p.m. Stiles says Speaker’s Warrant could work to obtain Ford’s phone records

NDP Leader Marit Stile says she believes a Speaker’s Warrant could be successful for obtaining Premier Doug Ford’s phone records – records that would be protected from Freedom of Information laws once the government passes proposed legislative changes.

“We hope that the speaker will be able to pursue that on her own. We believe she can,” Stiles said.

The NDP said Monday that it would bring a motion to the Legislature calling for a Speaker’s Warrant to compel the production of the premier’s personal cell phone records that relate to government business.

Though seldom used, the Legislative Assembly has the right to compel the production of documents pertaining to government business using a Speaker’s Warrant.

“I would say once again, that we will try everything and anything to protect the rights of the people of this province to know how their tax dollars are being used, to know what the government is up to and what the premier, what kind of deals he is hatching behind the scenes with his friends and insiders,” Stiles told reporters.

Interim Liberal Leader John Fraser said the request could put Speaker Donna Skelly “in a tough spot,” but noted that she is compelled to remain impartial in her role.

Joshua Freeman, CP24.com journalist

12:15 p.m. Calandra says ‘significant change’ coming for education

Education Minister Paul Calandra says he will be presenting options to cabinet “very soon” that would bring about “significant change” when it comes to school board governance.

“People should expect significant change to the education system going forward,” Calandra told reporters at Queen’s Park.

Calandra previously said changes would be coming to giver “certainty” on the matter as soon as MPPS return to Queen’s Park.

He said any legislation the government brings forward would not need to make use of the Notwithstanding Claus to go forward.

Joshua Freeman, CP24.com journalist

11:30 Autism advocates hold protest

While MPPs are debating inside the legislature, a group of advocates for kids with autism have gathered outside the legislature to hold a protest.

The Ontario Autism Coalition says “school board democracy is under attack” because of Bill 33, an education bill passed last year that makes it easier for the minister of education to seize control of school boards.

They are speaking out against what they call the centralization of power under the minister.

Joshua Freeman, CP24.com journalist

10:50 a.m. NDP slams government on FOI changes, OSAP

NDP Leader Marit Stiles opened Question Period coming out swinging about the Ford government’s proposed changes to Freedom of Information laws.

“The premier has announced he is dismantling Ontario’s Freedom of Information laws to hide from accountability and take away the people’s right to know how their hard-earned tax dollars are being spent. This is a huge violation of the public’s trust,” Stiles said as she asked Premier Doug Ford to explain the move.

Ford responded, saying nobody cares except the media and the opposition.

“There’s two groups that are concerned about it. It’s the opposition – they should talk to their federal partners – and the media. Everyone else is focused on something else,” he said, adding people care most about the trade war

Stiles also slammed the government for its changes to shift most student assistance from grants to loans in the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP), saying the government has “decimated” the program.

Opposition parties have said they plan to lean on the Ford government to backtrack on its changes to student aid.

Joshua Freeman, CP24.com journalist

10:25 a.m. Queen’s Park back in session

The legislature has resumed and the new session has begun. MPPs are back in the chamber for a busy sitting.

10 a.m. Liberals to focus on affordability, slam FOI changes

Speaking ahead of the start of the session, Interim Liberal Leader John Fraser said his party plans on focusing on affordability.

“The cost of everything is going up. Class sizes are going up. The number of kids who aren’t getting what they need in school, special education, that’s going up. Hallway health care is going up. Home heating and electricity, that’s going up,” Fraser said. “And that’s on this government.”

He slammed the government for its planned legislation to exclude the premier and his cabinet ministers from Freedom of Information (FOI) laws.

“For the premier to change the law retroactively to protect the records on his cell phone, there must be something really, really, really bad on it,” Fraser said.

Joshua Freeman, CP24.com journalist

9:30 a.m. Billy Bishop to be a special economic zone

Premier Doug Ford says the provincial government will be seizing ownership of city-owned lands at Toronto’s Billy Bishop Airport and declaring it a special economic zone, invoking new powers that will allow it to override environmental and other regulations.

Ford says the plan will allow the government to unlock the airport’s economic potential, but environmental groups are expressing concern.

You can read the full story here.

Joshua Freeman, CP24.com journalist

9:10 a.m. Ford acknowledges LaGuardia incident

Premier Doug Ford says he is praying for the recovery of those injured in the incident at LaGuardia Airport in New York.

“I want to acknowledge the devastating collision that took place at LaGuardia Airport late Sunday evening,” Ford said at an announcement Monday. “My thoughts are with the families of the loved ones of the two pilots who were killed, and I’m hoping for a full recovery for all those who were injured.”

Joshua Freeman, CP24.com journalist

9 a.m. Premier Ford to make announcement

The first order of business this morning is not at the legislature at all. Premier Doug Ford is set to hold an announcement at the waterfront with Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy and Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria.

The details about the announcement have not yet been disclosed.

Joshua Freeman, CP24.com journalist

8:55 a.m. Busy session expected

The new session of the legislature is expected to be busy. The Ford government has already promised movement on a number of issues, including “certainty” around the governance of school boards.

The spring budget is also set to be tabled on Thursday to lay out the government’s agenda for the next year.

There have also been recent promises around live-streaming bail hearings, making changes to who can use HOV lanes, and banning the resale of live event tickets above face value.

The government has also promised to change Freedom of Information laws to exclude the premier and his ministers from having to disclose what goes on in their offices.

You can see a full rundown of what to expect this session here.

Joshua Freeman, CP24.com journalist

Correction: A post within this story briefly stated the government introduced a bill to ban reselling of tickets for more than face value. In fact the NDP introduced a similar bill of their own.