Opposition MPPs bemoan 'complete change in culture' at Queen's Park

Ask Guelph MPP Mike Schreiner what one of the most frustrating parts of his first year at Queen's Park has been and he'll say it's how angry everyone seems to be with each other.

"I find the official Opposition and the government just hurl insults at each other, and I've often times called the premier out because I think he should set the tone and often times he's the chief heckler," the Green Party of Ontario leader said sitting in his small Guelph constituency office during the first week of the summer recess.

"I just don't think that's an appropriate role for the premier to play," he added.

NDP MPP Catherine Fife says she's noticed a shift in the way people treat each other at Queen's Park.

"There's been a complete change in the culture actually at Queen's Park. The tenor and the tone of the debates are much more partisan than they ever have been," the Waterloo MPP said in a phone interview.

"This is a premier and a government that has come in and decided that they're not going to respect the legislature and the public discourse that has been a tradition in Ontario for many years."

Premier has 'open-door policy'

The premier, though, disagrees with the notion his government isn't collaborative.

In a statement, Ford's press secretary Ivana Yelich said he is "one of the most accessible politicians in the country."

"He has an open-door policy and regularly meets with MPPs from different political parties," Yelich said.

Yelich said the government worked with the Opposition on "several" pieces of legislation.

"In fact, one of our most important pieces of legislation, Rowan's Law, was passed in collaboration with MPPs from across the aisle. Together, we worked on an incredibly important initiative that will improve the health and safety of all Ontarians," Yelich said.

The concussion safety Rowan's Lawwas passed with full-party support on March 7, 2018, before the Progressive Conservatives formed the government.

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She also said Ford worked with NDP MPP Sol Mamakwa, who represents the riding of Kiiwetinoong and lives in Sioux Lookout, "on important issues affecting Ontario's Indigenous communities."

Mamakwa, for his part, agrees the province has collaborated on emergencies, like forest fires, evacuations, the suicide crisis and the need for mental health services and other essential services.

"For crisis response, it's a yes," Mamakwa said in an interview. "But when we talk about trying to advance additional resources for, say, advancing some of our issues where the province should be involved, I haven't had any headway on it."

He said his private members bill to enshrine the United Nations Declaration of the Right of Indigenous People in Ontario legislation passed second reading, but the government hasn't sent it to committee.

Mamakwa also said that in May, when the federal government and province signed a deal with Kashechewan First Nation to move the entire community, "one of the things that was requested was for me not to be at the signing."

Personal wins

Both Schreiner and Fife say despite the lack of collaboration, they've had some wins.

Schreiner introduced his first private member's bill, the Paris Galt Moraine Conservation Act, to protect groundwater in Guelph and area.

He also voted with the government on their plan to open up cannabis sales to private retailers. That was something he was criticized for, he said, because people asked him how he could vote for anything the PCs put forward.

"I'm going to vote for what I believe in. I'm going to vote for what I campaigned on. I'm going to vote for what the people of Guelph voted for, and it doesn't matter which party puts it forward," he said.

Fife said she was able to meet with Health Minister Christine Elliott to plead the case of seven-year-old Abigayle Lobsinger.

The young girl is fighting a childhood cancer called neuroblastoma and recent changes to OHIP+ meant coverage of her pricey nutritional supplement was cut. That meant the family had to pay thousands of dollars to get the supplement so the young girl can maintain her weight.

Fife said she was able to get the Waterloo-Wellington Local Health Integration Network to pay for the supplement.

However, the networkwould not confirm that or comment on Lobsinger's case specifically.A spokesperson says the network will "work closely with families to provide children the health care and supports they need at home."

When they return to the legislature on Oct. 28 after a lengthy summer break, both Schreiner and Fife say they hope the government will take more time to listen to people.

"We're in for the long haul and I think it's very important for us to demonstrate that we are showing up, that we're doing the hard work and that we're pushing back on regressive legislation," said Fife.