The Dalton McGuinty Liberals are trying to silence government watchdogs who dare to point out the government’s failures, charges Wellington-Halton Hills MPP Ted Arnott.
Despite its decision to reappoint Information and Privacy Commissioner Ann Cavoukian to an unprecedented third term, the government is declining to rename Ombudsman André Marin and Environmental Commissioner Gord Miller to their posts.
“We see a clear pattern here,” said Arnott, in Question Period. “The premier seems to want to fire those who criticize him or hold his government accountable.”
The independence of officers of the legislature is an important parliamentary tradition, said Arnott. The ombudsman and environmental commissioner report directly to the legislature. Marin recently concluded a probe into the unelected and unaccountable Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) bureaucracy, while Miller sharply criticized the government’s environmental inaction.
“These public servants should be commended – not fired – for exposing the true character of this Liberal government,” said Arnott. He cited potential problems in some LHINs, and the premier’s refusal to discipline LHIN executives for handing out untendered contracts. He a;sp condemned the government cutting off funds for Avastin – a cancer therapy drug.
