It was a throwback Tuesday in question period with mask-wearing making a return to the top of the agenda.
Just over 24 hours earlier, Ontario's chief medical officer of health said he once again "strongly" recommends people wear masks indoors.
READ MORE: <a href="https://www.qpbriefing.com/2022/11/14/ontarios-top-doctor-strongly-recommends-masks-warns-mandate-on-table/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ontario’s top doctor ‘strongly’ recommends masks, warns mandate on table</a>
In recent weeks, the province's pediatric hospitals have been overwhelmed by a surge of sick children. COVID-19 is still around, but the wide circulation of influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are the bigger threats to kids.
The day before, Sunday, Premier Doug Ford said at a press conference that people should "wear a mask every time possible."
<h3>Not as I do</h3>
Ford, as well as most of his Progressive Conservative caucus, <a href="https://twitter.com/RichardCityNews/status/1592546562663645187?s=20&amp;t=L0bXwWAVwrE0MRWVafCw_w" target="_blank" rel="noopener">was maskless</a> during question period on Tuesday, which the opposition was keen to point out.
With question No. 1, NDP interim leader Peter Tabuns asked Ford, "Why is the premier not taking leadership and wearing a mask to protect our children?"
Ford didn't respond to Tabuns, nor to anyone else in Tuesday's back-and-forth by MPPs.
Government House Leader Paul Calandra responded to Tabuns' first question instead of the premier and didn't say why Ford, nor himself, nor most of his PC colleagues weren't masked up.
Tabuns tried two more times but again received off-topic responses, this time from Health Minister Sylvia Jones.
<h3>The bigger picture</h3>
NDP MPP Jessica Bell was the second questioner of the day. She asked how the government plans to meet the increased need in children's hospitals, given the pressure SickKids and others across Ontario are facing.
Jones said the government "anticipated a surge" in children's hospitals, giving "operational guidance" and preparedness plans to those specializing in pediatrics.
Bell followed up by noting that SickKids has had to cancel surgeries because of pressure on its ICUs, as well as force thousands of children to wait for procedures "beyond the clinically acceptable time frame."
"What is this government's plan to help children get the surgeries they're waiting for?" Bell asked.
Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy responded this time, talking up the government's budget and the health-care plan it released in August — since then, wait times have gotten worse in hospitals.
READ MORE: <a href="https://www.qpbriefing.com/2022/11/09/leaked-data-shows-ontario-hospitals-getting-worse/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Leaked data shows Ontario hospitals getting worse</a>
Like Tabuns before her, Bell tried asking a similar question. Jones responded, talking up government health-care spending and saying that Ford's government has "made sure that those investments translate into ensuring that when we see surges, whether they are for RSV, flu or other COVID-related pandemic issues, we have the capacity and will continue to serve those parents and children."
<h3>Just desserts</h3>
The line of the day came from the NDP's Jeff Burch. In trying to prod for more details about who's benefiting from the PC government's reorganization of the Greenbelt, Burch asked Ford, "Why is the premier carving it (the Greenbelt) up and serving pieces of it to his hungry friends like one of his homemade cheesecakes?"
Associate Housing Minister Michael Parsa didn't let Burch's snipe at his leader distract him from his talking points.
Similarly to what Ford said in Monday's question period, Parsa said the government understands it needs to build more housing, especially since the federal government recently increased its estimates for how many immigrants it plans to permit entry to over the next few years.
"We will not let down the new Canadians that are coming here to look for homes, Mr. Speaker," said Parsa.

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