<p>In what's expected to be the last question period at the Ontario legislature until at least sometime next month, opposition MPPs hit many of the same beats they have over the last few days by focussing on challenges faced in health care, the school system, plus the government's refusal to further increase Ontario Disability Support Program payments.</p>
<p>A certain terror to Tokyo also received an unexpected name drop.</p>
<h3>Far from finished</h3>
<p>Ontario NDP health critic France Gelinas led question period for the Official Opposition on Thursday asking about staffing issues in hospitals.</p>
<p>"(Staff shortages) are being made worse everyday by this government's action," Gelinas said. "Why is this government willing to make the waiting worse by expanding private surgical clinics, syphoning more of our staff away from public hospitals?"</p>
<p>Health Minister and Deputy Premier Sylvia Jones said the government is simply looking for "new" and "innovative" solutions to problems that have plagued the health-care system for "years and years."</p>
<p>Following up, Gelinas didn't ask as much of a question as she accused the government of trying to convince people that increased privatization in health care is the only way to improve the system. Jones said the government is simply taking advantage of solutions as they're presented, which is why they've made moves like expanding hours for surgeries, and given the go ahead to the College of Nurses of Ontario to temporarily register foreign-trained nurses, to allow some into the workforce while they complete their qualifications.</p>
<h3>Godzilla, King of Ministers</h3>
<p>The NDP's Education Critic Marit Stiles was the second questioner of the day and started by accusing Education Minister Stephen Lecce of "ratcheting up the rhetoric" against teachers and other education workers unions. "Why does this government seem so determined to create conflict in our classrooms?"</p>
<p>Lecce responded by saying the Progressive Conservatives are "determined to stand up for the voices of parents in (Ontario) who want their kids in class." The government's intent is to ensure schoolchildren have an uninterrupted school year, Lecce said.</p>
<p>"Speaker, the minister claiming he's here to help parents is like Godzilla claiming he's here to help Tokyo," Stiles responded.</p>
<p>"Parents and teachers remember the PC record of cuts and conflicts, mandatory online learning, 10,000 planned layoffs, freezing wages with Bill 124, working with the Liberals to freeze wages with (Bill) 115. Does the minister understand that attacking people — the very people who make our schools work — is what puts the school year at risk?" she asked.</p>
<p>Lecce went on to list off the government's investments in schooling and did not address Stiles comparing him to a giant, prehistoric, nuclear-radiation-fuelled sea monster. "Our premier and our party will continue to invest to ensure a safe and stable return to school for kids in the province," he ended his response with.</p>
<h3>Not budging</h3>
<p>Later on, NDP MPPs Lise Vaugeois, Jessica Bell, and Jennie Stevens all asked questions about the difficult financial constraints OSDP recipients are forced to live under and tried to compel their across-the-aisle colleagues to join them in taking on a social assistance diet for two weeks.</p>
<p>Based on her responses, Children, Community and Social Services Minister Merrilee Fullerton seems as though she'll be eating more than $95.20-worth of food over the next two weeks.</p>


Your question period briefing: Minister Godzilla

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