After a weekend break from the barbs and verbal backhands, MPPs kicked the week off with what was a relatively calm question period on Monday.
It was marked by a clear focus: Ukraine, and the crisis it's going through due to Russia's invasion.
Support for Ukraine
NDP Leader Andrea Horwath and Liberal MPP Stephen Blais both nudged the government to more strongly back Ukraine, including by asking it to commit to matching donations from Ontarians to causes supporting the country, like the federal government is doing.
In her lead-off question, Horwath pointed out that Ontario is home to 375,000 Ukrainians and their descendants. She then asked if the government would multiply the humanitarian aid it was sending Ukraine tenfold — from $300,000 to $3 million, as New Democrats called for last week.
"We are going to continue to work very closely with our federal partners and continue to provide the maximum assistance to Ukraine," responded Government House Leader Paul Calandra, who fielded Horwath's question in place of Premier Doug Ford, who missed Monday's question period to announce incoming legislation from a Toronto restaurant.
Calandra also said the government had introduced "some sanctions" — which seemed to be a reference to the government directing LCBOs to stop selling Russian vodka — and pointed to plans announced last week to resettle up to 20,000 Ukrainian refugees.
"But I do acknowledge, Leader of the Opposition, more needs to be done," Calandra added. "As we review how we can assist, additional aid will be coming from the province of Ontario."
When asked specifically about possibly starting a donation-matching program, Calandra only said in vague terms that the government was open to ramping up ways it was supporting Ukraine.
"There will be more done and we will help them get through this once and for all," Calandra said in response to Blais.
CanCon concerns
New Democrats used another chunk of their questions to take aim at the government's move to exempt a procurement proposal for Ontario Line subway trains from usual Canadian content requirements.
Typically, the government has to spend 25 per cent of transit vehicle costs on Canadian-made products. But it's only requiring 10 per cent be spent on Canadian content in the case of Ontario Line's cars, which the <a href="https://www.ontariondp.ca/news/ford-secretly-cut-canadian-content-transit-vehicles-ontario-line">NDP brought</a> to light last week.
"Why would the premier abandon thousands and thousands of good manufacturing jobs in Ontario?" Horwath asked. "Will he rip up that policy and go back to the 25 per cent requirement?"
In response, Stan Cho, the associate minister of transportation, criticized Horwath and her party for voting against legislation the Progressive Conservatives passed to accelerate the construction of the Ontario Line, which will run almost 16 kilometres through Toronto from Ontario Place to the Ontario Science Centre.
"The NDP voted against the Ontario Line," said Cho, who was Monday's most fiery question period participant.
"They voted against the largest subway expansion in Canadian history and voted against keeping good-paying jobs in Thunder Bay. Speaker, I know the Leader of the Opposition wants just 25 per cent of this multi-billion dollar project to require Canadian content, but we think we can do better. That's why our government is moving forward with 75 per cent Canadian content (on the project), almost 90 per cent of which will be made right here in Ontario."
In a follow-up question, Horwath asked if the government would "rip up" its request for proposal — which fell on deaf ears.
A big buck buddy
Later NDP attempts, this time by MPP Peggy Sattler, to draw answers out of the PCs about why a "deep-pocketed" party donor landed a $440,000-a-year job atop the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) were stymied by Calandra, who wouldn't play ball.
Sattler mentioned the following: that Jeffery Lang, the new WSIB president, was making $66,000 more than the previous president; that Lang would receive seven weeks of paid vacation and a pension; and that Lang was entitled to a full year's salary if his appointment was revoked.
Calandra didn't address any of those points directly.
Instead, he talked about how the government has cut costs at the WSIB, and that it's routinely introduced legislation to cut red tape that impedes business operations.

Your question period briefing: Ukraine spotlighted

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