Ontario’s government appointments committee descended into a procedural fight this Thursday after Progressive Conservative members moved to cancel a slate of summer meetings that opposition MPPs say are necessary to scrutinize provincial appointments during the legislature’s almost five-months long recess.
The clash unfolded at the Standing Committee on Government Agencies, which reviews government nominees to agencies, boards and tribunals before their appointments are finalized.
PC MPP Laura Smith introduced a motion seeking to eliminate meetings scheduled throughout the five-month legislative break, arguing the committee should only be recalled when there are appointments that require review rather than maintaining a standing summer schedule.