Administrator | Mar 21, 2017 | Comments 21

UPDATED –

Heated debate over the provincial Liberal’s new advertising blitz for lower hydro rates got Prince Edward Hastings MPP Todd Smith escorted out of the legislature Tuesday.

Monday, the PCs asked the Speaker of the House to find the government in contempt because the campaign is under way before the legislation to cut the rates has been introduced.

Smith, the PC Energy Critic, was standing ground Tuesday and continued to make points on the issue of the Liberals spending taxpayer money for self-congratulatory advertising for a plan that has not yet been passed.

“The recent actions by the government with regard to advertising are unacceptable,” said Smith, noting the Minister of Energy admitted Monday that the government had spent close to a million dollars already in advertisements.

“Let us be clear, this is an exercise being undertaken by the government to improve its political fortunes not to inform Ontarians about new programs. The ad mentions no new programs that people can access or ways to access them.”

Advertising on radio stations across the province tells listeners people will receive an average of 25 per cent off their hydro bills this summer. Auditor General Bonnie Lysyk said Friday the ‘pat-on-the-back’ ads likely wouldn’t have been approved under old rules changed by the Ontario Liberals in 2015.

Ontario PCs say the ads are in contempt of parliament since no legislation has been tabled or passed. The Liberals contend it’s important to let everyone know the 25 per cent reduction is coming. The Speaker will rule at a later time.

Lysyk cautioned in her previous annual report the rule change would end up with taxpayers footing the bill for millions of dollars in partisan advertising.

Smith said that if the government wishes to campaign, it is free to do so with the money in Party coffers.

“It should leave taxpayers, and electricity ratepayers, since they’re usually the same person that they have already overburdened, out of it. Taxpayers should know exactly how much of their money the government is spending on these ads and whether the government will actually restore the Auditor General’s ability to reject ads viewed as inappropriately partisan.

“It was this concern that I felt needed to be emphasized in Question Period.”

Speaker Dave Levac threatened to expel Smith Tuesday over the incident but stopped short and warned the House he would not tolerate any disrespectful behaviour. Expulsion would have left Smith out of the house for the session (until June). MPPs often get ejected for a day, but expulsion is more rare.