Queen’s Park begins five-month summer break after sitting for 29 days

Premier Doug Ford and his government ran into plenty of turbulence on Tuesday as they began an extended summer break.

The opposition said even Ford’s own MPPs are starting to turn against him over things like his cancelled purchase of the so-called “gravy plane.”

Ford says this is not a vacation and that he and his MPPs will be working hard over the summer.

The provincial government is not due back in the legislature until Oct. 27.

The opposition says that means there is no chance to hold the government to account for decisions like buying luxury jets.

With the lieutenant-governor wrapping up business as the government prepared for a long summer break, interim Liberal Leader John Fraser delivered his version of an airmail send-off over the premier’s failed $30-million airplane purchase.

Fraser says Ford did not see the humour in the paper airplane given to him.

“He told me where I could put it. Colourful. I’ll leave it at that,” Fraser says. “I want to leave it to your imagination.”

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For their part, the opposition was outraged that the legislature was taking a 143-day break after sitting for only 29 days.

“This is a morally and financially bankrupt government,” NDP Leader Marit Stiles said during question period. “No relief at the grocery store, no relief at the gas pump.”

The government defended its record during question period.

“We care about the people. We led North America, Madam Speaker, North American job creation in April,” Premier Doug Ford said in question period.

Despite cheers later as Ford went into a caucus meeting, the opposition says his own Progressive Conservative MPPs are turning against him. It follows the departure announcement of Treasury Board President Caroline Mulroney.

“The premier’s own caucus can’t stomach that he bought a private luxury jet and that he chose that as a priority,” Stiles said.

The opposition also says Brantford-Brant MPP Will Bouma was moved out of the position of Conservative caucus chair for expressing opposition to Ford’s decisions.

“Someone in his caucus who’s well respected and liked stands up and tells him his luxury jet thing is not so good, literally the next afternoon is canned, fired,” Fraser said.

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The premier praised Bouma but would not say if he is angry with him.

“What we discuss in cabinet and in caucus stays there,” Ford said.

Despite controversies like the gravy plane, political analyst Keith Leslie says the Ford government is starting the summer with solid public support.

“Even though he’s in his third term and he’s got a lot of baggage right now, he seems to be holding his own pretty well,” Leslie says. “Being Doug Ford, admitting the mistake on the airplane was exactly the right thing to do.”

The government says the five-month summer break it is taking is needed to avoid Ontario’s municipal elections on Oct. 26.

“We’re going to be very, very busy in the inter-session and then we don’t want to interfere in the municipal elections,” Government House Leader Steve Clark said.

The opposition is not buying it.

“The only reason we’re not here is because Doug Ford can’t take the heat. They can’t take the heat,” Fraser said.

The opposition says the Ford government has never hesitated before to interfere in municipal affairs as they head off for a summer break that takes them almost right up to Halloween.

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