Oosterhoff faces a barrage of questions at his swearing in ceremony

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It was a tough first day for Ontario’s youngest MPP ever. Nineteen year-old Sam Oosterhoff may have made history as he was officially sworn in at Queen’s Park, but he faced some tough questions on his opposition to a new law that gives more rights to same-sex parents.

The Niagara West-Glanbrook MPP told the Toronto Star the bill was “horrible legislation.” And it just so happens his swearing-in ceremony took place a day after his peers voted on it.

His absence brought some reporters to ask if he was a homophobe and whether Conservative leader Patrick Brown has a party that’s as inclusive as he thinks.

Oosterhoff says he delayed being sworn in as Niagara-West Glanbrook’s newest MPP to today so that his party of sixty friends and family could attend. But that reasoning didn’t compute with reporters.

“Why wouldn’t you show up to stand up for the one thing you say you believe in?”

That “thing” is the “All families are equal act,” a bill that was passed yesterday and gives same-sex couples more rights. Oosterhoff, who called the bill “horrible” to the Toronto Star, couldn’t vote on it since he wasn’t sworn in. A move that brought many questions about his personal beliefs.

And the criticisms didn’t stop at Queen’s Park.

Earlier today Ward 1 councillor Aidan Johnson, a married gay man, took to Facebook to demand Oosterhoff apologize for what the councillor felt was an attack against Hamilton’s LGBTQ2 community.

“The new legislation proposes protection for children in LGBT families and full equality for LGBT families. sam Oosterhoff has spoken against those principals.”

Conservative leader Patrick Brown says Oosterhoff is aligned with his inclusive beliefs. But the Liberals are wondering if Brown has a divided caucus seeing that a handful of members didn’t even vote on the bill.

“Which one is the real conservative party? The one people like Mr. Oosterhoff who thinks it’s a horrible legislation and would not have the confidence in his conviction to vote for or against the bill or the one mr. brown talks about?”

Brown also mentioned how neither Premier Wynne and NDP Leader Andrea Horwath were present during the vote for Bill 28. As for Oosterhoff, by the end of his first political scrum, he says he looks forward to delivering for the people of Niagara West Glanbrook by taking the Liberals to task on hydro prices and health care.