Opposition pushes for Surma’s resignation over Ontario Place

Premier Doug Ford’s government is facing demands for its infrastructure minister to be fired over the Ontario Place redevelopment. The opposition is calling for Kinga Surma’s head to roll over what they see as a scandal surrounding Ontario Place.

The government was on the defensive for the second day in a row over the Auditor General’s report, which focused on problems with government decisions and spending.

The day after the Auditor General’s report raised issues around the Ontario Place project, the opposition says the cabinet minister in charge, Infrastructure Minister Kinga Surma, should be fired.

The Auditor General’s report listed a series of problems with the government’s Ontario Place plans.

She said rules and guidelines were not followed, and the project will cost almost two billion dollars more than planned.

The premier left it up to junior members, like Surma’s parliamentary assistant, to defend her and the government.

The Auditor General also focused on the government’s plan to close supervised drug consumption sites like the one in Hamilton.

She said they’ve prevented 1,500 drug overdoses that could have been fatal.

The government is shrugging off the Auditor General’s criticism that its spending on advertising is three times what it was the year before, and that some of its TV ads boost the Progressive Conservatives.

With the government reaching out to the U.S., Premier Ford was interviewed on Fox News.

He talked about the importance of Canada and Ontario to the U.S. and said the relationship can’t be compared to any other country.

He also said President-elect Donald Trump was joking when he said Canada could become the 51st U.S. state and may still be holding a grudge over British soldiers from Canada burning down the White House 212 years ago during the War of 1812.