PC MPP asks for honesty from Minister after receiving telling email on new smoke display law
(Queen?s Park) - Progressive Conservative MPP Peter Shurman (Thornhill) was removed from the Ontario Legislature today after demanding that the Minister of Health Promotion clarify her previous comments regarding her ministry?s actions to implement new cigarette display regulations.
"The Minister stated that her staff is ?reliant on strong partnerships? with convenience store owners," said Shurman. "However, the information I have is exactly the opposite."
Shurman?s office received an email from the president of the Ontario Convenience Stores Association expressing concern that "the over 200 tobacco enforcement officers will use their heavy hand of the law approach on small businesses without any assistance or compassion for the timeline predicament we are in." The email came 24 hours before the Minister of Health Promotion stood in the House and said her ministry is "working with all partners to ensure a smooth implementation" of the new legislation.
"The Ontario Convenience Store Association is clearly no partner. This association sounds like a beleaguered victim - and it is," added Shurman.
After failing to receive a direct answer in the Legislature after asking the Minister to correct her statement, Shurman asked the Minister to admit she was deliberately misleading the House. Stating that he had irrefutable evidence in hand and that he would not withdraw his comment "misled", Shurman was removed from the Legislature.
"It is the job of the Opposition stand up for the little guy and hold the government to account," said Shurman after his removal. "I have no regrets in doing just that today. Ontarians need to know that what the McGuinty Liberals say and what they do are two completely different things and our party will stand up for Ontarians."