Tories suspended for animated protest over harmonized tax
November 30, 2009

Rob Ferguson
Toronto Star

Ontario's Legislature ground to a halt Monday afternoon because of a protest over Premier Dalton McGuinty's controversial 13 per cent harmonized sales tax.

Owen Sound-area MPP Bill Murdoch of the Progressive Conservatives refused to leave the chamber after being ordered out for using unparliamentary language, with fellow MPPs Randy Hillier and Toby Barret blocking the sergeant-at-arms from escorting him out.

The Tories repeatedly chanted "call public hearings" in a bid to force the Liberals to hold province-wide hearings into the tax – taking effect next July 1 – all as Speaker of the Legislature Steve Peters threatened to eject other Conservatives.

"I'm proud to stand up for the taxpayer," said Murdoch, who was wearing a kilt in Ontario's official tartan.

The incident reminded politicos of a similar protest by former Liberal MPP Alvin Curling in the 1990s, who stayed overnight in the House with a blanket on his lap to cover him as he was believed to have urinated in a bottle.

MPPs joked that the kilt would be convenient for Murdoch if he plans a long vigil.

Both Murdoch and Hillier were suspended from the Legislature for the rest of the session – which means until the government decides to prorogue the House and return with a throne speech in a new session.

That could be months or even until after the next election in 2011.

In the interim, the 25-member Conservative caucus would lose two votes on issues in the House.

"It is a big deal but the reality is the government isn't listening to us," said Conservative house leader Bob Runciman.

"The calculation is we are prepared to lose a number of members."

He said voters shouldn't be turned off by the rambunctiouness.

"People realize the Progressive Conservative caucus is fighting as hard as we can on this tax."

The protest follows last Monday's move by the Tories to walk out of the Legislature's daily question period when McGuinty refused to hold province-wide hearings on the tax.

Public hearings will be held in Toronto only on Thursday and next Monday.