MPPs defy Doug Ford, re-elect Ted Arnott as speaker of the Ontario Legislature
MPPs have defied Premier Doug Ford's wishes and returned veteran Ted Arnott as speaker of the Ontario Legislature.
Ford had backed challenger Nina Tangri, who was vying to be the first woman to hold the job refereeing the legislative proceedings and overseeing operations at Queen's Park.
But in a secret-ballot vote Monday, the opposition New Democrat, Liberal, and Green MPPs - with a bevy of rebellious Progressive Conservatives - re-elected Arnott, a 32-year Tory MPP who has been speaker since 2018.
The table is now set for Tuesday's throne speech outlining the Tories' agenda for governing over the next four years and Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy's 2022-23 budget.
A visibly unhappy Ford and his cabinet had supported Tangri (Mississauga-Streetsville), a former PC minister who had hoped to smash the last glass ceiling at Queen's Park.
It's a surprise the NDP would vote against a woman of colour - we thought some of their members would pick Nina," said a senior Tory insider, speaking confidentially in order to discuss internal deliberations.
That's as big a story as this (political setback for) the premier."
Asked about the apparent disconnect between New Democrats' diversity push for equity-deserving candidates" in the June 2 election and then rallying behind a white man for speaker, interim NDP Leader Peter Tabuns insisted race wasn't a factor.
We looked at a few things. One was that we were threatened before the vote, and we don't take well to being threatened. We think giving into threats is a bad signal," said Tabuns.
That's a reference to the NDP's disputed claim that government house leader Paul Calandra threatened to strip the party of three deputy speaker roles if it didn't endorse Tangri. Calandra's office said the accusation was entirely untrue."
And secondly, I would say that Ted has had a very strong history of being fair and we felt that that record was one that should be respected and that work should be carried on," Tabuns added.
Arnott, who was nominated by NDP MPP Catherine Fife (Waterloo), insisted there were no hard feelings whatsoever" about the premier's office pushing Tangri.
If you do the math, and you think of the number of opposition members as well as the number of government members, clearly I must have had support on both sides of the house," the Wellington-Halton Hills MPP said.
The most important thing for a speaker, in my opinion, is to be impartial, and to serve all sides of the house and treat all members the same."
Tangri, who was gracious in defeat, rejected suggestions that some MPPs voted against her because she was known to be Ford's choice.
No, I don't believe that," said the second-term MPP.
I think that people felt ... (Arnott) did a good job in the past four years, and they wanted to continue along those lines."
Interim Liberal Leader John Fraser said he was surprised at the result because the government house leader made it very clear that they had a different choice - and he has a lot of power and influence.
The government had said very clearly that they wanted a certain outcome. Obviously, people made their decisions personally," said Fraser.
All eyes now turn to the throne speech and budget.
Sources close to the premier said the speech, which will be read in the legislature by Lt.-Gov. Elizabeth Dowdeswell, will stick with the get it done" theme of the Tories' successful spring re-election campaign.
The mainstays of the government's agenda are the same. We are rebuilding Ontario's economy, getting more people into the skilled trades, and getting shovels in the ground to build homes, roads, transit and other key infrastructure," said a Tory official.
We will reiterate how we are supporting the health care system particularly in light of current pressures. We will be signalling that the context in which the agenda is being implemented is shifting based on global economic trends," the insider said.
After the throne speech, Bethlenfalvy will reintroduce the April 28 budget, which had served as the Tories' re-election platform.
The treasurer will announce an annual five per cent hike to Ontario Disability Support Program payments, which was not part of his record $198.6-billion spending plan.
That $425-million expenditure will presumably affect Bethlenfalvy's COVID-19 pandemic-inflated $19.9-billion deficit.
Ford is not the first premier to be stymied by his own backbenchers in a quest to anoint the first female speaker.
Both Liberal premier Dalton McGuinty in 2011 and Tory premier Mike Harris in 1996 faced resistance from their caucuses.
McGuinty's office wanted former minister Donna Cansfield to become the first female speaker. But the New Democrats and Tories lined up behind Liberal Dave Levac, who won the post 11 years ago.
Similarly, the opposition and government rebels supported Tory Chris Stockwell in 1996 against Harris's preferred choice, Margaret Marland.
Robert Benzie is the Star's Queen's Park bureau chief and a reporter covering Ontario politics. Follow him on Twitter: @robertbenzie
Rob Ferguson is a Toronto-based reporter covering Ontario politics for the Star. Follow him on Twitter: @robferguson1
Kristin Rushowy is a Toronto-based reporter covering Ontario politics for the Star. Follow her on Twitter: @krushowy