Ontario MPs return to Toronto today after the longest recess in nearly a quarter century. That's due to the federal election campaign. Politicians normally return for the fall session in early September, but had a five-month break. Premier Doug Ford's Conservative government returns not only to the new session, but to a different political landscape than when Queen's Park was shuttered in June.
Premier Doug Ford shuffled his cabinet last spring in what was a major reset for his government, which had been plagued by months of public backlash and negative headlines. The criticism was mostly due to funding cuts and a $30-million court battle against the federally mandated carbon tax -- a fight the province says it intends to continue. The Tories are promising to strike a new tone this session, with House Leader Paul Calandra saying the government wants to move away from the partisan squabbles and regular standing ovations that were a fixture in the legislature during its first year in power.
