Question Period: Tuesday, Oct. 5

They're baaack!

With DOUG FORD a no-show, the PCs flexed their front bench strength for the first Question Period of the new fall session, with Ministers CHRISTINE ELLIOTT, ROD PHILLIPS, STEPHEN LECCE, and PAUL CALANDRA hitting back Oppo questions as the Premier was travelling back from his Monday jaunt to Timmins.

It was a more organic, less talking-points heavy affair, including a cross-aisle shouting match resulting in warnings for Calandra, NDP Leader ANDREA HORWATH, and Independent ROMAN BABER; talk of a provincial holiday for Truth and Reconciliation; Horwath’s reference to a “nothing-burger” budget; and an impassioned spiel from Labour Minister MONTE MCNAUGHTON about how he’s “damn proud” of how Ontario is navigating the pandemic.

THE HIGHLIGHTS: $800-million cut to education — Rapid tests for schools too little, too late — Recruiting and retaining more PSWs — Supporting Baber’s Jobs and Jabs bill — Making Truth and Reconciliation Day a holiday — Putting big-box stores ahead of small biz — ‘Do…