Silencing, spending, sextupling

And who Team Crombie likes for mayor

ABOVE THE FOLD

MUZZLED — Independent women MPPs are fighting back against the Tories move to silence them on the eve of International Women’s Day.

Procedural games: As she does most days, Liberal LUCILLE COLLARD tried to get unanimous consent from the House for the Independents to speak to ministerial statements on Women’s Day. Since the Grits, Greens and unaffiliated Independents don’t have enough seats for recognized status, they don’t automatically get as much legislative speaking time or resources in the House. Collard routinely moves unanimous consent motions to allow the Independent crew more speaking time, but she’s regularly shot down.

Wednesday was no different. Speaker TED ARNOTT heard a “no” and so Collard’s request to deliver remarks for Women’s Day was killed.

The Liberals claim the “no” came from PC House Leader PAUL CALANDRA. Indeed, it sounded like Calandra’s voice, but it wasn’t caught on camera. Calandra may be the culprit in this case, but he’s not the only one that…