Ontario Liberals shoot down inquiry into G20

Andrea Horwath recently introduced a private members' bill at Queen's Park to bring about an independent inquiry into what went down at the G20 summit in Toronto earlier this year. Sadly, this bill was voted down handily by both Tories and Liberals. The Liberals' stated reason for opposing an inquiry was that the mess was the feds' fault (why that means the province shouldn't hold an inquiry is unclear to me) while the Tories say it's important to wait until the ongoing whitewash- er, inquiry- completes its work, while disputing (not unreasonably) the Liberals' contention that they had no role in it.

Myself, the biggest question in my mind is why the McGuinty government went along so slavishly with the whole G20 affair in the first place. It would have been very interesting to have the perspective of a fly on the wall of the room where the two levels of government met to plan the operation...

Horwath takes Ontario NDP leadership

This looks like a good thing:

For the first time in three decades Hamilton has a provincial party leader.

Hamilton Centre MPP Andrea Horwath won the leadership of the Ontario NDP in a three ballot contest yesterday.

The last party leader that came from Hamilton was Dr. Stuart Smith. He represented Hamilton West and lead the Liberal party between 1976 and 1982. The bulk of his old riding is now in Horwath's riding.

"Thank you New Democrats," Horwath said, after she was pulled to the stage by supporters when the vote result was announced at about 7:30 p.m.

"I feel great," the 46-year-old mother of one told reporters. "It's been an excellent convention. It's been very exciting."

Horwath received 6,742 votes, or 60 per cent of the total. Toronto-Danforth MPP Peter Tabuns placed second.

Horwath, a Stoney Creek native and former Hamilton councillor, had been in the lead since the first ballot was announced just after 5 p.m. and never faltered.

Her victory comes just one day before International Women's Day.

From the Hamilton Spectator. Truth to tell I don't know that much about her, since I left Ontario before the leadership race and haven't followed it that closely as a result, but my overall impression of her is good, and most of the people I know and respect back in Waterloo supported her, as did Charlie Angus. Maybe this is the start of a new era for the NDP in Ontario. Let's hope so, anyway.

I just got back from the Manitoba NDP convention in Brandon. Plenty of activity, general good vibe... details to follow after I've had time to unwind and get some rest.