Question period returns to normal

It was the calm after the storm.

The Progressive Conservatives returned to answering NDP questions in the legislature on Wednesday after refusing to do so amid unsubstantiated claims a New Democrat mocked a Tory MPP’s Pakistani accent the day before.

Premier Doug Ford and Finance Minister Vic Fedeli (Nipissing) maintain they heard NDP House Leader Gilles Bisson (Timmins) “mimicking” PC MPP Kaleed Rasheed during question period on Tuesday.

Bisson denied the charges, and there is no video or audio proof of any such heckling.

Speaker Ted Arnott and journalists in the chamber — including three Toronto Star reporters — did not hear the alleged mockery.

Still, Government House Leader Todd Smith (Bay of Quinte) refused to answer any questions from the NDP in the chamber on Tuesday.

Smith said Wednesday that the issue was a hot topic at the Tory caucus meeting.

“The caucus has decided that it’s in the best interests of everyone moving forward that we move ahead with our government’s agenda, so there will be question period today,” he told reporters.

Rasheed, who also did not hear the alleged mimicry, said he told Ford that he wanted to let the issue rest.

“I requested the premier and ... Todd Smith that we should continue with the question and answer period today. I really appreciate that they said that’s all good and let’s move on and work for the people of Ontario,” said the rookie Mississauga East-Cooksville MPP.

Prior to question period, the Speaker warned MPPs on both sides of the House to cool it.

But with Ford absent from the legislature, things were calmer.

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath said the premier being away helped lower the temperature.

Horwath defended Bisson, noting the veteran member had nothing to apologize for because “his heckle was clearly something that the government twisted into something inappropriate.”

“It wasn’t. I was sitting right beside him. He did not do what he was accused of doing, and that’s the end of the story,” said the NDP leader.

“They falsely accused him. They were lying about what he said to meet their own political purposes, which is a shameful thing,” Horwath said, expressing satisfaction that the legislature returned to normal function Wednesday.

“I don’t know if it’s a matter of capitulation or not.”

Bisson, who speaks with a Franco-Ontarian accent, said he was merely saying “thank you for cancelling democracy” while Rasheed was asking a question Tuesday about the Tories’ decision to slash Toronto council from 47 members to 25.