Maverick MPP Amanda Simard happy to sit as an independent

TORONTO — Independent MPP Amanda Simard, who has made headlines for breaking with Premier Doug Ford’s government over Tory cuts to French-language services, is in no rush to join the Liberals.

“I have not had any discussion with any members of the Liberal party at this point so I don’t see what the big fuss is about,” Simard told the Star in an interview Monday.

But the Glengarry-Prescott-Russell MPP said she feels like the Progressive Conservatives “spit in my face” by eliminating the independent French-language watchdog and cancelling a proposed francophone university.

“They betrayed me. I was parliamentary assistant and not only did I not know, I was not consulted on the decision. I wasn’t even informed,” she said, adding there’s “disconnect” between the PC government and Ontario’s 622,000-member Franco-Ontarian community.

Simard, who took her concerns to Ford, said the Tories effectively forced her out last Wednesday when they stopped her from speaking to a motion by NDP Leader Andrea Horwath on support for French services.

“They prevented me from speaking and then they refused to record my vote, which didn’t even change the final result,” the rookie MPP said of the largely symbolic motion the PC majority defeated. “I do feel I was pushed out in a way because they didn’t want me to do my job anymore. We don’t feel free to say anything. I do feel like this was a slap in the face ... You’ve got to do what’s right for your riding. I didn’t go to law school ... let alone get elected to clap when I’m told.”

That led her last Thursday to quit the Tory caucus and sit as an Independent. “I didn’t even think about where I was going to go after. I just thought ‘this is so wrong.’ My constituents are very happy. They feel ... ‘we elect people to speak out and if they don’t do that, there’s no point (in MPPs), we should just be electing a premier.’”

Interim Liberal leader John Fraser confirmed there have been no formal discussions with Simard about her joining his seven-member caucus. “It’s like leaving your family. She’s just left her family — it’s a really tough decision. She’s got to decide what she wants to do and we respect that,” said Fraser.

Still, the government is rushing a change to official party status amid fears Simard will join the Liberals.