Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty has resigned in a surprise move but that hasn't stopped local MPP Jim McDonell from demanding answers.
The local Conservative MPP said in an interview from Toronto that it became clear as time went on something was up at Queen's Park.
"You could see the last couple of weeks he's been trapped," said McDonell, who added many in Ontario should be angry over what critics say is mismanagement at the top levels of the Liberal government. "People should be furious.
"What's he hiding? What's this all about?"
McGuinty has been under fire recently for a wage freeze his Liberals want to impose on public sector workers, and the opposition accused senior cabinet ministers of misleading the legislature by insisting that they had disclosed all documents relating to two cancelled power plants when in fact they were aware that was not the case.
The Progressive Conservatives initiated a process that could ultimately lead to cabinet ministers being found in contempt of Parliament, when the Tories suggested there is evidence government members misled the legislature.
Critics, including McDonell, have charged that McGuinty offered specific contractors millions of dollars to avoid lawsuits after the governing Liberals pulled the plug on the power projects.
"What's he hiding? What's worse than that?" said McDonell.
McGuinty has been Liberal party leader for 16 years and premier for the last nine. He will keep his Ottawa seat as an MPP after a new leader is selected and until the next election take place.
McDonell is convinced another election will take place in the spring, given the trouble the minority Liberals find themselves in.
Local NDP supporters welcomed McGuinty's decision.
"The McGuinty government has grown tired and out of touch with everyday Ontarians. The Liberal Party was going to lose the next provincial election under the leadership of Dalton McGuinty," said local NDP riding asociation president Brian Lynch. "The prorogation of the Ontario legislature by Premier McGuinty shutting down the Ontario legislature is a desperate move to buy time for the Liberal Party to renew itself and to avoid debate in the Ontario legislature.
"The Ontario legislature should be open and our MPPs should be working to create good jobs, improve public health care, create a fairer taxation system, and make life more affordable for everyday Ontarians."
Former local Liberal MPP Jim Brownell thanked McGuinty in an online post.
"Thank you, Mr. Premier, my friend," said Brownell. "I truly appreciate your support and encouragement, as I worked on behalf of the citizens of Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry, as MPP."
