Unacceptable

“Affront to democracy.” “Political lockout.” “Cowardly move.”
In the high-stakes world of politics, we’ve come to accept overblown rhetoric as part of the theatrics. But in the case of Dalton McGuinty’s surprise resignation Monday evening, and equally shocking decision to prorogue the legislature while the Liberal Party chooses his successor, the verbal barrage being fired his way is bang on.
Mr. McGuinty can prattle on about the need for a “cooling off” period, and a desire to seek co-operation in implementing a wage freeze for the broader public service, but the timing smacks of a much more selfish reason: to shield the Liberals from the growing fall-out over a series of scandals, particularly the cancellation of two gas plants in southern Ontario.
What we have here is a blatant hijacking of our parliamentary system, not for the good of the province but to serve the best interests of a political party. There is no reason why MPPs should be left twiddling their collective thumbs­—perhaps for months—while the Liberals choose a new leader.
An interim leader could have been named, allowing legislation to be proposed while the opposition parties continue their important job of keeping tabs on the government.
Instead, despite so many challenges facing Ontario, Mr. McGuinty opted to take a convenient “time-out.”
That’s unacceptable—and Ontarians should be outraged.