Now we know why Premier Ford didn’t have time to appear before the Emergencies Act inquiry: He was busy preparing his latest assault on the charter of rights. Bill 28, which prohibits education workers from striking, also prevents them from petitioning a court to restore the right that was just taken from them; that is, it invokes the Constitution’s “notwithstanding” clause, exempting it from the charter’s scrutiny for the next four years.

This move builds on a record of distrust by not releasing the mandate letters. The principle of transparency would demand that the Premier release these letters. He has chosen not to. He has gone to the Divisional Court, he has gone to the Court of Appeal, he has gone to the Supreme Court of Canada, and he’s even gone to the courts to prevent the people of Ontario from finding out how much all of these court visits are costing. We are learning that his choices against transparency go deeper. This Premier went back to the courts this week to keep the cost of all of these battles a secret.

I bring this up today because the Premier has been asked to testify at the Public Order Emergency Commission in Ottawa. Appearing would be a simple act of transparency. Once again, he has gone to the courts to not testify. But as a basic act of responsible government, he should choose to release the mandate letters, reveal the cost of the court cases around them, and appear before the emergency commission in Ontario. If you want to restore trust and accountability, you actually have to show up and do the hard work.