I appreciate the opportunity to interact with my friend from Ottawa South. We always have a good time in the House here. I appreciate the fact that we sit on the same side of the House so that we can develop that relationship.

He brought up the question of carbon tax, and I watched with interest an interview a few weeks ago with the Liberal leader, Bonnie Crombie. She was asked specifically about the carbon tax, because obviously we’ve had a member here in the House from the Liberal independents say that Ontarians know that they’re better off because of the carbon tax.

The Liberal leader was asked point blank whether she supported the carbon tax or not, and she didn’t have an answer to that question. She had hoped to go on a listening tour across Ontario to hear from Ontarians what they thought of the carbon tax. I was wondering if the member, because I know he spent time as the interim leader, probably very commonly in contact with Bonnie Crombie—if she has had the chance and if he had an interim report on what she has heard about the carbon tax from the people of Ontario out on the street.

He wasn’t quite clear on that, so I was wondering if he could say in the House if he’s personally supportive, and if he believes that the people of Ontario are better off because of the carbon tax.

I would like to thank the member from Ottawa South for his presentation on the get nothing done act. This bill is what has been described by quite a number of people as “performative,” and especially when you look at the toll prohibition on roads that don’t currently have a toll, and not removing the tolls on roads that currently do.

I wonder: Would the member like to make any comments about the performative nature and the vacuous nature of this bill, rather than legislation that actually achieves its desired goals?

Well, here’s what I’d say: I think the people of Ontario and the people of Ottawa would be better off if the Conservative candidate who didn’t win in Kanata–Carleton didn’t get a six-figure job and didn’t have an office that costs $1.7 million annually.

I’ve got a feeling we should have a poutine party here. I think we should have a poutine party in the Legislature, and we should have a bunch of different types of gravy. I’ll take any recommendations as to what kind of gravy or names for gravy that we could test out. I’d like to do that, if people are willing.

I know the Premier wants to make a nice announcement. I know he wants to be a good guy and make everybody happy, but you’ve got to deliver the things that people need to know so they don’t actually end up getting penalized. And that was the problem.