A couple of weeks ago, the Ford government increased the number of seats necessary for official party status in the Ontario legislature to 12 from 10. Today, the Toronto Star reports the reason for that move:
The Progressive Conservatives fear some disgruntled MPPs are set to cross the floor to join the Liberals, the Star has learned.
“There are at least two we’re concerned about,” a senior Conservative insider said, speaking like others from the Liberals and PCs on condition of anonymity in order to discuss internal machinations.
“We’ve been watching this closely,” the PC source said, declining to reveal which MPPs are suspected of plotting to defect except to say that two are from the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area.
But this week, Ford's MPP from the riding next to the Quebec border publicly dissented from Ford's decision to axe the Commissioner for French Language Services:
On Friday, sources close to Ford said there is also mounting concern that eastern Ontario PC MPP Amanda Simard might switch parties.
Simard (Glengarry-Prescott-Russell) made headlines this week by breaking with the government over the elimination of the French-language services watchdog and the cancellation of a new francophone university.
Perhaps that's why late yesterday afternoon Ford announced that Caroline Mulroney was going to be responsible for Francophone Affairs. These folks are driven by their guts, not their heads. There is mutiny in the ranks. That's why they will eventually blow themselves up.
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