TIMMINS, ON – Today, Northern Ontario NDP MPPs launched a campaign to recall the Ontario Legislature and get MPPs back to work.

“Last September, Ontarians sent 107 MPPs from across the province to do an important job. But earlier this week, the Liberals decided that they were more interested in their party’s problems than the issues facing the province, and they shut down the Legislature,” said Timmins-James Bay MPP and NDP House Leader, Gilles Bisson.

The legislative shut down means all current bills and motions are lost, including a review of Local Health Integration Networks, a government bill to prevent future scandals like Ornge, and all Private Members’ Bills.

“When they closed the doors of Queen’s Park, a lot of important work ceased, including an investigation into the cancellation of the Mississauga and Oakville gasplants. It’s obvious to everyone that the scandal was spiraling out of control, and kicking us out of Queen’s Park was the easiest way to stop it,” said Bisson.

“With McGuinty shutting down the Legislature, the North’s only representation in government right now is from two Liberal MPPs-one of them Rick Bartolucci who hurt the North by shutting down the Ontario Northlander and Michael Gravelle who hurt the North by shutting down 10 provincial parks,” said Bisson. “People are rightly concerned that the Liberals are not showing respect for the North by shutting out their elected representatives from Northern Ontario.”

“Northerners are more concerned about jobs, health care, transportation, and wasteful government scandals than they are about the provincial Liberal leadership race.” said Bisson. “The Premier should listen to the people of Ontario and get MPPs back to work.”

Gilles Bisson was joined at today’s launch by Nickel Belt MPP France Gélinas, Timiskaming-Cochrane MPP John Vanthof, and Algoma-Manitoulin MPP Michael Mantha. The ‘MPPs Back to Work’ campaign urges Ontarians to apply pressure on the government to recall the legislature. People can join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter, online at a new website, via petitions, and by contacting their local MPP directly.

Facebook:                        facebook.com/MPPsBackToWork

Twitter hashtag:                 #MPPsBackToWork