Opposition pushing to remove former Ontario PC MPP from committee chair role

The Ontario NDP is seeking to remove the chair of the legislature’s justice committee from her position after she was expelled from the government caucus for meeting with a far-right English leader.

NDP MPP Kristyn Wong-Tam will introduce a motion at Wednesday’s standing committee on justice policy to remove Ottawa Carleton MPP Goldie Ghamari from her role as chair.

Ghamari was ejected from the Progressive Conservative Party caucus in June following a meeting with far-right English Defence League leader Tommy Robinson.

After facing criticism from the National Council of Canadian Muslims and the NDP, Ghamari claimed she was unaware of Robinson’s controversial history and said the meeting was about discussing the governing regime in Iran.

Ghamari also stated her opposition to Islamophobia and antisemitism in a subsequent statement.

However, Doug Ford’s office later announced Ghamari’s removal from caucus due to “repeated instances of serious lapses in judgement.”

“While this decision did not come easily, it has become clear that MPP Ghamari can no longer continue in her role within our caucus,” the statement said.

Now, the NDP is pushing for Ghamari to be ousted from her leadership position on the justice committee, which oversees ministries such as the attorney general, Indigenous affairs, and the solicitor general.

The motion is expected to be presented at the beginning of the committee session on Wednesday morning.

In response, Ghamari criticized the NDP for rushing the process and accused them of playing politics for their own gain.

“They have no idea what Ontarians actually care about, and they are focusing on me to try and create a wedge issue that doesn’t exist,” Ghamari said in a statement.

The justice committee will convene at 10 a.m. on Wednesday to discuss intimate partner violence.

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