New emails reveal how Dalton McGuinty’s aides tried to pressure Speaker over damaging gas plant ruling

Just days before five byelections, this is not what the Ontario Liberals needed.

As explained by the Globe and Mail, the Tories have published a series of emails which suggest that individuals in Dalton McGuinty's inner circle tried to pressure the Speaker of the Legislature to change his mind about a major ruling regarding the 'gas plant 'scandal.'

Five individuals — McGuinty's Chief of Staff Don Guy, McGuinty's then-deputy chief of staff Laura Miller, former chief of staff Chris Morley and the Dalton's brother Brendan McGuinty — were included in the string of emails dated September 21, 2012.

"Speaker needs to follow up on his prima facie finding and change his mind," Guy wrote in one email.

In response, Miller wrote:

"Can, I tweet that these guys are assholes? Probably not. Dave [Gene] is putting the member from Brant on notice that we need better here."

And in another email Guy proposes this intriguing idea:

"We could make this contempt thing a confidence vote like Harper. And drive right by it with our spin."

Copies of the emails can be seen here.

[ Related: Liberals face tough challenge with impending by-elections ]

Ultimately, Levac didn't change his mind, Premier McGuinty resigned and the documents were released.

But clearly, as the opposition Tories claim, Levac's ruling is insignificant at this point.

In a statement released, on Monday, Nepean-Carleton MPP Lisa MacLeod said that the Liberals were trying to "hijack the democratic process" and suggested that this story "raises ethical and legal questions."

"It’s now clear that the same Liberals who spent at least $585 million cancelling gas plants conspired to influence the Speaker of the Legislature. Liberal operatives were obviously ordered to apply pressure to the Speaker as he considered serious charges against Liberals. This is appalling," she said.

"The deeper we get, the worse this cover-up becomes."

Political rhetoric aside, MacLeod is correct.

While a member of a political party, the Speaker — as the arbiter of the House — is supposed to preside over proceedings in an impartial manner. Any covert attempt to influence the Speaker -is inappropriate and unethical at best. It is, as MacLeod states, appalling.

[ Related: Kathleen Wynne on deleted emails, rebuilding trust and being Canada’s first gay premier ]

In an email exchange with the National Post, Guy and Miller both downplayed the emails claiming that they were only trying to ensure that Chirs Bentley wasn't part of a "partisan witch hunt."

Sounds like "spin" to me.

The Globe is also reporting that McGuinty sought a legal opinion from a former Supreme Court Judge about whether the government could quash the Speaker's decision.

"David Livingston, Mr. McGuinty’s former chief of staff, asked retired Supreme Court of Canada judge Ian Binnie last fall whether the government could sue the opposition for defamation and also order a judicial review into the Speaker’s ruling," the article notes.

It seems that McGuinty was pulling out all the stops to save his job.

Ultimately, it will be up to the voters if current Premier Kathleen Wynne can save hers.

(Photo courtesy of the Canadian Press)

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