Ontario's Liberal government delivered a policy speech on Wednesday full of plans to improve education and health care, but the promises were overshadowed by the sudden resignation of the Canadian province's finance minister.
The Speech from the Throne arrived one day after Finance Minister Greg Sorbara resigned amid news that he was part of a police investigation into allegations of wrongdoing at building-products maker Royal Group Technologies Ltd. (RYG.TO: Quote, Profile, Research), where Sorbara was once a director.
Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty said his government will not allow the unexpected cabinet shuffle that resulted from the resignation to interfere with promises to lower the high school dropout rate and shorten waiting times for patients.
"I won't allow anything to act as any kind of impediment, obstacle, hurdle or challenge that we will not overcome in order to ensure that we are delivering on our plan to improve quality of life for the people of Ontario," McGuinty told reporters after the Throne Speech.
Sorbara, who was a director at Royal Group until late 2003, when he took up his post with the Liberal government, has said allegations against him are groundless.
