McGuinty’s final Queen’s Park flip-flop

(Updated) Just last month he promised to stay, but after 23 years in the legislature, former Ontario premier Dalton McGuinty called it quits.

He says the end of the legislative session is an opportune time to leave. He’s released a statement saying “I leave politics with my idealism intact and a deep sense of gratitude for the opportunity to have served in public life.”

McGuinty’s two page statement makes no mention of his controversial decisions to cancel gas plants in Oakville and Mississauga to save Liberal seats in the 2011 election. His resignation comes as opposition parties demand he appear again before a legislative committee probing the gas plant controversy, and fresh allegations that top Liberal staff in his office and deleted emails to try to cover of the costs of cancelling the projects.

PC leader Tim Hudak doesn’t expect much to change. “The question is what happens with the legacy of debt and job losses. The concern I have is I am seeing more of the same. It might be a different voice that you hear, a different face on the TV screen but the ideas, the policy, the big spending government under Kathleen Wynne is all the same and it’s a shared legacy.”

Peter Tabuns, NDP energy critic: “The last time things got really hot on the gas plant file, he prorogued parliament and said he was not going to sit any longer as premier. The events of the last few days have ratcheted that up substantially. He takes the next step, resigns as MPP. I think you can draw your own conclusions.”

Premier Wynne also released a statement today saying “I have always valued Dalton’s counsel and look forward to our continued discussions as i endeavour to build on his many wise actions.”

“Dalton has been an unwavering political force since I first entered provincial politics.”

McGuinty’s resignation means premier Wynne has to call three by-elections by mid-august to replace McGuinty as well as former finance minister Dwight Duncan and former energy minister Chris Bentley.

Melissa Raftis has more reaction for McGuinty’s departure.