Wynne Liberals working to change the channel at Queen's Park

I think what is driving people crazy is that the Opposition parties are not focusing on the real issues of the day.

Thatscolding came from Ontario Liberal House leader Yasir Naqvias yet another morning question period at theLegislature was winding down and the Opposition wasstill only asking about what they're calling the Sudbury by-electionscandal.

• Adding up a scandal: the Sudbury byelection by the numbers

• Liberal's Glenn Thibeault in the spotlight at Queen's Park

• Train carrying crude oil derails near Gogama, Ont.

The allegations of bribery in connection with theFeb. 5byelection have prompted an almost unprecedented, non-stop attack on the Wynne governmentby the Conservatives andNew Democrats, to theexclusion of all other issues.

The byelection created controversy when the Liberals appointed former NDP MPGlenn Thibeaultas their candidate instead of Andrew Olivier, who ran and lost in the 2014 election.Olivier made headlines in December when he alleged Liberal Party members had offered hima job or an appointment to step aside. Ontario Provincial Policeand Elections Ontario are investigating the claims.

Thibeault won the byelection, giving the Liberals a coveted seat in Northern Ontario.

Liberals turn to setup questions

The issue has been daily Opposition fodder since the byelection, but theLiberals have now clearly decided they will not sit back andallow themselves to become political punching bags atQueens Park.

And sothey are fighting back with a tried and true practiceof governments of allpolitical stripes to get something on the record: the setup question from the backbench.

Case in point: the freight train derailment at Gogamaandthe questions that it raises about the state of railsafety in this province.

In normal times at Queens Park this would have been anissue for the Opposition, even though rail safety falls within federal jurisdiction.Butwith not a single question being asked, the Liberalsdecided to ask themselves about it.

Liberals deflect to rail safety, and the federal government

The issue was handed to Ottawa Liberal MPP John Fraserwho,with scripted questions firmly in hand,rose inthe House to ask about Gogama.

Frasers first question was for Environment MinisterGlenn Murray.

Im very glad to get a question that Ontarians careabout, said Murray, knowing full-well it was comingfrom Fraser, getting in a verbal jab at the Opposition.

Murray went on to express his concern about thishorrifying crash andto wag a ministerial finger at theHarper government, saying Gogama draws attention tothe need for greater federal government action on railsafety.

Murray sat down to the applause of his Liberalcolleagues.

ButFraser wasnt done. He had a plannedsupplementary question that included his jab at the Harpergovernment which, in hisview, needs to do more toimprove rail safety.

The question that followed was for Murray. Buthe passed it on to Transportation Minister Steven Del Duca,who rose to thank Fraser for asking this very importantquestion." Del Duca then assured MPPsthat he would contact hisfederal counterpartLisa Raitt to ensure she knew of theprovinces serious concerns about rail safety.

Del Duca sat down to the applause of Liberal MPPs. Mission accomplished.

What is interesting and intended by the strategy is that Del Duca, Murray and Fraser all managed to slam theOpposition for dwelling on Sudbury while raising questions about theHarper government and its commitment to rail safety.

Will the strategy work?

Thisapproach will likely be used again by theLiberals to change the channelduring question period as the Opposition staysdialed inon Sudbury.

But, is either side winning in the battle for the heartsand minds of Ontarians?

MPPs will get a chance to find out next week in the real world as they take a kind of parliamentary "readingweek" breakaway from the Legislature to talk tovoters in their ridings.

Whatever they hear will be brought back to Queens Parkandmay determine what makes it onto the agenda.

But dont be surprisedif on the morning of March 23 Speaker Dave Levac says time for oralquestions andthe channel hasnt changed.