Efforts by Opposition members to prioritize democratic reform and investigate the provincial election were met with a cool response in the House of Assembly today.

Less than a week after stressing the importance of cooperation during difficult times, government would not commit to either restarting the committee on democratic reform nor Paul Lane’s ask for an independent investigation into the election.

Justice Minister John Hogan said an overhaul of the Elections Act will proceed but noted it’s 30-years-old and badly out of date, adding it could take months or years to modernize.

As for Lane’s motion for a public review of the goings-on during the election itself, Premier Andrew Furey noted the motion was quite long and he wants to review it fully before commenting.

On the COVID front, both Furey and Health Minister John Haggie insist the province won’t be sending resources to Ontario that are needed here, adding if cases rise in this province, staff will be recalled in a heartbeat.

Haggie also clarified that teachers are included in the current Phase 2 of vaccine rollout, saying they should all be getting a shot within the next three or four weeks.