Queen’s Park Today – Daily Report November 13, 2019

Quotation of the day

“Fun Pass.”

ICYMI the Fall Economic Statement touts a rebranded 2006 program allowing kids free ​ ​ entry to popular attractions across the province.

Today at Queen’s Park

On the schedule MPPs are back in their ridings for a constituency week break; the house convenes on Monday, November 18.

Environmental advocates say Bill 132 ‘bows’ to aggregate industry, hobbles local efforts to control impact on groundwater supply The Ford government is “putting the aggregate industry ahead of people” in its sweeping Bill ​ 132, Better for People, Smarter for Business Act, according to environmental advocates. ​

Of particular concern is Schedule 16, which contains a clause to end the use of municipal zoning bylaws that prevent aggregate operations from digging beneath the water table.

“This change poses a dangerous threat to local groundwater supplies and quality,” advocacy organization Environmental Defence said Tuesday.

Zoning bylaws that prohibit pits and quarries on Crown land would be rendered inoperative, and licence applications would not take into account road damage that may result from truck traffic to and from the site.

Environmental Defence also claims it would be easier for aggregate operators to shake up their operations with a “poorly defined ‘permit by rule’ system that allows for changes for unspecified ‘low risk’ activities.”

“Stripping away the ability of municipalities to protect local groundwater supplies so we can build more roads and subdivisions with virgin materials is a recipe for conflict and environmental damage,” said Keith Brooks, the group’s program director. ​ ​

Brooks charged the government of putting out the proposal after consulting “almost exclusively” with industry stakeholders.

“The proposed changes to the Act that will allow more pits to open with fewer constraints are coming on far too quickly, without the necessary public input or ability for oversight from municipalities,” said Arlene Slocombe of Wellington Water Watchers. ​ ​

Caroline Schultz, executive director of Nature, warned the proposed amendments ​ would permit aggregate extraction in all natural areas outside the Greenbelt that are currently protected, including provincially significant wetlands and woodlands, and the habitat of threatened and endangered species.

They want the government to scrap Schedule 16 and go back to the drawing board.

Natural Resources Minister doesn’t seem keen. His office maintains the draft ​ ​ legislation does not hinder municipalities’ ability to protect source water.

“In fact, we are proposing to strengthen protection of water resources by creating a more robust application process for existing aggregate operations seeking approval to extract below the water table,” spokesperson Justine Lewkowicz said in an email statement. “This would further ​ ​ empower municipalities and others by allowing them to officially object to an application and provide the opportunity to have their concerns heard by the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal.”

Lewkowicz said the government will still consider impacts to surface and ground water resources, including municipal drinking water sources, in approving any would-be operator proposing to extract the water table.

The Ontario Stone, Sand and Gravel Association is supporting the proposed amendments, particularly those that clarify the Aggregate Resources Act takes precedence over municipal ​ ​ zoning bylaws, and those that speed up the time and cost for applications.

“We are aware of examples where an application for an amendment to go below water took over nine years to process. This kind of delay and uncertainty creates tremendous pressure and risk for aggregate operators in Ontario,” Norm Cheesman, executive director of the OSSGA, ​ ​ said in a recent open letter. ​ ​

Moreover, the “expectation” that applicants would contribute to ongoing road maintenance could add a “significant” and “cost prohibitive burden” to the operator, Cheesman said.

But the proposed LPAT appeal option raised eyebrows. “OSSGA members understand the impetus to move to a process that provides an appeal mechanism; however there is a concern that this could result in appeals moving forward without scientific basis, and further increase the length of time for major amendments to receive approval.”

Environmental advocates have sounded alarm bells over other provisions in the PC’s red-tape reduction bill that they say are a blow to environmental protection, including a shift toward administrative fines over prosecutions to penalize polluters.

Environmental Defence says swapping out daily fines for per-contravention fines will make it cheaper for companies to pollute.

Bill 132 is currently being studied by the Standing Committee on General Government, which ​ will hold travelling public hearings from November 19 to 29 in London, Peterborough, Sault Ste. Marie, Kenora and Toronto. It’s due back to the house for third-reading debate by December 4.

Today’s events

November 13 at 9:30 a.m. – Toronto ​ Liberal MPP and leadership hopeful will be in the Queen’s Park media studio to ​ ​ declare gun violence a public health issue and discuss her private member’s bill that would insure intervention and support services for those impacted.

November 13 at 10:30 a.m. – Sault Ste. Marie ​ Finance Minister Rod Phillips and local MPP will make an announcement at the ​ ​ ​ ​ Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre museum.

November 13 at 11:30 a.m. – Toronto ​ Opposition Leader and , NDP critic for Government and ​ ​ ​ ​ Consumer Services, will be in the media studio to discuss a plan “to make the disastrous Tarion program accountable to home-owners.” ● It comes on the heels of Auditor General Bonnie Lysyk’s damning report that showed ​ ​ ​ ​ the provincial regulator for the homebuilding sector’s warranty program has favoured builders at the expense of homebuyers.

November 13 at 12 p.m. – Thunder Bay ​ Indigenous Affairs Minister and Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Alvin ​ ​ ​ Fiddler will make an announcement. ​

November 13 at 12:30 p.m. – Lindsay ​ Education Minister will make an announcement at the Boys and Girls Club of ​ ​ Kawartha Lakes.

November 13 at 2 p.m. – Mississauga ​ Health Minister will make an announcement about the province’s digital health ​ ​ strategy at the Credit Valley Hospital.

November 13 at 2:30 p.m. – Mississauga ​ PC MPP , parliamentary assistant to the minister for seniors , ​ ​ ​ ​ federal Liberal MP Peter Fonseca and local Ward 3 councillor Chris Fonseca will make a ​ ​ ​ ​ funding announcement at the Burnhamthorpe Community Centre.

November 13 at 6 p.m. – Toronto ​ Ontario Liberal leadership contestant Alvin Tedjo’s town-hall tour stops at the Northern ​ ​ Contemporary Gallery tonight. Tedjo was in Ottawa last night.

November 13 to 15 – Toronto ​ The Ontario Chamber of Commerce kicks off its annual economic summit at the Hotel X and ​ ​ Beanfield Centre tonight. Mayor John Tory addresses the crowd today; Premier will ​ ​ ​ ​ deliver remarks tomorrow; and NDP Leader Andrea Horwath will give a speech Friday. Over a ​ ​ dozen cabinet ministers have also RSVPed.

Upcoming events

November 14 at 10 a.m. – Online ​ The Financial Accountability Office will release its report on the 2019-20 expenditure estimates for the Ministry of Transportation on its website.

Topics of conversation

● Paging home-care workers. Home Care Ontario, the sector’s umbrella organization, is billing itself as part of the cure for hallway medicine and urging the provincial government to expand the types of care its workers can provide to patients at home, easing up the burden on overcrowded hospitals. ○ In a new white paper addressing the PC’s incoming Ontario Health Teams, Home ​ ​ Care Ontario also recommends giving home-care providers access to patients’ digital medical records, improving hospital transition planning and increasing the use of technology to remotely monitor patients. ○ The first OHTs will be revealed at the end of the month. ​ ​

● Parents and families will find out today whether Catholic teachers voted to take possible job action if ongoing negotiations with the province and school boards’ association hit a wall.

○ Results from high school teachers are expected Friday; the union could be in a legal position to hit the picket lines on November 18. ○ Elementary teachers will be able to launch a legal strike as of November 25. ○ Negotiations are ongoing and all parties say they want to reach a deal at the bargaining table to avert labour action.

● A group of real estate investors has launched a class-action suit against the provincial government alleging the provincial regulator in charge of mortgage brokers was “negligent” in allowing the sale of risky syndicated mortgage investment products by Tier 1, a company that raised money for real estate developments that have since collapsed or been placed into receivership. ○ According to the Globe and Mail, the lawsuit alleges that the Financial Services ​ ​ ​ Commission of Ontario (in charge of licensing mortgage brokers and rebranded as the Financial Services Regulatory Authority in June) and its top officials “carried out their duties on behalf of FSCO in a negligent manner.” ○ The lawsuit is also a litmus test for the province’s new Crown Liability and ​ Proceedings Act, which adds another hurdle for those seeking to sue the ​ government by requiring them to first convince a judge the case has a reasonable chance of success before it can be heard.

● Conservative Party of Canada Leader Andrew Scheer met with Prime Minister Justin ​ ​ ​ Trudeau for the first time since the October 21 election Tuesday. Scheer released a ​ seven-point list of items he wants to see in Trudeau’s throne speech, scheduled for early ​ December. Funding for GTA transit, “starting with the Ontario Line and Yonge ​ Extension,” is number six on his list. ○ Number one is the establishment of a national energy corridor, which Scheer says could bring Ontario hydroelectricity to new markets. Absent is the demand to axe the carbon tax.

● Ontario Liberal leadership candidate Kate Graham held a campaign rally in Ottawa ​ ​ Tuesday where she laid out some of her policy planks, including bringing universal pharmacare to Ontario, expanding access to abortion in rural areas and opening more safe injection sites across the province.

News briefs — governmental

Ontario lifts moratorium to allow more public college partnerships with private providers Colleges and Universities Minister Ross Romano was at St. Lawrence College Tuesday to ​ ​ announce a new policy that will allow further partnerships between public colleges and private trainers. Currently six colleges in the province have agreements in place with private colleges to jointly educate international students.

● Colleges Ontario president and CEO Linda Franklin lauded the move, saying it “creates ​ ​ new opportunities for international students to acquire the professional expertise to pursue rewarding careers in Ontario.”

Queen's Park Today is written by Sabrina Nanji, reporting from the Queen's Park press gallery.

What did you think of this Daily Report? What else would you like to see here? Email [email protected] and let us know. ​ ​

Copyright © 2018 Queen’s Park Today. It is a violation of copyright to distribute this newsletter without permission.