Queen’s Park Today – Daily Report August 14, 2020

Quotation of the day

“If you're doing moonshine in a bathtub, you can't be selling the stuff.”

Premier reacts to illegal pot grow-ops after the OPP performed a raid on one in ​ ​ Jordan Station Thursday.

Today at Queen’s Park

Written by Sabrina Nanji

On the schedule The house reconvenes on Monday, September 14.

In the park A rally for tougher penalties for impaired and dangerous drivers is scheduled to take place on the legislature's lawn Sunday afternoon. The event was organized in support of Karolina ​ Ciasullo's family, the mother who tragically died along with her three young daughters Klara, ​ ​ ​ Lilianna and Mila in a car crash in Brampton in June. A bail hearing for the perpetrator is slated ​ ​ ​ for next week.

Premier watch Doug Ford's summer road trip doubled back to the Windsor-Essex area on Thursday (where he ​ also got his first haircut of the pandemic last month).

Ford was in town to highlight $30 million for municipalities to build, repair and retrofit local roads and bridges via the Connecting Links program.

The premier toured the Ford engine plant in Windsor, which had retooled to make face shields early in the pandemic. During a stop at a Catholic church, he met with members of the Lebanese community to show support in the wake of the Beirut explosion.

He also hobnobbed with a fleet of local mayors to discuss the region’s move into Stage 3 on Wednesday. Last stop: the Chatham Children’s Treatment Centre, where he thanked front-line staff.

Liberal Leader Steven Del Duca's own summer tour was also in Windsor to discuss ​ ​ back-to-school plans and he challenged Ford to "stop campaigning" and instead join in on his education roundtable. Ford's spokesperson Ivana Yelich shot back, saying she found the ​ ​ ​ ​ "irony" astonishing.

Province unlocks $500M "rainy day" fund for schools as unions contend plan violates health and safety act four big teacher unions are alleging the Ford government's back-to-school plan violates the Occupational Health and Safety Act and are demanding a meeting with Labour Minister ​ ​ Monte McNaughton to discuss the matter by next Friday. ​

Their letter to the minister was released moments before an announcement from Education Minister allocating more funding for ventilation systems and online learning, ​ ​ and allowing school boards greater access to $496 million of their reserve funding to hire more staff and create more distancing, including by leasing out extra spaces for classrooms.

There will be $50 million to upgrade ventilation and $18 million to help facilitate online learning.

School boards will also be able to access two per cent of their "rainy day" reserve funding. That's more than the one per cent they were directed to use before accessing the $30 million previously earmarked for hiring additional staff earlier this month.

Lecce said the province will provide $11 million to top up four boards that do not have money stores. However, the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario says it's closer to 40 boards.

The TDSB, which has $131 million in contingency cash set aside for things like health benefits and ongoing projects, said using up the funds would create "future financial risks" for the board. "It would not be prudent or good financial management if we were to use a large amount of reserve funds to cover the entire cost of smaller class sizes," it said.

Top doc defends plan as safe under current Covid conditions The unions — ETFO, the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation, Association des enseignantes et des enseignants franco-ontariens, and Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association — argue that the back-to-school plan does not take every reasonable step to protect teachers and education workers as required by law. They noted a lack of scientific consensus on how COVID-19 impacts children and their rate of transmission.

"The Direction does not meet basic and essential health and safety requirements and exposes our members to risks that threaten not just their own health and lives, but also, at a minimum, the health and lives of their students and their family members," their letter reads.

But chief medical officer of health Dr. David Williams stood by the plan, saying he wouldn't ​ ​ have signed off on reopening schools if those risks existed, which he doesn't see at the moment with case counts trending down. That said, Williams noted he'll be keeping a close eye on the situation.

Lecce accused the unions of "obstructing" the return to school.

Opposition critics wanted to know why Lecce waited until four weeks before the school year begins to open up the reserves.

"Now with just weeks to go boards are expected to upgrade their ventilations systems, and find adequate spaces that are safe for our children to learn," said Green Leader . ​ ​

NDP Health critic France Gélinas said the announcement "offers absolutely no comfort at all to ​ ​ parents, school staff and students who are anxious and afraid about sending their children back to crowded classrooms in September."

Liberal Leader Steven Del Duca said allowing boards to tap into their own reserves "is not a ​ ​ plan. It's a half-baked attempt to get a homework assignment in after the deadline."

Today’s events

August 14 at 10:30 a.m. – Watford ​ , parliamentary assistant for agriculture, food and rural affairs, will make an ​ announcement alongside PC MPPs Monte McNaughton and . ​ ​ ​ ​

August 14 at 1 p.m. – Ontario ​ Premier Doug Ford will hold his daily briefing on the road or at Queen's Park. ​ ​

Topics of conversation

● There was a big asterisk next to Ontario's daily Covid case count of 78 yesterday. ○ Because Toronto Public Health data wasn't available, 78 is an "underestimation," however, top doc David Williams said the actual number is still likely below 100. ​ ​ ○ No new deaths were reported.

● Meanwhile, Williams warned people are getting "casual" about public health measures, which fuelled an outbreak at Deerhurst resort in Muskoka. The local public health unit

reported that a group of 30 visited cottage country and since then, 11 have tested positive for the virus. ○ A Huntsville restaurant also had to close its doors after an infected person dined ​ there. ​ ○ Williams also warned people are partying with international visitors who aren't quarantining for the required 14 days.

● Tourism Minister Lisa MacLeod is once again under police protection after receiving ​ ​ "threatening" emails and a "mischievous incident" involving her vehicle soon after she spoke out against harassment of women politicians on the radio. ​ ​ ○ MacLeod got a show of support from across the aisle. "The recent string of attacks and harassing behaviour against [federal] Minister Catherine McKenna, ​ ​ Minister Lisa MacLeod and Ottawa Deputy Mayor Laura Dudas is a disturbing ​ ​ reminder that women leaders in every sector are still subjected far too often to violent, abusive behaviour," NDP Leader said. ​ ​ ○ It isn't the first time MacLeod has needed a police detail; last year a mother of an autisitc boy pled guilty after sending harassing and threatening emails to the minister when she was in charge of the file.

● Caesars Windsor and other casinos might get lucky when it comes to easing the 50-person limit on indoor gatherings, which they say is not viable for their reopening. ​ ​ Premier Doug Ford said the issue came up at the cabinet table this week. "Let's take ​ ​ sections of the casino and let 50 go in, and another 50 in another section. It's critical, there's a lot of jobs over there," he told reporters from Windsor. "Hopefully, very very shortly, we'll have an announcement that we're going to get the casinos going too." ○ The PC’s March mini-budget projected OLG revenues would drop majorly this year, mostly because of shuttered casinos. ○ The province has already eased the cap for movie theatres, allowing 50 people per screen, instead of the entire cinema.

● Word on how $1 billion in transit cash should be spent in Hamilton is expected in the fall, once a review of the review conducted by the special task force wraps up. The PCs put $1 billion back on the table after pulling the plug on the LRT project, citing higher-than-expected costs that have since come into question. The government then ​ ​ struck a special task force to study alternatives, which recommended an LRT or rapid bus transit. Those recommendations are currently undergoing a "technical review" by IBI Group, according to the Spec. ​ ​ ​

● Ontario Power Generation reported a 30 per cent increase in its net income in the ​ second quarter, compared with last year. Thanks to higher electricity generation and a previously approved rate hike, the company garnered $458 million in Q2, up from $351 million during the same period in 2019.

● The Goldilocks effect: A fresh Angus Reid poll suggests most Ontarians — 53 per cent ​ ​ — think the government's restrictions to keep the coronavirus in check are just right. Another 30 per cent say restrictions don't go far enough, while 18 per cent say they go overboard.

News briefs

Province launches consultation on digital privacy laws ● The government is on the hunt for advice on how to improve its privacy protection laws, Government Services Minister Lisa Thompson announced Thursday. ​ ​ ○ A number of potential moves are up for consideration, including increasing the privacy watchdog’s enforcement powers when it comes to businesses that break the law; giving consumers the right to request online information about them be deleted; and requiring tech firms to ensure users “opt-in” when their data is being used for secondary purposes. ○ An online survey is open until October 1.

Appointments and employments

Navigator ● Jenessa Crognali has exited Attorney General 's office and rejoined ​ ​ ​ ​ Navigator as a senior consultant. Crognali worked as the AG's senior communications adviser and press secretary from last April to this August before returning to her old stomping grounds.

Lobbyist registrations

Consultants who registered as lobbyists from August 7 to 13, 2020

● Rob Gilmour, Counsel Public Affairs Inc. ​ o Clients: Envision SQ Inc., Impact Auto Auctions Ltd., Emergent BioSolutions Canada Inc. (formerly Adapt Pharma Canada Ltd.), Merit National Open Shop Advocacy

● Philip Dewan, Counsel Public Affairs Inc. ​ o Clients: Toyota Canada Inc.

● Michael Diamond and Christopher Chapin, Upstream Strategy Group ​ ​ ​ o Clients: Bayshore HealthCare Ltd.

● Alex Simakov, Sussex Strategy Group ​ o Clients: Atlantic Power Corporation

● Paul Pellegrini, Sussex Strategy Group ​ o Clients: Event Venue Coalition

● Christina Marciano, Sussex Strategy Group Inc. ​ o Clients: Cordelio Power

● Joseph Ragusa, Sussex Strategy Group ​ o Clients: The Corporation of the County of Wellington

● Brett McDermott, Collaborative Ideas Incorporated ​ o Clients: Tools & Fasteners INC.

● Jeffrey Bangs, Jerry Khouri and Jim Burnett, Pathway Group ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ o Clients: Assaulted Women’s Helpline

● Megan Flynn, Peter Curtis and Kirsten Krose, Pathway Group ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ o Clients: Ontario Homes for Special Needs Association

● Jim Burnett, Pathway Group ​ o Clients: TGT Solutions Inc.

● Kateryna Whittaker, Sandfields ​ o Clients: Synaptive Medical Inc.

● Sadaf Abbasi, Stosic & Associates ​ o Clients: Adapt Media Inc., Baxter Corporation, Kohl & Frisch, Ontario Retirement Communities Association

● Fraser Macdonald, Stosic & Associates ​ o Clients: Innomar Strategies

● Brian Teefy, StrategyCorp Inc. ​ o Clients: The Large Urban Mayor's Caucus of Ontario (LUMCO)

● Carly Luis, StrategyCorp Inc. ​ o Clients: Generation PGM

● John Matheson, Saad Baig and Gabriel Sekaly, StrategyCorp Inc. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ o Clients: Federation of Rental-Housing Providers of Ontario

● Giancarlo Drennan, Maple Leaf Strategies ​ o Clients: Cogeco Inc.

● Morgan McLellan, Provident Communications Inc. ​ o Clients: HomeEquity Bank

● Daniel Matthew Boudreau, Hill+Knowlton Strategies Canada ​

o Clients: Fero International Inc.

● Fabio Gesufatto, Blu Stella Consulting Group Inc. ​ o Clients: Knowledgehook Inc.

● Jonathan Lee, Daisy Consulting Group ​ o Clients: City of Elliot Lake

● Amir Remtulla, Amir Remtulla Inc. ​ o Clients: Enwave Energy Corporation

● Robert Hargrave, HKCK International Consulting ​ o Clients: Crane Rental Association of Ontario

● Scott Munnoch, Temple Scott Associates Inc. ​ o Clients: Scleroderma Society of Ontario, Merit Ontario

● Francesca Grosso, Grosso McCarthy Inc. ​ o Clients: Novari Health

● Michael McCarthy, Grosso McCarthy Inc. ​ o Clients: Dexcom Canada

● Philip Gillies, Enterprise Canada ​ o Clients: Downtown Yonge Business Improvement Area

● Kelly Mitchell, KW Mitchell Consulting Services Inc. ​ o Clients: Ontario Stone, Sand & Gravel Association, Canadian Advocates for Automobile Insurance Reform: Access to Justice Group ("AJG")

● Philip Delistoyanov, 3Sixty Public Affairs ​ o Clients: Life Sciences Ontario

● Andrew Pask, AP Public Affairs ​ o Clients: Woodbine Entertainment Group

● Bart Maves, Sterlingbridge Marketing and Communications ​ o Clients: 1734234 Ontario Limited

● Dana Gregoire, Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP ​ o Clients: Hospitality Fallsview Holdings Inc. (Hilton Hotel and Suites Niagara Falls / Fallsview)

● Ashton Arsenault, Crestview Strategy ​ o Clients: Capital Power Corporation, Intact Financial Corporation, Rothmans, Benson and Hedges

● Bram Green, Goodmans LLP ​

o Clients: Key Living Corporation

● Yash Dogra, NATIONAL Public Relations ​ o Clients: Whirlpool Canada LP

● Timothy Butters and Yash Dogra, NATIONAL Public Relations ​ ​ ​ o Clients: Imperial Oil Limited

● Steven Megannety, Niagara Luminaire Inc. ​ o Clients: 1734234 Ontario Limited, 9184384 Canada Inc.

● Barry Campbell, Paul Brown and Natalie Dash, Campbell Strategies ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ o Clients: Staples Canada Inc.

● Chris Holz, Paul Brown and Natalie Dash, Campbell Strategies ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ o Clients: Yellow Pages Digital & Media Solutions Ltd.

● Amir Farahi, Blackridge Strategy ​ o Clients: Drewlo Holdings Inc

● Jennifer Mossop, Mossop Media/JFM Productions Inc. ​ o Clients: Hospice Palliative Care Ontario, Cinchy, Ontario Association of Speech Pathologists and Audiologists

● Andrew Retfalvi, Global Public Affairs ​ o Clients: Luminarie Canada, Horizon Therapeutics Canada, GE Healthcare Canada, Intercept Pharma Canada Inc.

● Natalia Lasakova, John Allen, Elizabeth Wagdin and Rick Roth, Global Public Affairs ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ o Clients: Future of Infrastructure Group, Organization of Canadian Nuclear Industries

● Ted Gruetzner and Vince Amodeo, Global Public Affairs ​ ​ ​ o Clients: Organization of Canadian Nuclear Industries

● Rick Roth and Andrew Retfalvi, Global Public Affairs ​ ​ ​ o Clients: Siemens Canada

● Rick Roth, Global Public Affairs ​ o Clients: Koch Companies Public Sector, LLC

● John Allen, Global Public Affairs ​ o Clients: Mother Parkers Tea & Coffee, Zipcar Canada Inc.

● Lily Mesh, Santis Health ​ o Clients: Canadian Red Cross

● Kenneth Stewart, The Capital Hill Group ​

o Clients: Palo Alto Networks Inc

● Aaron Scheewe, The Capital Hill Group ​ o Clients: Access Copyright

● David Angus, The Capital Hill Group ​ o Clients: Adobe, Cancer Coaching

● Maddy Stieva, Kenneth Stewart and Aaron Scheewe, The Capital Hill Group ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ o Clients: Benchmark Corp

● Kelly Mitchell, G52 ​ o Clients: Whitepath Consulting

● Suzanne van Bommel, Suzanne van Bommel Enterprises ​ o Clients: Domenic and Anna Maria Ferrelli, Elisabeth Cooper, Luc Duchesne and Suzanne Wetzel, Dr. Steven and Mrs. Brenda Deskin, Tammy Starr, Arthur Fleischmann, Carly Fleischmann, Sheila Laredo and Richard Marcovitz, Simon and Robyn Wynberg, Janet and John Shaughnessy, Gail Ellen Geller

Organizations that registered in-house lobbyists from August 7 to 13

● Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation ● Christian Horizons ● Humber College ● Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance ● Ontario Restaurant Hotel & Motel Association ● Ontario Home Builders' Association ● Ontario Bioscience Industry Organization ● College of Massage Therapists of Ontario ● Canadian Renewable Energy Association ● Canadian Urban Transit Research and Innovation Consortium ● Ontario Dental Association ● Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada ● sanofi-aventis Canada ● Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan ● Imperial Oil ● Sanofi Pasteur ● Green Shield Canada ● Bird Canada ● Airbnb Canada ● General Electric Canada ● Thales Canada ● Merck Canada ● ArcelorMittal Dofasco GP ● Fédération des caisses Desjardins du Québec ● Purdue Pharma ● Weyerhaeuser Company

● Ride Scooty ● Gilead Sciences Canada ● Suncor Energy ● Amgen Canada ● Honda Canada ● Lundbeck Canada ● Huawei Technologies Canada

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

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