Queen’s Park Today – Daily Report September 9, 2019 Quotation of the day “I’ve been working hard to help you out. But buddy, I know it’s still tough out there.” Doug Ford boasts Ontario PC policies while knocking the federal carbon backstop in the latest ​ PC Party fundraising email blast. Today at Queen’s Park On the schedule The House is in recess until Monday, October 28. Today would have been the first day back at the legislature under the previous parliamentary calendar. In the park The Jesus in the City parade — resurrected with the help of a controversial $12,078 grant from ​ ​ the province — took to the streets Saturday, beginning at Queen’s Park. Premier Doug Ford’s ​ ​ pal Charles McVety led a prayer outside the city’s new Chick-fil-A restaurant on Yonge Street, ​ ​ where LGBTQ advocates have gathered for days to protest the fast-food chain’s owner’s stance on gay marriage. Cheri DiNovo, United Church of Canada minister and former NDP MPP, was at the protest to ​ ​ ​ amp her work on banning conversion therapy for queer and transgender youth in Ontario. McVety, who is the president of the Canada Christian College and an anti-sex ed crusader, is a Ford supporter and was invited by the premier to sit in the chamber during last summer’s throne speech. In 2010, he was sanctioned by the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council for making homophobic remarks on his now-cancelled Christian television show Word TV. ​ ​ Last month, Chick-fil-A hired Navigator’s Leah Mulholland to lobby the province to ensure a ​ ​ “smooth launch” of its first flagship store outside the United States, per the lobbyist registry. Ontario, Ottawa sign MOU for French-language university The provincial and federal governments say they’re joining forces to bankroll Ontario’’s first-ever French-language university. The Memorandum of Understanding, signed by Francophone Affairs Minister Caroline ​ Mulroney and federal Minister Mélanie Joly, says Ottawa’s share will be capped at 50 per cent ​ ​ ​ of the cost to Ontario. The move comes following months of talks between the province and Ottawa after Premier Doug Ford cancelled the Liberal-era plan last fall. The decision sparked widespread public ​ outrage, including from the Tories’ own camp; Andrew Scheer raised concerns with Ford and ​ ​ his ministers while former PC MPP Amanda Simard defected to Independents’ row. ​ ​ The PCs say they’ve put up half of the estimated total $126-million cost, including operations, and want Ottawa to fork out the rest for the project, which is expected to take eight years. When the former Liberal government first proposed the university in 2017, it was only projected to cost $83 million. The MOU contains a caveat that the federal government will contribute 100 per cent of the funding for the first four years, but must be reimbursed by the province “should Ontario not be in a position to provide funding within the expected timeframe.” A working group will be set up to establish “eligible expenditures, timelines and activities for the Université de l'Ontario français.” Kate Graham enters Liberal leadership race Kate Graham became the fifth contender for Ontario Liberal leader on Saturday. ​ She said the leadership contest is an opportunity for the party to take stock of what it stands for after its historic election defeat last spring. “[The party] is ripe for transformation, and so I’m running because I believe I can lead that kind of change,” Graham said in an interview with Queen’s Park Today. ​ ​ Graham is a 35-year-old politics instructor at Western University, senior fellow at Canada 2020, former longtime civic servant for the City of London and one-time failed 2018 candidate for London North Centre. While she may not yet be a household name, she’s been endorsed by Grit heavyweights. Former deputy premier and Liberal cabinet minister Deb Matthews, who represented London ​ ​ North Centre from 2007 until she took herself out of the running last June, is backing Graham. Ditto ex-treasury board president Eleanor McMahon. Graham enlisted George Roter, ex-CEO ​ ​ ​ ​ and co-founder of Engineers Without Borders, to run her campaign. Graham is the only leadership contestant thus far from beyond the GTA’s borders and the youngest in the race to replace Kathleen Wynne — qualities she believes gives her an edge. “This is a moment where the party needs fresh energy, where we need to see new people stepping forward all across the province .. I represent that,” she said. She’s kicking off a province-wide tour in Windsor on September 14 to hear from “those traditionally left out of politics.” Graham will face off against Steven Del Duca, Michael Coteau, Mitzie Hunter and Alvin ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Tedjo at the delegated convention slated for March 7 in Mississauga. ​ Today’s events September 9 at 9:15 a.m. — Kitchener ​ Education Minister Stephen Lecce, his parliamentary assistant Sam Oosterhoff and Amy Fee, ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ parliamentary assistant to the Childrens’ Services minister will make an announcement at JW Gerth Public School. Upcoming events September 17 at 6 p.m. — Toronto ​ Former premier Dalton McGuinty will give a talk at the Royal Canadian Military Institute as part ​ ​ of the Ontario Liberal Party’s Red Trillium Club’s speakers’ series. The event is free for OLP donors who contribute $100 per month to the party. Topics of conversation ● The PC government has detailed its proposal to allow paramedics to take patients to facilities other than the ER, or treat and release them at the scene, the Canadian Press ​ reports. ​ ● Rebecca Reid will not go to jail after pleading guilty to criminal harassment charges laid ​ ​ ​ against her for repeatedly threatening Lisa MacLeod, the former minister in charge of ​ ​ the political-hot-potato autism file. Reid is the mother of a severely autistic son. ● Lucille Collard has been given the Liberal nod to run in the as-yet uncalled byelection ​ for Ottawa—Vanier. Collard is a lawyer in the federal courts administration service, French public school trustee in the riding and chair of the board. ○ She handily beat out community advocate Lauren Touchant, 254 to 89, ​ ​ according to sources who spoke to QPT. ​ ​ ○ Premier Doug Ford has until February 2 to call the byelection. ​ ​ ○ The race was triggered by Nathalie Des Rosiers, who resigned for a position at ​ ​ Massey College. ● The Toronto Sun obtained a letter from 11 Conservative Party of Candidates in the GTA ​ ​ ​ to federal Infrastructure Minister François-Philippe Champagne asking Ottawa to ​ ​ finalize a commitment to fund Premier Ford’s proposed Ontario Line $10.9-billion subway track. ○ According to the candidates, CPC leader Andrew Scheer will be more gung-ho ​ ​ about funding the Ontario Line than Prime Minister Justin Trudeau seems to be. ​ ​ ○ The province nominated the Ontario Line for federal funding in May. ● Ontario gained 57,800 jobs in August, all in part-time work, Statistics Canada said Friday. The PCs touted the numbers as proof their “open for jobs” plan is working. ○ The unemployment rate is 5.6 per cent. Appointments and employments Sussex Strategy ● Alex Simakov — most recently a policy adviser to Energy Minister Greg Rickford — ​ ​ ​ has joined Sussex Strategy as an associate in the firm’s energy and environment practice. News briefs — Governmental Ministry of the Attorney General ● The province is overhauling how it provides support to victims of violent crimes, human trafficking and intimate partner violence. Beginning October 1, the new Victim Quick Response Program+ will replace the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board, and victims services will be provided by around 50 local agencies and police boards across the province. ○ First announced in the spring budget, the change will double the funding for residential in-patient treatment that human trafficking victims can receive from $10,000 to $20,000, but the NDP Opposition contend the PC’s move constitutes an overall cut to the compensation victims can receive, which was previously capped at $25,000. ○ NDP Attorney General critic Gurratan Singh also warned the new program lacks ​ ​ an appeal function, so victims and their families can’t contest the benefits they are allocated. ○ The PCs say the changes will reduce overlap and duplication in the system. Funding announcements Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport ● The Canadian Film Centre is getting a $350,000 grant to support training activities in the TV and film industry, Culture Minister Lisa MacLeod announced at the school Sunday. ​ ​ ○ “Ontario's talented content producers and other industry professionals showcase all that our province has to offer,” MacLeod said. “We're ready to share it with the world by investing in the Canadian Film Centre's television and film training activities to grow this important $1.9 billion-dollar industry." Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities ● Minister Ross Romano announced $2.4 million for two skills training projects in northern ​ ​ Ontario that will train workers for careers in the forestry industry. ○ About half of the cash will go to Confederation College; the rest is allotted to the Nishnawbe Forestry Operation and Sawmill Training Program, which will provide on-the-job training for 56 Indigenous people in silviculture, sawmill and harvesting operations. 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 © 2019 Queen’s Park Today. It is a violation of copyright to distribute this newsletter without permission. .