Queen’s Park Today – Daily Report April 18, 2019

Quotation of the day

“A carbon tax isn’t the only way to fight climate change.”

A line from the PC’s new anti-carbon-tax advertising campaign, which debuted on radio and social media Wednesday.

Today at Queen’s Park

On the schedule Today is the last sitting day before MPPs head back to their ridings for constituency week; the House will then convene Monday, April 29.

Queen’s Park Today will be back in your inbox after Easter weekend on Tuesday, April 23. ​

The official Opposition has a motion and two backbench bills slated for this afternoon’s private members’ business debates:

● NDP MPP will put forward his motion to provide Merrymount ​ ​ Family Support and Crisis Centre with the $607,408 funding necessary for the London-based social services organization to maintain current levels of programs;

● NDP MPP will call second reading of Bill 90, Lower Automobile ​ ​ ​ ​ Insurance Rates Act;

● NDP MPP will move second reading of Bill 89, Teach the Reach Act, which ​ ​ ​ ​ is aimed at improving cyclist safety.

Wednesday’s debates and proceedings MPPs continued third-reading debate on Bill 74, People’s Health Care Act, in the morning. ​ ​

Finance Minister kicked off second reading of Bill 100, Protecting What Matters Most ​ ​ ​ ​ Act, in the afternoon. Debate on the budget measures bill was delayed earlier this week, as the NDP had tabled a reasoned amendment.

NDP MPP raised a point of order after question period, accusing PC MPP ​ ​ of “looking over the shoulder” of Waterloo NDP MPP in order to ​ ​ ​ copy information from her notes and take details of her question in the House to government staff before it was asked. She called it “a new low” in the legislature and asked Speaker Ted ​ Arnott to do what he could to discourage such behaviour. ​

Arnott said he would take her point under advisement. “There has to be courtesy extended from member to member, and we have to maintain a standard of decorum in here if we’re going to have a civilized debate over the course of the next three years and a bit,” he told MPPs.

Earlier this month, Smith’s seat was moved from the government’s backbench to where he now sits, on the so-called PC “rump” next to the opposition benches.

NDP MPP introduced Bill 101, End the Public Funding of Partisan ​ ​ ​ ​ Government Advertising Act.

In the park NDP MPP ’s name now appears in Canadian Aboriginal syllabics on his office ​ ​ door at Queen’s Park. Mamakwa, who also took his oath of office in Oji-Cree, said on Twitter he ​ ​ was proud to be First Nations and thanked the legislature’s staff for the new lettering.

NDP calls PC’s anti-carbon-tax ads partisan The PC government is facing flak for broadcasting an anti-carbon-tax advertisement that opposition critics are calling a publicly funded, partisan promotion.

In the spot, which aired on radio and social media Wednesday, a woman says the federal government’s carbon levy will make it more expensive to heat homes, drive kids to school and buy food. It notes the average family will pay $648 a year by 2022, but fails to mention an family of four would see an average rebate this year of $307.

“Ontario has a better way, holding the biggest polluters accountable, reducing trash and keeping our lakes clean. A carbon tax isn’t the only way to fight climate change,” the woman says over the sound of clinking coins.

More ads are expected to roll out on TV, radio and social media in the coming weeks.

On Wednesday, NDP MPP Taras Natyshak introduced a private member’s bill to restore the ​ ​ auditor general’s oversight powers over government advertising to ensure it isn’t partisan.

Natyshak’s Bill 101 is identical to Solicitor General ’s private member’s bill from ​ ​ ​ ​ when she was in opposition. (Jones tabled back-to-back bills to restore the AG’s powers in 2017 ​ and 2018.) ​ ​

“Voting against this bill would be the height of hypocrisy,” Natyshak said. “I invite my Conservative colleagues to ensure that money that comes from hardworking Ontarians doesn’t get diverted to pay for whatever self-serving commercials or gas-pump stickers the government of the day has cooked up to help itself.”

In 2015, the Wynne Liberals watered down the Government Advertising Act (introduced under the McGuinty Liberals in 2004). At the time, Auditor General Bonnie Lysyk said it would reduce ​ ​ her role to a rubber stamp.

Lysyk reportedly said, under the old rules, she would have rejected the PCs radio ad because it ​ ​ doesn’t have all the facts, criticizes another government and paints itself in a positive light.

Treasury Board President defended the ad by calling out other ​ ​ governments for partisan self-promotion.

“The previous government had a lot of partisan advertising and the federal government is now mailing out postcards on their carbon tax,” Bethlenfalvy said. “We think it’s our duty to inform the people about this job-killing carbon tax.”

Bethlenfalvy wouldn’t say how much was budgeted for the campaign when pressed by reporters. He also repeated the PC’s tweaked promise to review the AG’s oversight duties, despite having campaigned on a pledge to restore them.

According to a CTV report, the anti-carbon-tax media campaign will run up a seven-figure bill, ​ ​ which does not include the ongoing court challenge.

In their election platform last year the PCs budgeted $30 million over four years to fight the federal carbon backstop. The arsenal includes a provincial appeal court challenge, which is being heard this week, as well as a mandatory gas-pump sticker campaign, for which scofflaw stations face $10,000 daily fines.

Meanwhile Jones and Environment Minister Rod Phillips were at the OPP’s Port Credit ​ ​ detachment to highlight the impact of carbon pricing on policing. ​ ​

Today’s events

April 18 at 9 a.m. – ​ ​ Health Minister will make an announcement at St. Joseph’s Health Centre. ​ ​

April 18 at 1 p.m. – Oakville ​ ​

Energy Minister and Economic Development Minister will hold a ​ ​ ​ ​ media availability ahead of a meeting with auto sector stakeholders as part of consultations on ​ ​ industrial electricity prices.

April 18 – Online ​ ​ The Ontario Chamber of Commerce will release a report on Ontario’s “budding” recreational cannabis industry.

Topics of conversation

● The Globe and Mail reported a staff shakeup in four ministries late Wednesday ​ ​ ​ afternoon. The changes concern chiefs of staff in the education, environment, government and consumer services, and training, colleges and universities ministries. Rick Roth, chief of staff to the environment minister, is headed to the private sector; ​ Matt Bondy, the education minister’s chief, will become a special adviser to Dean ​ ​ French, Premier ’s chief of staff. ​ ​ ​ ○ A government source later confirmed the reported shakeup to Queen’s Park ​ Today. ​

● The Liberal government in Ottawa is concerned that Conservative Party of Canada MPs have been omitting information about carbon tax rebates to Ontarians. Federal Environment Minister Catherine McKenna sent a letter to all federal Conservative MPs ​ ​ ​ ​ in the province — as well as those in Saskatchewan and Manitoba — alleging many in their caucus have sent information to constituents omitting information about rebates they are entitled to under the federal Climate Action Incentive. ○ "If you deny them this information, you deny them access to money that is rightfully theirs," she wrote, noting that a family of four in Ontario is entitled to a $307 incentive.

● Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Steve Clark unveiled a $1-billion investment this ​ ​ year to help repair housing and reduce homelessness as part of the Community Housing ​ Renewal Strategy, aimed at reducing waitlists and cracking down on criminal activity. ​ ○ The province would allow municipalities and community housing providers to turn away would-be tenants previously evicted for criminal activity, including drug trafficking, domestic violence and damaging property. ○ Under the new system, wannabe tenants would be able to “prioritize their first choice and accept the first unit they are offered,” in order to free up the waitlist for social housing, says a government release. ○ The strategy also includes simplifying rent calculations, requiring asset limit tests and removing existing penalties for tenants who work more hours or go back to college or university.

○ Toronto Mayor John Tory, who has long called for the crackdown on tenants ​ ​ with criminal backgrounds at Toronto Community Housing Corp., lauded the move. “This change by the province sends a strong message to criminals that they are not welcome in TCHC and we will not tolerate them threatening the peace and wellbeing of our communities,” Tory said in a statement. ○ It isn’t yet clear how the funding will be doled out among municipalities.

● CTV Toronto digs into the PC’s budget proposal to give pharmacists the power to ​ ​ prescribe medication for common illnesses such as a cough or sore throat.

● The Toronto Star talked to Marta Bedard, one of over 300 teachers in Peel region to ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ receive a layoff notice. Bedard, who is eight months pregnant, landed a full-time ​ ​ teaching gig last year after years as a supply teacher, and could be out of a job this year.

● Government House Leader Todd Smith says the PCs are giving serious thought to ​ ​ Liberal MPP Marie-France Lalonde’s private member’s bill to do away with Daylight ​ ​ Saving Time, according to 680 News. ​ ​

● The City of Toronto has 61 questions about the province’s ambitious $28.5-billion transit plan before it will endorse it, the Toronto Star reports. ​ ​ ​ ​ ○ Transportation Minister promised answers in question period. “It’s not ​ ​ going to take years to answer these questions, Mr. Speaker. We’re going to get to work on these questions and give them back to the city council,” he said. ○ Meanwhile, Yurek says construction on the Ontario Line, formerly known as the Downtown Relief Line, won’t start until 2020, leaving experts scratching their ​ ​ heads over how it could be completed by the province’s goal of 2027.

● As it stands, the proposed Far North Act makeover will result in “renewed conflict” with First Nations communities because it doesn’t do enough to protect Indigenous rights, and will lead to the “slow” development of the Ring of Fire, according to an environmental law expert who spoke to the CBC. ​ ​

● Agriculture Minister says the province’s vegetable processing ​ ​ industry’s marketing and pricing system must be overhauled, iPolitics reports. ​ ​ ​

● Premier Doug Ford released a statement congratulating the next premier of Alberta ​ ​ ​ Jason Kenney in which he declared “Alberta has a friend in Ontario” and noted that ​ Canada’s “anti-carbon-tax alliance is growing stronger by the month.” ○ On Wednesday afternoon, Kenney gave a news conference in Edmonton in front of a placard with the Ford tagline “Open for Business,” which was also the opening line of his Tuesday night victory speech.

● NDP Leader offered her rebuttal to the PC’s 2019 budget during a ​ ​ luncheon speech to the Canadian Club of Toronto. Horwath told the crowd what shocked her most about the Ford government’s fiscal blueprint was its “total lack of a coherent vision for our province and where we’re headed.” ○ She mostly stuck to her talking points and slammed the chill on investment. “I envision a province where businesses, investors and working families have fewer shocks and surprises to contend with. One where they don’t have to worry about what the government will do next, because there is a clear plan — based on the best research, data and advice available,” she said.

● Grit partisans belted it out at a karaoke-night fundraiser hosted by former Liberal finance minister Charles Sousa, featuring a rendition of Mama Mia by MPPs , ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ John Fraser and Marie-France Lalonde. ​ ​ ​

Question period NDP lead-off ● Opposition Leader Andrea Horwath led with a question about potentially rocky contract ​ ​ negotiations with teachers and changes to the education file such as boosting class sizes.

● Premier Doug Ford doubled down on earlier comments that teachers’ unions “declared ​ ​ war” on his government before the ink was dry on election day. “They told all the teachers to save up three months of pay because they’re going to war. It was the day after. They couldn’t help themselves,” he told the legislature.

Paramedic services in rural Ontario ● NDP MPP , his party’s critic on rural development, raised concerns about ​ ​ the government’s plan to merge 59 local paramedic emergency services into 10, saying it would further disadvantage Ontario’s rural residents.

● Labour Minister Laurie Scott maintained the government is streamlining and ​ ​ modernizing services that will better coordinate patient services. She also said “no Ontario paramedic will lose their job” as part of the changes.

The NDP also asked about government advertising, legal aid funding cuts, a lack of support for Brampton in the 2019 budget, and the completion date for the twinning of Highway 7 between Kitchener and Guelph.

Independent question Grants for Student Needs ● Liberal MPP Kathleen Wynne asked about the Grants for Students Needs funding. ​ ​

● Education Minister Lisa Thompson said school boards would get information on the ​ ​ Grants for Student Needs funding on April 25. Later on she corrected the record on a point of order to say they would get the numbers “by the end of April” because “we don’t know exactly how well the mail will work.”

PC friendly questions Tory backbenchers asked ministers about the 2019 budget, the anti-carbon-tax ad campaign, new express service on the GO Lakeshore East line, changes to the estate tax act and the child-care tax rebate.

News releases — governmental Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry ● Natural Resources Minister announced a new Big Game Management ​ ​ Advisory Committee to lead a review of the province’s “moose management” strategy. ○ The new advisory committee has six public consultation meetings scheduled in northern and rural parts of the province in May. ○ The committee’s membership wasn’t posted as of Wednesday evening but will soon be available on the public appointments website. ​ ​

Lobbyist registrations

If you are looking for further information on any lobbying registry, it is all public and easily searchable here. ​ ​

Consultants who registered as lobbyists from April 12, 2019 – April 17, 2019

● Adam Wilson, Counsel Public Affairs Inc. ​ o Clients: Union of Ontario Indians – Anishinabek Nation ​

● Adria Minsky, Maple Leaf Strategies (formerly Bentham & Associates) ​ o Clients: COMCAST; Zebra Technologies ​

● Alanna Newman, Earnscliffe Strategy Group ​ o Clients: CUPE Ontario (Canadian Union of Public Employees) ​

● Greg Wilkinson, Earnscliffe Ontario Inc. ​ o Clients: Swift River Energy Limited ​

● Andrew Retfalvi, Global Public Affairs Inc. ​ o Clients: Kindred Partners Inc. ​

● Natalia Lasakova, Global Public Affairs Inc. ​ o Clients: Zipcar Canada Inc.; Future of Infrastructure Group ​

● Sean Casey, Global Public Affairs ​ o Clients: Canadian Independent Music Association ​

● Brian Teefy and John Matheson, StrategyCorp Inc. ​ o Clients: GWL Realty Advisors ​

● Garry Keller, Lisa Simpson, StrategyCorp Inc. ​ o Clients: Nature Conservancy of Canada ​

● Saad Baig, StrategyCorp Inc. ​ o Clients: Federation of Rental-Housing Providers of Ontario ​

● Daniel Moulton, Crestview Strategy ​ o Clients: BH Telecom ​

● Ginny Movat, Crestview Strategy ​ o Clients: Amazon Corporate LLC ​

● Jordan Devon, Crestview Strategy ​ o Clients: Canadian Solar Industries Association (CanSIA) ​

● Denise Siele, TACTIX Government Relations and Public Affairs Inc. ​ o Clients: Dean and Travis Landry ​

● Jonathan Rose, Policy Concepts Inc. ​ o Clients: Bayshore HealthCare Ltd. ​

● Kelly Mitchell, KW Mitchell Consulting Services Inc. ​ o Clients: The Schad Foundation ​

● Kevin Cochran, 8621209 Canada Inc. ​ o Clients: Enriched Academy ​

● Martin Rust, Martin Rust Strategic Advisory Services ​ o Clients: WireIE ​

● Maryanne Sheehy, Public Affairs Advisors ​ o Clients: Goldcorp Inc. ​

● Michael Rudderham, MCR Corporate Affairs ​ o Clients: White Pines Wind Incorporated ​

● Tushara Weerasooriya, McMillan LLP ​ o Clients: White Pines Wind Incorporated ​

● Omar Khan, Hill+Knowlton Strategies ​ o Clients: Leafly ​

● Peter Van Loan, Aird & Berlis ​ o Clients: Bolton Option 3 Landowners Group ​

● Robert Kulik, Patient Access Solutions Inc. ​ o Clients: Jazz Pharmaceuticals Canada ​

● Sean Hill, Kealey & Associates Inc. ​ o Clients: Co-Operative Slo-Pitch Network ​

● Thomas Blackmore, Edelman ​ o Clients: Alstom Group ​

● Yara Salama, Policy Concepts Inc. ​ o Clients: Building and Concrete Restoration Association of Ontario; ​ Scaffold Industry Association of Canada

● Mike Everard, August National Inc. ​ o Clients: Catholic Cemeteries, Archdiocese of Toronto ​

● John Capobianco, FleishmanHillard HighRoad Corp. (formerly ​ ​ ​ FleishmanHillard Canada Inc.) o Clients: Transat A.T. Inc. ​

● Michael Keegan, Michael Keegan & Associates ​ o Clients: Environmental Collaboration Ontario (formerly Grow Ontario ​ Together)

● Barry Campbell, Campbell Strategies ​ o Clients: Home Capital Group Inc. ​

● Don Gracey, CG Management & Communications Inc. ​ o Clients: Registered Reflexology Council of Ontario (RRCO) ​

● Jeffrey Bangs, Pathway Group Inc. ​ o Clients: The Regional Municipality of York ​

● Amir Remtulla, Amir Remtulla Inc. ​ o Clients: Truss Beverages ​

Organizations that registered in-house lobbyists from April 12, 2019 – April 17, 2019

● Janssen Inc. ● Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario (RNAO) ● Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters Inc. ● Merck Canada Inc. ● Convenience Industry Council of Canada ● Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies ● The Co-operators Group Ltd. ● Assemblée de la francophonie de l’Ontario ● Wilfrid Laurier University ● Imperial Oil Limited ● LifeLabs ● Mortgage and Title Insurance Industry Association of Canada ● Trillium Automobile Dealers Association ● Ontario Real Estate Association ● Ontario Restaurant Hotel & Motel Association ● Ontario Printing and Imaging Association ● Canadian Transportation Equipment Association ● REALpac – Real Property Association of Canada ● Ontario Home Builders’ Association ● Heart and Stroke Foundation, Ontario ● Worker’s Action Centre ● Ontario Chamber of Commerce

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

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