Queen’s Park Today – Daily Report March 11, 2020

Quotation of the day

“Breaks my heart.”

Premier was less combative Tuesday when reporters asked about #Plategate — in ​ ​ stark contrast to last week, when he accused the media of disrespecting First Nation chiefs in tow for an unrelated announcement.

Today at Queen’s Park

On the schedule The house convenes at 9 a.m. The government could call any of the following pieces of business for morning debate:

● Bill 159, Rebuilding Consumer Confidence Act; ​ ● Bill 181, Supply Act; or ​ ● The government’s time-allocation motion on Bill 156, Security from Trespass and ​ ​ Protecting Food Safety Act (which could also be voted on after question period).

Tuesday’s debates and proceedings Before question period, MPPs continued second-reading debate on Bill 159 and Bill 175, with ​ ​ ​ ​ the latter clearing a vote after question period (Ayes 59; Nays 37). Bill 175, which reforms the ​ ​ province’s home care system by establishing Health Teams, is now off to be studied by the Standing Committee on Social Policy.

In the afternoon, government house leader moved a motion laying out ​ ​ committee hearings for Bill 156, which stiffens penalties for people who enter farms illegally — ​ ​ and has been decried as an “ag-gag” bill by activists who say it would make it harder to expose animal cruelty.

Per Calandra’s time-allocation motion, the general government committee would hold travelling public hearings March 27 and 30 and clause-by-clause consideration starting April 6, with the bill as-amended due back to the house for third reading by April 8.

A routine government supply bill and two backbench bills landed on the clerk’s table in the afternoon:

● Treasury Board President introduced Bill 181, Supply Act, the ​ ​ ​ ​ legislation authorizing expenditures for this fiscal year, which ends March 31;

● NDP MPP tabled Bill 180, Somali Heritage Week Act, his private ​ ​ ​ ​ member’s proposal proclaiming the week of June 25 to July 1; and

● PC MPP introduced Bill 182, Franco-Ontarian Emblem Amendment ​ ​ ​ ​ Act, her PMB recognizing the green-and-white francophone flag as an official symbol.

In the park The Organic Council of Ontario, National Marine Manufacturers Association and Leading Influence — a ministry that provides prayer services for MPPs — are slated to hold receptions.

Premier watch On Tuesday, Premier Doug Ford was in Scarborough to again call on to bankroll 40 per ​ ​ cent of the $28.5-billion GTA transit expansion plan. But Ford previously indicated his government will go ahead and cover the feds’ share if they won’t put up the cash.

Transportation Minister and her associate minister were on ​ ​ ​ ​ hand.

The premier highlighted the issuing of requests for qualifications for tunneling the three-stop Scarborough subway and Eglinton Crosstown extensions, a key milestone to expedite the procurement process for two of the four big transit projects.

Meanwhile, a recent report out of the University of ’s engineering school found that ​ ​ tunnelling for those transit projects could generate 27 times more greenhouse gases than LRT construction.

Ford is plowing ahead despite Metrolinx determining the cost of the other two projects — the downtown relief and Yonge North subway extension — outweighs the benefits and isn’t economically viable, in a report last month. Ultimately, the transit agency’s business case ​ ​ recommends they get built anyway.

Later this week, the premier will trek to Ottawa for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s first ​ ​ ministers’ meeting. Ahead of Friday’s meeting, Ford is bringing along members of his executive council to sit down with their federal counterparts, including ministers , Rod ​ ​ ​ Phillips, Peter Bethlenfalvy, Caroline Mulroney, , and Monte ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ McNaughton. ​

Beyond the 40-per-cent transit funding request, the premier’s agenda includes pushing for an expansion of the economic immigration program, approval for outstanding jointly funded infrastructure projects and increasing the health transfer by 5.2 per cent annually.

The conference kicks off Thursday with a meeting with Indigenous leaders.

Today’s events

March 11 at 9 a.m. – Toronto ​ Advocates will be in the Queen’s Park media studio to call for regulatory changes to improve access to cystic fibrosis treatment drugs.

March 11 at 9:30 a.m. – Toronto ​ Economic Development Minister Vic Fedeli, his parliamentary assistant , and ​ ​ ​ ​ associate ministers and will make an announcement at ​ ​ ​ ​ Radford, a hair salon in Yorkville.

March 11 at 9:45 a.m. – Toronto ​ NDP Leader will discuss her forthcoming private member’s bill aimed at ​ ​ bolstering independence of the Ontario Human Rights Commission in the media studio. ● Horwath’s proposal comes after chief commissioner Renu Mandhane and ethics ​ ​ watchdog J. David Wake flagged the part-time appointment of Ford-friendly Toronto ​ ​ Police officer Randall Arsenault, who they said could be in a possible conflict of ​ ​ interest.

March 11 at 11 a.m. – Toronto ​ The Ontario Nurses’ Association and Ontario Council of Hospital Unions will discuss their spring budget requests in the media studio.

March 11 at 1 p.m. – Toronto ​ Financial Accountability Officer Peter Weltman will release a long-term budget outlook, from ​ ​ 2020 to 2050, in the media studio.

March 11 at 6:35 p.m. – Toronto ​ Lieutenant-Governor Elizabeth Dowdeswell will bestow the (much-delayed) 2018 Orders of ​ ​ ​ ​ Ontario at a ceremony on the legislature’s grand staircase. ● Among the 21 recipients of the Order of Ontario is ex-Liberal “Premier Dad” Dalton ​ ​ ​ McGuinty; first Black woman MP Jean Augustine; media heavyweight Ed Greenspon; ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ boxing hall-of-famer Charles “Spider” Jones; and the colorectal surgeon who led the ​ ​ ​ ​ late Rob Ford’s medical team, Dr. Zane Cohen. ​ ​ ​ ​

Topics of conversation

● Transportation Minister Caroline Mulroney greenlighted an extra $3 million “as soon as ​ ​ possible” to help businesses cope with further-delayed construction of the Eglinton Crosstown. The money will help local businesses with marketing and cleanup efforts, and is on top of $6.6 million Metrolinx provided to BIAs for promotions, parking discounts and window cleaning, Mulroney said. ○ In an open letter to Toronto Mayor John Tory this week, Mulroney said she’s ​ ​ “disappointed” the Crosstown won’t be operational until 2022 and acknowledged “these delays have real and severe impacts on business and the families and the people who operate them.” ○ Tory lauded the move and said the province indicated it’s exploring the feasibility of opening certain portions of the LRT sooner. “Businesses along Eglinton Avenue need this finished, need support and commuters need the transit,” Tory said in a statement.

● The province will not halt government-related travel amid the coronavirus outbreak, Premier Doug Ford told reporters Tuesday. ​ ​ ○ Economic Development Minister Vic Fedeli has a mining-focused business ​ ​ mission to Ecuador and Peru scheduled for mid-April. Toronto Mayor John Tory ​ is currently on a trade mission in London, U.K. The country’s health minister tested positive for coronavirus yesterday. ○ Another case of COVID-19 was diagnosed in Ontario Tuesday, a man in his 50s who recently travelled to Switzerland. The total number of cases in the province is now at 36 (five of which have been resolved), with 112 people undergoing testing as of last evening.

● CBC Queen’s Park reporter Mike Crawley did the math on Premier Ford’s proposal to ​ ​ ​ raise “a couple hundred million” by authorizing billboards along Ontario’s 400-series highways. ○ The province would have to install one billboard every 125 meters in order to bring in $250 million per year, according to Crawley, who based his projections on 2018 revenues from outdoor advertising company Astral, a division of Bell Media.

● Crawley also scooped the abrupt resignation of pay equity commissioner Jodi ​ ​ ​ MacDonald. Labour Minister Monte McNaughton said the government is seeking her ​ ​ ​ replacement via an “open public consultation.”

● Elementary teachers are heading back to the bargaining table today while negotiations with the Catholic and French school board teachers’ unions continue. Work-to-rule campaigns are ongoing, but the unions have paused rotating strikes until after March Break if there’s no consensus on a contract. There are still no bargaining dates scheduled with the high school teachers’ union.

News briefs

PCs ease access to re-training program for laid-off workers ● Labour Minister Monte McNaughton was at the YMCA in Cambridge to announce ​ ​ changes to the Second Career program, which supports manufacturing workers who want to train in a new field. That includes help covering the cost of tuition and books. ○ As of April 1, the government is lifting the requirement for laid-off manufacturing workers to show they searched for a job for 26 weeks to qualify, and will allow eligible applicants regardless of how long they worked in the auto or manufacturing industries.

Question period

NDP lead-off Covert contingency plans for COVID-19

● Opposition NDP Leader Andrea Horwath began the debate following up on the ​ ​ province’s contingency plans to protect personal and fiscal health in light of a coronavirus outbreak. ○ A day earlier, Health Minister Christine Elliott and Finance Minister Rod ​ ​ ​ Phillips assured there are plans in place to deal with a broader outbreak and ​ potential economic downturn, but they offered scant specifics. ○ In an Empire Club speech Tuesday, Phillips didn’t offer any new budget details but reiterated that the province’s finances are in a position “where we can weather this storm” around COVID-19. But it’s too early to assess the full economic impact, he said. ○ Phillips also clarified that a one-per-cent GDP change could equal around a $700- to $800-million hit to the province’s bottom line, which is why the PCs keep a $1-billion reserve fund. ○ Horwath told reporters she would rather have a “budget delayed than a budget that doesn’t address the serious concerns” with COVID-19.

● Elliott cited the newly formed command table of bureaucrats and health officials and assured there has been “a plan in place since this coronavirus came forward.” She noted the government is ready to “enhance” screening protocols for recent travellers coming forward as the situation develops, and added the “risk remains very low.”

● Horwath said she has yet to hear back from Premier Doug Ford after writing to him ​ ​ Monday to ask about the legislature’s COVID-19 backup plans.

#Plategate heartbreak

● NDP Highways critic Jennifer French wanted to know “what else breaks [the premier’s] ​ ​ heart” after Doug Ford said he’s disheartened over #Plategate. French suggested Ford ​ ​ has misplaced priorities. ○ “It isn’t women and children turned away from shelters, communities without drinking water, or seniors struggling without quality care that breaks his heart. It is giving up on the dream of PC-blue plates on every Ontario car that touches the core of this premier,” French charged.

● Government and Consumer Services Minister Lisa Thompson didn’t stray from her ​ ​ talking points. ○ She repeated the government has taken seriously the feedback on the flawed plates — panned by police, including the initially supportive OPP, Mothers ​ ​ Against Drunk Driving and safety experts — and is on track to deliver the new and improved version March 16.

New Democrats also asked about adequate funding for hospitals and public health to deal with COVID-19; education consultations showing little support for bigger class sizes and mandatory e-learning; the as-yet unfulfilled PC pledge to reduce hydro bills by an extra 12 per cent; and the new flooding strategy that doesn’t include increased funding.

Independent questions Local health team funding ● Green MPP asked if the government will increase funding to local health ​ ​ ​ ​ teams so they can deal with the coronavirus while transitioning to the Ontario Health superagency.

● Elliott said Ontario Health Teams’ “needs are actually quite modest” based on recent conversations she’s had about additional resources. “Some of them require help with technology. Some of them require help with administrative assistance. We are certainly responding to those needs, and we will provide the financial assistance they need.”

‘When the sun ain’t shining and the wind ain’t blowing, we’ve got to fire up those natural gas plants’

● Schreiner also asked about an OEB application for a natural gas pipeline through Hamilton that he says would contribute to a 400 per cent spike in pollution. He asked Energy Minister Greg Rickford to guarantee Ontario would not see an increase in ​ ​ gas-fired electricity generation.

● Rickford said he would not make the guarantee. That’s “because when the sun ain’t shining and the wind ain’t blowing, we’ve got to fire up those natural gas plants to pay for the ridiculous scheme of the previous government,” he fired back.

○ He also accused the former governing Grits of creating a wind and solar system that “generates nine per cent of our energy and costs 27 per cent of it.”

PC friendly questions The government asked itself about measures to deal with COVID-19 and human trafficking, and to support mental health services and the mining and forest industries.

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

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