Queen's Park Today – Daily Report October 19

Queen’s Park Today – Daily Report October 19, 2018

Today at Queen’s Park ...... 1 Today’s events ...... 4 Topics of conversation ...... 4 Appointments and employments ...... 5 Question period ...... 6 Lobbyists registrations ...... 7

Quotation of the day

“You get a four-year job, you’re 10 per cent into it and you’re already looking to upgrade to go somewhere else. I can’t imagine that’s very constructive.”

In Canada’s Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc scoffs at rumours that Premier Doug Ford already has “national ambitions” to lead the Conservative Party of Canada.

Today at Queen’s Park

On the schedule The House is adjourned until Monday morning at 10:30 a.m.

Thursday’s debates and proceedings In the morning the House continued second reading debate on Bill 32, Access to Natural Gas Act. This was the third day of debate on the PC government’s legislation it says will increase investment in new natural gas lines to rural communities.

In the afternoon, three PC private member’s bills were debated and carried on to the committee stage during private members’ business:

• PC MPP Bob Bailey’s Bill 38, Tax Fairness for Real Estate Professionals Act, which would allow real estate agents and mortgage brokers to incorporate their businesses. It’s now off to the Standing Committee on General Government.

• PC MPP Christina Mitas’ Bill 40, Human Rights Code Amendment Act (Genetic Characteristics), which would ban health providers and insurance companies from discriminating against Ontarians based on the results of a genetic test. The bill was sent to the Standing Committee on Legislative Assembly. 2 October 19, 2018

• PC MPP Prabmeet Sarkaria’s Bill 41, Highway Traffic Amendment Act (Helmet Exemption for Sikh Motorcyclists), which would allow turban-wearing Sikhs to ride motorcycles without helmets. The Ford administration has said it will make this change via regulation, nullifying the need for a private member’s bill. It’ll be scrutinized by the Standing Committee on Legislative Assembly.

MPPs also debated a time allocation motion on the PC’s order amending the standing orders.

In the park Ex-PC leader, now-CEO at the Ontario Real Estate Association Tim Hudak was at the legislature to watch the debate on Bill 38, which amends the Real Estate Business and Brokers Act. Hudak also met with his once-removed successor, Premier Doug Ford.

Hudak told Queen’s Park Today last week at OREA’s annual housing summit he is still a card-carrying Tory and voted for Ford in the snap leadership race sparked earlier this year after Patrick Brown’s ouster. Asked if he could remove his OREA CEO hat and share his personal thoughts on a PC majority government, Hudak said he was “very proud and very happy for them.”

“On the personal front a lot of the people I had recruited and I worked with closely as friends and colleagues are now in key government positions,” Hudak said, adding that cabinet ministers Vic Fedeli, Steve Clark and Todd Smith are “exactly where I would have put them.”

“I think Doug Ford has made some good calls on his team.”

Susan Le Jeune d'Allegeershecque, the U.K.’s High Commissioner to Canada, was also at the legislature to meet with Premier Ford.

Canada’s Intergovernmental Affairs Minister visits Queen’s Park

Amid bubbling tensions between Ottawa and Ontario, federal Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc sat down with Ontario Trade Minister Jim Wilson at Queen’s Park Thursday.

The pair stuck to the topic of intergovernmental trade barriers during the roughly 30- minute meeting, which LeBlanc told reporters was “very positive.”

“The [Ontario government’s] red-tape reduction exercise is very much in the same vein of what we’d like to do in terms of improving interprovincial trade,” he said.

The tête-à-tête comes as the province and federal government have been trading barbs over the newly negotiated USMCA trade deal, which both ministers said did not come up in the meeting.

“I obviously was disappointed that the Ford government flip-flopped from their ‘shoulder- to-shoulder’ support of Canada-first position, and now have a list of concerns that they didn’t seem to have in the hours and days before the deal was signed, when they were fully briefed on that,” LeBlanc said.

Wilson has repeatedly raised concerns over the pact’s concessions on dairy and the veto the U.S. and Mexico have over future trade deals between China and Canada. He has also said Ontario was not fully briefed on the details of the agreement.

LeBlanc also blasted Premier Doug Ford over rumours of his national political ambitions, which began two weeks ago when Ford held an anti-carbon tax rally in Calgary.

“I’m not sure if Mr. Ford has put to bed the idea that he’s got national ambitions. You get a four-year job, you’re 10 per cent into it and you’re already looking to upgrade to go somewhere else. I can’t imagine that’s very constructive.”

Ford’s spokesperson Simon Jefferies said the premier has been “working tirelessly” for Ontario.

Jefferies said in a statement that the premier “will do everything in his capacity to stop [the federal government’s carbon] tax from being rammed down the throats of Ontario families and job-creators — this includes meeting with and working with like-minded politicians across the country, including Jason Kenney and Scott Moe.”

Ottawa and Ontario have also gone fisticuffs over cannabis legalization and carbon pricing.

WIlson and LeBlanc will be in Vancouver next week with their provincial and territorial counterparts to discuss ways to break down domestic trade barriers.

Speaker rules Horwath didn’t impede Skelly’s ability to do her job Speaker Ted Arnott ruled Thursday there was not enough evidence to back up PC MPP Donna Skelly’s claim she was blocked from doing her legislative duties and “pushed” by NDP Leader Andrea Horwath earlier this week.

“After carefully reviewing the matter, I cannot find that a prima facie case of breach of privilege has been established,” Arnott said.

Skelly had asked the Speaker to make a ruling on the alleged altercation, in which she accused Horwath of crossing the floor “yelling and screaming” while the bells were ringing ahead of an opposition day motion vote. Horwath flat out denied the claim, saying she “tapped [Skelly] on the shoulder.”

Skelly ducked the media after question period.

“I’m just glad this issue has been put to bed,” Horwath told reporters.

October 19 at 10 a.m. – Hamilton NDP Leader Andrea Horwath will “make a major announcement” about her hometown Hamilton’s municipal election.

October 19 at 6:40 p.m. – Cobourg Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will hold a closed door meeting with representatives from the dairy industry — a group Premier Doug Ford has sided with in its stand-off with the federal government over the new USMCA pact.

Topics of conversation

• In his final months at Queen’s Park, ousted PC leader and current contender for Brampton mayor Patrick Brown spent nearly $300,000 in public money on expenses and office staff, the CBC first reported. o Brown stepped down from leader in January; he retained his seat until June.

• Premier Doug Ford and a handful of Tory cabinet ministers rallied with LIUNA union members on the pink palace lawn this morning. Ford told union members he “will always stand by workers. If you are prepared to do the work, then you deserve a shot at the job,” and re-trumpeted his plan to erect a big sign that says “Ontario is open for business.” o The premier also gave out his cellphone number and was gifted a shovel. The government also fixed its news release that initially claimed thousands turned up at the rally; the crowd was much smaller in reality.

• A hundred CEOs of companies boasting more than $1.5 billion in combined annual revenues signed a letter urging Premier Ford to change his mind about scrapping the basic income pilot program. The CEOs said a guaranteed minimum income is a “business-friendly” option to addressing “the increasing financial precarity of our citizens” and to “revitalize the economy.” o The letter was presented at Queen’s Park Thursday.

• The former Liberal government’s Roundtable on Violence Against Women, designed to glean expert advice on strategic policies on gender-based violence, is kaput. The Globe and Mail reported Minister Lisa MacLeod, who is in charge of the women’s issues portfolio, wrote a letter to the expert panel this week saying the province was officially disbanding the group. o As previously reported, co-chairs Farrah Khan and Pamela Cross resigned the same morning after several attempts to contact the minister went unanswered.

• Radiohead, the Pixies and Mumford & Sons are among the musicians slamming Ticketmaster over a CBC investigation that revealed the box-office giant has been recruiting scalpers to help increase cash from ticket re-sales for major sporting events and concerts. o The former Liberal government passed a bill tightening ticket sale rules last year amid controversy over the Tragically Hip’s farewell concert in their hometown of Kingston, which sold out in minutes. o Since coming to power the PC’s Minister of Government and Consumer Services Todd Smith has said his party will review what he said was an inadequate law.

• Ontario’s Integrity Commissioner does not have the authority to investigate former MPPs accused of misconduct, according to the CBC. The matter was raised by lawyer John Nunziata, who wrote to Integrity Commissioner David Wake requesting he look into sexual misconduct allegations his client — a former political staffer — made against a former MPP in 2006, when Dalton McGuinty was in the premier’s seat.

• It’s wedding bells for PC MPP Andrea Khanjin (Barrie—Innisfil), who recently posted about her engagement to Kevin Royal, a sales executive at the Kraft Heinz Company. o Khanjin, 30, is a rookie MPP but a political veteran —before coming to Queen’s Park, Khanjin worked as a senior adviser in the Harper government for 10 years, and as a Ontario PC senior policy adviser under Patrick Brown.

Appointments and employments

On Office of the Premier

• Ontario has a new man in Washington. Ian Todd, a veteran Conservative strategist and Ford’s former campaign adviser, was appointed Ontario’s Trade Representative to the U.S. He will earn a $350,000 salary, which is about a $75,000 pay bump over his predecessor. o /The province’s representation is paramount to the province’s ability to attract new investment and expand trade with the United States,” Todd said in a statement. o The NDP blasted the move as “a pricey patronage appointment … to Conservative insiders.” o “Apparently, the Ford gravy train has arrived at Queen’s Park and it’s all aboard for Ford’s friends, and those he owes a favour to,” NDP MPP Taras Natyshak said in the chamber.

Trade Minister Jim Wilson defended the appointment, saying Todd is not eligible to receive severance or a pension, and championed his experience. “He’s worked for a number of cabinet ministers, he’s worked for the leader of the party, he’s worked for the prime minister — he’s got experience in the private sector, the mining sector,” and “he also built a couple of restaurants,” Wilson said. Todd replaces the Liberals’ appointee Monique Smith.

NDP lead-off Employment standards • The Official Opposition kicked off question period with a question about the potential death of Bill 148 and if the premier thinks “a woman fleeing domestic violence should be able to take a day off to get her kids to some counselling without fear of losing her job?” o The bill enshrined paid work leave for survivors of domestic violence fleeing a dangerous living situation.

Grassy Narrows Chief Steve Fobister • NDP Leader Andrea Horwath asked the government to acknowledge former Grassy Narrows First Nation Chief Steve Fobister’s death was due to complications from Minamata disease, the result of mercury poisoning he had been living with for decades. o Indigenous Affairs Minister Greg Rickford reaffirmed a commitment to increasing benefits to those impacted by mercury poisoning at Grassy Narrows, and said, “We’re doing that to honour his commitment and his legacy but also to hopefully close a dark chapter in Ontario’s history.”

• The NDP also asked about ministers campaigning for local candidates. In particular they raised concerns about a photo of Vaughan city council candidate Eliana Di Biase — whose cottage and husband are under OPP investigation — using a photo with Community Safety Minister Michael Tibollo in her campaign materials. o Tibollo said he wrote to Di Biase that morning with his concerns. o “I understand that emotions and activity levels run high in the heat of a campaign, and that, at times, an over-enthusiastic volunteer might take steps which are inappropriate or unapproved by some of the individuals involved,” Tibollo said. “I understand that this may be the case in this instance. But be that as it may, I’ve stated publicly on several occasions that it is not my intent to endorse any single candidate during the municipal elections.”

Liberal question Environmental protection • Liberal MPP Nathalie Des Rosiers asked what the province is doing to help women and survivors of sexual harassment navigate the legal system in a #MeToo environment.

PC friendly questions • The PCs asked themselves about cannabis legalization, climate change, and the select committee’s probe into past government spending.

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 October 12, 2018 – October 18, 2018

• Derrick Araneda, Stosic & Associates o Clients: OMNI Health Care

• Alexandra Adamo, Henry Boyd, Rebecca Grundy, Aleksandar Stosic, Stosic & Associates o Clients: AV Cannabis Inc.

• Alex Young, Olthuis Kleer Townshend LLP o Clients: Aroland First Nation, Animbiigoo Zaagi Igan Anishinaabek; Ginoogaming First Nation

• Amir Remtulla, Amir Remtulla Inc. o Clients: Greenstone Gold Mines

• Amy Boddington, Policy Concepts o Clients: Human Resources Professionals Association (HRPA)

• Andrew Steele, StrategyCorp Inc. o Clients: Canopy Growth Corporation

• Carly Luis, StrategyCorp Inc. o Clients: Canopy Growth Corporation; Greater Toronto Airports Authority

• John Perenak, StrategyCorp Inc. o Clients: Juul Labs

• Anika Christie, Grosso McCarthy Inc. o Clients: Canadian Healthcare Management Information Services Inc.; Medavie EMS; Ontario Association of Medical Laboratories; Pedorthic Association of Canada

• Francesca Grosso, Grosso McCarthy Inc. o Clients: Medavie EMS; Pedorthic Association of Canada

• Chris Benedetti, Sussex Strategy Group o Clients: ITC Holdings Corp. (formerly Lake Erie Power Corporation); Enwave Energy Corporation; Rayonier Advanced Materials

• Paul Pellegrini, Sussex Strategy Group o Clients: Ontario Home Respiratory Services Association

• Dan Mader, Loyalist Public Affairs o Clients: Winery and Grower Alliance of Ontario (WGAO); Nordik Cash & Carry Inc.; 3|Sixty Secure Corp; Starbuds

• Jill Wilson, Loyalist Public Affairs o Clients: Starbuds; 3|Sixty Secure Corp; Winery and Grower Alliance of Ontario (WGAO)

• Daniel Brock, Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP o Clients: Honda Canada Inc.

• Don Huff, ECO Strategy o Clients: Town of Ajax

• Frank Klees, Klees & Associates Ltd. o Clients: ST&J Retail Corporation

• Hejdi Carlsen Feick, AltaLink Management Ltd. o Clients: BHE Canada, LP

• Jaskiran Shoker, Counsel Public Affairs Inc. o Clients: Ontario Chiropractic Association

• Jeffrey Bangs, Pathway Group Inc. o Clients: mosquito.buzz; NioBay Metals

• Jonathan Rose, Policy Concepts Inc. o Clients: Lawyers’ Professional Indemnity Company (LAWPRO); Scaffold Industry Association of Canada

• Kelly Mitchell, KW Mitchell Consulting Services Inc. o Clients: MCW Group of Companies

• Lisa Di Lollo, Political Forefront Inc. o Clients: Bannockburn School

• Mark Power, Juristes Power o Clients: Conseil des écoles fransaskoises

• Marissa Steiner, The Capital Hill Group Inc. o Clients: Accerta

• Michael Rudderham, MCR Corporate Affairs o Clients: LifeLabs; NextBridge Energy Transmission Canada

• Patrick Nelson, Santis Health Inc. o Clients: Lifelabs

• Patrick Tuns, Upstream Strategy Group o Clients: Triage Technologies Inc; Ontario Association of Radiologists; Bayshore HealthCare Ltd.; Koch Companies Public Sector LLC; Cement Association of Canada

• Michael Diamond, Upstream Strategy Group o Clients: Ontario Association of Radiologists

• Paul Brown, Campbell Strategies o Clients: Sub-Metering Council of Ontario

• Rob Leone, Earncliffe Ontario Inc. o Clients: CUPE Ontario (Canadian Union of Public Employees)

• Tom Trbovich, Earncliffe Ontario Inc. o Clients: CUPE/SCFP Ontario

• Semhar Tekeste, Enterprise Canada o Clients: Chicken Farmers of Ontario; Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association; 3|Sixty Secure Corp

• Philip Gillies, Enterprise Canada o Clients: 3|Sixty Secure Corp

• Michael Dodsworth, Enterprise Canada o Clients: Procom; Yorkville Education Company ULC

• William Pristanski, Prospectus Associates o Clients: SNC-Lavalin Inc.

Organizations that registered in-house lobbyists from October 12, 2018 – October 18, 2018

• BASF Canada Inc. • Sidewalk Labs Employees, L.L.C. • GS1 Canada • Canadian Propane Association • Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association Inc. • Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies • Becton Dickinson Canada Inc. • Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board • Cisco Systems Canada Co. • The Pollution Probe Foundation • Canadian Consumer Specialty Products Association • Canadian Transportation Equipment Association • Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation • Greenbelt Fund • Canada’s National Brewers • Trillium Automobile Dealers Association • Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers • Canadian Franchise Association (CFA) • Lundbeck Canada Inc. • La Cité • Association of Power Producers of Ontario • Essar Steel Algoma Inc. • Greater Toronto Tunnel Authority Inc. • Winery & Grower Alliance of Ontario • Biogen Canada Inc.

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