July 26, 2019

Queen’s Park Today – Daily Report July 26, 2019 Quotation of the day “Jesus in the City.” A parade put on by a Christian group associated with controversial evangelist — and Doug Ford ally — Charles McVety has been resurrected with the help of a provincial grant. Today at Queen’s Park On the schedule The summer recess is on until Monday, October 28. Politicians from all sides of the aisle pay tribute to David Caplan amid sudden death investigation Politicians of all partisan stripes paid tribute to former Liberal cabinet minister David Caplan, who died suddenly on Wednesday at the age of 54. According to CP24, police have launched a sudden death investigation at Caplan’s home address. Police told the broadcaster a man at Caplan’s home address was taken to hospital Wednesday night after sustaining injuries in the home’s garage. That man later died. “I’m sad to learn that David Caplan passed away. Too young,” Premier Doug Ford tweeted Thursday morning. “I’m grateful to David for his years of service to our province and his community.” Caplan represented the Don Valley East area at Queen’s Park from 1997 until 2011, when he decided not to seek re-election. He served as both infrastructure and health minister in then-premier Dalton McGuinty’s cabinet, and was forced to resign from the latter role in 2009, over baggage he carried from his predecessor regarding the eHealth scandal. At the time of his death Caplan was vying for the federal Liberal nomination in Don Valley North, sources confirmed to Queen’s Park Today. He also unsuccessfully ran for a Toronto council seat in last October’s civic election. Former premier Kathleen Wynne said she was “shocked and saddened” by the death of her McGuinty-era front-bench mate.“He was a friend and a colleague. Love and condolences to David’s family.” Liberal leadership hopeful Michael Coteau, who represents the riding previously held by Caplan, said the former politician was well-known in the community. “I knew him as a hard-working, caring man who had deep ties to our community. He knew people by name, spent a long time at the door trying to solve people's problems, and was always a hard worker for the community we served,” Coteau said. MPPs from across the aisle recalled their partisan rival as “a kind soul” and “friend.” Labour Minister Monte McNaughton said he was “gutted” by the news of Caplan’s passing. “He and I worked together when I became Minister of Infrastructure. He served there for years and gave me such great advice in the early days.” Tourism, Culture and Sport Minister Lisa MacLeod said she and Caplan would catch up over an occasional coffee after he left politics. “He was a good public servant” and “he is gone much too soon,” she said. NDP Leader Andrea Horwath also offered condolences, saying Caplan was “far too young.” Topics of conversation ● Metrolinx’s official business case for the proposed Ontario Line was released Thursday, after some details leaked earlier this week. The full report shows less overlap between the PC’s proposed Ontario Line and Toronto’s planned Relief Line, and argues the Ontario Line is a more cost-effective option because much of the route would be above ground and wouldn’t need expensive tunneling. ○ The Ford government says it can build the Ontario Line by 2027, two years earlier than the city’s relief line plan. ○ NDP Transit critic Jessica Bell said the decision to make the Ontario Line a public-private partnership, as confirmed by Infrastructure Ontario president and CEO Ehren Cory in the business case, will lead to cost overuns and delays. ○ The leaked report also prompted the NDP and City Hall to call for more transparency over the Ford government’s transit plans. ● Kidsability says it will have to lay off 50 per cent of staff at the organization’s Waterloo location due to the provincial government’s changes to the autism program. ○ The child development centre said Thursday that 20 to 25 staff who worked with kids on the spectrum would be laid off as of January 2020, with direct provincial funding for its services ending on April 1, 2020. ○ The province’s revamped program provides up to $20,000 a year for children under six and $5,000 for those six and up, with a lifetime maximum of $140,000. ○ This round of layoffs is in addition to the nine employees Kidsability said it would let go in March because its provincial funding was cut by 25 per cent. ○ “News like this is not good for anyone — for our community and for the staff, families and children directly impacted,” Kidsability CEO Linda Kenny said in a press release. “However, given our current fiscal reality, our Board determined that we have no choice but to layoff professional, highly-trained regarded and passionate individuals.” ○ The government has said it expects workers would be rehired after the transition to the new funding model, as there would be more demand for services when more children enter the program. ● Ontario’s information and privacy commissioner has ordered a new “comprehensive privacy training plan” for staff at the social services ministry after a privacy breach hit the Ontario Disability Support Program last December, impacting 45,000 disability payment recipients. ○ The commissioner’s office has wrapped up its investigation into the matter and said remedial measures are “satisfactory,” according to the Toronto Star. For instance, passwords and encryption measures are now required to access and share personal information. ○ The breach sparked a possible class-action lawsuit against the Ford government. ● Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown’s longtime personal friend Joseph Villeneuve has passed away after a motorcycle collision in Thailand. “We studied together in law school, played hockey together and he defended me rigorously in the political arena. He was in my wedding party and was adored by my family … I am saddened his life was cut so short,” Brown wrote in an emotional Facebook post this week. ○ Villeneuve made headlines last year during the fallout over Brown’s ouster as PC leader. After publicly naming and criticizing one of Brown’s sexual misconduct accusers, he served a libel notice to then-PC staffer Alykhan Velshi and then-party president Jag Badwal. The notice cited a National Post report about the PC Party cancelling its retainer with Villeneuve’s law firm shortly after he called out Brown’s accuser on Facebook. Villeneuve claimed his professional reputation suffered. ○ Brown has denied the allegations of sexual misconduct. ● Chief Human Rights Commissioner Renu Mandhane lauded Premier Doug Ford’s recent vow to never introduce a bill similar to Quebec’s controversial Bill 21 in Ontario. But, in a Globe op-ed, she pointed out the “inherent inconsistency” with his pledge, because of Ontario’s tolerance for systemic discrimination in its public service. ○ Mandhane points out that racialized employees make up approximately 25 per cent of Ontario’s labour force, but only 11 per cent of senior civil servants and nine per cent of deputy ministers. ○ Earlier this year two Black women launched legal action against the provincial government and their unions alleging anti-Black racism is “pervasive” and “entrenched” in the Ontario Public Service. The women alleged they were passed over for promotions and mistaken for janitorial staff. Funding announcements Ministry of Transportation ● Twenty-three municipalities are getting a share of the provincial government’s $30-million pot for road safety projects, via the Connecting Links program. ○ Municipalities can use the cash to design, construct, repair and replace city roads and bridges that connect to provincial highways. Eligible projects will have as much of 90 per cent of the funding covered, up to $3 million. 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 July 19, 2019 – July 25, 2019 ● Jasmine Igneski, Longview Communications and Public Affairs o Clients: Extendicare (Canada) Inc. ● Lily Mesh, Santis Health o Clients: Lifescan Canada Ltd.; Ontario Lung Association; Canadian Association of Physician Assistants; Centre for Effective Practice ● Macrina Smart, Santis Health o Clients: Coalition of Ontario Psychiatrists ● Ross Wallace, Santis Health o Clients: Canadian Biosimilars Forum ● Aaron Scheewe, Nathan Scheewe, The Capital Hill Group o Clients: iHub ● Maddy Stieva, The Capital Hill Group o Clients: Mihealth Global Systems Inc. ● Robert McCreight, The Capital Hill Group o Clients: CHC Helicopter ● Alanna Sokic, Global Public Affairs Inc. o Clients: Canadian Men’s Health Foundation ● Alexandra Spence, Global Public Affairs Inc. o Clients: Canadian Men’s Health Foundation; Otsuka-Lundbeck Alliance; Lundbeck Canada Inc. ● Andrew Retflavi, Global Public Affairs Inc. o Clients: Canadian Men’s Health Foundation; Otsuka-Lundbeck Alliance; Lundbeck Canada Inc; Intercept Pharma Canada Inc.; Horizon Therapeutics Canada; Otsuka Canada Pharmaceutical Inc. ● Elizabeth Wagdin, Global Public Affairs Inc. o Clients: Organization of Canadian Nuclear Industries; Zipcar Canada Inc. ● Natalie Lasakova, Global Public Affairs Inc. o Clients: Ontario Sewer & Watermain Construction Association (OSWCA) ● Vince Amodeo, Global Public Affairs Inc. o Clients: Zipcar Canada Inc. ● Amy Brown, Dr. Amy Brown o Clients:

Load more