Queen’s Park Today – Daily Report December 10, 2019

Quotation of the day

“Every time someone came in, I’d say sit in my chair … Then I got a little superstitious, so everyone sits in my chair except me … If you see that picture, they were younger than you, I had four girls and I came down here in 1995. At the time it was [Mike] Harris. We took a ​ ​ ​ ​ picture with him, and jokingly I turned to him when my girls left and I said, premier, I’m going to be sitting in that chair one day. He chuckled, I chuckled, and away we went. Well, look at what happened … 25 years later I still haven’t sat in that chair, but that’s alright.”

Premier gives school children a personal tour of his office at Queen’s Park. ​ ​ ​ ​

Today at Queen’s Park

On the schedule The house convenes at 9 a.m. The government could put forward any of the following bills in the morning and afternoon:

● Bill 132, Better for People, Smarter for Business Act; ​ ● Bill 138, Plan to Build Together Act; ​ ● Bill 156, Security From Trespass and Protecting Food Safety Act; ​ ​ ● Bill 159, Rebuilding Consumer Confidence Act; and ​ ● Bill 161, Smarter and Stronger Justice Act. ​ ​ ​

Monday’s debates and proceedings

Attorney General introduced Bill 161, the sweeping legislation to “modernize” ​ ​ ​ ​ “complex” and “outdated” parts of the justice system. It sets out a more “stringent” test for certifying class-action lawsuits and a 30-day timeline for filing judicial review applications; hikes the maximum fine for lawyers guilty of professional conduct from $10,000 to $100,000; and prohibits judges and justices of the peace who have been taken off the bench due to misconduct from billing taxpayers for legal fees.

Buried in the corresponding press release was news that there won’t be any planned future cuts to legal aid funding beyond this year’s nearly 30-per-cent funding reduction (about $133 million). April’s budget had earmarked a further $31-million cut in 2021-22.

The union representing Legal Aid lawyers criticized the bill for removing the phrases “access to justice” and “low-income individuals” from the purpose statement in the province’s current Legal ​ Aid Services Act, saying Bill 161 would “radically alter Legal Aid Ontario’s mandate.” ​ ​ ​

Under the proposed law, the revamped Legal Aid Services Act’s mission statement would be ​ ​ much shorter, pledging a “flexible and sustainable legal aid system that provides effective and high-quality legal aid services” that are “client-focused and accountable” while “ensuring value for money.”

Independent MPP tabled Bill 162, Public Accountability and Lobbyist ​ ​ ​ ​ Transparency Act. The private member’s bill would, among other things, require detailed disclosure of lobbying activity, such as meetings with cabinet ministers, to align with the federal rulebook, and allow anyone to make ethics complaints about MPPs and civil servants to the integrity commissioner (currently only MPPs and public servants can use that complaints mechanism). The watchdog would also be compelled to publicly report on such investigations, whereas now, that’s up to the MPP to release it.

Liberal MPP introduced a private member’s bill to establish policies around the ​ ​ use of physical restraints in schools: Bill 160, Education Amendment Act (Use of Seclusion and ​ ​ Physical Restraints).

Later on, Finance Minister Rod Phillips kicked off third reading of Bill 138, the mini-budget bill. ​ ​ ​ ​ A third-reading vote is expected after today’s question period.

In the park Lakehead University and the Ontario Association of Architects are scheduled to hold their lobby days and evening receptions.

Lieutenant-Governor ’s invite-only holiday event will be held tonight (not ​ ​ yesterday, as previously reported.)

Last night Premier Doug Ford and Dowdeswell hosted an unveiling ceremony for the official ​ ​ ​ ​ portrait of Ontario’s first woman and openly gay premier, , in the legislature’s ​ ​ main lobby.

In the portrait, which garnered positive reviews, the former premier is clad in a pink skirt suit, ​ ​ signature glasses in hand.

Wynne said she wanted the painting completed as soon as possible so that visiting school girls and their boy classmates would see a woman premier on the walls of the legislature.

“They can now assume that it is possible for them to be who they choose to be and do what they choose to do,” she said.

Wynne talked about the meaning behind some of the items she asked artist Linda ​ Kooluris-Dobbs to include, including a canoe and feather given to her by Indigenous groups, a ​ book on lesbian parenting to which she and partner Jane Rounthwaite contributed, her ​ ​ ​ ​ signature running shoes, a school bell to mark her time as trustee, tulips to recall her formative political years in Europe, and a scarf to symbolize that women can be leaders regardless of what they’re wearing.

High-profile politicos attended the historic moment, including former premier and a ​ ​ crew of ex-Grit cabinet ministers including , , , Glenn ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Thibeault, , , and Indira Naidoo-Harris. Mayor ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ was also in tow. ​

Oops! Yesterday Queen’s Park Today erroneously referred to Bryan Tuckey as CEO of the Building ​ ​ ​ ​ Industry and Land Development Association board. In fact, Tuckey is a former CEO; BILD is currently headed up by David Wilkes. Tuckey is at committee today to testify about his ​ ​ incoming appointment to the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal.

FAO: PC’s fiscal plan leaves $5B hole for public services, promised tax cuts punt balance to next mandate Budget watchdog Peter Weltman says there’s a “significant risk” the Ford government’s fiscal ​ ​ blueprint will leave a $4.8-billion hole for public services such as health and education.

According to the Financial Accountability Office’s forecast released Monday, the need for public services will far outpace planned program spending by fiscal 2021-22 — even after accounting for cost-saving measures, which the FAO estimates will save $6.6 billion.

But “the $5-billion question” remains, Weltman said.

“There is a significant risk that the fiscal plan will not provide sufficient resources to meet future ongoing demand for key public services,” his report reads.

Ontario could effectively be back in the black by fiscal 2021, two years ahead of schedule, if tax cuts teased by the PCs are not implemented and the government sticks to its plan to “significantly limit” program spending by holding annual growth at 1.4 per cent. The government says it’s on track to achieve balance by 2023-24, after the next election.

If the government doesn’t want to fork out nearly $5 billion to meet the demand for services, the FAO suggests changing programs to lower costs, sussing out more efficiencies, or restricting access to or underfunding current programs.

Finance Minister Rod Phillips called Weltman’s report “a very sobering but very important ​ ​ document that demonstrates the exact challenges that our government has talked about.”

Asked how the government would make up the shortfall, Phillips kept it high-level, maintaining ​ the government is taking a “responsible” and “prudent” approach to balancing the books.

“You can’t suck and blow … We want to make sure that we balance the budget and we want to make sure that we’re investing in critical services,” the minister said in question period.

The Fall Economic Statement made good on a tax break for small businesses, lowering their rate from 3.5 per cent to 3.2 per cent on the first $500,000 of income starting January 1.

The PCs campaigned on a pledge to cut the corporate tax rate from 11.5 per cent to 10.5 per cent, but instead opted to allow businesses to write off capital investments quicker. However, Phillips recently indicated the promised corporate tax breaks may still be in the wings. ​ ​

The PCs already cut income taxes for minimum wage workers and, on the campaign trail, promised a 20-per-cent rate cut in the second lowest tax bracket, at a cost of almost $2.3 billion. ​ ​

Today’s events

December 10 at 8:30 a.m. – ​ Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Steve Clark, Seniors Minister and local ​ ​ ​ ​ MPP will make an announcement at Tollendale Village, a retirement home. ​ ​

December 10 at 9 a.m. – Toronto ​ NDP MPP will be in the Queen’s Park media studio to tease his forthcoming private ​ ​ member’s bill to regulate supportive living homes and reduce risks for vulnerable tenants.

December 10 at 10 a.m. – Toronto ​

Labour Minister Monte McNaughton and Economic Development Minister will make ​ ​ ​ ​ an announcement at a downtown Toyota dealership.

December 10 at 10 a.m. – Toronto ​ Defend Disability, a coalition of accessibility and anti-poverty advocates, will be in the media studio to call on the Ford government to protect standard of living rights.

December 10 at 1:30 p.m. – Aurora ​ Attorney General Doug Downey and Solicitor General will make an ​ ​ ​ ​ announcement at York Regional Police headquarters.

December 10 at 2 p.m. – Toronto ​ The Ontario Autism Coalition and NDP MPP , a vocal critic on the political ​ ​ hot-potato file, will discuss the government’s progress on autism supports in the media studio.

Upcoming events

December 16 – ​ Federal Finance Minister Bill Morneau is hosting the provincial and territorial finance ministers ​ ​ for a two-day meeting next week. The agenda includes discussions for enhancing the fiscal ​ ​ stabilization fund for provinces facing hard economic times, as the premiers requested earlier this month at a Council of the Federation meeting in Toronto.

Topics of conversation

● Liberal leadership hopeful is setting his sights on 2022, promising to ​ ​ ​ ​ scrap the Ford government’s controversial law capping public sector salary increases at one per cent and reverse increased high school class size ratios and mandatory e-learning.

● Environment Minister is in Madrid, Spain, this week to attend COP 25, the ​ ​ UN’s climate change conference. In a news release, Yurek said the conference is “an opportunity to demonstrate Ontario's continued leadership on climate action and highlight the key components of our Made-in-Ontario Environment Plan,” which Auditor General Bonnie Lysyk said last week is “not yet supported by sound evidence.” ​ ​ ○ The environment minister said he plans to share Ontario’s progress towards meeting its 2030 carbon targets and build relationships with “like-minded jurisdictions” while he’s across the pond. ○ Lysyk’s report recommended the government redraft its environment plan to “more accurately estimate reductions associated with emission-reduction initiatives.”

● Meanwhile, Yurek has revoked the Renewal Energy Approval for a project hoping to build 33 wind turbines in eastern Ontario, which was being fought by local activists at the Environmental Review Tribunal. ○ In a letter, Yurek said he made the decision to pull the plug on the project ​ ​ because it could result in “serious and irreversible harm to local bat species.”

● Unifor president Jerry Dias is challenging Premier Doug Ford to spend a shift at an ​ ​ ​ ​ Ontario long-term home so he can bear witness to the “dangerous and disrespectful conditions that seniors in care must live with.” The challenge is part of a joint effort between Unifor and the Coalition to have the province improve working conditions for personal support workers and improve staffing and retention levels. ○ Another ask is for a provincially funded publicity campaign that illustrates “a positive image of personal support work” in order to attract students to the sector.

● Ltd. has a new environmentally friendly growth plan that includes the installation of 100 EV chargers at service stations across the province by the end of next year. The utility’s new CEO Mark Poweska sat down with the Globe for his first interview ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ since taking the reins in March.

● The final stretch of the province’s Highway 407 toll road between Oshawa and the Kawarthas opened Monday.

Question Period NDP lead-off Teacher contract talks ● NDP MPP kicked off the debate asking if the government would change ​ ​ course on class size and e-learning policies in light of teachers stepping up labour action this week amid tense contract talks. ○ Elementary teachers are set to launch the second phase of their work-to-rule campaign today, and high school teachers are planning the second walkout in nine boards tomorrow.

● Education Minister put the onus on the unions, calling on teachers to ​ ​ end “needless” strike action and to enter private mediation.

AG climate change report ● NDP Energy critic asked about Premier Doug Ford’s comments from ​ ​ ​ ​ Friday, when he said he is “very confident” in the plan to reduce GHG emissions and insisted “we’re going to hit our targets.” ○ That’s despite Auditor General Bonnie Lysyk’s damning report showing the plan ​ ​ is based on flimsy or non-existent evidence.

● House leader took the response, reiterating that the plan is “a living, ​ ​ breathing document that changes, that will constantly change.”

$5B gap for public services in FAO report ● NDP Finance critic wanted to know if more cuts are in store given the ​ ​ budget watchdog’s report that the PC’s spending plan will fall almost $5 billion short of what’s needed for public services such as health and education.

● Finance Minister Rod Phillips said the government is taking a “responsible” and ​ ​ “prudent” approach to balancing the books. ○ Phillips added the PCs can’t “suck and blow” at the same time when it comes to spending and saving, a remark Speaker deemed unparliamentary ​ ​ and asked him to withdraw (which he did).

Suing the government (or not) ● NDP MPP asked about changes to the Crown Liability and Proceedings ​ ​ ​ Act, which critics say make it harder to sue the government. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

● Premier Doug Ford said the question was “very confusing” and he “didn’t even know ​ ​ what his question was,” so he responded by praising federal minister ​ for her work on the USMCA trade pact.

● On the followup, Solicitor General Sylvia Jones repeated the government’s line that the ​ ​ changes update outdated procedures and codify common law.

Independent question Highway 3 ● Liberal MPP Michael Coteau asked for an update on the widening of a notorious stretch ​ ​ ​ ​ of Highway 3 in the Windsor area.

● Transportation Minister said it was a priority for her government and ​ ​ flipped the script on to the previous Liberal government Coteau was part of for cancelling an earlier environmental assessment.

PC friendly questions The government asked itself about Statscan’s monthly jobs data, the interprovincial MOU for small modular nuclear reactors, and the recently passed bills impacting animal welfare and mental health.

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

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