Queen’s Park Today – Daily Report November 22, 2019 Quotation of the day “Bonjour, comment ça va?” Premier Doug Ford shares a laugh with reporters when asked about the progress on his ​ ​ promise to learn French, adding that he thinks it’s “critical” every elected official learns the language and he’s “going to be focusing on learning French.” Today at Queen’s Park On the schedule The house is adjourned until Monday, November 25. There are three more sitting weeks left in the fall session. Thursday’s debates and proceedings Government House Leader Paul Calandra put forward a time-allocation motion on Bill 136, ​ ​ ​ ​ a.k.a. the PAWS Act, which establishes a government-led animal welfare enforcement system. The motion sets out one day for public hearings on November 29, followed by clause-by-clause consideration on December 3, with the bill due back to the house for third-reading debate by December 4. NDP MPP Jessica Bell tabled her private member’s bill that would force the province to track ​ ​ vehicle “dooring” incidents involving cyclists: Bill 148, Doored But Not Ignored Act. ​ ​ Three PC backbench bills passed second reading in the afternoon: ● Robin Martin’s Bill 141, Defibrillator Registration and Public Access Act, which would ​ ​ ​ bolster public access to defibrillators, and Amarjot Sandhu’s Bill 142, Highway Traffic ​ ​ ​ ​ Amendment Act (Air Brake Endorsements), which lifts the requirement for drivers of vehicles with an air-brake system to renew their certification, are now off to be studied by the Standing Committee on Social Policy following voice votes. ● Rick Nicholls’ Bill 147, Public Safety Related to Dogs Statute Law Amendment Act, ​ ​ ​ which overturns the province’s ban on pitbulls, will go under the microscope at the general government committee after a recorded vote (Ayes 36; Nays 12). The remainder of the afternoon was spent debating Bill 138, the corresponding legislation for ​ ​ the Fall Economic Statement, at second reading. Ford talks Trudeau meeting, $231M kill fee for green energy projects, OLG audits, pot and beer stores Doug Ford and Justin Trudeau meet face-to-face in Ottawa today for the first time since the ​ ​ ​ October election in which the now-prime minister made near-daily jabs at Ontario’s premier. “It’s never personal,” Ford said of Trudeau’s attacks. “Politics is politics and I have a pretty thick skin. I understand what he was doing. When I had a conversation with him, I told him the politics are done, and let’s roll up our sleeves and start working together, and he agreed,” the premier told reporters at Queen’s Park Thursday. Ford said he wants to discuss infrastructure, health care and job creation, but notably did not mention the carbon tax that his government has been crusading against, including in court. He also unveiled a new “Council on Provincial-Federal Relations” that’s made up of Ontario-only ministers Christine Elliott, Caroline Mulroney, Rod Phillips, Peter Bethlenfalvy, Laurie ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Scott and Vic Fedeli. Ford will serve as chair. ​ ​ ​ Ford ‘proud’ of $231M cost to rip up green energy contracts Ford also defended earmarking $231 million to cancel green energy projects, saying he’s “so proud of that.” “I’m proud that we actually saved the taxpayers $790 million when we cancelled those terrible, terrible wind turbines that really, for the last 15 years, have destroyed our energy file,” he said when asked if the sticker price is a waste of taxpayer money. “They went into communities without their approval and just rammed them down their throats.” Ford confirms audit at OLG Ford was also asked about executive pay and revenue at the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp., which Toronto Sun columnist Brian Lilley has pointed out has been going up while ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ payouts to the province go down. The premier is sending in the auditors. “There’s one thing I won’t tolerate is people wasting taxpayers’ money. So once we get the audit done we’ll make sure we’re transparent.” Queen’s Park Today first reported OLG was on the government’s list of priority audits in March. ​ ​ ​ More cannabis shops, expanded retail system coming soon: Ford The premier teased an expanded cannabis market and more shops in the new year. “We’re looking at getting rid of the black market,” he said, noting he held a meeting to discuss the matter “the other day” and will reveal details in the “near future.” He said he wants to let the Ontario Cannabis Store “stand on its own” a la the LCBO and “eventually let the market dictate” ​ ​ the retail system. Ford also addressed questions on a few other subjects. On the Don Cherry debacle: “I’m not going to get into Don, but in my opinion, I think everyone ​ ​ in this country should wear a poppy.” As for when people can purchase beers in corner and convenience stores: “We’re negotiating hard” with the Beer Store, Ford said. “From what I understand they’re being very, very collaborative.” High school teachers launch work-to-rule as PCs cut mandatory online credits from 4 to 2 Ontario’s high school teachers will start job action on Tuesday, the same day elementary teachers are poised to start an administrative-focused work-to-rule campaign. Harvey Bischof, president of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation, told ​ reporters Thursday that members will hold information pickets on school grounds before and after school, but won’t hinder students from learning. Teachers won’t participate in standardizing testing activities or unpaid staff meetings outside of school and won’t add comments to report cards, among other things. Meanwhile, Education Minister Stephen Lecce is watering down the plan for mandatory ​ ​ e-learning. High school students will now only be required to complete two online course credits, instead of four, in order to graduate. Students can also apply for exemptions. Online courses that can be applied to graduate credits will launch in September 2020 and will include career studies, data management and biology. Today’s events November 22 at 11 a.m. – Ottawa ​ Premier Doug Ford and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will meet on Parliament Hill. Ford will ​ ​ ​ ​ take questions from reporters after. November 22 at 10:30 a.m. – Bradford ​ Transportation Minister Caroline Mulroney will make an announcement at Edge Performance, ​ ​ a powersports vehicle dealership. November 22 at 10:30 a.m. – Toronto ​ Labour Minister Monte McNaughton will make an announcement alongside WSIB Chair ​ ​ Elizabeth Witmer and CEO Tom Teahen at the Longo’s Maple Leaf Square. ​ ​ ​ November 22 at 11:45 a.m. – Peterborough ​ NDP Leader Andrea Horwath will discuss the growing wait list for long-term beds in ​ ​ Peterborough at Fairhaven Home, then stop off at a local cafe to meet with the community. Topics of conversation ● The Canadian Federation of Students is claiming victory in its legal challenge of the Ford ​ ​ government’s Student Choice Initiative, which makes some post-secondary tuition fees optional. ● Premier Doug Ford had his name listed as president on his family label company Deco ​ ​ ​ ​ in Chicago on documents as recently as this week, the Globe and Mail reports. Ford’s ​ ​ office chalked it up to an accounting error, and his name has since been replaced with his wife’s name, Karla Ford. ​ ​ ○ “It’s in blind trust,” the premier told reporters Thursday. “I have no day-to-day operations, I’m not involved in the company and the integrity commissioner passed it.” ● Ontario Place board chair Jim Ginou has passed away. Ginou was a Ford family friend ​ ​ and took the helm of the soon-to-be-redeveloped Ontario Place last December, for the second time. Ginou’s first stint leading the board of the Toronto waterfront theme park was back in the late 1990s under then-premier Mike Harris. ​ ○ Ford offered condolences to the family on Twitter. ​ ​ News briefs — governmental Bethlenfalvy boasts about transfer payment consolidation ● Treasury Board President Peter Bethlenfalvy was at the Ontario Investment and Trade ​ ​ Centre Thursday to detail the province’s new streamlined transfer payment system and ​ ​ reduced reporting requirements for recipients, which he said is increasing value for money, enhancing the client experience and improving service outcomes. ○ The Ontario Nonprofit Network was on hand to laud Bethlenfalvy’s commitment to working together on reforming transfer payments “so that both non-profits and government spend less time on paperwork, and more time delivering services that support Ontarians.” ○ Earlier this month, the ONN released a survey that found its members were concerned about the “lack of information, details, and engagement” between the province and the non-profit sector. Funding announcements Ministry of Francophone Affairs ● Forty-eight francophone community projects are getting a chunk of the government’s $1-million grants program. ​ Ministry of Indigenous Affairs ● Twenty-six First Nation-led business and community projects will receive almost $2.9 ​ ​ million and six Indigenous financial institutions will split $4.2 million as part of the Indigenous Economic Development Fund. Question period NDP lead-off Ripping up green energy contracts ● Official Opposition Leader Andrea Horwath kicked off the debate on theme, with a ​ ​ question about the $231 million set aside for cancelling over 750 renewable energy projects. ● Premier Doug Ford reiterated what he told reporters earlier, that he’s proud of the $790 ​ ​ million he claims it saves taxpayers. “These wind turbines were rammed down the throats of communities that didn’t even want them.” Education funding ● NDP Education critic Marit Stiles asked about tense negotiations with teacher unions. ​ ​ “Why won’t the premier admit the only deal they’re looking for is one that includes pink slips for teachers and overcrowded, underfunded classrooms for our kids?” she asked.