July 23, 2020

Queen’s Park Today – Daily Report July 23, 2020

Quotation of the day

“If it was up to me, I'd put everyone in cabinet."

Premier Doug Ford downplays rumours of a summer shuffle swirling around Queen's Park — but he didn't rule it out.

Today at Queen’s Park

On the schedule The house is adjourned until Monday, September 14.

The legislature went out with a bang a day earlier than expected, but not with more support for schools or long-term care, NDP Leader Andrea Horwath charged. She called the summer session a "missed opportunity" and said she was "extremely disappointed" with the PCs.

At the premier's daily briefing, house leader Paul Calandra gave a highlight reel of the summer session and a shout-out to members on all sides of the aisle for agreeing to expedite government business during the state of emergency — which expires tomorrow.

That said, it appears the end of the emergency may also be the end of the cross-partisan camaraderie; the opposition parties told Queen's Park Today they were caught off guard by the early end to the session, and Horwath said it's been months since Calandra met with the NDP.

In the park Parents rallied for a safe back-to-school plan on the south lawn.

Inside the legislature, Premier Doug Ford mused about outdoor classrooms in September, saying he recently spoke with an unspecified teacher and school board trustee who are on the same page.

"The big highlight when I was going to school, the teacher would say, OK guys, we're going to have a class outside underneath the tree," Ford told reporters.

The idea has gained traction as the academic year approaches, and Ford said schools may have to get "creative" to achieve the government's goal of having at least elementary students in class five days a week. Weather permitting, he supports outdoor learning in September and is hopeful the pandemic will be under control by the time the colder months roll around.

More deaths, devastation in for-profit LTC: report Ontario's for-profit long-term care homes saw worse Covid outbreaks and more deaths compared to non-profit and municipally run homes.

That's according to a new study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, co-authored by Dr. Nathan Stall, a prominent geriatrician at Sinai Health, which suggests outbreaks in for-profit homes had more devastating impacts.

While profit status didn't impact the likelihood of an outbreak in a home, once the coronavirus was in the facility, for-profits saw bigger spread and more deaths.

"Differences between for-profit and nonprofit homes are largely explained by older design standards and chain ownership, which should be a focus of infection control efforts and future policy," the study reads.

On average, 6.5 per cent of residents in for-profit homes that experienced an outbreak died of the virus, according to the report. For non-profit homes that number was 5.5 per cent and in municipal homes it was just 1.7 per cent.

Another survey of long-term care staff released by the Ontario Health Coalition suggests 95 per cent of homes are still dealing with staff shortages on at least one day out of the week, while 53 per cent reported a lack every day. That leaves residents without basic level of care because staff don't have time to properly feed or bathe residents, help them to the washroom or ward off bed sores.

The situation has been exacerbated by the coronavirus, and the OHC is imploring the Ford government to make understaffing an urgent priority by increasing wages, offering full-time hours and rigorously recruiting new hires.

"Things are worse than ever," said OHC executive director Natalie Mehra.

LTC Minister Merrilee Fullerton said understaffing problems are not news to the government. "There is no question that COVID-19 exacerbated an already serious shortage of long-term care staff in Ontario” and there is “no doubt that longer-term and more sustainable changes are needed," she said by email.

Fullerton's office said the expert panel studying staffing is wrapping up its report for public release later this month, and will inform a "comprehensive staffing strategy to be implemented by the end of this year."

Meanwhile, indoor visits in long-term and congregate care homes are back as of yesterday.

Ford defends Karahalios ejection Premier Doug Ford defended kicking MPP Belinda Karahalios out of caucus after she broke rank with the PCs on the emergency measures legislation.

"We all disagree … but at the end of the day, when the cabinet and caucus make a decision, I go with it," Ford told reporters the day after giving her the boot.

Karahalios was turfed shortly after voting against third reading of Bill 195, which has been roundly criticized as an unnecessary overreach of power and a muzzle on elected MPPs. Ford previously promised free votes on non-budget-related bills, but the vote on Bill 195 was whipped.

The premier maintained the bill is critical to managing the pandemic response. "Just imagine if we had to call back the legislature and wait for three weeks to make a decision."

Ford acknowledged it couldn't have been an easy decision for Karahalios and wished her well, but claimed she didn't give him an indication of her dissent when they were together in her home riding of Cambridge last week.

Karahalios told the Canadian Press she let premier’s office staff know about her unease with the bill and requested the premier call her, but he never did. She also said “numerous colleagues” in the PC caucus were “quite uncomfortable” with Bill 195 but didn’t vote against it because they knew they would get the boot.

Karahalios is the fourth Tory to exit Ford's caucus. She follows Jim Wilson, who was booted to seek rehab amid sexual misconduct allegations and, according to PC sources, has signalled he would like to rejoin the Tory ranks; Randy Hillier, who heckled "yada yada yada" during a tense debate on autism services; and Amanda Simard, who eventually defected to the Liberals after quitting over PC cuts to francophone services, some of which have been reversed.

House leader Paul Calandra said he's open to welcoming Karahalios back if she wants in and caucus is on board (something he has also said about Hillier's ouster).

The former Tory will sit as an Independent when the house reconvenes in September and will lose access to the extra resources like staff, research and funding that comes with being part of

a partisan caucus (though she still gets an MPP budget). She'll also be moving out of her parliamentary assistant office in the solicitor general's wing and set up shop at Queen's Park.

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath said it was a "moment of integrity" when Karhalios lined up to vote in the Nays lobby alongside the opposition parties.

Today’s events

July 23 at 11:30 a.m. – Willow Beach Agriculture Minister Ernie Hardeman and local MPP Caroline Mulroney will make an announcement about rural economic development.

July 23 at 1 p.m. – Peel Region Premier Doug Ford is expected to hit the road in the 905 today.

July 23 at 3 p.m. – Toronto Chief medical officer of health Dr. David Williams and associate CMOH Dr. Barbara Yaffe will provide their regular update in the media studio.

July 23 at 7 p.m. – North York Liberal MPP Michael Coteau will be acclaimed as the next election candidate in Don Valley East in a Zoom event with leader Steven Del Duca and ex-premier dad Dalton McGuinty. Coteau will be the first Ontario Liberal candidate to be nominated for 2022; it comes after the MPP played it coy when asked if he was committed to running for re-election on TVO.

Topics of conversation

● There were 165 more Covid cases recorded Wednesday, down from the 200-plus a day prior, but the third time in recent days that cases topped 160. Just over half of new cases, 51 per cent, were in people aged 39 and under, following an upward trend over the last week or so. Nearly 24,000 tests were processed, with another 18,000 in the pipeline.

● It ain't easy being green. Auditor General Bonnie Lysyk's office confirmed to the National Observer that omnibus Bill 197's changes to the environmental assessments process (EA) are illegal, because the government didn't follow public notification and consultation requirements prescribed in the Environmental Bill of Rights. ○ NDP critic Ian Arthur wrote to the AG this week asking her to weigh in. ○ Premier Doug Ford said he "respectfully disagrees" with the AG's assessment. House leader Paul Calandra added that the government appreciates the AG's input and maintained changes to the decades-old Environmental Assessment Act

are aimed at speeding up EAs for certain projects and will still follow obligations under the bill of rights.

● Meanwhile, NDP MPP Monique Taylor is also asking the AG to do some digging. She wrote to Lysyk Wednesday requesting her office follow up on the Financial Accountability Office’s recent report on autism funding, specifically why the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services booked a $174-million expense in the 2019-20 fiscal year for 25,100 children whose families did not receive payments by March 31, 2020. ○ Taylor accused the PCs of “misleading” the public. ○ Fiscal watchdog Peter Weltman recommended in his report that an MPP request an AG probe into the expense, something he cannot do himself.

● Municipal Affairs Minister Steve Clark used a ministerial zoning order to override Peel region councillors and authorize the development of farmland in Caledon into housing. The veto order isn't subject to appeal at the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal.

● There were almost 3,000 more cremations than usual at the outset of the pandemic, something chief coroner Dr. Dirk Huyer attributed to possible underreporting of Covid deaths, an increase in deaths among people who couldn't access medical care during lockdowns, and a preference for cremations when funerals were restricted. The Globe and Mail has the story.

● Hydro One and the Power Workers' Union have inked a tentative collective agreement covering 3,800 regular employees and 1,400 casual workers, including those on the front lines and in customer-facing roles. The union still needs to ratify the deal, and voting results are expected by the end of September.

● Concerts and casinos may be allowed back in Stage 3, but many will stay shuttered as they navigate provincial capacity guidelines. Meanwhile, blogTO rounded up 60 bars and restaurants that have closed for good since the start of the pandemic.

● Ex-Grit MPP Sophie Kiwala said she's reentering the political fray and vying for her old seat in Kingston and the Islands, currently represented by New Democrat Ian Arthur. ○ After taking the Liberal Party’s helm in March, Steven Del Duca pledged to run at least 50 per cent female candidates and do extra outreach to young, BIPOC and LGBTQ nomination candidates. Sources tell Queen’s Park Today the hunt for new recruits has already ramped up.

Funding announcements

● The PCs are pledging $1.7 million for community-based programs designed to deter hate crimes. The funding will flow to non-profits and First Nations organizations through

the Safe and Vital Communities grant, which has been in place since 2004. The PCs announced plans to enhance the grant’s funding level last spring as part of a crackdown on “gangs and guns.” ○ The funds will be spent in 2021 and 2022. Winning applicants will be selected next year.

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

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