Queen’s Park Today – Daily Report March 9, 2020

Quotation of the day

“Steven Del Duca is the safe choice, but no one is ​ ​ passionate about him.”

A longtime Liberal operative who asked not to be named tells Queen’s Park Today this ​ ​ weekend’s leadership convention was anticlimactic.

Today at Queen’s Park

On the schedule The house convenes at 10:15 a.m. for question period.

In the afternoon, NDP Leader will move the first Opposition Day motion of the ​ ​ year, calling on the government to reverse the planned cancellation of the double-fare transit discount, which shaves off $1.50 for commuters transferring between GO transit or the UP Express to the TTC. It also demands the PCs restore the 50-50 transit operating funding formula for municipalities. Horwath and Transportation critic Jessica Bell will tease the motion ​ ​ in the Queen’s Park media studio this morning.

Motions are non-binding but have symbolic value. That said, it’s unlikely the majority-enjoying PCs will support Horwath’s motion denouncing their own policies.

The government is also expected to call second-reading debate on Bill 175, Connecting People ​ ​ to Home and Community Care Act. The bill could also be put to a vote.

Committees this week Eleanor Fritz, a former compliance director at the Toronto Stock Exchange, and Cheryl ​ ​ ​ ​ Brownlee, a former government relations operative at the Mining Association and ​ current advisor for mining firm Newmont, are slated to testify at the government agencies committee Tuesday morning, regarding appointments to the University of Guelph’s board of governors, and the government’s Species At Risk advisory committee, respectively.

The Standing Committee on Social Policy will begin scrutinizing the PC’s legislation to speed up the $28.5-billion GTA transportation expansion plan, Bill 171, Building Transit Faster Act, on ​ ​ Tuesday afternoon.

On Wednesday morning, the public accounts committee convenes for a closed-session briefing from Auditor General Bonnie Lysyk’s office regarding its 2019 report on the province’s plan to ​ ​ reduce greenhouse gas emissions, then opens its doors in the afternoon to hear from environment ministry bureaucrats.

In the park The Ontario Chamber of Commerce, Ontario Association of Naturopathic Doctors and Merit Ontario are slated to hold their lobby days and receptions today.

Premier watch Premier spent Friday at the Heddle Shipyards docks in St. Catharines and attended ​ ​ the Toronto Police Service’s annual communion breakfast event.

Del Duca clinches Liberal leadership with first-ballot victory It’s official. About a month after he dominated the Liberals’ delegate-level elections, Steven Del ​ Duca was dubbed party leader at the two-day convention in Mississauga over the weekend. ​

Del Duca — who cruised into the convention backed by about 56 per cent of the 2,000-plus elected delegates — handily secured the first ballot with 58.8 per cent support. He far outflanked the rival campaigns; runner-up ranked a distant second with 17 per ​ ​ ​ ​ cent of the ballot.

“The work begins in earnest Monday. We have 26 months until the next election,” Del Duca said Saturday.

Del Duca to run party without seat in the legislature, possibly no salary The former Liberal cabinet minister, whose strong organizational and fundraising skills appeal to many Liberals, said he’s planning to build up the Grits’ arsenal from outside the legislature in the lead-up to 2022. He won’t seek a seat in the house before then unless a spot opens up in his home riding of Vaughan, currently represented by Associate Mental Health Minister Michael ​ Tibollo.

In the meantime, it isn’t clear whether the party will pay the newly minted leader a salary; Del Duca said those discussions haven’t happened yet, but his family is prepared for any scenario.

Del Duca’s lack of seat doesn’t appear to be a major concern for the party faithful, in part because the Liberals remain four MPPs short of recognized party status and all the added resources that comes with it.

Liberal strategist Andrew Steele told Queen’s Park Today the 2018 election in which the Grits ​ ​ ​ ​ were trounced was “humbling,” but because they lack party status they aren’t able to hold the government accountable as effectively as the official Opposition can, in question period for example.

“Maybe I’m being a bit cynical, but I dont think being in the legislature is the best training for being premier. Having a leader who is in the house is a good thing, but it’s not the critical determining factor of how the next election is going to play out,” said Steele, who is currently vice-president at StrategyCorp.

“Let’s look at recent history. Doug Ford had never stepped foot in the legislature before he was ​ ​ . It’s not exactly the biggest vulnerability for a leader going into the next election,” Steele went on to say.

The new leader has also promised gender parity for the 124-candidate slate in 2022, while ensuring 30 contenders are under the age of 30. Though the next election is more than two years out, Del Duca wants to start recruiting no later than July 1, 2020 “so that Liberal candidates have adequate time to introduce themselves to voters.” (That process could begin at the OLP AGM in June with the selection of a nomination committee, according to party president Brian Johns.) ​ ​

Parties trade barbs before coronation is complete At the convention, Del Duca attacked Premier Doug Ford’s record on education and ​ ​ environmental policy, among other things, referring to him as a “climate change dinosaur.” Del Duca also said the Opposition NDP is not up to snuff when it comes to holding the PCs accountable.

On the flip side, opposition parties are already tying the former cabinet minister to ex-leader and dredging up his political baggage, particularly over the location of the ​ Kirby GO station in his riding that the auditor general determined he improperly influenced as transportation minister.

The PCs have sent out at least two fundraising email blasts in as many days and have called Del Duca Wynne’s “right-hand man.” House leader crashed the weekend ​ ​ convention with pool floaties as a prop, slamming Del Duca over a negative headline regarding ​ ​ ​ ​ the construction of an outdoor pool in his backyard that violated local planning rules.

Calandra told reporters the PCs aren’t taking anything for granted ahead of the 2022 vote, but said Del Duca’s proposals are a redux of Wynne’s. “It’s like he learned nothing from the 2018 election,” he said.

For the NDP’s part, Del Duca is the opposite — too “right-leaning.” The NDP jumped the gun, briefly releasing an attack video framing Del Duca as “not progressive” before delegates had ​ ​ finished casting ballots. NDP Ethics critic said Del Duca had not learned from ​ ​ the “sins of his past.”

Premier Doug Ford chimed in on Friday, ahead of the results: “I don’t care who they pick. They ​ ​ destroyed our province.”

The Liberal Party jabbed back with a parody of the old licence plates to which the PCs will be returning until the revamped white plates are ready March 16, according to the Star. “A Plate To ​ ​ ​ ​ Re-Discover,” read the tagline for the old blue-on-white plates the Grits printed out for reporters at the convention.

Today’s events

March 9 at 10 a.m. – Kitchener ​ Premier Doug Ford will participate in a fireside chat at the Communitech Hub. ​ ​ ● Ford’s former deputy chief of staff Matt Bondy recently joined Communitech after ​ ​ leaving the premier’s office last fall.

March 9 at 10 a.m. – Ingersoll ​ Agriculture Minister will make an announcement about high-speed internet ​ ​ services at Wolthaven Farms.

March 9 at 10:15 a.m. – Minden ​ Natural Resources Minister and Infrastructure Minister Laurie Scott will make ​ ​ ​ ​ an announcement about flood preparedness.

March 9 at 10:15 a.m. – Toronto ​ Newly elected Liberal Leader Steven Del Duca will be at the legislature for question period and ​ ​ speak to reporters later.

March 9 at 10:30 a.m. – Orillia ​ Solicitor General and OPP Commissioner Thomas Carrique will make an ​ ​ ​ ​ announcement at the provincial police force headquarters.

March 9 at 11 a.m. – Sudbury ​ Transportation Minister and Sudbury Mayor Brian Bigger will make an ​ ​ ​ ​ announcement at the local Transit and Fleet Centre.

March 9 at 3 p.m. – Toronto ​

Chief medical officer of health Dr. David Williams will provide a regular briefing on the ​ ​ response to the novel coronavirus in the media studio. ● There have been 31 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Ontario, four of which have been resolved, health officials said over the weekend. In a statement, Tourism Minister Lisa ​ MacLeod has said she is working with the federal government “to ensure a coordinated ​ response to tourism impacts” stemming from the virus.

Upcoming events

March 25 at 5 p.m. – Toronto ​ Legislative assembly staff can toast Budget Day at Speaker ’s annual craft beer ​ ​ tasting event at the Pink Palace. People will be able to vote for their choice brews, and the winners will be served in the legislative dining room.

Topics of conversation

● Premier Doug Ford teased a plan to end time-of-use electricity pricing, due out “over the ​ ​ next few weeks,” in a bid to lower hydro rates. ○ Speaking to reporters at an unrelated announcement in St. Catharines on Friday, the premier doubled down on his campaign pledge to reduce hydro bills by an extra 12 per cent, which he previously admitted was the most challenging campaign promise for his government to keep in a year-end interview with the Toronto Sun. ○ “I just had a two-hour meeting about this yesterday, so I’m just zoned in on this like I’ve never been before,” Ford said Friday, adding that he’s assembled a panel of experts (the “brightest minds in the energy sector”) who will advise on how to bring down costs, particularly when it comes to time-of-use pricing. ○ “There’s one thing we’re going to do, we’re going to look at that so people at any time of the day can do their wash, can do vacuuming, do anything without worrying about it. My wife is up at 9 o’clock at night putting the laundry in, when [she] could be doing it during the day. So we’re putting an end to that, I promise you that.” ○ Ford noted the file is “extremely complicated,” not least because there are more than 30,000 contracts impacting electricity rates, and called out the former governing Grits for signing hundreds of green energy contracts, some of which his government has scrapped. ○ Ford was in St. Catharines to announce a new $202-million, five-year human trafficking strategy, which was leaked to the Globe and Mail. ​ ​ ​

● New Democrats are calling on the Ford government to pull the “troubling” part-time appointment of Ford-friendly Toronto Police officer Randall Arsenault to the Ontario ​ ​

Human Rights Commission (OHRC), after the ethics watchdog said it “creates conflict of interest” concerns. ○ According to the NDP, integrity commissioner J. David Wake wrote to Arsenault ​ ​ last Friday ordering him to recuse himself of any Toronto Police Service matters that also fall under jurisdiction of the commission. ○ Wake looked into Arsenault’s appointment after chief human rights commissioner Renu Mandhane raised concerns that he wasn’t on the shortlist of applicants her ​ office provided to the attorney general. At the time, Mandhane said Arsenault, who didn’t apply for the gig, could potentially be in a conflict because the commission has been working to address racial profiling and discrimination among police forces. ○ NDP Anti-Racism critic Laura Mae Lindo said it “will be almost impossible” for ​ ​ Arsenault to serve in the role without being in an “untenable conflict.” ○ “The OHRC is and must be independent from the premier’s office, and Ford’s interference in this appointment raises serious concerns about it staying that way,” Lindo said in a statement. ○ In January, Premier Doug Ford said he supported Arsenault being parachuted ​ ​ in, assuring that if there was a possible conflict over a certain issue, he would be expected to remove himself. “You can’t ask for a better police officer than what the attorney general appointed,” he said at the time.

● The high school teachers’ union is pausing rotating strikes until March 27, after March break, opting instead to ramp up its months-long work-to-rule campaign, starting today. ○ Job action will see teachers forego comments on report cards and filing EQAO test results, among other administrative duties. ○ Premier Doug Ford and Education Minister have urged the ​ ​ ​ ​ teachers’ unions to accept their latest watered-down offer — including a lower-than-planned class size increase, to 23 students on average, and a parental opt-out option for e-learning — lest they lose the public relations war. ○ That already seems to be happening, with a Campaign Research poll for the ​ Toronto Star suggesting 57 per cent of Ontarians want the unions to accept the ​ ​ government’s deal. ○ Harvey Bischof, president of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ ​ Federation, has said the 23:1 student-teacher ratio will result in almost 1,800 job losses. “We already see overcrowded classrooms and disappearing courses — often courses students need in order to graduate. This proposal does nothing to address those serious problems, all of which have come about thanks to the Ford government’s short-sighted policies,” Bischof said Friday. ○ Meanwhile, negotiations with the Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association concluded without an agreement last week. The parties have agreed to a media blackout. The union representing French teachers has suspended walkouts until March 27 and will be back at the bargaining table Tuesday.

● The Ontario Cannabis Store released its 2018-19 annual report, which breaks down how ​ ​ the agency lost $42 million during its first full year of operations. Per the report, which covers the agency’s finances from April 1, 2018, to March 31, 2019, the OCS clocked $63.8 million in sales, but was weighed down by more than $100 million in product and administration costs. ○ Nearly 90 per cent of revenue came from online sales.

● The PCs are taking credit for helping spur 14,800 new manufacturing jobs in the province, per Statistics Canada’s monthly report. However, the province lost 15,000 jobs in professional, scientific and technical services, and the unemployment rate ticked up 0.3 per cent to 5.5 per cent.

● If you’re feeling the loss of an hour this morning after clocks sprang forward for daylight savings time, consider two private member’s bills on the order paper that would make the change permanent year-round. ○ NDP MPP Paul Miller introduced Bill 174, Ditch the Switch Act, last month, while ​ ​ ​ ​ ex-Liberal MPP Marie-France Lalonde’s Bill 98, Sunshine Protection Act, ​ ​ ​ ​ cleared first reading last April (Lalonde’s bill is expected to be re-tabled by one of the sitting Grit MPPs). ○ Then-house leader didn’t rule out the possibility of keeping the ​ ​ ​ clocks where they’re currently at when asked about Lalonde’s proposal last year.

Appointments and employments Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. ● OLG president and CEO Stephen Rigby is leaving at the behest of the board of ​ ​ directors. In a statement Friday, the gaming agency’s board said Rigby will remain in the role until his replacement is named this summer, to ensure a smooth transition. ○ Over the past five years helming OLG, Rigby helped boost profits from $1.7 billion in 2015 to $2.7 billion, according to the board. ○ Rigby’s exit comes amid controversy over questionable expenses and a large ​ ​ salary hike, according to Toronto Sun columnist Brian Lilley. ​ ​ ​ ​

News briefs

Construction on new natural gas line underway ● Associate Energy Minister Bill Walker was in Port Perry Friday to announce shovels are ​ ​ in the ground for a new natural gas distribution pipeline that will serve Scugog Island. The pipeline will supply natural gas to about 780 homes and 30 businesses, per the government, saving the average household between $800 and $2,500 per year in energy costs. ○ The PCs announced their $130-million natural gas expansion plan soon after taking office in 2018. The Ontario Energy Board is currently reviewing

applications for more projects; a report designating which ones get funded is expected in August. ○ The Scugog project is receiving $6.42 million in provincial funding.

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

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