Queen’s Park Today – Daily Report September 24, 2019 Quotation of the day “I get attacked all the time. You’ve got the media repeating Liberal and NDP talking points about cuts to this, cuts to that. But here’s the thing … When Kathleen Wynne’s Liberals were in power, only the insiders did well. Now, bit ​ by bit, it’s you.” A new Ontario PC Party fundraising appeal signed by Doug Ford mimics a recent federal ​ ​ ​ ​ Conservative campaign ad attacking the Liberal ex-premier. Today at Queen’s Park On the schedule The House is in extended recess until Monday, October 28. Premier watch The premier was on his home turf of Etobicoke, the heart of Ford Nation, on Monday. He mingled with constituents at a popular bakery while waiting on takeout and met with the local ​ ​ ​ ​ Big Brothers and Big Sisters club alongside Social Services Minister Todd Smith, area MPPs ​ ​ Kinga Surma and Christine Hogarth, and his nephew, Toronto councillor Michael Ford. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Trudeau mentions Ford more than a dozen times at campaign stop in Hamilton Ontario politicians continued to get dragged into the federal election fray on Monday. At a campaign stop in Hamilton to announce a $6-billion injection for a national pharmacare program, Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau repeatedly touted himself as the cure to Premier Doug ​ ​ ​ Ford’s cuts to health care, suggesting the premier would hinder agreements for better services. ​ Trudeau again linked Ford to his main political opponent, CPC Leader Andrew Scheer, ​ ​ claiming Scheer would “double down on that Conservative approach.” He explained the provinces and territories must sign off on health accord agreements with Ottawa. “Who do you want negotiating with Doug Ford when it comes to your health?” Trudeau said. “It’s very clear that Conservative politicians have a track record of saying they are for the people and then delivering tax breaks to the wealthiest and cuts to everyone else.” Ford’s office says the suggestion it cut health care is “categorically untrue” and that it will work with any federal government to ensure Ontario gets a “fair and adequate” slice of federal funding. Ford has echoed his fellow first ministers by asking Ottawa to increase the growth rate of the Canada Health Transfer payments to 5.2 per cent annually. Meanwhile, Scheer has taken to targeting the previous Grit rulers and former premier Kathleen ​ Wynne when campaigning in vote-rich Ontario. ​ Arthur Potts teases potential Liberal leadership bid Arthur Potts says he’s “very seriously considering” making a run for Ontario Liberal leader and ​ has become “emotionally engaged” in the nascent race. Queen’s Park Today reached the former one-term MPP for Beaches—East York at his cottage ​ in Prince Edward County Sunday, where he was celebrating his 62nd birthday. He’ll be back in town to hear from supporters at an event at the Toronto Hunt Club Thursday evening. Here are some highlights from the interview. On his vision for the Ontario Liberal Party: “There’s an opportunity here for a little bit more ​ dynamism.” “The bottom line is, we have had a time out because we have messed up a lot of stuff. What happened to us in 2018 was devastating,” Potts said of last June’s election, in which the majority Grit rulers lost dozens of seats, his included, and turned up a caucus of seven (now five). “What I’m hearing in the grassroots is, we want a renewal of the party. We don’t want a party that is being rebuilt from the inside, we want to go outside.” On what gives him an edge over other contenders: “I am an outsider … Someone who’s not ​ been part of the inside party.” Potts said that gives him a “unique” and “compelling” voice, noting he was never in cabinet but is experienced as a government MPP with a background in business. “I will bring a commitment to engage grassroots Liberals to become part of the tent again, because there’s a sense that so many people have been excluded, and we need to bring them back in.” He also pledged a more “focused concern” around the environment and climate policy. Potts had previously endorsed Michael Coteau, with the caveat they may become rivals. ​ ​ “If I do [run], you’ll be my second choice, and I hope you’re okay with that,” Potts recalls telling Coteau. “He said, ‘absolutely.’” As for when he’ll make a decision: “It’s down the road.” ​ Potts said he’s busy stumping for the federal Grits, “so I’m not even thinking about announcing and making a decision until after the federal election” on October 21. “We really do have to focus on the politics that are at play right now, and not a race which is on nobody’s mind.” In the meantime, Potts will be weighing the feasibility of mounting a provincial campaign, particularly when it comes to having the time and financial resources. “It’s a big commitment,” he added. Wannabe contenders have until November 25 to enter the race, which kicked off mid-July. The Liberals will pick their next leader by delegated convention on March 7, 2020. There are currently five registered candidates on the ticket: Coteau, Steven Del Duca, Mitzie Hunter, ​ ​ ​ ​ Alvin Tedjo and Kate Graham. ​ ​ ​ Today’s events September 24 at 9 a.m. — Mississauga ​ Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Steve Clark will make an announcement. ​ ​ September 24 at 9:30 a.m. — North York ​ Transportation Minister Caroline Mulroney will make an announcement at her ministry’s ​ ​ COMPASS Centre. September 24 at 9:30 a.m. — Toronto ​ Labour Minister Monte McNaughton will make an announcement about WSIB premium rates. ​ ​ ● The compensation board is expected to announce an update to 2020 premium rates at its annual general meeting on Wednesday. September 24 at 10 a.m. — Online ​ Budget watchdog Peter Weltman will release a report on the 2019-20 expenditure estimates for ​ ​ the Ministry of Transportation on the Financial Accountability Office’s website. ​ ​ September 24 at 10 a.m. — Toronto ​ NDP Transit critic Jessica Bell will release a letter urging the provincial government to improve ​ ​ safety for transit riders by allowing cameras on streetcars. Bell will hold a press conference at Bathurst Station, where a woman was struck by a truck while exiting the streetcar last week. September 24 at 10:30 a.m. — Toronto ​ NDP MPP Peter Tabuns is sponsoring a Queen’s Park media studio presser to discuss climate ​ ​ change. September 24 at 11:30 a.m. — Toronto ​ NDP MPP Guy Bourgouin will be in the media studio to talk about his plan to improve ​ ​ French-language services legislation. September 24 at 2 p.m. — Toronto ​ Harvey Bischof, president of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation, will be in the ​ Queen’s Park media studio to make an announcement about ongoing contract negotiations with the province and trustees. Topics of conversation ● Kitchener Centre MPP Laura Mae Lindo, chair of the NDP’s Black caucus and ​ ​ Opposition critic for anti-racism, is urging the Ford government to empower the anti-racism directorate to immediately start implementing the country’s first policy on racial profiling among law enforcement, which was released by the Ontario Human ​ Rights Commission last week. ​ ○ Police forces “have a concrete course of action to stop racial profiling in their hands” but need the province’s support to move forward, Lindo said in a release. ○ “The Ford government should be doing everything in its power to stop the damaging and illegal practice of racial profiling.” ● Health Minister Christine Elliott is undergoing minor elective foot surgery today. She’s ​ ​ expected to return home later on, where she’ll spend a few days recovering, says her spokesperson Hayley Chazan. Elliott was briefly benched earlier this year after tripping ​ ​ and falling in a grocery store, requiring stitches. ● Federal Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer promised to launch a national inquiry into ​ ​ money laundering, if elected prime minister next month. ○ Findings from a “dirty money” report commissioned by the British Columbia ​ government released in May estimate $40 billion in criminal cash was laundered in Ontario from 2011 to 2015. ● A Yorkville-based private high school is sponsoring Instagram advertisements that ​ ​ encourage students who have had their courses cancelled to enroll. According to its website, the Blyth Academy charges $2,695 per course, plus a registration fee of up to $1,000. On Twitter, NDP MPP Marit Stiles called the ad “really outrageous,” saying ​ ​ ​ “private schools will exploit the gaps in our publicly funded education system” and the Ford government is “directly responsible.” ○ Earlier this month, the Toronto Star reported on a Grade 12 student in Peel who ​ ​ ​ couldn’t get into the physics and calculus courses he requires for the architectural engineering university program he plans to enter because of teacher cutbacks at his high school. Appointments and employments Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities ● The province has enlisted two advisers that will lead stakeholder consultations and provide recommendations to make the skilled trades and apprenticeship system “more user friendly.” Adam Melnick and Andrew Pariser were appointed to a two-year term to ​ ​ ​ ​ provide advice on “portable skill sets” — a new competency-based system — and risk-based activities, the government says. News briefs — governmental Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs ● As of Monday, municipalities and social housing providers can turn away would-be tenants previously evicted for criminal activity, including drug trafficking, domestic violence and damaging property. ○ Minister Steve Clark said the province has formally enacted the regulatory ​ ​ changes — first announced in April as part of the Community Housing Renewal Strategy — to allow housing providers to come up with their own policies to deal with prospective tenants with criminal backgrounds.