Queen’s Park Today – Daily Report November 23, 2018 Quotation of the day “This is a callous way to deliver a cut on the backs of the most vulnerable people in Ontario.” NDP social services critic Lisa Gretzky slams the PC’s social assistance revamp. ​ ​ Today at Queen’s Park On the schedule The House is adjourned until Monday at 10:30 a.m. for question period. There are three more sitting weeks before MPPs break for the holiday recess. Thursday’s debates and proceedings In the morning MPPs kicked off third reading debate on Bill 32, Access to Natural Gas Act. ​ ​ A Liberal bill was defeated while a PC backbencher bill and motion were passed during the afternoon’s private members’ business debate. ● Liberal MPP Nathalie Des Rosiers’ Bill 49, Charter Rights Transparency Act, died on a ​ ​ ​ ​ recorded vote (Ayes 19; Nays 54) after second reading. ● PC MPP Mike Harris’ Bill 50, Cutting Red Tape for Motor Vehicle Dealers Act, was sent ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ to the Standing Committee on the Legislative Assembly after passing second reading. The bill would allow certain car dealers to apply online for permits, number plates, sticker validations and used-vehicle information. ● PC MPP Kinga Surma’s motion calling on the Toronto Catholic District School Board to ​ ​ “find mechanisms so [it] can permanently support the study of international languages” in ​ primary schools passed. Second reading debate on Bill 57, Restoring Trust, Transparency and Accountability Act, ​ ​ continued later in the afternoon. In the park It’s beginning to look a little like the holidays at the legislature — a 12-foot evergreen tree was ​ installed on the grand staircase Thursday. ​ NDP MPP Taras Natyshak asked Speaker Ted Arnott to deck the halls early. ​ ​ ​ ​ “Speaker, two days ago I had a private conversation with you, a serious conversation, about the need to spread some holiday cheer around this place … I asked you to use your vast powers in this building to see if you could expedite that process,” Natyshak told the legislature after question period. Arnott said “it’s wonderful we can get into the Christmas spirit in here” and thanked the assembly elves who put up the tree and decorations. The Ontario Community Newspapers Association held a lobbying event Thursday. Social assistance shake-up: Tories to redefine disability eligibility, allow recipients to keep more money they earn Under the Ford government’s new social assistance system, recipients will be able to keep more of the cash they bring in, but some critics worry less people will qualify for disability benefits. Social Services Minister Lisa MacLeod unveiled the changes Thursday, saying the previous ​ ​ Liberal administration’s social assistance program “discouraged initiatives” and “rewarded inaction.” The Tories will align with Ottawa’s definition of “disability,” MacLeod said. The federal government doesn’t have a set definition, but advocates and opposition parties warned the federal standard is stricter than the province’s and will make it harder for people to get approved. MacLeod assured those currently receiving assistance through the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) will be “grandfathered” into the revamped system, but would not say whether fewer people would qualify going forward. People receiving Ontario Works (OW) support will be able to earn $300 a month before their benefits are clawed back, up from the current $200. Those receiving ODSP could make $6,000 a year without clawbacks, instead of the current $200-a-month ceiling. Twenty-five per cent of any additional earnings in both programs would be exempt. The former Liberal government had proposed hiking the OW threshold to $400, with a 50 per cent exemption on any extra money recipients make. NDP MPP Lisa Gretzky suggested mirroring the federal government’s definition for disability ​ ​ under the Canada Pension Plan could mean Ontarians only get ODSP benefits if their illness prevents them from working ever again. “For people in Ontario living with a disability or serious illness, this change is going to make them more destitute, and more desperate,” Gretzky said. “This is a callous way to deliver a cut on the backs of the most vulnerable people in Ontario.” Liberal MPP Marie-France Lalonde said the plan shows “a deep misunderstanding of the roots ​ ​ of poverty.” “Individuals who can access work will keep less of their money due to higher claw-backs, and overall there will be fewer people who can access social services due to the new definition of disability,” Lalonde said. Green MPP Mike Schreiner said lowering the planned OW threshold to $300 from $400 ​ ​ “creates a disincentive to work.” MacLeod couldn’t say whether the province is saving money by revamping these social assistance programs. She said the changes will be implemented over the next year. “Definitely upset”: Francophone affairs parliamentary assistant goes rogue over cuts to French services Rookie Tory MPP Amanda Simard dissented from party rank over Premier Doug Ford’s cuts to ​ ​ ​ ​ French services. Simard, who represents the francophone-rich riding of Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, lamented the cancellation of the first standalone francophone university and the abolishment of an independent watchdog for French language services in a public Facebook post Wednesday night. “The decisions made last week … disappoint me greatly, and I share this disappointment and ​ frustration today, having initially worked as much internally as possible to reverse these decisions. I asked the premier to reconsider these measures,” she wrote in French. Simard’s missive is significant because she is the parliamentary assistant to Francophone Affairs Minister Caroline Mulroney. ​ ​ “By the way, I read somewhere that MPP Simard ‘might be upset.’ False. I am ‘definitely upset,’” Simard said in the Facebook post, which was addressed to her constituents. “Now we need to assess where we are, and what we can and must do. I am with you. I hope you will support me.” Neither Simard or Mulroney were at the legislature for Thursday’s question period. Facing mounting pressure from the francophone community and federal and provincial politicians, the Tories have cited the $14.5-billion deficit to justify the rollbacks. Finance Minister Vic Fedeli told reporters he appreciates Simard’s “strong voice” in caucus but ​ ​ would not say whether she will get kicked out of her legislative role for breaking rank. “Simard’s been a great new MPP. She’s a very passionate advocate for the Franco-Ontarian community … [but] I don’t make those decisions [about her duties],” he said. The association representing Franco-Ontarians, L'Assemblée de la francophonie de l'Ontario, says it’s mulling over a legal challenge and that it’s not too late for Team Ford to reverse the ​ cuts. Federal Languages Minister Mélanie Joly has come out against the cuts and will have the ​ ​ chance to express her concerns face-to-face when she meets with Mulroney Friday. Today’s events November 23 at 11 a.m. – Woodstock ​ Agriculture Minister Ernie Hardeman will make an announcement about Fresh from the Farm, a ​ ​ school program where students peddle Ontario produce, at East Oxford Central Public School. November 23 at 1 p.m. – Toronto ​ Lieutenant Governor Elizabeth Dowdeswell and Seniors Affairs Minister Raymond Cho will ​ ​ ​ ​ present this year’s Senior Achievement Awards honouring 16 people in the LG’s suite. November 23 at 2 p.m. – London ​ Transportation Minister Jeff Yurek will make an announcement alongside OPP West Region ​ ​ Commander and Chief Superintendent John Cain at MTO’s Patrol Yard. ​ ​ November 23 – Montreal ​ Trade ministers from across the country will meet in Montreal Friday. Ontario Minister Todd ​ Smith, recently shuffled in to the Economic Development and Trade file, will be in attendance. ​ Topics of conversation ● Ontario Power Generation closed a deal to sell its decommissioned Hearn Generating Station on Toronto’s waterfront Thursday. OPG said it sold off the site to Studios of ​ ​ America, which has leased and managed the property since 2002. The Hearn station hasn’t generated electricity since 1983, and OPG said the site is no longer necessary. ● The Tories said they’re following through on a promise to “end hallway health care” at the ribbon-cutting for a newly expanded facility at Credit Valley Hospital in Mississauga. Much of the work to get the project going began over a decade ago under the previous government. Premier Doug Ford, his Deputy Premier and Health Minister Christine ​ ​ ​ Elliott and Infrastructure Minister Monte McNaughton were in tow for the grand ​ ​ ​ opening. ○ Ford called it “another important step toward making sure that everyone in Ontario has access to the high-quality care they expect and deserve.” Funding announcements Ministry of Energy, Northern Development and Mines ● Energy Minister Greg Rickford was on hand at the Chiefs of Ontario’s Special Chiefs ​ ​ Assembly to announce $5.7 million for 29 First Nations and the Town of Moosonee to pave and maintain 3,160 kilometres of temporary winter roads. The makeshift roads will connect to all-season winter roads and help remote communities in the north access medicine, food and other supplies and services. ○ "The winter roads network also supports the local economy in Far North communities by providing more affordable transportation options for the mining industry,” Rickford said in a news release. ○ The winter road network is open from January until the spring thaw, if the weather permits. Question period NDP lead-off Staffer scandals ● Official Opposition Leader Andrea Horwath continued haranguing the premier over ​ ​ whether he has talked to his chief of staff Dean French about negative news reports ​ ​ alleging his meddling at OPG and directing police to make arrests. ● Premier Doug Ford was not in the legislature. His stand-in, Finance Minister Vic Fedeli, ​ ​ ​ ​ seemed to boast his evasiveness before ducking the question. “I am truly looking forward to questions from the official opposition today, Speaker, when we can talk about the substance of our Fall Economic Statement and our plan for the people.