“You Got to Be Very, Very Careful When You Tell Someone That They're

Queen’s Park Today – Daily Report May 27, 2019

Quotation of the day

“You got to be very, very careful when you tell someone that they’re corrupt. Very, very careful. OK, my friend? I’ll talk to you later.”

Premier Doug Ford leaves a voicemail responding to an Ontario resident who texted him in anger over controversial autism policy changes.

Today at Queen’s Park

On the schedule MPPs are back at 10:30 a.m. for question period following a constituency week break. T-minus two sitting weeks until the House is scheduled to rise for the summer on June 6.

The government is expected to put forward a time-allocation motion on Bill 108, More Homes, More Choice Act, in the afternoon. It would see the bill due back to the House for third-reading debate by June 4.

Committees this week Bill 107, Getting Ontario Moving Act, is up for possible amendments during clause-by-clause consideration at the Standing Committee on General Government Monday and Tuesday.

On Tuesday the government agencies committee will consider pending appointments of Nobina Robinson to the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario and Derek Murray to the Ontario Trillium Foundation.

The estimates committee will consider the 2019-20 expenditures for the health ministry on Tuesday and Wednesday. The public accounts committee meets Wednesday for a closed session of report writing on several of the auditor general’s reports.

In the park

A group of pharmacies will hold an “Independent Pharmacy” lobby day and lunchtime reception. Medavie will host an evening reception billed “Driving Value Through Collaborative Care.” The University of Guelph is also scheduled to hold an evening reception.

Big-city mayors say Bill 108 puts parkland, community centres at risk Big city mayors are raising concerns that the Ford government’s sweeping housing reform legislation will put parkland and community centres at risk.

Guelph Mayor Cam Guthrie, who chairs the Large Urban Mayors’ Caucus of Ontario (LUMCO), issued a statement Friday saying the 28 mayors the group represents remain “alarmed” by unexpected provincial funding cutbacks and at how provisions in Bill 108, More Homes More Choice Act, would change development charges.

Guthrie said the changes to development charges, as currently drafted, “could put at risk our cities’ finances and ability to provide parkland, community facilities, and adequate public engagement to inform the planning of neighbourhoods.”

“Changes to Development Charges, which are paid by developers to offset the cost of growth, could put already-approved parks and community centres in jeopardy,” the mayors said in a joint statement after a meeting. “A return to the old OMB rules for planning appeals means that local planning matters will once again be taken out of the hands of municipal Councils.”

LUMCO is calling on the PCs to pause passage of the bill until at least September 30, so municipalities have adequate time to weigh in.

“We wholeheartedly support the Province’s goals of improving access to different types of housing, including more affordable housing, but believe that by working together, we can find better ways to achieve them.”

The PCs have a time-allocation motion on Monday’s order paper for Bill 108 that would see it due back to the House from the committee stage by June 4, with time to clear a third-reading vote before MPPs break for the summer as scheduled on June 6.

Meanwhile, the province’s battle with Toronto City Hall continues, with Mayor John Tory targeting PC blue Toronto ridings and going door-to-door in Eglinton—Lawrence — currently represented by PC MPP Robin Martin — with former Liberal MPP and current councillor Mike Colle.

It’s the latest move in Tory’s “Stop the Cuts” campaign, calling on the province to reverse cuts to municipal funding that could leave the city short $178 million this year.

Today’s events

May 27 at 9 a.m. – Online Financial Accountability Officer Peter Weltman will release a report assessing the 2019-20 expenditure estimates for the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care online.

May 27 at 9:30 a.m. – Toronto Attorney General Caroline Mulroney and Robin Martin, parliamentary assistant to Health Minister Christine Elliott, will make an announcement about mental health and addictions at the Westin Harbour Castle hotel.

May 27 at 9:30 a.m. – Toronto NDP accessibility critic Joel Harden will be in the Queen’s Park media studio to discuss his forthcoming motion calling on the government to release an action plan in response to former lieutenant governor David Onley’s final review of accessibility laws.

May 27 at 12:30 p.m. – Toronto The Canadian Taxpayers Federation’s tour advocating for more natural resource pipelines in Canada stops at Queen’s Park.

May 27 at 9:30 a.m. – Markham Independent federal MP Jane Philpott, formerly a minister in Justin Trudeau’s cabinet, will make an announcement about her political future. Meanwhile, British Columbia Independent MP Jody Wilson-Raybould, who also quit Trudeau’s cabinet in the wake of the SNC-Lavalin scandal, will share an announcement about her own political future later in the day.

Topics of conversation

● Ontario is poised to join B.C.’s class-action lawsuit against more than 40 opioid manufacturers and wholesalers, according to The Globe and Mail. It’s part of a broader mental health and addictions strategy that will be revealed in legislation that’s expected to be introduced today.

● Another bad-news poll alert for the Ford government. An Ipsos poll released Friday suggested a three-way tie between the three leading parties, with the Liberals receiving 32 per cent support, the PCs getting 30 per cent and the NDP winning 29 per cent support.

● Michael Cole, an Ontario father of two children on the autism spectrum, says he felt intimidated by a voicemail left by Premier Doug Ford telling him to be careful about who he called corrupt. Cole told Global News he had texted the premier’s cellphone in anger over the changes to the autism program with the latest polling numbers. ○ “How long did it take the provincial Liberals to become this unpopular? It’s almost like it’s a province-wide case of buyers remorse. (Hint: we wanted liberal policy without corruption, you gave us corruption with incompetent policy),” Cole texted. ○ Ford called back and left a message, calling Cole his “friend” and saying he loves the recent polls, which make him laugh. “But Michael, you got to be very, very careful when you tell someone that they’re corrupt. Very, very, very careful. OK, my friend? I’ll talk to you later,” the premier adds.

● Early education contract talks are off to a rocky start, with the provincial government and high school teachers’ unions already at an impasse over what provisions get dealt with at the provincial bargaining table versus individual boards. The Toronto Star has the details.

● Ontario is slashing funding for the arts from $18.5 million to $6.5 million, including a $10 million cut to the Ontario Arts Council that eliminates the Indigenous Culture Fund, the Canadian Press reports.

● The United Food and Commercial Workers union, which represents Beer Store employees, is reportedly asking the auditor general and provincial ombudsman to investigate after the Star reported the Ford government is working with private companies and lobbyists to promote expanded booze sales.

● The Ontario Civilian Police Commission is investigating corruption allegations levelled against Durham police chief Paul Martin, members of the top brass and the local police services board. The investigation comes at the behest of Solicitor General Sylvia Jones.

● Health Minister Christine Elliott is spending the next few days at home recovering from a fall while grocery shopping. ○ “She was transported to Toronto Western Hospital where she received stitches for a minor head wound. Following routine tests, physicians have determined that there are no concerns with Minister Elliott’s health and have asked that she spend the next few days recovering at home,” her spokesperson Hayley Chazan said in a statement Sunday.

● The Toronto Raptors are in the NBA Finals. Premier Doug Ford was quick to congratulate the team for reaching basketball’s most prestigious series for the first time in franchise history — but his congratulatory tweet wasn’t a slam dunk with some fans based on their replies.

Appointments and employments Technical Standards and Safety Authority ● Robert J. Falconi has been appointed chair of the TSSA board, as of May 13. The TSSA is also on the hunt for a new chief safety and risk officer by July 1, which Government and Consumer Services Minister Bill Walker said Friday is part of the safety regulator’s plan to address the auditor general’s 2018 report. The agency failed to live up to its mandate overseeing elevators, pipelines, furnaces and other sites, according to the report. ○ Falconi replaces former TSSA board chair Norm Inkster.

Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) ● For the seventh consecutive year, Warren “Smokey” Thomas will head up OPSEU for a two-year term after beating out OPSEU regional vice-president Sara Labelle for re-election at the union’s convention this weekend. Eduardo Almeida was acclaimed first VP/treasurer for the fifth year in a row.

News releases — governmental Ministry of Finance ● In booze news, the report from the PCs’ special adviser heading up the review of alcohol sales, Ken Hughes, landed on Finance Minister Vic Fedeli’s desk on Friday, per a media release. The report will likely not be made public until after it’s translated to French and complies with accessibility standards, a process that can take several weeks. ○ The Ford government is currently looking to expand beer and wine sales and break a contract with the Beer Store, which could cost hundreds of millions in penalties.

● Last week the finance ministry also announced an end to the Ontario Gas Card, effective January 1, 2020, meaning First Nations people will have to use their federally issued Indian Status cards as proof of entitlement to buy tax-exempt gasoline on reserve. The government says the change is “more secure” and will reduce “red tape” by getting rid of the application and renewal process for the gas cards.

Funding announcements Ministry of the Solicitor General ● The Canadian Mental Health Association in Elgin is getting funding to hire two staff to help St. Thomas police deal with individuals experiencing crisis. ○ The organization will receive $141,148 for a mental health worker “who will work with police to engage individuals in crisis, de-escalate high-pressure situations and connect individuals with necessary health supports” as well as a post-court transitional case manager “to support individuals with mental illness released on bail, found not guilty or released without detention to engage community mental health and addictions services and supportive housing.”

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

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