Queen’s Park Today – Daily Report April 2, 2019 Quotation of the day “Usually when I say something, I usually stick with it.” Premier Doug Ford is asked by a reporter whether he regrets comments about fired OPP ​ ​ ​ ​ deputy commissioner Brad Blair, who is suing Ford for defamation. ​ ​ Today at Queen’s Park On the schedule The House convenes at 9 a.m. The government could call any of the following pieces of legislation for debate: ● Bill 87, Fixing the Hydro Mess Act; ​ ● Bill 66, Restoring Ontario’s Competitiveness Act; or ​ ● Bill 48, Safe and Supportive Classrooms Act. ​ Monday’s debates and proceedings NDP housing critic Suze Morrison introduced her private member’s bill entitled Bill 93, St. ​ ​ ​ ​ James Town Act, to strengthen landlords’ responsibilities when it comes to maintenance. MPPs continued third-reading debate on Bill 66 in the afternoon. ​ ​ In the park The Invasive Species Centre and Canadian Franchise Association are slated to hold lobby events and evening receptions. Today’s events April 2 at 9 a.m. – Toronto ​ ​ Health Minister Christine Elliott, Education Minister Lisa Thompson and Children, Community ​ ​ ​ ​ and Social Services Minister Lisa MacLeod will make an announcement at Holland Bloorview ​ ​ Kids Hospital. April 2 at 9:30 a.m. – Scarborough ​ ​ Environment Minister Rod Phillips and Seniors Minister Raymond Cho (who represents the ​ ​ ​ ​ area) will discuss the federal carbon tax resistance at a constituent's home. April 2 at 10 a.m. – Toronto ​ ​ Green Leader Mike Schreiner will speak to reporters in the media studio about the Ford ​ ​ government’s forthcoming anti-federal-carbon-tax ad campaign. April 2 at 10 a.m. – Toronto ​ ​ Financial Accountability Officer Peter Weltman will release a commentary comparing the ​ ​ cancelled minimum wage increase to the new Low-income Individuals and Families Tax Credit. Topics of conversation ● “Yours to Discover” will be wiped from all Ontario licence plates, Premier Doug Ford ​ confirmed Monday. Speaking to reporters after a presser in which he railed against the ​ federal carbon tax and took a victory lap on the cancellation of Drive Clean, Ford said he ​ ​ ​ didn’t want to scoop the April 11 budget. “I can’t comment until the budget, but we are going to make some changes there. So, I can’t divulge exactly what they say.” ○ The government is considering swapping in “Open for Business” on commercial vehicles, but it isn’t yet clear which slogan will be stamped on passenger plates. ● Ford also eased up on the PC’s campaign pledge to restore the auditor general’s oversight powers to ensure government advertising isn’t partisan. The premier was asked about a Toronto Star report revealing the government’s plans for an anti-federal ​ ​ ​ ​ carbon-tax ad campaign, which he defended, and said he wanted to consult caucus on his party’s promise to beef up the Government Advertising Act. “I consult with my team on every decision we make,” Ford told reporters. ○ The Liberals under Wynne gutted the act (introduced under McGuinty), in 2015, ​ ​ which Auditor General Bonnie Lysyk said at the time effectively reduced her role ​ ​ to a rubber-stamp. When in opposition last year, now-Solicitor General Sylvia ​ Jones tabled a private member’s bill to bring back the AG’s powers. ​ ​ ​ ○ Meanwhile, Ontarians can expect to hear PCs gripe about the federal carbon backstop over the next two weeks leading up to Ontario’s courtroom challenge April 15 to 18. ○ The government’s lawyers were also in court Monday to defend against ​ ​ Greenpeace Canada’s lawsuit claiming the public wasn’t properly consulted over the decision to scrap the cap-and-trade program. ● With just 10 of 25 initial pot retail shops open for business as of yesterday’s April 1 deadline, Ford said he’s confident that “over the next few weeks, we’ll get it done.” ​ ​ “We’re blazing a new trail” on pot legalization, Ford told reporters. “If it means another week or two to get it right, let’s do it.” ○ Retailers that aren’t ready to go by April 30 may be dinged up to $50,000 on the requisite letter of credit. Those that aren’t already open could be docked $12,500, and an additional $12,500 if they still aren’t ready in two weeks. ○ Ford called out illegal dispensaries in Hamilton specifically as one thing that “drives [him] absolutely crazy” about cannabis legalization. “My question to local governments like Hamilton: Why aren't you closing these pot shops down?” he said. “You want revenues? Close them down, fine the landlord a million dollars.” ○ Back at Queen’s Park, the finance minister pointed the finger at Ottawa, citing supply problems. ● Liberal MPP Nathalie Des Rosiers pumped up her forthcoming private member’s bill to ​ ​ establish an independent committee process for the selection of future OPP commissioners — something the integrity watchdog recommended MPPs do in his investigation into the now-dead Ron Taverner appointment. Des Rosiers said the bill is ​ ​ a last resort for opposition MPPs after the justice policy committee turned down her request to look into the appointment process last week. ○ “I think we have a basic democratic duty to the people of Ontario to demonstrate that our police have the necessary professional distance from politicians to exercise their duties responsibly,” Des Rosiers said at a news conference Monday. “I’m very happy if the government steals our ideas,” she quipped, acknowledging private member’s bills rarely become law but governments have rolled parts they like into legislation of their own. ○ The Tories don’t seem keen. Community Safety Minister Sylvia Jones’s office ​ ​ said the government is focused on moving forward with incoming commissioner Thomas Carrique. “Nathalie Des Rosiers was a member of the previous Liberal ​ government which appointed the three previous commissioners using the same long-standing process our government used,” Marion Ringuette, press secretary ​ ​ to Jones, said in an email statement to QPT. ​ ​ ​ ○ Meanwhile, Green Leader Mike Schreiner has signed on to the bill as a ​ ​ co-sponsor. It’s expected to be introduced Wednesday. ● Auditor General Bonnie Lysyk says her office is ready to take on expanded duties as ​ ​ the standalone environmental commissioner’s office is folded into hers. In a statement Monday, Lysyk said she will gauge ministries’ compliance with the Environmental Bill of Rights and noted her reporting mandate covers energy conservation and greenhouse gas reduction efforts. She will also appoint a dedicated environmental commissioner within her office. ○ Outgoing environmental commissioner Dianne Saxe has said she talked to the ​ ​ AG about joining the AG’s team herself, but they didn’t see eye to eye on climate policy and science. She’s also said the move means a dozen people will lose their jobs. For now at least, Saxe is offering her expertise and advice for ​ ​ climate-minded folks. ● The Canadian Press unearthed internal government polling that suggests Ontarians ​ ​ ​ aren’t super keen on the PC’s environmental policies. ● One less teacher in a high school could lead to the loss of six courses and less options for students, John Malloy, the Toronto District School Board’s director of education, said ​ ​ ​ on Metro Morning. ​ ​ Appointments and employments Electrical Safety Authority ● Peter Gregg has been picked to chair the ESA’s board of directors, taking up the mantle ​ from Brian Bentz, who is retiring after nine years on the board. Gregg was appointed to ​ ​ the board five years ago and has worked on the audit and HR and investment committees, according to a release. He’s also president and CEO of the Independent Electricity System Operator, which landed him just shy of the 2018 Sunshine List top ten, placing 11th with a $713,501.72 paycheque. Hydro One ● Hydro One may be on the hunt for new executives after announcing two exits Monday. Chief operating officer Greg Kiraly and executive VP and chief legal officer Jamie ​ ​ ​ Scarlett will be leaving the utility following “a period of planned leadership transition.” ​ ○ Last week Hydro One announced Mark Poweska would take the helm following ​ ​ a standoff with the Ford government over executive compensation that eventually led the board to agree to cap CEO pay at $1.5 million (bonuses and incentives included). Provincial Child and Youth Advocate ● Diana Cooke has been appointed as the temporary provincial child and youth advocate ​ for the month of April, the Speaker told the legislature Monday, which is when Irwin ​ Elman officially stepped down from the role. ​ ○ Elman, whose standalone office is getting folded into the provincial ombudsman’s by May 1, laid out what the loss means for the province’s kids in an interview with ​ National Observer. ​ Question period NDP lead-off Safe injection sites ● Opposition Leader Andrea Horwath led question period asking how the government ​ ​ could justify cutting funding to some existing supervised injection and overdose prevention sites amid a growing opioid crisis. ○ Speaking to reporters later, Horwath suggested the premier consider his late ​ brother Rob Ford’s struggle with drug use when it comes to his overdose ​ ​ ​ prevention policy. ● In response, Community Safety Minister Sylvia Jones touted the 15 rebranded ​ ​ “consumption and treatment services sites” that were approved. ● Premier Doug Ford wasn’t in question period but said at a presser he spoke with a ​ ​ Toronto neighbourhood association about their concerns with some of the site locations, saying many people had a “help them, but not in my backyard” attitude and suggested some would go “ballistic” if a site popped up next door. ○ He also said he is “passionate” about helping people dealing with addiction. “I don’t want these people dying.” ● Over at City Hall, the fallout from Friday’s announcement continued with a chilling ​ warning from Toronto medical officer of health Dr.