Queen’s Park Today – Daily Report January 14, 2019

Quotation of the day

“To the people of Ottawa, know that the rest of shares in your sorrow tonight. We grieve with you, and we stand with you.”

Premier issues a heartfelt statement on the fatal double-decker bus crash at ​ ​ ​ Westboro Station on Friday.

Today at Queen’s Park

On the schedule The House is recessed until February 19.

Committees this week Pre-budget consultations kick off Tuesday with the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs holding public hearings at the legislature. Representatives from the health, business, labour, education, real estate development, manufacturing and environment sectors have signed up to speak.

Travelling hearings begin next week. The committee will make stops in Dryden, Timmins, Ottawa, Sarnia, Kitchener-Waterloo and Peterborough before the end of the month.

Premier watch This weekend the premier cut the ribbon at MPP Christine Hogarth’s constituency office in ​ ​ ​ ​ —Lakeshore and sat down with business leaders from the Armenian community. ​ ​

Premier Doug Ford also hung out with PC Party supporters at a $25-a-plate pasta dinner in ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Kitchener Friday. On Thursday, he mingled with Albany Club members who coughed up $145 for a seat at a swanky event — where Ford and his chief of staff Dean French, sporting ​ ​ tuxedos, briefly got stuck in the elevator, according to the Star. ​ ​ ​

Jenni Byrne leaving premier’s office for OEB Premier Doug Ford is recommending his principal secretary for a plum position on the Ontario ​ ​ Energy Board.

The premier confirmed he’s losing Jenni Byrne, one of his most experienced staffers and a ​ ​ longtime Harper aide, in a statement Friday morning.

“In her capacity in senior positions with the federal government and here in my office, Jenni has consistently worked in service to the public. She understands the challenges facing the province in the natural gas and electricity sectors,” Ford said.

The premier’s office says Byrne will earn about $197,000 annually for the two-year, full-time appointment at the province’s independent energy sector regulator. Among other things, the OEB sets rates and oversees the energy industry.

“I know Jenni would work with her future colleagues on the Board, and the professionals at the OEB, to help bring utility rates under control and make life more affordable for Ontario families and businesses,” the premier said.

Byrne did not return requests for comment.

The NDP accused the premier of gifting her a “big money golden parachute” and warned of future “political mismanagement” of the energy regulator.

“Stacking the OEB with his buddies and turning our energy decision-making body into a dumping ground for Ford loyalists diminishes its independence, and will have major consequences for Ontario’s energy sector,” NDP MPP said in a statement. ​ ​

Tabuns notes Byrne is just one in a string of Ford-connected Tories with new gigs, including Ontario’s representative in Washington Ian Todd and special health care adviser Dr. Rueben ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Devlin. ​

Pot jackpot winners announced More than 17,000 aspiring cannabis retailers entered the government’s lottery but only 25 won the chance to apply for one of the first store licences on Friday.

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario’s breakdown shows most of the applicants were individual entrepreneurs while a few were corporations. The full list and winners and their ​ assigned regions can be found here. ​

They now have until Friday to turn in a formal operator licence application along with a $50,000 ​ ​ letter of credit notice and a $6,000 non-refundable fee. There are steep financial penalties for retailers who aren’t ready to sell by April, when the government expects stores to open.

There is a waiting list the AGCO will choose from if lottery winners fail the application process or background check.

Today’s events January 14 and 15 – Detroit ​ The North American International Auto Show kicks off in Motor City. Premier Doug Ford and ​ ​ Economic Development and Trade Minister will meet with representatives from ​ ​ Ford, Chrysler, Toyota, GM, Honda, Magna and labour on Monday and Tuesday.

January 14 at 10 a.m. – Toronto ​ Deputy OPP Commissioner Brad Blair will be in Divisional Court asking for an expedited ​ ​ hearing for his application to force Ombudsman Paul Dubé to investigate possible political ​ ​ interference in the controversial hiring of Ron Taverner as top provincial cop. ​ ​

January 14 at 1 p.m. – Toronto ​ Toronto Mayor will meet with local PC MPPs. ​ ​

Topics of conversation

● The Globe and Mail’s Adam Radwanski offers a behind-the-scenes look at how the ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ battle between two of the premier’s topmost staffers, Jenni Byrne and Dean French, ​ ​ ​ ​ played out.

● A public sauna? Giant vegetable garden? Housing on the water? Many lofty ideas were floated at this weekend’s packed Waterfront For All public meeting on the future of Ontario Place, the Toronto Star reports. ​ ​ ​ ​ ○ The white elephant situated on Toronto’s waterfront is up for (another) makeover after the Ford administration passed legislation to wind up the public asset and enlisted Jim Ginou to chair the board once again. ​ ​ ○ Ginou’s recent comments suggesting Ontario Place is in disrepair and could be redeveloped however his friend the premier sees fit have many people wondering about the fate of the site.

● Transportation Minister told the Globe he’s hoping the private sector will foot ​ ​ ​ ​ the bill for any extra Scarborough subway extension stops in exchange for the right to build above the station or on nearby public land.

● Amid a legal showdown over the Tories’ rollback of the updated sex-ed curriculum, Education Minister Lisa Thompson said recently the revamped lesson plan will focus on ​ ​ ​ sexual consent. ​

● ICYMI Toronto Star columnist Bob Hepburn laid out what he claims is a secret plot to ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ develop a two-tiered health care system in Ontario that includes private clinics and allows physicians to charge patients more than they can in public care. ○ Among the list of omens, Hepburn claims Health Minister and Deputy Premier may soon be swapped out of the health portfolio and replaced ​ by current Training, Colleges and Universities Minister . ​ ​ ○ According to Hepburn, Ford’s inner circle of health advisers prefers Fullerton over Elliott, who is viewed as resisting so-called attempts at privatization.

● If Patrick Brown were premier, Ontario would be combating climate change, the ousted ​ ​ PC leader turned Brampton mayor told the National Observer. ​ ​ ​

Appointments and employments ● Conservative broadcaster and journalist Brian Lilley is joining the Toronto Sun’s ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Queen’s Park bureau as a political columnist.

Funding announcements Ministry of Energy, Northern Development and Mines ● Energy Minister is doling out $1 million in his riding for the City of ​ ​ ​ ​ Kenora’s ongoing Downtown Revitalization Project. The money will go toward constructing a pedestrian-friendly plaza as well as road realignment and the replacement of water and sewage infrastructure, which will support a new First Nations health access facility and create 75 new jobs, according to a government release.

Ministry of Infrastructure ● Infrastructure Minister Monte McNaughton was in his hometown of Newbury Friday to ​ ​ announce expert infrastructure planning help for 58 rural and northern communities. The ​ ​ minister said the towns will get in-person assistance in developing an asset management plan, which all 444 municipalities are required to have in place by July 1. The plans must be carried out by summer 2024. ○ The program is being rolled out alongside the Municipal Finance Officers’ Association of Ontario.

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

Copyright © 2018 Queen’s Park Today. It is a violation of copyright to distribute this newsletter without permission.