Queen’s Park Today – Daily Report March 16, 2020

Quotation of the day

“Not currently considering a lockdown.”

Prabmeet Sarkaria, associate small business minister, says the province is not about to shut ​ ​ ​ down.

Today at Queen’s Park

On the schedule The house is adjourned until Monday, March 23, for the constituency week break — for now. ​ ​

On Sunday, the PCs promised to table emergency legislation to help workers impacted by the coronavirus outbreak "as expeditiously as possible."

The government has also locked and loaded a motion that could suspend house proceedings for the duration of the spring session, if necessary.

A source tells Queen's Park Today Finance Minister Rod Phillips is expected to announce a ​ ​ ​ ​ change in the timeline for releasing the budget, planned for March 25.

In the park Public access to the Pink Palace has been reined in, with tours and Spring Break events cancelled until at least April 3. The move is in the interest of public health and safety, according to the legislature’s protocol branch.

The Speaker's Office has also directed the legislative assembly to operate "essential services only," meaning reduced staff and services. Workers who are asked to stay home will still be paid their normal wages.

Ontario's public service is being asked to work remotely over the next three weeks, whenever possible. "Such arrangements will help ensure that critical government services can continue to be provided, while taking appropriate precautions to protect against the spread of illness," top bureaucrat Steven Davidson said in an OPS-wide memo. ​ ​

Premier watch During Friday's first ministers' conference call with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Premier ​ ​ lauded Ottawa for doling out $500 million to the provinces and territories, which will ​ help "with staying ahead of the situation in the short term."

Ford approved of the $10-billion credit line for businesses announced by federal Finance Minister Bill Morneau, but urged him to work with the provinces to "deliver the fiscal stimulus ​ ​ necessary to maintain stability and confidence in the Canadian economy" and address supply chain issues. Morneau is expected to announce a "significant" stimulus package this week.

The premier also wished Sophie Gregoire Trudeau a full recovery after she tested positive for ​ ​ the coronavirus last week, and thanked the PM "for demonstrating the importance of taking the appropriate measures, including self-isolation, to prevent the further spread."

The first ministers convened by phone instead of in-person as originally planned because Trudeau is self-isolating, but hasn't reported any symptoms.

Ford also praised the House of Commons and Senate for ratifying the USMCA trade pact Friday “amidst global economic uncertainty.”

COVID-19 briefing: Bill to lift sick-leave provisions for workers coming as pandemic fears derail provincial life The Ford government is drafting a bill to scrap the doctor's note requirement and "ensure protected leave" in a bid to help workers dealing with the coronavirus pandemic.

The premier's spokesperson Ivana Yelich said Sunday the forthcoming legislation will "protect ​ ​ workers who are required to take unpaid leave during self-isolation or quarantine periods" and "remove the requirement for employees to obtain sick notes prior to taking time off for self-isolation or quarantine, or to provide care for those who are in self-isolation or quarantine."

Yelich did not directly respond to questions about a timeline, only saying the government will work with opposition parties to pass the bill "as expeditiously as possible." Details on further measures are due out "in the coming days" and the province is also planning to work with the federal government to provide more support for businesses and workers, she added.

Soon after taking office in 2018, the PCs nixed a Liberal-era law that provided workers with two paid sick days and revived the doctors' note requirement for when employees call in ill.

In the wake of COVID-19, health-care professionals and labour advocates have pressed the Ford government to ease up on the sick-leave provisions so that people are more likely to stay at home if they're unwell.

At Queen's Park last week, the Decent Work and Health Network re-upped their call, first made ​ over a month ago. "Our medical advice is to stay home when you're sick, and it's made ​ meaningless because so many of our patients don't have the financial means to do so," said spokesperson Carolina Jimenez, who is also a nurse. ​ ​

Opposition support emergency bill, lay out conditions With legislation in the wings, the government could recall the house as early as this week — which it could do relatively safely by time-allocating the bill to speed its passage and asking only the 12 MPPs (including the Speaker) required for quorum to see it through.

The NDP is already on board.

However, official Opposition Leader voiced some conditions, including that ​ ​ the government include a plan for "already-crowded hospitals" and vulnerable people such as seniors, welfare recipients and the homeless, as well as child care for health-care workers "because we will desperately need them to be at work in the days ahead."

Liberal Leader Steven Del Duca said his caucus will cooperate with the PCs to fight the spread ​ ​ of COVID-19. "We will be studying the legislation closely and are hopeful the government will introduce paid leave along with a number of other measures because workers should not have to choose between paying their bills and self-isolation."

A new analysis by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives warns 450,000 working parents are at risk of having no income when schools close for two weeks post-March Break, thanks to a lack of paid leave from employers.

Ontario hospitals to suspend elective surgeries as number of COVID-19 cases soars Health Minister is asking hospitals to “further implement pandemic plans by ​ ​ carefully ramping down elective surgeries” in order to maximize resources and preserve capacity as the number of COVID-19 cases continues to grow.

The move is supported by the Ontario Hospital Association and the Ontario Medical Association, which called it a “difficult decision” in a letter to members. ​ ​

As of Sunday, there were 42 new confirmed coronavirus cases, bringing the provincial tally to 145, five of which have been cleared. Another 1,316 tests are in the works.

For all but one of the new batch, the source of transmission is “pending,” meaning the province is still investigating whether those people contracted the virus from travel, close contact with an infected person or community spread.

Countrywide, 79 per cent of Canada’s 313 cases have been attributed to travel.

Ontario has recorded a steady surge of cases in recent days — commensurate with heightened fears leading to panic-buying and hoarding, and provincewide closures.

On Friday, chief medical health officer Dr. David Williams ordered the "immediate suspension" ​ ​ of 250-large gatherings and advised against all non-essential international travel because of COVID-19 risks. Health officials are also asking travellers to self-isolate for 14 days upon return.

The health minister's office says the testing of people who experience coronavirus symptoms but haven't travelled recently will take precedence over tests for recent travellers, in order to ​ ​ conserve supplies.

Province closes casinos, releases part-time inmates and suspends hydro disconnections Many aspects of provincial life have been wound down or closed in the face of the pandemic, impacting public schools, provincial parks, convention centres, museums, casinos and jury trials, to name a few.

An increasing number of restaurants and retail businesses are also shutting their doors, despite Associate Small Business Minister stating the province is “not currently ​ ​ considering a lockdown.”

Intermittent inmates who serve time on the weekends were granted a temporary absence from custody Friday, Solicitor General announced, noting these inmates are deemed ​ ​ low-risk by the courts.

Meanwhile, the province is halting all personal visits to its correctional facilities, although professional meetings, such as with lawyers, will continue.

Energy Minister said Friday that the province is issuing a ban on hydro ​ ​ disconnections in partnership with Hydro One, Toronto Hydro, Hydro Ottawa, London Hydro and Alectra. Enbridge will also halt natural gas disconnections.

LCBO stores will remain open for business; the agency says it is preparing for increased demand — something that is reportedly already happening at the Ontario Cannabis Store. ​ ​

Metrolinx is reducing service levels along multiple GO Transit lines and for the UP Express, ​ ​ effective Wednesday.

The PCs also rolled out a $10-million public awareness ad blitz with tips on how the public can curb spread and stay safe.

Topics of conversation

● Housing Minister Steve Clark's newly tabled bill aimed at tackling "renovictions" has at ​ ​ least one legal worker worried it could make it easier for landlords to boot tenants because it allows repair and maintenance issues to be raised at eviction hearings, and empowers officers who aren't adjudicators to order eviction of tenants they deem have violated past agreements with the landlord. The Toronto Star has the details. ​ ​ ​

● and Patrick Brown have settled the legal battle over Takedown, Brown's ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ tell-all memoir. In an apology statement, Brown expressed regret and claimed it was all a ​ ​ “misunderstanding.”

Appointments and employments

Ontario Court of Justice ● Two new judges have been appointed to the court of justice bench, Justice Maureen ​ Heather Bellmore in Toronto, and Justice Michael Barry Joseph Carnegie in London. ​ ​ ​ ○ Last month Attorney General proposed a new rubric for judicial ​ ​ appointments that he says would see a wider pool of candidates, but critics say it could lead to political interference.

Jenni Byrne & Associates ● Simon Jefferies, who left Premier Doug Ford's office to work for federal Conservative ​ ​ ​ Leader Andrew Scheer last year, is heading back to Toronto to work at Jenni Byrne & ​ ​ Associates, the new namesake firm launched by his fellow Ford office alumni Jenni ​ Byrne. ​

News briefs - Governmental

Lecce directs Peel board to address 'deeply troubling' report into systemic racism ● Education Minister released the final report into racism and governance ​ ​ issues at the Peel District School Board on Friday, along with more than two dozen directives to address "decades of inaction." ​ ○ "The accounts of systemic racism and discrimination documented in the report are deeply troubling and will not be tolerated," Lecce said. ○ Among the directives, Lecce has ordered the board to apologize to families, "in light of the harm to the community, particularly to the Black communities." He also clipped the board's hiring powers and ordered the recruitment of an integrity commissioner and independent mediator "to identify, address and resolve" dysfunction among members. Lecce is also suspending complaints until he's satisfied the board is able to function to standard.

○ In its 46-page report last week, the special panel sent in to probe problems at the ​ ​ board said they heard from more than 300 people who recounted "painful and difficult" experiences. ○ NDP Anti-racism critic Laura Mae Lindo said the findings are "horrifying, but ​ ​ sadly not surprising" and called for a provincewide strategy to address anti-racism in schools, including stronger complaints and reporting mechanisms.

Funding announcements

● Long-Term Care Minister announced funding for 30 new long-term ​ ​ care beds and the redevelopment of 89 existing beds in Winchester on Friday.

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

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