Queen’s Park Today – Daily Report December 14, 2018

Quotation of the day

“R-E-S-P-E-C-T, that’s what we want for the TTC.”

Dozens of protesters and transit advocates rallied outside City Hall, while inside councillors discussed the province’s hotly contested plan to upload the TTC.

Today at Queen’s Park

On the schedule The winter recess is on until February 19.

The Select Committee on Financial Transparency is still drafting its final report on past Liberal government fiscal practices and the state of the books. The original motion striking the special committee set a deadline for Thursday, or whenever the committee decides.

Committee members are now scheduled to meet again next Tuesday for another day of report writing.

Premier watch Premier helped out with the local Etobicoke Salvation Army’s Christmas toy drive. ​ ​ ​ The government issued a news release about his charity work. “There are still too many folks out there who can’t afford to buy presents for their children this holiday season. That’s why the work of charitable groups like the Salvation Army and so many others in communities across is so important,” Ford is quoted as saying.

How political parties spent campaign cash The Tories came out on top in the June election, so it should come as no surprise the PC Party took the lead in fundraising during the campaign.

During the month-long writ period, the PCs raked in over $2.5 million in contributions, according to financial statements filed recently with . That’s more than double what the

New Democrats brought in. (The Liberals contributions will be filed with their annual statement in May; the Greens haven’t submitted receipts yet.)

But election campaigns don’t come cheap and the PC Party wound up in the red, with a $4.8 million deficit. The party took out loans of $2 million each from five different banks to help bankroll the campaign.

In order to get their message out to voters in the digital realm, the PCs paid a whopping $1.17 million to Google and $493,449 to Facebook for advertising. Rogers got $962,056, CP24 was paid $197,773 and Corus Radio received more than $470,200 to broadcast Tory promotions. The total advertising costs rounded out at over $4.6 million, less than the NDP and Liberals.

ElectRight got $156,862 for polling and research services, as well as $84,331 for outreach, from the Conservatives.

The NDP raised about $1.16 million during the campaign and ended the election clocking in a deficit of $5.7 million. The New Democrats took out a $6-million bank loan they are already started paying back.

Advertising expenses came in at about $5.3 million, of which $682,526 went to Facebook.

The Liberals placed third in the vote and third in the fiscal standings, reporting a $7-million deficit. The Grits took out four bank loans of $2.5 million apiece.

The party also gave over $2.1 million to Data Sciences for advertising and digital services. The firm is headed up by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s childhood friend Tom Pitfield and is the ​ ​ ​ ​ keeper of the party’s voter-contact database known as Liberalist. The firm Bensimon Byrne, which has done previous work for the OLP and the former Liberal government, was paid about $3.1 million for advertising as well.

The Grits spent the least of the three major parties to pump up its message on Facebook — a relatively paltry $37,081 — but the most, $5.6 million, on advertising overall. In post-election interviews, Liberal operative David Herle scoffed at the impact of digital campaigns. Herle’s ​ ​ company The Gandalf Group was awarded $168,855 for research and polling services.

The Liberals also doled out $163,172 to Primecontact Inc. for research and polling. ZIta ​ Astravas — a Queen’s Park alumni who left for the Hill after the federal Liberals’ 2015 victory, ​ and is now chief of staff to National Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan — was paid $14,195 for ​ ​ consulting.

Knocking on doors and canvassing can work up an appetite. The PCs forked out $1,555 at Pizza Pizza, almost $1,200 at McDonald’s, $1,458 at KFC and, for the more refined palate, $1,610 at swanky fast food joint The Burger’s Priest.

The Grits ordered nearly $3,000 at their preferred pizza places, Domino’s and Pizzaiolo, as well as over two grand at Best Portuguese Chicken and $1,310 at Rasta Pasta.

Ford government offers voluntary buyouts to civil servants The Ford government is offering voluntary buyouts to thousands of public service employees in an effort to curb costs without turning to layoffs.

Cabinet Secretary Steve Orsini sent a memo to all Ontario Public Service employees offering ​ ​ ​ up exit packages for regular, management and part-time employees next year. CTV first broke ​ ​ the news Wednesday evening. ​

The “time-limited transition exit initiative” has been available to unionized staff since 2013 but is getting temporarily expanded to cover non-union workers such as Crown counsel and certain correctional staff, while a “voluntary exit program” package is being created for management.

“As part of the government’s comprehensive plan to address its fiscal challenges, the government is exploring measures to manage its compensation costs in a way that ensures vital services to citizens are not compromised while avoiding involuntary job losses,” Orsini says in the memo.

“To help streamline the size of the OPS, the current focus is on leveraging available programs that will allow employees to exit the organization on a voluntary basis.”

Civil servants can apply between January 1 and February 28, and those that get approved will have until the end of 2019 to exit.

When he was out on the stump during the spring election campaign, now-Premier Doug Ford ​ repeatedly vowed not to cut jobs. “Under our government, not a single person will lose their job,” Ford says often.

Deputy Opposition Leader said the premier is going back on his promise. ​ ​

“The Ford government’s memo to thousands of workers makes it clear that Ford is eliminating jobs, and cutting the public services that everyday people count on,” Singh said in a statement.

“Doug Ford has not told Ontario families what services are being cut, or how many jobs he plans to cut. He has clearly been planning to slash jobs all along — but has been making things up to hide it.”

Today’s events

December 14 at 11 a.m. – St. Catharines ​ Transportation Minister will make an announcement at the St. Catharines Railway ​ ​ Station alongside his parliamentary assistant and Niagara MPP . ​ ​ ​ ​

Topics of conversation

● Toronto Council met Thursday to talk pot, provincial takeover of the subway and Ontario Place, among other things. ○ Councillor Josh Matlow laid out the City’s goals for discussions with the ​ ​ ​ provincial government regarding the possible upload of the TTC subway system. ○ In a 20-4 vote, the city green-lighted cannabis retailers. Mayor John Tory’s ​ ​ motion to ask the province for permission to further restrict stores’ proximity to schools, community centres, youth-focused facilities and the like, received unanimous consent. Meanwhile, Sudbury and Ottawa are opting in for pot shops, ​ while Markham and Mississauga voted against having retail cannabis stores within their borders. Municipalities have until January 22 to opt out of hosting brick-and-mortar shops. ○ Downtown councillors Joe Cressy and Mike Layton successfully put forward a ​ ​ ​ ​ motion calling on the provincial government to protect Ontario Place and to engage in an open, public process to determine the future of the mothballed theme park situated on Toronto’s waterfront.

● Moody’s downgraded Ontario’s debt rating but boosted its outlook to stable, from negative. The credit rating firm says the change “reflects the fiscal challenges facing the province,” illuminated by the $14.5-billion deficit projected for this year. The company expects “further deficits to follow” resulting in the “deterioration of key financial metrics over the next 3 - 5 years.” ○ Finance Minister blamed the former Liberal rulers for the downgrade. ​ ​ “This is a consequence of the culture of waste and mismanagement perpetuated by the previous Liberal government and proves just how important it is for Ontario to continue to develop a meaningful debt management strategy,” he said.

● NDP MPP Kevin Yarde updated his earlier complaint to the integrity commissioner ​ ​ about the controversial appointment of Ron Taverner as OPP Commissioner. It now ​ ​ includes the bombshell tidbit from interim police chief Brad Blair’s letter about the ​ ​ premier’s alleged request for an “off the books” customized camper van. To bolster his concerns about potential political interference, Yarde cited Taverner’s comments to the Toronto Sun in the new version of the complaint, but Taverner’s quote defending Ford ​ ​ has since been removed from the newspaper’s story. ​

○ The original article had Taverner saying he was told, “it’s not a camper van but an extended-size van … He’s a big guy and it would have more room for he and his team to work while on road.” ○ Blair’s nine-page letter to the ombudsman alleged the premier’s chief of staff Dean French asked the OPP to buy a modified camper vehicle from a specific ​ company and to keep the cost shielded from public eyes. ○ According to the NDP the ombudsman’s office has decided to defer Blair’s requested investigation of Taverner’s appointment to the integrity commission.

● Ontario will only issue up to 25 licences for retail pot shops to start when they open for ​ ​ business in April 2019, citing concerns over national supply shortages and placing the blame on Parliament Hill. Who gets the licences will be determined by lottery and overseen by a “third-party fairness monitor.” ○ Meanwhile, Hill+Knowlton’s Melissa Lantsman intimated that draft regulations ​ ​ for cannabis edibles are coming down the pipeline.

● According to National Observer, the Ford government is pulling the plug on funding for ​ ​ ​ the College of Midwives, the oversight body for the province’s midwives for over two decades. Per the Observer, the cancellation is retroactive to April 1, 2018 and would ​ ​ punch an $800,000-hole in its operating budget.

● OPSEU says it’s found out where the Ontario Cannabis Store’s weed warehouse is: Oakville. The union is demanding the provincial government release more information about the distribution centre, including who was contracted to run it and details about the hiring and training process for its workers. ○ OCS said it won’t confirm or disclose details. The “location and details of the OCS distribution centre are undisclosed for security reasons and will not be publicly announced or confirmed,” spokesman Daffyd Roderick told Queen’s ​ ​ ​ Park Today in an email. ​

● Patrick Brown is heading out on tour to promote his tell-all book Takedown, which pulls ​ ​ ​ no punches when it comes to some of his former Tory caucus mates. He has two stops scheduled in Ottawa and one in Scarborough.

● Mudslinging at Queen’s Park may be becoming a problem — literally. If you’re commuting to the legislature using the TTC, don’t get trapped in the big mud hole. ​ ​

● If you’re on the premier’s nice list you might be getting a blue Christmas card from the Ford family. Here’s a peek via CBC. ​ ​ ​

● A Paris-inspired “yellow vest” rally is being organized for this Saturday on the Queen’s Park lawn. The Twitter account behind the event is encouraging “patriots” to come out and protest Justin Trudeau, the UN Global Migration Pact, and “the refugee crisis.” ​ ​ ○ Former Toronto mayoral candidate Faith Goldy has been invited. ​ ​

● Nova Scotia Liberal MP Rodger Cuzner took aim at the Doug Ford-Andrew Scheer ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ bromance during his annual holiday tradition of reciting a Christmas poem in the House of Commons. But Cuzner mixed up Premier Doug Ford with his brother Rob during his ​ ​ ​ rendition of “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas”: ​ ○ “The opposition leader asked Santa for a fresh ride; A new Ford family wagon, he’d drive it with pride. But to get something so bloated, the chances are slim; And from early indications, it seems Ford is driving him. Gift-wrapped surprises are Scheer delights; Like when Rob Ford said au revoir to Francophone rights,” Cuzner rhymed. ​ ​

News releases — governmental

Ministry of Finance ● In booze news, the province is launching public consultations for the expansion of alcohol sales in corner, grocery and big-box stores. Ontarians will have until February 1 to weigh in online, with a report on the findings coming in spring. ​ ​

Lobbyist registrations If you are looking for further information on any lobbying registry, it is all public and easily searchable here. ​ ​ ​

Consultants who registered as lobbyists from December 7, 2018 – December 13, 2018

· Alex Bishop, Concierge Marketing Inc ​ ​ o Clients: Uncover Community Development ​ ​

· Bonnie Hiltz, Sussex Strategy Group ​ ​ o Clients: Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA); NextBridge Energy ​ ​ Transmission – Canada; TransAlta Corporation; EDP Renewables Canada Ltd.; Acciona Energy Canada Global Inc.

· Brian Zeiler-Kligman, Sussex Strategy Group Inc ​ ​ o Clients: Aecon Group Inc. ​ ​

· Chris Benedetti, Sussex Strategy Group ​ ​ o Clients: Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA); EDF Renewables ​ ​

· Matthew Gibson, Sussex Strategy Group ​ ​ o Clients: Aecon Group Inc. ​ ​

· Robyn Gray, Sussex Strategy Group ​ ​ o Clients: Greenfield Energy Centre LP; Fortis Ontario Inc.; NextBridge ​ ​ Energy Transmission - Canada

· Bruce Hartley, Prospectus Associates ​ ​ o Clients: Logan Media ​ ​

· Carly Luis, StrategyCorp Inc. ​ ​ o Clients: Ontario Professional Planners Institute ​ ​

· Gabriel Sekaly, StrategyCorp Inc. ​ ​ o Clients: First Gulf Corporation ​ ​

· John Penner, StrategyCorp Inc. ​ ​ o Clients: Greater Toronto Airports Authority; Crosslinx Transit Solutions ​ ​ Constructors

· Caroline Pinto, Counsel Public Affairs Inc ​ ​ o Clients: Ontario Library Association ​ ​

· Devan Sommerville, Counsel Public Affairs Inc. ​ ​ o Clients: Ontario Library Association; Baif Developments Limited; First ​ ​ Capital Realty Inc.

· Philip Dewan, Counsel Public Affairs Inc. ​ ​ o Clients: Baif Developments Limited ​ ​

· Stephanie Gawur, Counsel Public Affairs Inc. ​ ​ Clients: First Capital Realty Inc ​

· Christine Simundson, Rubicon Strategy Inc. ​ ​ o Clients: Museum of Contemporary Art Toronto Canada (MOCA) ​ ​

· Dan Mader, Jill Wilson, Loyalist Public Affairs ​ ​ ​ ​ o Clients: Bruce Power Inc. ​ ​

· Nicholas Pozhke, Loyalist Public Affairs ​ ​ o Clients: Cestar College of Business, Health and Technology ​ ​

· Daniel Bordonali, Manny Sousa, Sutherland Corporation Limited ​ ​ o Clients: Royalton Homes Inc. ​ ​

· Monika Bujalska, Sutherland Corporation Limited ​ ​ o Clients: Camping In Ontario ​ ​

· Don Gracey, CG Management & Communications Inc. ​ ​ o Clients: Cassellholme ​ ​

· Elizabeth Wagdin, Global Public Affairs Inc. ​ ​ o Clients: Canadian Energy Pipeline Association ​ ​

· Jennifer Li, Crestview Strategy ​ ​ o Clients: Canadian Solar Industries Association (CanSIA) ​ ​

· Ginny Movat, Crestview Strategy ​ ​ o Clients: Live Nation Canada Inc.; Hyr Canada Inc.; Amazon Web Services; ​ ​ Rothmans, Benson & Hedges Inc.; Eli Lilly Canada Inc.; CoreFour, Inc.; Tilray Inc.

· Jay Strauss, Armstrong Communications Inc. ​ ​ o Clients: Niagara Employment Agency Inc. (Operating as Niagara ​ ​ Recycling)

· Jean-Guy Fréchette, Solstice Public Affairs ​ ​ o Clients: Association franco-ontariaenne des conseils scolaires catholiques; ​ ​ Centre de Leadership et d’Evaluation; Centre multiservices francophone de l’Ouest d’Ottawa (CMFO); Centre Franco-Ontarien des Ressources Pédagogiques (CFORP)

· Stew Kiff, Solstice Public Affairs ​ ​ Clients: Le Centre de Leadership et d’Evaluation ​

· Jeff Mackey, Canadian Urban Transit Association ​ ​ o Clients: Ontario Public Transit Association ​ ​

· Jonathan Telch, Maple Leaf Strategies ​ ​ o Clients: PayIt ​ ​

· Kevin McCarthy, Exhort 3.13 Inc. ​ ​ o Clients: Enriched Academy ​ ​

· Lauren Lackie, Nixon Fleet & Poole LLP (formerly Walker Poole Nixon LLP) ​ ​ o Clients: TransCanada Pipelines Limited ​ ​

· Lee Samis, Lee Samis Professional Corporation ​ ​ o Clients: Insurance Bureau of Canada ​ ​

· Lisa Kinsella, Logan Ross, Daisy Consulting Group ​ ​ o Clients: Ontario Professional Fire Fighters Association ​ ​

· Mai Nguyen, Maple Leaf Strategies ​ o Clients: Zebra Technologies ​ ​

· Marissa Steiner, Hill+Knowlton Strategies ​ ​ o Clients: Gilead Sciences; 3M Canada Company; Rick Hansen Institute ​ ​ ​ ​

· Mark Morris, Mark Morris C/O Morris and Morris LLP ​ ​ o Clients: Axess Law Professional Corporation ​ ​

· Melody Morrison, Melody Morrison ​ ​ o Clients: International Boreal Conservation Campaign ​ ​

· Natalie Dash, Campbell Strategies ​ ​ o Clients: NAIOP Greater Toronto Chapter ​ ​

· Peter Van Zakarow, Alexynn Strategy ​ ​ o Clients: Solace Corporation ​ ​

· Peter Van Loan, Aird & Berlis ​ ​ o Clients: 1621158 Ontario Ltd. (Emery Investment) ​ ​

· Ralph Palumbo, The Hillcrest Consulting Group Inc. ​ ​ o Clients: Ontario Association of Osteopathic Manual Practitioners ​ ​

· Randy Bauslaugh, McCarthy Tetrault LLP ​ ​ o Clients: Board of Trustees, Christian Schools International (Canada) ​ ​ Pension Plan; Canadian Bar Insurance Association

· Ron Gilmour, The Daisy Group ​ ​ o Clients: Township of North Glengarry; Ontario Professional Fire Fighters ​ ​ Association

· Ryan Guptill, Navigator Ltd. ​ ​ o Clients: Sidewalk Labs Employees, L.L.C. ​ ​

· Semhar Tekeste, Enterprise Canada ​ ​ o Clients: Stelco . ​ ​

· Terrance Oakey, One Persuasion Inc. ​ ​ o Clients: Capital Health and Innovation Inc. ​ ​

· Thomas Blackmore, Edelman ​ ​ o Clients: Cisco Systems Canada ​ ​

· Valérie Courtois, Kutuen ​ ​ o Clients: International Boreal Conservation Campaign ​ ​

Organizations that registered in-house lobbyists from December 7, 2018 – December 13, 2018 · The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs · Neighbourhood Pharmacy Association of Canada · Honda Canada Inc. · Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters · Information Technology Association of Canada · Ontario Road Builders’ Association · Fédération des caisses Desjardins du Québec · Unifor · Hoffman-La Roche Limited · Merck Canada Inc. · Ontario Association of Children’s Aid · Rick Hansen Foundation · Insurance Bureau of Canada · Ontario Retirement Communities Association · Algoma Steel Inc. (formerly Essar Steel Algoma Inc.) · Canadian Mental Health Association · Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers · · Ontario Chiropractic Association · The Investment Funds Institute of Canada · Financial Planning Standards Council · Ontario Retirement Communities Association · Career Colleges Ontario · Lime Technology Inc. · Shopify Inc. · Ontario Public Service Employees Union

· Unifor · Council of Ontario Universities · Arterra Wines Canada · Financial Planning Standards Council · Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario (RNAO) · Merck Canada Inc. · Glaukos Canada Inc. · Motorcycle and Moped Industry Council · Rick Hansen Foundation · Amazon Web Services · La Cité · Canadian Consumer Specialty Products

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

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