Queen’s Park Today – Daily Report February 3, 2020

Quotation of the day

“Get the summer going and let’s have fun.”

Premier welcomes Wiarton Willie’s early spring forecast. ​ ​ ​ ​

Today at Queen’s Park

On the schedule The House will reconvene on Tuesday, February 18, 2020.

Premier watch While in the Bruce Peninsula for groundhog Wiarton Willie’s forecast on Sunday, Premier ​ ​ Doug Ford again called out teacher union brass ahead of another week of scheduled walkouts. ​

Speaking to CP24, Ford said parents are getting “frustrated that the heads of the unions are ​ ​ forcing their teachers to walk out.”

“I’ve had numerous, numerous texts from teachers, saying, ‘I don’t want to be doing this. This is the unions,’” the premier went on to say.

Late last Friday, talks between the province and the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of broke down after three days. But tensions seemed to continue to rise with both sides pointing the finger.

Education Minister confirmed a commitment to the full-day kindergarten model ​ ​ and reiterated compensation is a key sticking point for the union. The premier was unequivocal Sunday, saying the job action is about “lining the pockets of the unions” and doubling down on Lecce’s earlier statement that parents and the province are “losing our patience.”

Meanwhile, ETFO president Sam Hammond has said the union wouldn’t support the ​ ​ ​ ​ government’s funding cuts to special education. Elementary teachers are planning to go ahead with rotating walkouts scheduled everyday this week, as well as a one-day provincewide strike Thursday, meaning all public schools will be shut down for two of the five school days.

Negotiations with OECTA are scheduled today, ahead of a province-wide strike planned for Tuesday, while AEFO, the union representing French teachers, is slated to return to the bargaining table Wednesday and Thursday. There are no bargaining dates set for OSSTF, which is planning more rotating strikes in certain boards, including York and Halton, tomorrow.

In Wiarton this weekend, Ford also boasted about being the only premier to partake in the local Groundhog Day tradition (for his second time) and gave a shout-out to local MPP Bill Walker, ​ ​ who donned a top hat and cape for the occasion. ​ ​

“It’s important to get out here, get out to Wiarton and the rural areas, and meet the people. I love the people out in the rural areas. Know that they have a loud voice down at Queen’s Park.”

Ontario-native Wiarton Willie’s early spring prediction was challenged by Nova Scotia’s Shubenacadie Sam, who saw his shadow and retreated to his burrow, therefore foretelling six ​ ​ ​ more weeks of winter.

Today’s events

February 3 at 9 a.m. – ​ Finance Minister Rod Phillips and Energy Minister and local MPP will host ​ ​ ​ ​ pre-budget consultations at the Kenora Recreation Centre.

February 3 at 10:30 a.m. – Toronto ​ Ontario chief medical officer of health Dr. David Williams will provide a regular update on the ​ ​ province’s response to the new coronavirus in the Queen’s Park media studio. Last Friday Williams confirmed the province’s third case, a London-based woman in her 20s.

February 3 at 11 a.m. – North Bay ​ Labour Minister Monte McNaughton and Economic Development Minister and local MPP Vic ​ ​ ​ Fedeli will make an announcement at Canadore College. ​

February 3 at 3 p.m. – Toronto ​ Colleges and Universities Minister and Associate Mental Health Minister ​ ​ will make an announcement at Ryerson University. ​

Topics of conversation

● Economic Development Minister is headed to South Africa in spring, to sell ​ ​ Ontario as a mining hot spot, according to Toronto Sun columnist Brian Lilley. Fedeli ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ and Premier Doug Ford are going stateside later this week with plans to rollout a new ​ ​

trade strategy aimed at circumventing federal U.S. protectionist policies by making individual pacts with states. ○ Ford and his counterparts, Alberta Premier , Quebec Premier ​ ​ ​ François Legault and Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe, will also attend the ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ National Governors Association conference in Washington.

● A mysterious group called Vaughan Working Families has been running full-page newspaper ads echoing the Ford government’s stance on teacher contract negotiations, accusing unions of treating students like “pawns.” PressProgress delves into the elusive ​ ​ campaign. ​

● Grit-era expansion plans for Milton GO station have been derailed as Metrolinx ​ ​ evaluates the cost-effectiveness of infrastructure projects. Instead, the transit agency says it will shift gears in favour of building additional parking, something local Councillor Colin Best said left him “very disappointed.” ​

● The PC government’s rebranded licence plates — which swap out the slogan “Yours to Discover” for “A Place to Grow” — are officially rolling out as of February 1.

● Liberal MPP is characterizing Premier Doug Ford as “anti-women,” taking ​ ​ ​ ​ the message to social media and AM640. “You can have daughters and still be ​ ​ anti-women,” Hunter told host Peter Shurman, a former PC MPP. ​ ​ ​ ​ ○ Hunter went on to criticize the premier for delaying the implementation date of the Pay Transparency Act, ending the roundtable for violence against women, ​ eliminating the standalone ministry for status of women, and cutting funding to sexual assault centres and the Association of Ontario Midwives.

Appointments and employments

Ontario Energy Board ● Energy Minister Greg Rickford is planning to put forward Richard Dicerni, former top ​ ​ ​ ​ civil servant in Ontario and Alberta, as chair of the OEB. If approved, the appointment would take effect in the spring. Until then, Dicerni will take on a special adviser role at the board. ○ Rickford is currently leading a reform of OEB’s governance structure, which is set to be finalized this spring.

Funding announcements Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development ● Labour Minister Monte McNaughton detailed a $9.2-million investment for Conestoga ​ ​ College to provide training programs for 6,200 apprentices in 21 trades in fiscal 2020, a

$1 million increase over last year. The college is also getting about $750,000 for three pre-apprenticeship programs that will accommodate 60 young people.

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

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