Queen’s Park Today – Daily Report December 6, 2019

Quotation of the day

“It’s kind of one-sided so far.”

Premier weighs in on high school teachers’ one-day strike. ​ ​ ​ ​

Today at Queen’s Park

On the schedule The house is adjourned until Monday, December 9. MPPs are scheduled to rise for the winter recess next Thursday, December 12. The spring sitting will kick off on February 18.

In the park People will march to the legislative grounds to mark the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. Flags will also be lowered to half mast.

Thursday’s debates and proceedings Bill 136, the PAWS Act, was debated and passed third reading in the morning. The province’s ​ new animal welfare enforcement team, which will include new inspectors and the appointment of an advisory board, roles out on January 1, 2020.

Ahead of question period, members from all parties recognized today’s 30th anniversary of the mass shooting at l’Ecole Polytechnique in Montreal that took the lives of 14 women. Bill 132, ​ ​ the red-tape reduction legislation, was called for debate near the end of the day.

Three backbench bills were debated during the afternoon’s private members’ business:

● PC MPP ’s Bill 154, Stop Cyberbullying in Day Act, and PC ​ ​ ​ ​ MPP ’s Bill 157, COPD Awareness Day Act, cleared second reading ​ ​ ​ ​ following voice votes. The bills were sent to be studied by the Standing Committee on Social Policy.

● NDP MPP Judith Monteith-Farrell’s Bill 144, Northern Health Travel Grant Advisory ​ ​ ​ ​ Committee Act, passed on a recorded vote. It’s now off to the committee on regulations and private bills.

Liberal MPP John Fraser tabled his private member’s bill to increase awareness around ​ ​ defibrillator use: Bill 158, Defibrillator Training and Access Act. ​ ​

It’s the third such bill on the order paper: PC MPP and NDP MPP France Gélinas ​ ​ ​ have introduced competing PMBs to boost public access to defibrillators.

Private members’ bills rarely become law, but governments will occasionally roll PMBs they like into their own legislation — and the three-pronged defibrillator push could make the cut.

In question period, Health Minister told Fraser she looked forward to ​ ​ discussing his bill, in addition to Martin and Gélinas’ bills, “because there are lots of components that I believe we can pull together to bring forward that comprehensive plan.”

Government and Consumer Services Minister Lisa Thompson tabled the legislation to reform ​ ​ Tarion, Bill 159, Rebuilding Consumer Confidence Act, which the government has been ​ ​ promising since October’s damning report on the home warranty provider from Auditor General Bonnie Lysyk. ​

Today’s events

December 6 at 8:45 a.m. – Ottawa ​ Premier Doug Ford, Long-Term Care Minister and Heritage Minister Lisa ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ MacLeod will meet with Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson at the Shaw Centre. ​ ​ ​

December 6 at 10 a.m. – ​ NDP MPP will be in the Queen’s Park media studio to discuss the National Day of ​ ​ Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.

December 6 at 10:30 a.m. – Toronto ​ Economic Development Minister will be in the media studio to talk about Statistics ​ ​ Canada’s monthly jobs data.

December 6 at 11:30 a.m. – Ottawa ​ Health Minister Christine Elliott will announce an Ontario Health Team at the Centretown ​ ​ Community Health Centre, and another later that afternoon at the Colborne Emergency Services base.

Weekend events

December 8 at 1 p.m. – Guelph ​ The Leadership Committee is hosting the second debate of the campaign at Evergreen Seniors Community Centre. The debate will be moderated by ex-MPP John ​ Wilkinson and will focus on rural affairs. The party also held a “candidate showcase” in Toronto ​ last week.

Topics of conversation

● Catholic teachers will be in a legal position to walk off the job December 21, the union said Thursday after receiving its requested no-board report. Liz Stuart, president of the ​ ​ Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association, said that should be “another wakeup call for Premier [Doug] Ford and Minister [Stephen] Lecce that it is time to get their act ​ ​ ​ ​ together.” ○ “As has become abundantly clear this week, Ontarians recognize the Ford government is not listening to their concerns, or treating public education with the respect it deserves,” Stuart said in a statement. ○ This week the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation staged a one-day provincewide strike after launching a work-to-rule campaign alongside the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario.

● Health Minister Christine Elliott says she’s open to a ban on flavoured vaping products ​ ​ ​ ​ a la Nova Scotia and some U.S. states. ​

● The LCBO transferred $2.37 billion to the province this year, according to its annual report released Thursday. The agency sold a record amount of local booze this year, with sales of Ontario beer, wine and liquor topping $690 million. ○ Of the $6.39 billion worth of LCBO products sold this year, only $290 million were purchased in grocery stores.

● The Canadian Taxpayers Federation has been given intervenor status in the provinces’ Supreme Court challenge of Ottawa’s carbon backstop. ○ The PCs are pushing ahead with their fight against the federal Liberals’ tax in the country’s top court, despite Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s recent victory at the ​ ​ ballot box. The case is expected to be heard this winter.

Appointments and employments

Ministry of the Attorney General ● Paul Boniferro is leaving the Ontario Public Service next month after a two-year stint as ​ deputy attorney general. “Today I announced I will be leaving my role as DAG at the end of my current term [January 3, 2020]. What an honour and pleasure it has been to serve

and to work with such excellent and talented public servants. Proud of what we have achieved together. Grateful,” Boniferro said recently on Twitter. ​ ​ ○ Boniferro was appointed deputy by then-AG Liberal Yasir Naqvi in January 2018 ​ ​ with a $400,000 annual base salary.

House of Commons ● There’s a new Speaker in the House of Commons who hails from Ontario. Anthony ​ Rota, Liberal MP for Nipissing—Timiskaming, was elected by secret ballot as the first ​ order of business when Parliament returned Thursday for the first time since the October election.

Funding announcements

Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs ● The provincial and federal governments announced a joint $5.75-million package to help ​ ​ farmers measure and improve soil health. ○ Separately, Environment Minister announced a tweak to ​ ​ Environmental Protection Act regulations related to where excess soil can be ​ dumped and stored. Property owners and farmers will soon be allowed to store reusable soil on their lots, which Yurek says will “make it safer and easier to use local excess soil and put vacant, prime lands back into good use.”

Question period

NDP lead-off Hospital overcrowding ● NDP co-deputy leader kicked off the debate asking about the auditor ​ ​ general’s report that pointed out that since 2016, 748 patients in a life- or limb-threatening situation could not transfer to the hospital they needed to be in because no beds were available.

● Health Minister Christine Elliott passed the buck to the former governing Grits and said ​ ​ the PCs are working to fix the problem. “But it’s not a simple solution. There are many reasons that contribute to that. One is the fact that we don’t have enough long-term-care spaces. There are many patients who are alternate-level-of-care who remain in hospital but don’t need to be there,” she said.

● Vanthof cited another chilling statistic from the AG report: 10 patients died waiting for a hospital bed. He used a personal anecdote to underscore the problem in rural Ontario. ○ “In rural Ontario, we have small hospitals without specialized care. It’s personal to me: In 1993, I had one of those accidents and they took me to Englehart

hospital. I woke up five hours later in Toronto Western, and that’s the only reason I have any use of this arm,” he said.

● Elliott said any patient death that could be avoided is “one too many” and committed to following the AG’s recommendations as remedy.

Environment plan ● NDP Energy critic asked about the AG’s damning report showing the ​ ​ “made-in-Ontario” environment plan isn’t supported by sound evidence. Tabuns suggested the premier was briefed on the report before it was tabled and wanted to know why he was boasting about the plan days before the AG’s rebuke.

● Environment Minister Jeff Yurek reiterated the plan is “evolving” and will hit its targets, ​ ​ claiming the Opposition didn’t have one of its own. ○ The NDP put out its “Green New Democratic Deal” plan in June.

High school teachers strike ● NDP Education critic asked if Education Minister would ​ ​ ​ ​ admit his policies didn’t make the grade and go back to the bargaining table with teachers amid rocky negotiations.

● Lecce blamed the unions for escalating job action during this week’s one-day walk out. “We opposed it yesterday and we oppose it in the coming days, given that they have been prepositioning the fact that they want to further escalate, impacting our kids most.”

New Democrats devoted several questions to the AG’s report, about expired and deficient food served in long-term care homes, increasing work-related deaths, and the $4-million sticker price for the “One Little Nickel” anti-carbon-tax ad blitz.

PC friendly questions The government asked itself about the “real story” behind the teachers’ strike that media apparently missed: that parents and students “had their lives interrupted.” They also lobbed each other softballs about cancelling catered cabinet and committee lunches, reforming Tarion, and — while rhyming and wearing Tory blue Santa hats — the Christmas Cheer breakfast ​ revival. ​

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 November 29 – December 5, 2019

● Michael Diamond and Christopher Chapin, Upstream Strategy Group ​ ​ ​ o Clients: Abbott Diabetes Care Canada

● Christopher Chapin and Brooklyn Mattinson, Upstream Strategy Group ​ ​ ​ o Clients: Canadian Addiction Treatment Centres LP

● Bonnie Hiltz, Sussex Strategy Group ​ o Clients: EDF - EN Canada Inc., ENGIE Canada Inc., TransAlta Corporation, BluEarth Renewables Inc., Spark Power Corporation

● Chris Benedetti, Sussex Strategy Group ​ o Clients: NRStor Inc., Toronto Hydro Corporation

● Chris Benedetti and Bonnie Hiltz, Sussex Strategy Group ​ ​ ​ o Clients: Acciona Energy Canada Global Inc.

● Amir Remtulla, Amir Remtulla Inc. ​ o Clients: Fitzrovia Real Estate, Insurance Bureau of Canada, Brookfield Properties Canada, Duffin Capital Corp.

● Todd Peterson, Todd Peterson ​ o Clients: Enriched Academy

● Kevin Cochran, 8621209 Canada Inc ​ o Clients: Enriched Academy

● Kenzie McKeegan, Loyalist Public Affairs ​ o Clients: Sidewalk Labs Employees, L.L.C, Cadillac Fairview

● Ramiro Mora, CWell Consulting Inc. ​ o Clients: Lifelabs, Sidewalk Labs Employees, L.L.C.

● Mike Van Soelen, Navigator Ltd. ​ o Clients: Fidelity Investments Canada

● Stephanie Dunlop, Hill+Knowlton Strategies ​ o Clients: IKEA Canada Ltd. Partnership, Bellwood Health Services, Gilead Sciences, Nespresso

● Laura Greer, Hill+Knowlton Strategies ​ o Clients: Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers

● Matthew Boudreau, Hill+Knowlton Strategies ​

o Clients: Praxis Spinal Cord Institute

● Rick Roth and Alanna Sokic, Global Public Affairs ​ ​ ​ o Clients: Cannabis Council of Canada

● Patrick Nelson, Santis Health Inc. ​ o Clients: CBI Health Group

● Kevin Richardson, Heartland Solutions Group, Inc. ​ o Clients: Zebra Technologies Corporation

● Yara Salama, Policy Concepts Inc. ​ o Clients: Catholic Health Association of Ontario

● Signe Leisk, Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP ​ o Clients: Brookfield Homes

● Wayne Snow, Fulcrum Advocacy ​ o Clients: Ontario's Truck Parking Informatics Inc.

● Semhar Tekeste, Enterprise Canada ​ o Clients: Walker Industries Holdings Limited

● Danielle Peters, Magnet Strategy Group ​ o Clients: Merck Canada

● Kelly Mitchell, KW Mitchell Consulting Services Inc. ​ o Clients: Ontario's Truck Parking Informatics Inc.

● Aaron Scheewe, The Capital Hill Group ​ o Clients: Mihealth Global Systems Inc.

● Marion Crane, Marion E Crane ​ o Clients: Transformational Arts International Inc.

● Steve Peters, The GPS Group ​ o Clients: Renewi Canada

● Dan Mader, Loyalist Public Affairs ​ o Clients: Dream Asset Management Corporation

● Stew Kiff, Solstice Public Affairs ​ o Clients: Centre francophone de Grand Toronto

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

● Lisa Jibson, The GPS Group ​

o Clients: Renewi Canada - London

● Thomas Gendron, Impact Public Affairs ​ o Clients: Ontario Dairy Council

● Julie Garner, Earnscliffe Strategy Group ​ o Clients: Landscape Ontario

● Alanna Newman, Earnscliffe Strategy Group ​ o Clients: Landscape Ontario Horticultural Trades Association

● Elizabeth Wagdin and Rick Roth, Global Public Affairs ​ ​ ​ o Clients: Canadian Steel Producers Association

● Stephanie Levee, 3Sixty Public Affairs ​ o Clients: Canadian Cancer Survivor Network

● Andrew Boddington, Amy Boddington and Jonathan Rose, Policy Concepts Inc. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ o Clients: Professional Geoscientists of Ontario

● Dan Mader and Nicholas Pozhke, Loyalist Public Affairs ​ ​ ​ o Clients: Apotex Inc.

● Jason Clark, Crestview Strategy ​ o Clients: Capital Power

● Colin Andersen, Colin Andersen Consulting Services ​ o Clients: Canadian Green Fund/Canadian Green Bank

● Nick Kayler, StrategyCorp Inc. ​ o Clients: Federation of Rental-Housing Providers of Ontario

● Caroline Pinto and Devan Sommerville, Counsel Public Affairs Inc. ​ ​ ​ o Clients: Ontario Library Association

● Charles Harnick, Counsel Public Affairs Inc. ​ o Clients: Union of Ontario Indians - Anishinabek Nation

● Stephanie Gawur, Counsel Public Affairs Inc. ​ o Clients: Union of Ontario Indians - Anishinabek Nation

● Daniel Brock and Claudia Feldkamp, Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP ​ ​ ​ o Clients: Canadian Coalition for Good Governance

● Robert McCreight, The Capital Hill Group Inc. ​ o Clients: Festivals and Major Events (FAME) Canada

● Sarah Domino, Leonard Domino & Associates Inc. ​

o Clients: The Ontario Association of Consultants, Counsellors, Psychometrists and Psychotherapists

● Maddy Stieva, The Capital Hill Group ​ o Clients: Vocera

● Fraser Macdonald, Stosic & Associates ​ o Clients: Omni Health Care

● Fraser Macdonald, Stosic & Associates ​ o Clients: Ontario Psychological Association

● Jacob Skinner, Blackridge Strategy Group ​ o Clients: Midtown Ratepayers Association

Organizations that registered in-house lobbyists from November 29 - December 5

● Canadian Beverage Association ● Medtech Canada ● Patiencefirst.ca ● Ontario Private Campground Association ● MaRS Discovery District ● Federation of Mutual Fund Dealers ● Dietitians of Canada (Ontario) ● Trillium Automobile Dealers Association ● Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers ● Consulting Engineers of Ontario ● Innovative Medicines Canada ● Ontario Public School Boards’ Association ● Canadian Coalition for Good Governance ● Evergreen ● The Pollution Probe Foundation ● Federal Association for the Advancement of Visible Minorities ● Ontario Mining Association ● Canadian Medical Association ● Humber College ● IKEA Canada Ltd. Partnership ● TransAlta Corporation ● Good Doctors ● Magna Mining Corp ● Club Coffee LP ● Microsoft Canada Inc. ● Aphria Inc.

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

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