Daily Report September 21, 2018

Queen’s Park Today – Daily Report September 21, 2018

Today at Queen’s Park ...... 1 Topics of conversation ...... 4 Today’s events ...... 4 Upcoming events ...... 4 News briefs — Governmental ...... 4 Question period ...... 5 Lobbyist registrations ...... 7

Quotation of the day “Enjoy a dose of reality for breakfast.”

Finance Minister Vic Fedeli teases his Friday morning speech that will reveal the results of the commission of inquiry’s report on the previous Liberal government’s books.

Today at Queen’s Park

On the schedule The House is adjourned until Monday, September 24 at 10:30 a.m.

Thursday’s debates and proceedings MPPs reconvened at 9 a.m to continue debate on the government’s motion to change the standing orders and Liberal MPP Nathalie Des Rosiers’ amendment asking for more House time for Liberal and Green members.

Tory MPPs spoke out against Des Rosiers’ amendment, saying the people of Ontario only voted in seven Liberal members, and Des Rosiers’ changes would not serve the will of the people. “It’s about self serving,” PC MPP Dave Smith (Peterborough—Kawartha) said.

Government House Leader Todd Smith later confirmed the PCs would not vote in favour of Des Rosiers’ amendment. “Well, the answer is no,” he said. “They’re asking for an awful lot, it was pages and pages in their amendment and we’re not ready to make that move yet.” 2 September 21, 2018

Energy Minister Greg Rickford introduced a new government bill entitled Bill 34, the Green Energy Repeal Act. Rickford’s bill will eliminate the Liberal government’s green energy program, a centrepiece of former premier Dalton McGuinty’s political career, and restore municipal authority relating to the siting of green energy projects.

One bill and two motions were debated during the afternoon’s private members’ business.

• NDP MPP Percy Hatfield put forward Bill 6, Poet Laureate of Ontario Act (In Memory of Gord Downie), for debate. The bill passed second reading by voice vote and was referred to the Standing Committee on Regulations and Private Bills.

• PC MPP David Piccini (Northumberland—Peterborough South) put forward a motion to make it mandatory for Ontarians to declare whether or not they consent to being an organ donor when they receive a driver’s licence. The motion carried.

• NDP MPP Monique Taylor put forward a motion calling on the Tories to reverse its decision to cut the basic income pilot and to reduce the increase to social assistance benefits. The motion was defeated by the PC’s (Ayes 29; Nays 51).

After voting on private members’ business, the House adjourned for the weekend.

Finance Minister says “ongoing decision” being made on Toronto waterfront casino

Finance Minister Vic Fedeli is not ruling out the construction of a new casino at Ontario Place.

Fedeli said the prospect of a Toronto casino is part of “an ongoing decision from [the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation]” and that the province is having “continued discussions” on the matter. The prospect of a Toronto casino was closed before Ford came into office because Toronto City Council voted against it in 2013 — much to the chagrin of Rob Ford who was mayor at the time of the vote. Both Fords pushed for the casino at the time, saying it would create “10,000 good-paying jobs.”

OLG signed numerous gambling bundle contracts with casino operators over the past year as part of its modernization efforts. The gaming bundles are geographically assigned and limit the number of gaming centres in each region.

The Globe and Mail reported Wednesday that the OLG’s contract with Great Canadian Gaming, which owns the Toronto-region bundle, would allow the gaming company to build a new casino, as long as it gets city council approval.

This would leave the decision in the hands of the new council elected on October 22. However, the province also has the power to override a council decision on land use by using a “Minister’s Zoning Order,” according to a source that spoke to the Globe.

NDP leader Andrea Horwath said “a casino at Ontario Place would be absolutely the wrong thing,” and that the space is meant for “all Ontarians to enjoy.”

Fedeli to brief business audience on province’s books

Finance Minister Vic Fedeli says he’ll be serving up a “dose of reality for breakfast” at his sold-out speech at the Economic Club Friday morning.

The minister will detail a report from the financial commission of inquiry into the previous government’s finances that was led by ex-B.C. premier Gordon Campbell.

“Tomorrow will be a pretty important day, a must-see day,” Fedeli told reporters after question period, adding he would talk about “the true state of the economy in Ontario.” Fedeli confirmed the report will be made public, but he did not say when. “The public will see exactly the same report the premier and I received.”

The main issues the commission looked at are the pension accounting spat between the previous ruling Liberals and Auditor General Bonnie Lysyk over whether to include joint pension assets on the province’s bottom line, as well as the former government’s Fair Hydro Plan.

Fedeli confirmed with reporters that the line-by-line audit of government spending, which was received September 17, will be “coming out in the next few weeks.”

Stakeholders still have questions about natural gas bill

Details about the government’s new plan for expanding natural gas infrastructure — and what will happen to the former government’s $100 million Natural Gas Grant Program — are still vague.

The North Bay Nugget reports the City of North Bay found out Wednesday that provincial funding for an $8.6 million project to extend natural gas service in its area has been cancelled. Funding for the North Bay project and a dozen others was announced by the Liberals in April 2018.

Infrastructure Minister Monte McNaughton was tight-lipped on details but said if Bill 32, Access to Natural Gas Act, passes a “framework will be created for the Ontario Energy Board to ensure that natural gas is spread through rural and remote communities in Ontario.” He also lambasted the previous Liberal government’s $100-million natural gas grant program but did not confirm whether the PCs are scrapping it.

NDP Infrastructure critic Jennifer French said the Ford government is trying to make a $100 million cut look like a good thing. “We're reviewing the government's bill now,” French said in a statement. “But it appears that instead of natural gas expansion based on need, it’ll be based on who is willing to pay a premium. Families are going to pay the price while private corporations reap the benefits — a disturbing trend in the first few months of the Ford government.”

Ontario Chamber of Commerce CEO Rocco Rossi said the business community is pleased with government’s plan, saying it will “boost job creation and economic growth in rural and northern Ontario communities.”

The Ontario Energy Board is still reviewing the legislation and corresponding regulations and was unavailable to comment Thursday. Copyright © 2018 Queen’s Park Today queensparktoday.ca 4 September 21, 2018

Topics of conversation

• Former Ontario Liberal environment minister Glen Murray has a new gig. Murray exited provincial politics and headed out west last year to take on the role of executive director at the Pembina Institute, a non-profit energy think tank headquartered in Calgary. Now he is reportedly headed for the private sector to work for software company Emerge Knowledge in Winnipeg.

• Transportation Minister John Yakabuski was in Etobicoke Thursday morning to announce increased GO Train service along the Lakeshore East and West corridors. Starting on Monday, the GO train will add 220 new trips to both lines, a 2 per cent increase in service. The PC government billed it as “the largest GO service increase in five years.” But, as Toronto Star transportation reporter Ben Spurr noted, Metrolinx was already working on the service increase before the PCs were elected.

Today’s events

September 21 at 7:30 a.m. – Toronto Vic Fedeli will give his inaugural speech as finance minister at the Economic Club of Canada at the Marriott Eaton Centre Hotel.

September 21 at 1 p.m. – Thunder Bay NDP leader Andrea Horwath will tour Thunder Bay Regional Health Science Centre.

Upcoming events

September 22 at 5 p.m. – Vaughan The Ontario PC Party hosts Ford Fest at the Veneto Centre. The event is free to the public and advertises live music, dancing, food and fun.

News briefs — Governmental

Ministry of Energy Energy Minister Greg Rickford introduced a new government bill entitled Bill 34, the Green Energy Repeal Act. The legislation would “fully strike” the 2009 Green Energy Act from provincial law, a government release said, affirming one of Premier Ford’s key election campaign promise.

The Green Energy Act was introduced by former Liberal premier Dalton McGuinty and was designed to boost the renewable energy sector, including the province’s solar and wind supply. But the PCs said the act allowed the previous government to “trample” over the rights of municipalities.

Once passed, Bill 34 will give municipalities “final say” on new energy projects and empower municipalities to block “unwanted” wind and solar farms, a government release said.

“The days of sweetheart deals for energy insiders and unpopular projects forced on local municipalities are over,” Rickford said at a joint news conference with Infrastructure Minister Monte McNaughton.

But when pressed by reporters Rickford would not say whether that municipal authority would only apply to renewable energy projects, such as wind and solar, or to nuclear and gas plants as well.

The energy minister said the bill is about giving municipalities a voice: “Municipalities, today, have been given an extraordinary opportunity to deal with historical grievances around projects that were forced down their throat as a result of the Green Energy Act.”

NDP energy critic Peter Tabuns dismissed the bill as “largely symbolic” and said he is concerned nuclear and gas plant projects could still get greenlit without input from local communities.

“They’re making it very clear they have a deep ideological bias against green energy, against renewable energy,” Tabuns said.

In July, the PCs announced the cancellation and winding down of 758 renewable energy projects, saying it would save $790 million.

Question period

NDP lead-off Notwithstanding clause • Official Opposition Leader Andrea Horwath kicked off question period asking the premier what other Charter rights he would override next, a reference to the controversial cuts to Toronto council and Ford’s would-be use of the notwithstanding clause. o Premier Doug Ford, fresh off a trip to Washington for an update on NAFTA negotiations, took the opportunity to tout his government’s work, including cancelling cap-and-trade and the finance minister’s forthcoming commission of inquiry, which will be detailed Friday.

Anti-racism Directorate • NDP MPP Laura Mae Lindo raised concerns about the Anti-Racism Directorate being rolled into the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services. o Liberal MPP Michael Coteau also expressed concerns at the Standing Committee on the Legislative Assembly’s meeting Wednesday.

• Community Safety and Anti-Racism Minister Michael Tibollo said the government will “continue [its] work on a whole-of-government basis with respect to ensuring that there is no racism.”

First Nations youth suicide • A question from NDP MPP Sol Mamakwa sparked an emotional moment in the house. MPPs were silent when Mamakwa asked the government what it is doing to provide services that will prevent suicide among Indigenous youth. • Mamakwa mentioned Karlena Kamenawatamin, a young girl from Bearskin Lake First Nation in his Kiiwetinoong riding, who died by suicide Wednesday morning. • Mamakwa got a standing ovation from both sides of the aisle for the question, and MPPs observed a moment of silence in Kamenawatamin’s honour after questions period.

Other NDP questions The NDP also asked about access to emergency mental health services in Thunder Bay, safe injection sites and public consultations on changes to the sex-ed curriculum.

• This week students across the GTA staged a walk-out to protest the government’s decision to revert back to the old health and physical education curriculum, which does not mention sexting, cyberbullying, same-sex marriage or gender identity, among other issues. o Education Minister Lisa Thompson confirmed the government will start consultations next week, including telephone town halls.

• In response to a question about funding for the opioid crisis, Health Minister Christine Elliott told the House she has toured some of the province’s safe injection sites and done a “walkabout with the Toronto business improvement area.” o Elliott says she is preparing a report with recommendations on safe injection sites for Premier Ford before September 30.

Liberal question • Liberal MPP Mitzie Hunter was shouted down by the PC benches while asking the premier to “come clean” about what programs he intends to cut to fulfill his campaign promise of finding $6 billion in “efficiencies.” She cited this week’s report from the Financial Accountability Office that stated the province’s credit rating, while it’s currently strong, could increase the cost of borrowing. o Premier Ford took issue with the question, calling it “shameful” and punting it to Finance Minister Vic Fedeli. Fedeli said what the FAO report actually noted was “the history of waste, mismanagement and scandals from the previous government.”

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 September 14, 2018 – September 20, 2018

• Alan Young, TACTIX Government Relations and Public Affairs Inc. o Clients: Honda Canada

• Alanna Sokic, Global Public Affairs Inc. o Clients: 10552763 Canada Corp (Garden Variety)

• Andrew Retfalvi, Global Public Affairs Inc. o Clients: 10552763 Canada Corp (Garden Variety); Organigram Inc.

• Elizabeth Wagdin, Global Public Affairs Inc. o Clients: Organization of Canadian Nuclear Industries

• Aleksandar Stosic, Stosic & Associates o Clients: 48 North; Ace Hill

• Alexandra Adamo, Stosic & Associates o Clients: Carrot Insights; Asahi Breweries; Cook Medical; Ontario Retirement Communities Association (ORCA); Spark Power Corp.; Innomar Strategies

• Derrick Araneda, Stosic & Associates o Clients: Allergan Inc.; Ontario Retirement Communities Association (ORCA)

• Henry Boyd, Stosic & Associates o Clients: Radicle Cannabis; Green Acre Capital; Ace Hill; FSD Pharma; AccertaClaim Servicorp Inc.; Asahi Breweries; Allergan Inc.; Spark Power Corp.

• Rebecca Grundy, Stosic & Associates o Clients: 48 North; Ace Hill; FSD Pharma; Radicle Cannabis; Green Acre Capital; OMNI Health Care; Cook Medical; Innomar Strategies; Spark Power Corp.; Allergan Inc.; Asahi Breweries; Ontario Retirement Communities Association (ORCA)

• Alex Chreston, Crestview Strategy o Clients: Coca-Cola Ltd.; Insurance Bureau of Canada/Bureau d’assurance du Canada

• Celine Chang, Ginny Movat, Crestview Strategy o Clients: Sonder

• Chad Rogers, Crestview Strategy o Clients: Blackshire Group

• Sarina Rehal, Crestview Strategy o Clients: Entertainment One Ltd.

• Andrew House, Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP o Clients: Canadian Coalition for Good Governance; Mercedes-Benz Canada Inc.; BMW Canada Inc.; Honda Canada Inc.; Hyundai Auto Canada; Kia Canada Inc.; Toyota Canada Inc.; CARPROOF Corporation

• Dana Gregoire, Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP o Clients: CARPROOF Corporation

• Annik Forristal, McMillan LLP o Clients: Canadian Propane Association

• Brian Zeiler-Kligman, Sussex Strategy Group Inc. o Clients: Criminals Lawyers’ Association

• Chris Bendetti, Sussex Strategy Group Inc. o Clients: Invenergy LLC; Oracle Opower; TransAlta Corporation

• Christine Marciano, Sussex Strategy Group Inc. o Clients: Spark Power Corporation

• Mark Olsheski, Sussex Strategy Group o Clients: Association of Major Power Consumers in Ontario (AMPCO); Atlantic Power Corporation

• Robyn Gray, Sussex Strategy Group o Clients: Biome Renewables Inc.; Oakville Hydro Energy Services Inc.

• Carly Luis, StrategyCorp Inc. o Clients: Presteve Foods Limited; Miziwe Biik Aboriginal Employment & Training; Therme Group RHTG GmbH; TGR Rail Canada

• Imran Amin, StrategyCorp Inc. o Clients: Woodbine Entertainment Group

• Lexi Ensor, Gary Keller, StrategyCorp Inc. o Clients: Vivid Seats

• Caroline Pinto, Counsel Public Affairs Inc. o Clients: Isologic Innovative Radiopharmaceuticals Ltd.; Ontario Chiropractic Association

• Devan Sommerville, Counsel Public Affairs Inc. o Clients: Isologic Innovative Radiopharmaceuticals Ltd.; Domtar Inc.

• Philip Dewan, Counsel Public Affairs Inc. o Clients: Isologic Innovative Radiopharmaceuticals Ltd.

• Stephanie Gawur, Bob Lopinski, Counsel Public Affairs Inc. o Clients: Adapt Pharma Canada Ltd.

• Christopher Chapin, Upstream Strategy Group o Clients: Allvision

• Michael Diamond, Upstream Strategy Group o Clients: Alpha Laboratories; Allvision

• Patrick Tuns, Upstream Strategy Group o Clients: Corktown Cannabis Store (2296479 Ontario INC); Ontario Association of Radiologists

• Craig Brockwell, Solstice Public Affairs o Clients: Association des enseignantes et des enseignants franco- ontariens (AEFO)

• Dan Mader, Loyalist Public Affairs o Clients: Accenture Inc.

• Kenneth Stewart, The Capital Hill Group Inc. o Clients: BMC Software; Palo Alto Networks Inc.; G4S Canada; SailPoint Technologies Inc.

• Yash Dogra, The Capital Hill Group Inc. o Clients: Accerta; JAMA – Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association of Canada

• David Dyer, The Capital Hill Group Inc. o Clients: Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show

• Daniel McIntyre, Grosso McCarthy Inc. o Clients: Medavie Blue Cross

• Francesca Grosso, Grosso McCarthy Inc. o Clients: Closing the Gap; Vertex Pharmaceuticals (Canada) Inc; College of Respiratory Therapists of Ontario; Pedorthic Association of Canada; Canadian Healthcare Management Information Services

• Anika Christie, Grosso McCarthy Inc. o Clients: Novari Health; Dexcom Canada

• Frank Klees, Klees & Associates Ltd. o Clients: EllisDon Corporation

• Georganne Burke, Pathway Group Inc. o Clients: Covenant Canadian Reformed Teachers College

• Jeffrey Bangs, Pathway Group Inc. o Clients: Ontario Association of Interval and Transition Houses; Ontario Catholic School Trustees Association; Hamilton Port Authority; Hamilton International Airport

• Jim Burnett, Pathway Group Inc. o Clients: Independent School Bus Operators Association; Hamilton Port Authority; Hamilton International Airport

• Megan Flynn, Pathway Group Inc. o Clients: Ontario Network of Victim Service Providers; FilmOntario; Our Lady Seat of Wisdom; Young People’s Theatre; Bruce Trail Conservancy; Ontario Association for Behaviour Analysis; Hamilton International Airport; Ontario Catholic School Trustees Association

• Leanna Karremans, Pathway Group o Clients: Hamilton Port Authority

• Peter Curtis, Pathway Group Inc. o Clients: Argo Development Corporation

• Jill Wilson, Loyalist Public Affairs o Clients: Accenture Inc.; Progressive Contractors Association of Canada

• John Armstrong, Armstrong Communications Inc. o Clients: Vocational Rehabilitation Association of Canada

• John Dickie, Dickie & Lyman Lawyers LLP o Clients: Eastern Ontario Landlord Organization

• Kelly Mitchell, KW Mitchell Consulting Services Inc. o Clients: Medical Laboratories of Windsor

• Kyle Larkin, Hilary Cole, Impact Public Affairs o Clients: National Coalition Against Contraband Tobacco

• Lisa Kinsella, Daisy Consulting Group o Clients: Pong Studios, Township of North Glengarry

• Rob Gilmour, Daisy Consulting Group o Clients: Pong Studios

• Manny Sousa, Sutherland Corporation Limited (formerly Sutherland & Associates) o Clients: FER-PAL Infrastructure

• Marc Kealey, Kealey & Associates Inc. o Clients: kaleo

• Patrick Harris, Rubicon Strategy Inc. o Clients: Fiera Foods

• Peter Seeman, Grassroots Public Affairs o Clients: Ontario Korean Businessmen’s Association

• Ralph Palumbo, The Hillcrest Consulting Group Inc. o Clients: Ontario Stone, Sand & Gravel Association

• Robert Elliott, Temple Scott Associates Inc. o Clients: Merit Ontario

• Semhar Tekeste, Enterprise Canada o Clients: AddEnergie; Procom; Ontario Waste Management Association

• Tom Sweeting, Earnscliffe Ontario Inc. o Clients: Western Union

• Vivek Prabhu, Hill+Knowlton Strategies o Clients: Alcanna Inc.

• Yara Salama, Policy Concepts Inc. o Clients: Human Resources Professional Association (HRPA); Ontario Small Brewers Association (operating as Ontario Craft Brewers)

Organizations that registered in-house lobbyists from September 14, 2018 – September 20, 2018

• Canadian Urban Transit Research and Innovation Consortium (CURTIC) • The Society of Energy Professionals • Ontario Association of Architects • Bombardier Inc. • Loblaw Companies Limited • Ontario Private Campground Association • Canadian Federation of Independent Business • Canadian Cancer Society • Bruce Power • NOVA Chemicals Corporation • The Durham College of Applied Arts and Technology • Ontario Forest Industries Association – Home of CLA Grading and Inspection • The Co-operators Group Ltd. • Greater Toronto Airports Authority • Rogers Communication Inc. • Ontario Bar Association • Samsung Renewable Energy Inc. • Epilepsy Ontario • Ontario Hockey League • Canadian Standards Association • Greenbelt Fund • Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation • Canada’s National Brewers • Cystic Fibrosis Canada • Tesla Motors Canada ULC

• Consumer Health Products Canada • Mohawk College • Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada • Area One Farm Ltd. • Consumer Health Products Canada • Progressive Contractors Association of Canada • Ontario Association of Certified Home Inspectors • Myriad Genetics • Hoffman-La Roche Limited • Food & Consumer Products of Canada • Essar Steel Algoma Inc. • Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP) • Ontario Clean Air Alliance

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