November 24, 2020

Queen’s Park Today – Daily Report November 24, 2020

Quotation of the day

“I just do not believe in changing dance partners in the middle of a dance. Especially when he's a great dancer.”

Premier Doug Ford on extending Dr. David Williams's tenure.

Today at Queen’s Park

Written by Sabrina Nanji

On the schedule The house reconvenes at 9 a.m. The government is expected to call the budget motion for morning debate.

Later on, the PCs will put forward the motion extending chief medical officer of health Dr. David Williams' term until September; the top doc was set to retire at the end of his five-year gig in February.

The NDP triggered the debate on the motion when it turned down government house leader Paul Calandra's request for unanimous consent. NDP co-deputy leader Sara Singh said her caucus mates have concerns with the province's handling of the pandemic, which is based on Dr. Williams' advice.

"Re-appointing him with no process and no discussion is turning this key public health decision into a political game," Singh said, adding that the NDP had asked the PCs to strike an all-party panel to begin the search for a new CMOH on November 10. Instead, the PCs tabled the motion for a six-month extension.

The motion needs 6.5 hours of debate before a vote, which it's almost certain to pass thanks to the PC majority.

Controversial Bill 213, Better for People, Smarter for Business Act — the red-tape reduction legislation that also expands degree-granting powers for Charles McVety's Canada Christian College — could go for a second-reading vote after question period.

Later on, NDP MPP Gilles Bisson will move second reading of his private member's Bill 210, Fairness for Residential Superintendents, Janitors and Caretakers Act. Bisson's bill would amend the Employment Standards Act so that workers who also reside in their buildings are entitled to the minimum wage.

Monday's debates and proceedings The NDP's special Opposition Day motion denouncing "the extreme and hateful invective of Charles McVety" and opposing efforts to accredit his Canada Christian College passed (Ayes 29; Nays 27).

PC MPPs voted against the motion, but many of them abstained.

Moments later, dozens more Tories lined up to take part in the second-reading vote for the budget measures act (Ayes 57; Nays 24). Bill 229, Protect, Support and Recover from COVID-19 Act, is now off to be studied by the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs.

The PCs whipped the vote for the budget bill, whereas the McVety motion was a free vote.

The government's time-allocation motion for the budget bill also passed (Ayes 53; Nays 20).

Independent MPP Jim Wilson's motion calling on the Ford government to support the redevelopment of two hospitals in his riding of Simcoe—Grey carried via voice vote.

NDP MPP Ian Arthur's motion calling on the PCs to designate Kingston an area of "high physician need" failed (Ayes 18; Nays 53).

MPPs also wrapped up second-reading debate on Bill 213.

Premier watch Premier Doug Ford was at Queen's Park Monday to announce retired General Rick Hillier will helm the province's Covid vaccine rollout. Ford said the vaccine strategy will require "military precision," hence Hillier taking the lead. Other members of the vaccine task force will be announced in the coming days.

Ford also made a cameo at the Ontario Federation of Agriculture's virtual annual general meeting, alongside Agriculture Minister Ernie Hardeman.

PCs defend retail shutdowns despite lack of data The Ford government was on the defensive Monday over the latest lockdown measures for Toronto and Peel, which outlaw non-essential retail shops but allow big-box stores peddling non-essential goods, along with essentials like groceries, to remain open.

Associate Small Business Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria couldn't commit to releasing more data on retail sources of outbreaks or allowing shops to reopen with stricter capacity caps and appointment-only shopping — two things small business groups have called for.

Health Minister Christine Elliott's office was forced to clarify the rules on what is considered essential after reports that the Bay in downtown Toronto was open for in-person shopping, even though it shouldn't be.

The confusion appears to stem from the PCs updated framework for what can stay open, which removed "discount and department store-type retailers" and replaced it with "other retailers selling groceries," per CTV. The Bay shop in question sells some groceries in the basement.

Elliott's office now says "the inclusion of discount and big box retailers selling groceries is intended to include retail with a full grocery store component. This would include Walmart and Costco for example, but not The Bay or IKEA."

Critics like Green Leader Mike Schreiner want Ontario to take a page from Manitoba's playbook and restrict superstores to the sale of essential goods only. Schreiner also called out Premier Doug Ford for saying he spoke to the CEO of Walmart, who told him restricting non-essential sales a la Manitoba would be a "logistical nightmare."

"The premier has a responsibility to level the playing field for independent retailers," Schreiner said. "It's simply unfair that Costco and Walmart can continue selling jewelry, playstations, and other non-essential goods, while mom and pop retailers must shut down entirely."

Ford acknowledged the restrictions are "not fair" to small retailers, which is why his government doubled its biz relief package to $600 million. He added that a vaccine will be the "game changer" when it comes to reopening.

Pressed to share information to back up the latest lockdowns, associate chief medical officer Dr. Barbara Yaffe told reporters the province’s data on where Covid spread is happening is “somewhat limited.”

That’s because many public health units are “somewhat overwhelmed” when it comes to contact tracing and are only prioritizing cases linked to long-term care homes and schools.

“The fact that somebody went to a store or restaurant may or may not be identified as a source of infection,” she said.

Either way, the province is experiencing “widespread community transmission” and restaurants and small shops remain potential transmission sites. “We can’t just look at the data we have. We have to look at the whole picture,” Yaffe said.

Today’s events

November 24 at 9 a.m. – Online Housing Minister Steve Clark and Environment Minister Jeff Yurek will deliver back-to-back remarks at the "Housing Supply Action Plan Conference" put on by the Ontario Home Builders’ Association and BILD.

November 24 at 9:30 a.m. – Zoom NDP MPPs Bhutila Karpoche and Peter Tabuns will hold a press conference to tease their joint private member's bill to establish a Climate Crisis and Health Secretariat and a select committee to ensure Ontario's public health system is prepared to deal with health risks associated with climate change. Bill 224, No Time To Waste Act, is slated for second-reading debate on Wednesday.

November 24 at 1 p.m. – Toronto Premier Doug Ford will hold his daily presser at Queen's Park.

Topics of conversation

● Monday marked another single-day record for new Covid cases with 1,589. There were 19 more deaths, including 11 long-term care residents, while the province completed about 37,000 tests. Despite the weekend reporting lag, hospitalizations still creeped up to 507, with 156 patients in the ICU and 92 breathing with the help of a ventilator. ○ Schools reported 60 new infections, while three schools are currently closed. ○ Two more LTC homes are in outbreak, bringing the active total to 101.

● With the top doc warning lockdowns in Toronto and Peel aren't likely to be lifted after the 28-day deadline, the Ottawa Citizen delves into how the capital managed to turn it around since mid-October, when it was among the three hottest spots for Covid.

● A Thornhill byelection will not necessarily be in the offing, should PC MPP Gila Martow win the Conservative Party of Canada’s forthcoming federal nomination race. Martow can hang onto her seat at Queen’s Park until official nomination papers are filed with Elections Canada, which are due 21 days before voting day. ○ The next federal election is scheduled for fall 2023; Ontarians are set to go to the polls in spring 2022 — but there has been early election speculation on both fronts. ○ Martow’s office told Queen’s Park Today she is prepared to step down when required. Her competition for the Thornhill nomination includes veteran Conservative strategist Melissa Lantsman.

Question period

NDP lead-off Second wave blame game ● With official Opposition Leader Andrea Horwath away recovering from a scheduled surgery, NDP co-deputy leader Sara Singh steered the debate, leading with a question about the Ford government's pandemic response. Singh threw back to a couple weeks ago, when Premier Doug Ford suggested the curve was "going down" and eased restrictions in hot zones, including hard-hit Peel, where Singh represents. "Has the Ford government's health table estimated how much COVID-19 spread as a result of the government's refusal to recognize the crisis?"

● House leader Paul Calandra was up to respond. He reiterated previously announced response measures and maintained there is a "whole-of-government" approach to reining in the second wave.

Essential workers in Covid hotspots ● Singh moved on to another Peel-centric problem, pointing out that Brampton is home to many essential workers who remain on the job while others stay home. Singh wanted to

know why the government isn't supporting those workers with more testing, hospital resources and paid sick days, especially for temp workers in industrial settings.

● Jane McKenna, parliamentary assistant to the labour minister, pointed out that Ottawa already moved to establish 10 paid sick days.

Lack of support for shuttered small businesses ● NDP Economic Growth critic Catherine Fife wanted to know when the government would "step up with some real support" for small businesses forced to close their doors in hot zones. "The premier promised to 'double the supports' but when you double nothing, it's still nothing," Fife said of the $600-million relief package announced last week (on top of the initial $300 million to give businesses a break on their property tax and energy bills).

● Associate Small Business Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria disagreed with Fife’s premise, insisting the government put up "unprecedented" support amid tough times.

The New Democrats also wanted to know why the Grey-Lockdown zone doesn't include any new measures for schools and child care, when long-term care workers will receive their latest pandemic pay bump, and whether the government would reverse course on legislation accrediting and expanding Charles McVety's Canada Christian College.

Independent questions Del Duca's 'personal pool' ● Liberal MPP John Fraser asked about backup plans for long-term care homes to get residents out of four-bed ward rooms, which have fuelled virus spread.

● Green Leader Mike Schreiner wanted to know if the government will scrap controversial changes to conservation authorities from the budget bill.

● The PCs managed a dig at Liberal Leader Steven Del Duca in response. "Unlike the Liberals, we will not be disobeying conservation authority guidelines by building a personal pool, like their new leader, Del Duca is doing," said Andrea Khanjin, parliamentary assistant to the environment minister. ○ Khanjin maintained the PCs have "a proven record of protecting the environment."

● Liberal MPP Amanda Simard asked if her former Ontario PC caucus mates would follow Quebec Premier François Legault in his pledge to ban the sale of new gas-powered vehicles by 2035.

PC friendly questions

Stan Cho, PA to the finance minister, got to ask all the softballs on behalf of the government, touching on small business support, fast-tracked transit projects and festival funding.

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

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