Queen’s Park Today – Daily Report May 8, 2020

Quotation of the day

"It's unfortunate … [but] now there's an opportunity for other people to do something spectacular for the waterfront.”

Premier weighs in on Google affiliate Sidewalk Labs scuttling its plan to build a ​ ​ high-tech neighbourhood in Quayside.

Today at Queen’s Park

On the schedule The house will reconvene on Tuesday, May 12 at 9 a.m.

Spring session to resume with twice-weekly question periods, expanded COVID-19 committee The debate is back.

Government and political sources tell Queen's Park Today that starting next week, there will be ​ ​ back-to-back question periods in the chamber every Tuesday and Wednesday at least, until June 4 — which is when the house is scheduled to rise for summer.

An announcement is expected as early as today with a rundown of Tuesday's sitting, which will likely see the emergency declaration re-upped for another 28 days.

Pandemic-related legislation will also be on the order paper; government and opposition house leaders have been working behind the scenes on consensus so that it can be passed with unanimous consent (and without much controversy). Details are scant.

The NDP called for an all-party select committee to study recovery efforts, but the PCs think that work can be done by an expanded standing committee (likely finance and economic affairs).

That way Independent, Liberal and Green MPPs sans recognized party status could get a seat ​ ​ at the table (those parties aren't automatically on fiscal committee rosters).

The government’s preferred standing committee would hear testimony from expert witnesses and draft a report with recommendations for recovery. That work could be done virtually.

NDP Economic and Finance critics Catherine Fife and want to go a step further, ​ ​ ​ ​ saying in a joint statement Thursday that adding a select committee would "take partisan politics off the table" and "be more nimble, able to report quicker and cover more ground."

Unlike Finance Minister Rod Phillips' Jobs and Recovery cabinet committee, legislative ​ ​ committee work is readily available to the public.

Liberal Leader Steven Del Duca wants to double the debate with two extra virtual question ​ ​ period sessions a week.

"It is vital for Question Period to be held both in person and virtually — not only so that the government can properly be held to account, but so that MPPs from all parties can participate, both safely and more easily, regardless of where their riding is," Del Duca said in a letter to Premier Doug Ford. ​ ​

(Del Duca won't be the one asking questions in the house since he doesn't have a seat, but he has been putting out daily "virtual question period" releases on what he would ask.)

House leader previously told Queen’s Park Today he isn't keen on taking ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ in-chamber proceedings online and while he's not opposed to more frequent question periods, he's confident they can take place in a physically distanced house.

The house leaders are also working on ways to involve MPPs from beyond the GTA. Those closer to the Pink Palace tend to be the ones on emergency house duty since they don't have to travel far.

Today’s events

May 8 – Countrywide ​ Statistics Canada will release its jobs data for April this morning. It will be the second report under widespread emergency shutdowns.

May 8 at 10:30 a.m.– Toronto ​ Premier Doug Ford will lay a wreath at the Veterans' Memorial on the south lawn to mark the ​ ​ 75th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day. The ceremony will be closed to the public because of the pandemic.

May 8 at 10:45 a.m.– Toronto ​ NDP Leader will hold a teleconference in the media studio to discuss how ​ ​ women are disproportionately economically impacted by the pandemic.

May 8 around 1 p.m. – Toronto ​ Ford is expected to hold his daily COVID-19 briefing at Queen's Park.

May 8 at 3 p.m. – Toronto ​ Chief medical officer of health Dr. David Williams and associate chief medical officer of health ​ ​ Dr. Barbara Yaffe will provide their regular update on the pandemic response. ​

Upcoming events

May 11 at 9 a.m. – Toronto ​ 's fiscal watchdog is poised to blow the Ford government's March mini-budget out of the water. The Financial Accountability Office will release its Spring 2020 Economic and Budget Outlook on Monday. It's expected to be a less-rosy forecast than the PC’s fiscal update and will ​ ​ include longer-term projections.

Topics of conversation

● There were 399 new coronavirus cases recorded Thursday morning, a one-day increase of 2.1 per cent for a total of 19,121 to date. Another 48 deaths were confirmed, bringing the tally to at least 1,477. ○ The PCs just missed their own May 6 target for 16,000 daily tests, processing 15,179 in the latest report. ○ Another personal support worker has fallen to COVID-19, an employee at Madonna Care Community in Orléans, which is run by Sienna Senior Living. Liberal MPP John Fraser and MPP-elect had urged the Tories to ​ ​ ​ ​ take over management after hearing families' concerns about staffing levels, ​ care, communication and proper PPE.

● On Twitter, Long-Term Care Minister announced a review of seniors ​ ​ ​ ​ care, saying "all forms" are on the table. That includes a possible public inquiry, which the PCs have neither ruled out nor committed to. ○ "Long-term care has endured years of neglect. Once we emerge from this pandemic, we will get to the bottom of this. Yes, there will be a review," Fullerton tweeted. ○ Meanwhile, the province conducted inspections by phone at a long-term care home where at least 21 residents died from COVID-19, the CBC reports. ​ ​

● After his "heart-to-heart" conference call with rural mayors Wednesday afternoon, Premier Doug Ford said cottagers should enjoy the Victoria Day long weekend at their ​ ​ second homes, as long as they "stay vigilant" in adhering to public health guidelines. As for visitors looking to get away from urban hot spots, the premier again echoed the mayors' call and asked them to "hold off travelling to these regions until it is safe to do so" and worries about strained local resources have dissipated.

● Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reached an agreement with the provinces and territories ​ ​ to top up the wages of certain essential workers and those earning less than $2,500 a month. While it's up to the individual provinces to decide which front-line workers will get a pay boost, Trudeau says "if you are risking your health to keep this country moving and you're making minimum wage, you deserve a raise." ○ Finance Minister Rod Phillips told 680 News only health, long-term care and ​ ​ ​ ​ retirement staff will get the raise; cleaners and grocery employees will not. ○ Earlier this week, Police Association of Ontario president Bruce Chapman said ​ ​ the province’s pandemic pay should not be extended to municipal police personnel because officers are “dedicated to keeping our communities safe in all circumstances and states of emergency – 24/7/365.”

● The PCs hit pause on performance-based funding plans for post-secondary institutions, according to the Globe and Mail. ​ ​ ​

● Fresh polling data from Innovative Research Group puts the Grits ahead of the governing Tories. Thirty-nine percent of decided voters surveyed said they would vote for the Liberals if an election were held today, while 34 per cent would cast ballots for the PCs. Another 18 per cent would pick the New Democrats, while the Greens trailed in fourth with seven per cent support. ○ The pollster says a margin of error could not be calculated for the online survey. ​ ​

● Canada's top court has agreed to hear an Ontario case that could lead to scores of provincial criminal cases being tossed out over changes the federal government made to ​ ​ the jury selection process.

● Premier Ford OK'd hugs and flowers for Mother's Day Sunday. He said families should use "common sense" if they want to embrace their moms, especially the elderly. "I'm going to leave it up to the families … They know the health of their parent," Ford said, reminding people the government has recommended self-isolation for those over 70. ○ Good kids can also pick up bouquets in person at garden centres and nurseries as of today.

News briefs

'Several weeks' to restart COVID-postponed surgeries, 'months' to clear backlog Health Minister said Thursday it will be "several weeks" before postponed ​ ​ surgeries can begin to ramp back up.

The PCs laid out loose guidelines (without specific dates) to help hospitals determine when it's safe to resume surgeries, including that they have adequate ICU capacity and stocks of PPE and medications. There would also have to be a "sustained decline" in the rate of community COVID-19 cases over 14 days and a "stable rate" of cases within the hospital itself. Most urgent procedures, such as cancer and cardiac surgeries, will take precedence.

The Ontario Hospital Association said it supports the “strict and highly disciplined approach” laid out by the province and warned rushing the resumption of surgeries will put patients at risk. (There was a COVID-19 outbreak in the surgical ward of a Montreal hospital last week.) ​ ​

It's unlikely Elliott's aforementioned "Covid-free" hospitals will come to fruition; officials said it's logistically difficult to implement as hospitals are "only Covid-free until they're not." Generally, the cohorting of infected patients to conserve PPE is already happening.

Much attention is being paid to how the health-care system is handling the current coronavirus crisis, but another problem is already creeping up — the ballooning backlog of postponed surgeries.

Ministry of Health officials said at a technical briefing it could take "months" to clear it.

The FAO recently determined more than 52,000 surgeries have been cancelled between March 15 and April 22, while another 12,200 are going unperformed each week the outbreak continues. A UHN report estimates at least 35 cardiac patients could have died on the waitlist.

The government postponed non-urgent procedures to clear capacity for coronavirus patients, but hospitals haven't been crushed by the virus as earlier modelling predicted.

Funding announcements ● Forestry Minister is putting up $3.5 million to safeguard the ​ ​ tree-planting industry this season. The cash will be used for larger camp facilities and additional kitchens and wash stations to create more space for workers to keep their distance, as well as extra PPE and plastic partitions for transporting tree planters.

Lobbyist registrations

Consultants who registered as lobbyists from May 1 to 7

● William Dempster and Jodie Kiss, 3Sixty Public Affairs ​ ​ ​ o Clients: RAREi - The Canadian Forum for Rare Disease Innovators

● Suzanne van Bommel, Suzanne van Bommel Enterprises Inc. ​ o Clients: Convertus Group - operating as Circular Waste North America Holding Inc. (subsidiary Renewi Canada Ltd)

● Christopher Froggatt, Dan Mader and Jill Wilson, Loyalist Public Affairs ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ o Clients: First Gulf Corporation

● Dan Mader, Jill Wilson and Jared Burke, Loyalist Public Affairs ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ o Clients: Lazaret Capital Inc.

● Jill Wilson, Loyalist Public Affairs ​ o Clients: Plasco Conversion Technologies Inc

● Rick Roth and Andrew Retfalvi, Global Public Affairs Inc. ​ ​ ​ o Clients: Luminarie Canada

● Rick Roth, Global Public Affairs ​ o Clients: National Ballet of Canada

● Ted Gruetzner, Natalia Lasakova and John Allen, Global Public Affairs Inc. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ o Clients: ChargePoint

● Andrew Retfalvi, Global Public Affairs Inc. ​ o Clients: BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc.

● Leith Coghlin, EnPointe Development Incorporated ​ o Clients: BHR Inc, Crestwood Park Holdings

● Jeffrey Bangs, Megan Flynn and Peter Curtis, Pathway Group Inc. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ o Clients: Gymnastics Ontario

● Lily Mesh, Santis Health ​ o Clients: Canadian Association of Physician Assistants, Canadian Mental Health Association, Canadian Home Care Association

● Hande Bilhan, Golfdale Consulting Ltd. ​ o Clients: Primerica Financial Services (Canada) Ltd.

● Nathan Scheewe, The Capital Hill Group Inc. ​ o Clients: G4S Canada, Celgene, ThinkOn Inc.

● Gordon Quaiattini, Maple Leaf Strategies ​ o Clients: Canadian Film Centre

● Felix Wong, Public Affairs Advisors ​

o Clients: Newmont

● Paul Brown, Campbell Strategies ​ o Clients: Staples Canada Inc.

● Natalie Dash, Chris Holz and Paul Brown, Campbell Strategies ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ o Clients: Yellow Pages Digital & Media Solutions Ltd.

● Michelle Roth, Goodmans LLP ​ ​ ​ o Clients: Revera Inc

● Carly Luis, Garry Keller, Leslie Noble and John Penner, StrategyCorp Inc. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ o Clients: Enbridge Inc.

● Leslie Noble, Carly Luis and John Penner, StrategyCorp Inc. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ o Clients: In Colour Capital

● Amir Farahi, Blackridge Strategy ​ o Clients: Jarvis Mansions Limited, Farhi Holdings Corporation

● Michele Cadario, Vanguard Strategy Inc. ​ o Clients: Ecotex Healthcare Linen Services

● Gabriela Gonzalez, Crestview Strategy ​ o Clients: True Patriot Love Foundation

● Nathalie Jutras and Riley St-Jacques, PBI Actuarial Consultants Ltd. ​ ​ ​ o Clients: Teamsters Canadian Pension Plan

● Cynthia Rynne, PBI Actuarial Consultants Ltd. ​ o Clients: Labourers' Pension Fund of Central and Eastern Canada

● Bart Maves, Sterlingbridge Marketing and Communications ​ o Clients: Mountainview Homes

● Martin Green, Foresight Strategic Advisors Inc. ​ o Clients: Expedia Group Inc.

● Monika Bujalska, Sutherland Corporation Ltd. ​ o Clients: Conduent Transportation

● Neil Brodie, Bluesky Strategy Group ​ o Clients: Self-Care Catalysts

● Ali Salam, NATIONAL Public Relations ​ o Clients: L'Oreal Canada

● Ralph Palumbo, The Hillcrest Consulting Group Inc. ​ ​ ​

o Clients: LifeMark

● Joshua Albert, The CCS Group ​ o Clients: Chippewas of the Thames First Nation, The Miller Group

● Chris Benedetti, Sussex Strategy Group ​ o Clients: Northeast Midstream L.P.

● Robyn Gray, Sussex Strategy Group ​ o Clients: TC Energy Corporation (formerly known as TransCanada Corporation

● Sadaf Abbasi, Stosic & Associates ​ o Clients: Kabn Systems North America Inc.

● Michael Harris, MDH Consulting ​ o Clients: Giampaolo Group

● Mark Holmes, Marlyn Consulting ​ o Clients: Traditional Chinese Medicine Ontario

● Lisa Kirbie, Blackbird Strategies Ltd. ​ o Clients: Haudenosaunee Development Institute

Organizations that registered in-house lobbyists from May 1 to 7

● Ontario Society of Professional Engineers ● Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association Inc. ● APAO Biogas Association ● Canadian Microelectronics Corporation ● Fertilizer Canada ● Canada's National Firearms Association ● Abilities Centre ● Crohn's and Colitis Canada ● Ontario Long Term Care Association ● Brock University ● The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs ● Right to Play International ● Northern Ontario Tourist Outfitters Association ● The Toronto Region Board of Trade ● Ontario Medical Association ● The Tourism Industry Association of Ontario ● Ontario Community Support Association ● Canadian National Insurance Crime Services ● FP Canada ● Emera Inc. ● Gaschi Tech11 Inc ● Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc. ● UPS Canada

● Lifelabs ● Lundbeck Canada Inc. ● Occupational Safety Group ● Mastronardi Produce Limited ● Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan ● ArcelorMittal Dofasco GP

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

What did you think of this Daily Report? What else would you like to see here? Email [email protected] and let us know. ​ ​

Copyright © 2020 Queen’s Park Today. It is a violation of copyright to distribute this newsletter without permission.