Queen’s Park Today – Daily Report September 18, 2020

Quotation of the day

“A few fries short of a Happy Meal.”

The premier offers a fresh Ford-ism when calling out partygoers who break gathering limits.

Today at Queen’s Park

Written by Sabrina Nanji

On the schedule The house is adjourned until Monday, September 21.

Thursday's debates and proceedings Housing Minister Steve Clark tabled the rent-freeze legislation he teased last month: Bill 204, ​ ​ ​ ​ Helping Tenants and Small Businesses Act (more on this below).

A PC backbench bill and NDP motion cleared second reading, while another motion died during yesterday's private members' business debates.

● NDP Leader 's motion urging the PCs to cap class sizes at 15 students ​ ​ failed (Ayes 29; Nays 54).

● NDP MPP 's motion calling on the government to provide "immediate ​ ​ ​ ​ urgent assistance" to Peel's Public Health Unit passed (Ayes 81; Nays 0).

● PC MPP Jane McKenna's Bill 201, Magna Carta Day Act (In Memory of Julia Munro), ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ is now off to be studied by the Standing Committee on Regulations and Private Bills, after passing second reading on a voice vote.

Treasury Board President tabled the 2020-21 supplementary estimates, ​ ​ ​ ​ part of a routine process to get legislative approval for ministry spending.

The house also debated Government Services Minister Lisa Thompson's motion to ensure ​ ​ sections of the Not-for-Profit Corporations Act that have not yet been proclaimed are not ​ ​ repealed (MPPs mostly squabbled over the standing-order changes instead).

Premier watch Premiers , François Legault, Brian Pallister and Jason Kenney are headed to the ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ capital today for a joint news conference "ahead of the federal throne speech" next week. The four first ministers will also meet behind closed doors, and Ford and Kenney will sit down one-on-one. Legault, who is incoming head of the Council of Federation, will chair the event.

Ford's office said the premiers will push the feds on "strengthening frontline health care, helping people and businesses get back on their feet, and moving shovel-ready infrastructure projects forward." At bilateral meetings last week, Ford and Legault called for an unspecified boost to the Canada Health Transfers.

On Thursday, Ford stopped by Vaughan to cut the ribbon on a new grocery warehouse. ​ ​

Residential rent freeze, commercial eviction ban, big fines for scaled-back gatherings: PCs drop Bill 204 On Thursday, Housing Minister Steve Clark dropped the Helping Tenants and Small ​ ​ Businesses Act, a hodgepodge of a bill that freezes residential rent increases, extends the commercial eviction ban and lays out hefty fines for people who break Covid-related gathering limits.

Premier Doug Ford announced hotly anticipated rollbacks to social gatherings in , ​ ​ Ottawa and Peel. As of today, 10 people will be allowed to hang out indoors and 25 outdoors.

The new rules are aimed at private parties, like in someone's backyard, and public events, like a dance party on the beach. They don't apply to churches or businesses — including banquet halls and convention centres, where weddings are typically held.

Should Bill 204 pass, there will be big fines for scofflaws. Party hosts face fines between ​ ​ $10,000 and $100,000, plus up to one year in jail, while a corporate organizer could be dinged $500,000. Police would also have the power to temporarily shut down the premises.

While the government isn't ruling out clamping down in other hot zones, Markham Mayor Frank ​ Scarpitti is "disappointed and concerned" York Region was left out. "We want to avoid ​ becoming another COVID-19 hot spot," Scarpitti said in a statement. (Toronto Mayor ​ said he spoke with Ford ahead of the announcement and gave him his “strong support.")

Meanwhile, tenants would get a bit of a break on rent next year.

Ontario dictates how much rent can increase each year for buildings built before November 15 2018, and Bill 204 sets a maximum of zero per cent for 2021. Clark said next year's max was ​ ​ supposed to be 1.5 per cent.

The bill extends the moratorium on commercial evictions beyond September 1 to October 30, 2020, "to align with the end of the expected application deadline for CECRA," Clark's office explained. (Landlords who haven't applied for the federal rent relief program aren’t allowed to kick tenants to the curb.)

Bill 204 also shifts the responsibility for preparing and maintaining municipal voter rolls from the ​ Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) to the Chief Electoral Officer. Elections would be the keeper of the list as of 2024. CEO Greg Essensa has been asking for the ​ ​ move for years, saying it would align the municipal and provincial voter lists and clean up errors.

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath said the social rollbacks don't mesh with the PC’s back-to-school ​ ​ plan, which has seen 30 kids sardined in some classrooms. "Why is it okay to have 70 kids on a bus and 30 kids in a classroom when he's saying that it's unsafe to have 10 people in an indoor space?"

Premier Doug Ford countered that Horwath was comparing "apples and oranges" because he ​ ​ believes private parties are looser when it comes to following public health measures, while there are strict guidelines in schools. (That said, a Pembroke high school became the first in the province to shut down this week after a symptomatic teacher showed up to work and even more went without masks.)

Green Leader said the commercial eviction ban should be extended to 2021. ​ ​ "Small businesses need complete solutions rather than Band-Aids."

Today’s events

September 18 at 10 a.m. – Ottawa ​ Premier Doug Ford will meet with Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson and the city’s chief medical ​ ​ ​ ​ officer.

September 18 at 10:30 a.m. – Ottawa ​ Ford meets with Alberta Premier Jason Kenney. ​ ​

September 18 at 11:30 a.m. – Ottawa ​ Ford, Kenney, Quebec Premier François Legault and Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister will ​ ​ ​ ​ hold a sit down ahead of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s throne speech, which is slated for ​ ​ next Wednesday.

September 18 at 1 p.m. – Ottawa ​ The four premiers will hold a joint news conference.

September 18 at 1:30 p.m. – Aurora ​ Children, Community and Social Services Minister will make an announcement ​ ​ about veterans’ support alongside Health Minister . ​ ​

Topics of conversation

● Ontario's daily Covid tally continues to undulate around the 300-mark. Another 293 cases were confirmed Thursday, along with three new deaths. Over 35,000 tests were processed. Health Minister Christine Elliott said the goal is to ramp up to 50,000 daily ​ ​ tests in the next couple weeks. ○ There are 22 LTC homes with an active outbreak, up by two from the day prior. ○ Hospitalizations are also on the rise: there are now 53 admissions, 21 patients in the ICU and 12 who are hooked on to a ventilator. ○ Schools saw another 21 infections among staff and students. There were two new cases reported in child-care centres and homes.

● Per the CBC, roughly half of Ontario's latest infections are untraceable. ​ ​

● An 28-student outbreak at Western has prompted the university to suspend athletics and ​ ​ recreation, in-person student club meetings and events, and restrict access to libraries. ○ Meanwhile, local officials in Kingston are ringing the alarm bells about off-campus ​ parties at Queen’s, replete with beer pong, as many students have opted to move ​ back to their university communities, despite most classes being online.

● A southwestern Ontario farmer is trying to get the provincial Court of Appeal to overturn ​ a lower court ruling capping the number of migrant workers to a bunkhouse at three. ​ ○ The three-person cap was instituted by Norfolk and Haldimand's medical officer of health this summer and upheld by the Superior Court last month.

● A Trump supporter and U.S. company exec who has campaigned against Covid restrictions was granted special exemption to the 14-day quarantine rules when she and two others crossed into Canada's borders to visit their facility in Milton. The CBC has the story. ​

● Court delays in Sudbury have punted the David Popescu verdict to next Wednesday. ​ ​ ​ ​ Popescu is facing criminal charges related to homophobic materials he distributed about during the 2018 campaign. ​

News briefs

OPS launches third-party workplace culture review with an eye to inclusivity ● Ontario's Public Service is undertaking a third-party review that will focus on anti-racism, transphobia and barriers for people with disabilities. "As one of the largest employers in the province, the OPS must actively listen to, learn from and act upon ongoing conversations about how we can create workplaces that are truly diverse and inclusive," reads a joint statement from Treasury Board President Peter Bethlenfalvy and Solicitor ​ ​ General , who is also in charge of the anti-racism file. A final report is ​ ​ expected in April 2021. ○ Last year, two Black female civil servants launched legal action against OPS ​ ​ alleging systemic discrimination on the job. As Queen's Park Today reported in ​ ​ ​ June, one of the women planned to appeal a lower court decision dismissing the case on the basis of jurisdiction. ○ More recently in June, 45 lawyers working at the Ministry of the Attorney General wrote to Cabinet Secretary Steven Davidson with concerns of "countless ​ ​ ​ instances" of anti-Black and anti-Indigenous racism.

Question period

For all of Premier Doug Ford's talk about not wanting to "play politics" this fall session, he ​ ​ closed out the first week back at the legislature by hurling political insults across the aisle. Here's how Thursday's debate went down.

NDP lead-off Class size matters ● Official Opposition Leader Andrea Horwath's first question was about the scaled-back ​ ​ gathering limits, which she said doesn't jive with the government's refusal to cap class sizes at 15 students.

● After a bit of back-and-forth, Premier Doug Ford went from playing defence to offence. ​ ​ "We have the armchair quarterbacks over there pretending they have all the answers," Ford said, accusing Horwath of "hiding in your basement for the last five months."

'Preparing for the worst' ● Horwath again demanded the release of the fall preparedness plan, which Health Minister Christine Elliott promised is "imminent" — but she didn't offer a date. "We are ​ ​ preparing for the worst, and we are ready for it," the minister assured the house.

New Democrats also asked about testing lineups and commercial rent supports.

Independent questions

O'Toole testing patience ● Liberal MPP asked about federal Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole ​ ​ ​ being turned away from a testing centre in Ottawa after waiting in line hours. O'Toole and his family wound up across the river at an assessment centre in Gatineau, Quebec, that does priority swabs for MPs and their families. Hunter said that with school in full swing, the demand for tests is "exploding." ○ The CPC leader blamed the delays — and the painful swab — on PM Justin ​ ​ ​ Trudeau, rather than the Ontario PCs, saying the feds should have already ​ approved faster and less invasive tests.

● Education Minister rattled off a list of education funding, including for ​ ​ student nutrition programs. Meanwhile, Ottawa is getting a trio of pop-up assessment centres, according to local MPP Lisa MacLeod. ​ ​ ​ ​

PC friendly questions The government asked itself about the back-to-school plan, protecting the Great Lakes, supporting small businesses, and addressing OPP culture and suicides among the force.

Lobbyist registrations

Consultants who registered, renewed or amended registrations from September 11 to 17, 2020

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

● Jeff Costen, Navigator ​ o Clients: Aurora Cannabis Inc.

● Mike Van Soelen, Navigator ​ o Clients: Novo Nordisk Canada Inc

● David Angus, The Capital Hill Group ​ o Clients: SAS Institute (Canada) Inc., Mihealth Global Systems Inc.

● Kenneth Stewart, The Capital Hill Group ​ o Clients: VMware Canada Inc.

● Jordan Angus, The Capital Hill Group Inc. ​ o Clients: Accerta

● Brian Zeiler-Kligman, Sussex Strategy ​ o Clients: HypOCln, Santha Technologies

● Alexis Easton, Sussex Strategy ​ o Clients: Kontrol Energy Corp

● Alex Simakov, Sussex Strategy Group ​ o Clients: General Electric Canada

● Paul Pellegrini, Sussex Strategy ​ o Clients: Ontario Home Respiratory Services Association

● Mark Olsheski, Sussex Strategy ​ o Group Clients: Gerdau, Association of Major Power Consumers in Ontario, Atlantic Power Corporation

● Chris Benedetti, Sussex Strategy ​ o Clients: TransAlta Corporation, Oracle Opower, Energy Storage Canada

● Utilia Amaral, Utilia Amaral ​ o Clients: Pattern Energy

● Melissa Lantsman and David Tarrant, Enterprise Canada ​ ​ ​ o Clients: True North Gaming

● David Tarrant, Enterprise Canada ​ o Clients: Walmart

● Vincent Crisanti, Vincent Crisanti ​ o Clients: 11535455 Canada Inc.

● Jonathan Rose, Policy Concepts ​ o Clients: Lawyers' Professional Indemnity Company (LAWPRO)

● Yara Salama, Amy Boddington and Jonathan Rose, Policy Concepts ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ o Clients: Ontario Small Brewers Association

● Andrew Boddington, Policy Concepts ​ o Clients: Catholic Health Association of Ontario, ProResp Inc.

● Jessica Georgakopoulos, Jaskiran Shoker, Charles Beer, Caroline Pinto, Devan ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Sommerville, Counsel Public Affairs ​ o Clients: Ontario Agencies Supporting Individuals with Special Needs (OASIS)

● Rob Gilmour, Caroline Pinto and Jessica Georgakopoulos, Counsel Public Affairs ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ o Clients: Enterprise Rent-A-Car Canada Company

● Donald Gracey, CG Management & Communications ​ o Clients: College of Medical Laboratory Technologists of Ontario

● Jessica Neilson, Global Public Affairs ​ o Clients: ChargePoint, Organization of Canadian Nuclear Industries, Future of Infrastructure Group, Songbird Life Science, Zipcar Canada Inc.

● Natalia Lasakova, Global Public Affairs ​ o Clients: Globalfaces Direct

● Andrew Retfalvi, Global Public Affairs ​ o Clients: Songbird Life Science

● Derrick Araneda, Stosic & Associates ​ o Clients: OMNI Health Care

● Andrew Brander, Crestview Strategy ​ o Clients: Lyft

● Gabriela Gonzalez, Crestview Strategy ​ o Clients: Microgreen Solar, Right To Play International

● Chad Rogers and Andrew Brander, Crestview Strategy ​ ​ ​ o Clients: Unicorn House Ltd. (“Unicorn”)

● Jeff Silverstein, Radius Public Relations ​ o Clients: Toronto Poly Clinic, Ontario Occupational Health Nurses Association

● Scott Munnoch, Temple Scott Associates ​ o Clients: Merit Ontario

● Ryan Singh, Temple Scott Associates Inc. ​ o Clients: Scleroderma Society of Ontario

● Natalie Dash, Campbell Strategies ​ o Clients: NAIOP Greater Toronto Chapter

● Vivek Prabhu, Hill+Knowlton Strategies ​ o Clients: Registered Practical Nurses Association of Ontario

● Lauren Rettinger and Vivek Prabhu, Hill+Knowlton Strategies ​ ​ ​ o Clients: Neighborhood Pharmacy Association

● John Perenack, Roberta Kramchynsky, Garry Keller and John Duffy, StrategyCorp ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ o Clients: Juul Labs Canada

● Conal Slobodin, StrategyCorp ​ o Clients: Toronto Innovation Acceleration Partners, Generation PGM

● Garry Keller, StrategyCorp ​ o Clients: Enbridge Inc.

● Dan Mader and Jill Wilson, Loyalist Public Affairs ​ ​ ​ o Clients: Wine Growers Ontario

● Jill Wilson, Loyalist Public Affairs ​ o Clients: Dye & Durham Corporation

● Trisha Rinneard, Wellington Advocacy ​ o Clients: CWB Welding Foundation, SHAD Canada

● Robert Stephens, Public Relations Post ​ o Clients: Canadian Council of Independent Laboratories

● Jean-Guy Fréchette, Solstice Public Affairs ​ o Clients: Mouvement d'implication francophone d'Orléans

● Matthew Henley, Wellington Dupont ​ o Clients: Boehringer Ingelheim, ParcelPal

● Michael von Herff, Public Affairs Advisors ​ o Clients: Sterigenics

● Paul Monlezun, Public Affairs Advisors ​ o Clients: Sterigenics Inc.

● , Klees & Associates ​ o Clients: SitePoint Partners Healthcare, LLC d/b/a SitePoint Healthcare Partners, Rice Group, ST&J Retail Corporation

● J. Stephen Pengelly, J.S.A. Pengelly, Barrister & Solicitor ​ o Clients: County of Frontenac

● Adam Yahn, Summa Strategies Canada ​ o Clients: Google Canada Corporation

● Melanie Paradis, McMillan Vantage ​ o Clients: wpd White Pines Incorporated, The Econo-Rack Group (2015) Inc. (dba Konstant), Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Grower's Association, Global University Systems, Lincoln Electric Company of Canada LP, Greyhound Canada Transportation Corporation, POST Promise, Nation Rise Wind Farm Limited Partnership, Apple Canada Inc, Johnston Equipment, Aphria Inc., Coco Group, Arterra Wines Canada, Ontario Ginseng Growers Association, Santa's Village

Organizations that registered in-house lobbyists from September 11 to 17

● Ontario Clean Air Alliance ● Ontario Dental Hygienists' Association ● Association des juristes d'expression française de l'Ontario

● Ontario Prospectors Association ● Council of Ontario Universities ● Association of Power Producers of Ontario ● Convenience Industry Council of Canada ● OPTrust ● Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs ● Canada's National Brewers ● Canadian Federation of Independent Business ● I.K.O. RESEARCH INC ● Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario ● Canadian Fuels Association ● Brock University ● Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce ● Ontario Real Estate Association ● Rogers Communications ● Bombardier ● Cycle Capital Management ● Becton Dickinson Canada ● First Gulf Corporation ● Eli Lilly Canada ● Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan ● Prescientx ● TransAlta Corporation

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

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