Queen’s Park Today – Daily Report January 18, 2019

Quotation of the day

“If it’s good enough for Justin Trudeau, we’ll align with ​ ​ the feds on this.”

Training, Colleges and Universities Minister Merrilee Fullerton announces a raft of ​ ​ changes to post-secondary tuition and OSAP, including charging interest for the six-month grace period after graduation.

Today at Queen’s Park

On the schedule Government House Leader Todd Smith denied rumours from three government sources that ​ ​ told Queen’s Park Today the House will be recalled early. MPPs are still slated to return on ​ ​ February 19.

In the park The precinct was buzzing with MPPs on Thursday with the PC caucus and cabinet holding meetings in Macdonald Block.

While staking out the cabinet meeting, media crossed paths with deputy minister Mario Di ​ Tommaso, who reportedly didn’t have a comment regarding the Ron Taverner drama. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Ontario rejigs OSAP Training, Colleges and Universities Minister Merrilee Fullerton rolled out changes to Ontario’s ​ ​ post-secondary tuition fee framework and OSAP Thursday.

“We’re making sure that OSAP is sustainable for future generations,” Fullerton said, slamming the previous Liberal rulers for “subsidizing higher-income earners.”

Here are the highlights:

● As was reported earlier this week, Fullerton officially announced tuition fees at colleges and universities are getting cut by 10 per cent in 2019-20 from current levels, and then frozen the following year. The minister confirmed schools won’t receive provincial funding to fill the budget hole created by the decrease, which the Toronto Star has ​ ​ reported is estimated to cost about $440 million. ○ Fullerton noted universities are “autonomous” and colleges are “relatively independent” and said “they will make choices in terms of what they need to do” to make up the gap.

● The Liberal-established Ontario Student Grant, or the so-called free tuition program, which has been fully covering tuition for low-income university or college students since 2017, is coming to an end. Under the incoming PC system, eligible students will get some combination of loans and grants.

● The OSAP eligibility ceiling is decreasing. Students reporting a net family income of $140,000 and under will qualify for financial support. Under the Liberals the threshold was $175,000.

● Students whose families pull in a net income of $140,000 or more will only receive support in the form of loans, not grants. Those with families earning $50,000 or less will get a slightly bigger slice of the pie in grant funding.

● Interest will now be charged during the six-month grace period for new graduates, which the government says will “reduce complexity for students.” Fullerton said this matches up with how the federal government collects student loans. “If it’s good enough for Justin ​ Trudeau, we’ll align with the feds on this,” she said. ​

● The minimum income threshold is being lowered. Students will have to start paying back their loans once their paycheck hits $25,000 annually.

● Students will be allowed to opt out of certain student fees, such as those that fund student unions, LGBTQ clubs, and campus newspapers and radio stations. Fees for programs related to health and wellness will still be mandatory. The idea, Fullerton said, is to empower students to decide what matters to them. “Students are adults and we will be treating them as adults,” she said.

● There will be no reduction in operating grants for post-secondary institutions and a “contingency” plan for northern universities — which will be hit harder by the tuition cut since they attract fewer high-paying international students. (International students and students in professional programs are not receiving a tuition cut).

Auditor General Bonnie Lysyk’s latest annual report said the cost of the Liberal-established ​ ​ “free” tuition program was on track to balloon to a much higher-than-expected $2 billion per year. She also said there was little evidence showing the system led to higher enrollment.

“A bad day for students”: Critics raise concern about rising debt Opposition critics, students, unions and advocates say they’re worried the PC’s changes will leave students dealing with higher debt after getting their diploma.

“The government’s decision to charge interest right away, to do away with the grace period, is completely appalling. New graduates need time to get on their feet,” said Liberal MPP (and a former education minister) Mitzie Hunter. ​ ​

She contended the PCs are giving the wealthiest students a break at the expense of those who are most in need. “Needy students will see next to no benefits because under the previous program they were already being provided for. Wealthy students, who never qualified for OSAP in the first place, are being given a 10 per cent tuition cut even though they can afford it the most.”

NDP MPP Chris Glover said leaving post-secondary institutions to fill the budget gap created ​ ​ by the tuition-fee cut will hurt students in the long run. “Students will pay for this with larger classes and fewer professors.”

Green Leader Mike Schreiner said making fees for programs besides tuition optional “reduces ​ ​ the capacity for student representation and advocacy.”

The Canadian Federation of Students’ Ontario chairperson Nour Alideeb said the Ford ​ ​ government “attempted to spin this announcement” but in reality the move “will increase out-of-pocket costs for students, diminish the quality of education students receive and undermine crucial student supports on campus.”

“The reality of loans-based financial aid programs is that students from low-income families pay more for their education in the long-run,” she said.

CFS is planning an “emergency rally” at Queen’s Park this afternoon to protest the move.

Today’s events

January 18 at 11 a.m. – Toronto ​ Lindsey Park, the parliamentary assistant to the attorney general, will make an announcement ​ about online charitable raffles at Scotiabank Arena alongside representatives from Maple Leaf Sports Entertainment Foundation and athletes.

January 18 at 1 p.m. – Toronto ​ The Canadian Federation of Students will hold a demonstration regarding student union autonomy on the Queen’s Park lawn.

Upcoming events January 21 at 11:30 a.m. – Toronto ​ Premier Doug Ford will address the Economic Club at a luncheon speech. The Economic ​ ​ ​ ​ Club’s website previously listed the event as sold out, but as of Thursday there are tickets available.

January 24 at 6:30 p.m. – Toronto ​ Equal Voice Toronto is hosting a panel on campaign communications featuring NDP MPP ​ ​ Catherine Fife, Navigator’s Lanny Cardow and the Canadian Beverage Association’s senior ​ ​ ​ director of government affairs Gabrielle Gallant. iPolitics reporter Marieke Walsh is ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ moderating.

Topics of conversation

● The CBC and Toronto Star are reporting a major restructuring of Ontario’s health care ​ ​ ​ ​ system is on the horizon. The Tories are looking to swap out the current 14 local health integration networks (LHINs) for either “no more than five regional oversight bodies,” or, eliminate them entirely, according to the CBC’s sources. ​ ​ ​ ​ ● Those who spoke to the Star said the PCs want to dismantle the 14 LHINs, as well as ​ ​ ​ ​ eHealth, Cancer Care Ontario and over 20 other agencies, and morph them into one “super agency.” ● The Star’s Robert Benzie managed to catch up Health Minister Christine Elliott who ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ did not deny dissolving the LHINs. ○ LHINs operate on a local level and are in charge of coordinating health-care services and funding at hospitals, long-term care homes, mental health and addiction agencies and community health centres. ○ Per the CBC, the Tories believe the LHINs haven’t achieved the goal of ​ ​ improving integration of local health services, which was then-premier Dalton ​ McGuinty’s vision when he established them in 2007. ​ ○ At pre-budget committee hearings this week, the Ontario Hospital Association suggested the government allow hospitals and home-care providers to work together to coordinate patient services sans third-party bureaucracies like the LHINs. Under Wynne, Community Care Access Centres (which previously

coordinated home care) were folded into LHINs after a damning report from the auditor general over access and red tape. ○ OHA President and CEO Anthony Dale told the committee “it’s now time to allow ​ ​ hospitals and home care providers to work directly together,” and argued the problems plaguing the CCACs were carried over to the LHINs. Without the LHINs, “hospitals and home care organizations can wrap services around the needs of patients. In doing so, of course, we’ll have to overhaul the antiquated contracts that currently govern home care today, that prevent them from modernizing services in an effective manner,” Dale said.

● Out-of-towner MPPs may be upgrading their pads after the Board of Internal Economy quietly agreed to raise members’ monthly rental housing budget by 20 per cent, according to documents dug up by the Canadian Press. MPPs whose home ridings are ​ ​ at least 50 kilometres from the pink palace are now entitled to $2,300 a month for rent, up from $1,910. Ministers and opposition leaders are giving themselves a cash bump too — raising their monthly accommodation allowances to $2,383, up from $1,993. ○ Community Safety Minister Sylvia Jones, a voting member of the Board of ​ ​ Internal Economy, told CP the change was made to address the increased cost ​ ​ of rent in Toronto.

● Meanwhile, a better commute to Queen’s Park may be en route. Toronto Mayor John ​ Tory announced a $162-million injection to the capital budget for the downtown relief ​ ​ ​ ​ line that, if approved, will fast-track construction by two years. Torontonians could see ​ relief by 2029 instead of 2031.

● Democracy Watch, a citizen advocacy group, sent a letter to Integrity Commissioner J. ​ David Wake calling for an investigation into whether Premier Doug Ford violated ​ ​ ​ conflict-of-interest rules when he recommended his former principal secretary Jenni ​ Byrne for a full-time board position at the Ontario Energy Board. ​ ○ This is the third such letter Democracy Watch has penned to the integrity watchdog, following the controversial appointments of Ian Todd, Ontario’s new ​ ​ man in Washington, and Ron Taverner, future OPP commissioner. Both ​ ​ appointments have raised questions and criticism because of the appointees’ relationships with the premier. ○ The integrity commissioner doesn’t investigate complaints from the public.

● CityNews got its hands on internal polling done by the Progressive Conservative ​ ​ ​ campaign that suggests a series of errors by NDP Leader Andrea Horwath during last ​ ​ spring’s election catapulted now-Premier Doug Ford to victory — though it seemed ​ ​ touch-and-go for Ford in the final weeks leading up to the vote.

● Wondering how Dean French became the second-most powerful man in the province? ​ ​ Premier Doug Ford’s chief of staff got the Toronto Life treatment. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

● Civic resistance to proposed “open-for-business” bylaws that would enable municipalities and developers to override certain environmental standards is growing, with over a dozen local councils voting up motions expressing their resistance. Advocacy organization Environmental Defence is keeping a tally here. ​ ​ ○ Meanwhile, in Hamilton, city planners warn the PC’s planning exemption provisions could spur development of the Greenbelt, according to the Spec. ​ ​ ​ ○ The government has said Bill 66, Restoring Ontario’s Competitiveness Act, is ​ ​ aimed at reducing regulatory red tape for municipalities.

● Toronto Star columnist Bob Hepburn added an update to his bombshell column from ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ last week that suggested the Ford administration is eyeing private health care. The note is about former B.C. premier Gordon Campbell, who led the PC’s recent financial ​ ​ ​ ​ “commission of inquiry” and also testified in favour of a landmark case aiming to ease private health care restrictions in his home province. ○ Writes Hepburn: “NOTE: In my column last week I said former B.C. premier Gordon Campbell, who was appointed last July by Ontario Premier Doug Ford to ​ ​ head a commission of inquiry into the previous Liberal government's budget spending, has advised the Ford government on health-care issues. A spokeswoman for Campbell says that since the appointment was announced Campbell ‘hasn't met or discussed health care or health care budgets’ with Ford, Health Minister Christine Elliott, the premier's special adviser on health care Dr. ​ ​ ​ Rueben Devlin, or anyone in their offices or the health ministry.” ​

● According to the NDP, Metrolinx has removed two cars from the morning rush-hour GO trains on the Lakeshore East line, which is creating “dangerous” overcrowding for Scarborough and Pickering passengers. ○ “No one should have to choose between running late to work and squeezing onto a jam-packed coach,” transit critic Jessica Bell said in a release, and called on ​ ​ the government to restore service.

● Out in Wild Rose Country Energy Minister Greg Rickford made an appearance at an ​ ​ anti-carbon tax event with UCP candidate for Calgary—North West Sonya Savage. ​ ​ ​

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 January 11, 2019 – January 17, 2019

● Aaron Scheewe, The Capital Hill Group ​ o Clients: Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation; Sanofi ​

● Aaron Freeman, The Capital Hill Group ​ o Clients: International Boreal Conservation Campaign (formerly Canadian ​ Boreal Initiative)

● Kenneth Stewart, The Capital Hill Group ​ o Clients: Access Copyright ​

● David Angus, The Capital Hill Group ​ o Clients: Sanofi ​

● Nathan Scheewe, The Capital Hill Group ​ o Clients: Major International Festivals and Events Network (MIFEN) ​

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

● Alex Chreston, Crestview Strategy ​ o Clients: Amazon Corporate LLC; Association of Canadian ​ Distillers/Spirits Canada

● Shahad Rashid, Crestview Strategy ​ o Clients: Ontarians for Midwives ​

● Alexandra Spence, Global Public Affairs Inc. ​ o Clients: Portage Ontario ​

● Andrew Retfalvi, Global Public Affairs Inc. ​ o Clients: Epilepsy Ontario ​

● Vince Amodeo, Global Public Affairs Inc. ​ o Clients: Cineplex Entertainment ​

● Anika Christie, Grosso McCarthy Inc. ​ o Clients: Medavie Blue Cross ​

● Francesca Grosso, Grosso McCarthy Inc. ​ Clients: Herzig Eye Institute ​

● Michael McCarthy, Grosso McCarthy Inc. ​ o Clients: Apotex; Medavie Blue Cross ​

● Arti Panday, Daisy Consulting Group ​ o Clients: Township of North Glengarry ​

● Lisa Kinsella, Daisy Consulting Group ​ o Clients: dosist; Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation; Festival ​ Hydro

● Warren Kinsella, Daisy Consulting Group ​ o Clients: Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation ​

● Logan Ross, Rob Gilmour, Daisy Consulting Group ​ o Clients: Festival Hydro ​

● Barry Campbell, Campbell Strategies ​ o Clients: EnerCare Inc. (formerly registered on behalf of Stratacon Inc.) ​

● Natalie Dash, Paul Brown, Chris Holz, Campbell Strategies ​ ​ ​ o Clients: EnerCare Inc. (formerly registered on behalf of Stratacon Inc.) ​

● Bonnie Hiltz, Sussex Strategy Group Inc. ​ o Clients: Budd Solar Solutions Inc. ​

● Chris Benedetti, Sussex Strategy Group ​ o Clients: BiomeRenewables Inc. ​

● Joseph Ragusa, Sussex Strategy Group ​ o Clients: Edwards Lifescience; College of Opticians of Ontario ​

● Brian Teefy, StrategyCorp Inc. ​ o Clients: Sidewalk Labs Employees LLC; Halton Region ​

● Conner Coles, StrategyCorp Inc. ​ o Clients: Mondelez Canada Inc. ​

● John Duffy, StrategyCorp Inc. ​

o Clients: Sidewalk Labs Employees LLC; Greater Toronto Airports ​ Authority

● John Matheson, StrategyCorp Inc. ​ o Clients: Halton Region ​

● Kelly Baker, StrategyCorp Inc. ​ o Clients: Mondelez Canada Inc.; Halton Region ​

● Kelly Baker, StrategyCorp Inc. ​ o Clients: Mondelez Canada Inc.; Halton Region ​

● Saad Baig, StrategyCorp Inc. ​ Clients: Halton Region; Ontario Professional Planners Institute ​

● Don Moors, Scott Munnoch, Brian Klunder Temple Scott Associates Inc. ​ ​ ​ o Clients: Canadian Bank Note ​

● Christian von Donat, Impact Public Affairs ​ o Clients: Mortgage Professionals Canada ​

● Christine Simundson, Rubicon Strategy Inc. ​ o Clients: Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP ​

● Patrick Harris, Rubicon Strategy Inc. ​ o Clients: Loblaw Companies Limited ​

● Christine Innes, Antel Consultants Inc. ​ Clients: MCI Group Canada Inc. ​

● Dafna Strauss, One Degree Government Relations ​ o Clients: Wikwemikong Unceded Indian Reserve ​

● Dan Pfeffer, Public Affairs Advisors ​ o Clients: Renewable Industries Canada ​

● Felix Wong, Public Affairs Advisors ​ o Clients: Vale Canada Ltd. ​

● Noah Niznick, Public Affairs Advisors ​ o Clients: RI Canada ​

● Daniel Matthew Boudreau, Hill+Knowlton Strategies Canada ​ o Clients: Neighbourhood Pharmacy Association; The Association of ​ Family Health Teams of Ontario; ALS Society of Canada

● Laura Greer, Marissa Steiner, Hill+Knowlton Strategies (formerly Hill & ​ Knowlton Canada Ltd.) o Clients: Kids Help Phone ​

● Don Gracey, CG Management & Communications Inc. ​ o Clients: Ontario Physiotherapy Association; The Wexford ​ ​ ​

● Edward Rihn, AltaLink Management Ltd. ​ o Clients: BHE Canada L.P. ​

● J. Alan Jeffs, Ian Martin Limited ​ o Clients: DuPont Sustainable Solutions – E.I. du Pont Canada Company ​

● Jeffrey Bangs, Pathway Group Inc. ​ o Clients: Hamilton Port Authority; Bruce Trail Conservancy ​

● Jim Burnett, Peter Curtis, Pathway Group Inc. ​ o Clients: Hamilton Port Authority ​

● Joshua Albert, The CCS Group (formerly Connect Consulting Solutions) ​ o Clients: Chronic Pain Section of the Ontario Medical Association ​

● Jim Pimblett, Jim Pimblett ​ o Clients: Canadian Plasma Resources ​

● Keith Serry, Conseil Keith Serry Inc. / Keith Serry Counsel Inc. ​ o Clients: STEMCELL Technologies Canada Inc. ​

● Matthew Henley, Wellington Dupont ​ o Clients: Kids Help Phone; Ontario Motor Coach Association; World ​ Animal Protection; Canadian Association of Tour Operators; Association of Canadian Travel Agencies

● Michael Keegan, Michael Keegan & Associates ​ o Clients: Environmental Collaboration Ontario (formerly Grow Ontario ​ Together); The Ontario Greenhouse Alliance

● Michelle Mackenzie, Michelle Mackenzie Consulting Inc. ​ o Clients: Emergency Services Steering Committee (ESSC) ​

● Noble Chummar, Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP ​ o Clients: Glory Sports International ​

● Patrick Tuns, Upstream Strategy Group ​ o Clients: Abbott Diabetes Care Canada ​

● Michael Diamond, Upstream Strategy Group ​ o Clients: m-Health Solutions Inc. ​

● Patrick Nelson, Santis Health Inc. ​ o Clients: Canadian Association of Physician Assistants; Coalition of ​ Ontario Psychiatrists

● Ralph Palumbo, The Hillcrest Consulting Group ​ o Clients: Used Car Dealers Association of Ontario; HVE Healthcare ​ Assessments Inc.; Canadian Continence Foundation

● Ramiro Mora, CWell Consulting Inc. ​ o Clients: NextBridge Energy Transmission - Canada ​

● Rudy Barell, Barell Government Consulting ​ o Clients: Wittmann Canada Inc. ​

● Scott Riddell, Riddell Consulting Inc. ​ o Clients: BHE Canada L.P. ​

● Tom Trbovich, Earnscliffe Ontario Inc. ​ o Clients: Motorola Solutions Canada Inc.; Nova Chemicals ​

● William Pristanski, Prospectus Associates ​ o Clients: ENCQOR Innovation ​

Organizations that registered in-house lobbyists from January 11, 2019 – January 17, 2019

● Consumer Health Products Canada ● The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs ● BASF Canada Inc. ● Ontario Principals’ Council ● TransCanada Corporation ● Retail Council of Canada ● Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC) ● NRStor Incorporated ● Canadian Beverage Association ● OMERS Administration Corporation ● Association of Family Health Teams of Ontario (AFHTO) ● Sanofi Pasteur Limited ● Canadian Association of Consulting Quantity Surveyors

● AstraZeneca Canada Inc. ● Alzheimer Society of Ontario ● Toyota Canada Inc. ● Association of Canadian Distillers – Spirits Canada ● Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance ● First Gulf Corporation ● Trillium Automobile Dealers Association ● Ontario Traffic Council ● Imperial Oil Limited ● Transat A.T. Inc. ● TELUS Communications Company ● Child Welfare Political Action Committee Canada ● Mortgage Professionals Canada ● Canadian Pacific ● Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada ● Trans Canada Trail ● Rothmans, Benson & Hedges Inc. ● Darta Fleet Solutions ● Molson Canada 2005 ● Brookfield Energy Marketing Inc. ● patiencefirst.ca ● La Cité ● TransCanada Corporation ● Federation of Ontario Public Libraries ● Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation ● The Great-West Life Assurance Company ● Private Career Education Council (Ontario)

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

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