Queen’s Park Today – Daily Report March 8, 2019 Quotation of the day “Lisa, listen to us!” A woman yells at Children Services Minister Lisa MacLeod as she’s escorted from the chamber ​ ​ while hundreds descended on the south lawn in protest of the PC’s revamped autism system. Today at Queen’s Park On the schedule MPPs are heading back to their ridings for the March Break constituency week. The House is adjourned until Monday, March 18. Thursday’s debates and proceedings MPPs considered Bill 74, People’s Health Care Act, before question period. The legislation to ​ ​ ​ ​ establish an Ontario Health super-agency needs roughly two more hours of debate before a second-reading vote can be called. A Tory backbench bill and motion, as well as inaugural Ontario Green legislation, chugged forward during the afternoon’s private members’ business: ● PC MPP Christine Hogarth’s Bill 65, Protecting Our Pets Act, will go under the ​ ​ ​ ​ microscope at the Standing Committee on Justice Policy. The bill would establish an advisory committee to report on the quality of care for companion animals kept for entertainment, breeding, exhibition, boarding, hire or sale. ● PC MPP Donna Skelly’s motion — calling on the government to design a plan to ​ ​ ​ ​ promote a no-cost program that encourages unwanted clothing and textiles be donated to local charitable and non-profit organizations — passed after debate. (Motions are non-binding but have symbolic value — and Skelly’s got a dedicated hashtag from the premier: “#DontDumpDonate.) ​ ​ ● Green Leader Mike Schreiner’s Bill 71, Paris Galt Moraine Conservation Act, to protect ​ ​ ​ ​ the drinking water supply in Guelph, Wellington County and Waterloo region, is off to be studied by the general government committee. It’s a historic moment as Bill 71 is the ​ ​ Green Party’s first-ever provincial bill. In the park Lieutenant Governor Elizabeth Dowdeswell honoured eight volunteers making a difference in ​ ​ ​ their communities with the Ontario Medal for Good Citizenship at a Thursday afternoon ceremony in the LG’s suite alongside Vincent Ke, parliamentary assistant to the minister of ​ ​ ​ ​ tourism, culture and sport. ‘You’re going to see our promises kept’: First PC budget set for April Finance Minister Vic Fedeli will table the Ford administration’s inaugural budget on April 11. ​ ​ “Our government's first budget will outline our plan to return the province to balance in a responsible manner, and protect what matters most — preserving critical public services, including our world-class health care and education system,” Fedeli said Thursday at a bakery in Nobleton. It was a laid-back scene compared to budget date announcements of years past, often made at swanky business-minded clubs or events. Fedeli even swapped his trademark yellow tie for a ​ ​ casual fleece. (He is slated to give a budget-themed speech at the Empire Club later this month.) One tradition the finance minister hasn’t dropped is keeping budget details close to the vest until they’re tabled. Fedeli reiterated the PC’s fiscal blueprint will include a plan to get back in the black, but wouldn’t provide a specific timeline. During last year’s campaign Premier Doug Ford promised to balance the books within his first ​ ​ four years if he took office, but has since softened his language to say it “may” happen. ​ Ford also vowed “not one single person” would lose their job if he formed government — which Fedeli re-upped with a slight caveat — saying “one of the promises that the premier made is that no front-line workers will be cut,” and the government would honour that. The line is similar to recent statements by Health Minister Christine Elliott, who has said ​ ​ front-line staff are still needed but declined to give specific answers when asked if the health-care system reforms she is leading will mean job losses. Meanwhile, Financial Accountability Officer Peter Weltman has warned wiping out the deficit of ​ ​ $13.5-billion — as projected by the PCs — without slashing jobs or raising taxes (another Ford promise) will be a major feat. (The FAO’s analysis forecasts a smaller deficit of $12.3 billion; the watchdog’s calculations do not include a $1 billion reserve the Tories’ do. The FAO has also said the government’s forecast took a more negative view of the economy, something that is often hard to predict anyway.) Sources told Queen’s Park Today the budget bill will include amendments to the Fiscal ​ ​ Transparency Act. The Fall Economic Statement promised a review of the legislation which, among other things, sets deadlines for when the powers-that-be must release financial updates, such as the Public Accounts and autumn mini-budget. It also includes a loose provision requiring governments to lay out the manner and period in which fiscal balance will be achieved if it plans to run a deficit that year. Brad Blair signals wrongful dismissal suit Terminated OPP deputy commissioner Brad Blair has fired a shot across the bow for a ​ ​ wrongful dismissal suit against the provincial government. In a joint statement released in the wee hours Thursday with his counsel Julian Falconer, Blair ​ ​ says he “contests the legal validity of the termination of his employment as a sworn police officer of the OPP and he will seek full accountability and compensation for the actions leading to this termination.” Falconer told reporters earlier this week the firing process was “legally suspect” as Blair was terminated Monday after speaking out about the controversial Ron Taverner appointment and ​ ​ without any official disciplinary warnings or actions under the Police Services Act. On Wednesday the premier’s friend Taverner withdrew his name from contention for OPP ​ ​ commissioner. But that doesn’t mean the drama that’s roiled Queen’s Park since the controversial appointment was announced at the end of November is over. Blair has been battling in court to get the ombudsman to investigate potential political interference in Taverner’s recruitment process; a hearing is expected in April. Meanwhile Integrity Commissioner J. David Wake is probing whether Premier Doug Ford violated the ​ ​ ​ ​ Member’s Integrity Act by not recusing himself from the cabinet table that finalized his friend Taverner’s appointment, based on a complaint from NDP critic Kevin Yarde. Yarde asked the ​ ​ integrity watchdog to launch a full-on public inquiry this week after Blair was fired (a rare undertaking). Community Safety Minister Sylvia Jones has said Blair was dismissed for breaching the act by ​ ​ making public information about the custom van request and allegations the premier didn’t like his assigned OPP detail and tried to direct the force. Jones and Ford maintain the hiring and firing processes were free from political interference. Jones said the decision to fire Blair was made by her DM Mario Di Tommaso and approved by ​ ​ a panel of high-ranking bureaucrats in charge of HR. Di Tommaso, who is Taverner’s former boss and sat on the three-person panel that recommended him for the gig, personally handed Blair the pink slip and is alleged to have been in a conflict of interest in that process. Pressed by reporters Thursday if Di Tommaso will play a part in picking the next provincial police captain, Jones said that would be “completely appropriate.” She was also cagey over whether the next top cop may be someone with personal ties to Ford and if she had concerns about the controversial process, saying she wouldn’t presuppose would-be commissioners and felt the process was “absolutely appropriate.” Meantime, interim commissioner Gary Couture remains in command of the OPP. ​ ​ Today’s events March 8 at 10:30 a.m. – Toronto ​ ​ NDP MPP Catherine Fife responds to Statistics Canada’s latest jobs data in the media studio. ​ ​ Topics of conversation ● Hundreds of families, advocates and labour groups rallied at Queen’s Park in the hopes the Ford government would rejig its controversial autism program Thursday. Children Services Minister Lisa MacLeod didn’t show, citing threats to her personal safety, and ​ ​ her office confirmed police have been alerted. PC MPP Jeremy Roberts did attend the ​ ​ rally. Roberts, whose brother is on the spectrum and inspired him to enter the the political arena, has been MIA in question periods dominated by the autism file. During the few occasions he has been present, Roberts has been noticeably muted. Opposition politicians, including NDP Leader Andrea Horwath and Liberal MPP Michael Coteau ​ ​ ​ among others, were out in full force. ○ The protest got a supportive shout-out from Hamilton-based rock band Arkells. ​ ​ ● Premier Doug Ford will be the one to decide suspended MPP Randy Hillier’s future in ​ ​ ​ ​ the PC ranks, House Leader Todd Smith told reporters Thursday. Hillier’s status was ​ ​ discussed at Tuesday’s caucus meeting, but he is still suspended indefinitely for allegedly heckling parents with children with autism during an emotional question-period debate last month. (Hillier says his “yada yada yada” remark was aimed at the New Democrats.) ○ “We all know that Randy has had a series of these types of events that led to his suspension … and so caucus was brought up to speed,” Smith said somewhat cryptically. “Ultimately the decision rests with the premier.” ○ Hillier, a self-described libertarian, is known for being outspoken. That’s endeared him to many, including local PC fans who spoke to the Toronto Star. ​ ​ ​ ● Some of the complaints to the government’s public education tip line, which critics referred to as a “snitch line,” flagged parent reports of teachers educating students about sexting, masturbation and same-sex marriage as “allegations of professional misconduct,” according to the CBC. ​ ​ ​ ● A game of Grit Guess Who is officially on as Liberal MPP Michael Coteau has ​ ​ reportedly thrown his hat in the ring for the leadership, months before the party decides ​ on whether to adopt a one-member-one-vote system or stick to old school delegated convention.