Quotation of the day
“The premier was like a one-man wrecking ball. So don’t expect to have credit for building something you knocked down to the ground.”
Liberal house leader John Fraser remarks on the PC’s 2018 decision to quash a $15 minimum wage amid the government’s pro-worker renaissance.
A few hours later PC sources leaked plans to hike the base wage to $15 on January 1, 2022.
Today at Queen’s Park
Written by Alan S. Hale
On the schedule
MPPs will resume debate on the throne speech this morning, before returning to second-reading debate on Bill 27, Working for Workers Act, in the afternoon.
During private members’ time, the house will debate a motion from deputy Speaker Bill Walker calling for the province to recognize Ontario’s supply of medical isotopes, which are produced by nuclear power reactors, as a “key strategic priority.”
Monday’s debates and proceedings
After question period, MPPs held a second-reading vote on Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner’s private member’s Bill 32, the Carbon Budget Accountability Act, which was defeated (Ayes 20; Nays 37).
Schreiner shutting down his bill was further evidence that Premier Doug Ford and the PCs do not “believe in climate action,” and that it sends a bad message, especially as the COP26 conference is underway in Glasgow.
“A carbon budget accountability bill doesn't say anything about what the government has to do. It just says, ‘hey, are we going to try,’” said Schreiner. “The conservatives said no to even trying to address the climate crisis, which is deeply disturbing.”
In the afternoon, NDP Leader Andrea Horwath put forward an opposition day motion calling on the province to crack down on real estate speculation, which she blamed for contributing to the housing affordability crisis, through vacancy taxes.
Horwath said drastic action needs to be taken because young Ontarians are “abandoning” the idea of being able to own a home.
“We believe here in the NDP that homes should be for people to live in, not to be an asset that some wealthy billionaire can plow their money into,” said Horwath. “So when we form government, we will be introducing an annual speculation tax … we're gonna go after the speculators particularly that don't pay taxes in Ontario.”
When brought to a vote, the motion failed (Ayes 23; Nays 40).
The house then began second-reading debate on Bill 27, Working for Workers Act.
Just one new bill was tabled on Monday, with NDP MPP France Gélinas introducing Bill 40, Support for Adults in Need of Assistance Act, which would require health-care professionals to report a suspected abuse of someone under age 16 to a board of health, with failure to do so becoming a criminal offence.
At the park
A demonstration organized by Dying with Dignity Canada is planned to take place on the south grounds this afternoon.
Premier watch
Premier Doug Ford got a question period grilling from NDP Leader Andrea Horwath, who blamed the PC leader for stagnating wages that are coming up short for families as inflation rises, while Liberal house leader John Fraser called on the premier to apologize for “robbing” low-income families of at least $6,200 throughout his term by cancelling Grit-era minimum wage increases.
In the chamber, Ford blamed the federal carbon levy for the rise in transportation costs and food prices, touted the PC’s pro-business agenda as creating a good environment for job creation and pegged the Liberals and New Democrats as “job killers.”
However, by that evening government sources leaked to the Star that the minimum wage will rise to $15 on January 1, 2022, citing inflationary trends (the PCs held the base wage at $14 in 2018 and have slowly raised it to $14.35; the latest 10 cent hike was on October 1).
Ford also gave a shout-out on Twitter to the Toronto Sun, congratulating the newspaper on its 50th anniversary.
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PCs bet their re-election on highways and infrastructure amid Bradford Bypass fiasco
The PCs appear to have settled on infrastructure projects, and highways in particular, as their winning issue with an election seven months away.
New opinion polling questions obtained by Queen’s Park Today show one PC-aligned firm is gauging the support for controversial projects such as Highway 413 and the Bradford Bypass. PC sources also say that highways projects will feature heavily when the fall economic statement is released on Thursday.
The survey, circulated last week by Campaign Research, asked respondents how aware they are of the government’s funding plans for a long list of hospitals, transit and highway infrastructure projects. Campaign Research is owned by Premier Doug Ford’s advisor Nick Kouvalis and a frequent internal pollster for the PC Caucus Services Bureau.
Kouvalis declined to say whether the government or PC party commissioned the poll, citing confidentiality. Campaign Research has also provided polling to the Toronto Star in the past.
The proposed GTA West Highway expansion, dubbed Highway 413, and the Bradford Bypass were both singled out in the questionnaire, with the research firm asking respondents multiple questions about each.
For instance, the survey looks to measure how convincing the government’s argument is that the Bradford Bypass will relieve congestion, as well as whether respondents would be more or less likely to support it after being informed about environmental concerns, its $1-billion price tag, and the fact an environmental assessment was conducted for the project (without mentioning it took place 25 years ago).
On Monday, Ford faced questions in the house from NDP Finance critic Catherine Fife over the Bradford Bypass following a joint investigation into the project by the Star and National Observer. The article detailed how the PCs adjusted the highway route to keep it from clipping a golf course co-owned by Associate Transportation Minister Stan Cho’s father and that major development companies with ties to the PCs stand to benefit the most from the project’s construction.
“We are the party of building infrastructure, and we will get this province moving again,” declared the premier during question period.
Neither Cho nor Transportation Minister Caroline Mulroney were eager to answer questions about the revelations, as the pair did not respond to requests to participate in media scrums yesterday.
The investigation gave the opposition more ammunition to paint the highway project as a potentially corrupt way to benefit the premier’s so-called “buddies” in property development.
Liberal Leader Steven Del Duca, who was the transportation minister that revived the Bradford Bypass project by placing it in the provincial growth plan in 2017, and still supports it in principle, said Ontarians should have “concern … with respect to how much confidence they have in how decisions are being made by Doug Ford and his government, and who they are being made to benefit.”
“Now we see that these kinds of projects are very clearly being advanced to help certain well-connected friends, who are actually a core part of Ford’s re-election strategy,” he said. “It’s not an accident; all of this is tied together.”
Campaign Research poll floats unannounced ideas for relieving Hwy 401 congestion
Respondents to Campaign Research’s recent survey were also asked about a possible highway tunnel below — or a second raised highway above — the busiest 20-kilometre stretch of Highway 401 to help relieve congestion on the existing route. Neither of those ideas have been floated by the government publicly.
The pollster wanted to know whether respondents would be more or less likely to support a tunnel or raised highway if they knew travel time on the 401 between Highway 427 and Highway 404 is expected to more than double by 2041, from 23 minutes to 48 minutes.
The survey also wondered whether highlighting that the 401 artery is key to Ontario’s economy (a frequent Ford talking point on the highway file) would improve pollees’ perception of digging under the major highway, building lanes above it or widening it further.
GTA roadways were not the only focus of the poll. The Ring of Fire chromite mine project in northwest Ontario also got the same treatment as the other highlighted projects, with the questionnaire asking about support for the development, given its economic benefits, road access for remote First Nations, and the environmental concerns surrounding it.
The Ring of Fire has been in limbo for many years, but some recent progress has been made.
Last week, Noront Resources advised its shareholders to accept a bid of $0.75 per share from Australian company BHP Western Mining Resources to take over the project. At the same time, Treaty 9 First Nations called on the auditor general to investigate who will own the roads that are being promised for fly-in communities.
Today’s events
November 2 at 9 a.m. — Queens Park
Deputy Speaker Bill Walker will hold a presser talking about his private member’s motion.
November 2 at 9:30 a.m. — Queens Park
NDP MPP Jessica Bell and a representative from the South Riverdale Health Centre will release a health impact assessment of Metrolinx’s Ontario Line route in South Riverdale.
Topics of conversation
- New daily cases of COVID-19 jumped 24 per cent to 422 confirmed infections on Monday. The province also reported 134 patients in hospital (up 30), as well as 133 in ICU with a Covid-related illness.
- There were three deaths added to the provincial toll, putting it at 9,874.
- There were 74 new Covid cases in schools confirmed on Monday, 68 of which were among students.
- There were 7,427 vaccine doses administered on Sunday. Health Minister Christine Elliott now says she has received enough feedback from hospital leadership to determine whether to make vaccines mandatory for health-care workers — but is yet to finalize which way the policy will go.
- After five years of searching, the province has found and agreed to release 1,800 death registrations of Indigenous children spanning 70 years from the Office of the Registrar General to the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, where they will be used to investigate deaths at residential schools.
- Laurentian Bank Securities is predicting Thursday’s fall economic statement will show “significant improvement to Ontario’s fiscal outlook” thanks to stronger-than-expected economic activity this year.
- The province should benefit from “positive taxation spillover” from federal support programs — Ontarians’ disposable income was up 10 per cent thanks in part to CERB — and higher prices boosting GDP and provincial revenues.
- As for expenditures, the bank believes that current Covid contingency funds “should be sufficient” to cover the need for pandemic spending.
- Ontario should expect higher interest on its deficit but is well-positioned to eliminate it faster than the 10-year window projected in the spring budget, per Laurentian Bank.
- As part of its Roadmap to Net-Zero platform, the Green Party announced Monday that, if it forms government, it would provide a year’s tuition to 60,000 students and ensure they have work when they graduate in order to create “a diverse green workforce.”
- Climate action “starts with investing in people — by giving them the tools to succeed in the new, green economy,” leader Mike Schreiner said.
- Environmental groups represented by law firm Ecojustice are intervening in the Town of South Bruce Peninsula's appeal against a 2019 conviction for breaking the Endangered Species Act by supposedly damaging piping plover habitat by raking a popular beach in 2017 after the bird’s mating season. The endangered birds had only returned to Lake Huron 10 years prior, after a 30-year absence from the area.
- The appeal will centre on what the law means by “damage” to endangered species habitat, and Ecojustice worries the courts may end up watering down protections with a narrow definition.
- “A robust interpretation of the ESA is essential to protect and restore vulnerable species and their habitats and hold those who mistreat the environment to account,” said lawyer Lindsay Beck.
- The College Employer Council, which represents 24 public colleges in Ontario, has filed a complaint with the Ontario Labour Board asking it to find the Ontario Public Service Employees Union, which represents their faculty, of negotiating in bad faith.
- The CEC accuses the union’s bargaining unit of wanting to change more than half of their current collective agreement and refusing to “engage in any discussion of the rationale behind them.” Third-party mediation was also unproductive, with mediator Brian Keller also criticizing the union’s bargaining unit for not “meaningfully bargaining.”
- “Let's be clear, the colleges do not want students and employees to be harmed by a labour dispute,” said CEO Graham Lloyd.
- Metrolinx was forced to cancel 89 GO bus trips Monday as its mandatory vaccination policy for staff officially came into force.
- Gambling industry insiders told Covers they project iGaming Ontario’s planned December launch will be slightly delayed until early 2022.
- After her legal application to the Superior Court was stayed last week, thwarted PC nomination candidate Stella Ambler says she isn’t letting up in her fight for an open nomination race in Simcoe—Grey. In a statement, Ambler said it’s “frustrating” Justice Edward Belobaba declined to hear the case on its merit, but she plans to file another appeal with the PC Party, then go back to court to try to move the case forward.
- The Ministry of Health and the Ontario Medical Association have reached an agreement to allow physicians continue to provide palliative care virtually through September 30, 2022.
News briefs
Hit the green button!
- Energy Minister Todd Smith is implementing the “Green Button standard” that will require all electricity and natural gas utilities to give their customers access to their hourly consumption data through a smartphone or computer application within the next two years, along with tips on how to reduce energy use and save money.
- The province believes this standard could allow people to save up to 18 per cent on their monthly bills.
Treaties Recognition Week
- The PCs and opposition parties issued statements marking the sixth annual Treaty Recognition Week, which began yesterday.
- Indigenous Affairs Minister Greg Rickford implored Ontarians to take the time to learn about Ontario’s treaties with Indigenous people, acknowledging that they are “legally binding agreements” that “form the basis of the relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people.”
- The week is an “opportunity to move beyond words to action,” per NDP Indigenous and Treaty Relations critic Sol Mamakwa and party Leader Andrea Horwath. “As we continue the essential work of honouring the treaties, we can never forget the damage done by the racism and colonialism,” they said in a joint statement that pointed to the need for equitable education, clean drinking water and child welfare reform.
Funding announcements
Mental health and eating disorders
- The province is providing $5.8 million to Toronto’s SickKids hospital to expand outpatient programs dedicated to mental health and eating disorders. The hospital’s inpatient clinic for eating disorders has experienced a 35 per cent uptick in admissions over the past year; the funds will help offer early treatment to youth before they need to be admitted.
Appointments and Employments
New committee chairs
After recent changes to committee memberships, the following committees have elected new chairs, mainly to replace members who have been promoted to parliamentary assistant or associate minister gigs.
- Legislative assembly committee: PC MPP Laurie Scott, who was ousted from cabinet in June, was acclaimed as the chair, replacing Kaleed Rasheed, the associate minister for digital government. NDP MPP France Gélinas is vice-chair.
- General government committee: PC MPP Logan Kanapathi was named chair, replacing Goldie Ghamari, the new PA for post-secondary. Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner is now vice-chair.
- Social policy committee: PC MPP Natalia Kusendova was named chair, replacing Labour PA Deepak Anand, with PC MPP Aris Babikian as vice-chair.
- Regulations and private bills committee: Babikian was named chair, replacing Kanapathi, with Liberal house leader John Fraser sticking around as vice-chair.
- Finance and economic affairs committee: PC MPP Ernie Hardeman was named chair, replacing Infrastructure PA Amarjot Sandhu, with NDP MPP Ian Arthur as vice-chair.
- Estimates committee: NDP MPP Peter Tabuns remains chair with PC MPP Randy Pettapiece appointed as vice-chair, replacing Donna Skelly, who is now PA to the attorney general.
Question Period
NDP questions
WSIB reform
- NDP MPP Jennie Stevens asked about demands for WSIB reform from the newly created Occupational Disease Reform Alliance, calling on the province to immediately present legislation to enact them.
- “The ball is clearly and firmly in your court,” said Stevens.
- Labour Minister Monte McNaughton said worker safety is the government's “number-one priority,” and the province built back a stronger WSIB system that used to be “on the brink of bankruptcy.”
Two months without eye care
- NDP Early Learning and Child Care critic Bhutila Kapoche noted it has been two months since OHIP-funded eye care ended, and called on the province to resolve its dispute with the optometrists’ union.
- Health Minister Christine Elliott refused to budge from the province’s position, arguing the optometrists need to come back to the table.
Treaty lawsuit appeal
- NDP Indigenous and Treaty Relations critic Sol Mamakwa called on the government to drop its appeal against a court ruling that found that annuities required by the Robinson-Huron Treaty need to be increased for the first time since 1874. The current annuity is $4 per person in exchange for mining and forestry rights in their territories.
- “Doing an appeal in the court is not honouring the treaties,” said Mamakwa. “Treaty relationships should not be fought in court.”
Independent questions
Save OELC!
- Liberal MPP Kathleen Wynne called on the government to restore supports for the Ontario Education Leadership Centre, noting its programming was a big part of her own development as a kid.
- “In 1969, a 16-year-old from Richmond Hill High School was chosen by her school to attend OELC,” Wynne recalled. “She had never been to an overnight camp, she had never interacted with people from across the province, she had no idea that she had potential as a leader, and she certainly had no idea that she could ever be premier.”
- Culture Minister Lisa MacLeod said she would be willing to have a conversation about it after question period but also noted the province is spending money on things such as after-school programs.
PC questions
PC backbenchers asked their party colleagues softball questions about rapid testing expansion and African swine fever prevention.
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