A monkey wrench in summer plans
And Grits gripe about Fraser's gravy games
ABOVE THE FOLD
It’s last-day-of-school vibes at the Pink Palace, and MPPs are going out with a bang. Here’s the latest.
Throwing a monkey wrench into plans for the House to recess early after today’s proceedings is the threat of a TTC strike — and there’s a chance we might be back sooner than September.
Labour pains: Premier DOUG FORD isn’t saying much about his game plan — namely, back-to-work legislation — should transit workers walk off the job on Friday.
“Let’s just avoid it at all costs,” Ford told reporters during cabinet in’s and out’s on Wednesday, adding that he won’t address “hypothetical” questions and noting that a strike could cost “billions.” Transportation Minister PRABMEET SARKARIA and Government House Leader PAUL CALANDRA were just as wishy-washy.
Ford waxes philosophical: The Premier did weigh in on the recent court ruling that struck down the Liberal-era law deeming TTC workers an essential service as unconstitutional — therefore restoring their right to strike. Ford and his late brother ROB FORD had pushed to make TTC workers essential during their City Hall days.
“I’m disappointed the courts would overturn that…I love our TTC drivers and everyone who works at the TTC but it’s an essential service that can shut down the economy in a big way.”
When it comes down to it: The threat of a strike is an old bargaining tactic and all parties say they’re hopeful a deal can be reached. (Same here, for the sake of an early summer.)
For now, it’s steady as she goes, and the PCs continue to rip through their legislative agenda so the parties can get into summer campaign mode — whenever the next campaign happens to be. More on that in a sec.
Gravy games: Some MPPs appear to be feeling those last-day-of-school vibes and had a bit of fun ragging on the Ford government. Liberal JOHN FRASER reupped his cheeky gravy can prop to illustrate ballooning salaries in Premier DOUG FORD’s office (which also inspired a citizen to send Ford a packet of gravy, and prompted an evacuation at Mac Block).
Fraser handed out Ford-branded cans of “beer gravy,” “Greenbelt gravy” and “pork barrel gravy” to the Press Gallery — but not every Liberal was impressed by his stunt.
“MPP Fraser is a very nice man with a capable staff. But they have to stop with this nonsense or BONNIE [CROMBIE] will have to replace him as Parliamentary leader,” texted one insider. “Voters do not care about the gravy train. They already know Doug is gravy city and don’t give a fucking shit so John needs to stop with this old school bullshit comms that’s not moving the numbers. Voters care about education and health care — and not what the Premier’s staff is getting paid, or the Beer Store, or Staples. Someone needs to go in there during the recess and slap Bonnie and Fraser like in Moonstruck — snap out of it!”
HAPPENING TODAY
A busy lineup in the Media Studio…
9 a.m.: NDPers PEGGY SATTLER, TERENCE KERNAGHAN, TERESA ARMSTRONG and DOLY BEGUM will talk about next steps for their anti-hate Our London Family Act, which was tabled in the wake of the AFZAAL family attack and has languished at committee for two years.
9:30 a.m.: Their boss MARIT STILES and caucus mate JEFF BURCH are up next, to talk about their PMB aimed at beefing up accountability measures for civic politicians who violate workplace harassment rules (something Liberal STEPHEN BLAIS has pitched, and that PC PAUL CALANDRA says he’s working on.)
10 a.m.: Folks from the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation are up to release survey results on violence in high schools.
1 p.m.: Long-Term Care Minister STAN CHO is up in Sudbury.
1 p.m.: Back in the Media Studio, Liberal LUCILLE COLLARD will pump up her PMB that would bolster awareness of online harms facing children. Also on hand: Dr. DOAK-GEBAUER.
1:30 p.m.: NDPers PETER TABUNS, TOM RAKOCEVIC and KRISTYN WONG-TAM will tease legislation to crackdown on illegal handgun smuggling. Also on hand: CLAIRE SMITH from Danforth Families for Safe Communities.
2 p.m.: Liberal Leader BONNIE CROMBIE holds an end-of-session presser.
FUNDRAISING WATCH — 6 p.m.: NDPer KRISTYN WONG-TAM and drag queen MESSY MARGARET are hosting a Pride-themed fundraiser at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre. Ticket go for $150. RSVP.
6:30 p.m.: PCs SYLVIA JONES and SHEREF SABAWY are shilling in Mississauga for $800 a pop. Invite.
ON THE ORDER PAPER
First up: PC NATALIA KUSENDOVA-BASHTA will move her (non-binding) motion calling on her government to look at expanding access to the Ontario Lung Cancer Screening Program.
After the morning’s (final!) Question Period, a deferred vote: On NDPer JENN FRENCH’s motion to amend the Building Code to restore mandatory EV chargers in new homes. Spoiler alert: For all the EV-pumping Premier DOUG FORD has been up to, he’s not willing to budge on that front.
On the PMB docket: Liberal LUCILLE COLLARD will move second-reading of her Bill 133, to proclaim September as Kids’ Online Safety and Privacy Month.
Royal Assent: Lieutenant Governor EDITH DUMONT could make a cameo after QP to give the final nod to a slew of bills.
WEDNESDAY’S RUNDOWN:
Another clue we’ll break today: It’s a mad dash to get legislation on, or off, the Clerk’s table.
Passed I: Bill 185 — Housing Minister PAUL CALANDRA’s sweeping red-tape reduction package that brings in a use-it-or-lose it policy, tweaks the MZO process, and reverses controversial developer fee changes, among other things — is awaiting Royal Assent after clearing third reading sans Oppo support (they would prefer it include as-of-right fourplexes).
Passed II: Bill 200, Public and Business Service Delivery Minister TODD McCARTHY’s move to ban NOSIs. It was fast-tracked with support from all parties.
Passed III: Bill 159, SolGen MICHAEL KERZNER’s PUPS Act that cracks down on puppy mills.
Tabled I: Bill 207, a PMB from NDP JEFF BURCH to beef up accountability measures for workplace misconduct committed by civic politicians.
Tabled II: Bill 208, the Sacred Spaces, Safe Places Act from Liberal JOHN FRASER that would establishing safe zones around places of worship.
Tabled III: Bill 209, from Grits ANDREA HAZELL and LUCILLE COLLARD, to proclaim April as Black Maternal Health and Reproductive Justice Month.
Killed: NDP Health critic FRANCE GELINAS’s Bill 192, to establish nurse-to-patient ratios.
ON THE COMMITTEE CIRCUIT
It’s Thursday, so you know what that means: A pair of government appointees get grilled on their new gigs. In the hot seat this morning is TRINA MORISSETTE, vice-chair at the Licence Appeal Tribunal, and MELISSA SHEA, a member on the Tribunal.
Justice Policy and Procedure and House Affairs are also meeting to sort out their summer plans:
No rest for the Justice Policy: The committee will continue to sit over the recess to conduct its study on intimate partner violence. That includes NDPer CATHERINE FIFE’s private member’s Bill 189, a.k.a. Lydia’s Law, aimed at helping survivors seek justice — which the PCs fast-tracked without debate, much to survivors’ chagrin.
Mint julep journey: Procedure and House Affairs is headed to Louisville, Kentucky from August 4 to 7, in order to attend the National Conference on State Legislatures.
CLIPPINGS
— PLAYING NICE ON HOUSING: “After months of squabbling and jockeying, Canada’s three levels of government have come together to finalize $4.7 billion in funding from Ottawa to boost housing construction in Ontario.” The Star reports.
— WON’T SOMEBODY THINK OF THE CHILDREN: “More than 70,000 children are seeking support through the Ontario Autism Program, but fewer than 15,000 of them are getting funding for core therapies, the province’s Financial Accountability Office said in a report Wednesday.” CP has the sobering story.
— PRIVACY WATCHDOG REPORTS: Information and Privacy Commissioner PATRICIA KOSSEIM tabled her annual report and if you, like me, hit Ctrl +F to find any “Greenbelt” dirt, well, here it is: “This case reflects the ongoing struggle for transparency in governmental decisions, particularly those with farreaching environmental impacts, and highlights the essential role that record-keeping plays in maintaining governmental accountability and the public’s right to know.” And stay tuned: “Further appeals related to the Greenbelt matter are ongoing and will be publicly released once completed.” Full report.
— IN THE BANK: “It’s about time.” Premier DOUG FORD’s take on the Bank of Canada’s interest rate cut.
As for that shooting on Ford’s home turf in Etobicoke: “Enough is enough. This disturbing trend of violence in our streets has to stop. The thugs who are terrorizing our communities need to have the book thrown at them.”
— BLOOD SPORT: Hamilton isn’t happy about its new paid plasma clinic, but there’s not much to be done since the Ford government granted an exception to the law.
— IN SARNIA: “Ontario has created new rules specifically for one Sarnia, Ont., plastics plant to try to ensure it stops emitting high levels of benzene that have affected a neighbouring First Nation for years.” CP reports.
— ANOTHER MONKEY WRENCH IN SUMMER PLANS: Enormous venomous spiders and giant European hornets are heading to the land of trilliums.
QUESTION PERIOD — TRANSCRIPT. CLIP.
LOBBYING DISPATCH
Here are the new, renewed and amended registrations over the past 24 hours:
Saad Baig, StrategyCorp: Ontario Racing
Johanna Chevalier and Shawn Cruz, Counsel Public Affairs: Emergent BioSolutions Canada.
In-house organizations: Keurig Dr. Pepper — Canadian Urban Transit Association.
🎊 HAPPY ANNIVERSARY: PC DAISY WAI (Richmond Hill).
MEA CULPA! New Democrat JEFF BURCH (Niagara Centre) celebrated another trip around the sun yesterday — this newsletter initially reported it was his anniversary with his wife LINDA, but that’s actually today. Lots to celebrate in the Burch household!
🍽️ ON THE MENU: It’s Fish-and-Chips Thursday in the basement cafeteria.
⏳ COUNTDOWN: T-minus 7 days until the (scheduled!) summer recess…4 days until the Mississauga mayoral election.