Candidate kick-off (and it's about time)
What civic bureaucrats want, a bunch of staff moves, Swiftie alert
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ABOVE THE FOLD
CANDIDATE TRACKER — Another contender will be added to the Grit ticket tonight: ALISON GOHEL, who will be formally acclaimed as the candidate in Oakville.
Along with ELIZABETH MENDES in Mississauga-Lakeshore, Gohel is among the first non-incumbent Liberals to be locked in for the next general election, which could go down next spring.
It’s not their first rodeo: Mendes and Gohel ran in 2022 and placed second, coming in a few thousand votes behind PCs RUDY CUZZETTO and STEPHEN CRAWFORD, respectively.
Tick tock: With just two non-incumbent candidates under their belt, and with their self-imposed deadline to get half their slate nominated by September just days away, it’s possible the Grits could automatically greenlight a bunch of candidates en masse, which could also happen with the PCs (More about what’s happening in Tory land here).
That tracks with what sources previously told me: That BONNIE CROMBIE will want to be on stage at the Liberal convention, which kicks off September 20, alongside a good number of candidates.
The seat-less leader could also be one of those contenders herself, and as I first told you, Crombie’s closely eyeing Mississauga Centre, currently repped by PC LTC Minister NATALIA KUSENDOVA-BASHTA.
Another possible contender: VINCE GASPARRO, former principal secretary to then-mayor JOHN TORY who was recently named to Crombie’s climate panel that will inform the party’s platform. A little birdie tells me Gasparro is gunning for Eglinton-Lawrence, where he’s been spotted glad-handing this summer. Gasparro would be a good get for the Grits and give current rep, PC ROBIN MARTIN, a run for her money.
Gasparro’s also speaking at the Grit convention next month — and he’s not the only headliner who may be running. JANE PHILPOTT isn’t ruling it out. And the rest.
They have the tools: Don’t forget, the Liberals have declared electoral urgency (scooped here), which effectively gives them carte blanche when it comes to nominations. Party brass can now override certain procedures in their constitution in the name of campaign urgency — including quickly appointing candidates without the usual nomination contests or processes.
Compared to the PCs and NDP, the nine-seat Liberals have the longest way to go to lock in all 124 candidates before a possible snap vote.
HAPPENING TODAY
9:30 a.m.: Energy and Electrification Minister STEPHEN LECCE is in King City. Also on hand: Associate Energy-Intensive Industries Minister SAM OOSTERHOFF and Agriculture Minister ROB FLACK.
11 a.m.: RIC BRESEE, Parliamentary Assistant to the Transportation Minister, is up in Prince Edward County.
FUNDRAISING WATCH — 5 p.m.: The PCs are shilling in Mississauga for $1,000 a pop. There’s no ministerial lineup posted, and regular readers will know the drill by now: That could mean DOUG FORD makes a cameo. Invite.
CLIPPINGS
— WAR ON DRUGS: “Nineteen new addiction treatment hubs will be operational in Ontario before 10 supervised consumption sites are forced to close their doors in March, the Ford government is promising.” Global reports.
Meanwhile, a new report is poking holes in DOUG FORD’s insistence (and opinion) that drug consumption sites are linked to increased crime: “One of the Doug Ford government’s rationales for a sweeping policy that would shutter supervised drug consumption sites was that they are linked to crime — but a review of publicly posted Toronto police data shows they may have the opposite effect.” CTV has the story.
— TRAIN WRECK: “Toronto residents in the path of Ontario Line construction are living in a bone-rattling, foundation-cracking, rat-infested hellscape. True tales from the epicentre.” The PCs cornerstone transit project gets the Toronto Life treatment.
— WHAT CIVIC BUREAUCRATS WANT: Chief Administrative Officers are airing their grievances in a new survey from lobbying firm StrategyCorp. Bugaboos include: “Navigating the pressures of growth…recruiting and retaining staff…balancing affordability for residents with growing financial pressures…managing contentious relationships with the public…gearing up emergency preparedness and response initiatives.” It’s topical: The PCs have been playing nice with municipalities amid early election buzz, so now is a good time for cities and towns to speak up for what they want. Full survey.
— HOLD HIS BEER: “When Beer Stores in small northern communities close, some customers will still be able to shop at an LCBO or a gas station — but they’ll have nowhere to return the empties.” TVO’s John Michael McGrath opines.
— IN DUFFERIN-CALEDON: “The province is giving a $3.6 million shot in the arm to Headwaters Health Care Centre.” Via CTV News.
— SWIFTIE ALERT! “Three-time Super Bowl-winning Kansas City Chiefs tight end TRAVIS KELCE has bought an ownership stake in a Toronto-based racehorse named Swift Delivery.” Hat tip to ex-minister, now-Woodbine VP MONTE McNAUGHTON.
MOVERS AND SHAKERS
NEW CHIEF — MICHELLE STOCK has left the building. Most recently chief of staff to Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement Minister TODD McCARTHY, Stock has signed on to The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs as VP, Ontario. Subbing in as acting chief to McCarthy is KAI NADEMI.
More post shuffle moves…
— ALEX JONES is now manager of policy, issues and public appointments to newly shuffled Colleges and Universities Minister NOLAN QUINN.
— KELSEY HRAPPSTEAD is now director of issues management and Leg affairs to Tourism, Culture and Gaming Minister STAN CHO. SADDAM KHUSSAIN is Cho’s MPP liaison and board appointments adviser.
ON THE CIVIL SERVICE SIDE — Over at Social Services, MICHELLE ZHONG is now a senior policy adviser.
LOBBYING DISPATCH
Here are the new, renewed and amended registrations over the past 24 hours:
Mike Van Soelen, Oyster Group: Ontario Teachers Insurance Plan
Benjamin Lamb, Wellington Advocacy: Edge Factor Inc., Civiconnect Youth Community Engagement Organization, Small Business Roundtable
Giancarlo Drennan, Sussex Strategy Group: Wyloo Ring of Fire Ltd.
Stephen Warner and Davin Shinedling, Jenni Byrne + Associates: Rockshield Engineered Wood Products
Sadaf Rostami, Jenni Byrne + Associates: Oskar Group
In-house organizations: Canadian Federation of Independent Business — LifeLabs — Gilead Sciences Canada — Food Health and Consumer Products of Canada.
🍽️ ON THE MENU: Wondering whether to pick up lunch or brown-bag it? Italian sausage and rapini pasta is on special in the basement cafeteria.
⏳ COUNTDOWN: T-minus 22 days until the byelection in Bay of Quinte…23 days until the Liberal AGM in London…34 days until the Plowing Match in Lindsay…54 days until the House reconvenes.