Another MPP eyes the Hill (Taylor's version)
Fine print for card-carrying Grits
ABOVE THE FOLD
SCOOP — MONIQUE TAYLOR could jump into the federal political arena as soon as today.
Officially: The veteran NDP MPP for Hamilton Mountain didn’t rule out a federal bid when I asked her about the rumours last month. “I haven’t made any public decision as of yet,” she told me on a tangent during our interview about child welfare.
Unofficially: Insiders close to Taylor tell me she’s been eyeing an MP’s seat and could make it official any day now. “Pay attention to her announcement that’ll [come] after Labour Day,” said one source.
The clues are there: Taylor has repped Hamilton Mountain since 2011, but she wasn’t part of the latest crop of incumbents who were just re-nominated to run in the next provincial election — which could come as early as next spring, around budget time. That includes NDPers LISA GRETZKY (Windsor West), CATHERINE FIFE (Waterloo), LISE VAUGEOIS (Thunder Bay-Superior North) and CHANDRA PASMA (Ottawa West-Nepean).
Nor is Taylor scheduled to be re-nominated anytime soon, like other New Democrats TERESA ARMSTRONG (London-Fanshawe), JOHN VANTHOF (Timiskaming-Cochrane), JAMIE WEST (Sudbury), TOM RAKOCEVIC (Humber River-Black Creek) and JEFF BURCH (Niagara Centre).
Now what? Federally, Hamilton Mountain is held by the Liberals’ LISA HEPFNER, who won by a very narrow margin in 2021. As the longtime provincial rep, Taylor would have an edge in the bellwether riding. And with national NDP captain JAGMEET SINGH backing out of the supply and confidence agreement, there’s even more uncertainty surrounding the timing of an election (provincially, too).
Back at Queen’s Park, MARIT STILES will be on the hunt for a strong replacement candidate in the hopes of hanging on to their long-held Steeltown seat. The last time around in 2022, New Democrats lost some of their strongholds to the PCs, including around Windsor and up North, after their incumbents — who tend to get a leg-up on the ballot — dropped out.
A fitting send-off: New Democrats are fresh off a caucus retreat in Windsor. Catch up.
And the rest: Taylor may not be the only MPP who’s getting out of dodge ahead of a (possible) early election. Taylor’s benchmate JOEL HARDEN is also seeking the federal nod. Premier DOUG FORD has asked his caucus to strap in or step aside by Christmas as the PCs ramp up nominations this fall (scooped here).
HAPPENING TODAY
DOUG FORD’S MONDAY — 11 a.m.: The Premier continues to make it rain vote-grabbing goodies during this unofficial campaign summer. This time, he’s in Prince Edward County (byelection territory-ish) alongside Infrastructure Minister KINGA SURMA. And yes, there will be a Q-and-A with reporters.
While you were weekending — GUBERNATORIAL GRAB — Ford also hosted New Jersey Governor PHIL MURPHY to sign an MOU promoting economic collaboration — and to toss the pigskin around in his backyard.
OPPO ITIN — 10 a.m.: NDP Leader MARIT STILES continues to pound the pavement in Bay of Quinte ahead of the byelection. She’ll be at a local school alongside candidate and trustee AMANDA ROBERTSON, to highlight “the ongoing crisis” in classrooms across the province.
BYELECTION WATCH — Speaking of the byelection, advanced polls opened on Sunday and will run through September 13. E-Day is September 19. Get the lay of byelection land.
FUNDRAISING WATCH — Back-to-back fundraisers for the PCs — 5 p.m.: Minister GEORGE PIRIE is shilling in Timmins for $500 a pop. RSVP. At 6 p.m.: Minister CAROLINE MULRONEY is co-hosting a $500-a-plate evening alongside Glengarry—Prescott—Russell MPP STEPHANE SARRAZIN. Invite.
ON THE COMMITTEE CIRCUIT
NO REST FOR COMMITTEES — The House may be out for summer, but the Standing Committees are still grinding.
1 p.m.: Education Minister JILL DUNLOP will be the opening act for her Ministry’s spending Estimates study at Social Policy. Also on the witness roster: A bunch of Ministry bureaucrats including Deputy Minister SHANNON FULLER. Full lineup.
2 p.m.: Over at Interior, Energy and Electrification Minister STEPHEN LECCE kicks off the committee’s Estimates review, which also features DM SUSANNA LAAKSONEN-CRAIG. And the rest.
CLIPPINGS
— FINE PRINT FOR LIBERALS: As the Grits gear up for their big policy convention on September 20, the party has released a thick, 124-page stack of proposed constitutional amendments.
Big changes include: Governance tweaks to the executive and provincial councils — including a ranked secret ballot for exec elections; getting rid of automatic delegate status for past politicians; scrapping the leadership review for leaders who secure a majority government; banning interim leaders from vying for the permanent gig; reinforcing the party leader’s right to revoke nominations of troubling candidates — something that will come in handy if BONNIE CROMBIE wants to avoid late-in-the-game dropouts a la 2022. Have at it.