The civic hot potato dividing policymakers
It's a small world of lobbying after all
Presented by Parkinson Canada
ABOVE THE FOLD
WAR ON DRUGS — A civic battle over how to deal with encampments is heating up.
The latest: Associate Mental Health and Addictions Minister MICHAEL TIBOLLO was put on the spot at a CAMH announcement Monday, where he was forced to address Premier DOUG FORD’s comments saying Tibollo was a “big fan” of the big city mayors’ proposal to force people into rehab.
“So what I’m a big fan of is treatment and recovery,” Tibollo insisted, then rattled off a list of previous funding announcements.
Nice try: The reporter rightly noted that was a “very ministerial pivot” and tried again to nail down Tibollo’s stance on the controversial proposal that experts say would not only infringe on citizens’ rights and freedoms, but overwhelm an already-sardined system that lacks much-needed beds.
Tibollo stuck to his lines, saying the most important thing is to “build capacity.” He also pointed to Alberta’s model when it comes to corrections.
“They’ve created a system where, it’s not mandatory, but it is an opportunity for people that are in corrections facilities to seek out and get addiction support and treatment. And it’s having phenomenal success, because they can transition out of the corrections facilities into therapeutic communities.”
Background: Encampments are a hot-button issue right now. Brampton Mayor PATRICK BROWN and Barrie Mayor ALEX NUTTALL are among those urging the province to bring in involuntary treatment for folks experiencing severe mental health and addictions issues. Ontario’s Big City Mayors are also considering a motion that asks the province and feds to intervene in future court cases re: removing encampments, which could involve invoking the notwithstanding clause.
It isn’t clear what the province will do at this point, but with the Big City Mayors set to meet to consider that motion later this month, pressure is mounting on the province to take action.
Recall: Ford said last week that he’s talked with most of the mayors and “I’ll tell you, they’re all fed up…However we can help them, that’d be great. But let’s look for the root cause, right? We need to shelter these people.” That’s a far cry from his “get off your A-S-S” remark.
Meanwhile: Health Minister SYLVIA JONES was also grilled about the status of the new HART hubs for treatment, which will replace supervised drug consumption sites.
Jones said she wants to leverage a broad range of community expertise and that she’s currently parsing the overwhelming number of applications from groups that want to help out ahead of next week’s deadline. But she’s not giving away her criteria.
“There are specific things that they must have but we are not telling them exactly, because we want to see what individual communities come forward with. It may be very different, for example, in northern Ontario, than the model that comes forward in Toronto or Hamilton. And that’s okay, because this is about demonstrating different methods to ensure that wraparound service, whether it is health care, whether it is access to treatment, whether it is mental health services or supportive housing, all of those pieces must be part of the model.”
Also on the health care front: NDP Leader MARIT STILES was in Welland to make a campaign-style promise: A new hospital for the region, along with keeping urgent care centres open in Port Colborne and Fort Erie. Stiles made the pitch alongside Niagara Centre MPP JEFF BURCH, who was re-nominated as a candidate that night.
THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS — Politicians on all sides of the aisle marked the one-year anniversary of the October 7 Hamas attacks.
— Premier DOUG FORD: “Today marks one year since Hamas’s horrific and antisemitic terrorist attack against Israelis, which resulted in the murder of nearly 1,200 people and the kidnapping of hundreds more. As we mark this solemn occasion, our government continues to call for the safe and immediate return of the remaining hostages being held captive by Hamas, which is the best way to bring about lasting peace in the region.”
— NDP Leader MARIT STILES: “Today we remember and mourn those lives cruelly taken in the October 7 terror attacks in Israel and share in the pain of all Ontarians impacted by the events of that day and the brutal war that has followed. That grief has been made worse by a frightening increase in hate here in our province. The scale of devastation and loss of life we have seen this year demands that we renew our commitment to justice and peace.”
— Liberal Leader BONNIE CROMBIE: “The last year has been full of heartache for so many across our province. Hate and intolerance are on the rise in our local communities, causing even more pain here at home. Today is a solemn reminder of what has been lost. I pray for a world where empathy, tolerance and peace can prevail.”
— Green captain MIKE SCHREINER: “I’m thinking of all those feeling pain, anguish, and trauma from the horrible attack on Israel one year ago today and the subsequent bombardment and invasion of Gaza. Here in our own communities, we have painfully seen increasing acts of targeted antisemitic, anti-Palestinian, and Islamophobic hate. I join together with Jewish and Palestinian neighbours to stand against hate in all its forms.”
Meanwhile: “The Toronto District School Board is asking for help in handling the divisions world conflicts are causing in some classrooms, as several other Ontario boards grapple with similar challenges.” More from the Star.
HAPPENING TODAY
FUNDRAISING WATCH
5:30 p.m.: Junior Minister MICHAEL TIBOLLO is hosting a “networking” night in Toronto for $1,000 apiece. Invite.
ON THE COMMITTEE CIRCUIT
Summertime sadness: Another sign the Legislature is slowly creaking back to life after this drawn-out summer recess: bills are chugging through committee once again, getting their finishing touches before heading back to the chamber floor for final debate (remember debates? Glorious debates!).
9 a.m.: Labour Minister DAVID PICCINI is the opening act for public hearings on Bill 190 — the PCs’ Working for Workers Act 5.0 that among other things scraps sick notes, improves health coverage for wildland firefighters, boosts fines for scofflaw employers and ghost jobs, makes it easier for high schoolers to pursue the skilled trades and mandates period products on construction sites.
Speakers’ list: OPSEU, the Ontario Medical Association, Provincial Building and Construction Trades Council of Ontario, Newcomer Women’s Services Ontario, EllisDon, Workers' Health and Safety Legal Clinic. And the rest.
10 a.m.: The public will have their say on Bill 121, the PCs’ Improving Dementia Care Act, which would establish a framework for such care. It comes from backbencher LAURA SMITH, who is up alongside Long-Term Care Minister NATALIA KUSENDOVA-BASHTA to kick off stakeholder hearings.
Also on the witness roster: Alzheimer Society of Ontario, Ontario Long Term Care Association, Ontario Brain Institute, Rhythmic Rehab, Music Therapy Association of Ontario, Toronto Memory Program. Full lineup.
Over at Interior: Agriculture Minister ROB FLACK and Rural Affairs Minister LISA THOMPSON are up to talk about — you guessed it! — Ministry spending estimates.
CLIPPINGS
— NEW FISCAL SHERIFF IN TOWN: “Canada’s largest securities watchdog has a new top enforcer” and it’s a familiar face, according to the Globe and Mail. “BONNIE LYSYK, former auditor-general of Ontario, started with the Ontario Securities Commission on Monday as executive vice-president of enforcement. She replaces JEFF KEHOE, who left the OSC in February after overseeing its division since 2016. Ms. Lysyk joins the OSC at a challenging time for Canadian securities enforcement…Lysyk is also inheriting a smaller team than the one managed by her predecessor.” SHELLEY SPENCE took up the mantle for Lysyk at the AG’s office earlier this year.
— STRIKE! A possible hurdle for the Ford government’s ambitious infrastructure agenda: The Professional Engineers Government of Ontario union will walk off the job today after 16 months of negotiations with the Treasury Board resulted in zilch.
“These past 20 months without a contract have been exasperating because we have no time to waste, as we have watched colleague after colleague leave the public service for significantly higher compensation elsewhere thus depriving the government of the expertise it needs to deliver on its agenda. We just can't understand why the Treasury Board negotiators has been so slow to recognize that there is a problem,” said PEGO president NIHAR BHATT.
— OMG AT OPG: “Canada’s nuclear safety regulator has recommended that the country’s first new power reactor in decades should receive the go-ahead to begin construction, even though its design is not yet complete.”
More via the Globe: “Staff from Ontario Power Generation argued that the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission should grant a licence to construct a 327-megawatt nuclear reactor known as the BWRX-300 at OPG’s Darlington Nuclear Generating Station in Clarington…The application received unequivocal support from the CNSC’s staff, despite the fact that several safety questions remain unresolved.”
— IN THE FAR NORTH: “Weeneebayko Area Health Authority and the Government of Ontario have awarded a $1.8 billion fixed-price contract to design, build and finance a new Far North hospital.” CTV reports.
Presented by Parkinson Canada
Parkinson’s cases are set to spike. Here’s how Ontario can prepare.
The Observer is speaking with stakeholders from around the province to learn about the causes that are important to them and how Ontario’s decision-makers can help. Here, we chat with KAREN LEE, president and CEO of Parkinson Canada, about a new report that highlights the economic burden of Parkinson’s, projects a major increase in cases by 2034 — and how the health care system can get ready for it.
What is Parkinson’s and how many people in Ontario does it currently impact? Parkinson’s is a neurodegenerative disorder defined by motor symptoms such as slowness of movement, rigidity, and tremors, but can also present a range of non-motor symptoms, significantly impacting mental health and well-being.
In Ontario alone, over 46,000 people are living with Parkinson’s, and this number is projected to rise significantly over the next decade. Ontario has one of the highest rates of new Parkinson’s diagnoses in Canada, underscoring the urgent need for improved support systems, funding and research.
Parkinson Canada’s new report, The Economic Burden of Parkinson’s in Canada, projects a significant increase in Parkinson’s cases by 2034. What are the main factors driving this increase, and how prepared is Ontario’s health care system? The main factors driving an increase in Parkinson’s are an aging population and genetic factors. More research is needed to understand how environmental factors come into play.
We’re concerned that Canada’s healthcare systems are not equipped to support people living with Parkinson’s. Ontario has a shortage of both family doctors and specialists, so it’s not only difficult to get a referral, it’s difficult to be seen quickly once referred. The health care system also relies on unpaid care partners to help those with Parkinson’s, which can be incredibly challenging emotionally and financially for them.
What are the main financial challenges faced by people in Ontario living with Parkinson’s and their care partners? People living with Parkinson’s across Canada account for 56 per cent of the direct costs which amounted to $1.4 billion in 2024 and is projected to rise to almost $2 billion by 2034.
Our report also revealed that 53 per cent of people with Parkinson’s we surveyed had to stop working or retire earlier.
Care partners also bear considerable challenges including increased expenses, lost income and increased anxiety and depression, pushing many into precarious financial situations.
What is the economic burden for the health care system? How could that be addressed? Parkinson Canada estimates that Parkinson’s will cost the Canadian health care system $332 million in 2024, rising to $435 million in 2034.
Ontario bears the highest costs for physician billings and Parkinson's drug spending in Canada. Ontario’s hospitals see more people living with Parkinson’s than other provinces, amounting to $10.2 million in inpatient care costs in 2022.
Addressing these health system costs involves ensuring timely and affordable access to the best medicines, improving access to Parkinson’s or movement disorder specialists, and supporting care partners to help people living with Parkinson’s stay at home longer, lifting some strain off the health care system.
The report shows that care partners of people living with Parkinson’s in Ontario face the highest financial strain in Canada, with out-of-pocket costs averaging $10,418 yearly, often in addition to significant loss of income. How can Ontario alleviate this burden? Being a care partner comes with significant financial and emotional challenges. Ninety-two per cent of care partners surveyed experienced an income decline after taking on care responsibilities, switching to part-time work, taking on a less demanding job, or exiting the workforce entirely.
Some provinces, like Nova Scotia and PEI, have implemented financial benefits for care partners. Ontario should consider similar measures to ensure care partners are able to receive support.
What policy changes in Ontario would have the biggest impact on reducing the financial burden for people with Parkinson’s and their care partners? Key policy changes should include:
Improving access to specialized care, especially for people in rural, remote, and underserved communities.
Strengthening early diagnosis and comprehensive care through improved training and education for health care providers.
Enhancing support for care partners, including direct financial assistance and flexible respite care options to support and empower care partners to keep loved ones at home.
People with Parkinson’s in Ontario are the least likely to report having a primary care provider. Why is it important to have access to primary care providers trained in diagnosing and supporting Parkinson’s? Primary care providers are often the initial point of contact for patients and play a crucial role in detecting Parkinson’s. Enhancing their education and training can lead to earlier, more accurate diagnoses and initiation of appropriate treatment plans, optimizing the limited health resources and ensuring that timely access to specialist care is available to those who need it most.
What do you hope policymakers take away from the Economic Burden of Parkinson’s in Canada Report? We hope they take away and understanding of the economic consequences of Parkinson’s so it can lead to positive change for people living with Parkinson’s and care partners, including affordable treatments, support services and policies. Parkinson’s Canada wants to partner with the government to find solutions that support and empower the 46,000+ Ontarians living with Parkinson’s, those who will be diagnosed in the future , and their care partners.
Read the full report at ParkinsonsPriceTag.ca
MOVERS AND SHAKERS
First in Observer — POST-SHUFFLE MOVES — Minister JILL DUNLOP is lining up her new office at Education, including some fresh and familiar faces for the file. It’s a mishmash of staff from then-ministers STEPHEN LECCE and TODD SMITH, as well as from her Colleges and Universities days, as follows:
SCOTT ALLINSON, chief of staff (scooped here)
JUSTIN SAUNDERS, director of policy
ANA SAJFERT, director of stakeholder relations and strategic comms
MASON SAUNDERS, director of Leg affairs and issues management
JODI ZIMBEL, manager of capital policy
EDYTA McKAY, executive adviser to the Minister
JANEK KMIAC, senior policy adviser
IAN CHAPELLE, MPP liaison
FRAZER SNOWDON, senior digital comms adviser
LAUREN AZZOPARDI, comms adviser
CLEMENT LEONG, comms adviser
SMALL WORLD — Eagle-eyed readers point out that newly registered lobbyist FAITH CHIPMAN of New West Public Affairs (scooped here) is married to Labour Minister DAVID PICCINI.
Chipman isn’t the first MPP spouse on the lobbyists’ registry — (lobbyists have to comply with conflict-of-interest rules and consult with the Integrity Commish) — but that’s not doing much to appease critics, including one rival party operative who reacted by texting me the eyes emoji “👀”.
Expecting the Regulatory Roundup here? Don’t worry, you’re not missing anything — no new proposals have been posted since last week.
🍽️ LUNCH SPECIAL: Beef curry with rice and vegetables.
⏳ COUNTDOWN: T-minus 13 days until the House reconvenes.
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