Piggybacking on the president
Naming, shaming and a victory lap
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ABOVE THE FOLD
SOUTH OF THE BORDER — KAMALA HARRIS and DONALD TRUMP are duking it out for president today, so naturally, Queen’s Park is getting in on the action.
Premier DOUG FORD, who has had an on-again, off-again relationship with Trump, is doubling down on his “Buy CanAm” stance and warning that U.S. protectionism would hurt Ontario.
“We must avoid falling into a ‘Buy Canada’ or ‘Buy America’ mindset that would jeopardize our existing trading relationship and instead adopt a ‘Buy Can-Am’ mindset that creates new jobs and opportunities for workers and businesses on both sides of the border,” he said in a statement.
It’s part of a stateside trade push with governors, some of whom Ford has personally hosted in recent months. The PCs have also enlisted Washington-based firm Capitol Counsel to lobby the next president and appointed TRAVIS KANN, the Premier’s deputy chief of staff, to oversee the U.S. relations file.
The Grits, meanwhile, are using the race to paint Ford with a Trump-esque brush. Despite the fact that Ford has repeatedly insisted he’ll work with anyone, the Liberals aren’t convinced by his toned-down rhetoric, pointing out past instances where he signalled his support for the former president and called himself a “big Republican.”
“Does Doug Ford Still ❤️ Trump?” reads the press release circulated to reporters. “Given the RCMP is actively investigating Doug Ford, does he think it is appropriate for convicted felons to run for public office? The people of Ontario deserve to know if Doug Ford still has admiration for the far-right divisive politics we’ve seen south of the border.”
NDP Leader MARIT STILES was also asked to weigh in on the presidential race. “I’m worried for all of us. If Trump wins, I’m worried for Canada, because I think it will have a significant impact on the trade, and I’m worried for the people of the United States” because the “divisiveness” is so pervasive down there, Stiles told reporters. That said, “the Premier of this province has to be able to work with anyone and put ideology aside.”
HAPPENING TODAY
DOUG FORD’S TUESDAY — 12:45 p.m.: Victory lap! Fresh off the tabling of the Fall Economic Statement, the Premier will be in Ottawa to address the Economic Club of Canada and take part in a “fireside” discussion with Ottawa Mayor MARK SUTCLIFFE.
Fundraising watch I — 5 p.m.: While in the capital, Ford is also expected to headline the PCs $1,000-a-plate moneymaking event. Don’t forget: The big-ticket Leader’s Dinner may be kaput thanks to the Greenbelt drama, but Ford has been doing mini versions throughout the province (scooped here).
9 a.m.: Social Services Minister MICHAEL PARSA is up in Richmond Hill. Also on hand: His PA LAURA SMITH, Transportation Minister PRABMEET SARKARIA, and LOGAN KANAPATHI, PA for Citizenship and Multiculturalism.
In the Media Studio…
9 a.m.: The Nurse Practitioners’ Association of Ontario will call on the government to support NPs to help address the gap in primary care.
9:30 a.m.: Liberals JOHN FRASER and STEPHEN BLAIS follow, to “discuss timely access to life-saving care.”
FUNDRAISING WATCH II — 7 p.m.: PCs STEPHEN CRAWFORD and STEPHEN LECCE are hosting in Oakville for $500 a pop. Invite.
The Liberals are hosting U.S. election watch parties, with STEPHEN BLAIS in Orleans and at the Clocktower pub in the capital.
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ON THE ORDER PAPER
First up: Womp womp. Turns out that mystery government bill wasn’t one of the hotly-anticipated pieces of legislation I mused about yesterday, but something no less important and topical: Remembrance Week legislation from Citizenship and Multiculturalism Minister MICHAEL FORD (who is on leave, so the bill was introduced by his ministerial ringer GRAHAM McGREGOR. A little birdie tells me Ford is expected back at the Cabinet table as soon as by the end of the month.)
Bill 218, the Honouring Veterans Act, is up for second-reading debate this morning. It would create a new award alongside The Royal Canadian Legion’s Ontario Provincial Command and specifically condemn acts of stolen valour, in which someone makes a false claim about military service, rank or medals.
Then, a trio of bills are on the fast-track: House Leader STEVE CLARK has a time-allocation motion that would speed up due process for Bill 212, Transportation Minister PRABMEET SARKARIA’s legislation dealing with bike lanes and highway construction — Bill 214, Energy Minister STEPHEN LECCE’s electricity-grid-connecting bill — and Bill 216, Finance Minister PETER BETHLENFALVY’s mini-budget implementation legislation.
Bills 212 and 214 would still have (truncated) public hearings and third-reading debate, but Bill 216 would skip those stages and go straight for a vote.
Recall: The PCs use time-allocation motions prolifically — most recently speeding up due process for Bills 197 and 194 — much to the chagrin of Oppo parties, which have accused the government of muzzling debate and skirting public scrutiny.
The late show: PC AMARJOT SANDHU will move a (non-binding) motion calling on the Transportation Minister to make changes to drivers’ licences. Full text: “That, in the opinion of this House, the Minister of Transportation should explore the establishment or adjustment of a waiting period for drivers holding a Class G license before they can apply for commercial vehicle licenses, such as Class A or Class D, to ensure that commercial drivers are experienced and fully prepared for the responsibilities associated with operating larger vehicles, with an exemption for drivers where appropriate, such as agricultural operations.”
MONDAY’S RUNDOWN:
Tabled I: The PCs aforementioned Bill 218, the Honouring Veterans Act.
Tabled II: From the Greens, private member’s Bill 219, the No Free Ride for Fossil Fuels Act, which would allow municipalities to charge Enbridge and other gas providers for use of public land. In MIKE SCHREINER and AISLINN CLANCY’s joint words: “It would put an end to Enbridge’s free ride and force fossil fuel giants to pay their fair share.”
Killed: MARIT STILES’s special Oppo Day motion calling on the Ford government to take on the NDP’s plan to create a provincial builder agency, Homes Ontario. (Ayes 26; Nays 60).
ON THE COMMITTEE CIRCUIT
Tumbleweeds. MPPs get back at it Wednesday.
COCKTAIL CHATTER
Peerworks is putting on a breakfast reception is Room 228 while the Nurse Practitioners Association of Ontario is hosting in the Dining Room. The Ontario Dairy Council is holding a lunch reception in Room 228 and later on, the Economic Developers Council of Ontario takes over the Dining Room.
CLIPPINGS
— GREENBELT LATEST: The former Ford government staffer at the heart of the Greenbelt scandal is refusing to hand over any emails he may have sent from his personal account about the ill-fated plan to develop the protected area. RYAN AMATO used his personal email in at least three interactions with lobbyists or a fellow government staffer regarding the Greenbelt project, according to records obtained by the Star.”
— CODE RED: “Hamilton’s largest hospital network is projecting a deficit of $112 million…The shortfall at Hamilton Health Sciences was brought to light by the Canadian Union of Public Employees on Monday and is the fourth year in a row the hospital network has not alerted the public about financial troubles.” The Spec reports.
— IN DON VALLEY WEST: RACHEL CHERNOS LIN won last night’s municipal byelection in Don Valley West. Recall: Queen’s Park had some skin in the game.
— …READY FOR IT? “No need for a getaway car — Metrolinx is extending and adding more trains to many Greater Toronto Area GO lines for Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour this month.” Via CityNews.
— WILD FIRE WATCH: “Slower than normal forest fire season in northwestern Ontario wraps up,” CBC reports.
MOVERS AND SHAKERS
NEW DM IN TOWN — DANIELE ZANOTTI is now Deputy Minister of Children, Community and Social Services.
SPOTTED:
Finance Minister PETER BETHLENFALVY on his own post-FES victory lap making a speech to the Canadian Club…Speaker TED ARNOTT bestows his annual Book Award to HEIDI L.M. JACOBS for 1934: The Chatham Coloured All-Stars’ Barrier-Breaking Year…JOHN BAIRD’s bike-lane compliment backfires, to the glee of cycling advocates.
QUESTION PERIOD
Naming and shaming: The Liberals have deployed a new tactic in the debate — calling out PC ridings with the highest number of folks without a family doctor. Those stats will come in handy, say, at the doors in specific ridings come election time.
HIGHLIGHTS: Support the NDP’s plan to build Homes Ontario — “What exactly is in these [Amato] emails and why his staff were using personal emails to talk to lobbyists?” — “What is stopping this government from taking real action to protect the VIN registry?” — Re: PEGO strike, “Has the Conservative government locked out their unionized employees?” — “Children with complex needs are being placed in hotels, Airbnbs and even in CAS offices due to a lack of suitable placements in the community” — Fix the Victim Services system — “Allow municipalities to charge gas utilities fair fees for the use of public land” — “Bring in regulations to require Enbridge to actually stop the leaks and prevent new ones.”
IN MEMORIAM — MURRAY SINCLAIR has passed away. MPPs, led by NDPer SOL MAMAKWA, held a moment of silence to honour the former Senator, Manitoba’s first Indigenous judge and commissioner of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
REGULATORY ROUNDUP
Every Tuesday, we sum up the government’s latest proposals on the Regulatory Registry — where the nitty-gritty of policymaking is hammered out.
FARM FINES — The proposal: OMAFRA wants “to expand the ability to issue tickets for recurring offenses where ticketing has the greatest potential to achieve compliance.” That involves food safety, animal health, consumer protection, and environmental legislation. Deadline for public feedback: December 13.
CONSTRUCTION CHANGES — Proposal: After enlisting construction law expert DUNCAN GLAHOLT to conduct an independent review of the Construction Act, the government is proposing changes governing the sector. Deadline: November 30.
ON CAMPUS (OR NOT) — Proposal: Fine print for the FES changes that would ban foreign students from Ontario medical schools. Deadline: November 28.
LABOUR GAINS — Proposal: “Changes to support Ontario municipalities to recruit knowledgeable building officials from outside Ontario by eliminating labour mobility barriers, while protecting public health and safety. This will be enabled through the creation of a Building Official Equivalency Assessment process.” Deadline: December 4.
LAB TESTS — Proposal: “These changes would support implementation of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) testing as the primary screening test, funded under the Ontario Cervical Screening Program (OCSP) and largely replacing cervical cytology (Pap) testing under the program.” Deadline: December 15.
🥳 HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Former Liberal minister DEB MATTHEWS.
🍽️ LUNCH SPECIAL: Wondering whether to pick up lunch or brown-bag it? The basement cafeteria is slinging beef curry with rice and vegetables.
⏳ COUNTDOWN: T-minus 37 days until the winter recess.