2022 campaign receipts revealed
Also: Ford vs. Crombie, Environmental Bill of Rights report, the final legislative stretch, back-and-forth over Bill 51, spotted on the holiday party circuit
ABOVE THE FOLD
ELECTION RECEIPTS ON DECK — It’s the most wonderful time of the year, especially for Queen’s Park watchers.
Campaign receipts for the 2022 election are pouring in at Elections Ontario, and we’re digging in.
Here are the highlights so far:
— The campaign that won the PCs a second whopping majority set the party back more than $8.6 million.
By the numbers: The biggest chunk of that was spent on advertising, with the Tories coughing up more than $6.4 million. Over $1.1 million was spent on research and polling, with $1.2 million on travel and almost $200,000 on the victory party (all listed as “excluded” expenses), while nearly $185,000 was used for staff salaries and benefits.
Total campaign period expenses from May 4 to September 2: $11,496,149.62.
As for money coming in, the PCs recorded more than $2.3 million from political donations, transfers and reimbursements of tour costs from the media.
They closed out the campaign $8,660,094.34 in the hole.
— The NDP lost nine seats and a leader — and they outspent their rivals to do it.
By the numbers: The Official Opposition coughed up almost $13 million for the spring campaign. That includes more than $7 million on ads, $1.1 million on travel, over $810,000 on research and polling and over $293,000 on its victory party, bringing the total expense to $12,968,657.01.
Total income came in at just over $3 million, $911,743 of which was from political contributions.
The party ended the campaign period with a $9,394,924.80 deficit.
— After coming in third with a paltry eight seats and a leader’s resignation, the Grits ended the campaign more than $7.4 million in the red.
By the numbers: Total campaign expenses clocked in at $9,618,445.47. That includes more than $6.3 million on advertising, $817,000 on research and polling, $529,000 on meetings hosted, $72,000 on travel and $18,000 on the victory party.
The Liberals brought in more than $2.1 million in contributions, leaving them with a campaign deficit of $7,470,657.42.
HAPPENING TODAY
9 a.m.: Health Minister SYLVIA JONES will make an announcement in Toronto.
9:30 a.m.: Green Leader MIKE SCHREINER will hold a session-ender press conference in the Media Studio.
10 a.m.: The Grits follow with their own year-end presser.
ON THE ORDER PAPER
We did it! It’s the last sitting day of the year — and it could be another late one. MPPs have been debating into the wee hours this week, as the PCs introduced midnight sittings in order to ensure their agenda items get through due process.
Barring any emergency recalls, the House is back in session after the Family Day long weekend on February 21, 2023.
Naturally, there’s a bunch of votes after today’s Question Period: On third reading of Bill 51, which strips the Speaker of certain powers and makes other legislative tweaks (more on that below); third reading of Bill 39, the supersized strong mayors and regional government revamp legislation, and on second reading of Bill 43, the NDP’s attempt at improving winter road maintenance.
Lieutenant Governor ELIZABETH DOWDESWELL could also make an appearance to give Royal Assent to the last bills of the session.
BILL 51 BACK-AND-FORTH — House Leader PAUL CALANDRA’s office is looking to assuage fears about changes to the appointment process for the Sergeant-at-Arms, which will soon be picked by the Legislative Assembly, not the Speaker.
In response to yesterday’s newsletter in which one concerned staffer mused, tongue-in-cheek, whether RON TAVERNER could take up the mantle for JACKIE GORDON, who’s retiring at the end of the year, Calandra’s team is pointing out that the MPP panel to select the next Sergeant will be balanced.
Per the bill, the selection panel will include one member from each recognized party (sorry Grits and Green), with the Speaker chairing it as a non-voting member.
Still, our source sees the move as the PCs “trying to scare the Assembly a little bit. Like, don’t forget who holds the power here,” they said. Catch up here.
ON THE COMMITTEE CIRCUIT — A pair of government appointees are in the hot seat at the Government Agencies Committee: STEVEN MASTORAS, a real estate agent and one-time PC donor who’s been appointed to the Ontario Land Tribunal, and REAGAN RUSLIM, senior legal council at Hydro One who’s now on the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board.
IN OTHER NEWS…
— FORD VS. CROMBIE: “Premier DOUG FORD took aim at Mississauga Mayor BONNIE CROMBIE Wednesday over criticism she levelled at the government’s controversial housing bill. ‘I know we have a few mayors that don’t want to play in the sandbox and one being Mayor Crombie, and I don’t know what her issue is,’ Ford said towards the end of a news conference in Brampton…Crombie voiced opposition last week to the government’s housing bill, saying that it could force the municipality to raise property taxes because of lost revenues from development fees being scaled back by the Ford government and could force the city to build housing types that would alter its character.” Story from CP24.
MEANWHILE, as Bill 39 is poised to pass into law: “A majority of Toronto councillors have signed a letter outlining concerns with new abilities the Ford government is preparing to grant to Toronto strong mayor JOHN TORY to further bulk up his powers,” Global reports.
— GREEN TALKS (OR NOT): “The Ontario government did not consult the public properly about three policy changes that affected the environment, the province’s auditor general says in a new report.”
More from the CBC: “In her report, BONNIE LYSYK found the following:
“The municipal affairs and housing ministry did not consult the public for 30 days, as required, before it implemented amendments to the Planning Act under Bill 109, the More Homes for Everyone Act, 2022. Bill 109 was passed two weeks before the minimum 30-day consultation period ended.
The energy ministry did not consult the public about two new policies, one about the deployment of small modular nuclear reactors, the other about building a low carbon hydrogen economy.
The environment ministry did not share "key information" about a plan to exempt projects related to provincial parks and conservation reserves from the Environmental Assessment Act.”
SPOTTED:
At the PCs Christmas party: Premier DOUG FORD and Ministers CAROLINE MULRONEY, STEPHEN LECCE, PRABMEET SARKARIA and more…At the Grits holiday shindig: Potential Liberal leadership contenders BONNIE CROMBIE, TED HSU and YASIR NAQVI…MARIT STILES hitting back at the PCs…Associate Minister CHARMAINE WILLIAMS “too blessed to be stressed” in a cute Instagram Reel…A rare white moose.
QUESTION PERIOD
THE HIGHLIGHTS: Listen to the NDP’s report highlighting experiences of those on social assistance — “Double ODSP rates and ensure that everyone in Ontario can live a healthy, dignified life” — “Mayors, councils, experts and community groups are all united against” Bills 23 and 39 — “Let the member for Pickering—Uxbridge side with his community, abandon his assault on the Duffins Rouge Agricultural Preserve and protect prime farmland in perpetuity as promised” — Parks Canada warning about repealing Duffins Rouge protections — “All of Toronto city council opposes the government using Bill 23 to carve up the Greenbelt. A majority of council is against Bill 39” — Why is the reconstruction of the Argyle Street Bridge in Caledonia held up? — Slashing developer fees via Bill 23 could leave Waterloo up to $31 million short — Niagara-on-the-Lake says Bill 23 could lead to the “loss of important cultural heritage resources” — “Will the Minister be voting to end majority-vote democracy?” — “Stop auctioning off the Greenbelt.” THE TRANSCRIPT.
LOBBYING DISPATCH
Here are the new, renewed and amended registrations over the past 24 hours:
— John Penner, StrategyCorp: GE Hitachi Nuclear Energies
— Joyce Mankarios, Sussex Strategy Group: TC Energy Corp
— Lee Boswell, Crestview Strategy: Grain Farmers of Ontario
— Frank Klees, Klees & Associates: DG Group
🥳 HAPPY BIRTHDAY: JEFF COSTEN, former Liberal government staffer and current principal at Navigator.
⏳ COUNTDOWN: T-minus 1 day until the House recesses…4 days until the federal byelection in Mississauga—Lakeshore…17 days until Christmas.