An initiation, a warning shot and hectic times ahead
Plus the latest from Liberal land
ABOVE THE FOLD
It’s another chaotic day at the Leg: The Ford government’s Housing troubleshooter PAUL CALANDRA goes for round two with reporters, long-delayed lobbying changes are on tap, and the provincial watchdog drops an investigation into oversight of long-term care homes, an initiation of sorts for new Long-Term Care Minister STAN CHO — but first, the latest developments in Liberal land:
NES NOMINATION — Grit circles are still buzzing about our scoop on NATE ERSKINE-SMITH’s 2014 nomination, in which he was accused of voter suppression tactics that targeted the Bengali community. Some choice reaction:
“Watching my communities targeted this way is hurtful. When you match this with a tub full of booze to ‘attract’ youth voters to your campaign....it’s absolutely shameful. Is this what desperation leads to?” posted ANITA VIJAY, a user on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“So, [Erskine-Smith] helpfully reminded people the actual Liberal Party membership rules that were in effect at the time, and alerted folks who may have been signed up without their knowledge or consent. Where is the “drama”? Sounds like 9 [year] old sour grapes being re-packaged,” posted MILTON CHAN, the campaign manager to YASIR NAQVI who has also had his fair share of process drama.
“I think it just pops the bubble further on this Ted Lasso shtick he has been trying to cultivate…He’s just like everyone else. Maybe worse because he pretends not to be,” charged one Liberal insider.
First in Observer — NEW RECRUIT — CATHERINE MILKS is taking up the mantle as TED HSU’s campaign manager. Milks is a heavy-hitter organizer based in Eastern Ontario and a former secretary for the party executive who previously led three of Hsu’s successful campaigns.
“We look forward to working with her again as she sees this leadership campaign through to the finish line,” said campaign spokesman BEN WEAVER.
Milks has her work cut out for her: The leadership contest is kicking into high-gear — the deadline to register to run (and pay the $100,000 entry fee) just passed and there’s only four days left for campaigns to sign up members that will be eligible to vote in the December 2 race. Not to mention the first of five debates goes down in a week. “This is a hectic time to lose your campaign manager,” said one organizer.
You heard it here first: Yesterday, we reported that EMMA WAKELIN, who held the role up until this week, had left her post while exploring another opportunity. Wakelin is now back at it at Aurora Strategy.
GREENBELT SAGA — Damage control continues. Staring down dwindling poll numbers — a seven-point slip from last spring, per Abacus — the Ford government is making moves to update the lobbying rules and have brought in a ministerial ringer.
A shot across the bow: Lobbyists are officially on notice, now that a long-delayed review of the legislation that governs them is on the fast track.
To wit: The Lobbyists Registration Act is supposed to be reviewed every five years, but the Ford government kept punting it. Now, in the wake of the bombshell watchdog reports on the Greenbelt, the Ford government is sending the bill for its years-overdue committee study “in the coming weeks.”
What the government wants: Attorney General DOUG DOWNEY says scofflaw consultants would face “a higher degree of accountability” and beefed-up penalties for rule-breakers, including jail time.
What the watchdog wants: As we previously scooped, J. DAVID WAKE has already laid out the changes he wants MPPs to make, such as tightening up the yearly 50-hour threshold for registration of in-house lobbyists, cracking down on unpaid volunteers and less frequent lobbyists, strengthening the cooling-off rules for ex-staff who want to lobby, and bringing in monetary penalties for scofflaws. Go deeper.
Calandra debuts: Newly-sworn Housing Minister and Ford government fixer PAUL CALANDRA squared off with reporters and laid out his vision for getting the hot-potato file back on track.
On the Greenbelt land review: It will be “fulsome” and start “very, very soon.” And more land could be up for grabs: “It will be a full, open and accountable process. It will look at the entirety of the Greenbelt. There might be lands that need to be added to the Greenbelt. There may be some lands that are removed, but it will be a fair and open process that will live up to the spirit of the original intent of the Greenbelt.” MZOs are also going under the microscope.
On fresh policies: Calandra teased a “use it or lose it” rule where developers may lose their permits if they don’t act on them, as well as the possibility of tougher penalties for cancelling home purchase agreements and an increase to the non-resident speculation tax, which is currently 25 per cent.
On community benefits: The provincial facilitator is currently negotiating community benefits with municipalities. Calandra said he’s given them “a clear mandate as to what I expect to happen with these forecasts. I said, ‘It’s very, very clear— we’re building communities. I expect significant community benefits on these lands. I expect the natural heritage and the natural heritage features on these lands to be protected.”
Selfie wars: Meanwhile, Mr. X strikes again. NDPers are pointing out that JOHN MUTTON — the former Clarington Mayor that many outlets, including this one, have identified as Mr. X, which he denies — has taken photos not only with Premier DOUG FORD and his front bench, but also Liberals like BONNIE CROMBIE, KATHLEEN WYNNE and JUSTIN TRUDEAU. “Liberal, Tory, same old story.”
HAPPENING TODAY
9 a.m.: Housing Minister PAUL CALANDRA is back at the podium in the Media Studio.
9:30 a.m.: NDP Housing critic JESSICA BELL responds on Zoom.
9:30 a.m.: NATALIA KUSENDOVA, Parliamentary Assistant on Francophone Affairs, is up for an announcement in Hearst.
10 a.m.: Back in the Media Studio, the Grits are up with their reaction to Calandra.
10:30 a.m.: Ontario Ombudsman PAUL DUBÉ releases report into the government’s oversight of long-term care homes during Covid.
CAUCUS RETREAT — NDPers continue their caucus retreat in Kitchener — byelection territory. Day 1 featured an opening speech from captain MARIT STILES, which laid out Oppo priorities for the upcoming legislative session: “Real rent control…Building truly affordable housing (including non-profit, public, co-op and supportive housing)…Cracking down on land speculation…Establishing inclusionary zoning to build homes within existing neighbourhoods, near transit and other key infrastructure…Getting the federal and provincial governments back in the business of building homes that people can actually afford.” Full speech.
DOUG FORD, TOO: The Premier and PC crew will be in town Friday for the Ford Fest tour. Catch up on why there was no free hot dogs for London.
LOBBYING DISPATCH
Here are the new, renewed and amended registrations over the past 24 hours:
Patrick Harris, Rubicon Strategy: Hydro One Networks Inc.
Jan O'Driscoll, Rubicon Strategy: Amazon Corporate LLC
Tim Smitheman, Rubicon Strategy: Cadillac Fairview
Abinaya Chandrabalan, Rubicon Strategy: LaSalle Agri
Katie Heelis, Enterprise: Addictions and Mental Health, Switch Health
Alexandra Hilkene, Enterprise Canada: Conceivable Dreams
Leith Coghlin, EnPointe Development: Ms. Christina Barrett and Mr. Craig Hyde, John M. Watterworth
Laura Kurkimaki, Earnscliffe Strategies: Nestle Health Science, Rheem
Ryon Dalir, Global Public Affairs: Lundbeck Canada Inc.
Lily Mesh, Wellington Dupont: XPhyto Therapeutics Corporation, Goderich Port Management Corp., NCS Analytics Inc.
Ralph Palumbo, The Hillcrest Consulting Group: Mitigokaa Develoment Corp.
Jordon Daniels and Aidan Grove-White, StrategyCorp: Township of Warwick
Alexander Glista and Fraser Macdonald, StrategyCorp: Landlab Inc
Wayne Snow, Fulcrum Advocacy: PDC Acquisitions Inc., Canada Equipment Dealers Association
Trisha Rinneard, Wellington Advocacy: SHAD Canada, Dialogue Health Technologies Inc
Benjamin Lamb, Wellington Advocacy: Innovative Hydrogen Solutions Inc
Jonathan Rose, Policy Concepts: Professional Geoscientists of Ontario, Ontario Small Brewers Association
Yara Salama, Policy Concepts: Ontario Association of Social Workers
Ryan Cole, Policy Concepts: Fontbonne Ministries, Sisters of St. Joseph, Toronto
Lee Greenberg, Policy Concepts: Toronto (Scarborough Junction) Limited Partnership
Kelly Mitchell, KW Mitchell Consulting Services: Mitigokaa Development Corp., Earth Rangers
Martin Green, Foresight Strategic Advisors: Expedia Group Inc.
Mandeep Sharma, KPW Communication: BritAsia TV Network
Saeed Selvam, New West Public Affairs: Canadian Institute for Advanced Research
Dan Mader, Loyalist Public Affairs: Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association
Natalie Dash, Campbell Strategies: NAIOP Greater Toronto Chapter
Karl Baldauf, McMillan Vantage: Proofpoint Inc
In-house organizations: Ontario Home Builders Association — Ontario Dental Association — Retail Council of Canada — Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan.
⌛COUNTDOWN: T-minus 18 days until the House reconvenes…4 days to sign up to vote for Liberal leader…86 days until the leadership contest…128 days until the Premier has to call a byelection in Kitchener Centre.