SCOOP: Behind the scenes at OLP council
Premiers' plea
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ABOVE THE FOLD
First in Observer — The Grits are headed into a provincial council meeting later this month with a leaked agenda going around that suggests the party is still deep in post-election triage.
According to the memo from party brass, obtained by yours truly, the Liberals are planning a post-mortem on May 31 in Toronto (with Zoom tickets going for $20 a pop) — part of a broader debrief exercise after a good-news/bad-news showing at the poll. To wit: The Liberals increased their seat count to gain recognized status and placed second in the popular vote, but they wound up third in the House where the leader (still) has no seat.
Specifically, there will be a “campaign debrief team presentation and debrief exercise” at provincial council, which includes riding association presidents, the party’s executive council and members of the youth and women’s wings.
Typically, that means some soul-searching is ahead as the Grits have some tough but frank discussions about what went wrong, and how to course-correct.
One major change already underway: the hunt for a new treasurer. According to a widely-circulated memo from OLP executive director SIMON TUNSTALL, TIM SHORTILL is stepping aside after eight years in the gig, kickstarting a search for someone who can help steer the party’s finances during the rebuilding phase — and as questions loom over BONNIE CROMBIE’s future at the helm. (Crombie has previously said the leadership review will be decided at the party’s next annual general meeting in the fall.)
In a joint memo from Tunstall and party prez KATHRYN McGARRY, Shortill was praised as a calm, behind-the-scenes presence whose budgeting and planning were critical to party operations. “Tim guided the OLP financially through very challenging times, including adapting to the changes in fundraising rules, through three general elections, and seven years without official party status. Tim was a calm steady hand throughout, and it is very unlikely that the OLP would have come through it all on such a stable financial footing without his leadership.”
Shortill isn’t the only one leaving — JASON VELTRI is also out as OLP regional vice-president of the north region. Said Tunstall: “Both of them decided to move for personal reasons, and both plan to stay involved in the OLP in other ways that require less of a time commitment.”
As the leadership knives come out in some party corners, the provincial council meeting will focus mostly on internal machinations — rebuilding connections with the grassroots, realigning policy and political strategy, and paving the path for a comeback. Here’s what the party execs already have to say, via the memo:
On party finances: “Our current financial position is strong,” said McGarry. “Our successful fundraising over the last few years, particularly in 2024 with Bonnie Crombie as Leader, allowed us to put aside enough money to run a fully-funded campaign earlier this year, 16 months prior to the scheduled election date…We finished the election in a strong position, with cash on hand, and a manageable plan to pay off our campaign bank loan.”
From FAHIM KHAN, vice-president of policy: The snap election may have “deprived us of the opportunity to undergo a comprehensive policy development process,” but Khan is promising to re-engage with the grassroots on major issues, including the “infrastructure backlog that impedes their economic growth, poor healthcare services, crumbling schools, housing affordability crisis, public safety, and of course; the threat to our sovereignty and the US tariffs.”
On the ground: MEAGAN TRUSH, VP of organization, pumped up the fact the Grits regained official party status and increased their vote share to 30 per cent. “Being the only party to gain ground are a testament to the hard work of local campaigns and candidates province wide.” That said: “The results also laid bare that we still have work to do, and it will be a substantial undertaking to ensure every association is fully equipped to engage voters and prepare for the next provincial election.” Trush said she’s already working on an “updated riding health and election readiness strategy.”
Comms pro TAYLOR DEASLEY says the next steps are all about tightening up messaging internally “to further unite our party and share our plans and vision with ridings across Ontario.” She’s also working to bridge comms between Crombie’s camp and the rest of the party.
Engagement reboot: GEOFF HUNNISETT, VP of engagement, noted the early election threw a wrench in the party’s outreach plans — especially the Engagement Coordinator roles meant to strengthen ties with key communities. Now that the electoral dust has settled, the OLP is relaunching the call for coordinators repping five key areas: Franco-Ontarian, Indigenous & Métis, LGBTQ+, rural/small-town, and multicultural engagement.
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HAPPENING TODAY
9 a.m.: Folks from the Canadian Civil Liberties Association are in the Media Studio to address the findings of the SOLEIMAN FAQIRI inquest.
9:30 a.m.: Liberal Leader BONNIE CROMBIE is in the Media Studio to talk about her party’s first Opposition Day Motion of the session ahead of debate this afternoon. It’s a big deal for the Grits in particular as they didn’t get to move such motions before gaining recognized status in February.
— The motion, which will be put forward by JOHN FRASER, is about the Liberals promise to cut taxes, specifically calling on the government to reduce “the tax rate for Ontario’s second income tax bracket from 9.15% to 7.15%, eliminating the provincial portion of the HST on home heating and hydro bills, and cutting the small business tax rate in half.”
— Reminder: Motions are non-binding but have symbolic value, and Oppo parties can use them to force the government to publicly vote on important matters.
11 a.m.: Finance Minister PETER BETHLENFALVY and Trade Minister VIC FEDELI will meet with reporters in Oakville.
1 p.m.: Emergency Preparedness Minister JILL DUNLOP is up in Orillia.
ON THE ORDER PAPER
First up: MPPs get right into the thick of it with Question Period.
In the afternoon, the Liberals will move their aforementioned Oppo Day motion.
Later on, it’s another round of second reading for Bill 5, which speeds up mining approvals and overhauls endangered species protections.
Hint, hint: House Leader STEVE CLARK says a government bill is headed for the Clerk’s table.
ON THE COMMITTEE CIRCUIT — Committees continue to meet to suss out their agendas and business for the session.
COCKTAIL CHATTER
CLAC, a.k.a. the Christian Labour Association of Canada, is holding a lunch reception in Room 228. In the evening, Family Service Ontario is hosting in the Dining Room.
CLIPPINGS
— PREMIERS’ PLEA: Canada’s Premiers are looking to re-up regular meetings with the new PM. Premier DOUG FORD, who is heading up the Council of the Federation, put his request in writing to MARK CARNEY last week. “It is crucial that we work together to address ongoing challenges, particularly tariffs imposed by both the United States and China on Canadian exports,” Ford wrote. “These tariffs have demonstrated the need for Canada to reduce its dependence on our neighbours to the south.”
— DON’T CALL IT A COMEBACK: “Former city councillor and ex-MP ADAM VAUGHAN, long one of the sharpest critics of DOUG FORD's plans for Toronto's waterfront, is now working for Therme Canada, the company developing a luxury spa at Ontario Place. In an interview with CBC News, Vaughan revealed that he has been hired as a senior adviser to Therme, the Austrian company granted a 95-year lease to build a destination spa and indoor water park on the west island of Ontario Place.”