Inside the PCs Super Caucus weekend
Selfies with Ford, candidate blitz, and more exclusive behind-the-scenes details
Presented by your future “things-to-do-with-my-kids-in-Toronto”
ABOVE THE FOLD
SUPER CAUCUS PRIMER — Headshots with Premier DOUG FORD. Deep intel from pollster NICK KOUVALIS and campaign manager KORY TENEYCKE. Door-knocking training. Heat mapping to shows where PC supporters are.
Buckle up: Those are just some of the activities Tory MPPs, candidates and campaign managers will be taking part in on Saturday at a “Super Caucus” meeting at a hotel near Pearson Airport — dousing gasoline on speculation that an election call is coming as soon as Wednesday, January 29.
I got my hands on the full memo Teneycke sent to the PCs. In it, he says the Super Caucus will provide the “tools, training and resources needed for a winning election campaign and position our party for success.”
On the agenda: An update on polling from Kouvalis; the latest on campaign messaging and strategy from Teneycke; a keynote address from Ford, who will also be posing for headshots with candidates; distribution of heat maps, which typically show levels of voter support; door-knocking training; the rundown on voter identification; lawn sign strategies; fundraising insights and more.
Teneycke made it clear that the PCs believe the tariff tango with DONALD TRUMP will be the ballot-box question. “As we face the unprecedented threat posed by a potential trade war with the United States, it is more important than ever to be prepared for an election to secure a strong mandate from voters.”
Nomination blitz: A little birdie tells me the PCs could also appoint the rest of their candidates en masse this week, in time for Saturday’s big rally.
Speaking of candidates…
A new addition to the Liberal ticket has inadvertently offered another clue as to where BONNIE CROMBIE will run. JAWAD HAROON will fly the banner in Mississauga-Malton, which only leaves Mississauga East-Cooksville and Mississauga Centre up for grabs for the leader.
You read it here first: Sources previously told me Crombie is eyeing Centre, which is held by PC Long-Term Care Minister NATALIA KUSENDOVA-BASHTA. Crombie has been keeping us — or more specifically, her political opponents — on tenterhooks for a reason: The mystery might hinder their local ground game against her, which is already going full throttle everywhere else in the province.
More contenders: PAMELA JEFFERY (University-Rosedale) — Get to know Jeffery in our interview — VICKY DHILLON (Brampton East)…JONATHAN TSAO (Don Valley North)…ISMAIL MOHAMED (Kitchener South-Hespeler)…IBRAHIM DANIYAL (Pickering-Uxbridge). Get to know the slate so far with our handy TRACKER.
Throw it on the pile: The PCs Super Caucus is just the latest hint that we’re headed to the polls as soon as this coming Wednesday, which would make E-Day February 27.
My sources are all but convinced that will be the timeline. My best-placed sources are keeping tight-lipped, as they tend to do when it comes to writs (but that’s not a ‘no’!).
Fun fact: By law, and therefore tradition, elections are called on Wednesdays and held the fifth Thursday after that — but of course, the Premier could ask the Lieutenant Governor to trigger an election at any time, and she would almost certainly oblige as she takes direction from the first minister.
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HAPPENING TODAY
9:15 a.m.: Energy Minister STEPHEN LECCE is up in Mississauga. Also on hand: Local rep and Small Biz Minister NINA TANGRI.
9:30 a.m.: TYLER ALLSOPP, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Long-Term Care, who just welcomed her first baby boy (aww!), makes an announcement in Tillsonburg.
OPPO ITIN — 11 a.m.: NDP Leader MARIT STILES heads to Oshawa alongside local rep JENNIFER FRENCH to “discuss the importance of protecting good jobs in the auto industry with Unifor Local 222 workers.”
9:30 a.m.: The Ontario Autism Coalition is in the Media Studio to release their annual special education survey report. Teaser: “This report highlights critical data and firsthand accounts from families and students about the state of special education across Ontario. The findings reveal significant gaps in special education resources, policies, and funding. The report provides actionable recommendations to address these systemic deficiencies.”
1:15 p.m.: Health Minister SYLVIA JONES and Trade Minister VIC FEDELI will be on hand in Mississauga for an announcement from AstraZeneca, re: a “significant investment in Ontario’s life sciences sector.”
FUNDRAISING WATCH
A hat trick of money-making events for the PCs…11:30 a.m.: A $1,000-meet-and-greet with STEPHEN LECCE in King City…5:30 p.m.: A $1,000-a-plate dinner in Toronto (there’s no ministerial lineup posted, which regular readers will know by now means DOUG FORD could make a cameo)…6 p.m.: ANDREA KHANJIN is hosting in Barrie for $1,000 a pop.
Best laid plans: Remember BONNIE CROMBIE’s lucrative fundraising dinner I first told you about earlier this week? It may not come to pass as it’s scheduled for March 19, after the would-be campaign period (if the election is called next week). But she’ll still be able to raise cash and sell tickets, which go for up to $3,400 apiece.
CLIPPINGS
— CLEAR THE DECKS: Another snap-vote sign, via Global News: “Government staff have been told to finalize all ministerial announcements before Tuesday, Jan. 28, potentially allowing the premier to visit Lt. Gov. EDITH DUMONT to dissolve his government and call a general election the next day.”
— TARIFF TANGO: “DOUG FORD has told Progressive Conservative supporters he needs a ‘very strong mandate’ in his upcoming snap election in order to send President DONALD TRUMP a ‘message’ that Ontarians won’t tolerate U.S. tariffs.” The Star has the skinny on Ford’s speech at a closed-door fundraiser.
Meanwhile: “Ford says Alberta Premier DANIELLE SMITH understands why Canada’s political leaders need to be united in the face of U.S. President DONALD TRUMP’s tariff threat, and he believes the country’s premiers are ‘moving her along’ in her position.” More from CP.
— YOU’RE FIRED: “The CEO of Ontario Health atHome, the beleaguered provincial agency responsible for the provision of home-care medical supplies, has been fired.” The Star has the story.
— LTC LANDS: “The Ford government is facing calls to ensure surplus public land earmarked for long-term care homes is dedicated to non-profits as it works to boost the number of beds in the province.” Global News reports.
— POLL WATCH: “A new Leger poll, exclusive to the National Post, put Ford’s Progressive Conservatives 24 points ahead of the Liberals. The results indicate 46 per cent of poll respondents expressed support for the reigning Tories versus 22 per cent for Bonnie Crombie’s Liberals, 19 per cent for the NDP, just 7 per cent for the Green Party and 6 per cent other.”
Mapped out: If the latest poll numbers from Campaign Research hold, the PCs could score a whopping 100-plus seat majority.
— “DESTRUCTIVE MAN CHILD”: Liberal BONNIE CROMBIE used some colourful language when calling on DOUG FORD to rip up the government’s $100 million contract with ELON MUSK’s Starlink service, which would connect rural spots to the internet.
“Why did Doug cozy up to Elon in the first place? This is a destructive man child who proudly styles his leadership after a dictator, and is championing the 25% tariff on Canada.”
— SCHOOL SAFETY (OR NOT): New Democrats and the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation are calling on the Ford government to do more to address violence in schools. It comes after the union held a summit on the matter. Read on.
— DEATH OF TAXES: Sorry not sorry, Toronto. The PCs aren’t keen on a potential parking tax. Via the Star.
— IN BROCKVILLE: “Brockville may not have to go it alone after all as it builds a new sewage pumping station at Centeen Park. The provincial government on Tuesday announced a new infrastructure funding stream.” Details.
SPOTTED:
Ontario families create lasting memories at Therme…
MOVERS AND SHAKERS
BEYOND THE BUBBLE — TIM HUDAK, former PC leader, MPP and, more recently, head of the Ontario Real Estate Association, has landed at Counsel Public Affairs as partner.
LOBBY LIST
Here are the new, renewed and amended registrations over the past 24 hours:
Veronique Parry, Rubicon Strategy: Innovative Medicines Canada
Jessica Fisher, PAA Advisory / Conseils: Toronto Biennial of Art, National Ballet of Canada
David Angus, The Capital Hill Group: Agendia Inc
Danielle Peters, Magnet Strategy Group: Merck Canada
Jake Enwright, Syntax Strategic: Maple Corporation
Jordanna Lough, Hill & Knowlton: Telus Corp.
Howard Brown, Brown & Cohen Communications & Public Affairs: The Ontario Association of Landscape Architects
Richard Ositashvili, Juliette Castillo and Brian Teefy, StrategyCorp: Northern Ontario Large Urban Mayors
Fraser Macdonald, StrategyCorp: Federation of Rental-Housing Providers of Ontario
Karl Baldauf, McMillan Vantage: Mattamy Homes Canada
Jeff Rutledge, McMillan Vantage: LGI Healthcare Solutions
James Prowse, McMillan Vantage Policy Group: Vector Institute, IDEMIA Identity and Security
🥳 HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Ex-Tory premier MIKE HARRIS…Ex-Liberal MPP MICHAEL GRAVELLE.
🍽️ LUNCH SPECIAL: It’s Thursday so — drumroll, please — fish and chips is on tap in the basement cafeteria.
⏳ COUNTDOWN: T-minus 39 days until the House reconvenes.