Liberals accused of blocking non-binary candidate
Plus: Big staff moves, a new status tracker for bills, and Ford does Windsor
ABOVE THE FOLD
Drama is again swirling around the Liberal nomination contest in Don Valley West. The historic riding is home to Ontario’s first openly gay premier (but KATHLEEN WYNNE isn’t seeking re-election) — and the Liberals are being accused of blocking a wannabe candidate from the LGBTQ community.
HAMAN MAMDOUHI, who identifies as non-binary, was gunning for the chance to run to replace Wynne — they filed their paperwork months ahead of the contest, but allege that the party gave them the runaround in favour of STEPHANIE BOWMAN, a banking executive who was named the candidate last week. The party said Bowman was the only one who “met all filing requirements” for the riding, which was designated women-only (with an eye to boosting representation).
In an email exchange, party president BRIAN JOHNS acknowledged to Mamdouhi that they received the nomination package and application payment, and the nominations commission would “undertake” the vetting process.
But that never happened. Mamdouhi said the party never cashed their check, and they don’t feel like they were taken seriously as a contender. Mamdouhi doesn’t want to overturn the contest, saying Bowman seems like a “fantastic” candidate — but “I want to make sure that what is genuinely, through my lived experience, a discriminatory issue, is corrected for other ridings.”
Efforts to boost female representation at Queen’s Park are laudable, but “we can’t do it at the expense of other underrepresented communities,” Mamdouhi added.
Political parties need to do more to recognize LGBTQ contenders, advocates say.
“Women versus non-binary people create a complicated argument from the get-go. There are non-binary people who identify as women, but not all non-binary folks want to be in any way associated with womanhood,” said FAE JOHNSTONE, a prominent advocate for LGBTQ inclusion.
“There should have been more nuanced policy from the Ontario Liberal Party to begin with, in terms of who is or isn’t allowed to run…When did non-binary people get factored into the policy itself, are we spoken to in any way?” they went on to say.
“It’s on all parties to recognize that gender is more than just men and women, and that a quota-based system will often leave out trans and non binary candidates.”
One Grit insider told me: “It’s clear no one from the LGBTQ community was in the room when they came up with this policy.”
Asked about the situation in Don Valley West last week, Liberal Leader STEVEN DEL DUCA boasted the women-only appointment as a way to reach his goal of at least 50 per cent women on the ticket. “I know there are individuals who perhaps might have wanted to seek the nomination in Don Valley West who wouldn’t have met that criteria.” Party spokesperson WILL WUEHR confirmed that only folks who identify as women are eligible to run in designated women-only districts.
Equality advocates have said it’s not enough for parties to have women candidates but they need to run them in winnable ridings — and Don Valley West is a bastion where Wynne has repped since 2003.
ROBIN EDGER was also edged out of the race. Bowman will face off with the NDP’s high-profile candidate IRWIN ELMAN, former child advocate.
It’s not the first time this week that the Liberals have come under fire for their nomination process. The party was accused of undermining the contest in NDP-held University—Rosedale after appointing ANDREA BARRACK, a former executive at TD Bank and an ex-CEO of the Ontario Trillium Foundation.
But Barrack had some competition — KRITI BHATT, a political staffer and contender who was still campaigning hours before the appointment was announced. “It’s a bad look,” one Grit insider told me.
FORD’S MONDAY: ‘DIVISIVE’ COMMENTS ABOUT IMMIGRANTS, PRESSURE ON AUTOMAKER STELLANTIS, AND VAX EXEMPTIONS
On a campaign-style swing through the Windsor area — where the Tories believe they steal seats from the NDP — DOUG FORD found himself in hot water over his message to immigrants and vowed support for autoworkers. Here’s what went down:
— On the skilled labour shortage, “divisive” comments: The Premier caught flak for saying immigrants should “go somewhere else” if “you think you’re coming to collect the dole and sit around — it’s not going to happen…You come here like every other new Canadian. You work your tail off.”
Oppo parties demanded an apology for the “callous” remarks. “A Premier is supposed to unite Ontarians, not wedge us further apart,” tweeted Grit Leader STEVEN DEL DUCA.
— On the planned loss of 1,800 auto jobs at Stellantis: “We’re putting up a tremendous amount of money, so are the feds…in the hundreds of millions…Now, we have to talk to Stellantis.” Ford went on to say: “We need to get not one shift, not two shifts, we need three shifts going — plus, we need a battery plant here.” He also shouted out FLAVIO VOLPE, head of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association, for doing “incredible” work on the file.
— On the two physicians ordered to stop issuing medical exemptions for Covid shots: Ford doesn’t seem keen on bringing in a verification system, saying he has “all the confidence” in the regulator, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario. “I’m going to rely on them. The two docs, I guess they got their hands slapped.”
— On the mega-hospital: Ford was in Tecumseh to detail $9.8 million for a new hospital in the area, which was promised in the spring budget.
— Conference crasher: A couple of anti-vax protesters showed up, according to a reporter on the scene, and could be faintly heard over the live-stream.
HAPPENING TODAY
— 9 a.m.: Financial Accountability Officer PETER WELTMAN will release a report on how home energy spending differs across household income levels. Teaser from the FAO: “It also provides information on electricity subsidies provided by the provincial government and how these subsidies are distributed to Ontario households by income level and region.”
— 9:30 a.m.: Health Minister CHRISTINE ELLIOTT will make an announcement about the flu shot campaign in Toronto.
— 1 p.m.: Government and Consumer Services Minister ROSS ROMANO and Associate Small Business Minister NINA TANGRI will make an announcement about supporting businesses and not-for-profits.
— 3 p.m.: Dr. KIERAN MOORE briefs reporters.
— 6:30 p.m.: Liberal Leader STEVEN DEL DUCA is headlining a virtual fundraiser for $500-a-pop. Invite.
AROUND THE PRECINCT: It’s getting hot in here — literally. The Legislature’s (notorious) heating system gets turned on today, so folks may hear clanking sounds and smell a funny odour coming from the radiators. Stay cool, Queen’s Park.
ON THE ORDER PAPER
THE HOUSE IS IN SESSION — First on this morning’s docket is the government’s pro forma motion to consider the Throne Speech from earlier this month.
— After Question Period at around 10:30 a.m., MPPs will debate a time-allocation motion fast-tracking Bill 5, which effectively freezes the York Region sewage plant project. Should it pass, Bill 5 would bypass the committee stage — when the public gets to weigh in — and go for one hour of third-reading debate before a final vote. The legislation itself is up for second-reading debate later on.
— Backbench business is back on: MPPs will also consider NDP MPP SUZE MORRISON’s private member’s Bill 17, to establish a gender affirming health care advisory committee.
BILLS, BILLS, BILLS
Today I’m launching BILLS ON THE TABLE — a handy status tracker for government legislation and opposition private members’ bills. Subscribers can track what stage every bill is at and get a summary of what the proposal is all about:
ON THE COMMITTEE CIRCUIT
EX-CANDIDATE ON DECK — A former federal Conservative candidate for Scarborough—Guildwood is poised to become a member of the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario. QUINTUS THURAISINGHAM is up for a vetting by the Standing Committee on Government Agencies this morning — alongside REGAN HAYWARD, director of Brampton’s Beaux Arts Gallery, who’s up for a role on the McMichael Canadian Art Collection gallery’s board of trustees in Vaughan. (Reminder: The committee can only ask questions on the record — it doesn’t have veto power over appointments.)
MAKING HEADLINES
— WALK THE TALK ON TEMP AGENCIES: Labour Minister MONTE MCNAUGHTON’s newly proposed changes that would require temporary worker agencies and recruiters to be licensed is getting praise — but an op-ed in the Spec argues they should go further when it comes to ensuring equal pay and less reliance on temp workers — “if the Ford government really wants to turn the page and live up to Minister McNaughton’s pro-worker rhetoric.”
— VAX PASS LAWSUIT: The Ford government is staring down a constitutional challenge over its proof-of-vaccination policy. It was launched by the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms on behalf of eight Ontarians, including a gym owner and an expectant mother.
“With respect to owners of businesses and organizations, the vaccine passports compel them to enforce unconstitutional laws, as well as laws that would typically be considered to violate human rights legislation,” said the group’s counsel JORGE PINEDA. “Ontarians should not be forced to discriminate and exclude others from society on the basis of a personal and private medical decision.”
— QR CRASH: If you’re one of the 2.2 million who successfully downloaded the new QR codes, which come into force Friday, consider yourself lucky. The site briefly crashed Monday as it experienced heavy traffic.
— MY WAY OR THE HIGHWAY: More ink is being spilled on the controversial Highway 413, which is fast becoming a campaign wedge issue. From the Star: “The Progressive Conservatives’ road to re-election will be paved with asphalt.”
MOVERS AND SHAKERS
OLP — Liberal captain STEVEN DEL DUCA has hired an executive assistant: KAITLIN SALOLE, who most recently worked in MP MARK GERRETSEN’s office. Salole also got engaged to the Liberals’ manager of field organization MIKE CAVANAUGH this summer.
TRANSITIONS — STEVEN COUTO goes from operations manager to policy adviser in Infrastructure Minister KINGA SURMA’s office. Couto previously worked for the Minister of Government Services. ERIKA ROBSON has joined Indigenous Affairs Minister GREG RICKFORD’s office as digital communications adviser. Robson previously worked at Infrastructure.
NEW RECRUITS — Social Services Minister MERRILEE FULLERTON has hired JOSEPH D’ANGELO as manager of issues and legislative affairs. CHRIS POULOS is now issues and leg affairs manager to Municipal Affairs Minister STEVE CLARK.
ON THE CIVIL SERVICE SIDE — CARA CHIAPPONI is now a director in the Labour ministry’s health, policy and safety insurance branch.
BEYOND THE BUBBLE — Former Ontario policy adviser EMILY MCCULLOUGH has landed at StrategyCorp as a senior consultant on government relations.
EXIT — MARISSA STEINER has been removed from the government directory as director of operations and special projects for Heritage Minister LISA MACLEOD. Steiner is also the partner of DAVID TARRANT, Premier DOUG FORD’s former executive director of strategic communications, who recently moved out east to head up Enterprise Canada’s new Atlantic practice.
SPOTTED:
— French lessons not going so great for Ontario’s party leaders:
For Premier DOUG FORD, it’s about pandemic safety: “I'll get there, but…I couldn’t take the classes when I’m telling other people to go online…I couldn’t have my French teacher in.” Francophone Affairs Minister CAROLINE MULRONEY is subbing in as his unofficial tutor.
NDP ANDREA HORWATH said she’s having trouble finding a program she can “stick with” given her hectic schedule.
Liberal STEVEN DEL DUCA: “Whether or not I’m taking French lessons every day, every week, every month — I don’t think it’s necessarily connected to the commitment that I have and our caucus has to actually delivering outcomes for Francophone Ontarians.”
Green MIKE SCHREINER: “Mon français a besoin de travail,” Schreiner quipped, saying that’s why he supports funding for French immersion programs. “I didn’t start learning French until I was 49-years-old — and I can tell you it’s a lot harder to learn it at my age than it is to learn it as a young person.”
— ALSO SPOTTED: Fully vaccinated legislative pages back on the Speaker’s dais:
QUESTION PERIOD
Premier DOUG FORD was MIA for the first post-constit week debate — he was touring Windsor, territory of the New Democrats.
But ANDREA HORWATH was not about to let Ford hog all the local press, and prefaced her lead question with sympathy for the 1,800 auto workers poised to lose their jobs in the region.
THE HIGHLIGHTS: Binbrook nurses forced to give back negotiated wages thanks to Bill 124 — Saying yes to Ford’s “big fish” buddies but no to small biz — Quit dilly-dallying on $10-a-day child care with the feds — Cutting the waitlist for disability services — “When will the Premier stop saying yes to his friends on Bay Street?”— Saving auto jobs in Windsor — Paving Highway 413 makes “no economic or fiscal sense” — Bring in 10 paid sick days.
LOBBYING DISPATCH
Here are the new, renewed and amended registrations over the past 24 hours:
— Ron Soreanu, Clear Strategy: DoorDash Inc.
— Ashton Arsenault, Crestview Strategy: PointsBet Canada Operations 1 Inc.
— Harvey Cooper, Cooper Consultancy: Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada
— Rebecca Grundy, Stosic & Associates: CanCertainty Coalition, Rethink Breast Cancer
— Eric Collard, Solstice Public Affairs: Elder Abuse Prevention Ontario
— Andy Manahan, Manahan Consulting Services: Thorncliffe Station Development Group
— Saad Baig, StrategyCorp: Woodbine Entertainment Group
— Gideon Belete, Hill+Knowlton Strategies: Registered Practical Nurses Association of Ontario
— Harvey Nightingale, Sarah Dickson and James Lin, Hill+Knowlton Strategies: MTX Consulting
IN-HOUSE ORGANIZATIONS: Chicken Farmers of Ontario — Food, Health and Consumer Products of Canada — Vision Loss Rehabilitation Canada — FP Canada — Canadian Paint and Coatings Association — Chemistry Industry Association of Canada — 3M Canada — Association of Major Power Consumers in Ontario.
