Meet the policy mind behind iGaming
Plus: PCs come for Horwath in new spot, mystery bill en route, leaders go out on the stump, poll says cost of living top of mind
ABOVE THE FOLD
iGaming debuts in Ontario today, making it the first jurisdiction in the country to take bets in a legal private online gambling market, including for sporting events and casino sites.
While some advocates are worrying about the impact on brick-and-mortar casinos and the people who work in them, and addiction experts raise concerns about the increased access to gambling — others are excited about taking part in a regulated system that could replace the so-called grey market which already exists out there.
Roughly two dozen operators have so far registered, but the regulator, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, notes that not all will launch right away.
To mark the occasion, we caught up with iGaming Ontario’s chief of staff MITCH DAVIDSON — who previously served as Premier DOUG FORD’s executive director of policy and who wrote the PC Party’s 2018 campaign platforms.
You’ve gone from the campaign and government trenches to the other side, working at public affairs firm StrategyCorp, and are now back on the civil service side of policymaking at iGaming. How do those paths square? From a personal perspective, my career to this point has always been some form of public service. The path that I chose previously to do that was through the political arm, and then at StrategyCorp, it was a bit different in that it was quasi-political, quasi-public policy. And now, I have a chance to complete that transition and sit on the other side of the table for the first time, understanding what it’s like to be a true public servant, who’s employed by the Crown, and spends their their days moving forward things that are good for both the province and the people within it.
What’s the appeal with the new role? Not only is the province building something quite unique compared to other jurisdictions and actually advancing this field rapidly in a way that has not been done — but it’s kind of like a startup, if you can even use that term within government. There’s all these existential questions and fundamental issues that need to be dealt with — and I’ve always been one who likes a challenge, so put all those things together and that’s the rationale for why I ended up crossing over.
What’s your vision for iGaming? Much of the work is just getting to market launch…but the bigger part of the job is that I get an opportunity to come in here and think long-term about the future of gaming in this province.
I’ve always pushed a view that Ontario consumers need to be treated like adults — whether that’s on alcohol reforms or gaming reforms. Here’s the actual manifestation of that: We are putting power into the hands of consumers, treating them responsibly — and ensuring they have safeguards at the same time — but allowing them to do what they see their friends and neighbours do in other jurisdictions around the world, which is to be able to put 10 bucks down on whether the Leafs are going to beat the Sens tomorrow night.
At its core, it’s about bringing Ontario into the 21st century and treating Ontarians like adults and responsible people.
There’s a lot of concerns about the new market. What’s something you’d like people to know about this next level of legalized gaming? What’s really cool is that this is a very sort of misunderstood opportunity to create economic growth, to create jobs and be a part of where the future is going. To me, there’s this nice coincidence that you can do something that benefits consumers and that is very much in line with what people want to be doing.
I know staff can’t take part in the province’s betting system, but who are you liking for hockey? I’m sure this will come back to bite me one day — I’m a Leafs fan, I grew up a Leafs fan — but my parents are snowbirds, so I’ve become a Florida Panthers fan over the last decade. It’s an interesting twist — I might be the only person in North America who has those two allegiances. I don’t know what I’m going to do when they inevitably play each other in the first round of the playoffs [laughs].
HAPPENING TODAY
DOUG FORD’S MONDAY — 11 a.m.: The Premier and Economic Development Minister VIC FEDELI are in Oshawa for an announcement alongside federal Innovation Minister FRANCOIS-PHILIPPE CHAMPAGNE.
— 9 a.m.: STEPHEN CRAWFORD, Parliamentary Assistant to the Energy Minister, will make an announcement in Windsor alongside Mayor DREW DILKENS and Leamington Mayor HILDA MACDONALD.
— 9:30 a.m.: The Liberals will be in the Media Studio to mark autism awareness month and “highlight Doug Ford’s broken promises on autism.” Also on hand: Ontario Autism Coalition president ANGELA BRANDT.
— 10:45 a.m.: NDP Leader ANDREA HORWATH is making a campaign-style swing through Windsor, featuring a presser alongside local MPPs, candidates and a survivor of gender-based violence. Also on the itinerary: Meetings with business and community leaders impacted by the Ambassador Bridge blockade and stops at small biz in Amherstburg.
— Green Leader MIKE SCHREINER tours Hamilton, Burlington and Oakville with stops at a “local green building project” and to meet with residents.
FUNDRAISING WATCH — Doubleheader for the PCs: $500 to support Kitchener Centre contender JIM SCHMIDT; $1,200 to rub elbows with an undisclosed roster in Oakville (reminder: such unnamed lineups have previously featured Premier DOUG FORD).
ON THE ORDER PAPER
— Mystery bill headed for the Clerk’s table — House Leader PAUL CALANDRA teased forthcoming government legislation that will be tabled during the day’s routine proceedings.
— Featured on today’s docket: a special take-note debate on the province’s fourth state of emergency, declared in February to help deal with the so-called freedom trucker convoy. Solicitor General SYLVIA JONES kicks off the routine review this afternoon.
— Before that, after the morning’s Question Period, MPPs will vote to send Bill 109 — Housing Minister STEVE CLARK’s affordability package — to the committee stage. Ditto a vote on NDP MPP JENNIFER FRENCH’s (non-binding but symbolic) motion aimed at improving accountability and care for folks in long-term care homes.
ON THE COMMITTEE CIRCUIT — The Legislative Assembly crew meets to discuss committee business in the afternoon.
AROUND THE PRECINCT — Demonstrators gather on the South Lawn this afternoon to raise awareness about “the complicated and costly process to access take-home cancer drugs for those under 65.”
MAKING HEADLINES
— AD WATCH: Move over STEVEN DEL DUCA — the target in a recent spate of PC attack ads — the governing party is coming for ANDREA HORWATH. In their latest spot, the PCs accuse Horwath and the NDP of saying “no” and delaying their policies on housing affordability and job creation, predicting she’ll be “a disaster” for Ontario if elected in June. Then the ad turns to cheery images of Premier DOUG FORD while a voiceover says he’s the one to “keep building” and “get it done.”
The PCs also circulated a roundup of every time Horwath “said no” and voted against mental health packages included in government bills (which the NDP has opposed mainly because they “don’t go far enough”) — a dig at the NDP’s latest promise.
— PLATFORM PLANK ALERT: The flashy campaign pledge from the NDP: universal mental health benefits coverage for all. As part of what the party is touting as “the biggest investment in mental health in Canadian history,” the $1.15-billion-a-year plan would see OHIP cover the cost of mental health services currently paid for by employee benefits programs or out of pocket.
Why it matters: Post-pandemic mental health is shaping up to be a major campaign issue and a prominent fixture in party platforms. As such, the NDP unveiled a seven-page standalone mental health platform that would offer Ontarians six psychotherapy sessions under OHIP, with 12 treatments up for grabs for folks who need it.
— FORD’S SUNDAY: The Premier, meanwhile, was in vote-rich Brampton touting funding for a new 24-hour emergency room at Peel Memorial. But critics have long called for a standalone hospital to deal with population growth that has outpaced the area’s health care system. Details in the Globe and Mail.
— POLL WATCH: The latest from Leger: “If a provincial election were held today, 39% of decided voters would vote for the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario, 25% would vote for the Ontario Liberal Party and 24% would vote for the Ontario New Democratic Party…When asked to rank the top 5 issues they feel are most important for party leaders to focus on and address during the upcoming Ontario election: 23% said they feel inflation/the rising cost of living is the most important; 15% said they feel housing affordability is the most important; 10% said they feel economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic is the most important.” Survey.
— WHINE TIME: Niagara vintners are on high alert for the spotted lanternfly, which is invading vineyards south of the border. Global News has the story.
— HOME ALONE: Analysis from the CBC: “Anyone who reads through the [Ford government’s housing'] plan would be justified in wondering how its tweaks to city planning timelines and proposed changes to the building code will actually make it any easier to buy in a real estate market that is basically bonkers.”
— Speaking of, the Star reports that “recreational property prices across Ontario are soaring and demand for cottage country houses continues to outstrip supply, despite interest rate increases and a return to pre-pandemic travel.”
MOVERS AND SHAKERS
First in Queen’s Park Observer — EXITS — A few staffers have dropped off the government’s directory: KEVIN LYNCH is out as senior adviser on policy and expenditure management to the Treasury Board President. CHRISTOPHER BELL is no longer listed as MPP liaison to the Agriculture Minister.
ON THE CIVIL SERVICE SIDE — In the Deputy Minister of Energy’s office, WILL COUTTS becomes a senior policy adviser. For the DM of Finance, MARAL OGHLAKIAN takes on the role of scheduler and administrative assistant.
2022 — MICHAEL FORD — the Premier’s nephew and city councillor — is running for the PCs in York South—Weston. The party announced Ford’s candidacy hours after Queen’s Park Observer started asking questions about it on Sunday. The riding is currently held by NDPer FAISAL HASSAN.
SPOTTED:
Queen’s Park does April Fool’s — including a satirical piece about moving to a four-day work week (fact check: fake news) and a proposed ban on Crocs:
LOBBYING DISPATCH
Here are the new, renewed and amended registrations since Friday:
— Steven Dover, Tactix Government Relations and Public Affairs: Skotidakis Goat Farm
— Alex Bernst, StrategyCorp: Generation PGM
— Stephanie Gawur, Santis Health: Ontario Community Support Association
— Michael Gimelshtein, The CCS Group: Mississauga First Nation
— Jonathan Lee, Daisy Consulting Group: Standing Together Against Misogyny and Prejudice
— Jeffrey Bangs, Pathway Group: Coach Canada
— David Angus, The Capital Hill Group: CyberArk Software Canada Inc, VMware Canada Inc., Pegah
— Jeff Rutledge, McMillan Vantage: AbbVie Corporation
— Alex Chreston, Crestview Strategy: Greenbelt Foundation, SkipTheDishes Restaurant Services Inc., Kampgrounds of America, Rothmans, Benson & Hedges Inc.
In-house organizations: Tesla Motors Canada — Frontier College — Insurance Bureau of Canada — Ontario Stone, Sand and Gravel Association — Ride Scooty — Telesat Canada — AbbVie Corporation — The Green Organic Dutchman.
🥳 HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Independent JIM WILSON (Simcoe—Grey).
🍽️ ON THE MENU: Wondering whether to pack a lunch before heading to the Pink Palace? Here’s what the Quorum Cafe is serving up in the basement cafeteria — Tex Mex Bowl: seasoned ground beef or beyond beef, corn, black beans, green onions, cheese, salsa, sour cream over seasoned rice.
⏳ COUNTDOWN: T-minus 59 days until the Election…30 days until the official start of the campaign…26 days until the budget is (legally) due out.