Mitzie Hunter tells all
Also: Treasury exits continue, NES campaign lift-off, Bill 60 blowback, hot heckles
Presented by Serco Canada
ABOVE THE FOLD
MITZIE HUNTER is fighting back tears as she takes a last look around her Queen’s Park office.
“It’s not that I’m sad, it’s that my heart is full,” she tells me in a raw and final interview as MPP.
Today is Hunter’s last day before she hangs up her legislative hat and resigns the Scarborough—Guildwood seat she’s held for the last decade in order to run for Mayor of Toronto.
It’s a bittersweet moment — and her career has been full of them. But that comes with the territory, especially when you’re a Black woman in politics.
Before our interview, I asked one of Hunter’s advisers how they’re dealing with the less-than-stellar mayoral polling (she’s not even close to top three).
“So, can she win?”
“Don’t count Mitzie out,” they told me. “She’s been told her whole life that she can’t win.”
Hunter has had to carve out spaces of her own when she didn’t see people who looked like her. At Queen’s Park, she made her way on to the then-Liberal government’s front bench and then — two decimating elections later — managed to hang on to one of a handful of seats.
Now, she’s gunning for City Hall.
You’re leaving Queen’s Park on May 10. How does it feel? “It’s an exciting moment. And of course my heart is full, because this is the community that gave me a chance to represent them 10 years ago, and now I’m about to take this step and I feel their support and I’m grateful.”
Do you think it’s fair you have to resign your MPP seat (unlike sitting councillors)? “I mean, it’s the rules, I obviously accept that. It’s clear though that I am the only one that has real skin in the game. I’m all in. I’m resigning my seat to run and my whole focus is on how we make the city better.”
How was it going from government to unrecognized party? “Minority government, majority government, then opposition — what’s that like? [laughs] — you just find a way to serve. It’s like water. It finds its path, and service is like that too.
“I really appreciate the question about then and now, and all the different ways. To just be that person that immigrated to this country [from Jamaica] and to represent them — I know my grandmother, she would be proud. Well, she said that to me before about being elected.”
You’ve had some wins and losses over the years. Let’s start with the Ws. 2018 was a close call — you held on by just 74 votes. 2022 was a slam dunk. Tell us about that. “The count went very, very, very late, and I remember the next morning, realizing that we have to find a way forward. I just remember thinking about that and so I picked up the phone and started calling because I really feel like that’s when you have to bring your team together. And so we did that. We held on to that seat because of those people in my community who kept me there.”
I want to go back to the 2020 leadership race, when you placed fourth. At the time, one senior Liberal operative told me that they had been chatting with fellow party members about how important it was to have a woman in the race. But they were only referring to KATE GRAHAM (the then-rookie who wound up in third). And real talk: it was burned into my brain because I thought how awful that they seemed to brush you off. What do you make of all that? “Intersectionality is very real when it comes to leadership. You can just look around and you can see that. However, it’s something I’ve known my whole life — so it’s not a surprise to me.
“At the same time, I really want to put myself forward because — OK, now you’re getting me all ahh again [wipes away tears] — here’s what I believe: I believe that people must be able to see it. And if they can never see it, when is it going to change? So some of us have to step forward and I’m willing to do that. Of course it was hard. Yeah, of course. Like, you know, I’m a woman and I am in the race. So there were women in the race.”
We often hear that women need to be asked repeatedly before they decide to run for elected office, for a bunch of reasons. What would you say to anyone who’s second-guessing themselves? “There was a young Black woman, she was part of our party, and when I told her I was running, she was really surprised. And I remember saying to her that it doesn’t matter how hard it is, because our history is such that we have to try, we have to give it our effort — and not avoid it or believe that it can never happen.”
Do you ever doubt yourself? “No, I don't have self-doubt at all. I actually know that I have the most experience. The change has to come from people whose ideas of leadership need to expand. That’s where it has to come from. Me, I’m going to step in and I’m going to run.”
If you had to pick one thing you’re most proud of, what would it be? “Just one?”
OK, two. “I have two, because one is like so broad and you’re going to see it down the road — it’s the ORPP [Ontario Retirement Pension Plan], leading it as the Associate Minister of Finance and then that becoming the catalyst for CPP expansion. In terms of benefits for all working Canadians in the future — CPP 2.0, it’s like, yes! [fist bumps the air] I participated in that.”
And the second? “For me, it’s being Minister of Education — the first person of colour to serve in that role in the history of our province, the first Black woman — and bringing that to the role was really important.”
“So when the Ministry team would say, ‘Here Minister, we have great news for you today: Graduation rates hit 86.5%’ It’s like, wow, this is great, we’re celebrating. Then I asked that disconfirming question, I said, ‘Who’s in the 13.5 per cent?’ I think that was a bit surprising to them. They did an analysis and had all the numbers — and it was so revealing. Black students, especially Black male students — half were not graduating. A crisis right in front of us. LGBTQ students, students with disabilities, Indigenous students, students in the care of children’s aid — not graduating. I told my team there’s nothing wrong with our students. It’s the system that must change to support them to succeed.”
Any unfinished business? “I did the unfinished business — one-member-one-vote. We’ve got to be that big tent party again, in the decision-making of the party. So, I kind of did that [laughs].”
Any parting advice for your fellow MPPs? “Get out there because this can be a bubble. I’m not going to miss that. You’ve got to be out with real people, talking about real things, doing real things — and recognizing that it’s in here that you have that lever to make change that affects peoples lives. So use it.”
WE CALLED IT! — WE HAVE LIFT-OFF — NATE ERSKINE-SMITH will launch his bid for provincial Liberal captain tonight.
As we first suggested last week, the MP for Beaches—East York makes it official at a rally at Variety Village in Scarborough, where he was also mulling over a run to replace MITZIE HUNTER (Scarborough—Guildwood).
Their move: With nomination paperwork now up for grabs and Erskine-Smith first out of the gate, it’s all eyes on YASIR NAQVI, BONNIE CROMBIE, TED HSU, ADIL SHAMJI and STEPHANIE BOWMAN.
Between the lines: The next candidate launch could be imminent, especially if we’re reading into the next Liberal fundraiser — a Wednesday night “mix and mingle with prospective leadership hopefuls” at 9 Baci restaurant in Vaughan for $250 a pop. Guest list undisclosed. Invite.
HAPPENING TODAY
9:30 a.m.: Liberal MPPs are in the Media Studio to call on the PCs to provide “adequate and fair funding” for Ottawa to tackle the housing and homelessness crisis.
Spoiler alert: It’s something Mayor MARK SUTCLIFFE has been grumbling about — the paltry $845,100 increase his city is getting, which is dwarfed by the over $40 million that’s headed for Toronto. That’s thanks to a new funding formula.
ON THE ORDER PAPER
First up: Bill 71, which speeds up mining operations, is up for another round of third-reading debate. That’s expected to continue in the afternoon.
Later on, PC RIC BRESEE will put forward his backbench Bill 99, which would establish rules for movable soccer posts. It’s named for GARRETT MILLS, a 15-year-old who was killed when an unanchored post tipped over and struck him in the head.
MONDAY’S RUNDOWN — BILL 60 BLOWBACK: The Ford government’s hot-potato legislation that expands private delivery of backlogged health care cleared a third-reading vote sans Oppo support.
Almost enshrined: It still hadn’t received Royal Assent as of late last night.
Salt in the wounds: It just so happens to be National Nursing Week, and the Ontario Nurses’ Association was at Queen’s Park to voice their opposition along with other advocates. Union head ERIN ARISS warned the bill will siphon “fed up staff out of our public system” and make matters worse.
— Tabled: Ousted-NDPer-turned-Independent MICHAEL MANTHA introduced his first solo PMB: Bill 105, to change the way fitness to drive tests are conducted.
ON THE COMMITTEE CIRCUIT — 9 a.m.: It’s another round of public hearings on Bill 98, which overhauls the school board system. On the witness roster: The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act Alliance, Ontario Public School Boards’ Association, Toronto District School Board, Ontario School Library Association. And the rest.
— Over at Procedure and House Affairs, Bill 75, the Leg makeover bill, could be tweaked at clause-by-clause consideration.
— Meanwhile, the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs meets to determine which Ministry estimates go under the microscope.
COCKTAIL CHATTER — The Ontario Association of Landscape Architects is serving up breakfast in the Dining Room, Football Toronto is kicking around for lunch in Room 228, then the Ontario Association of Children Aid Societies takes over for an evening reception. The Beer Store is on tap in Room 230, and the Northern Ontario Service Deliverers Association is hosting in the Dining Room.
AROUND THE PRECINCT — Glory hallelujah! It’s that time of year again, when the Pink Palace goes from a sauna to an igloo (if you know, you know). Radiators will be shut down starting today, with air conditioning on the way.
MOVERS AND SHAKERS
First in Observer — EXIT I — Pour one out for these folks at Treasury Board: ALI PENSAMIENTO, director of policy and expenditure management for the last two years, is headed to Infrastructure Ontario. Pensamiento has worked for two Treasury Board Presidents, PRABMEET SARKARIA and now-Finance Minister PETER BETHLENFALVY, and before that, held senior policy roles at Agriculture and Colleges and Universities.
I got my hands on an internal memo from chief of staff JENNA BENDAYAN, which says they’re “actively working on a comprehensive transition plan” and “identifying a qualified successor.”
EXIT II — CATHERINE CLASADONTE is also on her way out and headed to the Premier’s Office to work on health policy, per our sources. Clasadonte is a senior policy adviser at the Treasury and previously held the same role under then-Health Minister CHRISTINE ELLIOTT.
Their last days are May 19. Catch up on the recent string of exits at TBS.
MEET THE PRESS — Longtime broadcast reporter SIOBHAN MORRIS was named Queen’s Park Bureau Chief at CTV News.
QUESTION PERIOD
We’re back — and DOUG FORD provided the bang. The Premier lobbed a hot heckle at NDP captain MARIT STILES when she grilled him about spa and waterpark plans for Ontario Place.
Stiles hit a nerve when asking about CARMINE NIGRO — a developer who dined with Ford at his daughter’s wedding, and was — as scooped in this newsletter —recently reappointed chair of its board of directors.
“God forbid I have a friend at the wedding,” Ford grumbled.
To which Stiles replied: “Does he have any idea how bad it looks?”
NDPers devoted most of their questions to Bill 60, but Health Minister SYLVIA JONES wasn’t around to play defence (she did show up for the vote right after).
THE HIGHLIGHTS: “Will the Premier drop his plan for two-tier investor-driven health care?” — “This government’s secret 95-year lease…has all the markings of a bad deal for taxpayers” — “Wait times for breast cancer surgeries in Ottawa have stretched so long that women have been driving to Quebec and paying out of pocket” — For-profit clinic charges $795 for an MRI within 48 hours — When will you implement the Ombudsman’s 61 recommendations to fix the LTB? — “Bill 60 is reckless, incomplete and poorly conceived” — End vacancy decontrol — Pediatric wait times are too long — Bring back health coverage for uninsured folks — “End the Bill 60 scheme that actually removes and poaches nurses from the health care system.”
IN OTHER NEWS…
— SAVE THE WHALES: “A beluga whale and bottlenose dolphin have died at Marineland…The latest deaths mark the third confirmed death of an animal at the aquarium and theme park in recent months. In March, KISKA, Canada’s last living orca in captivity, died after more than 40 years at the park.” CTV News has the story.
— GUNS AND GANGS: “Ontario is getting $121 million to fight gun crimes and gang violence as part of a $390 million investment from the federal government.” Details from the Star.
— SPOTTED: Premier DOUG FORD making it rain jerseys for his fellow first ministers, gifting the latest to PEI’s DENNIS KING (and the Yukon’s RANJ PILLAI before that).
REGULATORY ROUNDUP
On Tuesdays, we sum up the government’s latest proposals on the regulatory registry — where the nitty-gritty of policymaking is hammered out.
ALL ABOUT THAT BASS — The proposal: “To create temporary fish sanctuaries on Opinicon Lake and Charleston Lake for the 2024 and 2025 fishing season to support long-term bass nesting and population recruitment research.” Deadline for public feedback: June 19.
🍽️ ON THE MENU: Today’s lunch special in the Quorum Cafe — Make-your-own-Taco Tuesday.
⏳COUNTDOWN: T-minus 1 day until MITZIE HUNTER resigns…42 days until the Bill 124 appeal…48 days until Toronto’s mayoral byelection…119 days to sign up for the Liberal leadership race…207 days until the Liberal leadership contest…139 days until the Premier has to call a byelection in Kanata—Carleton.