Regulatory roundup
Plus: NDP cash in on Ford's fundraiser, CFL benched, and so long to May Two-Four
In this edition: A regulatory roundup, New Democrats fundraise off of Ford’s fundraiser, the widely rumoured extension of the stay-at-home order comes to pass, and Ontario stays mum on the Canadian Football League’s return-to-play.
Good Friday morning. This is Queen’s Park Observer — and politics is a full-contact sport.
ABOVE THE FOLD
A pivotal yet predictable day at Queen’s Park yesterday:
Premier DOUG FORD made the heavily anticipated extension of the stay-at-home order official, announcing the shutdown will continue until at least June 2 — dashing any hope of celebrating the May Two-Four weekend on a patio or out of town.
The next few weeks could make or break the “two-dose summer” Ford is angling for. The goal is to have “the most normal July and August as possible,” he said.
Despite mounting calls to reopen outdoor recreational facilities in the name of mental and physical health, that’s not happening — but Ford was optimistic that it could by June 2 if Covid cases are under control, or “well below” 1,000, as Dr. DAVID WILLIAMS suggested previously.
It also means schools will continue online. Ford found himself in hot water with the elementary and secondary school teachers’ unions for suggesting they wanted to “potentially put an injunction” to keep schools closed, which HARVEY BISCHOF, president of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation, called “absurd rhetoric.” (OSSTF filed an injunction last month to close schools in York Region amid sky-high case counts, but then the shutdown happened, rendering it defunct.)
In his first presser in more than a week, Ford took the opportunity to jab at JUSTIN TRUDEAU: “I just don’t believe in a ‘one-dose summer,’” the premier said of the prime minister’s recent remark. “It’s just not good enough.” Contingent on supply, “we will work our backs off to have a two-dose summer,” he said.
For Trudeau’s part, he told reporters Ford is looking to “point fingers” and “play politics” with his demand to tighten up border restrictions.
HAPPENING TODAY
— At 9 a.m., Labour Minister MONTE MCNAUGHTON and Etobicoke Centre MPP KINGA SURMA will make a virtual announcement about employment and training in the GTHA and Ottawa region.
— Long-Term Care Minister MERRILEE FULLERTON and Colleges and Universities Minister ROSS ROMANO will wrap up Nursing Week with an announcement about improving nursing supply at 10 a.m.
— Also at 10 a.m.: Transportation Minister CAROLINE MULRONEY and federal Infrastructure Minister CATHERINE MCKENNA continue this week’s string of transit-related announcements, focusing on Hamilton and the LRT revival.
— NDP Deputy Leader SARA SINGH will hold a press conference at 10:30 a.m. in Brampton’s Chinguacousy Park to talk about her motion calling on the Ford government to safely reopen outdoor amenities. MICHAEL GYOVAI, executive director of the Boys and Girls Club of Peel, will be in tow.
— ROMAN BABER vs. the Attorney General: The anti-lockdown Independent MPP’s constitutional challenge against the PC government he used to be a member of will be heard in court at 10 a.m. Baber, who was ousted for claiming the shutdown is deadlier than Covid, will base his arguments on the right to pray and protest, especially outdoors. The AG will rely on evidence that outdoor Covid transmission is “greater than zero,” according to a source familiar with the proceedings.
AT COMMITTEE
— Stakeholders will have their say about Bill 283, the Advancing Oversight and Planning in Ontario’s Health System Act, at public hearings this morning. The witness roster includes the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario and CUPE.
— Two government bills are up for possible tweaks during clause-by-clause consideration: Bill 251, the Combating Human Trafficking Act, and Bill 282, the Moving Ontarians More Safely Act.
— The Finance committee will also meet to map out its upcoming study of Bill 288, the PCs’ labour legislation aimed at speeding up the apprenticeship process and create a new Crown agency called Skilled Trades Ontario.
ON THE ORDER PAPER
The House is adjourned until Monday.
THURSDAY’S CATCH-UP: NDP MPP FRANCE GÉLINAS tabled a private member’s bill to change provincial law so that police officers who died by suicide are included in memorials along the King’s Highway.
A trio of PMBs are now awaiting Royal Assent after clearing third-reading debate on voice votes: PC MPP NORM MILLER’s bill to prohibit extruding polystyrene on floating docks and buoys — NDP MPP DOLY BEGUM’s proposal to proclaim June Filipino Heritage Month — and PC MPP STAN CHO’s PMB proclaiming a Convenience Store Week. NDPer TARAS NATYSHAK’s PMB to expand access to advanced glucose monitoring devices failed at second reading sans PC support.
MAKING HEADLINES
— Ontario hasn’t signed off on the CFL’s return-to-play protocols. Sport Minister LISA MACLEOD said that while the province and health officials are in regular talks with the league, the chief medical officer of health has yet to give his stamp of approval, and there’s no timeline for when that may happen. “It is my hope that Hamilton will be home to the Grey Cup this coming fall,” MacLeod said. “Obviously public health conditions will continue to dictate whether that’s possible or not.”
— End of the line for Greyhound. Thanks to a drop in ridership during the pandemic, the motor coach company announced it’s permanently cutting bus routes in Ontario and Quebec. More from the Canadian Press: “The decision is a blow to rural and remote areas that rely on a patchwork of private intercity bus companies for transportation.”
— “‘You’ll save more lives’: Calls grow for sooner second-doses for the elderly as Ontario expands eligibility.” CTV’s Natalie Johnson reports.
— “Months after Ottawa and the provinces promoted rapid testing as a key tool in the fight against COVID-19, the latest data show that almost all of the 43 million rapid tests procured by the federal government are sitting unused.” The Globe and Mail has the full story.
PANDEMIC TRACKER
The stay-at-home extension comes as Covid cases ramp down, though Thursday’s 2,759 pushed the all-time infection count beyond 500,000. Another 31 deaths were logged while at least 776 patients are in ICUs.
Counting down: Ontario is making the Pfizer vaccine available to youth aged 12 and up as of May 31.
REGULATORY ROUNDUP
Lots of action on the Regulatory Registry this month. Here’s a breakdown of some current proposals:
— Regulation 778, which governs correctional institutions, is getting a shakeup with an eye to mitigating harm associated with administrative segregation, which would be limited to 15 consecutive days (that’s already in place on the policy side). The Solicitor General’s office is proposing to bring in independent reviews of disciplinary segregation led by ministry staff outside of the institution. Staff training on human rights, systemic racism, deescalation and use of force would also be mandatory.
— A controversial makeover: The Environment Ministry laid out phase one of its proposed changes to conservation authorities’ governance and oversight, which advocates have said could undermine their role in watershed protection and allow developers to bypass certain checks and balances. Among other things, conservation authorities would be required to provide programs and services related to the risk of natural hazards; conservation and management of lands; source protection under the Clean Water Act; certain on-site sewage systems approvals; and core watershed-based resource management. Non-mandatory programs would require an agreement with municipalities in order to be bankrolled by local levies.
— The Solicitor General is looking to set the parameters that will empower police chiefs to suspend officers without pay “as an interim measure prior to a discipline hearing,” including when they have been charged with a serious offence. SolGen is proposing to define “serious offence” as any that comes with a potential penalty of five years of imprisonment or more.
SPOTTED:
— The NDP cashing in on Premier DOUG FORD’s Thursday night fundraiser, albeit on a much smaller scale: “Doug Ford has been intentionally hiding out during the pandemic to avoid criticism for his mismanagement of the crisis. Tonight, he’s planning on showing up to a $1,000-a-plate fundraiser … We must be ready to take on his fundraising machine to win the next election. Be part of that fight today by chipping in $5 a week.”
QUESTION PERIOD
No premier, but plenty of heckling over that fundraiser.
HIGHLIGHTS: When did you know elderly folks were dying from neglect? — Second-shot confusion — “The king” cozying up to deep-pocketed PC donors — Dearth of science backing outdoor recreational closures — Shining a light on internal political party elections — Uncertainty for the AZ crew, CHRISTINE ELLIOTT commiserates — Mining for socio-demographic vaccination data — Repealing Bill 124’s cap on wage increases for nurses — Nursing school callout — Make SOLEIMAN FAQIRI report public — Regional approach to reopening schools? — Small biz grant woes.
LOBBYING DISPATCH
Here are the new, renewed and amended registrations over the past 24 hours:
— Kelly Mitchell, KW Mitchell Consulting Services: Glenn Currie Towing
— Philip Gillies, Phil Gillies Consulting: Blue Pier
IN-HOUSE ORGANIZATIONS: Bombardier Inc.
🥳 HAPPY BIRTHDAY: NDP Community Safety critic GILLES BISSON…(SATURDAY) NDP Women’s Issues critic JILL ANDREW…(SUNDAY) Government House leader’s chief of staff JESSICA LIPPERT.
Got a tip about staffer moves? Birthday coming up? I want to hear from you! Reach out to sabrina@qpobserver.ca, or just reply to this email.