SCOOP: Alvin Tedjo is running. These are the stakes.
And meet Bethlenfalvy's policy head
Presented by Ontario’s Universities
ABOVE THE FOLD
First in Observer — THE STATE OF PLAY IN MISSISSAUGA — The race for the top job at Mississauga City Hall is heating up with ALVIN TEDJO poised to step into the ring — and Queen’s Park has skin in the game.
Officially, Tedjo isn’t saying much. “I’m still considering running — it’s a big city, so it’s a big decision. I have to factor in my family. And I’ve been very happy to talk to people about their vision for the city and what they want to look for, and if that happens to be me, then we’ll see. But for the time being, I’m looking for candidates who want to build a better city in Mississauga and are focused on the future. I will have more to say to that as the days come along.”
Unofficially: Things are happening. Tedjo is quietly recruiting a crack team and gearing up for an all-but-confirmed campaign launch party set for Monday evening at Mulligans Pub and Grill. “We’re starting the conversation on the future of Mississauga, we hope you join us,” the invite reads.
Who’s who: The Ward 2 councillor and former Liberal leadership candidate has already put together a war room. We previously told you about DARRYN McARTHUR, who will lead Tedjo’s campaign. Regular readers will recall that McArthur ran former mayor BONNIE CROMBIE’s successful leadership bid.
Also on Tedjo’s crew is DON GUY, a longtime Liberal strategist and head pollster at Pollara, and ADAM DE CAIRE, who’s running operations.
Small world: De Caire used to work for one of Tedjo’s rival candidates — he was chief of staff to then-Seniors Affairs minister DIPIKA DAMERLA, a fellow councillor who is also vying for mayor. Speaking of Damerla, she’s enlisted some familiar faces to run her campaign too, including veteran Liberal operative TOM ALLISON.
Update: Allison is also on Crombie’s provincial campaign crew. Get my exclusive scoop.
The competition: Tedjo is joining an already crowded race. Besides Damerla, other councillor-contenders CAROLYN PARRISH and STEPHEN DASKO are running, while “Tornado” PETER McCALLION — son of the late former longest-serving mayor “Hurricane” HAZEL McCALLION — told Newstalk 1010 he’s seriously thinking about entering the fray, and wants to “make Mississauga great again.”
At this point, it’s anybody’s game. Recent public-opinion polling from Liaison Strategies shows that about half of Mississauga residents don’t know who they’d pick for Mayor yet.
The stakes: Municipalities are creatures of the province, so whoever winds up in the mayor’s chair will have to work closely with the Ford government, especially since the PCs hold five of the city’s six seats (except for Mississauga East-Cooksville, where KALEED RASHEED now sits as an Independent after the infamous Vegas trip).
One Tory insider says housing will be a major factor. Mississauga is one of the booming cities that will have to do some heavy lifting to help the PCs hit their ambitious target to build 1.5 million homes over a decade.
“Alvin is great on housing issues. Will be the best aligned with [DOUG] FORD’s housing agenda. The others are all racing to pretend they haven’t been NIMBYs,” charged one PC-connected source.
That’s a reference to the city’s vote on as-of-right fourplexes, which was initially shot down and sent for further study, putting federal cash in jeopardy. The motion was brought forward by Tedjo and supported by Parrish and others, but Damerla and Dasko were among those who felt more study was needed. Eventually, Crombie flexed her Ford-given strong mayor powers to allow more density.
Cue blowback.
ALEEM KANJI, longtime political strategist and senior operative on Team Damerla, defended her record on housing. “On fourplexes, council chose to do its homework by requesting a staff report…Her record on being pro-housing speaks for itself, including being an early adopter of urbanism, pushing for density that would allow for walkable cities evidenced by the first local plan to build a 15-minute walkable neighbourhood in Mississauga.”
Dasko echoed the sentiment. “I’m certainly not NIMBY at all,” he told me. “I tend to be selective, I refer to myself as being a responsible development candidate. I want to make sure that we’re building according to our plans and what our infrastructure is.”
Something else that gives him an edge, Dasko says, is that he’s the only contender so far that isn’t partisan-linked: Damerla is a former Liberal MPP, Parrish was a Grit MP (though she was never one to toe the party line) and Tedjo has run to be their candidate and leader. With Conservatives running the show at Queen’s Park, Dasko says he’s best suited for the gig.
“I’ve got no party affiliation. I’m in a very unique and I think very effective and powerful place that I can work with all three levels of government very well.”
(UPDATE: One rival campaign was quick to point out that Dasko is a former chief of staff to then-PC MPP FRANK KLEES).
What’s next: Council is expected to set a date for the vote at the end of the month. Word on the street is Mississauga could go to the polls as soon as late May. The mayor’s seat was officially put into play on January 12 when Crombie stepped down to lead the provincial Liberals full time (to the tune of an $185,000 salary).
A message from Ontario’s Universities
With the cut and freeze to tuition and declining funding, Ontario’s universities are at a breaking point. According to the government’s own expert panel, failure to act will threaten Ontario’s regional economies, the future workforce, and foreign investment. Without ending the tuition freeze and providing additional government funding to universities, the programs and services students rely on are at risk.
The time for government action is now. We must work together to ensure universities have the resources to continue to support students, lead innovation, and drive economic growth for Ontario. Learn more here.
HAPPENING TODAY
9:30 a.m.: Mental Health and Addictions Minister MICHAEL TIBOLLO is in Toronto for an announcement.
2 p.m.: Health Minister SYLVIA JONES is at Burlington’s Reach Out Centre For Kids, a child and youth mental health facility, for a funding announcement.
6 p.m.: Oppo Leader MARIT STILES is headlining a social for “like-minded New Democrats” at Cafe Amor & Art in Windsor. Invite.
ON THE COMMITTEE CIRCUIT — 10 a.m.: SCOFEA is going for another round of — you guessed it! — pre-budget consultation hearings. The tour heads to the capital today to glean feedback from the Ontario Long Term Care Association, the Ottawa Real Estate Board, Ottawa Health Coalition, Ottawa Transit Riders, Ottawa-Carleton District School Board and more. Full roster.
CLIPPINGS
— HIT THE BOOKS: “Ontario’s kindergarten students would be taught the sounds and letters of the alphabet, learn specific vocabulary and be introduced to the concept of fractions under a revamped curriculum that the government plans to implement in schools in the fall of 2025.”
More from the Globe and Mail: “Education Minister STEPHEN LECCE said on Tuesday that the “back-to-basics” instruction in reading and math within a play-based kindergarten program would allow for a much smoother transition for children into Grade 1, where the language and math curriculums have been updated…The changes to the curriculum were sparked by a scathing report from the Ontario Human Rights Commission in early 2022 that said the province’s approach to early reading was failing many students.”
— STRIKE WATCH: Speaking of schools, AEFO, which reps French board teachers, is holding a strike vote today and Friday. It’s one of two remaining holdouts when it comes to collective agreements — OECTA, which covers Catholic school teachers, has yet to ink a contract with the government. That union already voted 97 per cent in favour of a strike and was back at the bargaining table last week, but with no deal. ETFO and OSSTF have already secured deals.
— ROMA WRAPS: On the third and final day of the Rural Ontario Municipal Association’s conference, BONNIE CROMBIE delivered her first major speech as Liberal leader. It was a fiery attack on Premier DOUG FORD’s string of flip-flops.
“I cannot list all the decisions Ford has gotten undone,” Crombie said, cheekily emphasizing that last word. “But here’s a few examples municipal leaders are all too familiar with: Regional governance review. Public planning reform. Municipal boundary expansions….” Crombie said, rattling off a long list of backtracks.
“Folks, this Ford only drives in reverse. And the worst part is — it’s no accident. These are deliberate choices being made by a man who spends all of his time to make his donors and rich friends richer,” Crombie went on to say, using the same elitist line of attack the PCs have lobbed at her.
Green captain MIKE SCHREINER was all about clean energy. “Faced with a growing risk of energy shortfalls in the near future, it’s clear that Ontario needs a bold plan to embrace prosperity in the clean energy economy…We reaffirm our call to phase out fossil gas by 2030 and double our electricity supply by 2040 with emissions-free sources.”
Bear-pit highlight: Public and Business Service Delivery Minister TODD McCARTHY was asked why some Service Ontario kiosks are being moved into Staples, with taxpayers footing the bill, instead of public libraries. The crowd burst into applause. McCarthy said the government is committed to “a lot of different service delivery models.”
— ROSSI WRAPS: Outgoing Ontario Chamber of Commerce head ROCCO ROSSI “is set to walk 1,000 kilometres to help figure out his next move.” Rossi’s war stories, courtesy of TVO’s Steve Paikin. DANIEL TISCH has taken up the mantle as president and CEO of the OCC.
— GASSED UP: “Enbridge Gas is taking the Ontario Energy Board to court over a decision the utility said would increase costs for consumers, but which environmental groups have applauded as encouraging less reliance on natural gas.”
The Canadian Press has the story: “Enbridge has filed a notice of appeal in Ontario’s Divisional Court asking the court to set aside four key parts of the late December OEB ruling that would see customers pay the total capital cost of a natural gas connection upfront instead of spread over 40 years. Energy Minister TODD SMITH has said the OEB strayed ‘out of their lane’ with the decision and said he will introduce legislation to overturn it because it would increase the cost of new homes.”
— THE OTHER E-HEALTH SCANDAL: “Ontario hospital faces slow climb to safe storage of health records after cyberattack.” The Globe digs in.
— URGE TO MERGE (OR NOT): “Local councillors and mayors in Ontario are signalling an uneasy willingness to get behind a provincial push to merge some public health units as the Ford government rolls out aggressive timelines to get the process underway by early 2025. As many as nine groupings of public health units have suggested to Queen’s Park they’re ready to merge but local representatives still have a long list of concerns.” Global News has the skinny.
— THE ART OF THE STEAL: Via the Globe: “The Legislative Assembly of Ontario has removed artwork attributed to acclaimed First Nations artist NORVAL MORRISSEAU over concerns raised about its authenticity.”
— OSC EXIT: “Canada’s largest securities watchdog will soon need a new top enforcer. JEFF KEHOE, director of enforcement at the Ontario Securities Commission since 2016, will leave the regulator at the end of February.” The Globe reports.
— WHAT’S IN A NAME? “The Ontario government is providing financial relief for Indigenous peoples and communities by permanently waiving fees for death records and delayed registration of death for children who attended Indian Residential Schools. The province is also permanently eliminating fees for reclaiming a traditional Indigenous name.” Backgrounder.
HOOSIER IN THE HOUSE
DOUG FORD’S TUESDAY — The Premier hosted Indiana Governor ERIC HOLCOMB at Queen’s Park to sign an MOU to “promote increased trade, attract investment and continue to collaborate in key sectors such as infrastructure, energy, life sciences, automotive and advanced manufacturing.”
MOVERS AND SHAKERS
First in Observer — STAFFING UP — Finance Minister PETER BETHLENFALVY has been shuffling his staff lineup at a crucial time: pre-budget season. The latest: ALYSSA BEST, who’s been serving as Bethlenfalvy’s director of the budget, is now also acting as head of policy.
It’s not the only recent move in the provincial treasurer’s office: As we previously scooped, CAM VIDLER just took over as chief of staff, replacing RICHARD CLARK, who’s staying on as an adviser for now. SHIR BARZILAY, a longtime staffer who oversaw the budget process, has left the bubble. EMILY HOGEVEEN has replaced JESSICA GEORGAKOPOULOS as executive director of strategic comms. And the rest.
Crunch time: The timing of Bethlenfalvy’s staff shuffle is critical, as the pre-budget process is in full swing. And speaking of the budget, word on the street is it’s expected in March.
TRANSITION — Over in Long-Term Care Minister STAN CHO’s office, CALLUM ELDER is now D-Comms. Elder previously held the role at Natural Resources.
LOBBYING DISPATCH
Here are the new, renewed and amended registrations over the past 24 hours:
Rob Elliott, Counsel Public Affairs: Umicore Battery Materials Canada, Domtar, Impact Auto Auctions
Yes, as we pointed out yesterday, it’s that Rob Elliott — the PC candidate in last year’s Kitchener Centre byelection.
Utilia Amaral, Utilia Amaral/MarketStep: Google LLC (COB as Google Nest)
Fun fact for our new subscribers: Amaral is wife to ex-Liberal leader, now-Vaughan Mayor Steven Del Duca.
Sadaf Abbasi, Sussex Strategy Group: Just for Laughs
Jessica Georgakopoulos and Sadaf Abbasi, Sussex Strategy Group: Association of Chartered Certified Accountants
Christopher Froggatt and Alexandra Spence, Loyalist Public Affairs: Valero Energy
Mustapha Khamissa, Rubicon Strategy: Toronto Wholesale Produce Association and Toronto Farmers Association
David Angus, The Capital Hill Group: Agendia
Regan Watts, Fratton Park: Teranet
Howard Brown, Brown & Cohen Communications & Public Affairs: The Ontario Association of Landscape Architects
🍽️ ON THE MENU: Sausage and chicken jambalaya is on special for lunch.
⏳ COUNTDOWN: T-minus 9 days until the PC convention in Niagara Falls…27 days until the House reconvenes…73 days until the Premier has to call a byelection for Lambton-Kent-Middlesex.