SCOOP: Chiefs shuffle
Nomination races heat up
ABOVE THE FOLD
If ever there was an indication that next week’s long awaited return to the House is going to be a wild ride — it’s already been a whirlwind 24 hours in provincial politics.
Premier DOUG FORD talked life sciences and TAYLOR SWIFT, and Transportation Minister PRABMEET SARKARIA fleshed out the bill to curb bike lanes. Naturally, both are receiving much blowback. Speaker TED ARNOTT is hanging up his legislative hat. Meanwhile in Liberal land, nomination races are getting juicy — and I don’t just mean the candidates’ food (though I do have a breakdown of the grub and VIP Spotteds). And some chiefs of staff are getting the ol’ switcheroo. Let’s get to it.
First in Observer — MEET THE CHIEFS — Just in time for the fall session, the Ford government is changing its chiefs-of-staff lineup.
Who’s who: According to the Thanksgiving eve memo from the Premier’s chief PATRICK SACKVILLE, MICHAEL KLIMUNTOWSKI is headed to work for Treasury Board President CAROLINE MULRONEY, replacing KAILEY VOKES, who is leaving the political arena. Klimuntowski previously did stints in PO, Long-Term Care and most recently at Municipal Affairs and Housing.
Read between the lines: Sackville says Klimuntowski is a “calm, competent and solutions oriented leader” who will be a steady hand during “a very critical year for us.”
Vokes is sticking around to help with the transition. Sackville lauded her “discipline and strategic coherence.”
Timing is everything: The shakeup at the Treasury comes at a crucial time. While that office — which holds the provincial pursestrings along with Finance — always tends to be busy, staff have already been cracking away at the Fall Economic Statement.
We’re also not too far away from when the work starts for budget season next spring — and the stakes have never been higher as the PCs budget will likely serve as their campaign platform, if there’s a snap vote.
Taking up the mantle for Klimuntowski in Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister PAUL CALANDRA’s office is JESSICA LIPPERT. Lippert and Calandra go way back, to his junior cabinet days. She’s returning from maternity leave in the new role.
And the rest:
OWEN MACRI, another veteran of Calandra’s camp, becomes deputy chief of staff and chief adviser to the Minister at MMAH.
Over in Government House Leader STEVE CLARK’s office, JESSIE SALIBA is now chief. It’s not Saliba’s first rodeo: She’s worked on and off between Ford and Calandra’s offices since 2018.
On newly minted Education Minister JILL DUNLOP’s team, JUSTIN SAUNDERS is now deputy chief of staff. Saunders was director of policy. More Dunlop moves.
JUICY NOMINATIONS
Something to sink your teeth into: The Grits locked in a bunch of candidates this week, and I’ve got the skinny on the spread:
— In Eglinton-Lawrence: Roughly 150 people dined on pizza, cake and sandwiches and celebrated VINCE GASPARRO’s candidacy. Spotted: MP MARCO MENDOCINO and Councillor MIKE COLLE. (Update: Gasparro later told me it was more like 250 people.)
Gasparro is already getting under PC skin. The former principal secretary to then-mayor JOHN TORY who was recently named to BONNIE CROMBIE’s climate panel is considered a solid candidate who can give PC ROBIN MARTIN a run for her money. The Conservatives circulated this cheeky attack graphic on the socials:
— In York Centre: About 100 folks were on hand to see SAM NESTICO acclaimed, and to dine on Italian food featuring pasta and cheese sticks. MP YA’ARA SAKS was spotted.
— In Mississauga-Streetsville: JILL PROMOLI hosted about 125 supporters. They ate wings and nachos. Local councillor and former mayoral and leadership contender ALVIN TEDJO was on hand.
Another Grit contender: PETER YUEN, retired deputy police chief, will carry the Liberal banner in Scarborough-Agincourt, currently held by PC ARIS BABIKIAN.
Battle for Burlington: Could this be the Liberals’ first contested nomination? While the third-place party has declared electoral urgency (scooped here) and has been ripping through automatic acclamations to lock in their candidates — there’s some competition for PC-held Burlington.
OLIVER PARKER, a longtime local resident, PhD student and self-described YIMBY, announced his intention to seek the Liberal nod last week. A few days later, ANDREA GREBNEC, former Halton District School Board trustee, threw her hat in the ring.
Over in Green world: MATT RICHTER is hoping the sixth time is the charm — he’ll be gunning for Parry Sound-Muskoka again, where he nearly doubled his vote share in the traditionally Tory riding. Catch up on my 2022 post-mortem with Richter.
For the PCs: DAWN GALLAGHER MURPHY (Newmarket-Aurora) is now on the board. Get up to speed with our CANDIDATE TRACKER.
HAPPENING TODAY
9:30 a.m.: Liberal Leader BONNIE CROMBIE is in the Media Studio to “expose another one of DOUG FORD's multi-billion-dollar boondoggles.”
11 a.m.: Greens MIKE SCHREINER and AISLINN CLANCY are up next, to lay out their priorities for the fall session.
1:15 p.m.: Energy Minister STEPHEN LECCE is in Newmarket.
1:30 p.m.: Health Minister SYLVIA JONES is in Ohsweken.
2 p.m.: Long-Term Care Minister NATALIA KUSENDOVA-BASHTA is up in Kitchener.
COCKTAIL CHATTER
5:30 p.m: Lieutenant Governor EDITH DUMONT will be at The Canadian Wool Council’s reception tonight at the Black Sheep Mattress Company in Toronto.
AROUND THE PALACE
Roll up your sleeves: The Legislature’s flu shot clinic is back in the basement. Sign up by contacting the health services department.
CLIPPINGS
— BIKE LANE BLOWBACK: Transportation Minister PRABMEET SARKARIA detailed his forthcoming bill to curb new bike lanes, with an eye to reducing gridlock.
Critics say it’s a bit rich for the Ford government to add what they call an extra layer of red tape, as municipalities will need provincial approval to bring in new lanes, but not where they reduce other traffic lanes.
Toronto Mayor OLIVIA CHOW put it thusly: “I do not support limiting city powers. It’s always better when we work together to get things right. To tackle congestion and keep people safe on city roads we need all types of transportation. The Province should focus on their job of finally getting the Eglinton Crosstown and Finch West LRTs open, which will have a huge impact on congestion in our city.”
Speaking of LRTs — HEADS ROLL AT MX: “Two senior transit executives at Metrolinx appear to be the casualties of a major shakeup at the provincial transit agency, Global News has learned, as the Crown corporation struggles with the delayed delivery of multiple light rail vehicle projects…The changes come in the wake of several Global News stories outlining the construction and financial challenges plaguing the Eglinton Crosstown, Finch West and Hurontario LRTs which have left all three projects without a completion date.”
— DOUG FORD SPEAKS: “Ontario is making what a key minister [VIC FEDELI] describes as a ‘hard pivot’ to life sciences, as it looks to replicate its aggressive investment in the electric-vehicle sector in a bid to become a world leader in biomanufacturing and health sciences…Ford outlined the second phase of the province's life sciences strategy Tuesday as he announced a $146 million investment in the industry.” CBC News reports.
Shake it off: “Ford also came under fire for his polarizing comments aimed at best-selling artist, TAYLOR SWIFT, who endorsed U.S. Vice President KAMALA HARRIS for the 2024 presidential election last month…[telling reporters] she ‘should stick with music, and let the other folks stick with what they do best.’”
It was all-too-familiar snark for Ontario’s women Oppo leaders. “First Ford tells teachers to ‘stick to their knitting.’ Now he tells Taylor to ‘stick to music.’ Hey Doug, why don’t you go back to your sticker business....we got this,” tweeted NDPer MARIT STILES.
“Taylor should stick to singing. Teachers should stick to their knitting. BONNIE CROMBIE should stop whining. When you start saying the quiet part out loud… it’s obvious what you mean,” came the post from @BonnieHQ.
It’s not the first time Ford’s been accused of sexism: He faced flak for saying then-NDP leader ANDREA HORWATH sounded like “nails on a chalkboard.”
— ARNOTT’S OUT: Speaker TED ARNOTT won’t seek re-election. Arnott has represented Wellington-Halton Hills since 1990 and has been Legislative referee since 2018 — though it was touch-and-go for a bit there, including a battle with benchmate NINA TANGRI. Still, Ford thanked Arnott for “his extraordinary record of public service, both as speaker and as a MPP for the last 34 years.” Arnott’s full statement.