SCOOP: Grits red-light candidate in Newmarket
Plus: NDPers vs. Parish, Oppo muse on minority, PCs invoke Wynne for cash, Ford hits the media circuit, Skilled Trades Ontario debuts, a special birthday
ABOVE THE FOLD
The Grits have disqualified a controversial candidate in Newmarket—Aurora, NDPers are calling out antisemitism in their own ranks, and Opposition party captains muse about a possible minority PC government — but first, Premier DOUG FORD hit the media circuit, offering hints on child care and mask mandates.
DAYCARE DEAL — Clinching a deal for $10-a-day child care with the feds is “very, very close” for Ontario, which is now the only jurisdiction in the country without one. Premier DOUG FORD offered the hint on Kenora’s Q104 radio station, saying he’s “confident we’re going to strike a deal that’s going to be beneficial for everyone.”
He laid out the sticking points on another broadcast in Belleville, saying he wants to make sure Ottawa’s $10.2-billion package is “sustainable” — not just one-off payments that may leave the province holding the bag five years hence. “We need consistent escalators all the way through for many years.”
Prime Minister JUSTIN TRUDEAU also struck an optimistic note when he announced a deal with Nunavut Monday, saying Ontario’s framework has been set out for a “long time” and the feds have been ready to sign-off “for many, many months.”
MASK ON, MASK OFF — One pandemic trend that’s here to stay: Face masks. Speaking to Belleville’s CJBQ radio station, Ford said he can’t see masking mandates lifting anytime soon — but they won’t be in place forever.
That tracks with the province’s latest blueprint for reopening, which would see nearly all restrictions eased up by mid-March, with rules for masking and vax passes still around.
First in Queen’s Park Observer — RED-LIT IN NEWMARKET: A wannabe Grit candidate whose social media posts were flagged as “deeply concerning” by Jewish community advocates has been disqualified from running in Newmarket—Aurora.
SHAMEELA SHAKEEL won’t get a shot at seeking the nomination in the PC-held riding after getting red-lit by the Ontario Liberal Party.
While it isn’t clear why she was DQ’ed (political parties typically keep that info under wraps, even would-be contestants are kept in the dark), Shakeel’s vetting process centred on her social media posts about a big political hot potato: Israel and Palestine.
Queen’s Park Observer had the scoop on the drama.
To wit: At issue for folks in the Jewish community — including B’nai Brith Canada, a Jewish human-rights group — was a series of tweets from May 2021 in which Shakeel backed JAVIER DAVILA — a student equity adviser at the Toronto District School Board who was suspended, then reinstated without discipline, after sharing materials with teachers on Palestinian human rights that also included articles that labelled Israel an apartheid regime. That, and other posts, raised “serious concerns” for B’nai Brith, which said Shakeel shouldn’t be green-lit to run for the Grits. “Doing so would send a very unfortunate message that the party does not take antisemitism seriously,” MICHAEL MOSTYN, the group’s CEO, told me at the time.
Benching Shakeel was the right move, B’nai Brith says now, adding: “There can be no room for antisemitism or discrimination in Canadian politics.”
For Shakeel’s part, it’s “disappointing.”
“I’m still processing,” she told me by phone. “I got a call from [OLP president] BRIAN JOHNS on Sunday evening and he just said that he was calling to let me know that the vetting committee — I can’t even remember the wording — but basically, he just said that I’m no longer a candidate for the nomination contest in Newmarket—Aurora. And that was it. There was no explanation — that’s all I know.”
As a political newcomer and mental health professional who works with kids with learning disorders, Shakeel said it’s important for all political parties to do better when it comes to creating space for diverse voices. (She also acknowledged the tweets in question may not have always been appropriate.)
“We deserve equal space. We’re just going to have to keep fighting harder — as people of colour, as those who are pro-Palestinian, or pro whatever. Everybody deserves space.”
“It’s just disappointing,” Shakeel went on to say. “Our riding deserves to have representation by somebody who lives in the riding.”
That may be subtle shade thrown at her competition, high-profile candidate Dr. SYLVAIN ROY, who’s now poised to automatically secure the nomination next month.
But it might have been a tough slog for Roy had Shakeel been on the ticket, as she signed up well over 250 eligible voters, versus Roy’s 100-some-odd members. There are also 300-plus existing members in the riding that could have swayed the race either way.
The official line from party spokesman WILL WUEHR: “We do not comment on the vetting process.”
Does Roy have a shot? Newmarket—Aurora has been Tory blue since the riding was created in 2007 — save for 2014 to 2018, when it was repped by ex-Liberal MPP CHRIS BALLARD, who’s helping out on Roy’s campaign.
It’s now held by Deputy Premier and Health Minister CHRISTINE ELLIOTT, who’s got a high front-bench profile and is well-liked among the public, making her difficult to unseat. But there are (arguably evergreen) rumours floating around the Pink Palace that Elliott may not run again, which would make the race more competitive for political challengers.
NDP FAMILY FEUD — New Democrats are speaking out against a street being named after a Nazi naval officer, an apparent dig at their own candidate in Ajax, STEVE PARISH.
While prominent NDPers RIMA BERNS-MCGOWN (Beaches—East York) and JILL ANDREW (Toronto—St. Paul’s) didn’t name-check Parish specifically, they pointedly tweeted their disdain:
“I don’t know who needs to hear this, but naming streets after Nazis is an obvious and clear no. Antisemitism still terrorizes and kills. It is still everywhere. Ask the Jewish parishioners in Colleyville, [Texas]. There are no excuses,” said Berns-McGown.
Added Andrew: “Nothing in Ontario should be named after any Nazi. That’s central to everything I believe as an ONDP MPP. I will always work actively alongside Jewish community members and leaders to call out and stamp out antisemitism and hate, wherever it is.”
NDP candidate ALISON KELLY, who’s running in Bay of Quinte after flirting with a Liberal bid, chimed in with supportive hand-clapping emojis.
RIDING PREZ RESIGNS — Over in neighbouring Pickering—Uxbridge, the president of the local riding association has stepped down after what she called a steady stream of “antisemitic incidents coming out of the party.”
“I cannot stay in a space that is unwelcoming to Jews and shows no signs of action to improve safety,” EMMA CUNNINGHAM said in a tweet thread that included other antisemitic episodes, such as a 2018 candidate sharing a “pro-Hitler meme.”
As for Parish, Cunningham said that while the controversial street was renamed, “it’s unacceptable for any party, particularly a progressive one, to run Parish as a candidate.”
The NDP maintains it’s committed to fighting antisemitism.
Context: At his formal candidate crowning ceremony last week, Parish — the former longest serving mayor of Ajax who’s vying to replace outgoing Tory Minister ROD PHILLIPS — acknowledged the Nazi monikered Langsdorff Avenue caused pain to folks in the Jewish community, and offered his “complete, unconditional and most sincere apology.”
But the mea culpa reportedly didn’t go far enough for B’nai Brith and the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies, which pointed out that Parish was just stating the obvious, not apologizing for his behaviour. The apology.
MINORITY RETORT — Opposition party leaders are taking a hard pass on supporting a minority Ford government — which is a real possibility, according to the latest string of polls.
During yesterday’s pre-campaign panel at Ryerson U, NDP Leader ANDREA HORWATH told moderator and Star columnist Martin Regg Cohn that she and Premier DOUG FORD are “just too far apart.”
“Fundamentally, my values, my beliefs, my policy objectives are completely the opposite of Doug Ford. So I don’t see any scenario where I would support a Doug Ford government,” she said.
Grit captain STEVEN DEL DUCA was more cagey, but he isn’t keen on backing the Tories if they lose their majority and the Opposition holds the balance of power.
“Doug Ford has demonstrated consistently during Covid, even before Covid…that he’s not the right person for the job…Though I’m prepared to work with virtually any person in this province to give us real progress, I don’t believe that I’ll be able to support Doug Ford.”
FUNDRAISING WATCH
“SHE’S BACK” — The latest PC fundraising email appeal: “KATHLEEN WYNNE is back and reflecting on her days as Premier. We all remember how Ontario crumbled under the Liberals. High-paying jobs fled Ontario. Hydro prices skyrocketed. Liberal insiders got rich…And now new Ontario Liberal Leader STEVEN DEL DUCA is trying to re-introduce himself to Ontarians…but we know who he really is. He was Kathleen Wynne’s right-hand man at the Cabinet table making decisions while this all happened. Do you want to go back? Neither do we. Chip in now.”
“REUNION TOUR” — Meanwhile, the NDP slammed Del Duca’s 2022 team, which features war room vets from past successful Liberal campaigns. In a statement, the NDP claimed pollster and strategist DON GUY “engineered the gas plants plan to try and save Liberal seats in the dying days of an election — no matter what it cost.”
McGuinty-era staffer DAVE GENE was also linked to the gas plants scandal. Lobbyist BOB LOPINSKI wasn’t spared either, with the NDP pointing out his connection to a controversial casino deal.
The reunion tour is “playing the greatest hits of Liberal scandals,” said NDP Ethics critic TARAS NATYSHAK. “Del Duca’s telling Ontarians to expect more of the same tired old Liberal song and dance this year. We can’t afford to give them an encore.”
HAPPENING TODAY
— 9:15 a.m.: Del Duca will make a virtual announcement about long-term care alongside 2022 candidates.
— 9:30 a.m.: Horwath will hold a virtual presser to call on the Ford government to restart scheduled surgeries and give hospitals the resources to make it happen.
Doctors are making the same plea.
ON THE COMMITTEE CIRCUIT — The Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs is back at it on the pre-budget consultation tour. Today’s witness roster features the Ontario Medical Association, Home Care Ontario, CUPE Ontario, Unifor, the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association and more. Livestream.
MAKING HEADLINES
— TRUANCY REPORT: “More than 300 Ontario schools reported staff and student absences of more than 30 per cent by the end of last week,” the Canadian Press reports. “But the data includes all absences, not just those that might be related to COVID-19, making it tough to gauge the impact of the Omicron variant on Ontario's school system now that the province is no longer publicly reporting cases in schools.”
— TRAINING UP NURSES (OR NOT) — From the CBC: “The association that represents registered nurses in Ontario is blasting a move by the province to invite internationally trained nurses to do the work of personal support workers while not giving them credit for the practical work experience required by the College of Nurses of Ontario.”
— MX PROBE: “The provincial government will investigate Metrolinx’s decision to award contracts worth millions of dollars to a consulting firm while one of the firm’s directors was also serving as an executive at the transit agency.” The Star’s got the story.
— NO VAX? NO BOOZE OR WEED: Following the NDP, “Ontario Liberal Leader Steven Del Duca is calling on the Doug Ford government to make proof of vaccination mandatory for access to LCBO and cannabis stores.”
— PRINCIPAL CONTRACT: “The government has reached a tentative employment agreement with Ontario’s 8,000 school principals and vice-principals.”
MOVERS AND SHAKERS
First in Queen’s Park Observer — STAFFING UP: Longtime bureaucrat ANIKA RASHEED has a new gig as a senior adviser to the Deputy Minister of Indigenous Affairs.
— WHO’S WHO AT SKILLED TRADES ONTARIO: The new Crown agency that’s replacing the Ontario College of Trades debuted Tuesday. It’s chaired by MICHAEL SHERRARD, managing partner of employment law firm Sherrard Kuzz LLP. Skilled Trades Ontario’s board of directors also includes LEE GREENBERG, ex-longtime PC staffer who’s now working at public affairs firm Policy Concepts. Full lineup.
SPOTTED:
DOUG FORD’s touch-and-go RSVP to a meeting with the Ontario Nurses’ Association (now set for February 3):
LOBBYING DISPATCH
Here are the new, renewed and amended registrations over the past 24 hours:
— Sarah Letersky, Rubicon Strategy: AstraZeneca
— Greg Gordon, Crestview Strategy: Rogers Communications, Nokia Canada
— Rahul Bedi, Earnscliffe Strategy Group: Nestle Health Sciences
— Lily Mesh, Wellington Dupont Public Affairs: Northstar Clean Technologies, Boehringer Ingelheim (Canada), Ontario Personal Support Workers Association
— Patrick Lavelle-Tuns, Endgame Strategies: Bowmanville Home Hardware Building Centre
— John Matheson, StrategyCorp: Muslim Association of Canada
— Brian Teefy, StrategyCorp: Peak Power
— Jill Wilson, Christopher Froggatt, Jared Burke and Dan Mader, Loyalist Public Affairs: Wine Growers Ontario
— Chris Benedetti, Sussex Strategy Group: Electronic Products Recycling Association
— Heather Tory, Longview Communications & Public Affairs: MaRS Discovery District
— Fraser Macdonald, Stosic & Associates: Epitome Labs Inc.
— Marisa Keating, Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP: Brookfield Properties
— Caroline Pinto and Logan Ross, Counsel Public Affairs: CNIB Foundation
— Maddy Stieva, The Capital Hill Group: CoR.io Inc
— Kevin Tetreault, Edelman: Pure Storage
In-house organizations: REALpac- Real Property Association of Canada — Animal Justice.
🥳 HAPPY (BELATED) BIRTHDAY: KARLA FORD, the Premier’s wife.
⏳ COUNTDOWN: 127 days until Election Day…98 days until the official start of the 2022 campaign…27 days until the House reconvenes…64 days until the budget is (legally) due out.