SCOOP: House rises early for election
Plus: Good news for gig workers, a new DM and mini staff shuffle, dasvidaniya Russian vodka, pulling the plug on Moore, and a bunch of birthdays
ABOVE THE FOLD
First in Queen’s Park Observer — The House is set to rise ahead of schedule as MPPs gear up for the spring election.
Government House Leader PAUL CALANDRA has a motion on the Order Paper — which will almost certainly pass thanks to the PC majority — that would truncate the current session, originally slated to end on Thursday June 2, which also happens to be Election Day.
Per Calandra’s motion, in election times, the House would only sit until “the fifth Wednesday preceding the first Thursday in June.” That would be May 4 — the official start of the campaign.
That also puts the PCs in a better position to run for re-election on all the vote-grabbing goodies in the budget, which is expected to be delayed as late as April 30 — as scooped by Queen’s Park Observer.
Worker-friendly announcements keep on coming. Premier DOUG FORD and Labour Minister MONTE MCNAUGHTON are expected to unveil the latest package at 11 a.m. in Toronto — including a $15-minimum wage and tip transparency for app-based gig workers like Uber drivers and couriers.
The legislation drops today and would provide such gig workers with a regular pay day and ban platform operators from withholding tips without an explanation.
It comes on the heels of a report from the province’s Workforce Recovery Advisory Committee, which recommended creating a new class of employee so that digital-based gig workers are also covered by basic labour laws guaranteeing a minimum wage and benefits.
On Friday, Ford teased legislation that would remove barriers for skilled workers beyond Ontario’s borders, allowing out-of-province workers to get their professional credentials processed within 30 days.
Meanwhile, Ford addressed a report about politicians’ homes and offices being frequent targets for vandalism, calling it an “attack on democracy.” The Premier also said Ontario — the final provincial holdout — is “so, so close” to nabbing a deal for $10-a-day child care with the feds.
HAPPENING TODAY
— 11 a.m.: FORD and MCNAUGHTON make the gig-worker announcement in Toronto.
— 11 a.m.: The Ontario Human Rights Commission will release its Right to Read report on human rights issues affecting students with reading disabilities, such as dyslexia.
FUNDRAISING WATCH — 6 p.m.: A $1,000-a-head Zoom fundraiser for the PCs. Invite. Also at 6 p.m.: Liberal Leader STEVEN DEL DUCA headlines back-to-back fundraisers in support of Etobicoke North (DOUG FORD territory) and Sudbury. The Grits are also hosting a bunch of trivia night fundraisers. RSVP.
THE HOUSE IS IN — MPPs kick off the first full sitting week of the session with the national and royal anthems at 10:15 a.m. Committees are back at it tomorrow.
ON THE ORDER PAPER — After Question Period, MPPs will debate the NDP’s first Opposition Day motion of the year, aimed at clearing the pandemic-induced surgery backlog. Motions are non-binding but have symbolic value — that said, Oppo motions rarely pass and this one likely won’t either, since it calls out the Ford government’s “failure to adequately fund hospitals and community clinics.” Full text.
Later on, Bill 84 — the red-tape reduction legislation that scraps licence plate renewal fees and pushes the budget deadline — goes for third-reading debate.
In case you missed it, Speaker TED ARNOTT is lifting proof-of-vaccination (or negative test) rules for the Legislative Precinct along with the rest of the province tomorrow. Today is also longtime PC JEFF YUREK’s last day in the House. Catch up on our scoop.
MAKING HEADLINES
— LCBO SAYS DASVIDANIYA: “The LCBO has been ordered to stop selling Russian vodka and beer following the invasion of Ukraine.” Details from the Star: The “order followed a similar request from Liberal Leader Steven Del Duca earlier in the day, but Premier Doug Ford told reporters the measure had already been under discussion.”
Meanwhile, Ford will speak with the feds, including Deputy PM CHRYSTIA FREELAND, “to find out all the trade that we do in Russia” because “we’re going to throw everything we have at them.” Also in tow for the talks: Trade Minister VIC FEDELI and Finance Minister PETER BETHLENFALVY.
— MOORE, OUT: Top doc KIERAN MOORE will no longer be a Thursday afternoon fixture. Ontario is pulling the plug on the weekly Covid briefings, with the last one slated for March 10, as “key public health and health system indicators continuing to improve or remain stable.” Moore will be back at the podium “as required.”
— CONVOY FALLOUT: Should Ford face questions amid upcoming reviews of the use of the federal Emergencies Act? The Globe and Mail argues yes. “No review can be adequate without asking the politician ultimately responsible for policing in Ontario why he believed that the situation was beyond the capacity of law enforcement there. Or why it required powers beyond existing criminal law, provincial statutes, and Mr. Ford’s own emergency orders.”
— STICKER SHOCK: “Police are warning the public of a scam involving licence plate sticker refunds after several people reported getting text messages from someone claiming to be from an Ontario government agency.” CP24 has the story.
MOVERS AND SHAKERS
First in Queen’s Park Observer — NEW DM — MAUD MURRAY has been named deputy minister of red tape reduction, within the Ministry of Economic Development, replacing longtime DM GILES GHERSON. Murray was previously the assistant DM.
STAFFER MINI-SHUFFLE — Some moves in Education Minister STEPHEN LECCE’s office: JACK FAZZARI goes from communications adviser to Lecce’s executive assistant, replacing ALEXANDER GIORDANO. Director of media relations CAITLIN CLARK becomes director of communications, taking over from NICHOLAS INSLEY. Press secretary GRACE LEE is now deputy D-Comms.
GUTHRIE TAKES OVER BIG CITY MAYORS — As Barrie Mayor and chair of Ontario’s Big City Mayors JEFF LEHMAN seeks the provincial Liberal candidacy, a familiar face has been named interim chair: Guelph Mayor CAM GUTHRIE, who previously chaired the OBCM caucus.
2022 — Speaking of, a pair of Grits have been added to the ticket. In St. Catharines, RYAN MADILL, a local firefighter captain. Over in Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas, SHUBHA SANDILL, an instructor at York University. Both ridings are currently held by the NDP.
SPOTTED:
Days after the so-called freedom convoy was cleared out in Ottawa, a big anti-mandate march from Queen’s Park to Dundas Square…MPPs of all stripes rallying against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine…
In London…
And the Liberals decried “the destruction of our common humanity”…
LOBBYING DISPATCH
Here are the new, renewed and amended registrations since Friday:
— Christopher Steer, Santis Health: VHA Health and Home Support
In-house organizations: ALS Society of Canada
🥳 HAPPY BIRTHDAY: RICHARD CLARK, the Finance Minister’s chief of staff…RYAN WHEALY, manager of issues and legislative affairs to the Labour Minister…HAYLEY CHAZAN, manager of media strategy at CAMH and former top comms staffer to the Health Minister…JAMIE TUMELTY, the CityNews cameraman and Ford-dubbed “all-star” who’s been diligently covering Queen’s Park on the ground throughout the pandemic.
⏳ COUNTDOWN: T-minus 94 days until the Election…65 days until the official start of the 2022 campaign…61 days until the budget is (now legally) due out.