SCOOP: 'Liberal musical chairs'
Plus, the PC Party gets a new communications director
In this edition: Leaked emails raise questions about the Liberals’ nomination process, the NDP want to trigger a vote on reopening outdoor amenities, and a minister’s top staffer joins the party side.
Good Monday morning. This is Queen’s Park Observer.
ABOVE THE FOLD
“Liberal musical chairs.” That’s how one Grit operative described the situation in Etobicoke Centre and Davenport, where two nomination candidates are poised to be acclaimed in uncontested races after jumping in from other ridings where they initially planned to run.
NOEL SEMPLE, an associate law professor at the University of Windsor, announced that he was throwing his hat in the ring for the Liberal nomination in Etobicoke—Lakeshore in early March. On Friday, the party sent out a notice to Liberals in neighbouring Etobicoke Centre, saying Semple would be named their candidate at a virtual meeting on June 2 because “only one nomination contestant has met all filing requirements and deadlines.”
But behind the scenes, the local riding association president suggested the process hasn’t been completed yet. Queen’s Park Observer obtained emails local president JAMES HUNTER sent to high-profile members, saying, “We need to assemble 25 signatures of members in good standing of the riding association by Tuesday, May 18 to support Noel’s nomination.”
That was problematic for many Liberals I spoke with for two big reasons — Hunter, as the local president, should be neutral, instead of “stumping for signatures” on Semple’s behalf. Meanwhile, Semple had until May 18 to get the requisite signatures, despite the notice giving members the impression he had already met the filing requirements.
Under the “Eligibility for Inclusions on Ballot” section of the OLP’s 2022 nomination rulebook, no contestant “shall be eligible to be elected unless they submit fully completed and executed nomination papers…and such papers shall be signed by at least 25 members.”
One Liberal organizer charged “this is only the latest when it comes to how the party under new leadership is not being transparent with its nominations.” Another Liberal was more blunt with their allegations: “We didn’t need any more proof, but the rigging of the Etobicoke Centre nomination process is just another example that shows Liberal Leader STEVEN DEL DUCA and the people closest to him have doubled down on corrupting the nomination process.”
Semple acknowledged the May 18 deadline and said he didn’t see a problem with Hunter’s push for the 25 signatures because he was the only one to submit the rest of his paperwork on time. “I don’t think it was orchestrated,” he said. As for the reason behind his jump from Etobicoke—Lakeshore, Semple noted that he’s been involved in both ridings and that his family is moving to Etobicoke Centre next month for “non-political reasons.”
Meanwhile in Davenport, JERRY LEVITAN will get the Grits’ nod to run at a nomination ceremony on May 26. Levitan, a lawyer, had declared his intent to run in Spadina—Fort York late last year. Asked why he swapped ridings months later, Levitan said he has a “strong connection” in both. “This has all been my choice,” he added.
Ontario Liberal Party spokesperson WILL WUEHR didn’t address specific questions about this story, saying “I don’t have any background on the issue.”
Etobicoke Centre is represented by KINGA SURMA, the PCs’ associate minister of transportation. Davenport is held by MARIT STILES, the NDP’s education critic.
HAPPENING TODAY
— A virtual announcement at 10 a.m. from Colleges and Universities Minister ROSS ROMANO and Treasury Board President PETER BETHLENFALVY, who’s also the minister responsible for digital and data transformation.
— Del Duca continues to hold Zoom pressers to discuss his party’s plan for $10-a-day licensed child care, featuring Sudbury candidate DAVID FARROW at 10 a.m.
— Health officials will provide their regular Covid update at 3 p.m. in the Media Studio.
— This evening, Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister STEVE CLARK will host a $1,000-a-ticket Zoom fundraiser for the PC Party.
ON THE ORDER PAPER
Triggering a vote: NDP Deputy Leader SARA SINGH will move a motion calling on the Ford government to listen to the Covid Science Advisory Table and immediately reopen outdoor amenities and activities in the name of mental and physical health. Motions are non-binding but they carry symbolic weight, which might be what the New Democrats are angling for — after morning debate the Official Opposition is expected to trigger a recorded vote, should the Speaker hear a “nay,” which would force the ruling PCs to shut down something that a growing chorus of voices are calling for, or agree and give the NDP legislative credit. Last week, Premier DOUG FORD intimated outdoor activities could be among the first to reopen, but it wasn’t clear if that’ll happen before the latest stay-at-home order expires on June 2.
After Question Period, there’s a deferred vote on NDP MPP TERENCE KERNAGHAN’s private member’s Bill 277 regarding assistive devices for people with mental health needs. Later on, Solicitor General SYLVIA JONES will kick-off a special take-note debate on the second state of emergency, which ran from mid January to February.
AT COMMITTEE
The PCs’ latest red-tape reduction bill is up for back-to-back public hearings starting this morning at the General Government committee. Associate Red-Tape Reduction Minister PRABMEET SARKARIA’s Bill 276 has made negative headlines recently because it would impose an up to $25,000 fine for people who record online eviction hearings at the Landlord and Tenant Board, which are also heavily criticized for adding challenges for already-struggling renters.
SPOTTED:
— FORD’S SUNDAY: The Premier stopped by a clinic in Mississauga that ran a 32-hour overnight vaccination marathon, with the goal of administering 7,600 doses. In brief remarks to a reporter, Ford said summer camps, which usually kick off July 3, are “opening up this year because of the great work these people are doing.”
— Ford condemned demonstrations over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and called on police to investigate any acts of anti-Semitism. “Discrimination or hatred of any kind against any community in our province should never be tolerated,” he tweeted.
— Ford also signed off on a fundraising email blast entitled “Nobody wants a fourth wave,” which doubles down on the border issue. “All of [JUSTIN] TRUDEAU’s half measures are too little, too late…Banning non-essential travel to Canada will allow us to get back to normal faster.”
— A big anti-lockdown protest at Queen’s Park North on Saturday.
MOVERS AND SHAKERS
— The PC Party has a new Director of Communications as of last week: STEPHANIE BELLOTTO, who is taking up the mantle from CHRISTINA WRAMHED while she’s on maternity leave until May 2022. Bellotto was most recently press secretary and issues manager to Municipal Affairs Minister STEVE CLARK, and before that, worked in Premier DOUG FORD’s office.
MAKING HEADLINES
— Baber vs. the Crown: Anti-Lockdown MPP ROMAN BABER took on the PC government in court on Friday. Via his lawyer, the ousted Tory argued that there’s a “small risk” of Covid transmission outdoors and restrictions on such gatherings aren’t grounded in science, and therefore infringe on fundamental rights to pray and protest. Counsel for the government offered some insight into its decision-making, arguing that the outdoor restrictions are a necessary part of the overall public health response to ensure hospitals don’t get bogged down (even further). One of the province’s lawyers took a more forceful approach, pointing out that Baber doesn’t go to the synagogue every week but when he does, he visits many for “religious and political reasons.”
— Ontario is investigating the two Toronto long-term care homes where the military alleged residents died of neglect and dehydration. LTC Minister MERRILEE FULLERTON said Friday that inspectors from her ministry and the Coroner’s Office have now been deployed to Downsview and Hawthorne Place, where they’ll spend the next several weeks interviewing staff, medical directors and “people that were on the ground” at the time. “We’re trying to piece this together,” Fullerton said.
— The St. Catharines Standard’s Grant LaFleche on the tip of the iceberg in the 905: “Brampton Mayor PATRICK BROWN’s judgment is being questioned after a scathing letter circulating at city hall alleges that he visited the home of a former employee after she accused top officials in his administration of corruption.”
— A 17-year-old laments online graduation as Education Minister STEPHEN LECCE mulls outdoor ceremonies. From CP: “‘It comes up in almost every conversation,’ she said. ‘The fact that it’s going to be a pre-recorded video you’ll have to watch, it’s really disappointing. It’s not motivational, you know, because we’re almost there at the end, and it’s really sad that this is how our graduation is going to be.”
— “The final nail in the coffin of this wrongheaded policy,” according to defence lawyer MICHAEL SPRATT in the Toronto Star. “Ontario is still owed millions under a law the Supreme Court called unconstitutional. A homeless man is asking a judge to clear his debts.”
— Five-hundred ventilators from Ontario have touched down in hard-hit India.
— After the 2020 season was cancelled, the OHL announced plans to drop the puck this fall. “The League is excited to circle another date on the calendar as opening night for the 2021-22 regular season is set for Thursday, October 7.”
POLL WATCH
The Tories came out on top in a recent public-opinion survey from Campaign Research, which shows 36 per cent support for the governing party, and 28 per cent for the Liberals, trailed closely by the NDP with 25 per cent, and the Greens rounding out the ticket with seven per cent support.
PANDEMIC TRACKER
Another vaccination milestone under the belt: At 154,104, Ontario on Friday cracked the elusive 150,000-mark for the first time. It follows more good news that half of adults in the province have received their first dose. Meanwhile, Humber River Hospital appears to be the first mass immunization clinic to offer shots to the 16-plus crowd in hot spots starting today.
Sunday saw another 2,199 Covid infections on the books, along with 30 more deaths. At least 785 patients are in ICUs.
🥳 HAPPY BIRTHDAY: PC MPP PARM GILL (Milton)…JONATHAN RICCI, Manager of Stakeholder Relations to the Environment Minister…MICHAEL DIAMOND, lobbyist and chair of the Ontario Trillium Foundation.
I’ve heard from current and would-be Liberal candidates asking if I’ve seen their name on the list of “preferred” contestants — if you weren’t mentioned in my initial scoop, you’re not on the list, sorry! But I still want to hear from you, and I’ll keep you anonymous. Reach out to sabrina@qpobserver.ca, or just reply to this email.