SCOOP: Major staff shuffle
And Sin City confidential: Ford is "stressed, and everyone can tell."
ABOVE THE FOLD
First in Observer — MOVERS AND SHAKERS — After Premier DOUG FORD was forced to shake up his front bench (twice) this summer, senior staff are following suit. The full post-shuffle chiefs of staff list is expected to drop later today — but for now, sate yourself with our scoop on some of the incoming fresh faces.
In the Premier’s Office: Ford is poaching a director of policy, ADAM WALLACE, from Trade Minister VIC FEDELI, next week. DOUG BREWER, previously chief of staff to Colleges and Universities Minister JILL DUNLOP, starts transitioning to PO this week as executive director on policy. RAHUL BEDI, meanwhile, becomes deputy chief of staff in charge of policy.
Meet the chiefs: Signing on to the hot-potato Housing file as chief of staff is MICHAEL KLIMUNTOWSKI. Newly appointed Minister PAUL CALANDRA is bringing Klimuntowski over from the similarly troubled Long-Term Care portfolio, where he was seen as helping to calm the waters on a rocky file post-Covid.
“He’ll make sure they’re not dealing with whatever they were dealing with before [at the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing]. He did the same thing at LTC, when he went over with Calandra, he really cleaned up — which was helpful because obviously they were a dumpster fire during the pandemic. So it’ll be the same thing at MMAH — he will definitely turn that around,” said one government insider.
Over at Treasury Board, KAILEY VOKES is taking up the mantle as chief of staff to new President CAROLINE MULRONEY. Call it a comeback for Vokes, who previously worked as Mulroney’s D-Pol at Transportation and in PO, then did a stint at StrategyCorp before joining Infrastructure Ontario as director of partnerships. ALEXANDRA HUBBERT is also joining Mulroney’s team as deputy chief, leaving her post as a D-Pol to Ford.
At LTC: Newly shuffled Long-Term Care Minister STAN CHO has an interim chief to replace Klimuntowski — but word on the street is he’s going to take over the gig permanently: LINTON TAYLOR, who was director of stakeholder relations and policy.
In case you missed it, we previously scooped that D-Pol MEGAN SKINNER was temporarily taking over as chief of staff to new Transportation Minister PRABMEET SARKARIA — and she’s so well-liked many are hoping she stays on for good. Skinner replaced then-minister Mulroney’s CoS MICHAEL BEATON, who’s exited the world of politics.
Are you a newly shuffled chief? Did you get the memo from PATRICK SACKVILLE? I want to hear from you, and I’ll keep you anonymous. Reach out to sabrina@qpobserver.ca, or just reply to this email.
SIN CITY — What happens in Vegas shouldn’t stay in Vegas — not if the New Democrats have anything to do with it.
Oppo Leader MARIT STILES says she’s collecting evidence and readying her affidavit for Integrity Commissioner J. DAVID WAKE in the hopes he’ll further probe the sketchy Vegas trip that then-minister KALEED RASHEED and two of the Premier’s aides took with a developer who stood to benefit from the Greenbelt land swap. They couldn’t get their stories straight under oath, leading to (another) pair of resignations.
“Their Vegas story is not adding up,” Stiles fired in Question Period, hitting Premier DOUG FORD harder on the drama. (More on that below.)
Ford appeared unfazed in the chamber. “It was very clear that the Integrity Commissioner cleared myself and cleared my office. The Auditor General cleared myself and cleared my office,” he insisted.
But behind closed doors, sources close to the Premier tell me the saga is visibly weighing on him. “He’s stressed, and everyone can tell.”
Fat chance: Stiles also tried to get unanimous consent for a Speaker’s warrant to require public testimony from the two Ford-linked developers who stood to gain lucrative lands from the Greenbelt, SILVIO DE GASPERIS and MICHAEL RICE — but the majority-enjoying PCs shot it down. It was a politically-charged long shot, but a sign that Oppo will not let the damaging drama go, despite Ford’s reversal.
Wake’s got a full plate. Don’t forget, Green Leader MIKE SCHREINER formally asked the watchdog to trigger a public inquiry into the Greenbelt land swap debacle — and he’s still got to file a report on whether he’ll further investigate if ex-Housing chief RYAN AMATO broke ethics rules, something the Premier’s Office requested at the behest of the Auditor General.
HAPPENING TODAY
LET’S GET FISCAL — 9:45 a.m.: Newly appointed Treasury Board President CAROLINE MULRONEY and Finance Minister PETER BETHLENFALVY will release the Public Accounts, the mandatory documents that lay out actual spending for the last fiscal year. Media will get a technical briefing just before it goes live.
1 p.m.: Metrolinx CEO PHIL VERSTER and PHIL TABERNER, VP of the Eglinton Crosstown LRT, will provide a long-awaited progress update on the long-delayed project.
FUNDRAISING WATCH — A hat trick of PC moneymaking events tonight: Newly minted Labour Minister DAVID PICCINI, Infrastructure Minister KINGA SURMA and RUDY CUZZETTO are putting on a $500-a-head event in Toronto. Also in the 416, new Associate Transportation Minister TODD McCARTHY is headlining a $1,000-a-plate fundraiser. And PATRICE BARNES is hosting “A night at the races” for $500 a pop in Ajax, home of the downs.
BARGAINING CHIP — The Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation is expected to wrap up its ratification vote on a tentative deal with the government that would avoid a strike and send any outstanding issues to binding arbitration next month. A fly in the ointment: Some union members aren’t happy about forfeiting their right to strike, with at least two bargaining units voicing their opposition.
SAVE THE DATE — LG INCOMING: New Lieutenant Governor EDITH DUMONT will be sworn in on November 14. Details to come. For now, get to know Dumont.
ON THE ORDER PAPER
SETTING THE STAGE — A fresh post-shuffle-and-byelection crop of MPPs means a new floor plan in the chamber. Check out who’s on the front bench, the PC “rump” and Oppo rows.
First up: Infrastructure Minister KINGA SURMA will kick off second-reading debate on her Bill 131, which would allow municipalities to fund the design and construction of new GO stations, and let the TTC enter into cross-boundary service agreements with neighbouring transit agencies. That’s expected to continue in the afternoon.
After the morning’s Question Period, a deferred vote: On Liberal JOHN FRASER’s private member’s Bill 54 that would expand WSIB coverage to workers in residential care and group homes.
Enshrine time: Bill 79 — the third Working for Workers Act that among other things bans non-competes and establishes the right to disconnect — is awaiting Royal Assent after clearing third reading on a voice vote. Reminder: It’s ex-Labour Minister MONTE McNAUGHTON’s swan song, but its sponsor was changed to new Minister DAVID PICCINI.
ON THE COMMITTEE CIRCUIT — It’s tumbleweeds. They’re back at it Thursday.
COCKTAIL CHATTER — The US-Canada Underground Railroad Committee is serving up an MPP breakfast in Room 228, followed by a luncheon put on by the Alzheimer Society of Ontario. Later on, the Public Affairs Association of Canada is hosting an evening reception in the Dining Room. The spread: Lobster risotto arancini, grilled jerk chicken with pineapple mango salsa, Ontario veggies with chimichurri, a banh mi sandwich station and more.
DOUG FORD’S TUESDAY — The Premier delivered a keynote at the Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association’s annual conference and cut the ribbon on a new women and children’s hospital with Health Minister SYLVIA JONES and Trillium Health Partners in Mississauga.
CLIPPINGS
— LEGION LOSS: A pair of PC-connected ex-legion workers in Vaughan have been charged with fraud.
— FIRST NATIONS SET THE TABLE: “Leaders from four First Nations in northern Ontario returned to Queen's Park on Tuesday to push back against mining activity on their lands, and are calling out Premier Doug Ford for offering up Kenora-Rainy River MPP Greg Rickford to meet with them in his place.” They even set up a table on the South Lawn. CBC has the story.
— PAIKIN PENS: TVO workers may still be on the picket lines, but Agenda host STEVE PAIKIN is still spilling ink on the hot-potato Greenbelt. “Politics is a funny business,” he writes.
— HOUSING PRESCRIPTION: “The mortality rate in Toronto of people who deal with chronic homelessness is dramatically higher than those who have a place to live, and soon a new modular housing unit will open — something the University Health Network is ‘prescribing’ as a means to tackle homelessness and health care pressures at the same time.” Global News reports.
— SWEETENING THE DEAL: Ottawa and Ontario are doling out $1 million over two years to boost the maple syrup industry.
SPOTTED:
PCer NATALIA KUSENDOVA, who is of Polish descent, pinning federal Nazi-gate on Prime Minister JUSTIN TRUDEAU — from Auschwitz…Roads around Queen’s Park closed for most of the day after police got a tip about a possible convoy protest that didn’t exactly come to pass…Day Two of the Ontario Health Coalition’s anti-privatization protest on the South Lawn (an alternate rally for folks marking Yom Kippur the day before).
MOVERS AND SHAKERS II
MEET THE PRESS — COURTNEY HEELS has joined the Queen’s Park Press Gallery for CP24.
QUESTION PERIOD
THE HIGHLIGHTS: “When did [the Premier] first find out that his minister was living it up in Vegas with people who have business before his government?” — “Does the Premier have reason to believe that any of his ministers or staff may have given advance notice to Mr. [SHAKIR] REHMATULLAH about their plans to remove parcels of land from the Greenbelt?” — “Does the Premier believe that one of his ministers and/or members of his staff lied to the Integrity Commissioner?” — “Will the Premier meet with the Land Defence Alliance chiefs today?” — “Does the new [Environment] minister believe that there’s a climate crisis?” — In Hamilton, “can this government reverse course and stop paving over farmland?” — Do not allow ER closures on Manitoulin — Investigate potential links between [PC] donations in Niagara and the Greenbelt decision. THE TRANSCRIPT.
LOBBYING DISPATCH
Here are the new, renewed and amended registrations over the past 24 hours:
William Wuehr, Crestview Strategy: Greenbelt Foundation
John Matheson and Saad Baig, StrategyCorp: Ontario Professional Planners Institute
Fraser Macdonald, StrategyCorp: The Ontario Long Term Care Association, Ontario Retirement Communities Association
Mark Holmes, Marlyn Consulting: Wabi Iron & Steel Corp
Ben Levitt, Stosic & Associates: Pacific Smoke International
Jennifer Mossop, Mossop Media/JFM Productions: Ontario Long Term Care Clinicians, Hospice Palliative Care Ontario
Frank Klees, Klees & Associates: Avenue 7 Developments Inc.
Abinaya Chandrabalan, Rubicon Strategy: Cadillac Fairview
Sarah Letersky, Rubicon Strategy: Hope Air
Tim Smitheman, Rubicon Strategy: Joint Electrical Promotion Plan
Jordan Penic, Sussex Strategy Group: PR Development LP
Devan Sommerville, Counsel Public Affairs: Natural Burial Association
Kerry Allerton, 3Sixty Public Affairs: Merck Canada Inc., Lung Cancer Canada
Benjamin Menka, Capital Hill Group: VinFast Auto Canada Inc.
Aaron Scheewe, Capital Hill Group: Rycom, VinFast Auto Canada Inc.
Christopher Froggatt, Jared Burke and Dan Mader, Loyalist Public Affairs: New Haven Learning Centre
Laurel Brazill and Trisha Rinneard, Wellington Advocacy: Red Bull Canada
Jeffrey Bangs and Jerry Khouri, Pathway Group: Assaulted Women’s Helpline
Donald Gracey, CG Management & Communications: Ontario Athletic Therapist Association
🥳 HAPPY BIRTHDAY: NDPer TERENCE KERNAGHAN (London North Centre)…Ex-PC JEFF YUREK (Elgin-Middlesex-London).
🍽️ ON THE MENU: Wondering whether to pick up or pack a lunch? The Quorum Cafe’s basement cafeteria is serving up chicken korma with rice and vegetables on special.
⌛ COUNTDOWN: T-minus 66 days until the Liberal leadership contest…108 days until the Premier has to call a byelection in Kitchener Centre.