SCOOP: Meet the incoming PC Party exec
Also: Marit makes it official, cheers and jeers at the Plowing Match, the climate cost of transit infrastructure, a jam-packed day for government announcements
ABOVE THE FOLD
First in Queen’s Park Observer — We’ve got the full roster for incoming PC Party brass — but first, MARIT STILES makes her leadership bid official.
STILES IS IN — As we scooped in yesterday’s newsletter, Stiles will announce her bid for leader of the provincial New Democrats today, Queen’s Park Observer has learned.
Stiles — the Official Opposition’s Education critic and MPP for Davenport — will formally enter the fray this afternoon.
Her campaign’s media advisory is very low-key, teasing only a “special announcement” alongside “supporters and special guests” at Bar Neon in Toronto at 12:45 p.m.
Stiles, a strong contender, is the first NDP leadership contestant out of the gate — but others have expressed interest in permanently replacing ex-leader, now-Hamilton-mayoral-candidate ANDREA HORWATH. That includes LAURA MAE LINDO (Kitchener Centre), CATHERINE FIFE (Waterloo), WAYNE GATES (Niagara Falls) and SOL MAMAKWA (Kiiwetinoong).
The deadline to sign up — and submit 100 signatures and pay the initial instalments of a $55,000 registration fee — is slated for early December. NDPers will pick their next leader in March.
MEET THE BRASS — The PC Party’s got a new executive.
UPDATE: A bunch of Tories are buzzing about this story. Check out our follow-up.
While card-carrying Tory delegates from the party’s 124 riding associations were set to vote for a new party executive at their annual convention in October, our party sources tell us a full slate will be automatically acclaimed as they’re running unopposed.
The lineup includes familiar faces, such as current and former staffers. Ditto high-profile Conservative strategists like MICHAEL DIAMOND, who’s incoming party president.
Also on the VP roster:
— 1st Vice-President: CHRIS LORETO
— 2nd VP: JAY DAVIDSON
— 3rd VP: KYLE SHOLES
— 4th VP: NICO FIDANI
— 5th VP: STEPHANIE DELORME
— 6th VP: SUKHMAN SANGHA
— 7th VP: TIM IQBAL
— 8th VP: MADDY STIEVA
— 9th VP: ALEX CORELLI
— Secretary: VINCENT HO
— Treasurer: FRED SLADE
And the Regional Vice Presidents:
— RVP North West: Jordan Erickson
— RVP North East: Martin Proulx
— RVP YOW (Ottawa): Robert Dekker
— RVP Central East: Colin McSweeney
— RVP South West: Paul Synnott
— RVP South Central: Hunter Corcoran
— RVP YYZ (Toronto): David DiPaul
— RVP GTA East: Alicia Vianga
— RVP GTA West: Sukhpal Sidhu
— RVP Central West: Philip Power
AT THE FURROWS — Pretty much every MPP — sans the Premier and Oppo leader — took to the furrows at the Plowing Match this week.
DOUG FORD and PETER TABUNS were instead attending the funeral for late Toronto Constable ANDREW HONG. Liberal MPP MITZIE HUNTER was also in tow. “May you rest easy and at peace,” Ford tweeted about the ceremony.
But Ford’s likeness still made a cameo at the big rural Ontario fest in Kemptville — in granola bar form.
According to sources on the ground, Agriculture Minister LISA THOMPSON and Housing Minister STEVE CLARK faced some sparse heckling during their keynote addresses, but it was a relatively lighthearted affair.
NDP Rural Affairs critic JOHN VANTHOF hopped on a tractor. Interim Liberal Leader JOHN FRASER and Green Leader MIKE SCHREINER also delivered their pitches to rural Ontarians, with Fraser promising a comeback in the region and Schreiner pushing climate action — and brushing off being inadvertently referred to as a Liberal.
“Reading Steve Paikin too much,” Schreiner quipped.
HAPPENING TODAY
DOUG FORD’S THURSDAY — 8:15 a.m.: The Premier’s photo-op-filled week continues, with an appearance at the National Peace Officers’ Memorial “Run to Remember” today. Ford will make brief remarks as runners kick off the first leg of the race in Toronto and begin the trek to Ottawa.
— 9 a.m.: Labour Minister MONTE MCNAUGHTON will make an announcement in Peterborough.
— 9:30 a.m.: Associate Transportation Minister STAN CHO is in Mississauga for an announcement alongside Metrolinx CEO PHIL VERSTER.
— 10 a.m.: Financial Accountability Officer PETER WELTMAN will deliver a report “on the cost of climate change impacts on Ontario’s public transportation infrastructure” in the Media Studio.
A hunch: Green Leader MIKE SCHREINER has already indicated he’ll be formally responding to the budget watchdog’s climate report, which makes us think that the report could have been done at his behest, as the FAO may take on reports based on MPP requests.
— 10 a.m.: Associate Minister of Women’s Social and Economic Opportunity CHARMAINE WILLIAMS will make an announcement in Ajax alongside Finance Minister and area MPP PETER BETHLENFALVY.
— 11 a.m.: The Alzheimer Society of Ontario will be in the Media Studio “to speak about Ontario’s readiness to introduce a possible future treatment for Alzheimer’s disease — the first ever approved for use in Canada.”
— 12:45 p.m.: MARIT STILES launches her run for NDP leader at Bar Neon on Bloor Street W.
— 2 p.m.: Environment Minister DAVID PICCINI is in Alfred for an announcement about the future of the big local peat bog.
⏳ COUNTDOWN: 33 days until the House reconvenes…32 days until municipal elections…54 days until the Fall Economic Statement a.k.a. mini-budget is legally due out.