SCOOP: Nate Erskine-Smith vs. Quito Maggi, Round 2
And the hottest ticket in town
Presented by One Step Forward
ABOVE THE FOLD
First in Observer — IT AIN’T OVER YET — NATHANIEL ERSKINE-SMITH says he’s not letting go of his lawsuit against pollster QUITO MAGGI.
The federal MP tells me he’s re-filing his small claims case against Maggi, the pollster behind Mainstreet Research, who’s been accused of making defamatory remarks on social media. As I previously scooped, Erskine-Smith argues Maggi made false statements about his political nomination controversy from a decade ago, which resurfaced during the 2023 Liberal leadership contest.
Erskine-Smith has to re-submit his case with the courts as a judge adjourned the matter sine die after no one showed up to the hearing earlier this year. Erskine-Smith said it made sense to wait as the hearing came on the eve of the election.
“I can bring it back via a request to the clerk which I’ll be doing this week now that we’re through the election,” he said.
Maggi isn’t backing down, either. “I guess emotions continue to get the better of the member from Beaches-East York,” he said. Maggi argues his comments were based on first-hand knowledge of the decade-old nomination and that Erskine-Smith shouldn’t be entitled to damages because he’s in line for a pretty pension as a longtime MP.
The lawsuit revival is not the only reason Erskine-Smith is getting plenty of buzz around the Pink Palace this week: The former Housing Minister had a spicy reaction to the fact he didn’t make the cut for PM MARK CARNEY’s front bench — and that’s sparking speculation about his provincial ambitions.
Erskine-Smith, who initially said he wouldn’t run again before changing his mind and hanging on to his MP seat in Beaches-East York, said “it’s impossible not to feel disrespected.” Some were reminded Erskine-Smith was runner-up to BONNIE CROMBIE in the provincial leadership race. Crombie is facing a leadership review later this year.
How one cheeky Liberal insider is reading between the lines of Erskine-Smith’s missive: “He’s running… (for OLP leader),” they texted.
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HAPPENING TODAY
DOUG FORD’S WEDNESDAY — Another day, another MOU: At 11:30 a.m., the Premier will sign another memorandum of understanding with Manitoba’s WAB KINEW (Ford’s politically-confused “champion”). Also on hand: Trade Minister VIC FEDELI.
Three’s a trend: Ontario has already signed MOUs with Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, with others in the works, as the federation looks to slash interprovincial trade barriers.
THE MINISTER’S NEW CLOTHES — Forget shoes: Finance Minister PETER BETHLENFALVY is turning fiscal tradition on its head and will go shopping for a new tie, instead of shoes, ahead of his big budget speech on Thursday. His sartorial pick: Tom’s Place in Kensington Market.
In the Media Studio…
9 a.m.: Liberal Leader BONNIE CROMBIE and Finance critic STEPHANIE BOWMAN are up to lay out their budget expectations.
9:30 a.m.: NDPer FRANCE GÉLINAS follows, to tease her recently re-tabled PMB to establish patient-to-nurse staffing ratios.
10 a.m. Greens MIKE SCHREINER and AISLINN CLANCY are up next along with advocates who are opposed to Bill 6, the Ford government’s crackdown on homeless encampments and public drug use. Context.
12:45 p.m.: The Ontario Health Coalition is up to talk about its day of action aimed at stopping hospital closures. The group will also rally on the South Lawn.
ON THE ORDER PAPER
First up: It’s second reading of Bill 9, the Ford government’s move to create a code of conduct for municipal officials.
Later on, MPPs will start second reading of the newly tabled Bill 18, the Supply Act from Treasury Board President CAROLINE MULRONEY — routine legislation that authorizes already-approved legislative spending.
Bill 11, the health-care legislation known as the More Convenient Care Act, is up for another round of debate.
TUESDAY’S RUNDOWN:
Tabled I: Bill 21, the jointly sponsored legislation from Green MIKE SCHREINER and Independent BOBBI ANN BRADY that protects farmland zoned for agricultural purposes and creates a Foodbelt Protection Plan Advisory Committee.
Tabled II: Bill 20, a private member’s bill from Liberal STEPHEN BLAIS that makes good on the party’s pitch for a tax credit for children’s sports and after-school activities
Tabled III: Bill 19, the Patient-to-Nurse Ratios for Hospitals Act from NDPers FRANCE GÉLINAS and JAMIE WEST.
Tabled IV: Bill 18, the government’s routine Supply Act.
ON THE COMMITTEE CIRCUIT — Tumbleweeds. MPPs get back at it Thursday.
QUESTION PERIOD — TRANSCRIPT. CLIP.
COCKTAIL CHATTER
The hottest ticket at Queen’s Park: Spring Fling! The Press Gallery’s annual off-the-record shindig goes down this evening across the street at Hart House. It’s a must-attend event, featuring candid and juicy speeches from all party leaders. It’s one of those rare instances where you want the powers-that-be to roast you (Ford in particular can deliver some serious knee-slappers).
I’m happy to share that Queen’s Park Observer is sponsoring the OLIP interns’ attendance again this year. If you see them tonight, say hi — and maybe buy them a drink! If you do, you may or may not get a shout-out in this newsletter. This year’s OLIPers: Nika Lennox, Sayyidah Jaffer, Megan Ryan-Lloyd, Massimo Rigatto, Madeline Ritter, Alex Salton, James Liao, Ayesha Ali, Annie Dowd, Caitlin Arizala.
Pre-game: In the morning, the Ontario Association of Landscape Architects is hosting a breakfast reception. The Ontario Christian Home Educators Connection is putting on a lunch event, and in the evening, it’s the Canadian Science Policy Centre and Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs.
CLIPPINGS
— BUDGET CLUES: “Ontario drivers are set to benefit from the province’s upcoming budget as the Ford government announced Tuesday that it will make a gas tax cut permanent and remove tolls from the provincially owned portion of Highway 407.” The Canadian Press has more.
Rookie Liberal MPP ROB CERJANEC, who poached Ajax from the PCs, is taking some of the credit: “I am pleased that the Government of Ontario has responded positively to my advocacy and listened to the people of Ajax and Durham Region in removing the tolls on the provincially owned section of 407 East without delay.”
— POLL WATCH: It’s not easy being orange. Fresh polling from Liaison Strategies suggests the New Democrats are being “squeezed out” at 13 per cent support in Ontario. The PCs are still enjoying a honeymoon phase with the province after securing their third majority in February, polling at 46 per cent, while the Grits aren’t too far behind with 36 per cent.
But, and it’s a biggie: “Despite the PC lead, a majority of Ontarians — 55% — believe the province is heading in the wrong direction. Their top concerns are healthcare (31%), cost of living (30%), and relations with the U.S. (19%). Tomorrow’s budget will reveal whether the government is addressing those priorities,” says pollster DAVID VALENTIN.
What’s more: “The ONDP sits at 13%, with its strongest support in Northern Ontario (19%) and Toronto (17%). This may reflect federal election momentum — but if it’s more than that, it could mark the start of deeper polarization and a shift in Ontario’s political landscape.”
— DRESDEN DEFENCE: “Local residents and a First Nation brought their fight against a large landfill to Queen’s Park, where they accused the premier of trampling over the community’s concerns to fast-track a project backed by his donors…The Liberals have asked the integrity commissioner to look into whether the government gave the project preferential treatment because it’s backed by lucrative Progressive Conservative donors. Ford says he doesn’t know the developer and didn’t look at who owned the project.” CP has the story.
— UNION BUSTERS: CUPE is warning that the Ford government’s Bill 5, which creates special economic zones in order to speed up mining approvals (much to the chagrin of environmental and Indigenous advocates), would also undermine workers’ rights beyond constitutional protections.
Under the current version of the legislation, which is currently being studied at committee, “Any region could be named one in which fundamental labour rights and protections no longer apply, including those around child labour, the right to refuse unsafe work, and even basic meal breaks,” CUPE says.
MOVERS AND SHAKERS
END OF AN ERA — Longtime staffer to the Premier IVANA YELICH is leaving Queen’s Park and headed for the private sector. Yelich has been a ride-or-die for DOUG FORD since day one, starting as his press secretary in 2018 and rising through the ranks to become his deputy chief of staff for media, stakeholder relations and forward planning. Yelich has a reputation for being a “badass” and “boss” among government staff, and leaves big shoes to fill.
Go deeper: Need an ice-breaker when bidding adieu to Yelich? Get to know her in my candid profile.
LOBBY LIST
Here are the new, renewed and amended registrations over the past 24 hours:
Ross Wallace, Santis Health: Resilient Healthcare Coalition
Kevin Den Heijer, Enterprise Canada: Ontario College of Family Physicians
Wayne Snow, Fulcrum Advocacy: Pliteq Inc., Rockshield Engineered Wood Products
Warren Kinsella, Daisy Consulting Group: LiUNA ODPC, Landscape Ontario Horticultural Trades Association
Andrew Steele, StrategyCorp: De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited, Symcor Inc., Westerkirk Neyagawa Inc.
Monika Bujalska, Sutherland Corporation: Parsons Inc., Veridos Canada Ltd., Canada Running Series
Troy Ross, TRM Public Affairs: Mazooma, Inc.
Liam Thompson, StrategyCorp: Pathways Alliance Inc., McKesson Canada, Miziwe Biik Development Corporation, Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association, Organization of Canadian Nuclear Industries, Nature Conservancy of Canada
Rosalind Robertson, Earnscliffe: Sterinova
Joyce Mankarios, Sussex Strategy Group: Algoma Steel Inc., TransAlta Corporation, BWXT Medical
🍽️ LUNCH SPECIAL: Pork adobo with rice and vegetables.
⏳ COUNTDOWN: T-minus 1 day until the Budget…22 days until the summer recess.