SCOOP: Oppo candidate slate incoming
Grits get aggressive, NDPers open the floodgates
ABOVE THE FOLD
First in Observer — NOMINATION BLITZKRIEG — The Liberals are going full-tilt when it comes to nominating candidates for the next election — whenever that happens to be.
I got my hands on (another) internal memo sent to riding association presidents laying out the rules for nomination procedures, something Nominations Commissioner STEVIE O’BRIEN hinted was coming in her last memo declaring electoral urgency. That gave the party power to expedite candidate nominations without the usual legwork and hurdles that come with vetting. (As leader, Crombie has the power to automatically appoint five candidates.)
Now, the Grits are revving up big time — and looking to nominate half their slate by September.
“The threat of an early election is real…Nominations have already begun,” reads the email from a senior party exec. “The expectation is to nominate at least 50-60 candidates by September.” It also notes nomination rules will be published online, ditto the requests for nomination papers.
That tracks with what sources close to BONNIE CROMBIE previously told me: That the party captain would want to debut a bunch of star candidates — beyond the nine incumbents — at their annual general meeting slated for September in London.
A tall order: “Half the slate by September is…aggressive,” said one seasoned campaign organizer. “I don’t know how they will have the resources to green light so many so quickly.”
Why it matters for them: With all the buzz that we could go to the polls in Spring 2025, rather than 2026, coupled with the fact that the third-place Grits have dozens of contenders to vet and greenlight to fill a 124-candidate slate — timing is of the essence. Especially if the Grits want to avoid late-in-the-game dropouts a la 2022.
Why it matters for us: Nomination contests — where wannabe politicians battle it out at the party level in order to become the candidate in a general election — tend to be shrugged off as inside baseball. But they’re really the gateway to elected office and crucial to democratic representation. Even Elections Ontario has ramped up oversight of nomination contestants and their campaign finances.
Liberals aren’t the only ones reading the snap-vote tea leaves.
Over in Official Oppo land: The party faithful (mostly local riding presidents) rallied in Toronto over the weekend — but this provincial council meeting was different: It served as their unofficial campaign kick-off.
MARIT STILES delivered a fiery stump speech. NDPers approved changes to nomination guidelines to make the process more transparent, accessible and efficient.
And, perhaps most consequential: Let the nominations commence! New Democrats officially launched their candidate selection process, meaning prospective contenders can now request nomination papers.
Friend-turned-foe: Battlegrounds are already forming. A couple of ex-NDPers are looking to go toe-to-toe with their former benchmates in stronghold ridings: SARAH JAMA confirmed on X that she will be running again as an Independent in Hamilton Centre, also posting a link to donate. MICHAEL MANTHA previously told me he’ll be gunning for Algoma-Manitoulin once again.
Another early election clue: I’ll have my eyes peeled for potential MPP dropouts — especially more Tories who may be vying for the Hill — as a possible harbinger of a snap vote. War rooms would want incumbent MPPs who may be looking for an out to step aside quickly, in order to replace them on the ticket with plenty of time to pound the pavement.
Are you looking to jump ship? Hoping to join the 2025/2026 candidate crew? Got a wild nomination story? I want to hear from you! And I’ll keep you anonymous. Hit me up at sabrina@qpobserver.ca, or just reply to this email.
HAPPENING TODAY
DOUG FORD’S TUESDAY — 10:30 a.m.: The Premier is up in Greenstone. Also on hand: Indigenous Affairs and (tacked on in the recent shuffle) First Nations Economic Reconciliation Minister GREG RICKFORD; YVETTE METANSININE, Chief of Animbiigoo Zaagi’igan Anishinaabek; SONNY GAGNON, Chief of Aroland First Nation; SHERI TAYLOR, Chief of Ginoogaming First Nation; and JUDY DESMOULIN, Chief of Long Lake #58 First Nation.
(MEA CULPA! I jumped the gun and listed that Ford event in yesterday’s edition, but it’s actually happening today. I know, I know — but hey, hopefully you’re ahead of the game.)
12 p.m.: OPSEU, which represents LCBO workers, will provide a bargaining update after workers voted 97% in favour of strike action this summer. Featuring OPSEU prez JP HORNICK and LCBO bargaining chair COLLEEN MacLEOD.
Pre-game read: “The LCBO is asking for a third-party mediator to help rescue its talks with unionized workers as the province marches closer to a liquor store strike.”
1:30 p.m.: Environment Minister ANDREA KHANJIN is up in St. Andrews West.
FUNDRAISING WATCH — 7 p.m.: Liberal Leader BONNIE CROMBIE is shilling at The Oakville Club for $250-a-pop. Invite.
CLIPPINGS
— A SIGH OF RELIEF IN MOOSONEE: “The president and CEO of the Weeneebayko Area Health Authority says she was relieved when she learned Monday that the federal government would uphold its $1.24-billion commitment to build a new hospital in the northern Ontario community of Moosonee…Health Minister SYLVIA JONES announced an additional $44-million in provincial funding to support the design and early construction work for the new hospital.” CBC reports.
— WHAT MAYORS WANT: After meeting in Chatham-Kent last week, Ontario’s Big City Mayors are out with a list of demands for the upper governments. Namely, “immediate action on homelessness, mental health and addictions.”
They’ve also got a (familiar) bone to pick with Housing Minister PAUL CALANDRA. Specifically: “The Building Faster Fund, and the lack of accuracy in the housing data being provided by CMHC for municipalities to become eligible for this funding.”
OBCM passed a motion calling for more transparency on the data collection process, and for the government to address discrepancies “so municipalities can receive the funding they deserve.” They also want continued funding for the Digital Main Street Program to help small biz.
Meanwhile, a bright spot, via Global: “Ontario’s housing construction sector saw a glimmer of good news in May as the province saw an uptick in homes being built, even as municipalities complain that the agency responsible for keeping track of the data is undercounting new builds.”
— OMG IN LTC: “The daughter of a 96-year-old woman says her mother is ‘sweating to death’ in her long-term care home room in Toronto, which has had no air conditioning this week. ‘This is the second summer this has happened.’”
Premier DOUG FORD probably won’t like to hear that — A/C in LTC is his pet issue, and now the law — but 15 per cent of homes missed the June deadline. CTV News has the story.
— A FLIP-FLOP BY ANY OTHER NAME: “Premier DOUG FORD’s failure to deliver on a promise to allow Ontario driver’s licences and health cards in smartphone digital wallets is yet another PC policy ‘flip-flop,’ opponents charge.” The Star’s got that story. And we’ve got the juicy blind item.
— MISSING MIDDLE: A deep dive into Toronto’s red-tape-laden journey to build desperately-needed housing, via the Globe.
MOVERS AND SHAKERS
PARTY BRASS — JASON WAGAR — former comms pro to the Official Oppo NDP, peer-described “lovely human” and fiery commentator in this newsletter — was elected party vice-president at this weekend’s provincial council.
SPOTTED:
Finance Minister PETER BETHLENFALVY rocking out on the guitar at a community event…Police and firefighters awarded the Ontario medal for bravery.
REGULATORY ROUNDUP
On Tuesdays, we sum up the government’s latest proposals on the regulatory registry — where the nitty-gritty of policymaking is hammered out.
NURSES, EN FRANCAIS — The proposal: “To amend the educational requirements for nurses applying to the Express Entry: Human Capital Priorities (HCP) or French-Speaking Skilled Worker (FSSW) streams. Under the proposal, applicants that are registered by the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) with either a General, Extended, or Temporary Class registration would not have to demonstrate that they meet the minimum education requirements of the HCP or FSSW stream if they can demonstrate that they are registered with the CNO in one of the respective classes.” Deadline for public feedback: June 22.
POST-MORTEM PAY — Proposal: “To increase the provincial fee paid to a hospital or other place, for use of the facilities for post-mortem examinations. This increase in the fee is intended to cover hospital overheads related to post-mortem examinations.” Deadline: June 21.
COPS ON CAMPUS — Proposal: “Provisions regarding special constables employed by colleges should be aligned with those regarding special constables employed by universities, as that would better reflect their existing duties and operations.” Deadline: June 24.
🍽️ ON THE MENU: Beef curry with rice and vegetables is on tap.
⏳ COUNTDOWN: T-minus 125 days until the House reconvenes…27 days until the all-Premier’s Council of the Federation summer meeting.