What Ontario's election watchdog wants
Do not pass go, do not collect $200
Presented by the Ontario Professional Planners Institute
ABOVE THE FOLD
LET’S GET DIGITAL — With all the snap-vote buzz swirling around the Pink Palace, Chief Electoral Officer GREG ESSENSA has dropped a topical report on how to fight fake news in the next election, whenever it’s called.
Why now? Essensa says “the rapidly evolving nature of AI and its impact” begs for more action to “safeguard Ontario’s electoral integrity against misinformation and disinformation.”
“The likelihood that Ontarians will encounter false or misleading information in the upcoming election is almost certain,” Essensa went on to say in the report. “Proactive measures are essential to protect the integrity of our elections, uphold democratic principles, and maintain a level playing field.”
That includes hefty fines for pushing fake news and hiding automated bots. Here’s what else Essensa is hoping to see on the books:
“Enhanced oversight and enforcement of political advertising standards.” For instance: Increasing reporting requirements for online campaigns, such as disclosing the use of bots and AI.
Fake news doesn’t pay: Essensa wants to beef up administrative penalties for scofflaws — up to $20,000 for an individual or $100,000 for corporations — for violating misinformation or disinformation regulations.
Social media and digital platforms won’t be spared, either. Essensa recommends empowering the Chief Electoral Officer of the day to order such platforms to monitor and correct false election info “and to intervene if they fail to so so.” That could mean fines of up to $50,000 per day for organizations.
For posterity: Election advertisers would be required to post their digital ads in a public registry, including information such as who and how much was paid for the ad, whether it uses AI, and any targeting data. Break those rules, and you could get slapped with a $30,000 fine.
Timing is everything: There’s not much time to bring in these changes before an expected snap vote next spring. If the Ford government decides to take on Essensa’s recommendations, they’d have to draft, introduce, debate and pass the legislation this session or early next. It’s tight timing, but not impossible. Read the report.
HAPPENING TODAY
9 a.m.: Liberal ADIL SHAMJI is in the Media Studio to talk about his private member’s Bill 203, which would ban private nurse practitioner clinics and is up for second reading on Thursday.
9:30 a.m.: NDPers CHANDRA PASMA and JAMIE WEST follow, along with folks from the big four teacher unions, to call for an emergency plan on school violence.
2:30 p.m.: Energy Minister STEPHEN LECCE is on a roll with another announcement in Toronto. Also on hand: SAM OOSTERHOFF, Associate Minister of Energy-Intensive Industries.
FUNDRAISING WATCH
6 p.m.: Duelling money-making events from the PCs, featuring CAROLINE MULRONEY in Sharon for $200, and an undisclosed lineup in Toronto for $1,000 — the pricetag and lack of names suggests DOUG FORD will show. RSVP.
In Liberal world…Score! — 7 p.m.: BONNIE CROMBIE is fundraising with former Leafs captain WENDEL CLARK at the Montecassino Hotel and Event Centre in North York for $250-a-pop. Invite.
ON THE ORDER PAPER
First up: Transportation Minister PRABMEET SARKARIA will kick off second-reading debate on Bill 212, the Reducing Gridlock, Saving You Time Act, that among other things cracks down on future and existing bike lanes, allows 24/7 construction and speeds up environmental assessments and property acquisitions.
After the morning’s Question Period, a deferred vote: On Liberal KAREN McCRIMMON’s backbench Bill 201, which would amend the Environmental Protection Act so that the government couldn’t require time-consuming records re: site condition based on building height. The idea is to convert office buildings into residential spaces.
Later on, Bill 194 — Public and Business Service Delivery Minister TODD McCARTHY’s bill addressing cybersecurity in schools — goes for another round of second-reading debate.
Then: PC PATRICE BARNES will move her motion calling on the government to recognize “the dedication, perserverance and sacrifice of members of emergency services.” Reminder: Motions are non-binding but have symbolic weight.
TUESDAY’S RUNDOWN:
Tabled: Bill 213, the Affordable Home Heating Act sponsored by NDPers JENNIE STEVENS, PETER TABUNS, GUY BOURGOUIN and TOM RAKOCEVIC. The bill would require the Energy Minister of the day to develop an “alternative home heating fuel strategy,” as well as a gas rate assistance action plan from the Ontario Energy Board, and implement them by 2025.
A message from the Ontario Professional Planners Institute:
OPPI’s diverse membership of Registered Professional Planners (RPPs) are eager to partner with the province to further improve the planning system and tackle Ontario’s housing crisis.
Good planning leads to more equitable and sustainable communities with the infrastructure that Ontario’s growing population needs. RPPs are the experts who plan complete communities, connecting homes, parks, transit, schools, and other services while meeting long-term goals like addressing the housing shortage, preparing for climate change, and improving overall health and wellbeing.
Let’s work together to further improve the planning system and create the communities Ontarians deserve. Learn more about OPPI and RPPs here.
ON THE COMMITTEE CIRCUIT
Tumbleweeds. MPPs get back at it tomorrow.
NEW SESSION, NEW LINEUP — After a summer of cabinet shuffles, the government is tweaking its dance card for the Standing Committees, as follows:
— At Finance and Economic Affairs: ZEE HAMID replaces STEPHEN CRAWFORD; DAVE SMITH (Peterborough—Kawartha) replaces MIKE HARRIS, and BRIAN SAUNDERSON is subbing in for EFFIE TRIANTAFILOPOULOS.
— At Government Agencies: ROBIN MARTIN is taking over from DAWN GALLAGHER MURPHY; ANDREW DOWIE replaces Harris; Hamid replaces KEVIN HOLLAND; STEVE PINSONNEAULT is filling in for GRAHAM McGREGOR; and LAURA SMITH is in AMARJOT SANDHU’s seat.
— At Heritage, Infrastructure, and Cultural Policy: HARDEEP SINGH GREWAL takes up the mantle from RICK BYERS; NATALIE PIERRE is in for SHEREF SABAWY; and Sandhu is taking Smith’s spot.
— At the Interior: Byelection victor TYLER ALLSOPP replaces RUDY CUZZETTO and STEVE PINSONNEAULT replaces KEVIN HOLLAND.
— Justice Policy: STEPHANE SARRAZIN replaces GRAHAM McGREGOR. Triantafilopoulos joins the bench.
— Procedure and House Affairs: PATRICE BARNES replaces CHRISTINE HOGARTH; Murphy replaces Martin; JOHN JORDAN takes over from SAM OOSTERHOFF; JOHN YAKABUSKI is in for Sandhu.
On the NDP side: JEFF BURCH replaces MONIQUE TAYLOR.
— Public Accounts: RICK BYERS is in for WILL BOUMA; RUDY CUZZETTO covers for STEPHEN CRAWFORD; Sabawy replaces LISA MacLEOD; Triantafilopoulos replaces DAISY WAI.
— Social Policy: Hogarth replaces STEVE CLARK, Allsopp replaces Grewal; BOB BAILEY replaces NATALIA KUSENDOVA-BASHTA; ANTHONY LEARDI instead of Pierre, and Wai instead of NOLAN QUINN.
COCKTAIL CHATTER
The Canadian Cancer Survivor Network and the Ontario Kinesiology Association are each hosting brunch receptions in Room 230 and 228, respectively. The Invasive Species Centre takes over in the evening.
And tonight: It’s here! Speaker TED ARNOTT’s (possibly last) annual wine tasting event goes down in the Dining Room. MPPs and staff can sample vintages from across the province, vote for their favourite, and the winning red and white will be served in the Legislature’s Dining Room during the session. It could be Arnott’s last tipple as Speaker, since he isn’t running again and an election may be around the corner.
CLIPPINGS
— DO NOT PASS GO, DO NOT COLLECT $200: “Sources say the province is working closely with Canada Revenue Agency officials to ensure ‘tax rebate cheques’ are mailed out at the end of January or early February.” More from the Star: DOUG FORD “wants the cash in people’s hands before triggering an election in late March or early April.” But, and it’s a biggie: “Collecting the names and addresses of every Ontarian is harder than it sounds.”
— HATERS GONNA HATE: JANE PHILPOTT, the Ford government’s newest point person on primary care, acknowledged her appointment “may catch a few people by surprise” — and boy, did it! — but “it should not be a political football.” Via the Globe.