ABOVE THE FOLD
SCOOP — MOVERS AND SHAKERS: There’s a fresh crop of promotions, transitions and power plays in DOUG FORD’s inner circle — and yes, I’ve literally got the memo. It hasn’t hit most inboxes yet, but you’re reading Queen’s Park Observer, so of course you’re getting it before the rest. Some of these moves will ring a bell for regular readers — they’re now officially confirmed by the Premier’s Office.
Who’s who:
SENIOR LEADERSHIP CREW, RELOADED — Ford was forced to revamp his top ranks after key exits this summer, including comms pro IVANA YELICH, policy head RAHUL BEDI and priorities’ point-person JENNA BENDAYAN (scooped here).
That means deputy chief TRAVIS KANN has been promoted to principal secretary — a gig that’s been vacant since AMIN MASSOUDI dipped in 2022. Kann is also continuing to take the lead on Ontario-U.S. engagement, a hot-potato portfolio amid the tariff tango with DONALD TRUMP.
According to the staffing memo from Ford’s chief of staff PATRICK SACKVILLE, Kann has been heading up big (and controversial) projects like Special Economic Zones and strategic development of “our Plan to Protect Ontario.” His work leading Ontario’s U.S. engagement strategy — including White House meetings and regular appearances on Fox News — has kept the government on “its front foot,” Sackville says. Expect more of that in Kann’s new gig. Also: Steering the government’s marketing and ad strategy — something that’s key to selling the Premier’s big-building, tariff-fighting agenda.
JASON VANDENBEUKEL is moving on up to deputy chief of staff, strategic communications. He’s known as a “thoughtful” and “people-centric” operator who now officially helms comms strategy across government.
ROWAN RASALINGHAM also has a new title: deputy chief of staff, media and stakeholder relations. Sackville described Rasalingham as a “knowledgeable and sophisticated” strategist who offers “sage counsel” on how to deal with media in particular. Word on the street is he’s already cracking the whip on the ministerial D-Comms and press secretaries when it comes to handling media.
Together, the pair’s got big shoes to fill after Yelich’s departure for Labatt.
POLICY MACHINE REBOOT — These are the folks stakeholders will want to get to know as the PCs roll out their third mandate. As part of Ford’s policy machine 2.0, three execs are taking the reins on key files, as follows:
ALYSSA BEST is the up-and-comer right now. She’s brings major finance and health policy cred to her new gig in PO as head of budget, health and social policy, where she’ll work closely with Sackville and Kann. The budget whisperer hails from Finance Minister PETER BETHLENFALVY’s camp, where she oversaw the direction of the government’s financial blueprint. She also did a stint as Ford’s D-Pol for health — arguably the most important issue for Ontarians.
Another one to watch: ADAM WALLACE becomes the go-to guy for Cabinet coordination, Treasury Board planning, and Legislative strategy as head of economic and fiscal strategy and policy. He’s known around the Park as “humble” — a trait that comes in handy when you’re managing big egos and even bigger asks from around the Cabinet table.
Longtime policy staffer KEVIN LYNCH is now head of major projects, infrastructure, resources and industries policy — a crucial role for the PCs agenda, which is heavy on energy, mining and infrastructure right now. That means big (and controversial) files like Highway 413, Ontario Place and the, er, ambitious 401 tunnel are now squarely under his purview.
MINISTERIAL WRANGLER — RYAN DOYLE, who like Ford is a former Newstalk 1010 host, is now associate deputy chief of staff for issues management and training. Known for his media chops, he’s been running high-pressure training sessions for Cabinet, caucus and even the Premier himself. This title makes it official.
MEET THE CHIEFS — Also confirmed: three new chiefs of staff across key ministries, which I first told you about earlier this week — BROCK HAMLEY is taking over in Trade Minister VIC FEDELI’s office…JEREMY WITTET becomes chief to Public and Business Service Delivery Minister STEPHEN CRAWFORD…RYAN PUVIRAJ is now acting chief to Agriculture Minister TREVOR JONES.
Meanwhile, the SolGen switcheroo continues: AARON POSNER has been promoted to senior manager of stakeholder relations to Solicitor General MICHAEL KERZNER. Devoted readers will know it comes after a major shakeup in Kerzner’s camp, including the gutting of junior comms people.
Hill climber: TAYLOR DEASLEY, who handled comms for the Ontario Grits during the election and for BONNIE CROMBIE’s leadership bid, is heading to Ottawa as a speechwriter for Prime Minister MARK CARNEY. Deasley’s been busy sharpening Liberal messaging and smoothing the lines between the leader’s office and the party — looks like Carney wants some of that polish too.
Are you a staffer on the rise? Know of an up-and-comer making moves? Name-drop your political darlings (no judgement if it’s you) and I’ll shout them out in the newsletter as part of a new Star Staffers series. Get at me: sabrina@qpobserver.ca, or just reply to this email.
HAPPENING TODAY
9 a.m.: BFF TOUR — Housing Minister ROB FLACK is expected to hand over another giant cheque via the Building Faster Fund to Kingston Mayor BRYAN PATERSON.
3:15 p.m.: Flack then heads east to Trenton for another announcement.
SUMMER GAMES — Lieutenant Governor EDITH DUMONT will be in Brant County to kick off the Special Olympics Summer Games. Her Honour will also hit up the Adeline Hunter Hoodless Homestead, participate in a roundtable with the Women’s Institute, and headline a community high tea event. Here’s hoping someone spills more than just Earl Grey.
CLIPPINGS
— THE OLD COLLEGE TRY: “A major union is again sounding the alarm for Ontario’s public colleges as international student enrolment drops to a trickle, programs are cut and major layoffs take place. On Wednesday, the Ontario Public Service Employees Union released information that suggests the sector faces close to 10,000 job losses and the cancellation or suspension of some 600 programs.” Global News has the story.
— BIKE LANE LATEST: “A panel of judges has denied the Ontario government’s attempt to appeal a temporary injunction preventing it from removing bike lanes on Bloor, University and Yonge streets.” Via the Star.
— DAYCARE DEBACLE: The CCPA’s annual child care survey is out, and the findings are bleak: $10-a-day daycare is falling short of targets. Have at it.
— BILL 5 BACKLASH: NDP captain MARIT STILES and local rep ROBIN LENNOX were at Hamilton City Hall for a rally calling on the PCs to scrap Bill 5, a.k.a. the Special Economic Zones law. Featuring: Indigenous leaders, labour organizers and environmental advocates.
— MEET THE PRESS: The Toronto Star is beefing up its #onted bench — and some familiar bylines are getting new beats. The inimitable KRIS RUSHOWY is now a senior writer with a focus on education, but don’t worry — she’s still in the Queen’s Park mix. It’s a critical role as new-ish Education Minister PAUL CALANDRA cracks the whip on school board governance and beyond.
And a warm welcome to MOIRA WELSH, who’s bringing her investigative chops to the Star’s QP bureau. Great news for the public interest — not so much for governments that prefer to keep things under wraps.
LOBBY LIST
Here are the new, renewed and amended registrations over the past 24 hours:
Matthew Segal and Marilena Rotundo, StrategyCorp: Ontario Big City Mayors
Stefani Vukmanovic, Rubicon Strategy: Innovative Medicines Canada
Kerem Karabeyoglu, Crestview Strategy: CUPE Ontario
Steve Van Groningen, PAA Advisory | Conseils: Foyer St-Viateur Nursing Home
Noah Mondrow, Impact Public Affairs: Ontario Dairy Council
Troy Ross, TRM Public Affairs: Canadian Online Gaming Alliance
Jordan Penic, Sussex Strategy Group: Energy Storage Canada, TransAlta Corporation, NRStor Inc.
🍽️ LUNCH SPECIAL: It’s Fish-and-Chips Thursday in the basement caf.
⏳ COUNTDOWN: T-minus 11 days until the Council of the Federation meeting in Muskoka…64 days until the Liberal AGM in Toronto…71 days until the NDP convention in Niagara Falls…102 days until the House reconvenes.
Got a tip? Document to leak? Staffer on the move? Birthday or anniversary coming up? I want to hear from you, on or off the record. Reach out to sabrina@qpobserver.ca or just reply to this email.
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Cover image: Getty