A busy weekend in Liberal land. The leadership contest’s rules are out — and the reaction is mixed. Another name is jumping into the race in Scarborough Southwest. Meanwhile, a big bash — and an even bigger endorsement — in Mississauga. More on all that ahead.
SCOOP — Andrew Boozary will not run Liberal leader.
Boozary — the Toronto physician who had opened up a surprise lead in a hypothetical poll testing would-be candidates late last year — had been considering a run, but has instead chosen to keep his powder dry.
“I am deeply grateful for all the encouragement and support to consider the Ontario Liberal leadership. However, I will not be entering the race,” he said in a statement. “My focus remains on my work as a physician and my commitment to the patients and communities we serve. Public service takes many forms; for me, that means working alongside communities and collaborating with partners to improve health outcomes for all.”
A busy weekend in Liberal land. The leadership contest’s rules are out — and the reaction is mixed. Another name is jumping into the race in Scarborough Southwest. Meanwhile, a big bash — and an even bigger endorsement — in Mississauga. More on all that ahead.
SCOOP — Andrew Boozary will not run Liberal leader.
Boozary — the Toronto physician who had opened up a surprise lead in a hypothetical poll testing would-be candidates late last year — had been considering a run, but has instead chosen to keep his powder dry.
“I am deeply grateful for all the encouragement and support to consider the Ontario Liberal leadership. However, I will not be entering the race,” he said in a statement. “My focus remains on my work as a physician and my commitment to the patients and communities we serve. Public service takes many forms; for me, that means working alongside communities and collaborating with partners to improve health outcomes for all.”
A busy weekend in Liberal land. The leadership contest’s rules are out — and the reaction is mixed. Another name is jumping into the race in Scarborough Southwest. Meanwhile, a big bash — and an even bigger endorsement — in Mississauga. More on all that ahead.
SCOOP — Andrew Boozary will not run Liberal leader.
Boozary — the Toronto physician who had opened up a surprise lead in a hypothetical poll testing would-be candidates late last year — had been considering a run, but has instead chosen to keep his powder dry.
“I am deeply grateful for all the encouragement and support to consider the Ontario Liberal leadership. However, I will not be entering the race,” he said in a statement. “My focus remains on my work as a physician and my commitment to the patients and communities we serve. Public service takes many forms; for me, that means working alongside communities and collaborating with partners to improve health outcomes for all.”
A message from Dokainish & Company:
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Ontario is building the future. Dokainish has built award-winning PMOs and delivered programs on-budget and ahead-of-schedule across the world's most demanding industries. We’re optimizing projects for nuclear, renewable energy, and infrastructure in Canada’s largest province and beyond. Learn more.
Meanwhile: Liberals will crown their next leader on Nov. 21.
The executive council — which has drawn criticism for slow-rolling the process — cleared the leadership contest’s rules near-unanimously at a Saturday meeting, with just one member voting no.
What to know:
— What it’ll cost: Would-be leadership candidates face a $150,000 entry fee — up from $100,000 in the last contest — plus a refundable $25,000 deposit. A $5,000 payment is due within seven days of registration with Elections Ontario.
— Key dates: Candidates have until July 31 to submit nomination papers, including 250 signatures from party members.
Members must join by Sept. 7 to be eligible to vote. If you’re registering on campus, the deadline is Sept. 25.
Voting will run online from Nov. 9 through Nov. 20. (That’s in line with one of the six hypothetical scenarios the council had been gaming out, as we’ve reported.)
— Fundraising and spending: Campaigns must kick back 25 per cent of all cash raised to the party, paid bi-weekly. Total spending is set at $1 million, and campaign debt cannot exceed $50,000 at any point.
— Messaging limits: Through the end of October, candidates are limited to three bulk emails, one robocall and one automated text per month. In November, that increases to five emails and three texts. All email blasts must run through the party’s database, and exporting party data is prohibited.
Behind the scenes: The timeline was set to accommodate the fall ramp-up of campus organizing. Sources say Palwashah Ali, the youth wing’s president, had been rallying council support for a vote in November. Reached by phone, she said the youth advantage factored in, but wasn’t the sole driver.
“Campus recruitment is fundamental to our club recruitment strategy… Any earlier would’ve prohibited anyone who would join during our big recruitment push from voting. Imagine saying ‘we have a very important vote coming up, but sorry you can’t vote because the deadline has already passed,’” Ali said. “Many people understood where I was coming from.”
“I’m pleased to see that there was agreement with this timeline, not just for us but also for the party in general… The broader party was really in consideration here,” she added. “We need the time to get it right — to use this race to bring in more young people who want to elect a government who cares about us.”
One organizer wasn’t buying it. “171 total votes of 22,827,” they texted, pointing to low youth-club participation in the last contest.
Not everyone is sold on the rules. “I’m thoroughly disappointed — and I think the executive needs to reflect on whether they’re serving the interests of the party,” a second organizer said. “It shouldn’t have taken this long to come up with these rules… It’s not okay. They failed.”
“I’m not sure how serious they are about this process,” added a third. “They say now’s the moment — then drag the race out longer than a pregnancy. It’s embarrassing.”
“This is bananas,” an ex-candidate wrote.
That criticism isn’t unanimous. “The pearl clutching about the vote not being held until November is so dumb,” texted one operative. “There was no world in which the vote was going to be held before the fall. A vote during the summer? Everyone on vacation and student club members back home? That wasn’t going to happen. What’s the urgency? I don’t understand it.”
— The House is out and committees aren’t meeting this week.
— Fundraising watch: On Thursday at 5 p.m., would-be Liberal leadership contenders will be in Hamilton for a $260-a-ticket fundraiser. Karina Gould will deliver the keynote. RSVP.
— Also happening:
Save the date: Next Tuesday at 11:30 a.m., Steve Paikin will sit down with Housing Minister Rob Flack at the Empire Club “to explain what’s next in Ontario’s plan to support families, attract investment, and create good jobs.” RSVP.
Also at 11:30 a.m., a Speaker’s Series event celebrating Black History Month, featuring Charmaine Williams, Jean Augustine and Zanana Akande.
— 🍴 On the lunch menu:
— Also happening: Looking for something to do on Family Day? Drop by the Assembly for family-friendly crafts, face painting, balloon twisting, live music and outdoor fun — including mini hockey, curling and carnival games. Full schedule.
A message from Next Campaign:
We optimize the interplay between people, processes, technology, and data, while integrating AI, to ensure capital projects finish on time and on budget. Learn more.
— SCOOP — Chalk up another potential Liberal candidate in Scarborough Southwest.
Ali Demircan, the president of the Federation of Canadian Turkish Associations and a survivor of the Danforth shooting, is expected to seek the nomination. He planned to run last time, until ex-leader Bonnie Crombie appointed Qadira Jackson as the candidate. (Jackson, too, is seeking the nomination.)
By the way: The Federation has political clout. Demircan’s predecessor, Sima Acan, is now the MP for Oakville West.
Meanwhile: Eric Lombardi says he’s not planning to take a run at the nomination. “For now, I’m focused on leadership. Regardless of the outcome, I’m committed to running in the next election,” he said. Mike Crawley and Vik Handa are also not expected to run.
— All aboard: The Eglinton Crosstown has opened. “While the TTC said it wouldn’t have the same fanfare — or merchandise — seen at last year’s Finch West LRT opening, crowds of people bundled in parkas and toques packed platforms at Kennedy and Mount Dennis stations.” More from CBC.
Here, a chronological look at the project, from conception to completion.
“It’s a big moment for TTC employees, too. As a group of workers saw the excited crowd, one employee joked to CBC News that they’re ready to head into battle on the first day of war.”
Meanwhile, here’s the status of every other major transit project in Toronto.
Word from Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria: “The Eglinton Crosstown LRT will cut travel times across the city by 60 per cent, helping riders get where they need to go quickly and safely and fuelling our economy for years to come.”
— Ad watch: The Ford government launched a new taxpayer-funded ad this weekend using the “Protect Ontario” slogan. The commercial went live at 8:45 p.m. during yesterday’s Super Bowl.
— Zoned out: “The Ford government quietly updated the zoning order shaping the redevelopment of Ontario Place to accommodate the construction of a new science centre, a massive above-ground parking garage nearby, and more.” Read on.
— LG Energy Solution is buying out Stellantis’ stake in NextStar Energy, with no job losses expected.
— Are rising electricity rates threatening Ontario’s nuclear build-out? The Globe has more.
Meanwhile, Ontarians are now footing the bill for nuclear plants that don’t yet exist.
— Soil saga: “A GTA hospitality entrepreneur has spent years entangled in a nasty dispute over Toronto dirt — specifically, why her neighbour has been allowed to profit from having it dumped on his property while she cannot.” The Star has the details.
— Martin Regg Cohn wonders: “Without warning, a politician changes her colours — from orange to red — utterly out of the blue. What made her do it?”
Speaking of Scarborough Southwest, John Michael McGrath says the stars may have aligned for one Liberal leadership candidate.
— Graeme Gordon says a spring election would be “the most opportune moment” for Mark Carney to chase his large majority.
— Transit activist Reece Martin says Toronto once built the Yonge Subway for a much smaller city — but with far greater foresight. The Crosstown, he argues, didn’t get the same treatment.
— Liam Gill argues the province is missing an innovation minister.
— Seen: Bonnie Crombie’s birthday bash at The Crooked Cue. The ex-Liberal leader hasn’t yet decided whether to challenge Carolyn Parrish in the fall.
Alvin Tedjo, who is also considering a run, was in the crowd.
At the Mississauga Board of Trade, Premier Doug Ford gave Parrish his “full endorsement” last week.
Doly Begum has begun canvassing in Scarborough Southwest. The red flyers are already printed.
— Noted: NDP MPP Peggy Sattler has endorsed Heather McPherson for federal leader. “I’ve met few leaders as capable and focused as Heather,” she wrote.
Nili Kaplan-Myrth is running for president of the Ontario Medical Association.
Thank you for reading POLICORNER. Are you planning to run in Scarborough Southwest? Are you Doly Begum, ready to talk? Get in touch. I’ll keep you anonymous, just like those sources you’re curious about.
Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up now.
A busy weekend in Liberal land. The leadership contest’s rules are out — and the reaction is mixed. Another name is jumping into the race in Scarborough Southwest. Meanwhile, a big bash — and an even bigger endorsement — in Mississauga. More on all that ahead.
SCOOP — Andrew Boozary will not run Liberal leader.
Boozary — the Toronto physician who had opened up a surprise lead in a hypothetical poll testing would-be candidates late last year — had been considering a run, but has instead chosen to keep his powder dry.
“I am deeply grateful for all the encouragement and support to consider the Ontario Liberal leadership. However, I will not be entering the race,” he said in a statement. “My focus remains on my work as a physician and my commitment to the patients and communities we serve. Public service takes many forms; for me, that means working alongside communities and collaborating with partners to improve health outcomes for all.”
A message from Dokainish & Company:
Ontario is building the future. Dokainish has built award-winning PMOs and delivered programs on-budget and ahead-of-schedule across the world's most demanding industries. We’re optimizing projects for nuclear, renewable energy, and infrastructure in Canada’s largest province and beyond. Learn more.
Meanwhile: Liberals will crown their next leader on Nov. 21.
The executive council — which has drawn criticism for slow-rolling the process — cleared the leadership contest’s rules near-unanimously at a Saturday meeting, with just one member voting no.
What to know:
— What it’ll cost: Would-be leadership candidates face a $150,000 entry fee — up from $100,000 in the last contest — plus a refundable $25,000 deposit. A $5,000 payment is due within seven days of registration with Elections Ontario.
— Key dates: Candidates have until July 31 to submit nomination papers, including 250 signatures from party members.
Members must join by Sept. 7 to be eligible to vote. If you’re registering on campus, the deadline is Sept. 25.
Voting will run online from Nov. 9 through Nov. 20. (That’s in line with one of the six hypothetical scenarios the council had been gaming out, as we’ve reported.)
— Fundraising and spending: Campaigns must kick back 25 per cent of all cash raised to the party, paid bi-weekly. Total spending is set at $1 million, and campaign debt cannot exceed $50,000 at any point.
— Messaging limits: Through the end of October, candidates are limited to three bulk emails, one robocall and one automated text per month. In November, that increases to five emails and three texts. All email blasts must run through the party’s database, and exporting party data is prohibited.
Behind the scenes: The timeline was set to accommodate the fall ramp-up of campus organizing. Sources say Palwashah Ali, the youth wing’s president, had been rallying council support for a vote in November. Reached by phone, she said the youth advantage factored in, but wasn’t the sole driver.
“Campus recruitment is fundamental to our club recruitment strategy… Any earlier would’ve prohibited anyone who would join during our big recruitment push from voting. Imagine saying ‘we have a very important vote coming up, but sorry you can’t vote because the deadline has already passed,’” Ali said. “Many people understood where I was coming from.”
“I’m pleased to see that there was agreement with this timeline, not just for us but also for the party in general… The broader party was really in consideration here,” she added. “We need the time to get it right — to use this race to bring in more young people who want to elect a government who cares about us.”
One organizer wasn’t buying it. “171 total votes of 22,827,” they texted, pointing to low youth-club participation in the last contest.
Not everyone is sold on the rules. “I’m thoroughly disappointed — and I think the executive needs to reflect on whether they’re serving the interests of the party,” a second organizer said. “It shouldn’t have taken this long to come up with these rules… It’s not okay. They failed.”
“I’m not sure how serious they are about this process,” added a third. “They say now’s the moment — then drag the race out longer than a pregnancy. It’s embarrassing.”
“This is bananas,” an ex-candidate wrote.
That criticism isn’t unanimous. “The pearl clutching about the vote not being held until November is so dumb,” texted one operative. “There was no world in which the vote was going to be held before the fall. A vote during the summer? Everyone on vacation and student club members back home? That wasn’t going to happen. What’s the urgency? I don’t understand it.”
— The House is out and committees aren’t meeting this week.
— Fundraising watch: On Thursday at 5 p.m., would-be Liberal leadership contenders will be in Hamilton for a $260-a-ticket fundraiser. Karina Gould will deliver the keynote. RSVP.
— Also happening:
Save the date: Next Tuesday at 11:30 a.m., Steve Paikin will sit down with Housing Minister Rob Flack at the Empire Club “to explain what’s next in Ontario’s plan to support families, attract investment, and create good jobs.” RSVP.
Also at 11:30 a.m., a Speaker’s Series event celebrating Black History Month, featuring Charmaine Williams, Jean Augustine and Zanana Akande.
— 🍴 On the lunch menu:
— Also happening: Looking for something to do on Family Day? Drop by the Assembly for family-friendly crafts, face painting, balloon twisting, live music and outdoor fun — including mini hockey, curling and carnival games. Full schedule.
A message from Next Campaign:
We optimize the interplay between people, processes, technology, and data, while integrating AI, to ensure capital projects finish on time and on budget. Learn more.
— SCOOP — Chalk up another potential Liberal candidate in Scarborough Southwest.
Ali Demircan, the president of the Federation of Canadian Turkish Associations and a survivor of the Danforth shooting, is expected to seek the nomination. He planned to run last time, until ex-leader Bonnie Crombie appointed Qadira Jackson as the candidate. (Jackson, too, is seeking the nomination.)
By the way: The Federation has political clout. Demircan’s predecessor, Sima Acan, is now the MP for Oakville West.
Meanwhile: Eric Lombardi says he’s not planning to take a run at the nomination. “For now, I’m focused on leadership. Regardless of the outcome, I’m committed to running in the next election,” he said. Mike Crawley and Vik Handa are also not expected to run.
— All aboard: The Eglinton Crosstown has opened. “While the TTC said it wouldn’t have the same fanfare — or merchandise — seen at last year’s Finch West LRT opening, crowds of people bundled in parkas and toques packed platforms at Kennedy and Mount Dennis stations.” More from CBC.
Here, a chronological look at the project, from conception to completion.
“It’s a big moment for TTC employees, too. As a group of workers saw the excited crowd, one employee joked to CBC News that they’re ready to head into battle on the first day of war.”
Meanwhile, here’s the status of every other major transit project in Toronto.
Word from Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria: “The Eglinton Crosstown LRT will cut travel times across the city by 60 per cent, helping riders get where they need to go quickly and safely and fuelling our economy for years to come.”
— Ad watch: The Ford government launched a new taxpayer-funded ad this weekend using the “Protect Ontario” slogan. The commercial went live at 8:45 p.m. during yesterday’s Super Bowl.
— Zoned out: “The Ford government quietly updated the zoning order shaping the redevelopment of Ontario Place to accommodate the construction of a new science centre, a massive above-ground parking garage nearby, and more.” Read on.
— LG Energy Solution is buying out Stellantis’ stake in NextStar Energy, with no job losses expected.
— Are rising electricity rates threatening Ontario’s nuclear build-out? The Globe has more.
Meanwhile, Ontarians are now footing the bill for nuclear plants that don’t yet exist.
— Soil saga: “A GTA hospitality entrepreneur has spent years entangled in a nasty dispute over Toronto dirt — specifically, why her neighbour has been allowed to profit from having it dumped on his property while she cannot.” The Star has the details.
— Martin Regg Cohn wonders: “Without warning, a politician changes her colours — from orange to red — utterly out of the blue. What made her do it?”
Speaking of Scarborough Southwest, John Michael McGrath says the stars may have aligned for one Liberal leadership candidate.
— Graeme Gordon says a spring election would be “the most opportune moment” for Mark Carney to chase his large majority.
— Transit activist Reece Martin says Toronto once built the Yonge Subway for a much smaller city — but with far greater foresight. The Crosstown, he argues, didn’t get the same treatment.
— Liam Gill argues the province is missing an innovation minister.
— Seen: Bonnie Crombie’s birthday bash at The Crooked Cue. The ex-Liberal leader hasn’t yet decided whether to challenge Carolyn Parrish in the fall.
Alvin Tedjo, who is also considering a run, was in the crowd.
At the Mississauga Board of Trade, Premier Doug Ford gave Parrish his “full endorsement” last week.
Doly Begum has begun canvassing in Scarborough Southwest. The red flyers are already printed.
— Noted: NDP MPP Peggy Sattler has endorsed Heather McPherson for federal leader. “I’ve met few leaders as capable and focused as Heather,” she wrote.
Nili Kaplan-Myrth is running for president of the Ontario Medical Association.
Thank you for reading POLICORNER. Are you planning to run in Scarborough Southwest? Are you Doly Begum, ready to talk? Get in touch. I’ll keep you anonymous, just like those sources you’re curious about.
Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up now.
A busy weekend in Liberal land. The leadership contest’s rules are out — and the reaction is mixed. Another name is jumping into the race in Scarborough Southwest. Meanwhile, a big bash — and an even bigger endorsement — in Mississauga. More on all that ahead.
SCOOP — Andrew Boozary will not run Liberal leader.
Boozary — the Toronto physician who had opened up a surprise lead in a hypothetical poll testing would-be candidates late last year — had been considering a run, but has instead chosen to keep his powder dry.
“I am deeply grateful for all the encouragement and support to consider the Ontario Liberal leadership. However, I will not be entering the race,” he said in a statement. “My focus remains on my work as a physician and my commitment to the patients and communities we serve. Public service takes many forms; for me, that means working alongside communities and collaborating with partners to improve health outcomes for all.”
A message from Dokainish & Company:
Ontario is building the future. Dokainish has built award-winning PMOs and delivered programs on-budget and ahead-of-schedule across the world's most demanding industries. We’re optimizing projects for nuclear, renewable energy, and infrastructure in Canada’s largest province and beyond. Learn more.
Meanwhile: Liberals will crown their next leader on Nov. 21.
The executive council — which has drawn criticism for slow-rolling the process — cleared the leadership contest’s rules near-unanimously at a Saturday meeting, with just one member voting no.
What to know:
— What it’ll cost: Would-be leadership candidates face a $150,000 entry fee — up from $100,000 in the last contest — plus a refundable $25,000 deposit. A $5,000 payment is due within seven days of registration with Elections Ontario.
— Key dates: Candidates have until July 31 to submit nomination papers, including 250 signatures from party members.
Members must join by Sept. 7 to be eligible to vote. If you’re registering on campus, the deadline is Sept. 25.
Voting will run online from Nov. 9 through Nov. 20. (That’s in line with one of the six hypothetical scenarios the council had been gaming out, as we’ve reported.)
— Fundraising and spending: Campaigns must kick back 25 per cent of all cash raised to the party, paid bi-weekly. Total spending is set at $1 million, and campaign debt cannot exceed $50,000 at any point.
— Messaging limits: Through the end of October, candidates are limited to three bulk emails, one robocall and one automated text per month. In November, that increases to five emails and three texts. All email blasts must run through the party’s database, and exporting party data is prohibited.
Behind the scenes: The timeline was set to accommodate the fall ramp-up of campus organizing. Sources say Palwashah Ali, the youth wing’s president, had been rallying council support for a vote in November. Reached by phone, she said the youth advantage factored in, but wasn’t the sole driver.
“Campus recruitment is fundamental to our club recruitment strategy… Any earlier would’ve prohibited anyone who would join during our big recruitment push from voting. Imagine saying ‘we have a very important vote coming up, but sorry you can’t vote because the deadline has already passed,’” Ali said. “Many people understood where I was coming from.”
“I’m pleased to see that there was agreement with this timeline, not just for us but also for the party in general… The broader party was really in consideration here,” she added. “We need the time to get it right — to use this race to bring in more young people who want to elect a government who cares about us.”
One organizer wasn’t buying it. “171 total votes of 22,827,” they texted, pointing to low youth-club participation in the last contest.
Not everyone is sold on the rules. “I’m thoroughly disappointed — and I think the executive needs to reflect on whether they’re serving the interests of the party,” a second organizer said. “It shouldn’t have taken this long to come up with these rules… It’s not okay. They failed.”
“I’m not sure how serious they are about this process,” added a third. “They say now’s the moment — then drag the race out longer than a pregnancy. It’s embarrassing.”
“This is bananas,” an ex-candidate wrote.
That criticism isn’t unanimous. “The pearl clutching about the vote not being held until November is so dumb,” texted one operative. “There was no world in which the vote was going to be held before the fall. A vote during the summer? Everyone on vacation and student club members back home? That wasn’t going to happen. What’s the urgency? I don’t understand it.”
— The House is out and committees aren’t meeting this week.
— Fundraising watch: On Thursday at 5 p.m., would-be Liberal leadership contenders will be in Hamilton for a $260-a-ticket fundraiser. Karina Gould will deliver the keynote. RSVP.
— Also happening:
Save the date: Next Tuesday at 11:30 a.m., Steve Paikin will sit down with Housing Minister Rob Flack at the Empire Club “to explain what’s next in Ontario’s plan to support families, attract investment, and create good jobs.” RSVP.
Also at 11:30 a.m., a Speaker’s Series event celebrating Black History Month, featuring Charmaine Williams, Jean Augustine and Zanana Akande.
— 🍴 On the lunch menu:
— Also happening: Looking for something to do on Family Day? Drop by the Assembly for family-friendly crafts, face painting, balloon twisting, live music and outdoor fun — including mini hockey, curling and carnival games. Full schedule.
A message from Next Campaign:
We optimize the interplay between people, processes, technology, and data, while integrating AI, to ensure capital projects finish on time and on budget. Learn more.
— SCOOP — Chalk up another potential Liberal candidate in Scarborough Southwest.
Ali Demircan, the president of the Federation of Canadian Turkish Associations and a survivor of the Danforth shooting, is expected to seek the nomination. He planned to run last time, until ex-leader Bonnie Crombie appointed Qadira Jackson as the candidate. (Jackson, too, is seeking the nomination.)
By the way: The Federation has political clout. Demircan’s predecessor, Sima Acan, is now the MP for Oakville West.
Meanwhile: Eric Lombardi says he’s not planning to take a run at the nomination. “For now, I’m focused on leadership. Regardless of the outcome, I’m committed to running in the next election,” he said. Mike Crawley and Vik Handa are also not expected to run.
— All aboard: The Eglinton Crosstown has opened. “While the TTC said it wouldn’t have the same fanfare — or merchandise — seen at last year’s Finch West LRT opening, crowds of people bundled in parkas and toques packed platforms at Kennedy and Mount Dennis stations.” More from CBC.
Here, a chronological look at the project, from conception to completion.
“It’s a big moment for TTC employees, too. As a group of workers saw the excited crowd, one employee joked to CBC News that they’re ready to head into battle on the first day of war.”
Meanwhile, here’s the status of every other major transit project in Toronto.
Word from Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria: “The Eglinton Crosstown LRT will cut travel times across the city by 60 per cent, helping riders get where they need to go quickly and safely and fuelling our economy for years to come.”
— Ad watch: The Ford government launched a new taxpayer-funded ad this weekend using the “Protect Ontario” slogan. The commercial went live at 8:45 p.m. during yesterday’s Super Bowl.
— Zoned out: “The Ford government quietly updated the zoning order shaping the redevelopment of Ontario Place to accommodate the construction of a new science centre, a massive above-ground parking garage nearby, and more.” Read on.
— LG Energy Solution is buying out Stellantis’ stake in NextStar Energy, with no job losses expected.
— Are rising electricity rates threatening Ontario’s nuclear build-out? The Globe has more.
Meanwhile, Ontarians are now footing the bill for nuclear plants that don’t yet exist.
— Soil saga: “A GTA hospitality entrepreneur has spent years entangled in a nasty dispute over Toronto dirt — specifically, why her neighbour has been allowed to profit from having it dumped on his property while she cannot.” The Star has the details.
— Martin Regg Cohn wonders: “Without warning, a politician changes her colours — from orange to red — utterly out of the blue. What made her do it?”
Speaking of Scarborough Southwest, John Michael McGrath says the stars may have aligned for one Liberal leadership candidate.
— Graeme Gordon says a spring election would be “the most opportune moment” for Mark Carney to chase his large majority.
— Transit activist Reece Martin says Toronto once built the Yonge Subway for a much smaller city — but with far greater foresight. The Crosstown, he argues, didn’t get the same treatment.
— Liam Gill argues the province is missing an innovation minister.
— Seen: Bonnie Crombie’s birthday bash at The Crooked Cue. The ex-Liberal leader hasn’t yet decided whether to challenge Carolyn Parrish in the fall.
Alvin Tedjo, who is also considering a run, was in the crowd.
At the Mississauga Board of Trade, Premier Doug Ford gave Parrish his “full endorsement” last week.
Doly Begum has begun canvassing in Scarborough Southwest. The red flyers are already printed.
— Noted: NDP MPP Peggy Sattler has endorsed Heather McPherson for federal leader. “I’ve met few leaders as capable and focused as Heather,” she wrote.
Nili Kaplan-Myrth is running for president of the Ontario Medical Association.
Thank you for reading POLICORNER. Are you planning to run in Scarborough Southwest? Are you Doly Begum, ready to talk? Get in touch. I’ll keep you anonymous, just like those sources you’re curious about.
Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up now.
A busy weekend in Liberal land. The leadership contest’s rules are out — and the reaction is mixed. Another name is jumping into the race in Scarborough Southwest. Meanwhile, a big bash — and an even bigger endorsement — in Mississauga. More on all that ahead.
SCOOP — Andrew Boozary will not run Liberal leader.
Boozary — the Toronto physician who had opened up a surprise lead in a hypothetical poll testing would-be candidates late last year — had been considering a run, but has instead chosen to keep his powder dry.
“I am deeply grateful for all the encouragement and support to consider the Ontario Liberal leadership. However, I will not be entering the race,” he said in a statement. “My focus remains on my work as a physician and my commitment to the patients and communities we serve. Public service takes many forms; for me, that means working alongside communities and collaborating with partners to improve health outcomes for all.”
A message from Dokainish & Company:
Ontario is building the future. Dokainish has built award-winning PMOs and delivered programs on-budget and ahead-of-schedule across the world's most demanding industries. We’re optimizing projects for nuclear, renewable energy, and infrastructure in Canada’s largest province and beyond. Learn more.
Meanwhile: Liberals will crown their next leader on Nov. 21.
The executive council — which has drawn criticism for slow-rolling the process — cleared the leadership contest’s rules near-unanimously at a Saturday meeting, with just one member voting no.
What to know:
— What it’ll cost: Would-be leadership candidates face a $150,000 entry fee — up from $100,000 in the last contest — plus a refundable $25,000 deposit. A $5,000 payment is due within seven days of registration with Elections Ontario.
— Key dates: Candidates have until July 31 to submit nomination papers, including 250 signatures from party members.
Members must join by Sept. 7 to be eligible to vote. If you’re registering on campus, the deadline is Sept. 25.
Voting will run online from Nov. 9 through Nov. 20. (That’s in line with one of the six hypothetical scenarios the council had been gaming out, as we’ve reported.)
— Fundraising and spending: Campaigns must kick back 25 per cent of all cash raised to the party, paid bi-weekly. Total spending is set at $1 million, and campaign debt cannot exceed $50,000 at any point.
— Messaging limits: Through the end of October, candidates are limited to three bulk emails, one robocall and one automated text per month. In November, that increases to five emails and three texts. All email blasts must run through the party’s database, and exporting party data is prohibited.
Behind the scenes: The timeline was set to accommodate the fall ramp-up of campus organizing. Sources say Palwashah Ali, the youth wing’s president, had been rallying council support for a vote in November. Reached by phone, she said the youth advantage factored in, but wasn’t the sole driver.
“Campus recruitment is fundamental to our club recruitment strategy… Any earlier would’ve prohibited anyone who would join during our big recruitment push from voting. Imagine saying ‘we have a very important vote coming up, but sorry you can’t vote because the deadline has already passed,’” Ali said. “Many people understood where I was coming from.”
“I’m pleased to see that there was agreement with this timeline, not just for us but also for the party in general… The broader party was really in consideration here,” she added. “We need the time to get it right — to use this race to bring in more young people who want to elect a government who cares about us.”
One organizer wasn’t buying it. “171 total votes of 22,827,” they texted, pointing to low youth-club participation in the last contest.
Not everyone is sold on the rules. “I’m thoroughly disappointed — and I think the executive needs to reflect on whether they’re serving the interests of the party,” a second organizer said. “It shouldn’t have taken this long to come up with these rules… It’s not okay. They failed.”
“I’m not sure how serious they are about this process,” added a third. “They say now’s the moment — then drag the race out longer than a pregnancy. It’s embarrassing.”
“This is bananas,” an ex-candidate wrote.
That criticism isn’t unanimous. “The pearl clutching about the vote not being held until November is so dumb,” texted one operative. “There was no world in which the vote was going to be held before the fall. A vote during the summer? Everyone on vacation and student club members back home? That wasn’t going to happen. What’s the urgency? I don’t understand it.”
— The House is out and committees aren’t meeting this week.
— Fundraising watch: On Thursday at 5 p.m., would-be Liberal leadership contenders will be in Hamilton for a $260-a-ticket fundraiser. Karina Gould will deliver the keynote. RSVP.
— Also happening:
Save the date: Next Tuesday at 11:30 a.m., Steve Paikin will sit down with Housing Minister Rob Flack at the Empire Club “to explain what’s next in Ontario’s plan to support families, attract investment, and create good jobs.” RSVP.
Also at 11:30 a.m., a Speaker’s Series event celebrating Black History Month, featuring Charmaine Williams, Jean Augustine and Zanana Akande.
— 🍴 On the lunch menu:
— Also happening: Looking for something to do on Family Day? Drop by the Assembly for family-friendly crafts, face painting, balloon twisting, live music and outdoor fun — including mini hockey, curling and carnival games. Full schedule.
A message from Next Campaign:
We optimize the interplay between people, processes, technology, and data, while integrating AI, to ensure capital projects finish on time and on budget. Learn more.
— SCOOP — Chalk up another potential Liberal candidate in Scarborough Southwest.
Ali Demircan, the president of the Federation of Canadian Turkish Associations and a survivor of the Danforth shooting, is expected to seek the nomination. He planned to run last time, until ex-leader Bonnie Crombie appointed Qadira Jackson as the candidate. (Jackson, too, is seeking the nomination.)
By the way: The Federation has political clout. Demircan’s predecessor, Sima Acan, is now the MP for Oakville West.
Meanwhile: Eric Lombardi says he’s not planning to take a run at the nomination. “For now, I’m focused on leadership. Regardless of the outcome, I’m committed to running in the next election,” he said. Mike Crawley and Vik Handa are also not expected to run.
— All aboard: The Eglinton Crosstown has opened. “While the TTC said it wouldn’t have the same fanfare — or merchandise — seen at last year’s Finch West LRT opening, crowds of people bundled in parkas and toques packed platforms at Kennedy and Mount Dennis stations.” More from CBC.
Here, a chronological look at the project, from conception to completion.
“It’s a big moment for TTC employees, too. As a group of workers saw the excited crowd, one employee joked to CBC News that they’re ready to head into battle on the first day of war.”
Meanwhile, here’s the status of every other major transit project in Toronto.
Word from Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria: “The Eglinton Crosstown LRT will cut travel times across the city by 60 per cent, helping riders get where they need to go quickly and safely and fuelling our economy for years to come.”
— Ad watch: The Ford government launched a new taxpayer-funded ad this weekend using the “Protect Ontario” slogan. The commercial went live at 8:45 p.m. during yesterday’s Super Bowl.
— Zoned out: “The Ford government quietly updated the zoning order shaping the redevelopment of Ontario Place to accommodate the construction of a new science centre, a massive above-ground parking garage nearby, and more.” Read on.
— LG Energy Solution is buying out Stellantis’ stake in NextStar Energy, with no job losses expected.
— Are rising electricity rates threatening Ontario’s nuclear build-out? The Globe has more.
Meanwhile, Ontarians are now footing the bill for nuclear plants that don’t yet exist.
— Soil saga: “A GTA hospitality entrepreneur has spent years entangled in a nasty dispute over Toronto dirt — specifically, why her neighbour has been allowed to profit from having it dumped on his property while she cannot.” The Star has the details.
— Martin Regg Cohn wonders: “Without warning, a politician changes her colours — from orange to red — utterly out of the blue. What made her do it?”
Speaking of Scarborough Southwest, John Michael McGrath says the stars may have aligned for one Liberal leadership candidate.
— Graeme Gordon says a spring election would be “the most opportune moment” for Mark Carney to chase his large majority.
— Transit activist Reece Martin says Toronto once built the Yonge Subway for a much smaller city — but with far greater foresight. The Crosstown, he argues, didn’t get the same treatment.
— Liam Gill argues the province is missing an innovation minister.
— Seen: Bonnie Crombie’s birthday bash at The Crooked Cue. The ex-Liberal leader hasn’t yet decided whether to challenge Carolyn Parrish in the fall.
Alvin Tedjo, who is also considering a run, was in the crowd.
At the Mississauga Board of Trade, Premier Doug Ford gave Parrish his “full endorsement” last week.
Doly Begum has begun canvassing in Scarborough Southwest. The red flyers are already printed.
— Noted: NDP MPP Peggy Sattler has endorsed Heather McPherson for federal leader. “I’ve met few leaders as capable and focused as Heather,” she wrote.
Nili Kaplan-Myrth is running for president of the Ontario Medical Association.
Thank you for reading POLICORNER. Are you planning to run in Scarborough Southwest? Are you Doly Begum, ready to talk? Get in touch. I’ll keep you anonymous, just like those sources you’re curious about.
Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up now.
A busy weekend in Liberal land. The leadership contest’s rules are out — and the reaction is mixed. Another name is jumping into the race in Scarborough Southwest. Meanwhile, a big bash — and an even bigger endorsement — in Mississauga. More on all that ahead.
SCOOP — Andrew Boozary will not run Liberal leader.
Boozary — the Toronto physician who had opened up a surprise lead in a hypothetical poll testing would-be candidates late last year — had been considering a run, but has instead chosen to keep his powder dry.
“I am deeply grateful for all the encouragement and support to consider the Ontario Liberal leadership. However, I will not be entering the race,” he said in a statement. “My focus remains on my work as a physician and my commitment to the patients and communities we serve. Public service takes many forms; for me, that means working alongside communities and collaborating with partners to improve health outcomes for all.”
A message from Dokainish & Company:
Ontario is building the future. Dokainish has built award-winning PMOs and delivered programs on-budget and ahead-of-schedule across the world's most demanding industries. We’re optimizing projects for nuclear, renewable energy, and infrastructure in Canada’s largest province and beyond. Learn more.
Meanwhile: Liberals will crown their next leader on Nov. 21.
The executive council — which has drawn criticism for slow-rolling the process — cleared the leadership contest’s rules near-unanimously at a Saturday meeting, with just one member voting no.
What to know:
— What it’ll cost: Would-be leadership candidates face a $150,000 entry fee — up from $100,000 in the last contest — plus a refundable $25,000 deposit. A $5,000 payment is due within seven days of registration with Elections Ontario.
— Key dates: Candidates have until July 31 to submit nomination papers, including 250 signatures from party members.
Members must join by Sept. 7 to be eligible to vote. If you’re registering on campus, the deadline is Sept. 25.
Voting will run online from Nov. 9 through Nov. 20. (That’s in line with one of the six hypothetical scenarios the council had been gaming out, as we’ve reported.)
— Fundraising and spending: Campaigns must kick back 25 per cent of all cash raised to the party, paid bi-weekly. Total spending is set at $1 million, and campaign debt cannot exceed $50,000 at any point.
— Messaging limits: Through the end of October, candidates are limited to three bulk emails, one robocall and one automated text per month. In November, that increases to five emails and three texts. All email blasts must run through the party’s database, and exporting party data is prohibited.
Behind the scenes: The timeline was set to accommodate the fall ramp-up of campus organizing. Sources say Palwashah Ali, the youth wing’s president, had been rallying council support for a vote in November. Reached by phone, she said the youth advantage factored in, but wasn’t the sole driver.
“Campus recruitment is fundamental to our club recruitment strategy… Any earlier would’ve prohibited anyone who would join during our big recruitment push from voting. Imagine saying ‘we have a very important vote coming up, but sorry you can’t vote because the deadline has already passed,’” Ali said. “Many people understood where I was coming from.”
“I’m pleased to see that there was agreement with this timeline, not just for us but also for the party in general… The broader party was really in consideration here,” she added. “We need the time to get it right — to use this race to bring in more young people who want to elect a government who cares about us.”
One organizer wasn’t buying it. “171 total votes of 22,827,” they texted, pointing to low youth-club participation in the last contest.
Not everyone is sold on the rules. “I’m thoroughly disappointed — and I think the executive needs to reflect on whether they’re serving the interests of the party,” a second organizer said. “It shouldn’t have taken this long to come up with these rules… It’s not okay. They failed.”
“I’m not sure how serious they are about this process,” added a third. “They say now’s the moment — then drag the race out longer than a pregnancy. It’s embarrassing.”
“This is bananas,” an ex-candidate wrote.
That criticism isn’t unanimous. “The pearl clutching about the vote not being held until November is so dumb,” texted one operative. “There was no world in which the vote was going to be held before the fall. A vote during the summer? Everyone on vacation and student club members back home? That wasn’t going to happen. What’s the urgency? I don’t understand it.”
— The House is out and committees aren’t meeting this week.
— Fundraising watch: On Thursday at 5 p.m., would-be Liberal leadership contenders will be in Hamilton for a $260-a-ticket fundraiser. Karina Gould will deliver the keynote. RSVP.
— Also happening:
Save the date: Next Tuesday at 11:30 a.m., Steve Paikin will sit down with Housing Minister Rob Flack at the Empire Club “to explain what’s next in Ontario’s plan to support families, attract investment, and create good jobs.” RSVP.
Also at 11:30 a.m., a Speaker’s Series event celebrating Black History Month, featuring Charmaine Williams, Jean Augustine and Zanana Akande.
— 🍴 On the lunch menu:
— Also happening: Looking for something to do on Family Day? Drop by the Assembly for family-friendly crafts, face painting, balloon twisting, live music and outdoor fun — including mini hockey, curling and carnival games. Full schedule.
A message from Next Campaign:
We optimize the interplay between people, processes, technology, and data, while integrating AI, to ensure capital projects finish on time and on budget. Learn more.
— SCOOP — Chalk up another potential Liberal candidate in Scarborough Southwest.
Ali Demircan, the president of the Federation of Canadian Turkish Associations and a survivor of the Danforth shooting, is expected to seek the nomination. He planned to run last time, until ex-leader Bonnie Crombie appointed Qadira Jackson as the candidate. (Jackson, too, is seeking the nomination.)
By the way: The Federation has political clout. Demircan’s predecessor, Sima Acan, is now the MP for Oakville West.
Meanwhile: Eric Lombardi says he’s not planning to take a run at the nomination. “For now, I’m focused on leadership. Regardless of the outcome, I’m committed to running in the next election,” he said. Mike Crawley and Vik Handa are also not expected to run.
— All aboard: The Eglinton Crosstown has opened. “While the TTC said it wouldn’t have the same fanfare — or merchandise — seen at last year’s Finch West LRT opening, crowds of people bundled in parkas and toques packed platforms at Kennedy and Mount Dennis stations.” More from CBC.
Here, a chronological look at the project, from conception to completion.
“It’s a big moment for TTC employees, too. As a group of workers saw the excited crowd, one employee joked to CBC News that they’re ready to head into battle on the first day of war.”
Meanwhile, here’s the status of every other major transit project in Toronto.
Word from Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria: “The Eglinton Crosstown LRT will cut travel times across the city by 60 per cent, helping riders get where they need to go quickly and safely and fuelling our economy for years to come.”
— Ad watch: The Ford government launched a new taxpayer-funded ad this weekend using the “Protect Ontario” slogan. The commercial went live at 8:45 p.m. during yesterday’s Super Bowl.
— Zoned out: “The Ford government quietly updated the zoning order shaping the redevelopment of Ontario Place to accommodate the construction of a new science centre, a massive above-ground parking garage nearby, and more.” Read on.
— LG Energy Solution is buying out Stellantis’ stake in NextStar Energy, with no job losses expected.
— Are rising electricity rates threatening Ontario’s nuclear build-out? The Globe has more.
Meanwhile, Ontarians are now footing the bill for nuclear plants that don’t yet exist.
— Soil saga: “A GTA hospitality entrepreneur has spent years entangled in a nasty dispute over Toronto dirt — specifically, why her neighbour has been allowed to profit from having it dumped on his property while she cannot.” The Star has the details.
— Martin Regg Cohn wonders: “Without warning, a politician changes her colours — from orange to red — utterly out of the blue. What made her do it?”
Speaking of Scarborough Southwest, John Michael McGrath says the stars may have aligned for one Liberal leadership candidate.
— Graeme Gordon says a spring election would be “the most opportune moment” for Mark Carney to chase his large majority.
— Transit activist Reece Martin says Toronto once built the Yonge Subway for a much smaller city — but with far greater foresight. The Crosstown, he argues, didn’t get the same treatment.
— Liam Gill argues the province is missing an innovation minister.
— Seen: Bonnie Crombie’s birthday bash at The Crooked Cue. The ex-Liberal leader hasn’t yet decided whether to challenge Carolyn Parrish in the fall.
Alvin Tedjo, who is also considering a run, was in the crowd.
At the Mississauga Board of Trade, Premier Doug Ford gave Parrish his “full endorsement” last week.
Doly Begum has begun canvassing in Scarborough Southwest. The red flyers are already printed.
— Noted: NDP MPP Peggy Sattler has endorsed Heather McPherson for federal leader. “I’ve met few leaders as capable and focused as Heather,” she wrote.
Nili Kaplan-Myrth is running for president of the Ontario Medical Association.
Thank you for reading POLICORNER. Are you planning to run in Scarborough Southwest? Are you Doly Begum, ready to talk? Get in touch. I’ll keep you anonymous, just like those sources you’re curious about.
Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up now.
A busy weekend in Liberal land. The leadership contest’s rules are out — and the reaction is mixed. Another name is jumping into the race in Scarborough Southwest. Meanwhile, a big bash — and an even bigger endorsement — in Mississauga. More on all that ahead.
SCOOP — Andrew Boozary will not run Liberal leader.
Boozary — the Toronto physician who had opened up a surprise lead in a hypothetical poll testing would-be candidates late last year — had been considering a run, but has instead chosen to keep his powder dry.
“I am deeply grateful for all the encouragement and support to consider the Ontario Liberal leadership. However, I will not be entering the race,” he said in a statement. “My focus remains on my work as a physician and my commitment to the patients and communities we serve. Public service takes many forms; for me, that means working alongside communities and collaborating with partners to improve health outcomes for all.”
A message from Dokainish & Company:
Ontario is building the future. Dokainish has built award-winning PMOs and delivered programs on-budget and ahead-of-schedule across the world's most demanding industries. We’re optimizing projects for nuclear, renewable energy, and infrastructure in Canada’s largest province and beyond. Learn more.
Meanwhile: Liberals will crown their next leader on Nov. 21.
The executive council — which has drawn criticism for slow-rolling the process — cleared the leadership contest’s rules near-unanimously at a Saturday meeting, with just one member voting no.
What to know:
— What it’ll cost: Would-be leadership candidates face a $150,000 entry fee — up from $100,000 in the last contest — plus a refundable $25,000 deposit. A $5,000 payment is due within seven days of registration with Elections Ontario.
— Key dates: Candidates have until July 31 to submit nomination papers, including 250 signatures from party members.
Members must join by Sept. 7 to be eligible to vote. If you’re registering on campus, the deadline is Sept. 25.
Voting will run online from Nov. 9 through Nov. 20. (That’s in line with one of the six hypothetical scenarios the council had been gaming out, as we’ve reported.)
— Fundraising and spending: Campaigns must kick back 25 per cent of all cash raised to the party, paid bi-weekly. Total spending is set at $1 million, and campaign debt cannot exceed $50,000 at any point.
— Messaging limits: Through the end of October, candidates are limited to three bulk emails, one robocall and one automated text per month. In November, that increases to five emails and three texts. All email blasts must run through the party’s database, and exporting party data is prohibited.
Behind the scenes: The timeline was set to accommodate the fall ramp-up of campus organizing. Sources say Palwashah Ali, the youth wing’s president, had been rallying council support for a vote in November. Reached by phone, she said the youth advantage factored in, but wasn’t the sole driver.
“Campus recruitment is fundamental to our club recruitment strategy… Any earlier would’ve prohibited anyone who would join during our big recruitment push from voting. Imagine saying ‘we have a very important vote coming up, but sorry you can’t vote because the deadline has already passed,’” Ali said. “Many people understood where I was coming from.”
“I’m pleased to see that there was agreement with this timeline, not just for us but also for the party in general… The broader party was really in consideration here,” she added. “We need the time to get it right — to use this race to bring in more young people who want to elect a government who cares about us.”
One organizer wasn’t buying it. “171 total votes of 22,827,” they texted, pointing to low youth-club participation in the last contest.
Not everyone is sold on the rules. “I’m thoroughly disappointed — and I think the executive needs to reflect on whether they’re serving the interests of the party,” a second organizer said. “It shouldn’t have taken this long to come up with these rules… It’s not okay. They failed.”
“I’m not sure how serious they are about this process,” added a third. “They say now’s the moment — then drag the race out longer than a pregnancy. It’s embarrassing.”
“This is bananas,” an ex-candidate wrote.
That criticism isn’t unanimous. “The pearl clutching about the vote not being held until November is so dumb,” texted one operative. “There was no world in which the vote was going to be held before the fall. A vote during the summer? Everyone on vacation and student club members back home? That wasn’t going to happen. What’s the urgency? I don’t understand it.”
— The House is out and committees aren’t meeting this week.
— Fundraising watch: On Thursday at 5 p.m., would-be Liberal leadership contenders will be in Hamilton for a $260-a-ticket fundraiser. Karina Gould will deliver the keynote. RSVP.
— Also happening:
Save the date: Next Tuesday at 11:30 a.m., Steve Paikin will sit down with Housing Minister Rob Flack at the Empire Club “to explain what’s next in Ontario’s plan to support families, attract investment, and create good jobs.” RSVP.
Also at 11:30 a.m., a Speaker’s Series event celebrating Black History Month, featuring Charmaine Williams, Jean Augustine and Zanana Akande.
— 🍴 On the lunch menu:
— Also happening: Looking for something to do on Family Day? Drop by the Assembly for family-friendly crafts, face painting, balloon twisting, live music and outdoor fun — including mini hockey, curling and carnival games. Full schedule.
A message from Next Campaign:
We optimize the interplay between people, processes, technology, and data, while integrating AI, to ensure capital projects finish on time and on budget. Learn more.
— SCOOP — Chalk up another potential Liberal candidate in Scarborough Southwest.
Ali Demircan, the president of the Federation of Canadian Turkish Associations and a survivor of the Danforth shooting, is expected to seek the nomination. He planned to run last time, until ex-leader Bonnie Crombie appointed Qadira Jackson as the candidate. (Jackson, too, is seeking the nomination.)
By the way: The Federation has political clout. Demircan’s predecessor, Sima Acan, is now the MP for Oakville West.
Meanwhile: Eric Lombardi says he’s not planning to take a run at the nomination. “For now, I’m focused on leadership. Regardless of the outcome, I’m committed to running in the next election,” he said. Mike Crawley and Vik Handa are also not expected to run.
— All aboard: The Eglinton Crosstown has opened. “While the TTC said it wouldn’t have the same fanfare — or merchandise — seen at last year’s Finch West LRT opening, crowds of people bundled in parkas and toques packed platforms at Kennedy and Mount Dennis stations.” More from CBC.
Here, a chronological look at the project, from conception to completion.
“It’s a big moment for TTC employees, too. As a group of workers saw the excited crowd, one employee joked to CBC News that they’re ready to head into battle on the first day of war.”
Meanwhile, here’s the status of every other major transit project in Toronto.
Word from Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria: “The Eglinton Crosstown LRT will cut travel times across the city by 60 per cent, helping riders get where they need to go quickly and safely and fuelling our economy for years to come.”
— Ad watch: The Ford government launched a new taxpayer-funded ad this weekend using the “Protect Ontario” slogan. The commercial went live at 8:45 p.m. during yesterday’s Super Bowl.
— Zoned out: “The Ford government quietly updated the zoning order shaping the redevelopment of Ontario Place to accommodate the construction of a new science centre, a massive above-ground parking garage nearby, and more.” Read on.
— LG Energy Solution is buying out Stellantis’ stake in NextStar Energy, with no job losses expected.
— Are rising electricity rates threatening Ontario’s nuclear build-out? The Globe has more.
Meanwhile, Ontarians are now footing the bill for nuclear plants that don’t yet exist.
— Soil saga: “A GTA hospitality entrepreneur has spent years entangled in a nasty dispute over Toronto dirt — specifically, why her neighbour has been allowed to profit from having it dumped on his property while she cannot.” The Star has the details.
— Martin Regg Cohn wonders: “Without warning, a politician changes her colours — from orange to red — utterly out of the blue. What made her do it?”
Speaking of Scarborough Southwest, John Michael McGrath says the stars may have aligned for one Liberal leadership candidate.
— Graeme Gordon says a spring election would be “the most opportune moment” for Mark Carney to chase his large majority.
— Transit activist Reece Martin says Toronto once built the Yonge Subway for a much smaller city — but with far greater foresight. The Crosstown, he argues, didn’t get the same treatment.
— Liam Gill argues the province is missing an innovation minister.
— Seen: Bonnie Crombie’s birthday bash at The Crooked Cue. The ex-Liberal leader hasn’t yet decided whether to challenge Carolyn Parrish in the fall.
Alvin Tedjo, who is also considering a run, was in the crowd.
At the Mississauga Board of Trade, Premier Doug Ford gave Parrish his “full endorsement” last week.
Doly Begum has begun canvassing in Scarborough Southwest. The red flyers are already printed.
— Noted: NDP MPP Peggy Sattler has endorsed Heather McPherson for federal leader. “I’ve met few leaders as capable and focused as Heather,” she wrote.
Nili Kaplan-Myrth is running for president of the Ontario Medical Association.
Thank you for reading POLICORNER. Are you planning to run in Scarborough Southwest? Are you Doly Begum, ready to talk? Get in touch. I’ll keep you anonymous, just like those sources you’re curious about.
Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up now.
A busy weekend in Liberal land. The leadership contest’s rules are out — and the reaction is mixed. Another name is jumping into the race in Scarborough Southwest. Meanwhile, a big bash — and an even bigger endorsement — in Mississauga. More on all that ahead.
SCOOP — Andrew Boozary will not run Liberal leader.
Boozary — the Toronto physician who had opened up a surprise lead in a hypothetical poll testing would-be candidates late last year — had been considering a run, but has instead chosen to keep his powder dry.
“I am deeply grateful for all the encouragement and support to consider the Ontario Liberal leadership. However, I will not be entering the race,” he said in a statement. “My focus remains on my work as a physician and my commitment to the patients and communities we serve. Public service takes many forms; for me, that means working alongside communities and collaborating with partners to improve health outcomes for all.”
A message from Dokainish & Company:
Ontario is building the future. Dokainish has built award-winning PMOs and delivered programs on-budget and ahead-of-schedule across the world's most demanding industries. We’re optimizing projects for nuclear, renewable energy, and infrastructure in Canada’s largest province and beyond. Learn more.
Meanwhile: Liberals will crown their next leader on Nov. 21.
The executive council — which has drawn criticism for slow-rolling the process — cleared the leadership contest’s rules near-unanimously at a Saturday meeting, with just one member voting no.
What to know:
— What it’ll cost: Would-be leadership candidates face a $150,000 entry fee — up from $100,000 in the last contest — plus a refundable $25,000 deposit. A $5,000 payment is due within seven days of registration with Elections Ontario.
— Key dates: Candidates have until July 31 to submit nomination papers, including 250 signatures from party members.
Members must join by Sept. 7 to be eligible to vote. If you’re registering on campus, the deadline is Sept. 25.
Voting will run online from Nov. 9 through Nov. 20. (That’s in line with one of the six hypothetical scenarios the council had been gaming out, as we’ve reported.)
— Fundraising and spending: Campaigns must kick back 25 per cent of all cash raised to the party, paid bi-weekly. Total spending is set at $1 million, and campaign debt cannot exceed $50,000 at any point.
— Messaging limits: Through the end of October, candidates are limited to three bulk emails, one robocall and one automated text per month. In November, that increases to five emails and three texts. All email blasts must run through the party’s database, and exporting party data is prohibited.
Behind the scenes: The timeline was set to accommodate the fall ramp-up of campus organizing. Sources say Palwashah Ali, the youth wing’s president, had been rallying council support for a vote in November. Reached by phone, she said the youth advantage factored in, but wasn’t the sole driver.
“Campus recruitment is fundamental to our club recruitment strategy… Any earlier would’ve prohibited anyone who would join during our big recruitment push from voting. Imagine saying ‘we have a very important vote coming up, but sorry you can’t vote because the deadline has already passed,’” Ali said. “Many people understood where I was coming from.”
“I’m pleased to see that there was agreement with this timeline, not just for us but also for the party in general… The broader party was really in consideration here,” she added. “We need the time to get it right — to use this race to bring in more young people who want to elect a government who cares about us.”
One organizer wasn’t buying it. “171 total votes of 22,827,” they texted, pointing to low youth-club participation in the last contest.
Not everyone is sold on the rules. “I’m thoroughly disappointed — and I think the executive needs to reflect on whether they’re serving the interests of the party,” a second organizer said. “It shouldn’t have taken this long to come up with these rules… It’s not okay. They failed.”
“I’m not sure how serious they are about this process,” added a third. “They say now’s the moment — then drag the race out longer than a pregnancy. It’s embarrassing.”
“This is bananas,” an ex-candidate wrote.
That criticism isn’t unanimous. “The pearl clutching about the vote not being held until November is so dumb,” texted one operative. “There was no world in which the vote was going to be held before the fall. A vote during the summer? Everyone on vacation and student club members back home? That wasn’t going to happen. What’s the urgency? I don’t understand it.”
— The House is out and committees aren’t meeting this week.
— Fundraising watch: On Thursday at 5 p.m., would-be Liberal leadership contenders will be in Hamilton for a $260-a-ticket fundraiser. Karina Gould will deliver the keynote. RSVP.
— Also happening:
Save the date: Next Tuesday at 11:30 a.m., Steve Paikin will sit down with Housing Minister Rob Flack at the Empire Club “to explain what’s next in Ontario’s plan to support families, attract investment, and create good jobs.” RSVP.
Also at 11:30 a.m., a Speaker’s Series event celebrating Black History Month, featuring Charmaine Williams, Jean Augustine and Zanana Akande.
— 🍴 On the lunch menu:
— Also happening: Looking for something to do on Family Day? Drop by the Assembly for family-friendly crafts, face painting, balloon twisting, live music and outdoor fun — including mini hockey, curling and carnival games. Full schedule.
A message from Next Campaign:
We optimize the interplay between people, processes, technology, and data, while integrating AI, to ensure capital projects finish on time and on budget. Learn more.
— SCOOP — Chalk up another potential Liberal candidate in Scarborough Southwest.
Ali Demircan, the president of the Federation of Canadian Turkish Associations and a survivor of the Danforth shooting, is expected to seek the nomination. He planned to run last time, until ex-leader Bonnie Crombie appointed Qadira Jackson as the candidate. (Jackson, too, is seeking the nomination.)
By the way: The Federation has political clout. Demircan’s predecessor, Sima Acan, is now the MP for Oakville West.
Meanwhile: Eric Lombardi says he’s not planning to take a run at the nomination. “For now, I’m focused on leadership. Regardless of the outcome, I’m committed to running in the next election,” he said. Mike Crawley and Vik Handa are also not expected to run.
— All aboard: The Eglinton Crosstown has opened. “While the TTC said it wouldn’t have the same fanfare — or merchandise — seen at last year’s Finch West LRT opening, crowds of people bundled in parkas and toques packed platforms at Kennedy and Mount Dennis stations.” More from CBC.
Here, a chronological look at the project, from conception to completion.
“It’s a big moment for TTC employees, too. As a group of workers saw the excited crowd, one employee joked to CBC News that they’re ready to head into battle on the first day of war.”
Meanwhile, here’s the status of every other major transit project in Toronto.
Word from Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria: “The Eglinton Crosstown LRT will cut travel times across the city by 60 per cent, helping riders get where they need to go quickly and safely and fuelling our economy for years to come.”
— Ad watch: The Ford government launched a new taxpayer-funded ad this weekend using the “Protect Ontario” slogan. The commercial went live at 8:45 p.m. during yesterday’s Super Bowl.
— Zoned out: “The Ford government quietly updated the zoning order shaping the redevelopment of Ontario Place to accommodate the construction of a new science centre, a massive above-ground parking garage nearby, and more.” Read on.
— LG Energy Solution is buying out Stellantis’ stake in NextStar Energy, with no job losses expected.
— Are rising electricity rates threatening Ontario’s nuclear build-out? The Globe has more.
Meanwhile, Ontarians are now footing the bill for nuclear plants that don’t yet exist.
— Soil saga: “A GTA hospitality entrepreneur has spent years entangled in a nasty dispute over Toronto dirt — specifically, why her neighbour has been allowed to profit from having it dumped on his property while she cannot.” The Star has the details.
— Martin Regg Cohn wonders: “Without warning, a politician changes her colours — from orange to red — utterly out of the blue. What made her do it?”
Speaking of Scarborough Southwest, John Michael McGrath says the stars may have aligned for one Liberal leadership candidate.
— Graeme Gordon says a spring election would be “the most opportune moment” for Mark Carney to chase his large majority.
— Transit activist Reece Martin says Toronto once built the Yonge Subway for a much smaller city — but with far greater foresight. The Crosstown, he argues, didn’t get the same treatment.
— Liam Gill argues the province is missing an innovation minister.
— Seen: Bonnie Crombie’s birthday bash at The Crooked Cue. The ex-Liberal leader hasn’t yet decided whether to challenge Carolyn Parrish in the fall.
Alvin Tedjo, who is also considering a run, was in the crowd.
At the Mississauga Board of Trade, Premier Doug Ford gave Parrish his “full endorsement” last week.
Doly Begum has begun canvassing in Scarborough Southwest. The red flyers are already printed.
— Noted: NDP MPP Peggy Sattler has endorsed Heather McPherson for federal leader. “I’ve met few leaders as capable and focused as Heather,” she wrote.
Nili Kaplan-Myrth is running for president of the Ontario Medical Association.
Thank you for reading POLICORNER. Are you planning to run in Scarborough Southwest? Are you Doly Begum, ready to talk? Get in touch. I’ll keep you anonymous, just like those sources you’re curious about.
Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up now.
A busy weekend in Liberal land. The leadership contest’s rules are out — and the reaction is mixed. Another name is jumping into the race in Scarborough Southwest. Meanwhile, a big bash — and an even bigger endorsement — in Mississauga. More on all that ahead.
SCOOP — Andrew Boozary will not run Liberal leader.
Boozary — the Toronto physician who had opened up a surprise lead in a hypothetical poll testing would-be candidates late last year — had been considering a run, but has instead chosen to keep his powder dry.
“I am deeply grateful for all the encouragement and support to consider the Ontario Liberal leadership. However, I will not be entering the race,” he said in a statement. “My focus remains on my work as a physician and my commitment to the patients and communities we serve. Public service takes many forms; for me, that means working alongside communities and collaborating with partners to improve health outcomes for all.”
A message from Dokainish & Company:
Ontario is building the future. Dokainish has built award-winning PMOs and delivered programs on-budget and ahead-of-schedule across the world's most demanding industries. We’re optimizing projects for nuclear, renewable energy, and infrastructure in Canada’s largest province and beyond. Learn more.
Meanwhile: Liberals will crown their next leader on Nov. 21.
The executive council — which has drawn criticism for slow-rolling the process — cleared the leadership contest’s rules near-unanimously at a Saturday meeting, with just one member voting no.
What to know:
— What it’ll cost: Would-be leadership candidates face a $150,000 entry fee — up from $100,000 in the last contest — plus a refundable $25,000 deposit. A $5,000 payment is due within seven days of registration with Elections Ontario.
— Key dates: Candidates have until July 31 to submit nomination papers, including 250 signatures from party members.
Members must join by Sept. 7 to be eligible to vote. If you’re registering on campus, the deadline is Sept. 25.
Voting will run online from Nov. 9 through Nov. 20. (That’s in line with one of the six hypothetical scenarios the council had been gaming out, as we’ve reported.)
— Fundraising and spending: Campaigns must kick back 25 per cent of all cash raised to the party, paid bi-weekly. Total spending is set at $1 million, and campaign debt cannot exceed $50,000 at any point.
— Messaging limits: Through the end of October, candidates are limited to three bulk emails, one robocall and one automated text per month. In November, that increases to five emails and three texts. All email blasts must run through the party’s database, and exporting party data is prohibited.
Behind the scenes: The timeline was set to accommodate the fall ramp-up of campus organizing. Sources say Palwashah Ali, the youth wing’s president, had been rallying council support for a vote in November. Reached by phone, she said the youth advantage factored in, but wasn’t the sole driver.
“Campus recruitment is fundamental to our club recruitment strategy… Any earlier would’ve prohibited anyone who would join during our big recruitment push from voting. Imagine saying ‘we have a very important vote coming up, but sorry you can’t vote because the deadline has already passed,’” Ali said. “Many people understood where I was coming from.”
“I’m pleased to see that there was agreement with this timeline, not just for us but also for the party in general… The broader party was really in consideration here,” she added. “We need the time to get it right — to use this race to bring in more young people who want to elect a government who cares about us.”
One organizer wasn’t buying it. “171 total votes of 22,827,” they texted, pointing to low youth-club participation in the last contest.
Not everyone is sold on the rules. “I’m thoroughly disappointed — and I think the executive needs to reflect on whether they’re serving the interests of the party,” a second organizer said. “It shouldn’t have taken this long to come up with these rules… It’s not okay. They failed.”
“I’m not sure how serious they are about this process,” added a third. “They say now’s the moment — then drag the race out longer than a pregnancy. It’s embarrassing.”
“This is bananas,” an ex-candidate wrote.
That criticism isn’t unanimous. “The pearl clutching about the vote not being held until November is so dumb,” texted one operative. “There was no world in which the vote was going to be held before the fall. A vote during the summer? Everyone on vacation and student club members back home? That wasn’t going to happen. What’s the urgency? I don’t understand it.”
— The House is out and committees aren’t meeting this week.
— Fundraising watch: On Thursday at 5 p.m., would-be Liberal leadership contenders will be in Hamilton for a $260-a-ticket fundraiser. Karina Gould will deliver the keynote. RSVP.
— Also happening:
Save the date: Next Tuesday at 11:30 a.m., Steve Paikin will sit down with Housing Minister Rob Flack at the Empire Club “to explain what’s next in Ontario’s plan to support families, attract investment, and create good jobs.” RSVP.
Also at 11:30 a.m., a Speaker’s Series event celebrating Black History Month, featuring Charmaine Williams, Jean Augustine and Zanana Akande.
— 🍴 On the lunch menu:
— Also happening: Looking for something to do on Family Day? Drop by the Assembly for family-friendly crafts, face painting, balloon twisting, live music and outdoor fun — including mini hockey, curling and carnival games. Full schedule.
A message from Next Campaign:
We optimize the interplay between people, processes, technology, and data, while integrating AI, to ensure capital projects finish on time and on budget. Learn more.
— SCOOP — Chalk up another potential Liberal candidate in Scarborough Southwest.
Ali Demircan, the president of the Federation of Canadian Turkish Associations and a survivor of the Danforth shooting, is expected to seek the nomination. He planned to run last time, until ex-leader Bonnie Crombie appointed Qadira Jackson as the candidate. (Jackson, too, is seeking the nomination.)
By the way: The Federation has political clout. Demircan’s predecessor, Sima Acan, is now the MP for Oakville West.
Meanwhile: Eric Lombardi says he’s not planning to take a run at the nomination. “For now, I’m focused on leadership. Regardless of the outcome, I’m committed to running in the next election,” he said. Mike Crawley and Vik Handa are also not expected to run.
— All aboard: The Eglinton Crosstown has opened. “While the TTC said it wouldn’t have the same fanfare — or merchandise — seen at last year’s Finch West LRT opening, crowds of people bundled in parkas and toques packed platforms at Kennedy and Mount Dennis stations.” More from CBC.
Here, a chronological look at the project, from conception to completion.
“It’s a big moment for TTC employees, too. As a group of workers saw the excited crowd, one employee joked to CBC News that they’re ready to head into battle on the first day of war.”
Meanwhile, here’s the status of every other major transit project in Toronto.
Word from Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria: “The Eglinton Crosstown LRT will cut travel times across the city by 60 per cent, helping riders get where they need to go quickly and safely and fuelling our economy for years to come.”
— Ad watch: The Ford government launched a new taxpayer-funded ad this weekend using the “Protect Ontario” slogan. The commercial went live at 8:45 p.m. during yesterday’s Super Bowl.
— Zoned out: “The Ford government quietly updated the zoning order shaping the redevelopment of Ontario Place to accommodate the construction of a new science centre, a massive above-ground parking garage nearby, and more.” Read on.
— LG Energy Solution is buying out Stellantis’ stake in NextStar Energy, with no job losses expected.
— Are rising electricity rates threatening Ontario’s nuclear build-out? The Globe has more.
Meanwhile, Ontarians are now footing the bill for nuclear plants that don’t yet exist.
— Soil saga: “A GTA hospitality entrepreneur has spent years entangled in a nasty dispute over Toronto dirt — specifically, why her neighbour has been allowed to profit from having it dumped on his property while she cannot.” The Star has the details.
— Martin Regg Cohn wonders: “Without warning, a politician changes her colours — from orange to red — utterly out of the blue. What made her do it?”
Speaking of Scarborough Southwest, John Michael McGrath says the stars may have aligned for one Liberal leadership candidate.
— Graeme Gordon says a spring election would be “the most opportune moment” for Mark Carney to chase his large majority.
— Transit activist Reece Martin says Toronto once built the Yonge Subway for a much smaller city — but with far greater foresight. The Crosstown, he argues, didn’t get the same treatment.
— Liam Gill argues the province is missing an innovation minister.
— Seen: Bonnie Crombie’s birthday bash at The Crooked Cue. The ex-Liberal leader hasn’t yet decided whether to challenge Carolyn Parrish in the fall.
Alvin Tedjo, who is also considering a run, was in the crowd.
At the Mississauga Board of Trade, Premier Doug Ford gave Parrish his “full endorsement” last week.
Doly Begum has begun canvassing in Scarborough Southwest. The red flyers are already printed.
— Noted: NDP MPP Peggy Sattler has endorsed Heather McPherson for federal leader. “I’ve met few leaders as capable and focused as Heather,” she wrote.
Nili Kaplan-Myrth is running for president of the Ontario Medical Association.
Thank you for reading POLICORNER. Are you planning to run in Scarborough Southwest? Are you Doly Begum, ready to talk? Get in touch. I’ll keep you anonymous, just like those sources you’re curious about.
Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up now.
A busy weekend in Liberal land. The leadership contest’s rules are out — and the reaction is mixed. Another name is jumping into the race in Scarborough Southwest. Meanwhile, a big bash — and an even bigger endorsement — in Mississauga. More on all that ahead.
SCOOP — Andrew Boozary will not run Liberal leader.
Boozary — the Toronto physician who had opened up a surprise lead in a hypothetical poll testing would-be candidates late last year — had been considering a run, but has instead chosen to keep his powder dry.
“I am deeply grateful for all the encouragement and support to consider the Ontario Liberal leadership. However, I will not be entering the race,” he said in a statement. “My focus remains on my work as a physician and my commitment to the patients and communities we serve. Public service takes many forms; for me, that means working alongside communities and collaborating with partners to improve health outcomes for all.”
A message from Dokainish & Company:
Ontario is building the future. Dokainish has built award-winning PMOs and delivered programs on-budget and ahead-of-schedule across the world's most demanding industries. We’re optimizing projects for nuclear, renewable energy, and infrastructure in Canada’s largest province and beyond. Learn more.
Meanwhile: Liberals will crown their next leader on Nov. 21.
The executive council — which has drawn criticism for slow-rolling the process — cleared the leadership contest’s rules near-unanimously at a Saturday meeting, with just one member voting no.
What to know:
— What it’ll cost: Would-be leadership candidates face a $150,000 entry fee — up from $100,000 in the last contest — plus a refundable $25,000 deposit. A $5,000 payment is due within seven days of registration with Elections Ontario.
— Key dates: Candidates have until July 31 to submit nomination papers, including 250 signatures from party members.
Members must join by Sept. 7 to be eligible to vote. If you’re registering on campus, the deadline is Sept. 25.
Voting will run online from Nov. 9 through Nov. 20. (That’s in line with one of the six hypothetical scenarios the council had been gaming out, as we’ve reported.)
— Fundraising and spending: Campaigns must kick back 25 per cent of all cash raised to the party, paid bi-weekly. Total spending is set at $1 million, and campaign debt cannot exceed $50,000 at any point.
— Messaging limits: Through the end of October, candidates are limited to three bulk emails, one robocall and one automated text per month. In November, that increases to five emails and three texts. All email blasts must run through the party’s database, and exporting party data is prohibited.
Behind the scenes: The timeline was set to accommodate the fall ramp-up of campus organizing. Sources say Palwashah Ali, the youth wing’s president, had been rallying council support for a vote in November. Reached by phone, she said the youth advantage factored in, but wasn’t the sole driver.
“Campus recruitment is fundamental to our club recruitment strategy… Any earlier would’ve prohibited anyone who would join during our big recruitment push from voting. Imagine saying ‘we have a very important vote coming up, but sorry you can’t vote because the deadline has already passed,’” Ali said. “Many people understood where I was coming from.”
“I’m pleased to see that there was agreement with this timeline, not just for us but also for the party in general… The broader party was really in consideration here,” she added. “We need the time to get it right — to use this race to bring in more young people who want to elect a government who cares about us.”
One organizer wasn’t buying it. “171 total votes of 22,827,” they texted, pointing to low youth-club participation in the last contest.
Not everyone is sold on the rules. “I’m thoroughly disappointed — and I think the executive needs to reflect on whether they’re serving the interests of the party,” a second organizer said. “It shouldn’t have taken this long to come up with these rules… It’s not okay. They failed.”
“I’m not sure how serious they are about this process,” added a third. “They say now’s the moment — then drag the race out longer than a pregnancy. It’s embarrassing.”
“This is bananas,” an ex-candidate wrote.
That criticism isn’t unanimous. “The pearl clutching about the vote not being held until November is so dumb,” texted one operative. “There was no world in which the vote was going to be held before the fall. A vote during the summer? Everyone on vacation and student club members back home? That wasn’t going to happen. What’s the urgency? I don’t understand it.”
— The House is out and committees aren’t meeting this week.
— Fundraising watch: On Thursday at 5 p.m., would-be Liberal leadership contenders will be in Hamilton for a $260-a-ticket fundraiser. Karina Gould will deliver the keynote. RSVP.
— Also happening:
Save the date: Next Tuesday at 11:30 a.m., Steve Paikin will sit down with Housing Minister Rob Flack at the Empire Club “to explain what’s next in Ontario’s plan to support families, attract investment, and create good jobs.” RSVP.
Also at 11:30 a.m., a Speaker’s Series event celebrating Black History Month, featuring Charmaine Williams, Jean Augustine and Zanana Akande.
— 🍴 On the lunch menu:
— Also happening: Looking for something to do on Family Day? Drop by the Assembly for family-friendly crafts, face painting, balloon twisting, live music and outdoor fun — including mini hockey, curling and carnival games. Full schedule.
A message from Next Campaign:
We optimize the interplay between people, processes, technology, and data, while integrating AI, to ensure capital projects finish on time and on budget. Learn more.
— SCOOP — Chalk up another potential Liberal candidate in Scarborough Southwest.
Ali Demircan, the president of the Federation of Canadian Turkish Associations and a survivor of the Danforth shooting, is expected to seek the nomination. He planned to run last time, until ex-leader Bonnie Crombie appointed Qadira Jackson as the candidate. (Jackson, too, is seeking the nomination.)
By the way: The Federation has political clout. Demircan’s predecessor, Sima Acan, is now the MP for Oakville West.
Meanwhile: Eric Lombardi says he’s not planning to take a run at the nomination. “For now, I’m focused on leadership. Regardless of the outcome, I’m committed to running in the next election,” he said. Mike Crawley and Vik Handa are also not expected to run.
— All aboard: The Eglinton Crosstown has opened. “While the TTC said it wouldn’t have the same fanfare — or merchandise — seen at last year’s Finch West LRT opening, crowds of people bundled in parkas and toques packed platforms at Kennedy and Mount Dennis stations.” More from CBC.
Here, a chronological look at the project, from conception to completion.
“It’s a big moment for TTC employees, too. As a group of workers saw the excited crowd, one employee joked to CBC News that they’re ready to head into battle on the first day of war.”
Meanwhile, here’s the status of every other major transit project in Toronto.
Word from Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria: “The Eglinton Crosstown LRT will cut travel times across the city by 60 per cent, helping riders get where they need to go quickly and safely and fuelling our economy for years to come.”
— Ad watch: The Ford government launched a new taxpayer-funded ad this weekend using the “Protect Ontario” slogan. The commercial went live at 8:45 p.m. during yesterday’s Super Bowl.
— Zoned out: “The Ford government quietly updated the zoning order shaping the redevelopment of Ontario Place to accommodate the construction of a new science centre, a massive above-ground parking garage nearby, and more.” Read on.
— LG Energy Solution is buying out Stellantis’ stake in NextStar Energy, with no job losses expected.
— Are rising electricity rates threatening Ontario’s nuclear build-out? The Globe has more.
Meanwhile, Ontarians are now footing the bill for nuclear plants that don’t yet exist.
— Soil saga: “A GTA hospitality entrepreneur has spent years entangled in a nasty dispute over Toronto dirt — specifically, why her neighbour has been allowed to profit from having it dumped on his property while she cannot.” The Star has the details.
— Martin Regg Cohn wonders: “Without warning, a politician changes her colours — from orange to red — utterly out of the blue. What made her do it?”
Speaking of Scarborough Southwest, John Michael McGrath says the stars may have aligned for one Liberal leadership candidate.
— Graeme Gordon says a spring election would be “the most opportune moment” for Mark Carney to chase his large majority.
— Transit activist Reece Martin says Toronto once built the Yonge Subway for a much smaller city — but with far greater foresight. The Crosstown, he argues, didn’t get the same treatment.
— Liam Gill argues the province is missing an innovation minister.
— Seen: Bonnie Crombie’s birthday bash at The Crooked Cue. The ex-Liberal leader hasn’t yet decided whether to challenge Carolyn Parrish in the fall.
Alvin Tedjo, who is also considering a run, was in the crowd.
At the Mississauga Board of Trade, Premier Doug Ford gave Parrish his “full endorsement” last week.
Doly Begum has begun canvassing in Scarborough Southwest. The red flyers are already printed.
— Noted: NDP MPP Peggy Sattler has endorsed Heather McPherson for federal leader. “I’ve met few leaders as capable and focused as Heather,” she wrote.
Nili Kaplan-Myrth is running for president of the Ontario Medical Association.
Thank you for reading POLICORNER. Are you planning to run in Scarborough Southwest? Are you Doly Begum, ready to talk? Get in touch. I’ll keep you anonymous, just like those sources you’re curious about.
Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up now.