If you work at the Legislative Assembly, your access to POLICORNER is now covered by the Legislative Library. Simply email us with your name and work email, and we’ll add you to the list. Find out more.
Welcome to the last week of the spring session. The House could call it a summer as soon as tomorrow. A CUPE convention no-show — and Jamil Jivani is making the most of Kory Teneycke’s swing-and-a-miss in British Columbia. Plus, who’s who on Team Cerjanec? But to start, welcome to bargaining season, Minister Calandra.
SCOOP — The province’s major education unions are set to serve notice to bargain Wednesday.
If you work at the Legislative Assembly, your access to POLICORNER is now covered by the Legislative Library. Simply email us with your name and work email, and we’ll add you to the list. Find out more.
Welcome to the last week of the spring session. The House could call it a summer as soon as tomorrow. A CUPE convention no-show — and Jamil Jivani is making the most of Kory Teneycke’s swing-and-a-miss in British Columbia. Plus, who’s who on Team Cerjanec? But to start, welcome to bargaining season, Minister Calandra.
SCOOP — The province’s major education unions are set to serve notice to bargain Wednesday.
If you work at the Legislative Assembly, your access to POLICORNER is now covered by the Legislative Library. Simply email us with your name and work email, and we’ll add you to the list. Find out more.
Welcome to the last week of the spring session. The House could call it a summer as soon as tomorrow. A CUPE convention no-show — and Jamil Jivani is making the most of Kory Teneycke’s swing-and-a-miss in British Columbia. Plus, who’s who on Team Cerjanec? But to start, welcome to bargaining season, Minister Calandra.
SCOOP — The province’s major education unions are set to serve notice to bargain Wednesday.
Once that notice is served, the province and unions have 15 days to get to the bargaining table — and until the end of August to reach a deal before current collective agreements expire. Representatives of the five unions are expected to hold a joint press conference Wednesday.
The context: The unions wanted to begin bargaining sooner, asking Education Minister Paul Calandra in March to meet “as soon as possible.” Calandra declined, and a spokesperson argued the standard 90-day window was “a reasonable period to get to a fair agreement prior to the expiry.”
Behind the scenes: While no strike is possible before September, union leaders are bracing for a tough round of bargaining with the Ford government. The two sides have frequently found themselves at odds, including at a late-March reception where Calandra vowed to “root out” bad teachers from the education system. Later, Calandra drew heat — called out as “rude” and “disrespectful” — for challenging two union leaders during public hearings on Bill 101.
An early test: How much of the two-week period Calandra will use before meeting each union, and how soon both sides are back at the bargaining table, could signal whether labour peace is within reach.
One union source said there is no good reason to wait. “Why keep students and families guessing all summer?” they asked.
What to watch: At the bargaining table, the unions are expected to push for smaller class sizes, stronger recruitment and retention, and more resources for teachers and education workers.
Calandra’s spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.
A message from Alto:
— The House is in session. T-minus three — or, ahem, one or two — days until the summer recess. (Tories have reportedly been told to prepare for a Tuesday adjournment.)
Today: We’re back at 10:30 a.m. Bill 119, the Protecting Ontario’s Streets and Communities Act, is up for second reading debate at 1 p.m.
No word yet on the rest of this week’s business.
What we’re watching: Housing Minister Rob Flack is expected to announce a development charge reduction program this week, part of an $8.8-billion provincial-federal funding agreement to slash builder fees by between 30 and 50 per cent.
Also happening:
— Fundraising watch: At 6 p.m., the Tories are hosting a $1,000-a-ticket fundraiser in Toronto. RSVP.
On Wednesday at 5:30 pm, the Tories are hosting yet another $1,000-a-ticket fundraiser in Mississauga. RSVP.
Save the date: Liberal leader John Fraser and Ahsanul Hafiz will headline a $1,500-a-ticket fundraiser in Scarborough on June 9.
— 🍴 On the lunch menu: Monday: Barbecued jerk chicken with rice and coleslaw. Tuesday: Ginger beef with rice and vegetables. Wednesday: Pork schnitzel with spaetzle and vegetables. Thursday: Fish and chips. Friday: Peri Peri chicken with potatoes and vegetables.
— Tabled: Michael Kerzner tabled Bill 119, the Protecting Ontario’s Streets and Communities Act.
Meanwhile: There was no shortage of private members’ bills tabled last week, including:
Deepak Anand tabled Bill 120, the Ethnic Media and Community Media Appreciation Week Act.
Robin Lennox, France Gelinas, Lisa Gretzky and Lise Vaugeois tabled Bill 121, the Save a Life Act.
Logan Kanapathi and Rudy Cuzzetto tabled Bill 122, the Romanian Heritage Week Act.
Chandra Pasma, France Gelinas, Peter Tabuns and Jamie West tabled Bill 123, Fighting Extreme Heat in Schools Act.
Jamie West, Guy Bourgouin, France Gelinas and John Vanthof tabled Bill 124, the Mining Awareness Week Act.
France Gelinas, Wayne Gates, Sandy Shaw and Kristyn Wong-Tam tabled Bill 125, the Smoke-Free Ontario Amendment Act.
Tom Rakocevic, Terence Kernaghan, Robin Lennox and Catherine McKenney tabled Bill 126, the Protecting Homeowners from Title Fraud Act.
Rob Cerjanec and Stephanie Bowman tabled Bill 127, the Fair Start for Young Workers Act.
Catherine McKenney and Robin Lennox tabled Bill 128, the Hot Days, Cool Homes Act.
Lise Vaugeois tabled Bill 129, Andre’s Law.
Peter Tabuns, Jessica Bell, Jamie West and Kristyn Wong-Tam tabled Bill 130, the Adapting to a Hotter Ontario Act.
Alexa Gilmour tabled Bill 131, the Menstrual Health Day Act.
Sandy Shaw tabled Bill 132, the Nancy Rose Act.
— Passed: Bill 9 passed 110-1 (Bobbi Ann Brady was alone in voting “no”). Bill 110 passed 58-41.
— Killed: Bill 112 and Bill 113 both fell at second reading, 68-39 and 58-41.
A message from Alto:
— Mr. Ford goes to Washington: “Doug Ford is set to co-host a business reception alongside American billionaire Ross Perot Jr. in Washington in early June… The Premier is also expected to meet with business leaders from the auto, aerospace and agriculture industries during the two-day trip on June 8 and 9.” More from the Globe.
— Rob Cejanec has entered the race for Liberal leader.
His pitch? Do Ajax, province-wide. “I’ve seen what happens when people come together and believe in something better,” Cerjanec said in his announcement video. “In Ajax, we organized, we knocked on every door, we listened and we won against all the odds.”
Cerjanec, like Lee Fairclough, argued the next leader should come from the Liberal caucus. He said: “We can’t continue doing the same thing and expecting a different result… Moving forward, we do need a leader with a seat in the legislature. I think that’s really important to be able to hold this government to account.”
Who’s who: As we’ve previously reported, Mathieu Dagonas, the executive director of the Canadian Centre for Housing Rights, is the campaign director. Piraveenth Srekanthen is the campaign manager. Stephanie Bowman and Granville Anderson are Cerjanec’s co-chairs. Also: Brian Klunder, Erika McCallion, Emma Wakelin, Ferd Longo, Raheem White and more.
— Blue who? “Premier Doug Ford’s government is in secrecy-by-default mode, opposition critics say after reviewing the content of blue licence plate documents the province had been prepared to fight the release of in the courts.” More from the Canadian Press.
— Where’s the drama? On the race for Liberal leader, Martin Regg Cohn writes: “Remarkably, there is no sign of bad blood or political animus… which is a change of tone and tempo for a party prone to internecine squabbling.”
— FIFA v. RTO: The World Cup could score the Ontario Public Service a temporary work-from-home pass.
— A stronger hand: A new Star analysis of 4,242 decisions shows who’s using strong-mayor powers — and for what.
— Too many ads? The Ford government says it’s actively considering how to curb the rise in gambling ads. (The Tories voted down Bill 107 at second reading, a proposal that would have banned these commercials.)
— Plowing ahead: Pickering has approved a controversial plan to open up roughly 1,600 hectares of prime farmland for development. “The proposed development could eventually house up to 72,000 residents on land currently surrounded by the environmentally sensitive, and protected, Greenbelt.” More from National Observer.
— SOS: “275 pages of records, some publicly available and others only accessed through freedom of information legislation, show provincial bureaucrats worrying about the implications of the (Species Conservation Act), as well as municipalities and Indigenous groups voicing dissent — before the government passed the law anyway.” More from The Narwhal.
— The Ford government may soon be caught in an awkward spot, says John Michael McGrath: happy to lean on municipalities to sweep out encampments, but unwilling to let them sweep out rogue councillors.
Meanwhile: “Three Niagara, Ont. municipalities have been given the green light by the province to cut their councils from nine politicians including the mayor to seven, including the head of council.”
— Speaking up: “A new petition urging Premier Doug Ford to reverse cuts made to a decades-old language program has gained more than 600 signatures in 24 hours, warning thousands of students could lose access to ‘a cornerstone of education in Toronto.’” More here.
— Mohammed Adam argues the Ford government’s push to bring a multi-national defence bank to Toronto is a "slap in the face" to the capital, which is in the running as well.
— If Doug Ford wants to “Protect Ontario” parks, Shawn Micallef argues he should start with loose dogs.
— “Public health lives or dies on accurate measurement, dependable transparency and thoughtful investment,” writes a family physician.“Instead of embracing these basics, the Ford government’s laws have done the opposite.”
— Up again? The Tories are back in front, according to a new Abacus poll.
By the numbers: At 41 per cent, the Tories are up four points from last month. The Liberals are at 31 per cent, while the NDP and Greens trail at 17 and 5 per cent, respectively. Get up to speed.
— Dr. GPT? Canadians may be experimenting with AI, but they’re not ready to hand it the stethoscope.
A new Liaison poll found 46 per cent have used an AI chatbot for medical advice in the past year. But respondents remain deeply skeptical of giving AI more authority: 68 per cent would rather wait two weeks to see a human doctor than receive an instant diagnosis, and only 13 per cent support AI diagnosing and prescribing medication without a physician involved. The highlights.
— Seen: Avi Lewis speaking at the CUPE Ontario’s convention in Toronto. Lewis said: “I feel such deep alignment with this union. And being here is a reminder of all the marches and pickets and struggles and manifestos and organizing that we have shared over so many years.”
A tribute to Fred Hahn, featuring Laura Walton, JP Hornick, Nas Yadollahi, Candace Rennick, Yolanda McClean, Mark Hancock, Jamie West and more.
Missing: Marit Stiles.
There was controversy, too. Some union members voiced frustration that much of the convention’s time was being spent on “geopolitical or ideological issues” they saw as disconnected from bread-and-butter union issues.
— Yolanda McClean is the new president of CUPE Ontario. The former secretary-treasurer is the first Black woman elected to the role.
Dawn Bellerose will be the first Indigenous woman to serve as the union’s secretary-treasurer.
— Seen: The Toronto Waterfront Festival — famous for bringing the world’s largest rubber duck to the city — is cancelled this year. Here’s Theo Moudakis on the search for an opposition leader with a little of the rubber duck’s “pizzazz.”
— Seen: Dipika Damerla is running for… something.
— Noted: Navdeep Bains has raised the full fee required to enter the Liberal leadership contest, according to his team. (It’s no small feat. Even one operative supporting a rival candidate described it as a “massive deal,” noting that “early money is the most valuable money). The announcement.
In an email to supporters, Ted Hsu made the case for Lee Fairclough, writing that “in troubled times like these, voters want our best people leading us” — and arguing that Fairclough is “one of our best.”
It was a swing and miss for Kory Teneycke, whose candidate placed second in the British Columbia Conservative leadership contest. Jamil Jivani wasted no time declaring it a “Doug Ford L.”
— Congratulations to CityNews’ Cynthia Mulligan, who took home the Canadian Screen Award for Best Local News Anchor on Friday.
Thank you for reading POLICORNER. Are you Paul Calandra — or a teachers’ union boss? A cabinet minister who’s convinced they’re on borrowed time? A backbencher waiting by the phone? Hit me up — anonymity guaranteed, just like the sources you’re wondering about. We’re back in your inbox on Monday.
Got 5+ on your team? Team subscriptions are available. Got a client with a message to reach the province’s most powerful players? Ask for our ad rates. Reach out.
Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up now.
If you work at the Legislative Assembly, your access to POLICORNER is now covered by the Legislative Library. Simply email us with your name and work email, and we’ll add you to the list. Find out more.
Welcome to the last week of the spring session. The House could call it a summer as soon as tomorrow. A CUPE convention no-show — and Jamil Jivani is making the most of Kory Teneycke’s swing-and-a-miss in British Columbia. Plus, who’s who on Team Cerjanec? But to start, welcome to bargaining season, Minister Calandra.
SCOOP — The province’s major education unions are set to serve notice to bargain Wednesday.
Once that notice is served, the province and unions have 15 days to get to the bargaining table — and until the end of August to reach a deal before current collective agreements expire. Representatives of the five unions are expected to hold a joint press conference Wednesday.
The context: The unions wanted to begin bargaining sooner, asking Education Minister Paul Calandra in March to meet “as soon as possible.” Calandra declined, and a spokesperson argued the standard 90-day window was “a reasonable period to get to a fair agreement prior to the expiry.”
Behind the scenes: While no strike is possible before September, union leaders are bracing for a tough round of bargaining with the Ford government. The two sides have frequently found themselves at odds, including at a late-March reception where Calandra vowed to “root out” bad teachers from the education system. Later, Calandra drew heat — called out as “rude” and “disrespectful” — for challenging two union leaders during public hearings on Bill 101.
An early test: How much of the two-week period Calandra will use before meeting each union, and how soon both sides are back at the bargaining table, could signal whether labour peace is within reach.
One union source said there is no good reason to wait. “Why keep students and families guessing all summer?” they asked.
What to watch: At the bargaining table, the unions are expected to push for smaller class sizes, stronger recruitment and retention, and more resources for teachers and education workers.
Calandra’s spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.
A message from Alto:
— The House is in session. T-minus three — or, ahem, one or two — days until the summer recess. (Tories have reportedly been told to prepare for a Tuesday adjournment.)
Today: We’re back at 10:30 a.m. Bill 119, the Protecting Ontario’s Streets and Communities Act, is up for second reading debate at 1 p.m.
No word yet on the rest of this week’s business.
What we’re watching: Housing Minister Rob Flack is expected to announce a development charge reduction program this week, part of an $8.8-billion provincial-federal funding agreement to slash builder fees by between 30 and 50 per cent.
Also happening:
— Fundraising watch: At 6 p.m., the Tories are hosting a $1,000-a-ticket fundraiser in Toronto. RSVP.
On Wednesday at 5:30 pm, the Tories are hosting yet another $1,000-a-ticket fundraiser in Mississauga. RSVP.
Save the date: Liberal leader John Fraser and Ahsanul Hafiz will headline a $1,500-a-ticket fundraiser in Scarborough on June 9.
— 🍴 On the lunch menu: Monday: Barbecued jerk chicken with rice and coleslaw. Tuesday: Ginger beef with rice and vegetables. Wednesday: Pork schnitzel with spaetzle and vegetables. Thursday: Fish and chips. Friday: Peri Peri chicken with potatoes and vegetables.
— Tabled: Michael Kerzner tabled Bill 119, the Protecting Ontario’s Streets and Communities Act.
Meanwhile: There was no shortage of private members’ bills tabled last week, including:
Deepak Anand tabled Bill 120, the Ethnic Media and Community Media Appreciation Week Act.
Robin Lennox, France Gelinas, Lisa Gretzky and Lise Vaugeois tabled Bill 121, the Save a Life Act.
Logan Kanapathi and Rudy Cuzzetto tabled Bill 122, the Romanian Heritage Week Act.
Chandra Pasma, France Gelinas, Peter Tabuns and Jamie West tabled Bill 123, Fighting Extreme Heat in Schools Act.
Jamie West, Guy Bourgouin, France Gelinas and John Vanthof tabled Bill 124, the Mining Awareness Week Act.
France Gelinas, Wayne Gates, Sandy Shaw and Kristyn Wong-Tam tabled Bill 125, the Smoke-Free Ontario Amendment Act.
Tom Rakocevic, Terence Kernaghan, Robin Lennox and Catherine McKenney tabled Bill 126, the Protecting Homeowners from Title Fraud Act.
Rob Cerjanec and Stephanie Bowman tabled Bill 127, the Fair Start for Young Workers Act.
Catherine McKenney and Robin Lennox tabled Bill 128, the Hot Days, Cool Homes Act.
Lise Vaugeois tabled Bill 129, Andre’s Law.
Peter Tabuns, Jessica Bell, Jamie West and Kristyn Wong-Tam tabled Bill 130, the Adapting to a Hotter Ontario Act.
Alexa Gilmour tabled Bill 131, the Menstrual Health Day Act.
Sandy Shaw tabled Bill 132, the Nancy Rose Act.
— Passed: Bill 9 passed 110-1 (Bobbi Ann Brady was alone in voting “no”). Bill 110 passed 58-41.
— Killed: Bill 112 and Bill 113 both fell at second reading, 68-39 and 58-41.
A message from Alto:
— Mr. Ford goes to Washington: “Doug Ford is set to co-host a business reception alongside American billionaire Ross Perot Jr. in Washington in early June… The Premier is also expected to meet with business leaders from the auto, aerospace and agriculture industries during the two-day trip on June 8 and 9.” More from the Globe.
— Rob Cejanec has entered the race for Liberal leader.
His pitch? Do Ajax, province-wide. “I’ve seen what happens when people come together and believe in something better,” Cerjanec said in his announcement video. “In Ajax, we organized, we knocked on every door, we listened and we won against all the odds.”
Cerjanec, like Lee Fairclough, argued the next leader should come from the Liberal caucus. He said: “We can’t continue doing the same thing and expecting a different result… Moving forward, we do need a leader with a seat in the legislature. I think that’s really important to be able to hold this government to account.”
Who’s who: As we’ve previously reported, Mathieu Dagonas, the executive director of the Canadian Centre for Housing Rights, is the campaign director. Piraveenth Srekanthen is the campaign manager. Stephanie Bowman and Granville Anderson are Cerjanec’s co-chairs. Also: Brian Klunder, Erika McCallion, Emma Wakelin, Ferd Longo, Raheem White and more.
— Blue who? “Premier Doug Ford’s government is in secrecy-by-default mode, opposition critics say after reviewing the content of blue licence plate documents the province had been prepared to fight the release of in the courts.” More from the Canadian Press.
— Where’s the drama? On the race for Liberal leader, Martin Regg Cohn writes: “Remarkably, there is no sign of bad blood or political animus… which is a change of tone and tempo for a party prone to internecine squabbling.”
— FIFA v. RTO: The World Cup could score the Ontario Public Service a temporary work-from-home pass.
— A stronger hand: A new Star analysis of 4,242 decisions shows who’s using strong-mayor powers — and for what.
— Too many ads? The Ford government says it’s actively considering how to curb the rise in gambling ads. (The Tories voted down Bill 107 at second reading, a proposal that would have banned these commercials.)
— Plowing ahead: Pickering has approved a controversial plan to open up roughly 1,600 hectares of prime farmland for development. “The proposed development could eventually house up to 72,000 residents on land currently surrounded by the environmentally sensitive, and protected, Greenbelt.” More from National Observer.
— SOS: “275 pages of records, some publicly available and others only accessed through freedom of information legislation, show provincial bureaucrats worrying about the implications of the (Species Conservation Act), as well as municipalities and Indigenous groups voicing dissent — before the government passed the law anyway.” More from The Narwhal.
— The Ford government may soon be caught in an awkward spot, says John Michael McGrath: happy to lean on municipalities to sweep out encampments, but unwilling to let them sweep out rogue councillors.
Meanwhile: “Three Niagara, Ont. municipalities have been given the green light by the province to cut their councils from nine politicians including the mayor to seven, including the head of council.”
— Speaking up: “A new petition urging Premier Doug Ford to reverse cuts made to a decades-old language program has gained more than 600 signatures in 24 hours, warning thousands of students could lose access to ‘a cornerstone of education in Toronto.’” More here.
— Mohammed Adam argues the Ford government’s push to bring a multi-national defence bank to Toronto is a "slap in the face" to the capital, which is in the running as well.
— If Doug Ford wants to “Protect Ontario” parks, Shawn Micallef argues he should start with loose dogs.
— “Public health lives or dies on accurate measurement, dependable transparency and thoughtful investment,” writes a family physician.“Instead of embracing these basics, the Ford government’s laws have done the opposite.”
— Up again? The Tories are back in front, according to a new Abacus poll.
By the numbers: At 41 per cent, the Tories are up four points from last month. The Liberals are at 31 per cent, while the NDP and Greens trail at 17 and 5 per cent, respectively. Get up to speed.
— Dr. GPT? Canadians may be experimenting with AI, but they’re not ready to hand it the stethoscope.
A new Liaison poll found 46 per cent have used an AI chatbot for medical advice in the past year. But respondents remain deeply skeptical of giving AI more authority: 68 per cent would rather wait two weeks to see a human doctor than receive an instant diagnosis, and only 13 per cent support AI diagnosing and prescribing medication without a physician involved. The highlights.
— Seen: Avi Lewis speaking at the CUPE Ontario’s convention in Toronto. Lewis said: “I feel such deep alignment with this union. And being here is a reminder of all the marches and pickets and struggles and manifestos and organizing that we have shared over so many years.”
A tribute to Fred Hahn, featuring Laura Walton, JP Hornick, Nas Yadollahi, Candace Rennick, Yolanda McClean, Mark Hancock, Jamie West and more.
Missing: Marit Stiles.
There was controversy, too. Some union members voiced frustration that much of the convention’s time was being spent on “geopolitical or ideological issues” they saw as disconnected from bread-and-butter union issues.
— Yolanda McClean is the new president of CUPE Ontario. The former secretary-treasurer is the first Black woman elected to the role.
Dawn Bellerose will be the first Indigenous woman to serve as the union’s secretary-treasurer.
— Seen: The Toronto Waterfront Festival — famous for bringing the world’s largest rubber duck to the city — is cancelled this year. Here’s Theo Moudakis on the search for an opposition leader with a little of the rubber duck’s “pizzazz.”
— Seen: Dipika Damerla is running for… something.
— Noted: Navdeep Bains has raised the full fee required to enter the Liberal leadership contest, according to his team. (It’s no small feat. Even one operative supporting a rival candidate described it as a “massive deal,” noting that “early money is the most valuable money). The announcement.
In an email to supporters, Ted Hsu made the case for Lee Fairclough, writing that “in troubled times like these, voters want our best people leading us” — and arguing that Fairclough is “one of our best.”
It was a swing and miss for Kory Teneycke, whose candidate placed second in the British Columbia Conservative leadership contest. Jamil Jivani wasted no time declaring it a “Doug Ford L.”
— Congratulations to CityNews’ Cynthia Mulligan, who took home the Canadian Screen Award for Best Local News Anchor on Friday.
Thank you for reading POLICORNER. Are you Paul Calandra — or a teachers’ union boss? A cabinet minister who’s convinced they’re on borrowed time? A backbencher waiting by the phone? Hit me up — anonymity guaranteed, just like the sources you’re wondering about. We’re back in your inbox on Monday.
Got 5+ on your team? Team subscriptions are available. Got a client with a message to reach the province’s most powerful players? Ask for our ad rates. Reach out.
Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up now.
If you work at the Legislative Assembly, your access to POLICORNER is now covered by the Legislative Library. Simply email us with your name and work email, and we’ll add you to the list. Find out more.
Welcome to the last week of the spring session. The House could call it a summer as soon as tomorrow. A CUPE convention no-show — and Jamil Jivani is making the most of Kory Teneycke’s swing-and-a-miss in British Columbia. Plus, who’s who on Team Cerjanec? But to start, welcome to bargaining season, Minister Calandra.
SCOOP — The province’s major education unions are set to serve notice to bargain Wednesday.
Once that notice is served, the province and unions have 15 days to get to the bargaining table — and until the end of August to reach a deal before current collective agreements expire. Representatives of the five unions are expected to hold a joint press conference Wednesday.
The context: The unions wanted to begin bargaining sooner, asking Education Minister Paul Calandra in March to meet “as soon as possible.” Calandra declined, and a spokesperson argued the standard 90-day window was “a reasonable period to get to a fair agreement prior to the expiry.”
Behind the scenes: While no strike is possible before September, union leaders are bracing for a tough round of bargaining with the Ford government. The two sides have frequently found themselves at odds, including at a late-March reception where Calandra vowed to “root out” bad teachers from the education system. Later, Calandra drew heat — called out as “rude” and “disrespectful” — for challenging two union leaders during public hearings on Bill 101.
An early test: How much of the two-week period Calandra will use before meeting each union, and how soon both sides are back at the bargaining table, could signal whether labour peace is within reach.
One union source said there is no good reason to wait. “Why keep students and families guessing all summer?” they asked.
What to watch: At the bargaining table, the unions are expected to push for smaller class sizes, stronger recruitment and retention, and more resources for teachers and education workers.
Calandra’s spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.
A message from Alto:
— The House is in session. T-minus three — or, ahem, one or two — days until the summer recess. (Tories have reportedly been told to prepare for a Tuesday adjournment.)
Today: We’re back at 10:30 a.m. Bill 119, the Protecting Ontario’s Streets and Communities Act, is up for second reading debate at 1 p.m.
No word yet on the rest of this week’s business.
What we’re watching: Housing Minister Rob Flack is expected to announce a development charge reduction program this week, part of an $8.8-billion provincial-federal funding agreement to slash builder fees by between 30 and 50 per cent.
Also happening:
— Fundraising watch: At 6 p.m., the Tories are hosting a $1,000-a-ticket fundraiser in Toronto. RSVP.
On Wednesday at 5:30 pm, the Tories are hosting yet another $1,000-a-ticket fundraiser in Mississauga. RSVP.
Save the date: Liberal leader John Fraser and Ahsanul Hafiz will headline a $1,500-a-ticket fundraiser in Scarborough on June 9.
— 🍴 On the lunch menu: Monday: Barbecued jerk chicken with rice and coleslaw. Tuesday: Ginger beef with rice and vegetables. Wednesday: Pork schnitzel with spaetzle and vegetables. Thursday: Fish and chips. Friday: Peri Peri chicken with potatoes and vegetables.
— Tabled: Michael Kerzner tabled Bill 119, the Protecting Ontario’s Streets and Communities Act.
Meanwhile: There was no shortage of private members’ bills tabled last week, including:
Deepak Anand tabled Bill 120, the Ethnic Media and Community Media Appreciation Week Act.
Robin Lennox, France Gelinas, Lisa Gretzky and Lise Vaugeois tabled Bill 121, the Save a Life Act.
Logan Kanapathi and Rudy Cuzzetto tabled Bill 122, the Romanian Heritage Week Act.
Chandra Pasma, France Gelinas, Peter Tabuns and Jamie West tabled Bill 123, Fighting Extreme Heat in Schools Act.
Jamie West, Guy Bourgouin, France Gelinas and John Vanthof tabled Bill 124, the Mining Awareness Week Act.
France Gelinas, Wayne Gates, Sandy Shaw and Kristyn Wong-Tam tabled Bill 125, the Smoke-Free Ontario Amendment Act.
Tom Rakocevic, Terence Kernaghan, Robin Lennox and Catherine McKenney tabled Bill 126, the Protecting Homeowners from Title Fraud Act.
Rob Cerjanec and Stephanie Bowman tabled Bill 127, the Fair Start for Young Workers Act.
Catherine McKenney and Robin Lennox tabled Bill 128, the Hot Days, Cool Homes Act.
Lise Vaugeois tabled Bill 129, Andre’s Law.
Peter Tabuns, Jessica Bell, Jamie West and Kristyn Wong-Tam tabled Bill 130, the Adapting to a Hotter Ontario Act.
Alexa Gilmour tabled Bill 131, the Menstrual Health Day Act.
Sandy Shaw tabled Bill 132, the Nancy Rose Act.
— Passed: Bill 9 passed 110-1 (Bobbi Ann Brady was alone in voting “no”). Bill 110 passed 58-41.
— Killed: Bill 112 and Bill 113 both fell at second reading, 68-39 and 58-41.
A message from Alto:
— Mr. Ford goes to Washington: “Doug Ford is set to co-host a business reception alongside American billionaire Ross Perot Jr. in Washington in early June… The Premier is also expected to meet with business leaders from the auto, aerospace and agriculture industries during the two-day trip on June 8 and 9.” More from the Globe.
— Rob Cejanec has entered the race for Liberal leader.
His pitch? Do Ajax, province-wide. “I’ve seen what happens when people come together and believe in something better,” Cerjanec said in his announcement video. “In Ajax, we organized, we knocked on every door, we listened and we won against all the odds.”
Cerjanec, like Lee Fairclough, argued the next leader should come from the Liberal caucus. He said: “We can’t continue doing the same thing and expecting a different result… Moving forward, we do need a leader with a seat in the legislature. I think that’s really important to be able to hold this government to account.”
Who’s who: As we’ve previously reported, Mathieu Dagonas, the executive director of the Canadian Centre for Housing Rights, is the campaign director. Piraveenth Srekanthen is the campaign manager. Stephanie Bowman and Granville Anderson are Cerjanec’s co-chairs. Also: Brian Klunder, Erika McCallion, Emma Wakelin, Ferd Longo, Raheem White and more.
— Blue who? “Premier Doug Ford’s government is in secrecy-by-default mode, opposition critics say after reviewing the content of blue licence plate documents the province had been prepared to fight the release of in the courts.” More from the Canadian Press.
— Where’s the drama? On the race for Liberal leader, Martin Regg Cohn writes: “Remarkably, there is no sign of bad blood or political animus… which is a change of tone and tempo for a party prone to internecine squabbling.”
— FIFA v. RTO: The World Cup could score the Ontario Public Service a temporary work-from-home pass.
— A stronger hand: A new Star analysis of 4,242 decisions shows who’s using strong-mayor powers — and for what.
— Too many ads? The Ford government says it’s actively considering how to curb the rise in gambling ads. (The Tories voted down Bill 107 at second reading, a proposal that would have banned these commercials.)
— Plowing ahead: Pickering has approved a controversial plan to open up roughly 1,600 hectares of prime farmland for development. “The proposed development could eventually house up to 72,000 residents on land currently surrounded by the environmentally sensitive, and protected, Greenbelt.” More from National Observer.
— SOS: “275 pages of records, some publicly available and others only accessed through freedom of information legislation, show provincial bureaucrats worrying about the implications of the (Species Conservation Act), as well as municipalities and Indigenous groups voicing dissent — before the government passed the law anyway.” More from The Narwhal.
— The Ford government may soon be caught in an awkward spot, says John Michael McGrath: happy to lean on municipalities to sweep out encampments, but unwilling to let them sweep out rogue councillors.
Meanwhile: “Three Niagara, Ont. municipalities have been given the green light by the province to cut their councils from nine politicians including the mayor to seven, including the head of council.”
— Speaking up: “A new petition urging Premier Doug Ford to reverse cuts made to a decades-old language program has gained more than 600 signatures in 24 hours, warning thousands of students could lose access to ‘a cornerstone of education in Toronto.’” More here.
— Mohammed Adam argues the Ford government’s push to bring a multi-national defence bank to Toronto is a "slap in the face" to the capital, which is in the running as well.
— If Doug Ford wants to “Protect Ontario” parks, Shawn Micallef argues he should start with loose dogs.
— “Public health lives or dies on accurate measurement, dependable transparency and thoughtful investment,” writes a family physician.“Instead of embracing these basics, the Ford government’s laws have done the opposite.”
— Up again? The Tories are back in front, according to a new Abacus poll.
By the numbers: At 41 per cent, the Tories are up four points from last month. The Liberals are at 31 per cent, while the NDP and Greens trail at 17 and 5 per cent, respectively. Get up to speed.
— Dr. GPT? Canadians may be experimenting with AI, but they’re not ready to hand it the stethoscope.
A new Liaison poll found 46 per cent have used an AI chatbot for medical advice in the past year. But respondents remain deeply skeptical of giving AI more authority: 68 per cent would rather wait two weeks to see a human doctor than receive an instant diagnosis, and only 13 per cent support AI diagnosing and prescribing medication without a physician involved. The highlights.
— Seen: Avi Lewis speaking at the CUPE Ontario’s convention in Toronto. Lewis said: “I feel such deep alignment with this union. And being here is a reminder of all the marches and pickets and struggles and manifestos and organizing that we have shared over so many years.”
A tribute to Fred Hahn, featuring Laura Walton, JP Hornick, Nas Yadollahi, Candace Rennick, Yolanda McClean, Mark Hancock, Jamie West and more.
Missing: Marit Stiles.
There was controversy, too. Some union members voiced frustration that much of the convention’s time was being spent on “geopolitical or ideological issues” they saw as disconnected from bread-and-butter union issues.
— Yolanda McClean is the new president of CUPE Ontario. The former secretary-treasurer is the first Black woman elected to the role.
Dawn Bellerose will be the first Indigenous woman to serve as the union’s secretary-treasurer.
— Seen: The Toronto Waterfront Festival — famous for bringing the world’s largest rubber duck to the city — is cancelled this year. Here’s Theo Moudakis on the search for an opposition leader with a little of the rubber duck’s “pizzazz.”
— Seen: Dipika Damerla is running for… something.
— Noted: Navdeep Bains has raised the full fee required to enter the Liberal leadership contest, according to his team. (It’s no small feat. Even one operative supporting a rival candidate described it as a “massive deal,” noting that “early money is the most valuable money). The announcement.
In an email to supporters, Ted Hsu made the case for Lee Fairclough, writing that “in troubled times like these, voters want our best people leading us” — and arguing that Fairclough is “one of our best.”
It was a swing and miss for Kory Teneycke, whose candidate placed second in the British Columbia Conservative leadership contest. Jamil Jivani wasted no time declaring it a “Doug Ford L.”
— Congratulations to CityNews’ Cynthia Mulligan, who took home the Canadian Screen Award for Best Local News Anchor on Friday.
Thank you for reading POLICORNER. Are you Paul Calandra — or a teachers’ union boss? A cabinet minister who’s convinced they’re on borrowed time? A backbencher waiting by the phone? Hit me up — anonymity guaranteed, just like the sources you’re wondering about. We’re back in your inbox on Monday.
Got 5+ on your team? Team subscriptions are available. Got a client with a message to reach the province’s most powerful players? Ask for our ad rates. Reach out.
Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up now.
If you work at the Legislative Assembly, your access to POLICORNER is now covered by the Legislative Library. Simply email us with your name and work email, and we’ll add you to the list. Find out more.
Welcome to the last week of the spring session. The House could call it a summer as soon as tomorrow. A CUPE convention no-show — and Jamil Jivani is making the most of Kory Teneycke’s swing-and-a-miss in British Columbia. Plus, who’s who on Team Cerjanec? But to start, welcome to bargaining season, Minister Calandra.
SCOOP — The province’s major education unions are set to serve notice to bargain Wednesday.
Once that notice is served, the province and unions have 15 days to get to the bargaining table — and until the end of August to reach a deal before current collective agreements expire. Representatives of the five unions are expected to hold a joint press conference Wednesday.
The context: The unions wanted to begin bargaining sooner, asking Education Minister Paul Calandra in March to meet “as soon as possible.” Calandra declined, and a spokesperson argued the standard 90-day window was “a reasonable period to get to a fair agreement prior to the expiry.”
Behind the scenes: While no strike is possible before September, union leaders are bracing for a tough round of bargaining with the Ford government. The two sides have frequently found themselves at odds, including at a late-March reception where Calandra vowed to “root out” bad teachers from the education system. Later, Calandra drew heat — called out as “rude” and “disrespectful” — for challenging two union leaders during public hearings on Bill 101.
An early test: How much of the two-week period Calandra will use before meeting each union, and how soon both sides are back at the bargaining table, could signal whether labour peace is within reach.
One union source said there is no good reason to wait. “Why keep students and families guessing all summer?” they asked.
What to watch: At the bargaining table, the unions are expected to push for smaller class sizes, stronger recruitment and retention, and more resources for teachers and education workers.
Calandra’s spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.
A message from Alto:
— The House is in session. T-minus three — or, ahem, one or two — days until the summer recess. (Tories have reportedly been told to prepare for a Tuesday adjournment.)
Today: We’re back at 10:30 a.m. Bill 119, the Protecting Ontario’s Streets and Communities Act, is up for second reading debate at 1 p.m.
No word yet on the rest of this week’s business.
What we’re watching: Housing Minister Rob Flack is expected to announce a development charge reduction program this week, part of an $8.8-billion provincial-federal funding agreement to slash builder fees by between 30 and 50 per cent.
Also happening:
— Fundraising watch: At 6 p.m., the Tories are hosting a $1,000-a-ticket fundraiser in Toronto. RSVP.
On Wednesday at 5:30 pm, the Tories are hosting yet another $1,000-a-ticket fundraiser in Mississauga. RSVP.
Save the date: Liberal leader John Fraser and Ahsanul Hafiz will headline a $1,500-a-ticket fundraiser in Scarborough on June 9.
— 🍴 On the lunch menu: Monday: Barbecued jerk chicken with rice and coleslaw. Tuesday: Ginger beef with rice and vegetables. Wednesday: Pork schnitzel with spaetzle and vegetables. Thursday: Fish and chips. Friday: Peri Peri chicken with potatoes and vegetables.
— Tabled: Michael Kerzner tabled Bill 119, the Protecting Ontario’s Streets and Communities Act.
Meanwhile: There was no shortage of private members’ bills tabled last week, including:
Deepak Anand tabled Bill 120, the Ethnic Media and Community Media Appreciation Week Act.
Robin Lennox, France Gelinas, Lisa Gretzky and Lise Vaugeois tabled Bill 121, the Save a Life Act.
Logan Kanapathi and Rudy Cuzzetto tabled Bill 122, the Romanian Heritage Week Act.
Chandra Pasma, France Gelinas, Peter Tabuns and Jamie West tabled Bill 123, Fighting Extreme Heat in Schools Act.
Jamie West, Guy Bourgouin, France Gelinas and John Vanthof tabled Bill 124, the Mining Awareness Week Act.
France Gelinas, Wayne Gates, Sandy Shaw and Kristyn Wong-Tam tabled Bill 125, the Smoke-Free Ontario Amendment Act.
Tom Rakocevic, Terence Kernaghan, Robin Lennox and Catherine McKenney tabled Bill 126, the Protecting Homeowners from Title Fraud Act.
Rob Cerjanec and Stephanie Bowman tabled Bill 127, the Fair Start for Young Workers Act.
Catherine McKenney and Robin Lennox tabled Bill 128, the Hot Days, Cool Homes Act.
Lise Vaugeois tabled Bill 129, Andre’s Law.
Peter Tabuns, Jessica Bell, Jamie West and Kristyn Wong-Tam tabled Bill 130, the Adapting to a Hotter Ontario Act.
Alexa Gilmour tabled Bill 131, the Menstrual Health Day Act.
Sandy Shaw tabled Bill 132, the Nancy Rose Act.
— Passed: Bill 9 passed 110-1 (Bobbi Ann Brady was alone in voting “no”). Bill 110 passed 58-41.
— Killed: Bill 112 and Bill 113 both fell at second reading, 68-39 and 58-41.
A message from Alto:
— Mr. Ford goes to Washington: “Doug Ford is set to co-host a business reception alongside American billionaire Ross Perot Jr. in Washington in early June… The Premier is also expected to meet with business leaders from the auto, aerospace and agriculture industries during the two-day trip on June 8 and 9.” More from the Globe.
— Rob Cejanec has entered the race for Liberal leader.
His pitch? Do Ajax, province-wide. “I’ve seen what happens when people come together and believe in something better,” Cerjanec said in his announcement video. “In Ajax, we organized, we knocked on every door, we listened and we won against all the odds.”
Cerjanec, like Lee Fairclough, argued the next leader should come from the Liberal caucus. He said: “We can’t continue doing the same thing and expecting a different result… Moving forward, we do need a leader with a seat in the legislature. I think that’s really important to be able to hold this government to account.”
Who’s who: As we’ve previously reported, Mathieu Dagonas, the executive director of the Canadian Centre for Housing Rights, is the campaign director. Piraveenth Srekanthen is the campaign manager. Stephanie Bowman and Granville Anderson are Cerjanec’s co-chairs. Also: Brian Klunder, Erika McCallion, Emma Wakelin, Ferd Longo, Raheem White and more.
— Blue who? “Premier Doug Ford’s government is in secrecy-by-default mode, opposition critics say after reviewing the content of blue licence plate documents the province had been prepared to fight the release of in the courts.” More from the Canadian Press.
— Where’s the drama? On the race for Liberal leader, Martin Regg Cohn writes: “Remarkably, there is no sign of bad blood or political animus… which is a change of tone and tempo for a party prone to internecine squabbling.”
— FIFA v. RTO: The World Cup could score the Ontario Public Service a temporary work-from-home pass.
— A stronger hand: A new Star analysis of 4,242 decisions shows who’s using strong-mayor powers — and for what.
— Too many ads? The Ford government says it’s actively considering how to curb the rise in gambling ads. (The Tories voted down Bill 107 at second reading, a proposal that would have banned these commercials.)
— Plowing ahead: Pickering has approved a controversial plan to open up roughly 1,600 hectares of prime farmland for development. “The proposed development could eventually house up to 72,000 residents on land currently surrounded by the environmentally sensitive, and protected, Greenbelt.” More from National Observer.
— SOS: “275 pages of records, some publicly available and others only accessed through freedom of information legislation, show provincial bureaucrats worrying about the implications of the (Species Conservation Act), as well as municipalities and Indigenous groups voicing dissent — before the government passed the law anyway.” More from The Narwhal.
— The Ford government may soon be caught in an awkward spot, says John Michael McGrath: happy to lean on municipalities to sweep out encampments, but unwilling to let them sweep out rogue councillors.
Meanwhile: “Three Niagara, Ont. municipalities have been given the green light by the province to cut their councils from nine politicians including the mayor to seven, including the head of council.”
— Speaking up: “A new petition urging Premier Doug Ford to reverse cuts made to a decades-old language program has gained more than 600 signatures in 24 hours, warning thousands of students could lose access to ‘a cornerstone of education in Toronto.’” More here.
— Mohammed Adam argues the Ford government’s push to bring a multi-national defence bank to Toronto is a "slap in the face" to the capital, which is in the running as well.
— If Doug Ford wants to “Protect Ontario” parks, Shawn Micallef argues he should start with loose dogs.
— “Public health lives or dies on accurate measurement, dependable transparency and thoughtful investment,” writes a family physician.“Instead of embracing these basics, the Ford government’s laws have done the opposite.”
— Up again? The Tories are back in front, according to a new Abacus poll.
By the numbers: At 41 per cent, the Tories are up four points from last month. The Liberals are at 31 per cent, while the NDP and Greens trail at 17 and 5 per cent, respectively. Get up to speed.
— Dr. GPT? Canadians may be experimenting with AI, but they’re not ready to hand it the stethoscope.
A new Liaison poll found 46 per cent have used an AI chatbot for medical advice in the past year. But respondents remain deeply skeptical of giving AI more authority: 68 per cent would rather wait two weeks to see a human doctor than receive an instant diagnosis, and only 13 per cent support AI diagnosing and prescribing medication without a physician involved. The highlights.
— Seen: Avi Lewis speaking at the CUPE Ontario’s convention in Toronto. Lewis said: “I feel such deep alignment with this union. And being here is a reminder of all the marches and pickets and struggles and manifestos and organizing that we have shared over so many years.”
A tribute to Fred Hahn, featuring Laura Walton, JP Hornick, Nas Yadollahi, Candace Rennick, Yolanda McClean, Mark Hancock, Jamie West and more.
Missing: Marit Stiles.
There was controversy, too. Some union members voiced frustration that much of the convention’s time was being spent on “geopolitical or ideological issues” they saw as disconnected from bread-and-butter union issues.
— Yolanda McClean is the new president of CUPE Ontario. The former secretary-treasurer is the first Black woman elected to the role.
Dawn Bellerose will be the first Indigenous woman to serve as the union’s secretary-treasurer.
— Seen: The Toronto Waterfront Festival — famous for bringing the world’s largest rubber duck to the city — is cancelled this year. Here’s Theo Moudakis on the search for an opposition leader with a little of the rubber duck’s “pizzazz.”
— Seen: Dipika Damerla is running for… something.
— Noted: Navdeep Bains has raised the full fee required to enter the Liberal leadership contest, according to his team. (It’s no small feat. Even one operative supporting a rival candidate described it as a “massive deal,” noting that “early money is the most valuable money). The announcement.
In an email to supporters, Ted Hsu made the case for Lee Fairclough, writing that “in troubled times like these, voters want our best people leading us” — and arguing that Fairclough is “one of our best.”
It was a swing and miss for Kory Teneycke, whose candidate placed second in the British Columbia Conservative leadership contest. Jamil Jivani wasted no time declaring it a “Doug Ford L.”
— Congratulations to CityNews’ Cynthia Mulligan, who took home the Canadian Screen Award for Best Local News Anchor on Friday.
Thank you for reading POLICORNER. Are you Paul Calandra — or a teachers’ union boss? A cabinet minister who’s convinced they’re on borrowed time? A backbencher waiting by the phone? Hit me up — anonymity guaranteed, just like the sources you’re wondering about. We’re back in your inbox on Monday.
Got 5+ on your team? Team subscriptions are available. Got a client with a message to reach the province’s most powerful players? Ask for our ad rates. Reach out.
Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up now.
If you work at the Legislative Assembly, your access to POLICORNER is now covered by the Legislative Library. Simply email us with your name and work email, and we’ll add you to the list. Find out more.
Welcome to the last week of the spring session. The House could call it a summer as soon as tomorrow. A CUPE convention no-show — and Jamil Jivani is making the most of Kory Teneycke’s swing-and-a-miss in British Columbia. Plus, who’s who on Team Cerjanec? But to start, welcome to bargaining season, Minister Calandra.
SCOOP — The province’s major education unions are set to serve notice to bargain Wednesday.
Once that notice is served, the province and unions have 15 days to get to the bargaining table — and until the end of August to reach a deal before current collective agreements expire. Representatives of the five unions are expected to hold a joint press conference Wednesday.
The context: The unions wanted to begin bargaining sooner, asking Education Minister Paul Calandra in March to meet “as soon as possible.” Calandra declined, and a spokesperson argued the standard 90-day window was “a reasonable period to get to a fair agreement prior to the expiry.”
Behind the scenes: While no strike is possible before September, union leaders are bracing for a tough round of bargaining with the Ford government. The two sides have frequently found themselves at odds, including at a late-March reception where Calandra vowed to “root out” bad teachers from the education system. Later, Calandra drew heat — called out as “rude” and “disrespectful” — for challenging two union leaders during public hearings on Bill 101.
An early test: How much of the two-week period Calandra will use before meeting each union, and how soon both sides are back at the bargaining table, could signal whether labour peace is within reach.
One union source said there is no good reason to wait. “Why keep students and families guessing all summer?” they asked.
What to watch: At the bargaining table, the unions are expected to push for smaller class sizes, stronger recruitment and retention, and more resources for teachers and education workers.
Calandra’s spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.
A message from Alto:
— The House is in session. T-minus three — or, ahem, one or two — days until the summer recess. (Tories have reportedly been told to prepare for a Tuesday adjournment.)
Today: We’re back at 10:30 a.m. Bill 119, the Protecting Ontario’s Streets and Communities Act, is up for second reading debate at 1 p.m.
No word yet on the rest of this week’s business.
What we’re watching: Housing Minister Rob Flack is expected to announce a development charge reduction program this week, part of an $8.8-billion provincial-federal funding agreement to slash builder fees by between 30 and 50 per cent.
Also happening:
— Fundraising watch: At 6 p.m., the Tories are hosting a $1,000-a-ticket fundraiser in Toronto. RSVP.
On Wednesday at 5:30 pm, the Tories are hosting yet another $1,000-a-ticket fundraiser in Mississauga. RSVP.
Save the date: Liberal leader John Fraser and Ahsanul Hafiz will headline a $1,500-a-ticket fundraiser in Scarborough on June 9.
— 🍴 On the lunch menu: Monday: Barbecued jerk chicken with rice and coleslaw. Tuesday: Ginger beef with rice and vegetables. Wednesday: Pork schnitzel with spaetzle and vegetables. Thursday: Fish and chips. Friday: Peri Peri chicken with potatoes and vegetables.
— Tabled: Michael Kerzner tabled Bill 119, the Protecting Ontario’s Streets and Communities Act.
Meanwhile: There was no shortage of private members’ bills tabled last week, including:
Deepak Anand tabled Bill 120, the Ethnic Media and Community Media Appreciation Week Act.
Robin Lennox, France Gelinas, Lisa Gretzky and Lise Vaugeois tabled Bill 121, the Save a Life Act.
Logan Kanapathi and Rudy Cuzzetto tabled Bill 122, the Romanian Heritage Week Act.
Chandra Pasma, France Gelinas, Peter Tabuns and Jamie West tabled Bill 123, Fighting Extreme Heat in Schools Act.
Jamie West, Guy Bourgouin, France Gelinas and John Vanthof tabled Bill 124, the Mining Awareness Week Act.
France Gelinas, Wayne Gates, Sandy Shaw and Kristyn Wong-Tam tabled Bill 125, the Smoke-Free Ontario Amendment Act.
Tom Rakocevic, Terence Kernaghan, Robin Lennox and Catherine McKenney tabled Bill 126, the Protecting Homeowners from Title Fraud Act.
Rob Cerjanec and Stephanie Bowman tabled Bill 127, the Fair Start for Young Workers Act.
Catherine McKenney and Robin Lennox tabled Bill 128, the Hot Days, Cool Homes Act.
Lise Vaugeois tabled Bill 129, Andre’s Law.
Peter Tabuns, Jessica Bell, Jamie West and Kristyn Wong-Tam tabled Bill 130, the Adapting to a Hotter Ontario Act.
Alexa Gilmour tabled Bill 131, the Menstrual Health Day Act.
Sandy Shaw tabled Bill 132, the Nancy Rose Act.
— Passed: Bill 9 passed 110-1 (Bobbi Ann Brady was alone in voting “no”). Bill 110 passed 58-41.
— Killed: Bill 112 and Bill 113 both fell at second reading, 68-39 and 58-41.
A message from Alto:
— Mr. Ford goes to Washington: “Doug Ford is set to co-host a business reception alongside American billionaire Ross Perot Jr. in Washington in early June… The Premier is also expected to meet with business leaders from the auto, aerospace and agriculture industries during the two-day trip on June 8 and 9.” More from the Globe.
— Rob Cejanec has entered the race for Liberal leader.
His pitch? Do Ajax, province-wide. “I’ve seen what happens when people come together and believe in something better,” Cerjanec said in his announcement video. “In Ajax, we organized, we knocked on every door, we listened and we won against all the odds.”
Cerjanec, like Lee Fairclough, argued the next leader should come from the Liberal caucus. He said: “We can’t continue doing the same thing and expecting a different result… Moving forward, we do need a leader with a seat in the legislature. I think that’s really important to be able to hold this government to account.”
Who’s who: As we’ve previously reported, Mathieu Dagonas, the executive director of the Canadian Centre for Housing Rights, is the campaign director. Piraveenth Srekanthen is the campaign manager. Stephanie Bowman and Granville Anderson are Cerjanec’s co-chairs. Also: Brian Klunder, Erika McCallion, Emma Wakelin, Ferd Longo, Raheem White and more.
— Blue who? “Premier Doug Ford’s government is in secrecy-by-default mode, opposition critics say after reviewing the content of blue licence plate documents the province had been prepared to fight the release of in the courts.” More from the Canadian Press.
— Where’s the drama? On the race for Liberal leader, Martin Regg Cohn writes: “Remarkably, there is no sign of bad blood or political animus… which is a change of tone and tempo for a party prone to internecine squabbling.”
— FIFA v. RTO: The World Cup could score the Ontario Public Service a temporary work-from-home pass.
— A stronger hand: A new Star analysis of 4,242 decisions shows who’s using strong-mayor powers — and for what.
— Too many ads? The Ford government says it’s actively considering how to curb the rise in gambling ads. (The Tories voted down Bill 107 at second reading, a proposal that would have banned these commercials.)
— Plowing ahead: Pickering has approved a controversial plan to open up roughly 1,600 hectares of prime farmland for development. “The proposed development could eventually house up to 72,000 residents on land currently surrounded by the environmentally sensitive, and protected, Greenbelt.” More from National Observer.
— SOS: “275 pages of records, some publicly available and others only accessed through freedom of information legislation, show provincial bureaucrats worrying about the implications of the (Species Conservation Act), as well as municipalities and Indigenous groups voicing dissent — before the government passed the law anyway.” More from The Narwhal.
— The Ford government may soon be caught in an awkward spot, says John Michael McGrath: happy to lean on municipalities to sweep out encampments, but unwilling to let them sweep out rogue councillors.
Meanwhile: “Three Niagara, Ont. municipalities have been given the green light by the province to cut their councils from nine politicians including the mayor to seven, including the head of council.”
— Speaking up: “A new petition urging Premier Doug Ford to reverse cuts made to a decades-old language program has gained more than 600 signatures in 24 hours, warning thousands of students could lose access to ‘a cornerstone of education in Toronto.’” More here.
— Mohammed Adam argues the Ford government’s push to bring a multi-national defence bank to Toronto is a "slap in the face" to the capital, which is in the running as well.
— If Doug Ford wants to “Protect Ontario” parks, Shawn Micallef argues he should start with loose dogs.
— “Public health lives or dies on accurate measurement, dependable transparency and thoughtful investment,” writes a family physician.“Instead of embracing these basics, the Ford government’s laws have done the opposite.”
— Up again? The Tories are back in front, according to a new Abacus poll.
By the numbers: At 41 per cent, the Tories are up four points from last month. The Liberals are at 31 per cent, while the NDP and Greens trail at 17 and 5 per cent, respectively. Get up to speed.
— Dr. GPT? Canadians may be experimenting with AI, but they’re not ready to hand it the stethoscope.
A new Liaison poll found 46 per cent have used an AI chatbot for medical advice in the past year. But respondents remain deeply skeptical of giving AI more authority: 68 per cent would rather wait two weeks to see a human doctor than receive an instant diagnosis, and only 13 per cent support AI diagnosing and prescribing medication without a physician involved. The highlights.
— Seen: Avi Lewis speaking at the CUPE Ontario’s convention in Toronto. Lewis said: “I feel such deep alignment with this union. And being here is a reminder of all the marches and pickets and struggles and manifestos and organizing that we have shared over so many years.”
A tribute to Fred Hahn, featuring Laura Walton, JP Hornick, Nas Yadollahi, Candace Rennick, Yolanda McClean, Mark Hancock, Jamie West and more.
Missing: Marit Stiles.
There was controversy, too. Some union members voiced frustration that much of the convention’s time was being spent on “geopolitical or ideological issues” they saw as disconnected from bread-and-butter union issues.
— Yolanda McClean is the new president of CUPE Ontario. The former secretary-treasurer is the first Black woman elected to the role.
Dawn Bellerose will be the first Indigenous woman to serve as the union’s secretary-treasurer.
— Seen: The Toronto Waterfront Festival — famous for bringing the world’s largest rubber duck to the city — is cancelled this year. Here’s Theo Moudakis on the search for an opposition leader with a little of the rubber duck’s “pizzazz.”
— Seen: Dipika Damerla is running for… something.
— Noted: Navdeep Bains has raised the full fee required to enter the Liberal leadership contest, according to his team. (It’s no small feat. Even one operative supporting a rival candidate described it as a “massive deal,” noting that “early money is the most valuable money). The announcement.
In an email to supporters, Ted Hsu made the case for Lee Fairclough, writing that “in troubled times like these, voters want our best people leading us” — and arguing that Fairclough is “one of our best.”
It was a swing and miss for Kory Teneycke, whose candidate placed second in the British Columbia Conservative leadership contest. Jamil Jivani wasted no time declaring it a “Doug Ford L.”
— Congratulations to CityNews’ Cynthia Mulligan, who took home the Canadian Screen Award for Best Local News Anchor on Friday.
Thank you for reading POLICORNER. Are you Paul Calandra — or a teachers’ union boss? A cabinet minister who’s convinced they’re on borrowed time? A backbencher waiting by the phone? Hit me up — anonymity guaranteed, just like the sources you’re wondering about. We’re back in your inbox on Monday.
Got 5+ on your team? Team subscriptions are available. Got a client with a message to reach the province’s most powerful players? Ask for our ad rates. Reach out.
Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up now.
If you work at the Legislative Assembly, your access to POLICORNER is now covered by the Legislative Library. Simply email us with your name and work email, and we’ll add you to the list. Find out more.
Welcome to the last week of the spring session. The House could call it a summer as soon as tomorrow. A CUPE convention no-show — and Jamil Jivani is making the most of Kory Teneycke’s swing-and-a-miss in British Columbia. Plus, who’s who on Team Cerjanec? But to start, welcome to bargaining season, Minister Calandra.
SCOOP — The province’s major education unions are set to serve notice to bargain Wednesday.
Once that notice is served, the province and unions have 15 days to get to the bargaining table — and until the end of August to reach a deal before current collective agreements expire. Representatives of the five unions are expected to hold a joint press conference Wednesday.
The context: The unions wanted to begin bargaining sooner, asking Education Minister Paul Calandra in March to meet “as soon as possible.” Calandra declined, and a spokesperson argued the standard 90-day window was “a reasonable period to get to a fair agreement prior to the expiry.”
Behind the scenes: While no strike is possible before September, union leaders are bracing for a tough round of bargaining with the Ford government. The two sides have frequently found themselves at odds, including at a late-March reception where Calandra vowed to “root out” bad teachers from the education system. Later, Calandra drew heat — called out as “rude” and “disrespectful” — for challenging two union leaders during public hearings on Bill 101.
An early test: How much of the two-week period Calandra will use before meeting each union, and how soon both sides are back at the bargaining table, could signal whether labour peace is within reach.
One union source said there is no good reason to wait. “Why keep students and families guessing all summer?” they asked.
What to watch: At the bargaining table, the unions are expected to push for smaller class sizes, stronger recruitment and retention, and more resources for teachers and education workers.
Calandra’s spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.
A message from Alto:
— The House is in session. T-minus three — or, ahem, one or two — days until the summer recess. (Tories have reportedly been told to prepare for a Tuesday adjournment.)
Today: We’re back at 10:30 a.m. Bill 119, the Protecting Ontario’s Streets and Communities Act, is up for second reading debate at 1 p.m.
No word yet on the rest of this week’s business.
What we’re watching: Housing Minister Rob Flack is expected to announce a development charge reduction program this week, part of an $8.8-billion provincial-federal funding agreement to slash builder fees by between 30 and 50 per cent.
Also happening:
— Fundraising watch: At 6 p.m., the Tories are hosting a $1,000-a-ticket fundraiser in Toronto. RSVP.
On Wednesday at 5:30 pm, the Tories are hosting yet another $1,000-a-ticket fundraiser in Mississauga. RSVP.
Save the date: Liberal leader John Fraser and Ahsanul Hafiz will headline a $1,500-a-ticket fundraiser in Scarborough on June 9.
— 🍴 On the lunch menu: Monday: Barbecued jerk chicken with rice and coleslaw. Tuesday: Ginger beef with rice and vegetables. Wednesday: Pork schnitzel with spaetzle and vegetables. Thursday: Fish and chips. Friday: Peri Peri chicken with potatoes and vegetables.
— Tabled: Michael Kerzner tabled Bill 119, the Protecting Ontario’s Streets and Communities Act.
Meanwhile: There was no shortage of private members’ bills tabled last week, including:
Deepak Anand tabled Bill 120, the Ethnic Media and Community Media Appreciation Week Act.
Robin Lennox, France Gelinas, Lisa Gretzky and Lise Vaugeois tabled Bill 121, the Save a Life Act.
Logan Kanapathi and Rudy Cuzzetto tabled Bill 122, the Romanian Heritage Week Act.
Chandra Pasma, France Gelinas, Peter Tabuns and Jamie West tabled Bill 123, Fighting Extreme Heat in Schools Act.
Jamie West, Guy Bourgouin, France Gelinas and John Vanthof tabled Bill 124, the Mining Awareness Week Act.
France Gelinas, Wayne Gates, Sandy Shaw and Kristyn Wong-Tam tabled Bill 125, the Smoke-Free Ontario Amendment Act.
Tom Rakocevic, Terence Kernaghan, Robin Lennox and Catherine McKenney tabled Bill 126, the Protecting Homeowners from Title Fraud Act.
Rob Cerjanec and Stephanie Bowman tabled Bill 127, the Fair Start for Young Workers Act.
Catherine McKenney and Robin Lennox tabled Bill 128, the Hot Days, Cool Homes Act.
Lise Vaugeois tabled Bill 129, Andre’s Law.
Peter Tabuns, Jessica Bell, Jamie West and Kristyn Wong-Tam tabled Bill 130, the Adapting to a Hotter Ontario Act.
Alexa Gilmour tabled Bill 131, the Menstrual Health Day Act.
Sandy Shaw tabled Bill 132, the Nancy Rose Act.
— Passed: Bill 9 passed 110-1 (Bobbi Ann Brady was alone in voting “no”). Bill 110 passed 58-41.
— Killed: Bill 112 and Bill 113 both fell at second reading, 68-39 and 58-41.
A message from Alto:
— Mr. Ford goes to Washington: “Doug Ford is set to co-host a business reception alongside American billionaire Ross Perot Jr. in Washington in early June… The Premier is also expected to meet with business leaders from the auto, aerospace and agriculture industries during the two-day trip on June 8 and 9.” More from the Globe.
— Rob Cejanec has entered the race for Liberal leader.
His pitch? Do Ajax, province-wide. “I’ve seen what happens when people come together and believe in something better,” Cerjanec said in his announcement video. “In Ajax, we organized, we knocked on every door, we listened and we won against all the odds.”
Cerjanec, like Lee Fairclough, argued the next leader should come from the Liberal caucus. He said: “We can’t continue doing the same thing and expecting a different result… Moving forward, we do need a leader with a seat in the legislature. I think that’s really important to be able to hold this government to account.”
Who’s who: As we’ve previously reported, Mathieu Dagonas, the executive director of the Canadian Centre for Housing Rights, is the campaign director. Piraveenth Srekanthen is the campaign manager. Stephanie Bowman and Granville Anderson are Cerjanec’s co-chairs. Also: Brian Klunder, Erika McCallion, Emma Wakelin, Ferd Longo, Raheem White and more.
— Blue who? “Premier Doug Ford’s government is in secrecy-by-default mode, opposition critics say after reviewing the content of blue licence plate documents the province had been prepared to fight the release of in the courts.” More from the Canadian Press.
— Where’s the drama? On the race for Liberal leader, Martin Regg Cohn writes: “Remarkably, there is no sign of bad blood or political animus… which is a change of tone and tempo for a party prone to internecine squabbling.”
— FIFA v. RTO: The World Cup could score the Ontario Public Service a temporary work-from-home pass.
— A stronger hand: A new Star analysis of 4,242 decisions shows who’s using strong-mayor powers — and for what.
— Too many ads? The Ford government says it’s actively considering how to curb the rise in gambling ads. (The Tories voted down Bill 107 at second reading, a proposal that would have banned these commercials.)
— Plowing ahead: Pickering has approved a controversial plan to open up roughly 1,600 hectares of prime farmland for development. “The proposed development could eventually house up to 72,000 residents on land currently surrounded by the environmentally sensitive, and protected, Greenbelt.” More from National Observer.
— SOS: “275 pages of records, some publicly available and others only accessed through freedom of information legislation, show provincial bureaucrats worrying about the implications of the (Species Conservation Act), as well as municipalities and Indigenous groups voicing dissent — before the government passed the law anyway.” More from The Narwhal.
— The Ford government may soon be caught in an awkward spot, says John Michael McGrath: happy to lean on municipalities to sweep out encampments, but unwilling to let them sweep out rogue councillors.
Meanwhile: “Three Niagara, Ont. municipalities have been given the green light by the province to cut their councils from nine politicians including the mayor to seven, including the head of council.”
— Speaking up: “A new petition urging Premier Doug Ford to reverse cuts made to a decades-old language program has gained more than 600 signatures in 24 hours, warning thousands of students could lose access to ‘a cornerstone of education in Toronto.’” More here.
— Mohammed Adam argues the Ford government’s push to bring a multi-national defence bank to Toronto is a "slap in the face" to the capital, which is in the running as well.
— If Doug Ford wants to “Protect Ontario” parks, Shawn Micallef argues he should start with loose dogs.
— “Public health lives or dies on accurate measurement, dependable transparency and thoughtful investment,” writes a family physician.“Instead of embracing these basics, the Ford government’s laws have done the opposite.”
— Up again? The Tories are back in front, according to a new Abacus poll.
By the numbers: At 41 per cent, the Tories are up four points from last month. The Liberals are at 31 per cent, while the NDP and Greens trail at 17 and 5 per cent, respectively. Get up to speed.
— Dr. GPT? Canadians may be experimenting with AI, but they’re not ready to hand it the stethoscope.
A new Liaison poll found 46 per cent have used an AI chatbot for medical advice in the past year. But respondents remain deeply skeptical of giving AI more authority: 68 per cent would rather wait two weeks to see a human doctor than receive an instant diagnosis, and only 13 per cent support AI diagnosing and prescribing medication without a physician involved. The highlights.
— Seen: Avi Lewis speaking at the CUPE Ontario’s convention in Toronto. Lewis said: “I feel such deep alignment with this union. And being here is a reminder of all the marches and pickets and struggles and manifestos and organizing that we have shared over so many years.”
A tribute to Fred Hahn, featuring Laura Walton, JP Hornick, Nas Yadollahi, Candace Rennick, Yolanda McClean, Mark Hancock, Jamie West and more.
Missing: Marit Stiles.
There was controversy, too. Some union members voiced frustration that much of the convention’s time was being spent on “geopolitical or ideological issues” they saw as disconnected from bread-and-butter union issues.
— Yolanda McClean is the new president of CUPE Ontario. The former secretary-treasurer is the first Black woman elected to the role.
Dawn Bellerose will be the first Indigenous woman to serve as the union’s secretary-treasurer.
— Seen: The Toronto Waterfront Festival — famous for bringing the world’s largest rubber duck to the city — is cancelled this year. Here’s Theo Moudakis on the search for an opposition leader with a little of the rubber duck’s “pizzazz.”
— Seen: Dipika Damerla is running for… something.
— Noted: Navdeep Bains has raised the full fee required to enter the Liberal leadership contest, according to his team. (It’s no small feat. Even one operative supporting a rival candidate described it as a “massive deal,” noting that “early money is the most valuable money). The announcement.
In an email to supporters, Ted Hsu made the case for Lee Fairclough, writing that “in troubled times like these, voters want our best people leading us” — and arguing that Fairclough is “one of our best.”
It was a swing and miss for Kory Teneycke, whose candidate placed second in the British Columbia Conservative leadership contest. Jamil Jivani wasted no time declaring it a “Doug Ford L.”
— Congratulations to CityNews’ Cynthia Mulligan, who took home the Canadian Screen Award for Best Local News Anchor on Friday.
Thank you for reading POLICORNER. Are you Paul Calandra — or a teachers’ union boss? A cabinet minister who’s convinced they’re on borrowed time? A backbencher waiting by the phone? Hit me up — anonymity guaranteed, just like the sources you’re wondering about. We’re back in your inbox on Monday.
Got 5+ on your team? Team subscriptions are available. Got a client with a message to reach the province’s most powerful players? Ask for our ad rates. Reach out.
Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up now.
If you work at the Legislative Assembly, your access to POLICORNER is now covered by the Legislative Library. Simply email us with your name and work email, and we’ll add you to the list. Find out more.
Welcome to the last week of the spring session. The House could call it a summer as soon as tomorrow. A CUPE convention no-show — and Jamil Jivani is making the most of Kory Teneycke’s swing-and-a-miss in British Columbia. Plus, who’s who on Team Cerjanec? But to start, welcome to bargaining season, Minister Calandra.
SCOOP — The province’s major education unions are set to serve notice to bargain Wednesday.
Once that notice is served, the province and unions have 15 days to get to the bargaining table — and until the end of August to reach a deal before current collective agreements expire. Representatives of the five unions are expected to hold a joint press conference Wednesday.
The context: The unions wanted to begin bargaining sooner, asking Education Minister Paul Calandra in March to meet “as soon as possible.” Calandra declined, and a spokesperson argued the standard 90-day window was “a reasonable period to get to a fair agreement prior to the expiry.”
Behind the scenes: While no strike is possible before September, union leaders are bracing for a tough round of bargaining with the Ford government. The two sides have frequently found themselves at odds, including at a late-March reception where Calandra vowed to “root out” bad teachers from the education system. Later, Calandra drew heat — called out as “rude” and “disrespectful” — for challenging two union leaders during public hearings on Bill 101.
An early test: How much of the two-week period Calandra will use before meeting each union, and how soon both sides are back at the bargaining table, could signal whether labour peace is within reach.
One union source said there is no good reason to wait. “Why keep students and families guessing all summer?” they asked.
What to watch: At the bargaining table, the unions are expected to push for smaller class sizes, stronger recruitment and retention, and more resources for teachers and education workers.
Calandra’s spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.
A message from Alto:
— The House is in session. T-minus three — or, ahem, one or two — days until the summer recess. (Tories have reportedly been told to prepare for a Tuesday adjournment.)
Today: We’re back at 10:30 a.m. Bill 119, the Protecting Ontario’s Streets and Communities Act, is up for second reading debate at 1 p.m.
No word yet on the rest of this week’s business.
What we’re watching: Housing Minister Rob Flack is expected to announce a development charge reduction program this week, part of an $8.8-billion provincial-federal funding agreement to slash builder fees by between 30 and 50 per cent.
Also happening:
— Fundraising watch: At 6 p.m., the Tories are hosting a $1,000-a-ticket fundraiser in Toronto. RSVP.
On Wednesday at 5:30 pm, the Tories are hosting yet another $1,000-a-ticket fundraiser in Mississauga. RSVP.
Save the date: Liberal leader John Fraser and Ahsanul Hafiz will headline a $1,500-a-ticket fundraiser in Scarborough on June 9.
— 🍴 On the lunch menu: Monday: Barbecued jerk chicken with rice and coleslaw. Tuesday: Ginger beef with rice and vegetables. Wednesday: Pork schnitzel with spaetzle and vegetables. Thursday: Fish and chips. Friday: Peri Peri chicken with potatoes and vegetables.
— Tabled: Michael Kerzner tabled Bill 119, the Protecting Ontario’s Streets and Communities Act.
Meanwhile: There was no shortage of private members’ bills tabled last week, including:
Deepak Anand tabled Bill 120, the Ethnic Media and Community Media Appreciation Week Act.
Robin Lennox, France Gelinas, Lisa Gretzky and Lise Vaugeois tabled Bill 121, the Save a Life Act.
Logan Kanapathi and Rudy Cuzzetto tabled Bill 122, the Romanian Heritage Week Act.
Chandra Pasma, France Gelinas, Peter Tabuns and Jamie West tabled Bill 123, Fighting Extreme Heat in Schools Act.
Jamie West, Guy Bourgouin, France Gelinas and John Vanthof tabled Bill 124, the Mining Awareness Week Act.
France Gelinas, Wayne Gates, Sandy Shaw and Kristyn Wong-Tam tabled Bill 125, the Smoke-Free Ontario Amendment Act.
Tom Rakocevic, Terence Kernaghan, Robin Lennox and Catherine McKenney tabled Bill 126, the Protecting Homeowners from Title Fraud Act.
Rob Cerjanec and Stephanie Bowman tabled Bill 127, the Fair Start for Young Workers Act.
Catherine McKenney and Robin Lennox tabled Bill 128, the Hot Days, Cool Homes Act.
Lise Vaugeois tabled Bill 129, Andre’s Law.
Peter Tabuns, Jessica Bell, Jamie West and Kristyn Wong-Tam tabled Bill 130, the Adapting to a Hotter Ontario Act.
Alexa Gilmour tabled Bill 131, the Menstrual Health Day Act.
Sandy Shaw tabled Bill 132, the Nancy Rose Act.
— Passed: Bill 9 passed 110-1 (Bobbi Ann Brady was alone in voting “no”). Bill 110 passed 58-41.
— Killed: Bill 112 and Bill 113 both fell at second reading, 68-39 and 58-41.
A message from Alto:
— Mr. Ford goes to Washington: “Doug Ford is set to co-host a business reception alongside American billionaire Ross Perot Jr. in Washington in early June… The Premier is also expected to meet with business leaders from the auto, aerospace and agriculture industries during the two-day trip on June 8 and 9.” More from the Globe.
— Rob Cejanec has entered the race for Liberal leader.
His pitch? Do Ajax, province-wide. “I’ve seen what happens when people come together and believe in something better,” Cerjanec said in his announcement video. “In Ajax, we organized, we knocked on every door, we listened and we won against all the odds.”
Cerjanec, like Lee Fairclough, argued the next leader should come from the Liberal caucus. He said: “We can’t continue doing the same thing and expecting a different result… Moving forward, we do need a leader with a seat in the legislature. I think that’s really important to be able to hold this government to account.”
Who’s who: As we’ve previously reported, Mathieu Dagonas, the executive director of the Canadian Centre for Housing Rights, is the campaign director. Piraveenth Srekanthen is the campaign manager. Stephanie Bowman and Granville Anderson are Cerjanec’s co-chairs. Also: Brian Klunder, Erika McCallion, Emma Wakelin, Ferd Longo, Raheem White and more.
— Blue who? “Premier Doug Ford’s government is in secrecy-by-default mode, opposition critics say after reviewing the content of blue licence plate documents the province had been prepared to fight the release of in the courts.” More from the Canadian Press.
— Where’s the drama? On the race for Liberal leader, Martin Regg Cohn writes: “Remarkably, there is no sign of bad blood or political animus… which is a change of tone and tempo for a party prone to internecine squabbling.”
— FIFA v. RTO: The World Cup could score the Ontario Public Service a temporary work-from-home pass.
— A stronger hand: A new Star analysis of 4,242 decisions shows who’s using strong-mayor powers — and for what.
— Too many ads? The Ford government says it’s actively considering how to curb the rise in gambling ads. (The Tories voted down Bill 107 at second reading, a proposal that would have banned these commercials.)
— Plowing ahead: Pickering has approved a controversial plan to open up roughly 1,600 hectares of prime farmland for development. “The proposed development could eventually house up to 72,000 residents on land currently surrounded by the environmentally sensitive, and protected, Greenbelt.” More from National Observer.
— SOS: “275 pages of records, some publicly available and others only accessed through freedom of information legislation, show provincial bureaucrats worrying about the implications of the (Species Conservation Act), as well as municipalities and Indigenous groups voicing dissent — before the government passed the law anyway.” More from The Narwhal.
— The Ford government may soon be caught in an awkward spot, says John Michael McGrath: happy to lean on municipalities to sweep out encampments, but unwilling to let them sweep out rogue councillors.
Meanwhile: “Three Niagara, Ont. municipalities have been given the green light by the province to cut their councils from nine politicians including the mayor to seven, including the head of council.”
— Speaking up: “A new petition urging Premier Doug Ford to reverse cuts made to a decades-old language program has gained more than 600 signatures in 24 hours, warning thousands of students could lose access to ‘a cornerstone of education in Toronto.’” More here.
— Mohammed Adam argues the Ford government’s push to bring a multi-national defence bank to Toronto is a "slap in the face" to the capital, which is in the running as well.
— If Doug Ford wants to “Protect Ontario” parks, Shawn Micallef argues he should start with loose dogs.
— “Public health lives or dies on accurate measurement, dependable transparency and thoughtful investment,” writes a family physician.“Instead of embracing these basics, the Ford government’s laws have done the opposite.”
— Up again? The Tories are back in front, according to a new Abacus poll.
By the numbers: At 41 per cent, the Tories are up four points from last month. The Liberals are at 31 per cent, while the NDP and Greens trail at 17 and 5 per cent, respectively. Get up to speed.
— Dr. GPT? Canadians may be experimenting with AI, but they’re not ready to hand it the stethoscope.
A new Liaison poll found 46 per cent have used an AI chatbot for medical advice in the past year. But respondents remain deeply skeptical of giving AI more authority: 68 per cent would rather wait two weeks to see a human doctor than receive an instant diagnosis, and only 13 per cent support AI diagnosing and prescribing medication without a physician involved. The highlights.
— Seen: Avi Lewis speaking at the CUPE Ontario’s convention in Toronto. Lewis said: “I feel such deep alignment with this union. And being here is a reminder of all the marches and pickets and struggles and manifestos and organizing that we have shared over so many years.”
A tribute to Fred Hahn, featuring Laura Walton, JP Hornick, Nas Yadollahi, Candace Rennick, Yolanda McClean, Mark Hancock, Jamie West and more.
Missing: Marit Stiles.
There was controversy, too. Some union members voiced frustration that much of the convention’s time was being spent on “geopolitical or ideological issues” they saw as disconnected from bread-and-butter union issues.
— Yolanda McClean is the new president of CUPE Ontario. The former secretary-treasurer is the first Black woman elected to the role.
Dawn Bellerose will be the first Indigenous woman to serve as the union’s secretary-treasurer.
— Seen: The Toronto Waterfront Festival — famous for bringing the world’s largest rubber duck to the city — is cancelled this year. Here’s Theo Moudakis on the search for an opposition leader with a little of the rubber duck’s “pizzazz.”
— Seen: Dipika Damerla is running for… something.
— Noted: Navdeep Bains has raised the full fee required to enter the Liberal leadership contest, according to his team. (It’s no small feat. Even one operative supporting a rival candidate described it as a “massive deal,” noting that “early money is the most valuable money). The announcement.
In an email to supporters, Ted Hsu made the case for Lee Fairclough, writing that “in troubled times like these, voters want our best people leading us” — and arguing that Fairclough is “one of our best.”
It was a swing and miss for Kory Teneycke, whose candidate placed second in the British Columbia Conservative leadership contest. Jamil Jivani wasted no time declaring it a “Doug Ford L.”
— Congratulations to CityNews’ Cynthia Mulligan, who took home the Canadian Screen Award for Best Local News Anchor on Friday.
Thank you for reading POLICORNER. Are you Paul Calandra — or a teachers’ union boss? A cabinet minister who’s convinced they’re on borrowed time? A backbencher waiting by the phone? Hit me up — anonymity guaranteed, just like the sources you’re wondering about. We’re back in your inbox on Monday.
Got 5+ on your team? Team subscriptions are available. Got a client with a message to reach the province’s most powerful players? Ask for our ad rates. Reach out.
Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up now.
If you work at the Legislative Assembly, your access to POLICORNER is now covered by the Legislative Library. Simply email us with your name and work email, and we’ll add you to the list. Find out more.
Welcome to the last week of the spring session. The House could call it a summer as soon as tomorrow. A CUPE convention no-show — and Jamil Jivani is making the most of Kory Teneycke’s swing-and-a-miss in British Columbia. Plus, who’s who on Team Cerjanec? But to start, welcome to bargaining season, Minister Calandra.
SCOOP — The province’s major education unions are set to serve notice to bargain Wednesday.
Once that notice is served, the province and unions have 15 days to get to the bargaining table — and until the end of August to reach a deal before current collective agreements expire. Representatives of the five unions are expected to hold a joint press conference Wednesday.
The context: The unions wanted to begin bargaining sooner, asking Education Minister Paul Calandra in March to meet “as soon as possible.” Calandra declined, and a spokesperson argued the standard 90-day window was “a reasonable period to get to a fair agreement prior to the expiry.”
Behind the scenes: While no strike is possible before September, union leaders are bracing for a tough round of bargaining with the Ford government. The two sides have frequently found themselves at odds, including at a late-March reception where Calandra vowed to “root out” bad teachers from the education system. Later, Calandra drew heat — called out as “rude” and “disrespectful” — for challenging two union leaders during public hearings on Bill 101.
An early test: How much of the two-week period Calandra will use before meeting each union, and how soon both sides are back at the bargaining table, could signal whether labour peace is within reach.
One union source said there is no good reason to wait. “Why keep students and families guessing all summer?” they asked.
What to watch: At the bargaining table, the unions are expected to push for smaller class sizes, stronger recruitment and retention, and more resources for teachers and education workers.
Calandra’s spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.
A message from Alto:
— The House is in session. T-minus three — or, ahem, one or two — days until the summer recess. (Tories have reportedly been told to prepare for a Tuesday adjournment.)
Today: We’re back at 10:30 a.m. Bill 119, the Protecting Ontario’s Streets and Communities Act, is up for second reading debate at 1 p.m.
No word yet on the rest of this week’s business.
What we’re watching: Housing Minister Rob Flack is expected to announce a development charge reduction program this week, part of an $8.8-billion provincial-federal funding agreement to slash builder fees by between 30 and 50 per cent.
Also happening:
— Fundraising watch: At 6 p.m., the Tories are hosting a $1,000-a-ticket fundraiser in Toronto. RSVP.
On Wednesday at 5:30 pm, the Tories are hosting yet another $1,000-a-ticket fundraiser in Mississauga. RSVP.
Save the date: Liberal leader John Fraser and Ahsanul Hafiz will headline a $1,500-a-ticket fundraiser in Scarborough on June 9.
— 🍴 On the lunch menu: Monday: Barbecued jerk chicken with rice and coleslaw. Tuesday: Ginger beef with rice and vegetables. Wednesday: Pork schnitzel with spaetzle and vegetables. Thursday: Fish and chips. Friday: Peri Peri chicken with potatoes and vegetables.
— Tabled: Michael Kerzner tabled Bill 119, the Protecting Ontario’s Streets and Communities Act.
Meanwhile: There was no shortage of private members’ bills tabled last week, including:
Deepak Anand tabled Bill 120, the Ethnic Media and Community Media Appreciation Week Act.
Robin Lennox, France Gelinas, Lisa Gretzky and Lise Vaugeois tabled Bill 121, the Save a Life Act.
Logan Kanapathi and Rudy Cuzzetto tabled Bill 122, the Romanian Heritage Week Act.
Chandra Pasma, France Gelinas, Peter Tabuns and Jamie West tabled Bill 123, Fighting Extreme Heat in Schools Act.
Jamie West, Guy Bourgouin, France Gelinas and John Vanthof tabled Bill 124, the Mining Awareness Week Act.
France Gelinas, Wayne Gates, Sandy Shaw and Kristyn Wong-Tam tabled Bill 125, the Smoke-Free Ontario Amendment Act.
Tom Rakocevic, Terence Kernaghan, Robin Lennox and Catherine McKenney tabled Bill 126, the Protecting Homeowners from Title Fraud Act.
Rob Cerjanec and Stephanie Bowman tabled Bill 127, the Fair Start for Young Workers Act.
Catherine McKenney and Robin Lennox tabled Bill 128, the Hot Days, Cool Homes Act.
Lise Vaugeois tabled Bill 129, Andre’s Law.
Peter Tabuns, Jessica Bell, Jamie West and Kristyn Wong-Tam tabled Bill 130, the Adapting to a Hotter Ontario Act.
Alexa Gilmour tabled Bill 131, the Menstrual Health Day Act.
Sandy Shaw tabled Bill 132, the Nancy Rose Act.
— Passed: Bill 9 passed 110-1 (Bobbi Ann Brady was alone in voting “no”). Bill 110 passed 58-41.
— Killed: Bill 112 and Bill 113 both fell at second reading, 68-39 and 58-41.
A message from Alto:
— Mr. Ford goes to Washington: “Doug Ford is set to co-host a business reception alongside American billionaire Ross Perot Jr. in Washington in early June… The Premier is also expected to meet with business leaders from the auto, aerospace and agriculture industries during the two-day trip on June 8 and 9.” More from the Globe.
— Rob Cejanec has entered the race for Liberal leader.
His pitch? Do Ajax, province-wide. “I’ve seen what happens when people come together and believe in something better,” Cerjanec said in his announcement video. “In Ajax, we organized, we knocked on every door, we listened and we won against all the odds.”
Cerjanec, like Lee Fairclough, argued the next leader should come from the Liberal caucus. He said: “We can’t continue doing the same thing and expecting a different result… Moving forward, we do need a leader with a seat in the legislature. I think that’s really important to be able to hold this government to account.”
Who’s who: As we’ve previously reported, Mathieu Dagonas, the executive director of the Canadian Centre for Housing Rights, is the campaign director. Piraveenth Srekanthen is the campaign manager. Stephanie Bowman and Granville Anderson are Cerjanec’s co-chairs. Also: Brian Klunder, Erika McCallion, Emma Wakelin, Ferd Longo, Raheem White and more.
— Blue who? “Premier Doug Ford’s government is in secrecy-by-default mode, opposition critics say after reviewing the content of blue licence plate documents the province had been prepared to fight the release of in the courts.” More from the Canadian Press.
— Where’s the drama? On the race for Liberal leader, Martin Regg Cohn writes: “Remarkably, there is no sign of bad blood or political animus… which is a change of tone and tempo for a party prone to internecine squabbling.”
— FIFA v. RTO: The World Cup could score the Ontario Public Service a temporary work-from-home pass.
— A stronger hand: A new Star analysis of 4,242 decisions shows who’s using strong-mayor powers — and for what.
— Too many ads? The Ford government says it’s actively considering how to curb the rise in gambling ads. (The Tories voted down Bill 107 at second reading, a proposal that would have banned these commercials.)
— Plowing ahead: Pickering has approved a controversial plan to open up roughly 1,600 hectares of prime farmland for development. “The proposed development could eventually house up to 72,000 residents on land currently surrounded by the environmentally sensitive, and protected, Greenbelt.” More from National Observer.
— SOS: “275 pages of records, some publicly available and others only accessed through freedom of information legislation, show provincial bureaucrats worrying about the implications of the (Species Conservation Act), as well as municipalities and Indigenous groups voicing dissent — before the government passed the law anyway.” More from The Narwhal.
— The Ford government may soon be caught in an awkward spot, says John Michael McGrath: happy to lean on municipalities to sweep out encampments, but unwilling to let them sweep out rogue councillors.
Meanwhile: “Three Niagara, Ont. municipalities have been given the green light by the province to cut their councils from nine politicians including the mayor to seven, including the head of council.”
— Speaking up: “A new petition urging Premier Doug Ford to reverse cuts made to a decades-old language program has gained more than 600 signatures in 24 hours, warning thousands of students could lose access to ‘a cornerstone of education in Toronto.’” More here.
— Mohammed Adam argues the Ford government’s push to bring a multi-national defence bank to Toronto is a "slap in the face" to the capital, which is in the running as well.
— If Doug Ford wants to “Protect Ontario” parks, Shawn Micallef argues he should start with loose dogs.
— “Public health lives or dies on accurate measurement, dependable transparency and thoughtful investment,” writes a family physician.“Instead of embracing these basics, the Ford government’s laws have done the opposite.”
— Up again? The Tories are back in front, according to a new Abacus poll.
By the numbers: At 41 per cent, the Tories are up four points from last month. The Liberals are at 31 per cent, while the NDP and Greens trail at 17 and 5 per cent, respectively. Get up to speed.
— Dr. GPT? Canadians may be experimenting with AI, but they’re not ready to hand it the stethoscope.
A new Liaison poll found 46 per cent have used an AI chatbot for medical advice in the past year. But respondents remain deeply skeptical of giving AI more authority: 68 per cent would rather wait two weeks to see a human doctor than receive an instant diagnosis, and only 13 per cent support AI diagnosing and prescribing medication without a physician involved. The highlights.
— Seen: Avi Lewis speaking at the CUPE Ontario’s convention in Toronto. Lewis said: “I feel such deep alignment with this union. And being here is a reminder of all the marches and pickets and struggles and manifestos and organizing that we have shared over so many years.”
A tribute to Fred Hahn, featuring Laura Walton, JP Hornick, Nas Yadollahi, Candace Rennick, Yolanda McClean, Mark Hancock, Jamie West and more.
Missing: Marit Stiles.
There was controversy, too. Some union members voiced frustration that much of the convention’s time was being spent on “geopolitical or ideological issues” they saw as disconnected from bread-and-butter union issues.
— Yolanda McClean is the new president of CUPE Ontario. The former secretary-treasurer is the first Black woman elected to the role.
Dawn Bellerose will be the first Indigenous woman to serve as the union’s secretary-treasurer.
— Seen: The Toronto Waterfront Festival — famous for bringing the world’s largest rubber duck to the city — is cancelled this year. Here’s Theo Moudakis on the search for an opposition leader with a little of the rubber duck’s “pizzazz.”
— Seen: Dipika Damerla is running for… something.
— Noted: Navdeep Bains has raised the full fee required to enter the Liberal leadership contest, according to his team. (It’s no small feat. Even one operative supporting a rival candidate described it as a “massive deal,” noting that “early money is the most valuable money). The announcement.
In an email to supporters, Ted Hsu made the case for Lee Fairclough, writing that “in troubled times like these, voters want our best people leading us” — and arguing that Fairclough is “one of our best.”
It was a swing and miss for Kory Teneycke, whose candidate placed second in the British Columbia Conservative leadership contest. Jamil Jivani wasted no time declaring it a “Doug Ford L.”
— Congratulations to CityNews’ Cynthia Mulligan, who took home the Canadian Screen Award for Best Local News Anchor on Friday.
Thank you for reading POLICORNER. Are you Paul Calandra — or a teachers’ union boss? A cabinet minister who’s convinced they’re on borrowed time? A backbencher waiting by the phone? Hit me up — anonymity guaranteed, just like the sources you’re wondering about. We’re back in your inbox on Monday.
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Welcome to the last week of the spring session. The House could call it a summer as soon as tomorrow. A CUPE convention no-show — and Jamil Jivani is making the most of Kory Teneycke’s swing-and-a-miss in British Columbia. Plus, who’s who on Team Cerjanec? But to start, welcome to bargaining season, Minister Calandra.
SCOOP — The province’s major education unions are set to serve notice to bargain Wednesday.
Once that notice is served, the province and unions have 15 days to get to the bargaining table — and until the end of August to reach a deal before current collective agreements expire. Representatives of the five unions are expected to hold a joint press conference Wednesday.
The context: The unions wanted to begin bargaining sooner, asking Education Minister Paul Calandra in March to meet “as soon as possible.” Calandra declined, and a spokesperson argued the standard 90-day window was “a reasonable period to get to a fair agreement prior to the expiry.”
Behind the scenes: While no strike is possible before September, union leaders are bracing for a tough round of bargaining with the Ford government. The two sides have frequently found themselves at odds, including at a late-March reception where Calandra vowed to “root out” bad teachers from the education system. Later, Calandra drew heat — called out as “rude” and “disrespectful” — for challenging two union leaders during public hearings on Bill 101.
An early test: How much of the two-week period Calandra will use before meeting each union, and how soon both sides are back at the bargaining table, could signal whether labour peace is within reach.
One union source said there is no good reason to wait. “Why keep students and families guessing all summer?” they asked.
What to watch: At the bargaining table, the unions are expected to push for smaller class sizes, stronger recruitment and retention, and more resources for teachers and education workers.
Calandra’s spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.
A message from Alto:
— The House is in session. T-minus three — or, ahem, one or two — days until the summer recess. (Tories have reportedly been told to prepare for a Tuesday adjournment.)
Today: We’re back at 10:30 a.m. Bill 119, the Protecting Ontario’s Streets and Communities Act, is up for second reading debate at 1 p.m.
No word yet on the rest of this week’s business.
What we’re watching: Housing Minister Rob Flack is expected to announce a development charge reduction program this week, part of an $8.8-billion provincial-federal funding agreement to slash builder fees by between 30 and 50 per cent.
Also happening:
— Fundraising watch: At 6 p.m., the Tories are hosting a $1,000-a-ticket fundraiser in Toronto. RSVP.
On Wednesday at 5:30 pm, the Tories are hosting yet another $1,000-a-ticket fundraiser in Mississauga. RSVP.
Save the date: Liberal leader John Fraser and Ahsanul Hafiz will headline a $1,500-a-ticket fundraiser in Scarborough on June 9.
— 🍴 On the lunch menu: Monday: Barbecued jerk chicken with rice and coleslaw. Tuesday: Ginger beef with rice and vegetables. Wednesday: Pork schnitzel with spaetzle and vegetables. Thursday: Fish and chips. Friday: Peri Peri chicken with potatoes and vegetables.
— Tabled: Michael Kerzner tabled Bill 119, the Protecting Ontario’s Streets and Communities Act.
Meanwhile: There was no shortage of private members’ bills tabled last week, including:
Deepak Anand tabled Bill 120, the Ethnic Media and Community Media Appreciation Week Act.
Robin Lennox, France Gelinas, Lisa Gretzky and Lise Vaugeois tabled Bill 121, the Save a Life Act.
Logan Kanapathi and Rudy Cuzzetto tabled Bill 122, the Romanian Heritage Week Act.
Chandra Pasma, France Gelinas, Peter Tabuns and Jamie West tabled Bill 123, Fighting Extreme Heat in Schools Act.
Jamie West, Guy Bourgouin, France Gelinas and John Vanthof tabled Bill 124, the Mining Awareness Week Act.
France Gelinas, Wayne Gates, Sandy Shaw and Kristyn Wong-Tam tabled Bill 125, the Smoke-Free Ontario Amendment Act.
Tom Rakocevic, Terence Kernaghan, Robin Lennox and Catherine McKenney tabled Bill 126, the Protecting Homeowners from Title Fraud Act.
Rob Cerjanec and Stephanie Bowman tabled Bill 127, the Fair Start for Young Workers Act.
Catherine McKenney and Robin Lennox tabled Bill 128, the Hot Days, Cool Homes Act.
Lise Vaugeois tabled Bill 129, Andre’s Law.
Peter Tabuns, Jessica Bell, Jamie West and Kristyn Wong-Tam tabled Bill 130, the Adapting to a Hotter Ontario Act.
Alexa Gilmour tabled Bill 131, the Menstrual Health Day Act.
Sandy Shaw tabled Bill 132, the Nancy Rose Act.
— Passed: Bill 9 passed 110-1 (Bobbi Ann Brady was alone in voting “no”). Bill 110 passed 58-41.
— Killed: Bill 112 and Bill 113 both fell at second reading, 68-39 and 58-41.
A message from Alto:
— Mr. Ford goes to Washington: “Doug Ford is set to co-host a business reception alongside American billionaire Ross Perot Jr. in Washington in early June… The Premier is also expected to meet with business leaders from the auto, aerospace and agriculture industries during the two-day trip on June 8 and 9.” More from the Globe.
— Rob Cejanec has entered the race for Liberal leader.
His pitch? Do Ajax, province-wide. “I’ve seen what happens when people come together and believe in something better,” Cerjanec said in his announcement video. “In Ajax, we organized, we knocked on every door, we listened and we won against all the odds.”
Cerjanec, like Lee Fairclough, argued the next leader should come from the Liberal caucus. He said: “We can’t continue doing the same thing and expecting a different result… Moving forward, we do need a leader with a seat in the legislature. I think that’s really important to be able to hold this government to account.”
Who’s who: As we’ve previously reported, Mathieu Dagonas, the executive director of the Canadian Centre for Housing Rights, is the campaign director. Piraveenth Srekanthen is the campaign manager. Stephanie Bowman and Granville Anderson are Cerjanec’s co-chairs. Also: Brian Klunder, Erika McCallion, Emma Wakelin, Ferd Longo, Raheem White and more.
— Blue who? “Premier Doug Ford’s government is in secrecy-by-default mode, opposition critics say after reviewing the content of blue licence plate documents the province had been prepared to fight the release of in the courts.” More from the Canadian Press.
— Where’s the drama? On the race for Liberal leader, Martin Regg Cohn writes: “Remarkably, there is no sign of bad blood or political animus… which is a change of tone and tempo for a party prone to internecine squabbling.”
— FIFA v. RTO: The World Cup could score the Ontario Public Service a temporary work-from-home pass.
— A stronger hand: A new Star analysis of 4,242 decisions shows who’s using strong-mayor powers — and for what.
— Too many ads? The Ford government says it’s actively considering how to curb the rise in gambling ads. (The Tories voted down Bill 107 at second reading, a proposal that would have banned these commercials.)
— Plowing ahead: Pickering has approved a controversial plan to open up roughly 1,600 hectares of prime farmland for development. “The proposed development could eventually house up to 72,000 residents on land currently surrounded by the environmentally sensitive, and protected, Greenbelt.” More from National Observer.
— SOS: “275 pages of records, some publicly available and others only accessed through freedom of information legislation, show provincial bureaucrats worrying about the implications of the (Species Conservation Act), as well as municipalities and Indigenous groups voicing dissent — before the government passed the law anyway.” More from The Narwhal.
— The Ford government may soon be caught in an awkward spot, says John Michael McGrath: happy to lean on municipalities to sweep out encampments, but unwilling to let them sweep out rogue councillors.
Meanwhile: “Three Niagara, Ont. municipalities have been given the green light by the province to cut their councils from nine politicians including the mayor to seven, including the head of council.”
— Speaking up: “A new petition urging Premier Doug Ford to reverse cuts made to a decades-old language program has gained more than 600 signatures in 24 hours, warning thousands of students could lose access to ‘a cornerstone of education in Toronto.’” More here.
— Mohammed Adam argues the Ford government’s push to bring a multi-national defence bank to Toronto is a "slap in the face" to the capital, which is in the running as well.
— If Doug Ford wants to “Protect Ontario” parks, Shawn Micallef argues he should start with loose dogs.
— “Public health lives or dies on accurate measurement, dependable transparency and thoughtful investment,” writes a family physician.“Instead of embracing these basics, the Ford government’s laws have done the opposite.”
— Up again? The Tories are back in front, according to a new Abacus poll.
By the numbers: At 41 per cent, the Tories are up four points from last month. The Liberals are at 31 per cent, while the NDP and Greens trail at 17 and 5 per cent, respectively. Get up to speed.
— Dr. GPT? Canadians may be experimenting with AI, but they’re not ready to hand it the stethoscope.
A new Liaison poll found 46 per cent have used an AI chatbot for medical advice in the past year. But respondents remain deeply skeptical of giving AI more authority: 68 per cent would rather wait two weeks to see a human doctor than receive an instant diagnosis, and only 13 per cent support AI diagnosing and prescribing medication without a physician involved. The highlights.
— Seen: Avi Lewis speaking at the CUPE Ontario’s convention in Toronto. Lewis said: “I feel such deep alignment with this union. And being here is a reminder of all the marches and pickets and struggles and manifestos and organizing that we have shared over so many years.”
A tribute to Fred Hahn, featuring Laura Walton, JP Hornick, Nas Yadollahi, Candace Rennick, Yolanda McClean, Mark Hancock, Jamie West and more.
Missing: Marit Stiles.
There was controversy, too. Some union members voiced frustration that much of the convention’s time was being spent on “geopolitical or ideological issues” they saw as disconnected from bread-and-butter union issues.
— Yolanda McClean is the new president of CUPE Ontario. The former secretary-treasurer is the first Black woman elected to the role.
Dawn Bellerose will be the first Indigenous woman to serve as the union’s secretary-treasurer.
— Seen: The Toronto Waterfront Festival — famous for bringing the world’s largest rubber duck to the city — is cancelled this year. Here’s Theo Moudakis on the search for an opposition leader with a little of the rubber duck’s “pizzazz.”
— Seen: Dipika Damerla is running for… something.
— Noted: Navdeep Bains has raised the full fee required to enter the Liberal leadership contest, according to his team. (It’s no small feat. Even one operative supporting a rival candidate described it as a “massive deal,” noting that “early money is the most valuable money). The announcement.
In an email to supporters, Ted Hsu made the case for Lee Fairclough, writing that “in troubled times like these, voters want our best people leading us” — and arguing that Fairclough is “one of our best.”
It was a swing and miss for Kory Teneycke, whose candidate placed second in the British Columbia Conservative leadership contest. Jamil Jivani wasted no time declaring it a “Doug Ford L.”
— Congratulations to CityNews’ Cynthia Mulligan, who took home the Canadian Screen Award for Best Local News Anchor on Friday.
Thank you for reading POLICORNER. Are you Paul Calandra — or a teachers’ union boss? A cabinet minister who’s convinced they’re on borrowed time? A backbencher waiting by the phone? Hit me up — anonymity guaranteed, just like the sources you’re wondering about. We’re back in your inbox on Monday.
Got 5+ on your team? Team subscriptions are available. Got a client with a message to reach the province’s most powerful players? Ask for our ad rates. Reach out.
Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up now.