102 days later, we’re back for a 34-day spring sprint — and it’ll be far from quiet. To start, here’s what the political set is watching for this session.
— Laryssa Waler, Premier Ford’s ex-communications director and the CEO of Henley Strategies, says the economy will set the tone for the Ford government this session — and loom large in Thursday’s budget.
“The budget… is going to reflect the reality that Ontario, like every other province, is still navigating fallout from trade uncertainty,” says Waler.
Keep in mind: A new Ipsos poll found 53 per cent of Ontarians think Ford is doing a good job protecting the province on inter-provincial trade, but fewer, 49 per cent, are sold on his handling of the cross-border trade war.
Waler says the Tories will double down on direct outreach to governors, members of Congress and key senators in major trading states. “That work has been happening and it’s going to intensify.”
As for Thursday, don’t expect a blank cheque budget. “The province is carrying a significant deficit,” she explains. “There’s a path to balance that requires discipline. Anyone expecting a spend-spend-spend budget should probably temper those expectations. That’s not where things are right now.”
What we know: Look for $6.4 billion in post-secondary funding over four years, plus money for $750-a-teacher supply cards. The province has pledged a $3.4-billion boost for Primary Care Action Plan, while expected to scrap the HST for all homebuyers, expanding a break once limited to first-timers.
Meanwhile, Waler says housing and other kitchen-table issues — crime, public safety and healthcare — will sit near the top of the priority list.
That aside, the Tories have already previewed a busy legislative push, including: A bill to gut freedom-of-information rules for government records, a ban on ticket scalping and a push to build a province-wide EMR system for primary care. We expect to learn whether the province will do away with school board trustees (Ford promised an answer “in the next short”) and bring in broader regional governance changes.
The Ford government has already promised to open up HOV lanes to all drivers outside peak hours and allow bring-your-own-booze rules at outdoor festivals.
Across the aisle:
— Erin Morrison, a vice-president at Texture, says the session gives Marit Stiles an opening to take on “a beleaguered Ford” — facing heat over high unemployment, stagnant wages and “a string of questionable calls” — all while the Liberals search for their next leader.
“She’ll lay out the case that what Ontarians want from Queen’s Park is jobs and affordability; but what Ontarians are getting from Ford is higher prices and lower wages,” says Morrison.
Speaking of which, call it ragebait. “Marit knows how to get under Doug’s skin,” a source close to Stiles said. “We know he’s a liability for the government in Question Period — our job is to get under his skin and force some answers.” Expect Stiles to zero in on the much-maligned OSAP and FOI changes, with health care and jobs also front and center.
“The Progressive Conservative team appears to have lost their own plot when it comes to a communications strategy and financial policy,” Morrison adds. For the NDP, Morrison says the session — and budget day — is a chance to exploit that weakness and chip away at Ford’s numbers.
“We can expect it to be fiery.”
— Bahoz Dara Aziz, ex-spokesperson to Bonnie Crombie and a senior consultant at Navigator, is watching the Liberal message — and whether the caucus can stay on it.
“They need to show Ontarians that Doug Ford isn’t the right person to be premier, that the Liberals will form the next government, and that they can trust us to be that government,” she says.
To get there, Dara Aziz says they’ll need “a clear, sustained message” that builds trust rather than “jumping from issue to issue.” “Take the Ticketmaster issue — both the NDP and Liberals jumped on it, and while it matters, it pulled them away from the bigger message,” she explained. “So when Ford moves on to something else, the conversation shifts again, and they lose that consistency.”
She points to Patrick Brown as an example. “He was a dog with a bone and he wouldn’t get distracted,” Dara Aziz explains. “Same thing with Pierre Poilievre during the Justin Trudeau years. He had a clear-cut message that people were buying into. And that’s what we need. We need a clear message that resonates with people.”
But can they stay united on message in the middle of a leadership contest? Dara Aziz says yes. “The reality is, if Doug Ford’s popularity takes a hit, that’s good for every leadership candidate. There’s no reason they wouldn’t all be aligned on that.”
What she’s watching: Dara Aziz is watching which controversies cut through — and how Thursday’s budget will land. “My understanding is they’ve got six priorities, and none of them are affordability,” she says. “That’s a mistake.”
She’s also keeping an eye on health-care spending. With the treasurer warning the status quo isn’t “sustainable,” she says the real test is what the government delivers. “I know health care is a priority for them — increasing attachment to primary care physicians and ensuring everyone has access within the next few years — but I want to see how they plan to fund and implement that.”
Read up: The Star has more on the end of a break “that began when Santa was deciding who’s naughty or nice.”
A message from Dokainish & Company:
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Ontario is building the future. Dokainish has built award-winning PMOs and delivered programs on-budget and ahead-of-schedule across the world's most demanding industries. We’re optimizing projects for nuclear, renewable energy, and infrastructure in Canada’s largest province and beyond. Learn more.
— Get ready, get set. If you’re counting, it’s T-2 weeks to April’s constituency week and T-8 — a total of 32 days — to the summer recess.
This morning: We’re back at 10:30 a.m., with the anthems and members’ statements. Just before her head-to-head with Ford, Marit Stiles will force a vote to undo the OSAP changes.
Out on the front lawn: The Ontario Autism Coalition is hosting an 11:30 a.m. education protest. Expect the big teachers’ union presidents to turn out. Liberal and NDP MPPs are queued up to speak.
Meanwhile, the Canadian Federation of Students has a rally set for Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. A similar rally earlier this month led to two arrests.
And one more: Speaker Donna Skelly’s St. Paddy’s Day reception is taking place at 5 p.m. in the foyer.
Looking ahead:
— The chamber has a new seating chart. France Gélinas will move into Doly Begum’s seat next to Sol Mamakwa, across Premier Ford.
— Also happening:
Got something on the calendar? Hosting a reception? Make sure it’s on our list.
— Save the date: Spring Fling is back at Hart House, set for May 20 at 6 p.m.
— Fundraising watch: On Wednesday at 5:30 p.m., the Tories will host a fundraiser in Toronto. RSVP.
— 🍽️ On the lunch menu: Monday: Butter chicken with rice and vegetables. Tuesday: Beef brisket with potatoes and vegetables. Wednesday: Pulled pork mac and cheese with coleslaw. Thursday: Fish and chips. Friday: Chicken and mushroom pot pie with garden salad.
Into this? MPPs, cabinet ministers, chiefs and mayors alike say it’s their go-to every Monday morning. Join the club and get it in your inbox.
A message from Next Campaign:
We optimize the interplay between people, processes, technology, and data, while integrating AI, to ensure capital projects finish on time and on budget. Learn more.
— Small wheels, big rules: “Ontario is ‘actively exploring’ stricter regulations for e-bikes, e-scooters and other micromobility devices.” More from the Star.
— Cruel summer for scalpers — or fans: Could a face-value cap on ticket resales go sideways? Those in the industry say so.
Experts are split on whether it would actually curb scalpers.
Here’s how fans feel about it.
— The National Post zeroes in on Greg Rickford, Ford’s go-to in the north. “If ever a politician was custom-built for the job, it’s Greg — he’s like the Swiss Army knife of northern development.”
— Riding out the storm: “Ontario’s transportation minister and a Metrolinx executive defended the GO network’s safety record on Friday, after leaked reports highlighted issues with train maintenance and a high-speed near miss earlier this year.” More from The Trillium.
— Care gap: “Ontario will not have a policy in place to publicly fund all medically necessary services from nurse practitioners by April 1, as ordered by the federal government, leaving some patients paying out of pocket for primary care.” The Canadian Press has the story.
— Pay gap: A study found mothers of autistic children in Ontario earn markedly less than fathers.
— FOI with less F: “Ontario’s transparency watchdog is pouring cold water on some of the Ford government’s central justifications for clamping down on freedom of information, saying the changes will actually make the province more secretive and less secure.” More from Global.
“... Everyone knows that malicious Beijing operatives are filing FOI requests, waiting six years for a response, and then using that information nefariously against the people of Ontario,” writes Robyn Urback.
Isaac Callan appeared on the #onpoli podcast to discuss the much-derided changes.
— Also from Global: Shoppers Drug Mart’s president met with Health Minister Sylvia Jones as the province moved to allow pharmacists to prescribe medicine for common ailments. “... Jones’ staff thought the purpose of the meeting was to discuss ’shared solutions to enhance the provincial primary care system.’”
— Feeling the squeeze: “... Workers at three remaining sites in Toronto that don’t rely on provincial funding say they’re worried the move will further strain their resources and lead to more overdoses and open drug use across the city.” More from the Canadian Press.
— A new Toronto Region Board of Trade report is urging the province to roll out a range of measures to ease congestion woes.
— An ex-Collingwood politician, pleading guilty to a 2004 sexual assault, was sentenced to four months of house arrest and eight months of strict curfew. Soo Today has the latest.
— Ontario’s top court has revived the criminal case against ex-MPP Randy Hillier linked to his involvement in the Freedom Convoy protests.
— The Ford government has inked a $1.3-billion deal with Alstom to operate and maintain GO Transit and UP Express trains.
— NDP, meet OLP: Most of Jagmeet Singh’s would-be successors say they’re not racing for a seat in the House of Commons.
— John Michael McGrath asks what a struggling city needs to turn things around.
— Martin Regg Cohn writes protest is fair game, but vandalism isn’t. Regg Cohn singled out Marit Stiles, who refused to denounce a front-lawn incident earlier this month.
— Ford in a funk: Premier Doug Ford’s approval rating has hit a record-low 31 per cent — second-last in the national rankings, according to the Angus Reid Institute’s quarterly check-in on premiers’ performance.
It’s a 17-point tumble since last March. “At the time, Ford’s role of ‘Captain Canada’ in the face of tariffs and annexation threats from President Donald Trump revived the Ontario premier’s popularity. He was perhaps the most notable beneficiary of a ‘Trump bump’ after languishing near the bottom of ARI’s premier approval ratings for the previous two and a half years. The bump has smoothed out, and Ford is back to generating approval of just three-in-ten Ontarians.”
— Ipsos has the Tories out front at 42 per cent, with the Grits trailing at 35 per cent. The NDP posted 18 per cent, with the Greens at 7 per cent.
Will Doug go? On Ford’s future, 69 per cent say he won’t step down before 2029. 31 per cent say he will. On re-election, 40 per cent say Ford deserves a fourth term, while 60 per cent say it’s time for someone else.
Coming soon: We’re rolling out a new subscriber-only poll tracker — a one-stop shop for all provincial polling, complete with an interactive chart, seat projections and more. Want in? Join the club.
— Noted: Qadira Jackson taking a text-message jab at Nate Erskine-Smith.
Behind the scenes, Erskine-Smith — someone Doug Ford says he doesn’t know — has been organizing. He’s up against Jackson, Ahsanul Hafiz and Mahmuda Nasrin. (Ali Demircan was expected to run, but declined. Word is he struck a deal with Erskine-Smith for a potential appointment in a nearby riding.)
— Noted: Erskine-Smith has a new X handle.
— Seen: Jessica Bell out canvassing in SSW on Saturday. Others in caucus did the same Thursday.
While the NDP is on the hunt for a candidate, two names to watch: local councillor Neethan Shan and organizer Thadsha Navaneethan. A spokesperson would not comment.
— Seen: Bonnie Crombie — who is “seriously considering” taking on Carolyn Parrish in October — with Andrea Hazell at the Global Imams Council’s Eid event. Crombie also showed up at the Ram Mandir for Navratri.
— Steven Del Duca says he’d like Mark Carney to meet with Vaughan’s Jewish community.
— Steve Paikin is the new chancellor of Victoria University in the University of Toronto.
Thank you for reading POLICORNER. What are you keeping an eye on this spring? Is your boss a headache lately? My inbox is open. We’re back in your inbox on Monday.
Have a team of 5+? Got a client with a message to reach the province’s most powerful players? Reach out.
Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up now.
102 days later, we’re back for a 34-day spring sprint — and it’ll be far from quiet. To start, here’s what the political set is watching for this session.
— Laryssa Waler, Premier Ford’s ex-communications director and the CEO of Henley Strategies, says the economy will set the tone for the Ford government this session — and loom large in Thursday’s budget.
“The budget… is going to reflect the reality that Ontario, like every other province, is still navigating fallout from trade uncertainty,” says Waler.
Keep in mind: A new Ipsos poll found 53 per cent of Ontarians think Ford is doing a good job protecting the province on inter-provincial trade, but fewer, 49 per cent, are sold on his handling of the cross-border trade war.
Waler says the Tories will double down on direct outreach to governors, members of Congress and key senators in major trading states. “That work has been happening and it’s going to intensify.”
As for Thursday, don’t expect a blank cheque budget. “The province is carrying a significant deficit,” she explains. “There’s a path to balance that requires discipline. Anyone expecting a spend-spend-spend budget should probably temper those expectations. That’s not where things are right now.”
What we know: Look for $6.4 billion in post-secondary funding over four years, plus money for $750-a-teacher supply cards. The province has pledged a $3.4-billion boost for Primary Care Action Plan, while expected to scrap the HST for all homebuyers, expanding a break once limited to first-timers.
Meanwhile, Waler says housing and other kitchen-table issues — crime, public safety and healthcare — will sit near the top of the priority list.
That aside, the Tories have already previewed a busy legislative push, including: A bill to gut freedom-of-information rules for government records, a ban on ticket scalping and a push to build a province-wide EMR system for primary care. We expect to learn whether the province will do away with school board trustees (Ford promised an answer “in the next short”) and bring in broader regional governance changes.
The Ford government has already promised to open up HOV lanes to all drivers outside peak hours and allow bring-your-own-booze rules at outdoor festivals.
Across the aisle:
— Erin Morrison, a vice-president at Texture, says the session gives Marit Stiles an opening to take on “a beleaguered Ford” — facing heat over high unemployment, stagnant wages and “a string of questionable calls” — all while the Liberals search for their next leader.
“She’ll lay out the case that what Ontarians want from Queen’s Park is jobs and affordability; but what Ontarians are getting from Ford is higher prices and lower wages,” says Morrison.
Speaking of which, call it ragebait. “Marit knows how to get under Doug’s skin,” a source close to Stiles said. “We know he’s a liability for the government in Question Period — our job is to get under his skin and force some answers.” Expect Stiles to zero in on the much-maligned OSAP and FOI changes, with health care and jobs also front and center.
“The Progressive Conservative team appears to have lost their own plot when it comes to a communications strategy and financial policy,” Morrison adds. For the NDP, Morrison says the session — and budget day — is a chance to exploit that weakness and chip away at Ford’s numbers.
“We can expect it to be fiery.”
— Bahoz Dara Aziz, ex-spokesperson to Bonnie Crombie and a senior consultant at Navigator, is watching the Liberal message — and whether the caucus can stay on it.
“They need to show Ontarians that Doug Ford isn’t the right person to be premier, that the Liberals will form the next government, and that they can trust us to be that government,” she says.
To get there, Dara Aziz says they’ll need “a clear, sustained message” that builds trust rather than “jumping from issue to issue.” “Take the Ticketmaster issue — both the NDP and Liberals jumped on it, and while it matters, it pulled them away from the bigger message,” she explained. “So when Ford moves on to something else, the conversation shifts again, and they lose that consistency.”
She points to Patrick Brown as an example. “He was a dog with a bone and he wouldn’t get distracted,” Dara Aziz explains. “Same thing with Pierre Poilievre during the Justin Trudeau years. He had a clear-cut message that people were buying into. And that’s what we need. We need a clear message that resonates with people.”
But can they stay united on message in the middle of a leadership contest? Dara Aziz says yes. “The reality is, if Doug Ford’s popularity takes a hit, that’s good for every leadership candidate. There’s no reason they wouldn’t all be aligned on that.”
What she’s watching: Dara Aziz is watching which controversies cut through — and how Thursday’s budget will land. “My understanding is they’ve got six priorities, and none of them are affordability,” she says. “That’s a mistake.”
She’s also keeping an eye on health-care spending. With the treasurer warning the status quo isn’t “sustainable,” she says the real test is what the government delivers. “I know health care is a priority for them — increasing attachment to primary care physicians and ensuring everyone has access within the next few years — but I want to see how they plan to fund and implement that.”
Read up: The Star has more on the end of a break “that began when Santa was deciding who’s naughty or nice.”
A message from Dokainish & Company:
Ontario is building the future. Dokainish has built award-winning PMOs and delivered programs on-budget and ahead-of-schedule across the world's most demanding industries. We’re optimizing projects for nuclear, renewable energy, and infrastructure in Canada’s largest province and beyond. Learn more.
— Get ready, get set. If you’re counting, it’s T-2 weeks to April’s constituency week and T-8 — a total of 32 days — to the summer recess.
This morning: We’re back at 10:30 a.m., with the anthems and members’ statements. Just before her head-to-head with Ford, Marit Stiles will force a vote to undo the OSAP changes.
Out on the front lawn: The Ontario Autism Coalition is hosting an 11:30 a.m. education protest. Expect the big teachers’ union presidents to turn out. Liberal and NDP MPPs are queued up to speak.
Meanwhile, the Canadian Federation of Students has a rally set for Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. A similar rally earlier this month led to two arrests.
And one more: Speaker Donna Skelly’s St. Paddy’s Day reception is taking place at 5 p.m. in the foyer.
Looking ahead:
— The chamber has a new seating chart. France Gélinas will move into Doly Begum’s seat next to Sol Mamakwa, across Premier Ford.
— Also happening:
Got something on the calendar? Hosting a reception? Make sure it’s on our list.
— Save the date: Spring Fling is back at Hart House, set for May 20 at 6 p.m.
— Fundraising watch: On Wednesday at 5:30 p.m., the Tories will host a fundraiser in Toronto. RSVP.
— 🍽️ On the lunch menu: Monday: Butter chicken with rice and vegetables. Tuesday: Beef brisket with potatoes and vegetables. Wednesday: Pulled pork mac and cheese with coleslaw. Thursday: Fish and chips. Friday: Chicken and mushroom pot pie with garden salad.
Into this? MPPs, cabinet ministers, chiefs and mayors alike say it’s their go-to every Monday morning. Join the club and get it in your inbox.
A message from Next Campaign:
We optimize the interplay between people, processes, technology, and data, while integrating AI, to ensure capital projects finish on time and on budget. Learn more.
— Small wheels, big rules: “Ontario is ‘actively exploring’ stricter regulations for e-bikes, e-scooters and other micromobility devices.” More from the Star.
— Cruel summer for scalpers — or fans: Could a face-value cap on ticket resales go sideways? Those in the industry say so.
Experts are split on whether it would actually curb scalpers.
Here’s how fans feel about it.
— The National Post zeroes in on Greg Rickford, Ford’s go-to in the north. “If ever a politician was custom-built for the job, it’s Greg — he’s like the Swiss Army knife of northern development.”
— Riding out the storm: “Ontario’s transportation minister and a Metrolinx executive defended the GO network’s safety record on Friday, after leaked reports highlighted issues with train maintenance and a high-speed near miss earlier this year.” More from The Trillium.
— Care gap: “Ontario will not have a policy in place to publicly fund all medically necessary services from nurse practitioners by April 1, as ordered by the federal government, leaving some patients paying out of pocket for primary care.” The Canadian Press has the story.
— Pay gap: A study found mothers of autistic children in Ontario earn markedly less than fathers.
— FOI with less F: “Ontario’s transparency watchdog is pouring cold water on some of the Ford government’s central justifications for clamping down on freedom of information, saying the changes will actually make the province more secretive and less secure.” More from Global.
“... Everyone knows that malicious Beijing operatives are filing FOI requests, waiting six years for a response, and then using that information nefariously against the people of Ontario,” writes Robyn Urback.
Isaac Callan appeared on the #onpoli podcast to discuss the much-derided changes.
— Also from Global: Shoppers Drug Mart’s president met with Health Minister Sylvia Jones as the province moved to allow pharmacists to prescribe medicine for common ailments. “... Jones’ staff thought the purpose of the meeting was to discuss ’shared solutions to enhance the provincial primary care system.’”
— Feeling the squeeze: “... Workers at three remaining sites in Toronto that don’t rely on provincial funding say they’re worried the move will further strain their resources and lead to more overdoses and open drug use across the city.” More from the Canadian Press.
— A new Toronto Region Board of Trade report is urging the province to roll out a range of measures to ease congestion woes.
— An ex-Collingwood politician, pleading guilty to a 2004 sexual assault, was sentenced to four months of house arrest and eight months of strict curfew. Soo Today has the latest.
— Ontario’s top court has revived the criminal case against ex-MPP Randy Hillier linked to his involvement in the Freedom Convoy protests.
— The Ford government has inked a $1.3-billion deal with Alstom to operate and maintain GO Transit and UP Express trains.
— NDP, meet OLP: Most of Jagmeet Singh’s would-be successors say they’re not racing for a seat in the House of Commons.
— John Michael McGrath asks what a struggling city needs to turn things around.
— Martin Regg Cohn writes protest is fair game, but vandalism isn’t. Regg Cohn singled out Marit Stiles, who refused to denounce a front-lawn incident earlier this month.
— Ford in a funk: Premier Doug Ford’s approval rating has hit a record-low 31 per cent — second-last in the national rankings, according to the Angus Reid Institute’s quarterly check-in on premiers’ performance.
It’s a 17-point tumble since last March. “At the time, Ford’s role of ‘Captain Canada’ in the face of tariffs and annexation threats from President Donald Trump revived the Ontario premier’s popularity. He was perhaps the most notable beneficiary of a ‘Trump bump’ after languishing near the bottom of ARI’s premier approval ratings for the previous two and a half years. The bump has smoothed out, and Ford is back to generating approval of just three-in-ten Ontarians.”
— Ipsos has the Tories out front at 42 per cent, with the Grits trailing at 35 per cent. The NDP posted 18 per cent, with the Greens at 7 per cent.
Will Doug go? On Ford’s future, 69 per cent say he won’t step down before 2029. 31 per cent say he will. On re-election, 40 per cent say Ford deserves a fourth term, while 60 per cent say it’s time for someone else.
Coming soon: We’re rolling out a new subscriber-only poll tracker — a one-stop shop for all provincial polling, complete with an interactive chart, seat projections and more. Want in? Join the club.
— Noted: Qadira Jackson taking a text-message jab at Nate Erskine-Smith.
Behind the scenes, Erskine-Smith — someone Doug Ford says he doesn’t know — has been organizing. He’s up against Jackson, Ahsanul Hafiz and Mahmuda Nasrin. (Ali Demircan was expected to run, but declined. Word is he struck a deal with Erskine-Smith for a potential appointment in a nearby riding.)
— Noted: Erskine-Smith has a new X handle.
— Seen: Jessica Bell out canvassing in SSW on Saturday. Others in caucus did the same Thursday.
While the NDP is on the hunt for a candidate, two names to watch: local councillor Neethan Shan and organizer Thadsha Navaneethan. A spokesperson would not comment.
— Seen: Bonnie Crombie — who is “seriously considering” taking on Carolyn Parrish in October — with Andrea Hazell at the Global Imams Council’s Eid event. Crombie also showed up at the Ram Mandir for Navratri.
— Steven Del Duca says he’d like Mark Carney to meet with Vaughan’s Jewish community.
— Steve Paikin is the new chancellor of Victoria University in the University of Toronto.
Thank you for reading POLICORNER. What are you keeping an eye on this spring? Is your boss a headache lately? My inbox is open. We’re back in your inbox on Monday.
Have a team of 5+? Got a client with a message to reach the province’s most powerful players? Reach out.
Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up now.
102 days later, we’re back for a 34-day spring sprint — and it’ll be far from quiet. To start, here’s what the political set is watching for this session.
— Laryssa Waler, Premier Ford’s ex-communications director and the CEO of Henley Strategies, says the economy will set the tone for the Ford government this session — and loom large in Thursday’s budget.
“The budget… is going to reflect the reality that Ontario, like every other province, is still navigating fallout from trade uncertainty,” says Waler.
Keep in mind: A new Ipsos poll found 53 per cent of Ontarians think Ford is doing a good job protecting the province on inter-provincial trade, but fewer, 49 per cent, are sold on his handling of the cross-border trade war.
Waler says the Tories will double down on direct outreach to governors, members of Congress and key senators in major trading states. “That work has been happening and it’s going to intensify.”
As for Thursday, don’t expect a blank cheque budget. “The province is carrying a significant deficit,” she explains. “There’s a path to balance that requires discipline. Anyone expecting a spend-spend-spend budget should probably temper those expectations. That’s not where things are right now.”
What we know: Look for $6.4 billion in post-secondary funding over four years, plus money for $750-a-teacher supply cards. The province has pledged a $3.4-billion boost for Primary Care Action Plan, while expected to scrap the HST for all homebuyers, expanding a break once limited to first-timers.
Meanwhile, Waler says housing and other kitchen-table issues — crime, public safety and healthcare — will sit near the top of the priority list.
That aside, the Tories have already previewed a busy legislative push, including: A bill to gut freedom-of-information rules for government records, a ban on ticket scalping and a push to build a province-wide EMR system for primary care. We expect to learn whether the province will do away with school board trustees (Ford promised an answer “in the next short”) and bring in broader regional governance changes.
The Ford government has already promised to open up HOV lanes to all drivers outside peak hours and allow bring-your-own-booze rules at outdoor festivals.
Across the aisle:
— Erin Morrison, a vice-president at Texture, says the session gives Marit Stiles an opening to take on “a beleaguered Ford” — facing heat over high unemployment, stagnant wages and “a string of questionable calls” — all while the Liberals search for their next leader.
“She’ll lay out the case that what Ontarians want from Queen’s Park is jobs and affordability; but what Ontarians are getting from Ford is higher prices and lower wages,” says Morrison.
Speaking of which, call it ragebait. “Marit knows how to get under Doug’s skin,” a source close to Stiles said. “We know he’s a liability for the government in Question Period — our job is to get under his skin and force some answers.” Expect Stiles to zero in on the much-maligned OSAP and FOI changes, with health care and jobs also front and center.
“The Progressive Conservative team appears to have lost their own plot when it comes to a communications strategy and financial policy,” Morrison adds. For the NDP, Morrison says the session — and budget day — is a chance to exploit that weakness and chip away at Ford’s numbers.
“We can expect it to be fiery.”
— Bahoz Dara Aziz, ex-spokesperson to Bonnie Crombie and a senior consultant at Navigator, is watching the Liberal message — and whether the caucus can stay on it.
“They need to show Ontarians that Doug Ford isn’t the right person to be premier, that the Liberals will form the next government, and that they can trust us to be that government,” she says.
To get there, Dara Aziz says they’ll need “a clear, sustained message” that builds trust rather than “jumping from issue to issue.” “Take the Ticketmaster issue — both the NDP and Liberals jumped on it, and while it matters, it pulled them away from the bigger message,” she explained. “So when Ford moves on to something else, the conversation shifts again, and they lose that consistency.”
She points to Patrick Brown as an example. “He was a dog with a bone and he wouldn’t get distracted,” Dara Aziz explains. “Same thing with Pierre Poilievre during the Justin Trudeau years. He had a clear-cut message that people were buying into. And that’s what we need. We need a clear message that resonates with people.”
But can they stay united on message in the middle of a leadership contest? Dara Aziz says yes. “The reality is, if Doug Ford’s popularity takes a hit, that’s good for every leadership candidate. There’s no reason they wouldn’t all be aligned on that.”
What she’s watching: Dara Aziz is watching which controversies cut through — and how Thursday’s budget will land. “My understanding is they’ve got six priorities, and none of them are affordability,” she says. “That’s a mistake.”
She’s also keeping an eye on health-care spending. With the treasurer warning the status quo isn’t “sustainable,” she says the real test is what the government delivers. “I know health care is a priority for them — increasing attachment to primary care physicians and ensuring everyone has access within the next few years — but I want to see how they plan to fund and implement that.”
Read up: The Star has more on the end of a break “that began when Santa was deciding who’s naughty or nice.”
A message from Dokainish & Company:
Ontario is building the future. Dokainish has built award-winning PMOs and delivered programs on-budget and ahead-of-schedule across the world's most demanding industries. We’re optimizing projects for nuclear, renewable energy, and infrastructure in Canada’s largest province and beyond. Learn more.
— Get ready, get set. If you’re counting, it’s T-2 weeks to April’s constituency week and T-8 — a total of 32 days — to the summer recess.
This morning: We’re back at 10:30 a.m., with the anthems and members’ statements. Just before her head-to-head with Ford, Marit Stiles will force a vote to undo the OSAP changes.
Out on the front lawn: The Ontario Autism Coalition is hosting an 11:30 a.m. education protest. Expect the big teachers’ union presidents to turn out. Liberal and NDP MPPs are queued up to speak.
Meanwhile, the Canadian Federation of Students has a rally set for Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. A similar rally earlier this month led to two arrests.
And one more: Speaker Donna Skelly’s St. Paddy’s Day reception is taking place at 5 p.m. in the foyer.
Looking ahead:
— The chamber has a new seating chart. France Gélinas will move into Doly Begum’s seat next to Sol Mamakwa, across Premier Ford.
— Also happening:
Got something on the calendar? Hosting a reception? Make sure it’s on our list.
— Save the date: Spring Fling is back at Hart House, set for May 20 at 6 p.m.
— Fundraising watch: On Wednesday at 5:30 p.m., the Tories will host a fundraiser in Toronto. RSVP.
— 🍽️ On the lunch menu: Monday: Butter chicken with rice and vegetables. Tuesday: Beef brisket with potatoes and vegetables. Wednesday: Pulled pork mac and cheese with coleslaw. Thursday: Fish and chips. Friday: Chicken and mushroom pot pie with garden salad.
Into this? MPPs, cabinet ministers, chiefs and mayors alike say it’s their go-to every Monday morning. Join the club and get it in your inbox.
A message from Next Campaign:
We optimize the interplay between people, processes, technology, and data, while integrating AI, to ensure capital projects finish on time and on budget. Learn more.
— Small wheels, big rules: “Ontario is ‘actively exploring’ stricter regulations for e-bikes, e-scooters and other micromobility devices.” More from the Star.
— Cruel summer for scalpers — or fans: Could a face-value cap on ticket resales go sideways? Those in the industry say so.
Experts are split on whether it would actually curb scalpers.
Here’s how fans feel about it.
— The National Post zeroes in on Greg Rickford, Ford’s go-to in the north. “If ever a politician was custom-built for the job, it’s Greg — he’s like the Swiss Army knife of northern development.”
— Riding out the storm: “Ontario’s transportation minister and a Metrolinx executive defended the GO network’s safety record on Friday, after leaked reports highlighted issues with train maintenance and a high-speed near miss earlier this year.” More from The Trillium.
— Care gap: “Ontario will not have a policy in place to publicly fund all medically necessary services from nurse practitioners by April 1, as ordered by the federal government, leaving some patients paying out of pocket for primary care.” The Canadian Press has the story.
— Pay gap: A study found mothers of autistic children in Ontario earn markedly less than fathers.
— FOI with less F: “Ontario’s transparency watchdog is pouring cold water on some of the Ford government’s central justifications for clamping down on freedom of information, saying the changes will actually make the province more secretive and less secure.” More from Global.
“... Everyone knows that malicious Beijing operatives are filing FOI requests, waiting six years for a response, and then using that information nefariously against the people of Ontario,” writes Robyn Urback.
Isaac Callan appeared on the #onpoli podcast to discuss the much-derided changes.
— Also from Global: Shoppers Drug Mart’s president met with Health Minister Sylvia Jones as the province moved to allow pharmacists to prescribe medicine for common ailments. “... Jones’ staff thought the purpose of the meeting was to discuss ’shared solutions to enhance the provincial primary care system.’”
— Feeling the squeeze: “... Workers at three remaining sites in Toronto that don’t rely on provincial funding say they’re worried the move will further strain their resources and lead to more overdoses and open drug use across the city.” More from the Canadian Press.
— A new Toronto Region Board of Trade report is urging the province to roll out a range of measures to ease congestion woes.
— An ex-Collingwood politician, pleading guilty to a 2004 sexual assault, was sentenced to four months of house arrest and eight months of strict curfew. Soo Today has the latest.
— Ontario’s top court has revived the criminal case against ex-MPP Randy Hillier linked to his involvement in the Freedom Convoy protests.
— The Ford government has inked a $1.3-billion deal with Alstom to operate and maintain GO Transit and UP Express trains.
— NDP, meet OLP: Most of Jagmeet Singh’s would-be successors say they’re not racing for a seat in the House of Commons.
— John Michael McGrath asks what a struggling city needs to turn things around.
— Martin Regg Cohn writes protest is fair game, but vandalism isn’t. Regg Cohn singled out Marit Stiles, who refused to denounce a front-lawn incident earlier this month.
— Ford in a funk: Premier Doug Ford’s approval rating has hit a record-low 31 per cent — second-last in the national rankings, according to the Angus Reid Institute’s quarterly check-in on premiers’ performance.
It’s a 17-point tumble since last March. “At the time, Ford’s role of ‘Captain Canada’ in the face of tariffs and annexation threats from President Donald Trump revived the Ontario premier’s popularity. He was perhaps the most notable beneficiary of a ‘Trump bump’ after languishing near the bottom of ARI’s premier approval ratings for the previous two and a half years. The bump has smoothed out, and Ford is back to generating approval of just three-in-ten Ontarians.”
— Ipsos has the Tories out front at 42 per cent, with the Grits trailing at 35 per cent. The NDP posted 18 per cent, with the Greens at 7 per cent.
Will Doug go? On Ford’s future, 69 per cent say he won’t step down before 2029. 31 per cent say he will. On re-election, 40 per cent say Ford deserves a fourth term, while 60 per cent say it’s time for someone else.
Coming soon: We’re rolling out a new subscriber-only poll tracker — a one-stop shop for all provincial polling, complete with an interactive chart, seat projections and more. Want in? Join the club.
— Noted: Qadira Jackson taking a text-message jab at Nate Erskine-Smith.
Behind the scenes, Erskine-Smith — someone Doug Ford says he doesn’t know — has been organizing. He’s up against Jackson, Ahsanul Hafiz and Mahmuda Nasrin. (Ali Demircan was expected to run, but declined. Word is he struck a deal with Erskine-Smith for a potential appointment in a nearby riding.)
— Noted: Erskine-Smith has a new X handle.
— Seen: Jessica Bell out canvassing in SSW on Saturday. Others in caucus did the same Thursday.
While the NDP is on the hunt for a candidate, two names to watch: local councillor Neethan Shan and organizer Thadsha Navaneethan. A spokesperson would not comment.
— Seen: Bonnie Crombie — who is “seriously considering” taking on Carolyn Parrish in October — with Andrea Hazell at the Global Imams Council’s Eid event. Crombie also showed up at the Ram Mandir for Navratri.
— Steven Del Duca says he’d like Mark Carney to meet with Vaughan’s Jewish community.
— Steve Paikin is the new chancellor of Victoria University in the University of Toronto.
Thank you for reading POLICORNER. What are you keeping an eye on this spring? Is your boss a headache lately? My inbox is open. We’re back in your inbox on Monday.
Have a team of 5+? Got a client with a message to reach the province’s most powerful players? Reach out.
Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up now.
102 days later, we’re back for a 34-day spring sprint — and it’ll be far from quiet. To start, here’s what the political set is watching for this session.
— Laryssa Waler, Premier Ford’s ex-communications director and the CEO of Henley Strategies, says the economy will set the tone for the Ford government this session — and loom large in Thursday’s budget.
“The budget… is going to reflect the reality that Ontario, like every other province, is still navigating fallout from trade uncertainty,” says Waler.
Keep in mind: A new Ipsos poll found 53 per cent of Ontarians think Ford is doing a good job protecting the province on inter-provincial trade, but fewer, 49 per cent, are sold on his handling of the cross-border trade war.
Waler says the Tories will double down on direct outreach to governors, members of Congress and key senators in major trading states. “That work has been happening and it’s going to intensify.”
As for Thursday, don’t expect a blank cheque budget. “The province is carrying a significant deficit,” she explains. “There’s a path to balance that requires discipline. Anyone expecting a spend-spend-spend budget should probably temper those expectations. That’s not where things are right now.”
What we know: Look for $6.4 billion in post-secondary funding over four years, plus money for $750-a-teacher supply cards. The province has pledged a $3.4-billion boost for Primary Care Action Plan, while expected to scrap the HST for all homebuyers, expanding a break once limited to first-timers.
Meanwhile, Waler says housing and other kitchen-table issues — crime, public safety and healthcare — will sit near the top of the priority list.
That aside, the Tories have already previewed a busy legislative push, including: A bill to gut freedom-of-information rules for government records, a ban on ticket scalping and a push to build a province-wide EMR system for primary care. We expect to learn whether the province will do away with school board trustees (Ford promised an answer “in the next short”) and bring in broader regional governance changes.
The Ford government has already promised to open up HOV lanes to all drivers outside peak hours and allow bring-your-own-booze rules at outdoor festivals.
Across the aisle:
— Erin Morrison, a vice-president at Texture, says the session gives Marit Stiles an opening to take on “a beleaguered Ford” — facing heat over high unemployment, stagnant wages and “a string of questionable calls” — all while the Liberals search for their next leader.
“She’ll lay out the case that what Ontarians want from Queen’s Park is jobs and affordability; but what Ontarians are getting from Ford is higher prices and lower wages,” says Morrison.
Speaking of which, call it ragebait. “Marit knows how to get under Doug’s skin,” a source close to Stiles said. “We know he’s a liability for the government in Question Period — our job is to get under his skin and force some answers.” Expect Stiles to zero in on the much-maligned OSAP and FOI changes, with health care and jobs also front and center.
“The Progressive Conservative team appears to have lost their own plot when it comes to a communications strategy and financial policy,” Morrison adds. For the NDP, Morrison says the session — and budget day — is a chance to exploit that weakness and chip away at Ford’s numbers.
“We can expect it to be fiery.”
— Bahoz Dara Aziz, ex-spokesperson to Bonnie Crombie and a senior consultant at Navigator, is watching the Liberal message — and whether the caucus can stay on it.
“They need to show Ontarians that Doug Ford isn’t the right person to be premier, that the Liberals will form the next government, and that they can trust us to be that government,” she says.
To get there, Dara Aziz says they’ll need “a clear, sustained message” that builds trust rather than “jumping from issue to issue.” “Take the Ticketmaster issue — both the NDP and Liberals jumped on it, and while it matters, it pulled them away from the bigger message,” she explained. “So when Ford moves on to something else, the conversation shifts again, and they lose that consistency.”
She points to Patrick Brown as an example. “He was a dog with a bone and he wouldn’t get distracted,” Dara Aziz explains. “Same thing with Pierre Poilievre during the Justin Trudeau years. He had a clear-cut message that people were buying into. And that’s what we need. We need a clear message that resonates with people.”
But can they stay united on message in the middle of a leadership contest? Dara Aziz says yes. “The reality is, if Doug Ford’s popularity takes a hit, that’s good for every leadership candidate. There’s no reason they wouldn’t all be aligned on that.”
What she’s watching: Dara Aziz is watching which controversies cut through — and how Thursday’s budget will land. “My understanding is they’ve got six priorities, and none of them are affordability,” she says. “That’s a mistake.”
She’s also keeping an eye on health-care spending. With the treasurer warning the status quo isn’t “sustainable,” she says the real test is what the government delivers. “I know health care is a priority for them — increasing attachment to primary care physicians and ensuring everyone has access within the next few years — but I want to see how they plan to fund and implement that.”
Read up: The Star has more on the end of a break “that began when Santa was deciding who’s naughty or nice.”
A message from Dokainish & Company:
Ontario is building the future. Dokainish has built award-winning PMOs and delivered programs on-budget and ahead-of-schedule across the world's most demanding industries. We’re optimizing projects for nuclear, renewable energy, and infrastructure in Canada’s largest province and beyond. Learn more.
— Get ready, get set. If you’re counting, it’s T-2 weeks to April’s constituency week and T-8 — a total of 32 days — to the summer recess.
This morning: We’re back at 10:30 a.m., with the anthems and members’ statements. Just before her head-to-head with Ford, Marit Stiles will force a vote to undo the OSAP changes.
Out on the front lawn: The Ontario Autism Coalition is hosting an 11:30 a.m. education protest. Expect the big teachers’ union presidents to turn out. Liberal and NDP MPPs are queued up to speak.
Meanwhile, the Canadian Federation of Students has a rally set for Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. A similar rally earlier this month led to two arrests.
And one more: Speaker Donna Skelly’s St. Paddy’s Day reception is taking place at 5 p.m. in the foyer.
Looking ahead:
— The chamber has a new seating chart. France Gélinas will move into Doly Begum’s seat next to Sol Mamakwa, across Premier Ford.
— Also happening:
Got something on the calendar? Hosting a reception? Make sure it’s on our list.
— Save the date: Spring Fling is back at Hart House, set for May 20 at 6 p.m.
— Fundraising watch: On Wednesday at 5:30 p.m., the Tories will host a fundraiser in Toronto. RSVP.
— 🍽️ On the lunch menu: Monday: Butter chicken with rice and vegetables. Tuesday: Beef brisket with potatoes and vegetables. Wednesday: Pulled pork mac and cheese with coleslaw. Thursday: Fish and chips. Friday: Chicken and mushroom pot pie with garden salad.
Into this? MPPs, cabinet ministers, chiefs and mayors alike say it’s their go-to every Monday morning. Join the club and get it in your inbox.
A message from Next Campaign:
We optimize the interplay between people, processes, technology, and data, while integrating AI, to ensure capital projects finish on time and on budget. Learn more.
— Small wheels, big rules: “Ontario is ‘actively exploring’ stricter regulations for e-bikes, e-scooters and other micromobility devices.” More from the Star.
— Cruel summer for scalpers — or fans: Could a face-value cap on ticket resales go sideways? Those in the industry say so.
Experts are split on whether it would actually curb scalpers.
Here’s how fans feel about it.
— The National Post zeroes in on Greg Rickford, Ford’s go-to in the north. “If ever a politician was custom-built for the job, it’s Greg — he’s like the Swiss Army knife of northern development.”
— Riding out the storm: “Ontario’s transportation minister and a Metrolinx executive defended the GO network’s safety record on Friday, after leaked reports highlighted issues with train maintenance and a high-speed near miss earlier this year.” More from The Trillium.
— Care gap: “Ontario will not have a policy in place to publicly fund all medically necessary services from nurse practitioners by April 1, as ordered by the federal government, leaving some patients paying out of pocket for primary care.” The Canadian Press has the story.
— Pay gap: A study found mothers of autistic children in Ontario earn markedly less than fathers.
— FOI with less F: “Ontario’s transparency watchdog is pouring cold water on some of the Ford government’s central justifications for clamping down on freedom of information, saying the changes will actually make the province more secretive and less secure.” More from Global.
“... Everyone knows that malicious Beijing operatives are filing FOI requests, waiting six years for a response, and then using that information nefariously against the people of Ontario,” writes Robyn Urback.
Isaac Callan appeared on the #onpoli podcast to discuss the much-derided changes.
— Also from Global: Shoppers Drug Mart’s president met with Health Minister Sylvia Jones as the province moved to allow pharmacists to prescribe medicine for common ailments. “... Jones’ staff thought the purpose of the meeting was to discuss ’shared solutions to enhance the provincial primary care system.’”
— Feeling the squeeze: “... Workers at three remaining sites in Toronto that don’t rely on provincial funding say they’re worried the move will further strain their resources and lead to more overdoses and open drug use across the city.” More from the Canadian Press.
— A new Toronto Region Board of Trade report is urging the province to roll out a range of measures to ease congestion woes.
— An ex-Collingwood politician, pleading guilty to a 2004 sexual assault, was sentenced to four months of house arrest and eight months of strict curfew. Soo Today has the latest.
— Ontario’s top court has revived the criminal case against ex-MPP Randy Hillier linked to his involvement in the Freedom Convoy protests.
— The Ford government has inked a $1.3-billion deal with Alstom to operate and maintain GO Transit and UP Express trains.
— NDP, meet OLP: Most of Jagmeet Singh’s would-be successors say they’re not racing for a seat in the House of Commons.
— John Michael McGrath asks what a struggling city needs to turn things around.
— Martin Regg Cohn writes protest is fair game, but vandalism isn’t. Regg Cohn singled out Marit Stiles, who refused to denounce a front-lawn incident earlier this month.
— Ford in a funk: Premier Doug Ford’s approval rating has hit a record-low 31 per cent — second-last in the national rankings, according to the Angus Reid Institute’s quarterly check-in on premiers’ performance.
It’s a 17-point tumble since last March. “At the time, Ford’s role of ‘Captain Canada’ in the face of tariffs and annexation threats from President Donald Trump revived the Ontario premier’s popularity. He was perhaps the most notable beneficiary of a ‘Trump bump’ after languishing near the bottom of ARI’s premier approval ratings for the previous two and a half years. The bump has smoothed out, and Ford is back to generating approval of just three-in-ten Ontarians.”
— Ipsos has the Tories out front at 42 per cent, with the Grits trailing at 35 per cent. The NDP posted 18 per cent, with the Greens at 7 per cent.
Will Doug go? On Ford’s future, 69 per cent say he won’t step down before 2029. 31 per cent say he will. On re-election, 40 per cent say Ford deserves a fourth term, while 60 per cent say it’s time for someone else.
Coming soon: We’re rolling out a new subscriber-only poll tracker — a one-stop shop for all provincial polling, complete with an interactive chart, seat projections and more. Want in? Join the club.
— Noted: Qadira Jackson taking a text-message jab at Nate Erskine-Smith.
Behind the scenes, Erskine-Smith — someone Doug Ford says he doesn’t know — has been organizing. He’s up against Jackson, Ahsanul Hafiz and Mahmuda Nasrin. (Ali Demircan was expected to run, but declined. Word is he struck a deal with Erskine-Smith for a potential appointment in a nearby riding.)
— Noted: Erskine-Smith has a new X handle.
— Seen: Jessica Bell out canvassing in SSW on Saturday. Others in caucus did the same Thursday.
While the NDP is on the hunt for a candidate, two names to watch: local councillor Neethan Shan and organizer Thadsha Navaneethan. A spokesperson would not comment.
— Seen: Bonnie Crombie — who is “seriously considering” taking on Carolyn Parrish in October — with Andrea Hazell at the Global Imams Council’s Eid event. Crombie also showed up at the Ram Mandir for Navratri.
— Steven Del Duca says he’d like Mark Carney to meet with Vaughan’s Jewish community.
— Steve Paikin is the new chancellor of Victoria University in the University of Toronto.
Thank you for reading POLICORNER. What are you keeping an eye on this spring? Is your boss a headache lately? My inbox is open. We’re back in your inbox on Monday.
Have a team of 5+? Got a client with a message to reach the province’s most powerful players? Reach out.
Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up now.
102 days later, we’re back for a 34-day spring sprint — and it’ll be far from quiet. To start, here’s what the political set is watching for this session.
— Laryssa Waler, Premier Ford’s ex-communications director and the CEO of Henley Strategies, says the economy will set the tone for the Ford government this session — and loom large in Thursday’s budget.
“The budget… is going to reflect the reality that Ontario, like every other province, is still navigating fallout from trade uncertainty,” says Waler.
Keep in mind: A new Ipsos poll found 53 per cent of Ontarians think Ford is doing a good job protecting the province on inter-provincial trade, but fewer, 49 per cent, are sold on his handling of the cross-border trade war.
Waler says the Tories will double down on direct outreach to governors, members of Congress and key senators in major trading states. “That work has been happening and it’s going to intensify.”
As for Thursday, don’t expect a blank cheque budget. “The province is carrying a significant deficit,” she explains. “There’s a path to balance that requires discipline. Anyone expecting a spend-spend-spend budget should probably temper those expectations. That’s not where things are right now.”
What we know: Look for $6.4 billion in post-secondary funding over four years, plus money for $750-a-teacher supply cards. The province has pledged a $3.4-billion boost for Primary Care Action Plan, while expected to scrap the HST for all homebuyers, expanding a break once limited to first-timers.
Meanwhile, Waler says housing and other kitchen-table issues — crime, public safety and healthcare — will sit near the top of the priority list.
That aside, the Tories have already previewed a busy legislative push, including: A bill to gut freedom-of-information rules for government records, a ban on ticket scalping and a push to build a province-wide EMR system for primary care. We expect to learn whether the province will do away with school board trustees (Ford promised an answer “in the next short”) and bring in broader regional governance changes.
The Ford government has already promised to open up HOV lanes to all drivers outside peak hours and allow bring-your-own-booze rules at outdoor festivals.
Across the aisle:
— Erin Morrison, a vice-president at Texture, says the session gives Marit Stiles an opening to take on “a beleaguered Ford” — facing heat over high unemployment, stagnant wages and “a string of questionable calls” — all while the Liberals search for their next leader.
“She’ll lay out the case that what Ontarians want from Queen’s Park is jobs and affordability; but what Ontarians are getting from Ford is higher prices and lower wages,” says Morrison.
Speaking of which, call it ragebait. “Marit knows how to get under Doug’s skin,” a source close to Stiles said. “We know he’s a liability for the government in Question Period — our job is to get under his skin and force some answers.” Expect Stiles to zero in on the much-maligned OSAP and FOI changes, with health care and jobs also front and center.
“The Progressive Conservative team appears to have lost their own plot when it comes to a communications strategy and financial policy,” Morrison adds. For the NDP, Morrison says the session — and budget day — is a chance to exploit that weakness and chip away at Ford’s numbers.
“We can expect it to be fiery.”
— Bahoz Dara Aziz, ex-spokesperson to Bonnie Crombie and a senior consultant at Navigator, is watching the Liberal message — and whether the caucus can stay on it.
“They need to show Ontarians that Doug Ford isn’t the right person to be premier, that the Liberals will form the next government, and that they can trust us to be that government,” she says.
To get there, Dara Aziz says they’ll need “a clear, sustained message” that builds trust rather than “jumping from issue to issue.” “Take the Ticketmaster issue — both the NDP and Liberals jumped on it, and while it matters, it pulled them away from the bigger message,” she explained. “So when Ford moves on to something else, the conversation shifts again, and they lose that consistency.”
She points to Patrick Brown as an example. “He was a dog with a bone and he wouldn’t get distracted,” Dara Aziz explains. “Same thing with Pierre Poilievre during the Justin Trudeau years. He had a clear-cut message that people were buying into. And that’s what we need. We need a clear message that resonates with people.”
But can they stay united on message in the middle of a leadership contest? Dara Aziz says yes. “The reality is, if Doug Ford’s popularity takes a hit, that’s good for every leadership candidate. There’s no reason they wouldn’t all be aligned on that.”
What she’s watching: Dara Aziz is watching which controversies cut through — and how Thursday’s budget will land. “My understanding is they’ve got six priorities, and none of them are affordability,” she says. “That’s a mistake.”
She’s also keeping an eye on health-care spending. With the treasurer warning the status quo isn’t “sustainable,” she says the real test is what the government delivers. “I know health care is a priority for them — increasing attachment to primary care physicians and ensuring everyone has access within the next few years — but I want to see how they plan to fund and implement that.”
Read up: The Star has more on the end of a break “that began when Santa was deciding who’s naughty or nice.”
A message from Dokainish & Company:
Ontario is building the future. Dokainish has built award-winning PMOs and delivered programs on-budget and ahead-of-schedule across the world's most demanding industries. We’re optimizing projects for nuclear, renewable energy, and infrastructure in Canada’s largest province and beyond. Learn more.
— Get ready, get set. If you’re counting, it’s T-2 weeks to April’s constituency week and T-8 — a total of 32 days — to the summer recess.
This morning: We’re back at 10:30 a.m., with the anthems and members’ statements. Just before her head-to-head with Ford, Marit Stiles will force a vote to undo the OSAP changes.
Out on the front lawn: The Ontario Autism Coalition is hosting an 11:30 a.m. education protest. Expect the big teachers’ union presidents to turn out. Liberal and NDP MPPs are queued up to speak.
Meanwhile, the Canadian Federation of Students has a rally set for Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. A similar rally earlier this month led to two arrests.
And one more: Speaker Donna Skelly’s St. Paddy’s Day reception is taking place at 5 p.m. in the foyer.
Looking ahead:
— The chamber has a new seating chart. France Gélinas will move into Doly Begum’s seat next to Sol Mamakwa, across Premier Ford.
— Also happening:
Got something on the calendar? Hosting a reception? Make sure it’s on our list.
— Save the date: Spring Fling is back at Hart House, set for May 20 at 6 p.m.
— Fundraising watch: On Wednesday at 5:30 p.m., the Tories will host a fundraiser in Toronto. RSVP.
— 🍽️ On the lunch menu: Monday: Butter chicken with rice and vegetables. Tuesday: Beef brisket with potatoes and vegetables. Wednesday: Pulled pork mac and cheese with coleslaw. Thursday: Fish and chips. Friday: Chicken and mushroom pot pie with garden salad.
Into this? MPPs, cabinet ministers, chiefs and mayors alike say it’s their go-to every Monday morning. Join the club and get it in your inbox.
A message from Next Campaign:
We optimize the interplay between people, processes, technology, and data, while integrating AI, to ensure capital projects finish on time and on budget. Learn more.
— Small wheels, big rules: “Ontario is ‘actively exploring’ stricter regulations for e-bikes, e-scooters and other micromobility devices.” More from the Star.
— Cruel summer for scalpers — or fans: Could a face-value cap on ticket resales go sideways? Those in the industry say so.
Experts are split on whether it would actually curb scalpers.
Here’s how fans feel about it.
— The National Post zeroes in on Greg Rickford, Ford’s go-to in the north. “If ever a politician was custom-built for the job, it’s Greg — he’s like the Swiss Army knife of northern development.”
— Riding out the storm: “Ontario’s transportation minister and a Metrolinx executive defended the GO network’s safety record on Friday, after leaked reports highlighted issues with train maintenance and a high-speed near miss earlier this year.” More from The Trillium.
— Care gap: “Ontario will not have a policy in place to publicly fund all medically necessary services from nurse practitioners by April 1, as ordered by the federal government, leaving some patients paying out of pocket for primary care.” The Canadian Press has the story.
— Pay gap: A study found mothers of autistic children in Ontario earn markedly less than fathers.
— FOI with less F: “Ontario’s transparency watchdog is pouring cold water on some of the Ford government’s central justifications for clamping down on freedom of information, saying the changes will actually make the province more secretive and less secure.” More from Global.
“... Everyone knows that malicious Beijing operatives are filing FOI requests, waiting six years for a response, and then using that information nefariously against the people of Ontario,” writes Robyn Urback.
Isaac Callan appeared on the #onpoli podcast to discuss the much-derided changes.
— Also from Global: Shoppers Drug Mart’s president met with Health Minister Sylvia Jones as the province moved to allow pharmacists to prescribe medicine for common ailments. “... Jones’ staff thought the purpose of the meeting was to discuss ’shared solutions to enhance the provincial primary care system.’”
— Feeling the squeeze: “... Workers at three remaining sites in Toronto that don’t rely on provincial funding say they’re worried the move will further strain their resources and lead to more overdoses and open drug use across the city.” More from the Canadian Press.
— A new Toronto Region Board of Trade report is urging the province to roll out a range of measures to ease congestion woes.
— An ex-Collingwood politician, pleading guilty to a 2004 sexual assault, was sentenced to four months of house arrest and eight months of strict curfew. Soo Today has the latest.
— Ontario’s top court has revived the criminal case against ex-MPP Randy Hillier linked to his involvement in the Freedom Convoy protests.
— The Ford government has inked a $1.3-billion deal with Alstom to operate and maintain GO Transit and UP Express trains.
— NDP, meet OLP: Most of Jagmeet Singh’s would-be successors say they’re not racing for a seat in the House of Commons.
— John Michael McGrath asks what a struggling city needs to turn things around.
— Martin Regg Cohn writes protest is fair game, but vandalism isn’t. Regg Cohn singled out Marit Stiles, who refused to denounce a front-lawn incident earlier this month.
— Ford in a funk: Premier Doug Ford’s approval rating has hit a record-low 31 per cent — second-last in the national rankings, according to the Angus Reid Institute’s quarterly check-in on premiers’ performance.
It’s a 17-point tumble since last March. “At the time, Ford’s role of ‘Captain Canada’ in the face of tariffs and annexation threats from President Donald Trump revived the Ontario premier’s popularity. He was perhaps the most notable beneficiary of a ‘Trump bump’ after languishing near the bottom of ARI’s premier approval ratings for the previous two and a half years. The bump has smoothed out, and Ford is back to generating approval of just three-in-ten Ontarians.”
— Ipsos has the Tories out front at 42 per cent, with the Grits trailing at 35 per cent. The NDP posted 18 per cent, with the Greens at 7 per cent.
Will Doug go? On Ford’s future, 69 per cent say he won’t step down before 2029. 31 per cent say he will. On re-election, 40 per cent say Ford deserves a fourth term, while 60 per cent say it’s time for someone else.
Coming soon: We’re rolling out a new subscriber-only poll tracker — a one-stop shop for all provincial polling, complete with an interactive chart, seat projections and more. Want in? Join the club.
— Noted: Qadira Jackson taking a text-message jab at Nate Erskine-Smith.
Behind the scenes, Erskine-Smith — someone Doug Ford says he doesn’t know — has been organizing. He’s up against Jackson, Ahsanul Hafiz and Mahmuda Nasrin. (Ali Demircan was expected to run, but declined. Word is he struck a deal with Erskine-Smith for a potential appointment in a nearby riding.)
— Noted: Erskine-Smith has a new X handle.
— Seen: Jessica Bell out canvassing in SSW on Saturday. Others in caucus did the same Thursday.
While the NDP is on the hunt for a candidate, two names to watch: local councillor Neethan Shan and organizer Thadsha Navaneethan. A spokesperson would not comment.
— Seen: Bonnie Crombie — who is “seriously considering” taking on Carolyn Parrish in October — with Andrea Hazell at the Global Imams Council’s Eid event. Crombie also showed up at the Ram Mandir for Navratri.
— Steven Del Duca says he’d like Mark Carney to meet with Vaughan’s Jewish community.
— Steve Paikin is the new chancellor of Victoria University in the University of Toronto.
Thank you for reading POLICORNER. What are you keeping an eye on this spring? Is your boss a headache lately? My inbox is open. We’re back in your inbox on Monday.
Have a team of 5+? Got a client with a message to reach the province’s most powerful players? Reach out.
Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up now.
102 days later, we’re back for a 34-day spring sprint — and it’ll be far from quiet. To start, here’s what the political set is watching for this session.
— Laryssa Waler, Premier Ford’s ex-communications director and the CEO of Henley Strategies, says the economy will set the tone for the Ford government this session — and loom large in Thursday’s budget.
“The budget… is going to reflect the reality that Ontario, like every other province, is still navigating fallout from trade uncertainty,” says Waler.
Keep in mind: A new Ipsos poll found 53 per cent of Ontarians think Ford is doing a good job protecting the province on inter-provincial trade, but fewer, 49 per cent, are sold on his handling of the cross-border trade war.
Waler says the Tories will double down on direct outreach to governors, members of Congress and key senators in major trading states. “That work has been happening and it’s going to intensify.”
As for Thursday, don’t expect a blank cheque budget. “The province is carrying a significant deficit,” she explains. “There’s a path to balance that requires discipline. Anyone expecting a spend-spend-spend budget should probably temper those expectations. That’s not where things are right now.”
What we know: Look for $6.4 billion in post-secondary funding over four years, plus money for $750-a-teacher supply cards. The province has pledged a $3.4-billion boost for Primary Care Action Plan, while expected to scrap the HST for all homebuyers, expanding a break once limited to first-timers.
Meanwhile, Waler says housing and other kitchen-table issues — crime, public safety and healthcare — will sit near the top of the priority list.
That aside, the Tories have already previewed a busy legislative push, including: A bill to gut freedom-of-information rules for government records, a ban on ticket scalping and a push to build a province-wide EMR system for primary care. We expect to learn whether the province will do away with school board trustees (Ford promised an answer “in the next short”) and bring in broader regional governance changes.
The Ford government has already promised to open up HOV lanes to all drivers outside peak hours and allow bring-your-own-booze rules at outdoor festivals.
Across the aisle:
— Erin Morrison, a vice-president at Texture, says the session gives Marit Stiles an opening to take on “a beleaguered Ford” — facing heat over high unemployment, stagnant wages and “a string of questionable calls” — all while the Liberals search for their next leader.
“She’ll lay out the case that what Ontarians want from Queen’s Park is jobs and affordability; but what Ontarians are getting from Ford is higher prices and lower wages,” says Morrison.
Speaking of which, call it ragebait. “Marit knows how to get under Doug’s skin,” a source close to Stiles said. “We know he’s a liability for the government in Question Period — our job is to get under his skin and force some answers.” Expect Stiles to zero in on the much-maligned OSAP and FOI changes, with health care and jobs also front and center.
“The Progressive Conservative team appears to have lost their own plot when it comes to a communications strategy and financial policy,” Morrison adds. For the NDP, Morrison says the session — and budget day — is a chance to exploit that weakness and chip away at Ford’s numbers.
“We can expect it to be fiery.”
— Bahoz Dara Aziz, ex-spokesperson to Bonnie Crombie and a senior consultant at Navigator, is watching the Liberal message — and whether the caucus can stay on it.
“They need to show Ontarians that Doug Ford isn’t the right person to be premier, that the Liberals will form the next government, and that they can trust us to be that government,” she says.
To get there, Dara Aziz says they’ll need “a clear, sustained message” that builds trust rather than “jumping from issue to issue.” “Take the Ticketmaster issue — both the NDP and Liberals jumped on it, and while it matters, it pulled them away from the bigger message,” she explained. “So when Ford moves on to something else, the conversation shifts again, and they lose that consistency.”
She points to Patrick Brown as an example. “He was a dog with a bone and he wouldn’t get distracted,” Dara Aziz explains. “Same thing with Pierre Poilievre during the Justin Trudeau years. He had a clear-cut message that people were buying into. And that’s what we need. We need a clear message that resonates with people.”
But can they stay united on message in the middle of a leadership contest? Dara Aziz says yes. “The reality is, if Doug Ford’s popularity takes a hit, that’s good for every leadership candidate. There’s no reason they wouldn’t all be aligned on that.”
What she’s watching: Dara Aziz is watching which controversies cut through — and how Thursday’s budget will land. “My understanding is they’ve got six priorities, and none of them are affordability,” she says. “That’s a mistake.”
She’s also keeping an eye on health-care spending. With the treasurer warning the status quo isn’t “sustainable,” she says the real test is what the government delivers. “I know health care is a priority for them — increasing attachment to primary care physicians and ensuring everyone has access within the next few years — but I want to see how they plan to fund and implement that.”
Read up: The Star has more on the end of a break “that began when Santa was deciding who’s naughty or nice.”
A message from Dokainish & Company:
Ontario is building the future. Dokainish has built award-winning PMOs and delivered programs on-budget and ahead-of-schedule across the world's most demanding industries. We’re optimizing projects for nuclear, renewable energy, and infrastructure in Canada’s largest province and beyond. Learn more.
— Get ready, get set. If you’re counting, it’s T-2 weeks to April’s constituency week and T-8 — a total of 32 days — to the summer recess.
This morning: We’re back at 10:30 a.m., with the anthems and members’ statements. Just before her head-to-head with Ford, Marit Stiles will force a vote to undo the OSAP changes.
Out on the front lawn: The Ontario Autism Coalition is hosting an 11:30 a.m. education protest. Expect the big teachers’ union presidents to turn out. Liberal and NDP MPPs are queued up to speak.
Meanwhile, the Canadian Federation of Students has a rally set for Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. A similar rally earlier this month led to two arrests.
And one more: Speaker Donna Skelly’s St. Paddy’s Day reception is taking place at 5 p.m. in the foyer.
Looking ahead:
— The chamber has a new seating chart. France Gélinas will move into Doly Begum’s seat next to Sol Mamakwa, across Premier Ford.
— Also happening:
Got something on the calendar? Hosting a reception? Make sure it’s on our list.
— Save the date: Spring Fling is back at Hart House, set for May 20 at 6 p.m.
— Fundraising watch: On Wednesday at 5:30 p.m., the Tories will host a fundraiser in Toronto. RSVP.
— 🍽️ On the lunch menu: Monday: Butter chicken with rice and vegetables. Tuesday: Beef brisket with potatoes and vegetables. Wednesday: Pulled pork mac and cheese with coleslaw. Thursday: Fish and chips. Friday: Chicken and mushroom pot pie with garden salad.
Into this? MPPs, cabinet ministers, chiefs and mayors alike say it’s their go-to every Monday morning. Join the club and get it in your inbox.
A message from Next Campaign:
We optimize the interplay between people, processes, technology, and data, while integrating AI, to ensure capital projects finish on time and on budget. Learn more.
— Small wheels, big rules: “Ontario is ‘actively exploring’ stricter regulations for e-bikes, e-scooters and other micromobility devices.” More from the Star.
— Cruel summer for scalpers — or fans: Could a face-value cap on ticket resales go sideways? Those in the industry say so.
Experts are split on whether it would actually curb scalpers.
Here’s how fans feel about it.
— The National Post zeroes in on Greg Rickford, Ford’s go-to in the north. “If ever a politician was custom-built for the job, it’s Greg — he’s like the Swiss Army knife of northern development.”
— Riding out the storm: “Ontario’s transportation minister and a Metrolinx executive defended the GO network’s safety record on Friday, after leaked reports highlighted issues with train maintenance and a high-speed near miss earlier this year.” More from The Trillium.
— Care gap: “Ontario will not have a policy in place to publicly fund all medically necessary services from nurse practitioners by April 1, as ordered by the federal government, leaving some patients paying out of pocket for primary care.” The Canadian Press has the story.
— Pay gap: A study found mothers of autistic children in Ontario earn markedly less than fathers.
— FOI with less F: “Ontario’s transparency watchdog is pouring cold water on some of the Ford government’s central justifications for clamping down on freedom of information, saying the changes will actually make the province more secretive and less secure.” More from Global.
“... Everyone knows that malicious Beijing operatives are filing FOI requests, waiting six years for a response, and then using that information nefariously against the people of Ontario,” writes Robyn Urback.
Isaac Callan appeared on the #onpoli podcast to discuss the much-derided changes.
— Also from Global: Shoppers Drug Mart’s president met with Health Minister Sylvia Jones as the province moved to allow pharmacists to prescribe medicine for common ailments. “... Jones’ staff thought the purpose of the meeting was to discuss ’shared solutions to enhance the provincial primary care system.’”
— Feeling the squeeze: “... Workers at three remaining sites in Toronto that don’t rely on provincial funding say they’re worried the move will further strain their resources and lead to more overdoses and open drug use across the city.” More from the Canadian Press.
— A new Toronto Region Board of Trade report is urging the province to roll out a range of measures to ease congestion woes.
— An ex-Collingwood politician, pleading guilty to a 2004 sexual assault, was sentenced to four months of house arrest and eight months of strict curfew. Soo Today has the latest.
— Ontario’s top court has revived the criminal case against ex-MPP Randy Hillier linked to his involvement in the Freedom Convoy protests.
— The Ford government has inked a $1.3-billion deal with Alstom to operate and maintain GO Transit and UP Express trains.
— NDP, meet OLP: Most of Jagmeet Singh’s would-be successors say they’re not racing for a seat in the House of Commons.
— John Michael McGrath asks what a struggling city needs to turn things around.
— Martin Regg Cohn writes protest is fair game, but vandalism isn’t. Regg Cohn singled out Marit Stiles, who refused to denounce a front-lawn incident earlier this month.
— Ford in a funk: Premier Doug Ford’s approval rating has hit a record-low 31 per cent — second-last in the national rankings, according to the Angus Reid Institute’s quarterly check-in on premiers’ performance.
It’s a 17-point tumble since last March. “At the time, Ford’s role of ‘Captain Canada’ in the face of tariffs and annexation threats from President Donald Trump revived the Ontario premier’s popularity. He was perhaps the most notable beneficiary of a ‘Trump bump’ after languishing near the bottom of ARI’s premier approval ratings for the previous two and a half years. The bump has smoothed out, and Ford is back to generating approval of just three-in-ten Ontarians.”
— Ipsos has the Tories out front at 42 per cent, with the Grits trailing at 35 per cent. The NDP posted 18 per cent, with the Greens at 7 per cent.
Will Doug go? On Ford’s future, 69 per cent say he won’t step down before 2029. 31 per cent say he will. On re-election, 40 per cent say Ford deserves a fourth term, while 60 per cent say it’s time for someone else.
Coming soon: We’re rolling out a new subscriber-only poll tracker — a one-stop shop for all provincial polling, complete with an interactive chart, seat projections and more. Want in? Join the club.
— Noted: Qadira Jackson taking a text-message jab at Nate Erskine-Smith.
Behind the scenes, Erskine-Smith — someone Doug Ford says he doesn’t know — has been organizing. He’s up against Jackson, Ahsanul Hafiz and Mahmuda Nasrin. (Ali Demircan was expected to run, but declined. Word is he struck a deal with Erskine-Smith for a potential appointment in a nearby riding.)
— Noted: Erskine-Smith has a new X handle.
— Seen: Jessica Bell out canvassing in SSW on Saturday. Others in caucus did the same Thursday.
While the NDP is on the hunt for a candidate, two names to watch: local councillor Neethan Shan and organizer Thadsha Navaneethan. A spokesperson would not comment.
— Seen: Bonnie Crombie — who is “seriously considering” taking on Carolyn Parrish in October — with Andrea Hazell at the Global Imams Council’s Eid event. Crombie also showed up at the Ram Mandir for Navratri.
— Steven Del Duca says he’d like Mark Carney to meet with Vaughan’s Jewish community.
— Steve Paikin is the new chancellor of Victoria University in the University of Toronto.
Thank you for reading POLICORNER. What are you keeping an eye on this spring? Is your boss a headache lately? My inbox is open. We’re back in your inbox on Monday.
Have a team of 5+? Got a client with a message to reach the province’s most powerful players? Reach out.
Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up now.
102 days later, we’re back for a 34-day spring sprint — and it’ll be far from quiet. To start, here’s what the political set is watching for this session.
— Laryssa Waler, Premier Ford’s ex-communications director and the CEO of Henley Strategies, says the economy will set the tone for the Ford government this session — and loom large in Thursday’s budget.
“The budget… is going to reflect the reality that Ontario, like every other province, is still navigating fallout from trade uncertainty,” says Waler.
Keep in mind: A new Ipsos poll found 53 per cent of Ontarians think Ford is doing a good job protecting the province on inter-provincial trade, but fewer, 49 per cent, are sold on his handling of the cross-border trade war.
Waler says the Tories will double down on direct outreach to governors, members of Congress and key senators in major trading states. “That work has been happening and it’s going to intensify.”
As for Thursday, don’t expect a blank cheque budget. “The province is carrying a significant deficit,” she explains. “There’s a path to balance that requires discipline. Anyone expecting a spend-spend-spend budget should probably temper those expectations. That’s not where things are right now.”
What we know: Look for $6.4 billion in post-secondary funding over four years, plus money for $750-a-teacher supply cards. The province has pledged a $3.4-billion boost for Primary Care Action Plan, while expected to scrap the HST for all homebuyers, expanding a break once limited to first-timers.
Meanwhile, Waler says housing and other kitchen-table issues — crime, public safety and healthcare — will sit near the top of the priority list.
That aside, the Tories have already previewed a busy legislative push, including: A bill to gut freedom-of-information rules for government records, a ban on ticket scalping and a push to build a province-wide EMR system for primary care. We expect to learn whether the province will do away with school board trustees (Ford promised an answer “in the next short”) and bring in broader regional governance changes.
The Ford government has already promised to open up HOV lanes to all drivers outside peak hours and allow bring-your-own-booze rules at outdoor festivals.
Across the aisle:
— Erin Morrison, a vice-president at Texture, says the session gives Marit Stiles an opening to take on “a beleaguered Ford” — facing heat over high unemployment, stagnant wages and “a string of questionable calls” — all while the Liberals search for their next leader.
“She’ll lay out the case that what Ontarians want from Queen’s Park is jobs and affordability; but what Ontarians are getting from Ford is higher prices and lower wages,” says Morrison.
Speaking of which, call it ragebait. “Marit knows how to get under Doug’s skin,” a source close to Stiles said. “We know he’s a liability for the government in Question Period — our job is to get under his skin and force some answers.” Expect Stiles to zero in on the much-maligned OSAP and FOI changes, with health care and jobs also front and center.
“The Progressive Conservative team appears to have lost their own plot when it comes to a communications strategy and financial policy,” Morrison adds. For the NDP, Morrison says the session — and budget day — is a chance to exploit that weakness and chip away at Ford’s numbers.
“We can expect it to be fiery.”
— Bahoz Dara Aziz, ex-spokesperson to Bonnie Crombie and a senior consultant at Navigator, is watching the Liberal message — and whether the caucus can stay on it.
“They need to show Ontarians that Doug Ford isn’t the right person to be premier, that the Liberals will form the next government, and that they can trust us to be that government,” she says.
To get there, Dara Aziz says they’ll need “a clear, sustained message” that builds trust rather than “jumping from issue to issue.” “Take the Ticketmaster issue — both the NDP and Liberals jumped on it, and while it matters, it pulled them away from the bigger message,” she explained. “So when Ford moves on to something else, the conversation shifts again, and they lose that consistency.”
She points to Patrick Brown as an example. “He was a dog with a bone and he wouldn’t get distracted,” Dara Aziz explains. “Same thing with Pierre Poilievre during the Justin Trudeau years. He had a clear-cut message that people were buying into. And that’s what we need. We need a clear message that resonates with people.”
But can they stay united on message in the middle of a leadership contest? Dara Aziz says yes. “The reality is, if Doug Ford’s popularity takes a hit, that’s good for every leadership candidate. There’s no reason they wouldn’t all be aligned on that.”
What she’s watching: Dara Aziz is watching which controversies cut through — and how Thursday’s budget will land. “My understanding is they’ve got six priorities, and none of them are affordability,” she says. “That’s a mistake.”
She’s also keeping an eye on health-care spending. With the treasurer warning the status quo isn’t “sustainable,” she says the real test is what the government delivers. “I know health care is a priority for them — increasing attachment to primary care physicians and ensuring everyone has access within the next few years — but I want to see how they plan to fund and implement that.”
Read up: The Star has more on the end of a break “that began when Santa was deciding who’s naughty or nice.”
A message from Dokainish & Company:
Ontario is building the future. Dokainish has built award-winning PMOs and delivered programs on-budget and ahead-of-schedule across the world's most demanding industries. We’re optimizing projects for nuclear, renewable energy, and infrastructure in Canada’s largest province and beyond. Learn more.
— Get ready, get set. If you’re counting, it’s T-2 weeks to April’s constituency week and T-8 — a total of 32 days — to the summer recess.
This morning: We’re back at 10:30 a.m., with the anthems and members’ statements. Just before her head-to-head with Ford, Marit Stiles will force a vote to undo the OSAP changes.
Out on the front lawn: The Ontario Autism Coalition is hosting an 11:30 a.m. education protest. Expect the big teachers’ union presidents to turn out. Liberal and NDP MPPs are queued up to speak.
Meanwhile, the Canadian Federation of Students has a rally set for Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. A similar rally earlier this month led to two arrests.
And one more: Speaker Donna Skelly’s St. Paddy’s Day reception is taking place at 5 p.m. in the foyer.
Looking ahead:
— The chamber has a new seating chart. France Gélinas will move into Doly Begum’s seat next to Sol Mamakwa, across Premier Ford.
— Also happening:
Got something on the calendar? Hosting a reception? Make sure it’s on our list.
— Save the date: Spring Fling is back at Hart House, set for May 20 at 6 p.m.
— Fundraising watch: On Wednesday at 5:30 p.m., the Tories will host a fundraiser in Toronto. RSVP.
— 🍽️ On the lunch menu: Monday: Butter chicken with rice and vegetables. Tuesday: Beef brisket with potatoes and vegetables. Wednesday: Pulled pork mac and cheese with coleslaw. Thursday: Fish and chips. Friday: Chicken and mushroom pot pie with garden salad.
Into this? MPPs, cabinet ministers, chiefs and mayors alike say it’s their go-to every Monday morning. Join the club and get it in your inbox.
A message from Next Campaign:
We optimize the interplay between people, processes, technology, and data, while integrating AI, to ensure capital projects finish on time and on budget. Learn more.
— Small wheels, big rules: “Ontario is ‘actively exploring’ stricter regulations for e-bikes, e-scooters and other micromobility devices.” More from the Star.
— Cruel summer for scalpers — or fans: Could a face-value cap on ticket resales go sideways? Those in the industry say so.
Experts are split on whether it would actually curb scalpers.
Here’s how fans feel about it.
— The National Post zeroes in on Greg Rickford, Ford’s go-to in the north. “If ever a politician was custom-built for the job, it’s Greg — he’s like the Swiss Army knife of northern development.”
— Riding out the storm: “Ontario’s transportation minister and a Metrolinx executive defended the GO network’s safety record on Friday, after leaked reports highlighted issues with train maintenance and a high-speed near miss earlier this year.” More from The Trillium.
— Care gap: “Ontario will not have a policy in place to publicly fund all medically necessary services from nurse practitioners by April 1, as ordered by the federal government, leaving some patients paying out of pocket for primary care.” The Canadian Press has the story.
— Pay gap: A study found mothers of autistic children in Ontario earn markedly less than fathers.
— FOI with less F: “Ontario’s transparency watchdog is pouring cold water on some of the Ford government’s central justifications for clamping down on freedom of information, saying the changes will actually make the province more secretive and less secure.” More from Global.
“... Everyone knows that malicious Beijing operatives are filing FOI requests, waiting six years for a response, and then using that information nefariously against the people of Ontario,” writes Robyn Urback.
Isaac Callan appeared on the #onpoli podcast to discuss the much-derided changes.
— Also from Global: Shoppers Drug Mart’s president met with Health Minister Sylvia Jones as the province moved to allow pharmacists to prescribe medicine for common ailments. “... Jones’ staff thought the purpose of the meeting was to discuss ’shared solutions to enhance the provincial primary care system.’”
— Feeling the squeeze: “... Workers at three remaining sites in Toronto that don’t rely on provincial funding say they’re worried the move will further strain their resources and lead to more overdoses and open drug use across the city.” More from the Canadian Press.
— A new Toronto Region Board of Trade report is urging the province to roll out a range of measures to ease congestion woes.
— An ex-Collingwood politician, pleading guilty to a 2004 sexual assault, was sentenced to four months of house arrest and eight months of strict curfew. Soo Today has the latest.
— Ontario’s top court has revived the criminal case against ex-MPP Randy Hillier linked to his involvement in the Freedom Convoy protests.
— The Ford government has inked a $1.3-billion deal with Alstom to operate and maintain GO Transit and UP Express trains.
— NDP, meet OLP: Most of Jagmeet Singh’s would-be successors say they’re not racing for a seat in the House of Commons.
— John Michael McGrath asks what a struggling city needs to turn things around.
— Martin Regg Cohn writes protest is fair game, but vandalism isn’t. Regg Cohn singled out Marit Stiles, who refused to denounce a front-lawn incident earlier this month.
— Ford in a funk: Premier Doug Ford’s approval rating has hit a record-low 31 per cent — second-last in the national rankings, according to the Angus Reid Institute’s quarterly check-in on premiers’ performance.
It’s a 17-point tumble since last March. “At the time, Ford’s role of ‘Captain Canada’ in the face of tariffs and annexation threats from President Donald Trump revived the Ontario premier’s popularity. He was perhaps the most notable beneficiary of a ‘Trump bump’ after languishing near the bottom of ARI’s premier approval ratings for the previous two and a half years. The bump has smoothed out, and Ford is back to generating approval of just three-in-ten Ontarians.”
— Ipsos has the Tories out front at 42 per cent, with the Grits trailing at 35 per cent. The NDP posted 18 per cent, with the Greens at 7 per cent.
Will Doug go? On Ford’s future, 69 per cent say he won’t step down before 2029. 31 per cent say he will. On re-election, 40 per cent say Ford deserves a fourth term, while 60 per cent say it’s time for someone else.
Coming soon: We’re rolling out a new subscriber-only poll tracker — a one-stop shop for all provincial polling, complete with an interactive chart, seat projections and more. Want in? Join the club.
— Noted: Qadira Jackson taking a text-message jab at Nate Erskine-Smith.
Behind the scenes, Erskine-Smith — someone Doug Ford says he doesn’t know — has been organizing. He’s up against Jackson, Ahsanul Hafiz and Mahmuda Nasrin. (Ali Demircan was expected to run, but declined. Word is he struck a deal with Erskine-Smith for a potential appointment in a nearby riding.)
— Noted: Erskine-Smith has a new X handle.
— Seen: Jessica Bell out canvassing in SSW on Saturday. Others in caucus did the same Thursday.
While the NDP is on the hunt for a candidate, two names to watch: local councillor Neethan Shan and organizer Thadsha Navaneethan. A spokesperson would not comment.
— Seen: Bonnie Crombie — who is “seriously considering” taking on Carolyn Parrish in October — with Andrea Hazell at the Global Imams Council’s Eid event. Crombie also showed up at the Ram Mandir for Navratri.
— Steven Del Duca says he’d like Mark Carney to meet with Vaughan’s Jewish community.
— Steve Paikin is the new chancellor of Victoria University in the University of Toronto.
Thank you for reading POLICORNER. What are you keeping an eye on this spring? Is your boss a headache lately? My inbox is open. We’re back in your inbox on Monday.
Have a team of 5+? Got a client with a message to reach the province’s most powerful players? Reach out.
Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up now.
102 days later, we’re back for a 34-day spring sprint — and it’ll be far from quiet. To start, here’s what the political set is watching for this session.
— Laryssa Waler, Premier Ford’s ex-communications director and the CEO of Henley Strategies, says the economy will set the tone for the Ford government this session — and loom large in Thursday’s budget.
“The budget… is going to reflect the reality that Ontario, like every other province, is still navigating fallout from trade uncertainty,” says Waler.
Keep in mind: A new Ipsos poll found 53 per cent of Ontarians think Ford is doing a good job protecting the province on inter-provincial trade, but fewer, 49 per cent, are sold on his handling of the cross-border trade war.
Waler says the Tories will double down on direct outreach to governors, members of Congress and key senators in major trading states. “That work has been happening and it’s going to intensify.”
As for Thursday, don’t expect a blank cheque budget. “The province is carrying a significant deficit,” she explains. “There’s a path to balance that requires discipline. Anyone expecting a spend-spend-spend budget should probably temper those expectations. That’s not where things are right now.”
What we know: Look for $6.4 billion in post-secondary funding over four years, plus money for $750-a-teacher supply cards. The province has pledged a $3.4-billion boost for Primary Care Action Plan, while expected to scrap the HST for all homebuyers, expanding a break once limited to first-timers.
Meanwhile, Waler says housing and other kitchen-table issues — crime, public safety and healthcare — will sit near the top of the priority list.
That aside, the Tories have already previewed a busy legislative push, including: A bill to gut freedom-of-information rules for government records, a ban on ticket scalping and a push to build a province-wide EMR system for primary care. We expect to learn whether the province will do away with school board trustees (Ford promised an answer “in the next short”) and bring in broader regional governance changes.
The Ford government has already promised to open up HOV lanes to all drivers outside peak hours and allow bring-your-own-booze rules at outdoor festivals.
Across the aisle:
— Erin Morrison, a vice-president at Texture, says the session gives Marit Stiles an opening to take on “a beleaguered Ford” — facing heat over high unemployment, stagnant wages and “a string of questionable calls” — all while the Liberals search for their next leader.
“She’ll lay out the case that what Ontarians want from Queen’s Park is jobs and affordability; but what Ontarians are getting from Ford is higher prices and lower wages,” says Morrison.
Speaking of which, call it ragebait. “Marit knows how to get under Doug’s skin,” a source close to Stiles said. “We know he’s a liability for the government in Question Period — our job is to get under his skin and force some answers.” Expect Stiles to zero in on the much-maligned OSAP and FOI changes, with health care and jobs also front and center.
“The Progressive Conservative team appears to have lost their own plot when it comes to a communications strategy and financial policy,” Morrison adds. For the NDP, Morrison says the session — and budget day — is a chance to exploit that weakness and chip away at Ford’s numbers.
“We can expect it to be fiery.”
— Bahoz Dara Aziz, ex-spokesperson to Bonnie Crombie and a senior consultant at Navigator, is watching the Liberal message — and whether the caucus can stay on it.
“They need to show Ontarians that Doug Ford isn’t the right person to be premier, that the Liberals will form the next government, and that they can trust us to be that government,” she says.
To get there, Dara Aziz says they’ll need “a clear, sustained message” that builds trust rather than “jumping from issue to issue.” “Take the Ticketmaster issue — both the NDP and Liberals jumped on it, and while it matters, it pulled them away from the bigger message,” she explained. “So when Ford moves on to something else, the conversation shifts again, and they lose that consistency.”
She points to Patrick Brown as an example. “He was a dog with a bone and he wouldn’t get distracted,” Dara Aziz explains. “Same thing with Pierre Poilievre during the Justin Trudeau years. He had a clear-cut message that people were buying into. And that’s what we need. We need a clear message that resonates with people.”
But can they stay united on message in the middle of a leadership contest? Dara Aziz says yes. “The reality is, if Doug Ford’s popularity takes a hit, that’s good for every leadership candidate. There’s no reason they wouldn’t all be aligned on that.”
What she’s watching: Dara Aziz is watching which controversies cut through — and how Thursday’s budget will land. “My understanding is they’ve got six priorities, and none of them are affordability,” she says. “That’s a mistake.”
She’s also keeping an eye on health-care spending. With the treasurer warning the status quo isn’t “sustainable,” she says the real test is what the government delivers. “I know health care is a priority for them — increasing attachment to primary care physicians and ensuring everyone has access within the next few years — but I want to see how they plan to fund and implement that.”
Read up: The Star has more on the end of a break “that began when Santa was deciding who’s naughty or nice.”
A message from Dokainish & Company:
Ontario is building the future. Dokainish has built award-winning PMOs and delivered programs on-budget and ahead-of-schedule across the world's most demanding industries. We’re optimizing projects for nuclear, renewable energy, and infrastructure in Canada’s largest province and beyond. Learn more.
— Get ready, get set. If you’re counting, it’s T-2 weeks to April’s constituency week and T-8 — a total of 32 days — to the summer recess.
This morning: We’re back at 10:30 a.m., with the anthems and members’ statements. Just before her head-to-head with Ford, Marit Stiles will force a vote to undo the OSAP changes.
Out on the front lawn: The Ontario Autism Coalition is hosting an 11:30 a.m. education protest. Expect the big teachers’ union presidents to turn out. Liberal and NDP MPPs are queued up to speak.
Meanwhile, the Canadian Federation of Students has a rally set for Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. A similar rally earlier this month led to two arrests.
And one more: Speaker Donna Skelly’s St. Paddy’s Day reception is taking place at 5 p.m. in the foyer.
Looking ahead:
— The chamber has a new seating chart. France Gélinas will move into Doly Begum’s seat next to Sol Mamakwa, across Premier Ford.
— Also happening:
Got something on the calendar? Hosting a reception? Make sure it’s on our list.
— Save the date: Spring Fling is back at Hart House, set for May 20 at 6 p.m.
— Fundraising watch: On Wednesday at 5:30 p.m., the Tories will host a fundraiser in Toronto. RSVP.
— 🍽️ On the lunch menu: Monday: Butter chicken with rice and vegetables. Tuesday: Beef brisket with potatoes and vegetables. Wednesday: Pulled pork mac and cheese with coleslaw. Thursday: Fish and chips. Friday: Chicken and mushroom pot pie with garden salad.
Into this? MPPs, cabinet ministers, chiefs and mayors alike say it’s their go-to every Monday morning. Join the club and get it in your inbox.
A message from Next Campaign:
We optimize the interplay between people, processes, technology, and data, while integrating AI, to ensure capital projects finish on time and on budget. Learn more.
— Small wheels, big rules: “Ontario is ‘actively exploring’ stricter regulations for e-bikes, e-scooters and other micromobility devices.” More from the Star.
— Cruel summer for scalpers — or fans: Could a face-value cap on ticket resales go sideways? Those in the industry say so.
Experts are split on whether it would actually curb scalpers.
Here’s how fans feel about it.
— The National Post zeroes in on Greg Rickford, Ford’s go-to in the north. “If ever a politician was custom-built for the job, it’s Greg — he’s like the Swiss Army knife of northern development.”
— Riding out the storm: “Ontario’s transportation minister and a Metrolinx executive defended the GO network’s safety record on Friday, after leaked reports highlighted issues with train maintenance and a high-speed near miss earlier this year.” More from The Trillium.
— Care gap: “Ontario will not have a policy in place to publicly fund all medically necessary services from nurse practitioners by April 1, as ordered by the federal government, leaving some patients paying out of pocket for primary care.” The Canadian Press has the story.
— Pay gap: A study found mothers of autistic children in Ontario earn markedly less than fathers.
— FOI with less F: “Ontario’s transparency watchdog is pouring cold water on some of the Ford government’s central justifications for clamping down on freedom of information, saying the changes will actually make the province more secretive and less secure.” More from Global.
“... Everyone knows that malicious Beijing operatives are filing FOI requests, waiting six years for a response, and then using that information nefariously against the people of Ontario,” writes Robyn Urback.
Isaac Callan appeared on the #onpoli podcast to discuss the much-derided changes.
— Also from Global: Shoppers Drug Mart’s president met with Health Minister Sylvia Jones as the province moved to allow pharmacists to prescribe medicine for common ailments. “... Jones’ staff thought the purpose of the meeting was to discuss ’shared solutions to enhance the provincial primary care system.’”
— Feeling the squeeze: “... Workers at three remaining sites in Toronto that don’t rely on provincial funding say they’re worried the move will further strain their resources and lead to more overdoses and open drug use across the city.” More from the Canadian Press.
— A new Toronto Region Board of Trade report is urging the province to roll out a range of measures to ease congestion woes.
— An ex-Collingwood politician, pleading guilty to a 2004 sexual assault, was sentenced to four months of house arrest and eight months of strict curfew. Soo Today has the latest.
— Ontario’s top court has revived the criminal case against ex-MPP Randy Hillier linked to his involvement in the Freedom Convoy protests.
— The Ford government has inked a $1.3-billion deal with Alstom to operate and maintain GO Transit and UP Express trains.
— NDP, meet OLP: Most of Jagmeet Singh’s would-be successors say they’re not racing for a seat in the House of Commons.
— John Michael McGrath asks what a struggling city needs to turn things around.
— Martin Regg Cohn writes protest is fair game, but vandalism isn’t. Regg Cohn singled out Marit Stiles, who refused to denounce a front-lawn incident earlier this month.
— Ford in a funk: Premier Doug Ford’s approval rating has hit a record-low 31 per cent — second-last in the national rankings, according to the Angus Reid Institute’s quarterly check-in on premiers’ performance.
It’s a 17-point tumble since last March. “At the time, Ford’s role of ‘Captain Canada’ in the face of tariffs and annexation threats from President Donald Trump revived the Ontario premier’s popularity. He was perhaps the most notable beneficiary of a ‘Trump bump’ after languishing near the bottom of ARI’s premier approval ratings for the previous two and a half years. The bump has smoothed out, and Ford is back to generating approval of just three-in-ten Ontarians.”
— Ipsos has the Tories out front at 42 per cent, with the Grits trailing at 35 per cent. The NDP posted 18 per cent, with the Greens at 7 per cent.
Will Doug go? On Ford’s future, 69 per cent say he won’t step down before 2029. 31 per cent say he will. On re-election, 40 per cent say Ford deserves a fourth term, while 60 per cent say it’s time for someone else.
Coming soon: We’re rolling out a new subscriber-only poll tracker — a one-stop shop for all provincial polling, complete with an interactive chart, seat projections and more. Want in? Join the club.
— Noted: Qadira Jackson taking a text-message jab at Nate Erskine-Smith.
Behind the scenes, Erskine-Smith — someone Doug Ford says he doesn’t know — has been organizing. He’s up against Jackson, Ahsanul Hafiz and Mahmuda Nasrin. (Ali Demircan was expected to run, but declined. Word is he struck a deal with Erskine-Smith for a potential appointment in a nearby riding.)
— Noted: Erskine-Smith has a new X handle.
— Seen: Jessica Bell out canvassing in SSW on Saturday. Others in caucus did the same Thursday.
While the NDP is on the hunt for a candidate, two names to watch: local councillor Neethan Shan and organizer Thadsha Navaneethan. A spokesperson would not comment.
— Seen: Bonnie Crombie — who is “seriously considering” taking on Carolyn Parrish in October — with Andrea Hazell at the Global Imams Council’s Eid event. Crombie also showed up at the Ram Mandir for Navratri.
— Steven Del Duca says he’d like Mark Carney to meet with Vaughan’s Jewish community.
— Steve Paikin is the new chancellor of Victoria University in the University of Toronto.
Thank you for reading POLICORNER. What are you keeping an eye on this spring? Is your boss a headache lately? My inbox is open. We’re back in your inbox on Monday.
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102 days later, we’re back for a 34-day spring sprint — and it’ll be far from quiet. To start, here’s what the political set is watching for this session.
— Laryssa Waler, Premier Ford’s ex-communications director and the CEO of Henley Strategies, says the economy will set the tone for the Ford government this session — and loom large in Thursday’s budget.
“The budget… is going to reflect the reality that Ontario, like every other province, is still navigating fallout from trade uncertainty,” says Waler.
Keep in mind: A new Ipsos poll found 53 per cent of Ontarians think Ford is doing a good job protecting the province on inter-provincial trade, but fewer, 49 per cent, are sold on his handling of the cross-border trade war.
Waler says the Tories will double down on direct outreach to governors, members of Congress and key senators in major trading states. “That work has been happening and it’s going to intensify.”
As for Thursday, don’t expect a blank cheque budget. “The province is carrying a significant deficit,” she explains. “There’s a path to balance that requires discipline. Anyone expecting a spend-spend-spend budget should probably temper those expectations. That’s not where things are right now.”
What we know: Look for $6.4 billion in post-secondary funding over four years, plus money for $750-a-teacher supply cards. The province has pledged a $3.4-billion boost for Primary Care Action Plan, while expected to scrap the HST for all homebuyers, expanding a break once limited to first-timers.
Meanwhile, Waler says housing and other kitchen-table issues — crime, public safety and healthcare — will sit near the top of the priority list.
That aside, the Tories have already previewed a busy legislative push, including: A bill to gut freedom-of-information rules for government records, a ban on ticket scalping and a push to build a province-wide EMR system for primary care. We expect to learn whether the province will do away with school board trustees (Ford promised an answer “in the next short”) and bring in broader regional governance changes.
The Ford government has already promised to open up HOV lanes to all drivers outside peak hours and allow bring-your-own-booze rules at outdoor festivals.
Across the aisle:
— Erin Morrison, a vice-president at Texture, says the session gives Marit Stiles an opening to take on “a beleaguered Ford” — facing heat over high unemployment, stagnant wages and “a string of questionable calls” — all while the Liberals search for their next leader.
“She’ll lay out the case that what Ontarians want from Queen’s Park is jobs and affordability; but what Ontarians are getting from Ford is higher prices and lower wages,” says Morrison.
Speaking of which, call it ragebait. “Marit knows how to get under Doug’s skin,” a source close to Stiles said. “We know he’s a liability for the government in Question Period — our job is to get under his skin and force some answers.” Expect Stiles to zero in on the much-maligned OSAP and FOI changes, with health care and jobs also front and center.
“The Progressive Conservative team appears to have lost their own plot when it comes to a communications strategy and financial policy,” Morrison adds. For the NDP, Morrison says the session — and budget day — is a chance to exploit that weakness and chip away at Ford’s numbers.
“We can expect it to be fiery.”
— Bahoz Dara Aziz, ex-spokesperson to Bonnie Crombie and a senior consultant at Navigator, is watching the Liberal message — and whether the caucus can stay on it.
“They need to show Ontarians that Doug Ford isn’t the right person to be premier, that the Liberals will form the next government, and that they can trust us to be that government,” she says.
To get there, Dara Aziz says they’ll need “a clear, sustained message” that builds trust rather than “jumping from issue to issue.” “Take the Ticketmaster issue — both the NDP and Liberals jumped on it, and while it matters, it pulled them away from the bigger message,” she explained. “So when Ford moves on to something else, the conversation shifts again, and they lose that consistency.”
She points to Patrick Brown as an example. “He was a dog with a bone and he wouldn’t get distracted,” Dara Aziz explains. “Same thing with Pierre Poilievre during the Justin Trudeau years. He had a clear-cut message that people were buying into. And that’s what we need. We need a clear message that resonates with people.”
But can they stay united on message in the middle of a leadership contest? Dara Aziz says yes. “The reality is, if Doug Ford’s popularity takes a hit, that’s good for every leadership candidate. There’s no reason they wouldn’t all be aligned on that.”
What she’s watching: Dara Aziz is watching which controversies cut through — and how Thursday’s budget will land. “My understanding is they’ve got six priorities, and none of them are affordability,” she says. “That’s a mistake.”
She’s also keeping an eye on health-care spending. With the treasurer warning the status quo isn’t “sustainable,” she says the real test is what the government delivers. “I know health care is a priority for them — increasing attachment to primary care physicians and ensuring everyone has access within the next few years — but I want to see how they plan to fund and implement that.”
Read up: The Star has more on the end of a break “that began when Santa was deciding who’s naughty or nice.”
A message from Dokainish & Company:
Ontario is building the future. Dokainish has built award-winning PMOs and delivered programs on-budget and ahead-of-schedule across the world's most demanding industries. We’re optimizing projects for nuclear, renewable energy, and infrastructure in Canada’s largest province and beyond. Learn more.
— Get ready, get set. If you’re counting, it’s T-2 weeks to April’s constituency week and T-8 — a total of 32 days — to the summer recess.
This morning: We’re back at 10:30 a.m., with the anthems and members’ statements. Just before her head-to-head with Ford, Marit Stiles will force a vote to undo the OSAP changes.
Out on the front lawn: The Ontario Autism Coalition is hosting an 11:30 a.m. education protest. Expect the big teachers’ union presidents to turn out. Liberal and NDP MPPs are queued up to speak.
Meanwhile, the Canadian Federation of Students has a rally set for Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. A similar rally earlier this month led to two arrests.
And one more: Speaker Donna Skelly’s St. Paddy’s Day reception is taking place at 5 p.m. in the foyer.
Looking ahead:
— The chamber has a new seating chart. France Gélinas will move into Doly Begum’s seat next to Sol Mamakwa, across Premier Ford.
— Also happening:
Got something on the calendar? Hosting a reception? Make sure it’s on our list.
— Save the date: Spring Fling is back at Hart House, set for May 20 at 6 p.m.
— Fundraising watch: On Wednesday at 5:30 p.m., the Tories will host a fundraiser in Toronto. RSVP.
— 🍽️ On the lunch menu: Monday: Butter chicken with rice and vegetables. Tuesday: Beef brisket with potatoes and vegetables. Wednesday: Pulled pork mac and cheese with coleslaw. Thursday: Fish and chips. Friday: Chicken and mushroom pot pie with garden salad.
Into this? MPPs, cabinet ministers, chiefs and mayors alike say it’s their go-to every Monday morning. Join the club and get it in your inbox.
A message from Next Campaign:
We optimize the interplay between people, processes, technology, and data, while integrating AI, to ensure capital projects finish on time and on budget. Learn more.
— Small wheels, big rules: “Ontario is ‘actively exploring’ stricter regulations for e-bikes, e-scooters and other micromobility devices.” More from the Star.
— Cruel summer for scalpers — or fans: Could a face-value cap on ticket resales go sideways? Those in the industry say so.
Experts are split on whether it would actually curb scalpers.
Here’s how fans feel about it.
— The National Post zeroes in on Greg Rickford, Ford’s go-to in the north. “If ever a politician was custom-built for the job, it’s Greg — he’s like the Swiss Army knife of northern development.”
— Riding out the storm: “Ontario’s transportation minister and a Metrolinx executive defended the GO network’s safety record on Friday, after leaked reports highlighted issues with train maintenance and a high-speed near miss earlier this year.” More from The Trillium.
— Care gap: “Ontario will not have a policy in place to publicly fund all medically necessary services from nurse practitioners by April 1, as ordered by the federal government, leaving some patients paying out of pocket for primary care.” The Canadian Press has the story.
— Pay gap: A study found mothers of autistic children in Ontario earn markedly less than fathers.
— FOI with less F: “Ontario’s transparency watchdog is pouring cold water on some of the Ford government’s central justifications for clamping down on freedom of information, saying the changes will actually make the province more secretive and less secure.” More from Global.
“... Everyone knows that malicious Beijing operatives are filing FOI requests, waiting six years for a response, and then using that information nefariously against the people of Ontario,” writes Robyn Urback.
Isaac Callan appeared on the #onpoli podcast to discuss the much-derided changes.
— Also from Global: Shoppers Drug Mart’s president met with Health Minister Sylvia Jones as the province moved to allow pharmacists to prescribe medicine for common ailments. “... Jones’ staff thought the purpose of the meeting was to discuss ’shared solutions to enhance the provincial primary care system.’”
— Feeling the squeeze: “... Workers at three remaining sites in Toronto that don’t rely on provincial funding say they’re worried the move will further strain their resources and lead to more overdoses and open drug use across the city.” More from the Canadian Press.
— A new Toronto Region Board of Trade report is urging the province to roll out a range of measures to ease congestion woes.
— An ex-Collingwood politician, pleading guilty to a 2004 sexual assault, was sentenced to four months of house arrest and eight months of strict curfew. Soo Today has the latest.
— Ontario’s top court has revived the criminal case against ex-MPP Randy Hillier linked to his involvement in the Freedom Convoy protests.
— The Ford government has inked a $1.3-billion deal with Alstom to operate and maintain GO Transit and UP Express trains.
— NDP, meet OLP: Most of Jagmeet Singh’s would-be successors say they’re not racing for a seat in the House of Commons.
— John Michael McGrath asks what a struggling city needs to turn things around.
— Martin Regg Cohn writes protest is fair game, but vandalism isn’t. Regg Cohn singled out Marit Stiles, who refused to denounce a front-lawn incident earlier this month.
— Ford in a funk: Premier Doug Ford’s approval rating has hit a record-low 31 per cent — second-last in the national rankings, according to the Angus Reid Institute’s quarterly check-in on premiers’ performance.
It’s a 17-point tumble since last March. “At the time, Ford’s role of ‘Captain Canada’ in the face of tariffs and annexation threats from President Donald Trump revived the Ontario premier’s popularity. He was perhaps the most notable beneficiary of a ‘Trump bump’ after languishing near the bottom of ARI’s premier approval ratings for the previous two and a half years. The bump has smoothed out, and Ford is back to generating approval of just three-in-ten Ontarians.”
— Ipsos has the Tories out front at 42 per cent, with the Grits trailing at 35 per cent. The NDP posted 18 per cent, with the Greens at 7 per cent.
Will Doug go? On Ford’s future, 69 per cent say he won’t step down before 2029. 31 per cent say he will. On re-election, 40 per cent say Ford deserves a fourth term, while 60 per cent say it’s time for someone else.
Coming soon: We’re rolling out a new subscriber-only poll tracker — a one-stop shop for all provincial polling, complete with an interactive chart, seat projections and more. Want in? Join the club.
— Noted: Qadira Jackson taking a text-message jab at Nate Erskine-Smith.
Behind the scenes, Erskine-Smith — someone Doug Ford says he doesn’t know — has been organizing. He’s up against Jackson, Ahsanul Hafiz and Mahmuda Nasrin. (Ali Demircan was expected to run, but declined. Word is he struck a deal with Erskine-Smith for a potential appointment in a nearby riding.)
— Noted: Erskine-Smith has a new X handle.
— Seen: Jessica Bell out canvassing in SSW on Saturday. Others in caucus did the same Thursday.
While the NDP is on the hunt for a candidate, two names to watch: local councillor Neethan Shan and organizer Thadsha Navaneethan. A spokesperson would not comment.
— Seen: Bonnie Crombie — who is “seriously considering” taking on Carolyn Parrish in October — with Andrea Hazell at the Global Imams Council’s Eid event. Crombie also showed up at the Ram Mandir for Navratri.
— Steven Del Duca says he’d like Mark Carney to meet with Vaughan’s Jewish community.
— Steve Paikin is the new chancellor of Victoria University in the University of Toronto.
Thank you for reading POLICORNER. What are you keeping an eye on this spring? Is your boss a headache lately? My inbox is open. We’re back in your inbox on Monday.
Have a team of 5+? Got a client with a message to reach the province’s most powerful players? Reach out.
Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up now.