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Before we dig in, a programming note: We’re dialing it down for our own holiday recess. Rest assured, we’ll still be watching Queen’s Park — and if anything breaks, we’ll be in your inbox.
More to say later, but for now: whether you start your Mondays with us, scroll on the commute or forward our scoops to friends or bosses, we’re grateful you’re here.
We’re back in your inbox bright and early on Monday, January 12.
If you’re scrambling for a last-minute Christmas present — or hunting for a cozy read by a fire — there's no shortage of good books to choose from. Here’s what those in and around the Pink Palace picked:
This year, Marit Stiles read The Knowing by Tanya Talaga. “Award-winning and bestselling Anishinaabe author Tanya Talaga retells the history of this country as only she can — through an Indigenous lens, beginning with the life of her great-great grandmother Annie Carpenter and her family as they experienced decades of government- and Church-sanctioned enfranchisement and genocide.”
(Yes, that Talaga — she spoke at the NDP’s convention earlier this year.)
Mayeesha Chowdhury, Stiles’ communications director, picked One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune and Takedown by Lily Chu.
Laryssa Waler, ex-communications director to Premier Ford and now CEO of Henley Strategies, put Values by Mark Carney on her list. For her, it’s about “understanding what Mark Carney has said about natural resources, his desire to keep Canadian oil in the ground and the need for a ‘big reset’ of our entire economy. “Maybe he’s changed his mind, but Canadians have a responsibility to make themselves aware of what he’s said on the topic.”
Before we dig in, a programming note: We’re dialing it down for our own holiday recess. Rest assured, we’ll still be watching Queen’s Park — and if anything breaks, we’ll be in your inbox.
More to say later, but for now: whether you start your Mondays with us, scroll on the commute or forward our scoops to friends or bosses, we’re grateful you’re here.
We’re back in your inbox bright and early on Monday, January 12.
If you’re scrambling for a last-minute Christmas present — or hunting for a cozy read by a fire — there's no shortage of good books to choose from. Here’s what those in and around the Pink Palace picked:
This year, Marit Stiles read The Knowing by Tanya Talaga. “Award-winning and bestselling Anishinaabe author Tanya Talaga retells the history of this country as only she can — through an Indigenous lens, beginning with the life of her great-great grandmother Annie Carpenter and her family as they experienced decades of government- and Church-sanctioned enfranchisement and genocide.”
(Yes, that Talaga — she spoke at the NDP’s convention earlier this year.)
Mayeesha Chowdhury, Stiles’ communications director, picked One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune and Takedown by Lily Chu.
Laryssa Waler, ex-communications director to Premier Ford and now CEO of Henley Strategies, put Values by Mark Carney on her list. For her, it’s about “understanding what Mark Carney has said about natural resources, his desire to keep Canadian oil in the ground and the need for a ‘big reset’ of our entire economy. “Maybe he’s changed his mind, but Canadians have a responsibility to make themselves aware of what he’s said on the topic.”
Before we dig in, a programming note: We’re dialing it down for our own holiday recess. Rest assured, we’ll still be watching Queen’s Park — and if anything breaks, we’ll be in your inbox.
More to say later, but for now: whether you start your Mondays with us, scroll on the commute or forward our scoops to friends or bosses, we’re grateful you’re here.
We’ll be back bright and early on Monday, January 12.
If you’re scrambling for a last-minute Christmas present — or hunting for a cozy read by a fire — there's no shortage of good books to choose from. Here’s what those in and around the Pink Palace picked:
This year, Marit Stiles read The Knowing by Tanya Talaga. “Award-winning and bestselling Anishinaabe author Tanya Talaga retells the history of this country as only she can — through an Indigenous lens, beginning with the life of her great-great grandmother Annie Carpenter and her family as they experienced decades of government- and Church-sanctioned enfranchisement and genocide.”
(Yes, that Talaga — she spoke at the NDP’s convention earlier this year.)
Mayeesha Chowdhury, Stiles’ communications director, picked One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune and Takedown by Lily Chu.
Laryssa Waler, ex-communications director to Premier Ford and now CEO of Henley Strategies, put Values by Mark Carney on her list. For her, it’s about “understanding what Mark Carney has said about natural resources, his desire to keep Canadian oil in the ground and the need for a ‘big reset’ of our entire economy. “Maybe he’s changed his mind, but Canadians have a responsibility to make themselves aware of what he’s said on the topic.”
Waler also picked Art of the Deal by Donald Trump and Tony Schwartz. “It’s good to understand your opponent,” she said. “Understand what goes on in his head. How he uses leverage. How he can’t be trusted.”
Elizabeth Mendes, the chief of the Liberal Caucus Service Bureau, went with Dalton McGuinty’s Be a Good One: Words to Lead By. “I find myself looking through that book for inspirational quotes for my team,” she said.
So did Rob Cerjanec, who said his favourite part was McGuinty’s short introduction to each chapter.
“I am a big fan of Elizabeth Hay's writing, especially Late Nights on Air,” said Stephanie Bowman. This year, I read one of her newer books, Snow Road Station. I love that it is a fictional story that takes place in a real village in Ontario — that I had never heard of, that has such a fantastic name and is now a place I want to go explore! The story makes you reflect on the possibility of reconnecting with old friends who you have drifted apart from; and the possibilities that still lie ahead, even when you are past what you may consider your ‘prime.’”
As for Lorne Levy, the Liberal caucus’s media relations director, The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde made his list. “A witty, philosophical exploration of indulgence and morality — and a reminder that nothing lasts forever: not beauty, not youth, nor governments.”
Erin Morrison, a vice-president at Texture, picked All The Worst Humans by Phil Elwood.
For David Valentin, a principal at Liaison Strategies, the pick is Murdered Midas by Charlotte Gray. “It’s about a multi-millionaire who makes his money in Kirkland Lake and is murdered in the Bahamas. It’s a true crime but it’s also about power and the failure of institutions,” he said, noting the book’s welcome dose of provincial history.
Laura Walton, president of Ontario’s Federation of Labour, is reading Outclassed: How the Left Lost the Working Class and How to Win Them Back by Joan Williams. “It has been recommended to me by so many,” said Walton. “I’m really excited to read it and see how I can use the learnings in the implementation of the We Are One Power Plan.”
John Michael McGrath read Stuck: How the Privileged and the Propertied Broke the Engine of American Opportunity by Yoni Appelbaum. “If you’re obsessed with the housing crisis, as I am, this was easily one of the best books of 2025 on the topic, with a broad historical perspective that complements a lot of the debates around lighter, more popular books like Abundance by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson.”
Finally, Bobbi Ann Brady picked The Women by Kristin Hannah. “I love historical fiction, and this novel follows the life of Frankie McGrath, a 20-year-old nursing student who enlists in the United States Army Nurse Corps. Through Frankie’s eyes, readers experience the trauma, loss, and courage of the Vietnam War,” she said. “There are also elements of a love story, so for a hopeless romantic, that was serendipitous.”
A message from Next Campaign:
— It’s been a year since Ontario named a family-medicine czar, Jane Phillpott, to tackle access. The Globe took a look.
— “A new poll suggests Ontarians are waiting too long for diagnostic tests and specialist appointments, causing unnecessary stress and putting patients’ health at risk.” Canadian Press has the story.
— “This holiday season, pharmacists will fill a genuine gap,” writes Iris Gorfinkel. “The problem is that Ontario may be expanding their scope without the data to know if patients will be better — or worse — off.”
— Education Minister Paul Calandra is hinting at changes to how Ontario certifies new teachers, with a heavier emphasis on hands-on training.
Meanwhile, Calandra is “launching a review into underused schools in some school boards.” Via CityNews.
— And per Colin D’Mello, the province is also wrestling with how AI is used in schools.
— “Ontario’s new kindergarten curriculum changes how kids will be taught to read, adds fractions and coding to math and even covers basic navigational skills.” More from The Star.
— “The Ford government wants Ontario schools to provide local police access to their grounds during extracurricular events, festivals and fundraisers, in addition to safety programs.” The Trillium has the details.
— “Employees at the LCBO’s headquarters in downtown Toronto will not have to report for full-time, in-office work in January, Global News has learned, after the Crown corporation said it couldn’t find enough space.”
— “A numbered company listing Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown and his wife as vice-president and president, respectively, has purchased a pair of properties on Main Street amid city council’s ongoing investments to revitalize the city’s downtown core.” The Brampton Guardian has more.
A message from Next Campaign:
Start the new year with the political and advocacy event everyone is talking about.
The Next Campaign Summit at The Carlu on January 15, 2026, brings together campaign staff, advocates, policymakers, candidates, strategists, organizers, and innovators who are shaping the future of campaigning and advocacy in Canada. Learn the newest tools, digital tactics, engagement strategies, and insights influencing both campaigns and public advocacy today. Register here.
— Seen: Premier Ford ducking questions about the Skills Development Fund-linked investigation of Labour Minister David Piccini.
A rare year-end chat with Doug Ford. “There’s always room for improvement,” he said of the SDF, though he doubled down on the controversial fund's upside.
On a looming cabinet shake-up: “I can’t answer that right now,” Ford told Deb Hutton. “I think we have a great cabinet. We have hard-working cabinet members.”
Meanwhile, he placed fourth for The Canadian Press Newsmaker of the Year.
Stephanie Smyth’s “The Scandal Before Christmas.” Smyth says she's not running for Liberal leader, while Ted Hsu says he’ll make his call in January.
Mike Crawley and Rob Cerjanec at the Ontario Young Liberals’ Christmas mixer at Firkin on Harbour on Friday night.
Marit Stiles on radio in French.
Over a year since her husband's death, Doly Begum on living with grief. “Grief is a strange little guest. It arrives uninvited, stays unwelcomed, and on occasions, at times expected and at other times, unexpected.”
The Tories’ Christmas video (with apologies to Neil Lumsden, whose shoot I nearly walked into).
Premier Ford's holiday card, feat. Karla Ford and the family dog, Kobe. No sign of his daughters this year. All Vic Fedeli wants for Christmas: rail service back to Timmins.
Holiday tunes, courtesy of the Liberal caucus.
— Keel Digital Solutions says the provincial funding cut “sends a message that money matters more than student mental health."
— Food blogger Clement Leung joined Stan Cho in the Legislative Dining Room to answer the question: what do politicians actually eat for lunch? Back in November, Rob Benzie gave Karon Liu a similar tasting tour. In case you’re wondering, the Dining Room and Quorum Café are closed starting today until Friday, January 2.
Thank you for reading POLICORNER. Rest up — and as always, keep the tips, gossip and screenshots coming. We’re back in your inbox on Monday, Jan. 12. See you on the other side.
Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up now.
Before we dig in, a programming note: We’re dialing it down for our own holiday recess. Rest assured, we’ll still be watching Queen’s Park — and if anything breaks, we’ll be in your inbox.
More to say later, but for now: whether you start your Mondays with us, scroll on the commute or forward our scoops to friends or bosses, we’re grateful you’re here.
We’ll be back bright and early on Monday, January 12.
If you’re scrambling for a last-minute Christmas present — or hunting for a cozy read by a fire — there's no shortage of good books to choose from. Here’s what those in and around the Pink Palace picked:
This year, Marit Stiles read The Knowing by Tanya Talaga. “Award-winning and bestselling Anishinaabe author Tanya Talaga retells the history of this country as only she can — through an Indigenous lens, beginning with the life of her great-great grandmother Annie Carpenter and her family as they experienced decades of government- and Church-sanctioned enfranchisement and genocide.”
(Yes, that Talaga — she spoke at the NDP’s convention earlier this year.)
Mayeesha Chowdhury, Stiles’ communications director, picked One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune and Takedown by Lily Chu.
Laryssa Waler, ex-communications director to Premier Ford and now CEO of Henley Strategies, put Values by Mark Carney on her list. For her, it’s about “understanding what Mark Carney has said about natural resources, his desire to keep Canadian oil in the ground and the need for a ‘big reset’ of our entire economy. “Maybe he’s changed his mind, but Canadians have a responsibility to make themselves aware of what he’s said on the topic.”
Waler also picked Art of the Deal by Donald Trump and Tony Schwartz. “It’s good to understand your opponent,” she said. “Understand what goes on in his head. How he uses leverage. How he can’t be trusted.”
Elizabeth Mendes, the chief of the Liberal Caucus Service Bureau, went with Dalton McGuinty’s Be a Good One: Words to Lead By. “I find myself looking through that book for inspirational quotes for my team,” she said.
So did Rob Cerjanec, who said his favourite part was McGuinty’s short introduction to each chapter.
“I am a big fan of Elizabeth Hay's writing, especially Late Nights on Air,” said Stephanie Bowman. This year, I read one of her newer books, Snow Road Station. I love that it is a fictional story that takes place in a real village in Ontario — that I had never heard of, that has such a fantastic name and is now a place I want to go explore! The story makes you reflect on the possibility of reconnecting with old friends who you have drifted apart from; and the possibilities that still lie ahead, even when you are past what you may consider your ‘prime.’”
As for Lorne Levy, the Liberal caucus’s media relations director, The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde made his list. “A witty, philosophical exploration of indulgence and morality — and a reminder that nothing lasts forever: not beauty, not youth, nor governments.”
Erin Morrison, a vice-president at Texture, picked All The Worst Humans by Phil Elwood.
For David Valentin, a principal at Liaison Strategies, the pick is Murdered Midas by Charlotte Gray. “It’s about a multi-millionaire who makes his money in Kirkland Lake and is murdered in the Bahamas. It’s a true crime but it’s also about power and the failure of institutions,” he said, noting the book’s welcome dose of provincial history.
Laura Walton, president of Ontario’s Federation of Labour, is reading Outclassed: How the Left Lost the Working Class and How to Win Them Back by Joan Williams. “It has been recommended to me by so many,” said Walton. “I’m really excited to read it and see how I can use the learnings in the implementation of the We Are One Power Plan.”
John Michael McGrath read Stuck: How the Privileged and the Propertied Broke the Engine of American Opportunity by Yoni Appelbaum. “If you’re obsessed with the housing crisis, as I am, this was easily one of the best books of 2025 on the topic, with a broad historical perspective that complements a lot of the debates around lighter, more popular books like Abundance by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson.”
Finally, Bobbi Ann Brady picked The Women by Kristin Hannah. “I love historical fiction, and this novel follows the life of Frankie McGrath, a 20-year-old nursing student who enlists in the United States Army Nurse Corps. Through Frankie’s eyes, readers experience the trauma, loss, and courage of the Vietnam War,” she said. “There are also elements of a love story, so for a hopeless romantic, that was serendipitous.”
A message from Next Campaign:
— It’s been a year since Ontario named a family-medicine czar, Jane Phillpott, to tackle access. The Globe took a look.
— “A new poll suggests Ontarians are waiting too long for diagnostic tests and specialist appointments, causing unnecessary stress and putting patients’ health at risk.” Canadian Press has the story.
— “This holiday season, pharmacists will fill a genuine gap,” writes Iris Gorfinkel. “The problem is that Ontario may be expanding their scope without the data to know if patients will be better — or worse — off.”
— Education Minister Paul Calandra is hinting at changes to how Ontario certifies new teachers, with a heavier emphasis on hands-on training.
Meanwhile, Calandra is “launching a review into underused schools in some school boards.” Via CityNews.
— And per Colin D’Mello, the province is also wrestling with how AI is used in schools.
— “Ontario’s new kindergarten curriculum changes how kids will be taught to read, adds fractions and coding to math and even covers basic navigational skills.” More from The Star.
— “The Ford government wants Ontario schools to provide local police access to their grounds during extracurricular events, festivals and fundraisers, in addition to safety programs.” The Trillium has the details.
— “Employees at the LCBO’s headquarters in downtown Toronto will not have to report for full-time, in-office work in January, Global News has learned, after the Crown corporation said it couldn’t find enough space.”
— “A numbered company listing Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown and his wife as vice-president and president, respectively, has purchased a pair of properties on Main Street amid city council’s ongoing investments to revitalize the city’s downtown core.” The Brampton Guardian has more.
A message from Next Campaign:
Start the new year with the political and advocacy event everyone is talking about.
The Next Campaign Summit at The Carlu on January 15, 2026, brings together campaign staff, advocates, policymakers, candidates, strategists, organizers, and innovators who are shaping the future of campaigning and advocacy in Canada. Learn the newest tools, digital tactics, engagement strategies, and insights influencing both campaigns and public advocacy today. Register here.
— Seen: Premier Ford ducking questions about the Skills Development Fund-linked investigation of Labour Minister David Piccini.
A rare year-end chat with Doug Ford. “There’s always room for improvement,” he said of the SDF, though he doubled down on the controversial fund's upside.
On a looming cabinet shake-up: “I can’t answer that right now,” Ford told Deb Hutton. “I think we have a great cabinet. We have hard-working cabinet members.”
Meanwhile, he placed fourth for The Canadian Press Newsmaker of the Year.
Stephanie Smyth’s “The Scandal Before Christmas.” Smyth says she's not running for Liberal leader, while Ted Hsu says he’ll make his call in January.
Mike Crawley and Rob Cerjanec at the Ontario Young Liberals’ Christmas mixer at Firkin on Harbour on Friday night.
Marit Stiles on radio in French.
Over a year since her husband's death, Doly Begum on living with grief. “Grief is a strange little guest. It arrives uninvited, stays unwelcomed, and on occasions, at times expected and at other times, unexpected.”
The Tories’ Christmas video (with apologies to Neil Lumsden, whose shoot I nearly walked into).
Premier Ford's holiday card, feat. Karla Ford and the family dog, Kobe. No sign of his daughters this year. All Vic Fedeli wants for Christmas: rail service back to Timmins.
Holiday tunes, courtesy of the Liberal caucus.
— Keel Digital Solutions says the provincial funding cut “sends a message that money matters more than student mental health."
— Food blogger Clement Leung joined Stan Cho in the Legislative Dining Room to answer the question: what do politicians actually eat for lunch? Back in November, Rob Benzie gave Karon Liu a similar tasting tour. In case you’re wondering, the Dining Room and Quorum Café are closed starting today until Friday, January 2.
Thank you for reading POLICORNER. Rest up — and as always, keep the tips, gossip and screenshots coming. We’re back in your inbox on Monday, Jan. 12. See you on the other side.
Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up now.
Before we dig in, a programming note: We’re dialing it down for our own holiday recess. Rest assured, we’ll still be watching Queen’s Park — and if anything breaks, we’ll be in your inbox.
More to say later, but for now: whether you start your Mondays with us, scroll on the commute or forward our scoops to friends or bosses, we’re grateful you’re here.
We’ll be back bright and early on Monday, January 12.
If you’re scrambling for a last-minute Christmas present — or hunting for a cozy read by a fire — there's no shortage of good books to choose from. Here’s what those in and around the Pink Palace picked:
This year, Marit Stiles read The Knowing by Tanya Talaga. “Award-winning and bestselling Anishinaabe author Tanya Talaga retells the history of this country as only she can — through an Indigenous lens, beginning with the life of her great-great grandmother Annie Carpenter and her family as they experienced decades of government- and Church-sanctioned enfranchisement and genocide.”
(Yes, that Talaga — she spoke at the NDP’s convention earlier this year.)
Mayeesha Chowdhury, Stiles’ communications director, picked One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune and Takedown by Lily Chu.
Laryssa Waler, ex-communications director to Premier Ford and now CEO of Henley Strategies, put Values by Mark Carney on her list. For her, it’s about “understanding what Mark Carney has said about natural resources, his desire to keep Canadian oil in the ground and the need for a ‘big reset’ of our entire economy. “Maybe he’s changed his mind, but Canadians have a responsibility to make themselves aware of what he’s said on the topic.”
Waler also picked Art of the Deal by Donald Trump and Tony Schwartz. “It’s good to understand your opponent,” she said. “Understand what goes on in his head. How he uses leverage. How he can’t be trusted.”
Elizabeth Mendes, the chief of the Liberal Caucus Service Bureau, went with Dalton McGuinty’s Be a Good One: Words to Lead By. “I find myself looking through that book for inspirational quotes for my team,” she said.
So did Rob Cerjanec, who said his favourite part was McGuinty’s short introduction to each chapter.
“I am a big fan of Elizabeth Hay's writing, especially Late Nights on Air,” said Stephanie Bowman. This year, I read one of her newer books, Snow Road Station. I love that it is a fictional story that takes place in a real village in Ontario — that I had never heard of, that has such a fantastic name and is now a place I want to go explore! The story makes you reflect on the possibility of reconnecting with old friends who you have drifted apart from; and the possibilities that still lie ahead, even when you are past what you may consider your ‘prime.’”
As for Lorne Levy, the Liberal caucus’s media relations director, The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde made his list. “A witty, philosophical exploration of indulgence and morality — and a reminder that nothing lasts forever: not beauty, not youth, nor governments.”
Erin Morrison, a vice-president at Texture, picked All The Worst Humans by Phil Elwood.
For David Valentin, a principal at Liaison Strategies, the pick is Murdered Midas by Charlotte Gray. “It’s about a multi-millionaire who makes his money in Kirkland Lake and is murdered in the Bahamas. It’s a true crime but it’s also about power and the failure of institutions,” he said, noting the book’s welcome dose of provincial history.
Laura Walton, president of Ontario’s Federation of Labour, is reading Outclassed: How the Left Lost the Working Class and How to Win Them Back by Joan Williams. “It has been recommended to me by so many,” said Walton. “I’m really excited to read it and see how I can use the learnings in the implementation of the We Are One Power Plan.”
John Michael McGrath read Stuck: How the Privileged and the Propertied Broke the Engine of American Opportunity by Yoni Appelbaum. “If you’re obsessed with the housing crisis, as I am, this was easily one of the best books of 2025 on the topic, with a broad historical perspective that complements a lot of the debates around lighter, more popular books like Abundance by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson.”
Finally, Bobbi Ann Brady picked The Women by Kristin Hannah. “I love historical fiction, and this novel follows the life of Frankie McGrath, a 20-year-old nursing student who enlists in the United States Army Nurse Corps. Through Frankie’s eyes, readers experience the trauma, loss, and courage of the Vietnam War,” she said. “There are also elements of a love story, so for a hopeless romantic, that was serendipitous.”
A message from Next Campaign:
— It’s been a year since Ontario named a family-medicine czar, Jane Phillpott, to tackle access. The Globe took a look.
— “A new poll suggests Ontarians are waiting too long for diagnostic tests and specialist appointments, causing unnecessary stress and putting patients’ health at risk.” Canadian Press has the story.
— “This holiday season, pharmacists will fill a genuine gap,” writes Iris Gorfinkel. “The problem is that Ontario may be expanding their scope without the data to know if patients will be better — or worse — off.”
— Education Minister Paul Calandra is hinting at changes to how Ontario certifies new teachers, with a heavier emphasis on hands-on training.
Meanwhile, Calandra is “launching a review into underused schools in some school boards.” Via CityNews.
— And per Colin D’Mello, the province is also wrestling with how AI is used in schools.
— “Ontario’s new kindergarten curriculum changes how kids will be taught to read, adds fractions and coding to math and even covers basic navigational skills.” More from The Star.
— “The Ford government wants Ontario schools to provide local police access to their grounds during extracurricular events, festivals and fundraisers, in addition to safety programs.” The Trillium has the details.
— “Employees at the LCBO’s headquarters in downtown Toronto will not have to report for full-time, in-office work in January, Global News has learned, after the Crown corporation said it couldn’t find enough space.”
— “A numbered company listing Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown and his wife as vice-president and president, respectively, has purchased a pair of properties on Main Street amid city council’s ongoing investments to revitalize the city’s downtown core.” The Brampton Guardian has more.
A message from Next Campaign:
Start the new year with the political and advocacy event everyone is talking about.
The Next Campaign Summit at The Carlu on January 15, 2026, brings together campaign staff, advocates, policymakers, candidates, strategists, organizers, and innovators who are shaping the future of campaigning and advocacy in Canada. Learn the newest tools, digital tactics, engagement strategies, and insights influencing both campaigns and public advocacy today. Register here.
— Seen: Premier Ford ducking questions about the Skills Development Fund-linked investigation of Labour Minister David Piccini.
A rare year-end chat with Doug Ford. “There’s always room for improvement,” he said of the SDF, though he doubled down on the controversial fund's upside.
On a looming cabinet shake-up: “I can’t answer that right now,” Ford told Deb Hutton. “I think we have a great cabinet. We have hard-working cabinet members.”
Meanwhile, he placed fourth for The Canadian Press Newsmaker of the Year.
Stephanie Smyth’s “The Scandal Before Christmas.” Smyth says she's not running for Liberal leader, while Ted Hsu says he’ll make his call in January.
Mike Crawley and Rob Cerjanec at the Ontario Young Liberals’ Christmas mixer at Firkin on Harbour on Friday night.
Marit Stiles on radio in French.
Over a year since her husband's death, Doly Begum on living with grief. “Grief is a strange little guest. It arrives uninvited, stays unwelcomed, and on occasions, at times expected and at other times, unexpected.”
The Tories’ Christmas video (with apologies to Neil Lumsden, whose shoot I nearly walked into).
Premier Ford's holiday card, feat. Karla Ford and the family dog, Kobe. No sign of his daughters this year. All Vic Fedeli wants for Christmas: rail service back to Timmins.
Holiday tunes, courtesy of the Liberal caucus.
— Keel Digital Solutions says the provincial funding cut “sends a message that money matters more than student mental health."
— Food blogger Clement Leung joined Stan Cho in the Legislative Dining Room to answer the question: what do politicians actually eat for lunch? Back in November, Rob Benzie gave Karon Liu a similar tasting tour. In case you’re wondering, the Dining Room and Quorum Café are closed starting today until Friday, January 2.
Thank you for reading POLICORNER. Rest up — and as always, keep the tips, gossip and screenshots coming. We’re back in your inbox on Monday, Jan. 12. See you on the other side.
Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up now.
Before we dig in, a programming note: We’re dialing it down for our own holiday recess. Rest assured, we’ll still be watching Queen’s Park — and if anything breaks, we’ll be in your inbox.
More to say later, but for now: whether you start your Mondays with us, scroll on the commute or forward our scoops to friends or bosses, we’re grateful you’re here.
We’ll be back bright and early on Monday, January 12.
If you’re scrambling for a last-minute Christmas present — or hunting for a cozy read by a fire — there's no shortage of good books to choose from. Here’s what those in and around the Pink Palace picked:
This year, Marit Stiles read The Knowing by Tanya Talaga. “Award-winning and bestselling Anishinaabe author Tanya Talaga retells the history of this country as only she can — through an Indigenous lens, beginning with the life of her great-great grandmother Annie Carpenter and her family as they experienced decades of government- and Church-sanctioned enfranchisement and genocide.”
(Yes, that Talaga — she spoke at the NDP’s convention earlier this year.)
Mayeesha Chowdhury, Stiles’ communications director, picked One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune and Takedown by Lily Chu.
Laryssa Waler, ex-communications director to Premier Ford and now CEO of Henley Strategies, put Values by Mark Carney on her list. For her, it’s about “understanding what Mark Carney has said about natural resources, his desire to keep Canadian oil in the ground and the need for a ‘big reset’ of our entire economy. “Maybe he’s changed his mind, but Canadians have a responsibility to make themselves aware of what he’s said on the topic.”
Waler also picked Art of the Deal by Donald Trump and Tony Schwartz. “It’s good to understand your opponent,” she said. “Understand what goes on in his head. How he uses leverage. How he can’t be trusted.”
Elizabeth Mendes, the chief of the Liberal Caucus Service Bureau, went with Dalton McGuinty’s Be a Good One: Words to Lead By. “I find myself looking through that book for inspirational quotes for my team,” she said.
So did Rob Cerjanec, who said his favourite part was McGuinty’s short introduction to each chapter.
“I am a big fan of Elizabeth Hay's writing, especially Late Nights on Air,” said Stephanie Bowman. This year, I read one of her newer books, Snow Road Station. I love that it is a fictional story that takes place in a real village in Ontario — that I had never heard of, that has such a fantastic name and is now a place I want to go explore! The story makes you reflect on the possibility of reconnecting with old friends who you have drifted apart from; and the possibilities that still lie ahead, even when you are past what you may consider your ‘prime.’”
As for Lorne Levy, the Liberal caucus’s media relations director, The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde made his list. “A witty, philosophical exploration of indulgence and morality — and a reminder that nothing lasts forever: not beauty, not youth, nor governments.”
Erin Morrison, a vice-president at Texture, picked All The Worst Humans by Phil Elwood.
For David Valentin, a principal at Liaison Strategies, the pick is Murdered Midas by Charlotte Gray. “It’s about a multi-millionaire who makes his money in Kirkland Lake and is murdered in the Bahamas. It’s a true crime but it’s also about power and the failure of institutions,” he said, noting the book’s welcome dose of provincial history.
Laura Walton, president of Ontario’s Federation of Labour, is reading Outclassed: How the Left Lost the Working Class and How to Win Them Back by Joan Williams. “It has been recommended to me by so many,” said Walton. “I’m really excited to read it and see how I can use the learnings in the implementation of the We Are One Power Plan.”
John Michael McGrath read Stuck: How the Privileged and the Propertied Broke the Engine of American Opportunity by Yoni Appelbaum. “If you’re obsessed with the housing crisis, as I am, this was easily one of the best books of 2025 on the topic, with a broad historical perspective that complements a lot of the debates around lighter, more popular books like Abundance by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson.”
Finally, Bobbi Ann Brady picked The Women by Kristin Hannah. “I love historical fiction, and this novel follows the life of Frankie McGrath, a 20-year-old nursing student who enlists in the United States Army Nurse Corps. Through Frankie’s eyes, readers experience the trauma, loss, and courage of the Vietnam War,” she said. “There are also elements of a love story, so for a hopeless romantic, that was serendipitous.”
A message from Next Campaign:
— It’s been a year since Ontario named a family-medicine czar, Jane Phillpott, to tackle access. The Globe took a look.
— “A new poll suggests Ontarians are waiting too long for diagnostic tests and specialist appointments, causing unnecessary stress and putting patients’ health at risk.” Canadian Press has the story.
— “This holiday season, pharmacists will fill a genuine gap,” writes Iris Gorfinkel. “The problem is that Ontario may be expanding their scope without the data to know if patients will be better — or worse — off.”
— Education Minister Paul Calandra is hinting at changes to how Ontario certifies new teachers, with a heavier emphasis on hands-on training.
Meanwhile, Calandra is “launching a review into underused schools in some school boards.” Via CityNews.
— And per Colin D’Mello, the province is also wrestling with how AI is used in schools.
— “Ontario’s new kindergarten curriculum changes how kids will be taught to read, adds fractions and coding to math and even covers basic navigational skills.” More from The Star.
— “The Ford government wants Ontario schools to provide local police access to their grounds during extracurricular events, festivals and fundraisers, in addition to safety programs.” The Trillium has the details.
— “Employees at the LCBO’s headquarters in downtown Toronto will not have to report for full-time, in-office work in January, Global News has learned, after the Crown corporation said it couldn’t find enough space.”
— “A numbered company listing Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown and his wife as vice-president and president, respectively, has purchased a pair of properties on Main Street amid city council’s ongoing investments to revitalize the city’s downtown core.” The Brampton Guardian has more.
A message from Next Campaign:
Start the new year with the political and advocacy event everyone is talking about.
The Next Campaign Summit at The Carlu on January 15, 2026, brings together campaign staff, advocates, policymakers, candidates, strategists, organizers, and innovators who are shaping the future of campaigning and advocacy in Canada. Learn the newest tools, digital tactics, engagement strategies, and insights influencing both campaigns and public advocacy today. Register here.
— Seen: Premier Ford ducking questions about the Skills Development Fund-linked investigation of Labour Minister David Piccini.
A rare year-end chat with Doug Ford. “There’s always room for improvement,” he said of the SDF, though he doubled down on the controversial fund's upside.
On a looming cabinet shake-up: “I can’t answer that right now,” Ford told Deb Hutton. “I think we have a great cabinet. We have hard-working cabinet members.”
Meanwhile, he placed fourth for The Canadian Press Newsmaker of the Year.
Stephanie Smyth’s “The Scandal Before Christmas.” Smyth says she's not running for Liberal leader, while Ted Hsu says he’ll make his call in January.
Mike Crawley and Rob Cerjanec at the Ontario Young Liberals’ Christmas mixer at Firkin on Harbour on Friday night.
Marit Stiles on radio in French.
Over a year since her husband's death, Doly Begum on living with grief. “Grief is a strange little guest. It arrives uninvited, stays unwelcomed, and on occasions, at times expected and at other times, unexpected.”
The Tories’ Christmas video (with apologies to Neil Lumsden, whose shoot I nearly walked into).
Premier Ford's holiday card, feat. Karla Ford and the family dog, Kobe. No sign of his daughters this year. All Vic Fedeli wants for Christmas: rail service back to Timmins.
Holiday tunes, courtesy of the Liberal caucus.
— Keel Digital Solutions says the provincial funding cut “sends a message that money matters more than student mental health."
— Food blogger Clement Leung joined Stan Cho in the Legislative Dining Room to answer the question: what do politicians actually eat for lunch? Back in November, Rob Benzie gave Karon Liu a similar tasting tour. In case you’re wondering, the Dining Room and Quorum Café are closed starting today until Friday, January 2.
Thank you for reading POLICORNER. Rest up — and as always, keep the tips, gossip and screenshots coming. We’re back in your inbox on Monday, Jan. 12. See you on the other side.
Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up now.
Before we dig in, a programming note: We’re dialing it down for our own holiday recess. Rest assured, we’ll still be watching Queen’s Park — and if anything breaks, we’ll be in your inbox.
More to say later, but for now: whether you start your Mondays with us, scroll on the commute or forward our scoops to friends or bosses, we’re grateful you’re here.
We’ll be back bright and early on Monday, January 12.
If you’re scrambling for a last-minute Christmas present — or hunting for a cozy read by a fire — there's no shortage of good books to choose from. Here’s what those in and around the Pink Palace picked:
This year, Marit Stiles read The Knowing by Tanya Talaga. “Award-winning and bestselling Anishinaabe author Tanya Talaga retells the history of this country as only she can — through an Indigenous lens, beginning with the life of her great-great grandmother Annie Carpenter and her family as they experienced decades of government- and Church-sanctioned enfranchisement and genocide.”
(Yes, that Talaga — she spoke at the NDP’s convention earlier this year.)
Mayeesha Chowdhury, Stiles’ communications director, picked One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune and Takedown by Lily Chu.
Laryssa Waler, ex-communications director to Premier Ford and now CEO of Henley Strategies, put Values by Mark Carney on her list. For her, it’s about “understanding what Mark Carney has said about natural resources, his desire to keep Canadian oil in the ground and the need for a ‘big reset’ of our entire economy. “Maybe he’s changed his mind, but Canadians have a responsibility to make themselves aware of what he’s said on the topic.”
Waler also picked Art of the Deal by Donald Trump and Tony Schwartz. “It’s good to understand your opponent,” she said. “Understand what goes on in his head. How he uses leverage. How he can’t be trusted.”
Elizabeth Mendes, the chief of the Liberal Caucus Service Bureau, went with Dalton McGuinty’s Be a Good One: Words to Lead By. “I find myself looking through that book for inspirational quotes for my team,” she said.
So did Rob Cerjanec, who said his favourite part was McGuinty’s short introduction to each chapter.
“I am a big fan of Elizabeth Hay's writing, especially Late Nights on Air,” said Stephanie Bowman. This year, I read one of her newer books, Snow Road Station. I love that it is a fictional story that takes place in a real village in Ontario — that I had never heard of, that has such a fantastic name and is now a place I want to go explore! The story makes you reflect on the possibility of reconnecting with old friends who you have drifted apart from; and the possibilities that still lie ahead, even when you are past what you may consider your ‘prime.’”
As for Lorne Levy, the Liberal caucus’s media relations director, The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde made his list. “A witty, philosophical exploration of indulgence and morality — and a reminder that nothing lasts forever: not beauty, not youth, nor governments.”
Erin Morrison, a vice-president at Texture, picked All The Worst Humans by Phil Elwood.
For David Valentin, a principal at Liaison Strategies, the pick is Murdered Midas by Charlotte Gray. “It’s about a multi-millionaire who makes his money in Kirkland Lake and is murdered in the Bahamas. It’s a true crime but it’s also about power and the failure of institutions,” he said, noting the book’s welcome dose of provincial history.
Laura Walton, president of Ontario’s Federation of Labour, is reading Outclassed: How the Left Lost the Working Class and How to Win Them Back by Joan Williams. “It has been recommended to me by so many,” said Walton. “I’m really excited to read it and see how I can use the learnings in the implementation of the We Are One Power Plan.”
John Michael McGrath read Stuck: How the Privileged and the Propertied Broke the Engine of American Opportunity by Yoni Appelbaum. “If you’re obsessed with the housing crisis, as I am, this was easily one of the best books of 2025 on the topic, with a broad historical perspective that complements a lot of the debates around lighter, more popular books like Abundance by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson.”
Finally, Bobbi Ann Brady picked The Women by Kristin Hannah. “I love historical fiction, and this novel follows the life of Frankie McGrath, a 20-year-old nursing student who enlists in the United States Army Nurse Corps. Through Frankie’s eyes, readers experience the trauma, loss, and courage of the Vietnam War,” she said. “There are also elements of a love story, so for a hopeless romantic, that was serendipitous.”
A message from Next Campaign:
— It’s been a year since Ontario named a family-medicine czar, Jane Phillpott, to tackle access. The Globe took a look.
— “A new poll suggests Ontarians are waiting too long for diagnostic tests and specialist appointments, causing unnecessary stress and putting patients’ health at risk.” Canadian Press has the story.
— “This holiday season, pharmacists will fill a genuine gap,” writes Iris Gorfinkel. “The problem is that Ontario may be expanding their scope without the data to know if patients will be better — or worse — off.”
— Education Minister Paul Calandra is hinting at changes to how Ontario certifies new teachers, with a heavier emphasis on hands-on training.
Meanwhile, Calandra is “launching a review into underused schools in some school boards.” Via CityNews.
— And per Colin D’Mello, the province is also wrestling with how AI is used in schools.
— “Ontario’s new kindergarten curriculum changes how kids will be taught to read, adds fractions and coding to math and even covers basic navigational skills.” More from The Star.
— “The Ford government wants Ontario schools to provide local police access to their grounds during extracurricular events, festivals and fundraisers, in addition to safety programs.” The Trillium has the details.
— “Employees at the LCBO’s headquarters in downtown Toronto will not have to report for full-time, in-office work in January, Global News has learned, after the Crown corporation said it couldn’t find enough space.”
— “A numbered company listing Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown and his wife as vice-president and president, respectively, has purchased a pair of properties on Main Street amid city council’s ongoing investments to revitalize the city’s downtown core.” The Brampton Guardian has more.
A message from Next Campaign:
Start the new year with the political and advocacy event everyone is talking about.
The Next Campaign Summit at The Carlu on January 15, 2026, brings together campaign staff, advocates, policymakers, candidates, strategists, organizers, and innovators who are shaping the future of campaigning and advocacy in Canada. Learn the newest tools, digital tactics, engagement strategies, and insights influencing both campaigns and public advocacy today. Register here.
— Seen: Premier Ford ducking questions about the Skills Development Fund-linked investigation of Labour Minister David Piccini.
A rare year-end chat with Doug Ford. “There’s always room for improvement,” he said of the SDF, though he doubled down on the controversial fund's upside.
On a looming cabinet shake-up: “I can’t answer that right now,” Ford told Deb Hutton. “I think we have a great cabinet. We have hard-working cabinet members.”
Meanwhile, he placed fourth for The Canadian Press Newsmaker of the Year.
Stephanie Smyth’s “The Scandal Before Christmas.” Smyth says she's not running for Liberal leader, while Ted Hsu says he’ll make his call in January.
Mike Crawley and Rob Cerjanec at the Ontario Young Liberals’ Christmas mixer at Firkin on Harbour on Friday night.
Marit Stiles on radio in French.
Over a year since her husband's death, Doly Begum on living with grief. “Grief is a strange little guest. It arrives uninvited, stays unwelcomed, and on occasions, at times expected and at other times, unexpected.”
The Tories’ Christmas video (with apologies to Neil Lumsden, whose shoot I nearly walked into).
Premier Ford's holiday card, feat. Karla Ford and the family dog, Kobe. No sign of his daughters this year. All Vic Fedeli wants for Christmas: rail service back to Timmins.
Holiday tunes, courtesy of the Liberal caucus.
— Keel Digital Solutions says the provincial funding cut “sends a message that money matters more than student mental health."
— Food blogger Clement Leung joined Stan Cho in the Legislative Dining Room to answer the question: what do politicians actually eat for lunch? Back in November, Rob Benzie gave Karon Liu a similar tasting tour. In case you’re wondering, the Dining Room and Quorum Café are closed starting today until Friday, January 2.
Thank you for reading POLICORNER. Rest up — and as always, keep the tips, gossip and screenshots coming. We’re back in your inbox on Monday, Jan. 12. See you on the other side.
Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up now.
Before we dig in, a programming note: We’re dialing it down for our own holiday recess. Rest assured, we’ll still be watching Queen’s Park — and if anything breaks, we’ll be in your inbox.
More to say later, but for now: whether you start your Mondays with us, scroll on the commute or forward our scoops to friends or bosses, we’re grateful you’re here.
We’ll be back bright and early on Monday, January 12.
If you’re scrambling for a last-minute Christmas present — or hunting for a cozy read by a fire — there's no shortage of good books to choose from. Here’s what those in and around the Pink Palace picked:
This year, Marit Stiles read The Knowing by Tanya Talaga. “Award-winning and bestselling Anishinaabe author Tanya Talaga retells the history of this country as only she can — through an Indigenous lens, beginning with the life of her great-great grandmother Annie Carpenter and her family as they experienced decades of government- and Church-sanctioned enfranchisement and genocide.”
(Yes, that Talaga — she spoke at the NDP’s convention earlier this year.)
Mayeesha Chowdhury, Stiles’ communications director, picked One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune and Takedown by Lily Chu.
Laryssa Waler, ex-communications director to Premier Ford and now CEO of Henley Strategies, put Values by Mark Carney on her list. For her, it’s about “understanding what Mark Carney has said about natural resources, his desire to keep Canadian oil in the ground and the need for a ‘big reset’ of our entire economy. “Maybe he’s changed his mind, but Canadians have a responsibility to make themselves aware of what he’s said on the topic.”
Waler also picked Art of the Deal by Donald Trump and Tony Schwartz. “It’s good to understand your opponent,” she said. “Understand what goes on in his head. How he uses leverage. How he can’t be trusted.”
Elizabeth Mendes, the chief of the Liberal Caucus Service Bureau, went with Dalton McGuinty’s Be a Good One: Words to Lead By. “I find myself looking through that book for inspirational quotes for my team,” she said.
So did Rob Cerjanec, who said his favourite part was McGuinty’s short introduction to each chapter.
“I am a big fan of Elizabeth Hay's writing, especially Late Nights on Air,” said Stephanie Bowman. This year, I read one of her newer books, Snow Road Station. I love that it is a fictional story that takes place in a real village in Ontario — that I had never heard of, that has such a fantastic name and is now a place I want to go explore! The story makes you reflect on the possibility of reconnecting with old friends who you have drifted apart from; and the possibilities that still lie ahead, even when you are past what you may consider your ‘prime.’”
As for Lorne Levy, the Liberal caucus’s media relations director, The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde made his list. “A witty, philosophical exploration of indulgence and morality — and a reminder that nothing lasts forever: not beauty, not youth, nor governments.”
Erin Morrison, a vice-president at Texture, picked All The Worst Humans by Phil Elwood.
For David Valentin, a principal at Liaison Strategies, the pick is Murdered Midas by Charlotte Gray. “It’s about a multi-millionaire who makes his money in Kirkland Lake and is murdered in the Bahamas. It’s a true crime but it’s also about power and the failure of institutions,” he said, noting the book’s welcome dose of provincial history.
Laura Walton, president of Ontario’s Federation of Labour, is reading Outclassed: How the Left Lost the Working Class and How to Win Them Back by Joan Williams. “It has been recommended to me by so many,” said Walton. “I’m really excited to read it and see how I can use the learnings in the implementation of the We Are One Power Plan.”
John Michael McGrath read Stuck: How the Privileged and the Propertied Broke the Engine of American Opportunity by Yoni Appelbaum. “If you’re obsessed with the housing crisis, as I am, this was easily one of the best books of 2025 on the topic, with a broad historical perspective that complements a lot of the debates around lighter, more popular books like Abundance by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson.”
Finally, Bobbi Ann Brady picked The Women by Kristin Hannah. “I love historical fiction, and this novel follows the life of Frankie McGrath, a 20-year-old nursing student who enlists in the United States Army Nurse Corps. Through Frankie’s eyes, readers experience the trauma, loss, and courage of the Vietnam War,” she said. “There are also elements of a love story, so for a hopeless romantic, that was serendipitous.”
A message from Next Campaign:
— It’s been a year since Ontario named a family-medicine czar, Jane Phillpott, to tackle access. The Globe took a look.
— “A new poll suggests Ontarians are waiting too long for diagnostic tests and specialist appointments, causing unnecessary stress and putting patients’ health at risk.” Canadian Press has the story.
— “This holiday season, pharmacists will fill a genuine gap,” writes Iris Gorfinkel. “The problem is that Ontario may be expanding their scope without the data to know if patients will be better — or worse — off.”
— Education Minister Paul Calandra is hinting at changes to how Ontario certifies new teachers, with a heavier emphasis on hands-on training.
Meanwhile, Calandra is “launching a review into underused schools in some school boards.” Via CityNews.
— And per Colin D’Mello, the province is also wrestling with how AI is used in schools.
— “Ontario’s new kindergarten curriculum changes how kids will be taught to read, adds fractions and coding to math and even covers basic navigational skills.” More from The Star.
— “The Ford government wants Ontario schools to provide local police access to their grounds during extracurricular events, festivals and fundraisers, in addition to safety programs.” The Trillium has the details.
— “Employees at the LCBO’s headquarters in downtown Toronto will not have to report for full-time, in-office work in January, Global News has learned, after the Crown corporation said it couldn’t find enough space.”
— “A numbered company listing Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown and his wife as vice-president and president, respectively, has purchased a pair of properties on Main Street amid city council’s ongoing investments to revitalize the city’s downtown core.” The Brampton Guardian has more.
A message from Next Campaign:
Start the new year with the political and advocacy event everyone is talking about.
The Next Campaign Summit at The Carlu on January 15, 2026, brings together campaign staff, advocates, policymakers, candidates, strategists, organizers, and innovators who are shaping the future of campaigning and advocacy in Canada. Learn the newest tools, digital tactics, engagement strategies, and insights influencing both campaigns and public advocacy today. Register here.
— Seen: Premier Ford ducking questions about the Skills Development Fund-linked investigation of Labour Minister David Piccini.
A rare year-end chat with Doug Ford. “There’s always room for improvement,” he said of the SDF, though he doubled down on the controversial fund's upside.
On a looming cabinet shake-up: “I can’t answer that right now,” Ford told Deb Hutton. “I think we have a great cabinet. We have hard-working cabinet members.”
Meanwhile, he placed fourth for The Canadian Press Newsmaker of the Year.
Stephanie Smyth’s “The Scandal Before Christmas.” Smyth says she's not running for Liberal leader, while Ted Hsu says he’ll make his call in January.
Mike Crawley and Rob Cerjanec at the Ontario Young Liberals’ Christmas mixer at Firkin on Harbour on Friday night.
Marit Stiles on radio in French.
Over a year since her husband's death, Doly Begum on living with grief. “Grief is a strange little guest. It arrives uninvited, stays unwelcomed, and on occasions, at times expected and at other times, unexpected.”
The Tories’ Christmas video (with apologies to Neil Lumsden, whose shoot I nearly walked into).
Premier Ford's holiday card, feat. Karla Ford and the family dog, Kobe. No sign of his daughters this year. All Vic Fedeli wants for Christmas: rail service back to Timmins.
Holiday tunes, courtesy of the Liberal caucus.
— Keel Digital Solutions says the provincial funding cut “sends a message that money matters more than student mental health."
— Food blogger Clement Leung joined Stan Cho in the Legislative Dining Room to answer the question: what do politicians actually eat for lunch? Back in November, Rob Benzie gave Karon Liu a similar tasting tour. In case you’re wondering, the Dining Room and Quorum Café are closed starting today until Friday, January 2.
Thank you for reading POLICORNER. Rest up — and as always, keep the tips, gossip and screenshots coming. We’re back in your inbox on Monday, Jan. 12. See you on the other side.
Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up now.
Before we dig in, a programming note: We’re dialing it down for our own holiday recess. Rest assured, we’ll still be watching Queen’s Park — and if anything breaks, we’ll be in your inbox.
More to say later, but for now: whether you start your Mondays with us, scroll on the commute or forward our scoops to friends or bosses, we’re grateful you’re here.
We’ll be back bright and early on Monday, January 12.
If you’re scrambling for a last-minute Christmas present — or hunting for a cozy read by a fire — there's no shortage of good books to choose from. Here’s what those in and around the Pink Palace picked:
This year, Marit Stiles read The Knowing by Tanya Talaga. “Award-winning and bestselling Anishinaabe author Tanya Talaga retells the history of this country as only she can — through an Indigenous lens, beginning with the life of her great-great grandmother Annie Carpenter and her family as they experienced decades of government- and Church-sanctioned enfranchisement and genocide.”
(Yes, that Talaga — she spoke at the NDP’s convention earlier this year.)
Mayeesha Chowdhury, Stiles’ communications director, picked One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune and Takedown by Lily Chu.
Laryssa Waler, ex-communications director to Premier Ford and now CEO of Henley Strategies, put Values by Mark Carney on her list. For her, it’s about “understanding what Mark Carney has said about natural resources, his desire to keep Canadian oil in the ground and the need for a ‘big reset’ of our entire economy. “Maybe he’s changed his mind, but Canadians have a responsibility to make themselves aware of what he’s said on the topic.”
Waler also picked Art of the Deal by Donald Trump and Tony Schwartz. “It’s good to understand your opponent,” she said. “Understand what goes on in his head. How he uses leverage. How he can’t be trusted.”
Elizabeth Mendes, the chief of the Liberal Caucus Service Bureau, went with Dalton McGuinty’s Be a Good One: Words to Lead By. “I find myself looking through that book for inspirational quotes for my team,” she said.
So did Rob Cerjanec, who said his favourite part was McGuinty’s short introduction to each chapter.
“I am a big fan of Elizabeth Hay's writing, especially Late Nights on Air,” said Stephanie Bowman. This year, I read one of her newer books, Snow Road Station. I love that it is a fictional story that takes place in a real village in Ontario — that I had never heard of, that has such a fantastic name and is now a place I want to go explore! The story makes you reflect on the possibility of reconnecting with old friends who you have drifted apart from; and the possibilities that still lie ahead, even when you are past what you may consider your ‘prime.’”
As for Lorne Levy, the Liberal caucus’s media relations director, The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde made his list. “A witty, philosophical exploration of indulgence and morality — and a reminder that nothing lasts forever: not beauty, not youth, nor governments.”
Erin Morrison, a vice-president at Texture, picked All The Worst Humans by Phil Elwood.
For David Valentin, a principal at Liaison Strategies, the pick is Murdered Midas by Charlotte Gray. “It’s about a multi-millionaire who makes his money in Kirkland Lake and is murdered in the Bahamas. It’s a true crime but it’s also about power and the failure of institutions,” he said, noting the book’s welcome dose of provincial history.
Laura Walton, president of Ontario’s Federation of Labour, is reading Outclassed: How the Left Lost the Working Class and How to Win Them Back by Joan Williams. “It has been recommended to me by so many,” said Walton. “I’m really excited to read it and see how I can use the learnings in the implementation of the We Are One Power Plan.”
John Michael McGrath read Stuck: How the Privileged and the Propertied Broke the Engine of American Opportunity by Yoni Appelbaum. “If you’re obsessed with the housing crisis, as I am, this was easily one of the best books of 2025 on the topic, with a broad historical perspective that complements a lot of the debates around lighter, more popular books like Abundance by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson.”
Finally, Bobbi Ann Brady picked The Women by Kristin Hannah. “I love historical fiction, and this novel follows the life of Frankie McGrath, a 20-year-old nursing student who enlists in the United States Army Nurse Corps. Through Frankie’s eyes, readers experience the trauma, loss, and courage of the Vietnam War,” she said. “There are also elements of a love story, so for a hopeless romantic, that was serendipitous.”
A message from Next Campaign:
— It’s been a year since Ontario named a family-medicine czar, Jane Phillpott, to tackle access. The Globe took a look.
— “A new poll suggests Ontarians are waiting too long for diagnostic tests and specialist appointments, causing unnecessary stress and putting patients’ health at risk.” Canadian Press has the story.
— “This holiday season, pharmacists will fill a genuine gap,” writes Iris Gorfinkel. “The problem is that Ontario may be expanding their scope without the data to know if patients will be better — or worse — off.”
— Education Minister Paul Calandra is hinting at changes to how Ontario certifies new teachers, with a heavier emphasis on hands-on training.
Meanwhile, Calandra is “launching a review into underused schools in some school boards.” Via CityNews.
— And per Colin D’Mello, the province is also wrestling with how AI is used in schools.
— “Ontario’s new kindergarten curriculum changes how kids will be taught to read, adds fractions and coding to math and even covers basic navigational skills.” More from The Star.
— “The Ford government wants Ontario schools to provide local police access to their grounds during extracurricular events, festivals and fundraisers, in addition to safety programs.” The Trillium has the details.
— “Employees at the LCBO’s headquarters in downtown Toronto will not have to report for full-time, in-office work in January, Global News has learned, after the Crown corporation said it couldn’t find enough space.”
— “A numbered company listing Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown and his wife as vice-president and president, respectively, has purchased a pair of properties on Main Street amid city council’s ongoing investments to revitalize the city’s downtown core.” The Brampton Guardian has more.
A message from Next Campaign:
Start the new year with the political and advocacy event everyone is talking about.
The Next Campaign Summit at The Carlu on January 15, 2026, brings together campaign staff, advocates, policymakers, candidates, strategists, organizers, and innovators who are shaping the future of campaigning and advocacy in Canada. Learn the newest tools, digital tactics, engagement strategies, and insights influencing both campaigns and public advocacy today. Register here.
— Seen: Premier Ford ducking questions about the Skills Development Fund-linked investigation of Labour Minister David Piccini.
A rare year-end chat with Doug Ford. “There’s always room for improvement,” he said of the SDF, though he doubled down on the controversial fund's upside.
On a looming cabinet shake-up: “I can’t answer that right now,” Ford told Deb Hutton. “I think we have a great cabinet. We have hard-working cabinet members.”
Meanwhile, he placed fourth for The Canadian Press Newsmaker of the Year.
Stephanie Smyth’s “The Scandal Before Christmas.” Smyth says she's not running for Liberal leader, while Ted Hsu says he’ll make his call in January.
Mike Crawley and Rob Cerjanec at the Ontario Young Liberals’ Christmas mixer at Firkin on Harbour on Friday night.
Marit Stiles on radio in French.
Over a year since her husband's death, Doly Begum on living with grief. “Grief is a strange little guest. It arrives uninvited, stays unwelcomed, and on occasions, at times expected and at other times, unexpected.”
The Tories’ Christmas video (with apologies to Neil Lumsden, whose shoot I nearly walked into).
Premier Ford's holiday card, feat. Karla Ford and the family dog, Kobe. No sign of his daughters this year. All Vic Fedeli wants for Christmas: rail service back to Timmins.
Holiday tunes, courtesy of the Liberal caucus.
— Keel Digital Solutions says the provincial funding cut “sends a message that money matters more than student mental health."
— Food blogger Clement Leung joined Stan Cho in the Legislative Dining Room to answer the question: what do politicians actually eat for lunch? Back in November, Rob Benzie gave Karon Liu a similar tasting tour. In case you’re wondering, the Dining Room and Quorum Café are closed starting today until Friday, January 2.
Thank you for reading POLICORNER. Rest up — and as always, keep the tips, gossip and screenshots coming. We’re back in your inbox on Monday, Jan. 12. See you on the other side.
Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up now.
Before we dig in, a programming note: We’re dialing it down for our own holiday recess. Rest assured, we’ll still be watching Queen’s Park — and if anything breaks, we’ll be in your inbox.
More to say later, but for now: whether you start your Mondays with us, scroll on the commute or forward our scoops to friends or bosses, we’re grateful you’re here.
We’ll be back bright and early on Monday, January 12.
If you’re scrambling for a last-minute Christmas present — or hunting for a cozy read by a fire — there's no shortage of good books to choose from. Here’s what those in and around the Pink Palace picked:
This year, Marit Stiles read The Knowing by Tanya Talaga. “Award-winning and bestselling Anishinaabe author Tanya Talaga retells the history of this country as only she can — through an Indigenous lens, beginning with the life of her great-great grandmother Annie Carpenter and her family as they experienced decades of government- and Church-sanctioned enfranchisement and genocide.”
(Yes, that Talaga — she spoke at the NDP’s convention earlier this year.)
Mayeesha Chowdhury, Stiles’ communications director, picked One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune and Takedown by Lily Chu.
Laryssa Waler, ex-communications director to Premier Ford and now CEO of Henley Strategies, put Values by Mark Carney on her list. For her, it’s about “understanding what Mark Carney has said about natural resources, his desire to keep Canadian oil in the ground and the need for a ‘big reset’ of our entire economy. “Maybe he’s changed his mind, but Canadians have a responsibility to make themselves aware of what he’s said on the topic.”
Waler also picked Art of the Deal by Donald Trump and Tony Schwartz. “It’s good to understand your opponent,” she said. “Understand what goes on in his head. How he uses leverage. How he can’t be trusted.”
Elizabeth Mendes, the chief of the Liberal Caucus Service Bureau, went with Dalton McGuinty’s Be a Good One: Words to Lead By. “I find myself looking through that book for inspirational quotes for my team,” she said.
So did Rob Cerjanec, who said his favourite part was McGuinty’s short introduction to each chapter.
“I am a big fan of Elizabeth Hay's writing, especially Late Nights on Air,” said Stephanie Bowman. This year, I read one of her newer books, Snow Road Station. I love that it is a fictional story that takes place in a real village in Ontario — that I had never heard of, that has such a fantastic name and is now a place I want to go explore! The story makes you reflect on the possibility of reconnecting with old friends who you have drifted apart from; and the possibilities that still lie ahead, even when you are past what you may consider your ‘prime.’”
As for Lorne Levy, the Liberal caucus’s media relations director, The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde made his list. “A witty, philosophical exploration of indulgence and morality — and a reminder that nothing lasts forever: not beauty, not youth, nor governments.”
Erin Morrison, a vice-president at Texture, picked All The Worst Humans by Phil Elwood.
For David Valentin, a principal at Liaison Strategies, the pick is Murdered Midas by Charlotte Gray. “It’s about a multi-millionaire who makes his money in Kirkland Lake and is murdered in the Bahamas. It’s a true crime but it’s also about power and the failure of institutions,” he said, noting the book’s welcome dose of provincial history.
Laura Walton, president of Ontario’s Federation of Labour, is reading Outclassed: How the Left Lost the Working Class and How to Win Them Back by Joan Williams. “It has been recommended to me by so many,” said Walton. “I’m really excited to read it and see how I can use the learnings in the implementation of the We Are One Power Plan.”
John Michael McGrath read Stuck: How the Privileged and the Propertied Broke the Engine of American Opportunity by Yoni Appelbaum. “If you’re obsessed with the housing crisis, as I am, this was easily one of the best books of 2025 on the topic, with a broad historical perspective that complements a lot of the debates around lighter, more popular books like Abundance by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson.”
Finally, Bobbi Ann Brady picked The Women by Kristin Hannah. “I love historical fiction, and this novel follows the life of Frankie McGrath, a 20-year-old nursing student who enlists in the United States Army Nurse Corps. Through Frankie’s eyes, readers experience the trauma, loss, and courage of the Vietnam War,” she said. “There are also elements of a love story, so for a hopeless romantic, that was serendipitous.”
A message from Next Campaign:
— It’s been a year since Ontario named a family-medicine czar, Jane Phillpott, to tackle access. The Globe took a look.
— “A new poll suggests Ontarians are waiting too long for diagnostic tests and specialist appointments, causing unnecessary stress and putting patients’ health at risk.” Canadian Press has the story.
— “This holiday season, pharmacists will fill a genuine gap,” writes Iris Gorfinkel. “The problem is that Ontario may be expanding their scope without the data to know if patients will be better — or worse — off.”
— Education Minister Paul Calandra is hinting at changes to how Ontario certifies new teachers, with a heavier emphasis on hands-on training.
Meanwhile, Calandra is “launching a review into underused schools in some school boards.” Via CityNews.
— And per Colin D’Mello, the province is also wrestling with how AI is used in schools.
— “Ontario’s new kindergarten curriculum changes how kids will be taught to read, adds fractions and coding to math and even covers basic navigational skills.” More from The Star.
— “The Ford government wants Ontario schools to provide local police access to their grounds during extracurricular events, festivals and fundraisers, in addition to safety programs.” The Trillium has the details.
— “Employees at the LCBO’s headquarters in downtown Toronto will not have to report for full-time, in-office work in January, Global News has learned, after the Crown corporation said it couldn’t find enough space.”
— “A numbered company listing Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown and his wife as vice-president and president, respectively, has purchased a pair of properties on Main Street amid city council’s ongoing investments to revitalize the city’s downtown core.” The Brampton Guardian has more.
A message from Next Campaign:
Start the new year with the political and advocacy event everyone is talking about.
The Next Campaign Summit at The Carlu on January 15, 2026, brings together campaign staff, advocates, policymakers, candidates, strategists, organizers, and innovators who are shaping the future of campaigning and advocacy in Canada. Learn the newest tools, digital tactics, engagement strategies, and insights influencing both campaigns and public advocacy today. Register here.
— Seen: Premier Ford ducking questions about the Skills Development Fund-linked investigation of Labour Minister David Piccini.
A rare year-end chat with Doug Ford. “There’s always room for improvement,” he said of the SDF, though he doubled down on the controversial fund's upside.
On a looming cabinet shake-up: “I can’t answer that right now,” Ford told Deb Hutton. “I think we have a great cabinet. We have hard-working cabinet members.”
Meanwhile, he placed fourth for The Canadian Press Newsmaker of the Year.
Stephanie Smyth’s “The Scandal Before Christmas.” Smyth says she's not running for Liberal leader, while Ted Hsu says he’ll make his call in January.
Mike Crawley and Rob Cerjanec at the Ontario Young Liberals’ Christmas mixer at Firkin on Harbour on Friday night.
Marit Stiles on radio in French.
Over a year since her husband's death, Doly Begum on living with grief. “Grief is a strange little guest. It arrives uninvited, stays unwelcomed, and on occasions, at times expected and at other times, unexpected.”
The Tories’ Christmas video (with apologies to Neil Lumsden, whose shoot I nearly walked into).
Premier Ford's holiday card, feat. Karla Ford and the family dog, Kobe. No sign of his daughters this year. All Vic Fedeli wants for Christmas: rail service back to Timmins.
Holiday tunes, courtesy of the Liberal caucus.
— Keel Digital Solutions says the provincial funding cut “sends a message that money matters more than student mental health."
— Food blogger Clement Leung joined Stan Cho in the Legislative Dining Room to answer the question: what do politicians actually eat for lunch? Back in November, Rob Benzie gave Karon Liu a similar tasting tour. In case you’re wondering, the Dining Room and Quorum Café are closed starting today until Friday, January 2.
Thank you for reading POLICORNER. Rest up — and as always, keep the tips, gossip and screenshots coming. We’re back in your inbox on Monday, Jan. 12. See you on the other side.
Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up now.
Before we dig in, a programming note: We’re dialing it down for our own holiday recess. Rest assured, we’ll still be watching Queen’s Park — and if anything breaks, we’ll be in your inbox.
More to say later, but for now: whether you start your Mondays with us, scroll on the commute or forward our scoops to friends or bosses, we’re grateful you’re here.
We’ll be back bright and early on Monday, January 12.
If you’re scrambling for a last-minute Christmas present — or hunting for a cozy read by a fire — there's no shortage of good books to choose from. Here’s what those in and around the Pink Palace picked:
This year, Marit Stiles read The Knowing by Tanya Talaga. “Award-winning and bestselling Anishinaabe author Tanya Talaga retells the history of this country as only she can — through an Indigenous lens, beginning with the life of her great-great grandmother Annie Carpenter and her family as they experienced decades of government- and Church-sanctioned enfranchisement and genocide.”
(Yes, that Talaga — she spoke at the NDP’s convention earlier this year.)
Mayeesha Chowdhury, Stiles’ communications director, picked One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune and Takedown by Lily Chu.
Laryssa Waler, ex-communications director to Premier Ford and now CEO of Henley Strategies, put Values by Mark Carney on her list. For her, it’s about “understanding what Mark Carney has said about natural resources, his desire to keep Canadian oil in the ground and the need for a ‘big reset’ of our entire economy. “Maybe he’s changed his mind, but Canadians have a responsibility to make themselves aware of what he’s said on the topic.”
Waler also picked Art of the Deal by Donald Trump and Tony Schwartz. “It’s good to understand your opponent,” she said. “Understand what goes on in his head. How he uses leverage. How he can’t be trusted.”
Elizabeth Mendes, the chief of the Liberal Caucus Service Bureau, went with Dalton McGuinty’s Be a Good One: Words to Lead By. “I find myself looking through that book for inspirational quotes for my team,” she said.
So did Rob Cerjanec, who said his favourite part was McGuinty’s short introduction to each chapter.
“I am a big fan of Elizabeth Hay's writing, especially Late Nights on Air,” said Stephanie Bowman. This year, I read one of her newer books, Snow Road Station. I love that it is a fictional story that takes place in a real village in Ontario — that I had never heard of, that has such a fantastic name and is now a place I want to go explore! The story makes you reflect on the possibility of reconnecting with old friends who you have drifted apart from; and the possibilities that still lie ahead, even when you are past what you may consider your ‘prime.’”
As for Lorne Levy, the Liberal caucus’s media relations director, The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde made his list. “A witty, philosophical exploration of indulgence and morality — and a reminder that nothing lasts forever: not beauty, not youth, nor governments.”
Erin Morrison, a vice-president at Texture, picked All The Worst Humans by Phil Elwood.
For David Valentin, a principal at Liaison Strategies, the pick is Murdered Midas by Charlotte Gray. “It’s about a multi-millionaire who makes his money in Kirkland Lake and is murdered in the Bahamas. It’s a true crime but it’s also about power and the failure of institutions,” he said, noting the book’s welcome dose of provincial history.
Laura Walton, president of Ontario’s Federation of Labour, is reading Outclassed: How the Left Lost the Working Class and How to Win Them Back by Joan Williams. “It has been recommended to me by so many,” said Walton. “I’m really excited to read it and see how I can use the learnings in the implementation of the We Are One Power Plan.”
John Michael McGrath read Stuck: How the Privileged and the Propertied Broke the Engine of American Opportunity by Yoni Appelbaum. “If you’re obsessed with the housing crisis, as I am, this was easily one of the best books of 2025 on the topic, with a broad historical perspective that complements a lot of the debates around lighter, more popular books like Abundance by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson.”
Finally, Bobbi Ann Brady picked The Women by Kristin Hannah. “I love historical fiction, and this novel follows the life of Frankie McGrath, a 20-year-old nursing student who enlists in the United States Army Nurse Corps. Through Frankie’s eyes, readers experience the trauma, loss, and courage of the Vietnam War,” she said. “There are also elements of a love story, so for a hopeless romantic, that was serendipitous.”
A message from Next Campaign:
— It’s been a year since Ontario named a family-medicine czar, Jane Phillpott, to tackle access. The Globe took a look.
— “A new poll suggests Ontarians are waiting too long for diagnostic tests and specialist appointments, causing unnecessary stress and putting patients’ health at risk.” Canadian Press has the story.
— “This holiday season, pharmacists will fill a genuine gap,” writes Iris Gorfinkel. “The problem is that Ontario may be expanding their scope without the data to know if patients will be better — or worse — off.”
— Education Minister Paul Calandra is hinting at changes to how Ontario certifies new teachers, with a heavier emphasis on hands-on training.
Meanwhile, Calandra is “launching a review into underused schools in some school boards.” Via CityNews.
— And per Colin D’Mello, the province is also wrestling with how AI is used in schools.
— “Ontario’s new kindergarten curriculum changes how kids will be taught to read, adds fractions and coding to math and even covers basic navigational skills.” More from The Star.
— “The Ford government wants Ontario schools to provide local police access to their grounds during extracurricular events, festivals and fundraisers, in addition to safety programs.” The Trillium has the details.
— “Employees at the LCBO’s headquarters in downtown Toronto will not have to report for full-time, in-office work in January, Global News has learned, after the Crown corporation said it couldn’t find enough space.”
— “A numbered company listing Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown and his wife as vice-president and president, respectively, has purchased a pair of properties on Main Street amid city council’s ongoing investments to revitalize the city’s downtown core.” The Brampton Guardian has more.
A message from Next Campaign:
Start the new year with the political and advocacy event everyone is talking about.
The Next Campaign Summit at The Carlu on January 15, 2026, brings together campaign staff, advocates, policymakers, candidates, strategists, organizers, and innovators who are shaping the future of campaigning and advocacy in Canada. Learn the newest tools, digital tactics, engagement strategies, and insights influencing both campaigns and public advocacy today. Register here.
— Seen: Premier Ford ducking questions about the Skills Development Fund-linked investigation of Labour Minister David Piccini.
A rare year-end chat with Doug Ford. “There’s always room for improvement,” he said of the SDF, though he doubled down on the controversial fund's upside.
On a looming cabinet shake-up: “I can’t answer that right now,” Ford told Deb Hutton. “I think we have a great cabinet. We have hard-working cabinet members.”
Meanwhile, he placed fourth for The Canadian Press Newsmaker of the Year.
Stephanie Smyth’s “The Scandal Before Christmas.” Smyth says she's not running for Liberal leader, while Ted Hsu says he’ll make his call in January.
Mike Crawley and Rob Cerjanec at the Ontario Young Liberals’ Christmas mixer at Firkin on Harbour on Friday night.
Marit Stiles on radio in French.
Over a year since her husband's death, Doly Begum on living with grief. “Grief is a strange little guest. It arrives uninvited, stays unwelcomed, and on occasions, at times expected and at other times, unexpected.”
The Tories’ Christmas video (with apologies to Neil Lumsden, whose shoot I nearly walked into).
Premier Ford's holiday card, feat. Karla Ford and the family dog, Kobe. No sign of his daughters this year. All Vic Fedeli wants for Christmas: rail service back to Timmins.
Holiday tunes, courtesy of the Liberal caucus.
— Keel Digital Solutions says the provincial funding cut “sends a message that money matters more than student mental health."
— Food blogger Clement Leung joined Stan Cho in the Legislative Dining Room to answer the question: what do politicians actually eat for lunch? Back in November, Rob Benzie gave Karon Liu a similar tasting tour. In case you’re wondering, the Dining Room and Quorum Café are closed starting today until Friday, January 2.
Thank you for reading POLICORNER. Rest up — and as always, keep the tips, gossip and screenshots coming. We’re back in your inbox on Monday, Jan. 12. See you on the other side.
Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up now.