Your morning briefing

Headlines

A  Forum poll shows that most Ontario voters were familiar with the PC policy convention, where the  2018 party platform, the People's Guarantee, was unveiled. While the titular Brown pledge to not seek a second term unless he fulfilled five promises made 34 per cent of self-identified PC voters more likely to vote for the party, it showed minimal powers of persuasion for Liberal and NDP voters, with only 11 and nine per cent of Grits and Dippers saying it made it more likely to vote for the Tories.

The Star reports that Ontario secretly settled 220 cases of sexual, physical, or emotional abuse at provincially-run schools for troubled youth. The allegations span decades, as authority figures from 1960 to 1984 "were accused of sodomizing students, forcing them to perform oral sex" and compete in pseudo fight clubs, according to the story. Attorney General Yasir Naqvi told the paper that no one should have to endure that kind of trauma. A spokesperson for the ministry said they couldn't speak specifically to settlements, as there are still "matters before the courts relating to these schools".

In case you missed our stories Thursday:

• Political parties call for greater IESO transparency in wake of overcharging scandal
• Opioid deaths spike in Ontario, latest figures show, as province gains power to approve and fund supervised injection sites
• Potholes: The marijuana prescription loophole for young drivers
• In Brief: Reefer wariness, student drop-out numbers delayed, and an autism funding announcement

In other news:

In an 8,500-word feature investigation, the Star looks at the case of a Brantford police officer who has fatally shot multiple people on the job, and the difficulties the SIU faces investigating cases like this.

The government is looking at expanding the Greenbelt by up to 345,000 hectares in order to help protect Ontario's water supply. The province has launched a 90-day consultation on the issue.

Toronto Deputy Mayor Denzil Minnan-Wong intends to run for the Progressive Conservative nomination in Don Valley East. The 53-year-old has served over two decades as a city councillor, and was the Public Works chair in the Rob Ford administration. The incumbent in Don Valley East is Liberal MPP Michael Coteau.

American visitors who fall ill in Ontario border cities are a costly drain on the health-care network, reports TVO. The article looks at a Niagara Falls hospital which 1,560 out-of-country patients last year, who are difficult to collect payment from. Instead, hospitals like it have to absorb the cost.

The National Post looks at the future of the Ontario Tree Seed Plant in Angus, which is scheduled to close due to costs in September, despite local objections. Specifically, the story looks at the story of Pepper and Sammy, two feline mouse control technicians who are meant to keep the government site free of vermin, and will instead head for a premature retirement.

And in the opinion pages:

John McGrath writes that the Auditor General's annual report, although not as scathing as in years past, highlights the importance of getting policy details right.

Sault Star columnist Frank O'Connor touts the local benefits of a potential $600 million to $800 million ferrochrome plant, and argues the community should rally behind the proposal rather than showing some opposition. Sault Ste. Marie is one of four cities shortlisted for the plant.

Luisa D'Amato argues rural areas need transit attention too.

Events

8:30 a.m.

Steven Del Duca, Minister of Transportation, will be joined by Shafiq Qaadri, MPP for Etobicoke North, Peter Milczyn, MPP for Etobicoke-Lakeshore, and Linda Jeffrey, Mayor of Brampton, to make an announcement. Construction yard at Goreway Dr. and Zahavy Way, Mississauga.

9 a.m.

Ted McMeekin, MPP for Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Westdale, will announce the Hamilton, Niagara and Peel Region recipients of the 2017 Premier's Award for Agri-Food Innovation Excellence on behalf of Jeff Leal, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. Beverly Township Hall, 795 Old Hwy 8, Rockton. 

9:45 a.m.

Chris Ballard, Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, Reza Moridi, Minister of Research, Innovation and Science, and Parminder Sandhu, Chair of the Green Ontario Fund board of directors, will make an announcement. Walker Environmental Group, Main Lobby, 2800 Thorold Townline Rd., Niagara Falls.

10 a.m.

Del Duca will make an announcement. He will be joined by Granville Anderson, MPP for Durham, and Leal. Southwest Quadrant, Highway 407/Enfield Rd. Interchange, Clarington. 

1 p.m.

Bill Mauro, MPP for Thunder Bay - Atikokan, will make an announcement. Thunder Bay Agricultural Research Station, 5790 Little Norway Rd., Thunder Bay.