Your morning briefing

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Your morning briefing

02.07.2019 David Hains 0

Headlines

A happy return from your long weekend! The QP Briefing team hopes you enjoyed a local barbecue, a weekend getaway or some made-in-Ontario brews — whether or not they cost you a loonie.

MPPs found their own ways to celebrate Canada's birthday, including attending parades, picnics and citizenship ceremonies.

Many government MPPs promoted a move to give free Canada Day attendance to the first 500 attendees to Ontario attractions like the Royal Ontario Museum and Science North. Premier Doug Ford was among those who amplified this government initiative by tweeting a video produced by Ontario News Now, the PC Caucus content organ that's designed to look like journalism.

The initiative had a corresponding cancellation, with the 52-year tradition of Queen's Park Canada Day activities quietly cancelled by the government until it was first reported by Global News. The government argued that attendance at the event was low and it wasn't cost effective. Instead, Liberal MPP Mitzie Hunter countered the move by holding her own on Queen's Park's south lawn. But Global reported on Canada Day that the event Hunter organized may have breached elections laws.

For his part, the premier appeared at Ribfest at his Etobicoke home turf. Federal Opposition Leader Andrew Scheer also showed up at the event, but the two politicians did not appear together.

In case you missed our stories Friday:

As part of its ongoing series on doctors' billing data, the Toronto Star looks at the findings from Auditor General Bonnie Lysyk's 2016 report, which made 14 recommendations to increase transparency and accountability in OHIP billing practices. However, the paper found that only a "handful" of the recommendations have been implemented. This comes after the Ontario Medical Association told the Star it now supports disclosure for all OHIP billings, a reversal of the organization's long-standing position. Globe columnist André Picard weighed in on the subject, arguing that with increased transparency issues such as relativity and an imbalance in compensation between women and men can be addressed with greater ease.

Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones made a buck-a-beer joke which earned a "chorus of boos" for the government at a concert in Oro-Medonte, reports the Canadian Press. It's not the first time Jagger has made a Ford-related joke at a Toronto-area concert.

The Star speaks to experts about the tricky question of balancing public and private interests for Sidewalk Labs' waterfront proposal, including aligning performance incentives.

The Star reports that Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport Lisa MacLeod landed in hot water again, this time for remarks she made in Muskoka where she welcomed the change from the "minister of tears" to the "minister of cheers."

TVO profiles how one couple preserved 270 hectares of forest and wetland near Coboconk by making the real estate a land trust.

The Star has a profile of Stephen Lecce, the 32-year-old education minister.

Toronto Raptors franchise co-owner Larry Tanenbaum has another reason to celebrate, as the Globe reports that he sold his interests in 23 ONroute locations for a very tidy profit.

Data analysis by the Star finds that Black Torontonians are more likely to be ticketed on transit.

Over the weekend around 4,000 people in Trenton wore red to form the largest recorded maple leaf, reports the Canadian Press.

And in the opinion pages:

  • Martin Regg Cohn wonders how many more Canada Days Ford will celebrate as premier.
  • John Michael McGrath analyzes the Ontario Court of Appeal carbon backstop decision.
  • Heather Scoffield writes that Friday's Ontario Court of Appeal ruling on the carbon backstop marks the beginnings of a national response to a generational issue.
  • Thomas Walkom puts the Sidewalk Labs proposal for Toronto's waterfront in the context of other historic ideas that have been floated for the region.
  • Dr. Adam Kassam writes in the Star that there's reason to be encouraged by Dr. Rueben Devlin's latest report.

Events

10:30 a.m.

The Honourable Stephen Lecce, Minister of Education, will be visiting Shad Canada on York University campus to make an announcement, and to talk with high school students engaged in STEM programs. Media should arrive by 10 a.m. Bergeron Centre for Engineering Excellence, Main Floor, The Eatery, 11 Arboretum Ln.

David Hains

QP Briefing Reporter

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