SCOOP: Did Chief Nish break the rules?
Plus: a prolonged recess, who’s behind Ontario Forward — and a link to the Working Families Coalition, reaction to Crombie’s housing plan, Doug v. Donald, Romano’s out, poll watch and more
THE LEDE
SCOOP — A police chief is facing heat over a surprise cameo at a lucrative Progressive Conservative fundraiser in Brampton.
Peel’s top cop Nishan Duraiappah was on hand at a partisan, $1,100-a-ticket event in support of Hardeep Grewal last Thursday. Also present was Premier Doug Ford and a chorus of cabinet ministers.
As Patrick Brown spoke, he thanked Ford and Grewal for their “unequivocal” support of the police. “I look forward to Chief Nish using that helicopter to catch some auto thieves in the near future,” Brown added, pointing to new cash promised in July.
Duraiappah, not in uniform, was asked to step up to the stage and invited to speak.
Standing next to Ford, Duraiappah said he’d never seen a government “in my thirty years of policing other than Premier Ford that has put public safety first and our people first.” “You cannot have a healthy community, you cannot have education, health, social services when the horses are out of the barn. You got to bring them back — and I want to thank you for making sure that we’re well-resourced to do that.”
Later, Duraiappah thanked Ford and Brown for “bringing me amazing representation here in Peel,” speaking about Grewal, who he called his “brother.” “We love it all the way.”
“Can’t make this up,” the emcee said. “Absolutely from the chief’s mouth himself, [we’re] the government that’s looking after the people in Peel.”
According to the Community Safety and Policing Act, it’s a no no. While police “may engage in any political activity” when not in uniform, they’re explicitly prohibited from expressing views on “any issues directly related to” their work, associating any of their views with their position or that of a police service or participating in any activity that would place them in a conflict of interest.
“It’s inappropriate for sure,” said one regional councillor, who spoke on condition of anonymity. “The Act doesn’t allow him to say those things while representing the police, which he clearly was while at a political fundraiser.”
“Since I’ve been councillor, I’ve tried to have a coffee with him multiple times,” another said. “He’s never done it.”
“It did cause me to raise my eyebrows when I heard Chief Nish gush over Ford’s support of him and Peel Police, and it does seem to cross the line in terms of his obligation under the Act to remain neutral and apolitical,” a third councillor said. “Wasn’t an officer recently suspended for participating in a protest outside a Hindu temple? Both would seem to be political activity but only one was suspended.”
“I am concerned about the camaraderie displayed,” said Mississauga mayor Carolyn Parrish of the clip. Parrish quit the Peel Police Service Board over a proposed increase in the budget in November. “Extensive social interaction breaks down the professional distance that I believe should be maintained between those who set police budgets and those who are governed by them.”
One comment stood out to Parrish. “Mayor Groves and I have lunch every other month — and that’s part of my commitment to say that I look after her and she looks after me,” Duraiappah said on stage. Caledon is outside Peel Police’s jurisdiction and is covered by the provincial police.
“He ‘has her back’ and she has his. Caledon has a vote on the police budget so it’s an extra three votes nailed down by lunches,” Parrish responded.
Some question whether he’s eyeing a political run. “Look at Bill Blair or Julian Fantino,” one local source said. “He’s worked in Peel and in Halton. If he wanted to, he could run anywhere — it’s almost a dozen ridings.”
This isn’t Duraiappah’s only brush with controversy. Earlier this year, he met — in uniform — with a Sri Lankan cop who had been found by the country’s top court to have “participated in the torture.”
In a statement, Peel Police says it’s “committed to work closely with all levels of government in support of public safety and to better serve the communities of Peel Region.”
“We can only achieve better outcomes for the residents of Peel by fostering positive working relationships with all levels of governments and all elected officials of our region,” a spokesperson added.
Grewal and Groves didn’t respond to a request for comment. Brown was unavailable.
AT THE PALACE
— The House has adjourned for the Christmas recess and won’t be back until Monday, March 3 — two weeks later than expected.
Cue early election speculation: One theory percolating is that the government will drop the budget and immediately pull the plug on the legislature, paving the way for a campaign framed around the government’s economic agenda. A new mandate would help Ford stare down Trump’s new administration and the encampment conundrum.
What’s your hot take? Reach out.
— Add Ross Romano to the list of incumbents not planning to run again. “... To my boys, I promised you that I would be coming back home after the last election, and you know we don’t break our promises. So boys, to you I say, daddy’s coming back home.”
— Our candidate tracker is updated.
— There’s a new cabinet class photo, minus Andrea Khanjin and Michael Ford. Khanijn is on mat leave until January, while Ford Jr. took a medical leave.
— Baby news! The PC caucus threw a surprise baby shower for Natalia Kusendova, who’s gearing up to welcome a baby boy.
— A special Christmas tour of the building is on, with festive refreshments, a visit from Santa, a guided tour through the hallways and more. RSVP now — there’s little availability.
TABLED
— Bill 238, Emergency Management Modernization Act — The bill would modernize the province’s emergency management by turning Emergency Management Ontario into the “one window” for coordinating emergency management and resources. It would also spell out the procedure for municipalities to declare emergencies and request provincial assistance.
— Bill 239, Green Lights for Coast Guard Auxiliary Act — The bill, tabled by Terence Kernaghan and Jennie Stevens, would permit members of the coast guard auxiliary to carry a flashing green light to speed up their arrival to the site of an emergency.
— Bill 240, Peel Transition Implementation Act — The bill would download roads, stormwater infrastructure and waste collection from Peel Region to Mississauga, Brampton and Caledon. As previously reported in this newsletter, the region would remain intact but shrunk — primarily responsible for the delivery of social services, along with emergency services and health.
Conspicuously absent from the legislation’s text is any mention of water. It’s set to be run by an agency, owned by the three cities and run by a board with appointees — but according to a municipal source, more on that is expected later in July.
— Bill 241, Municipal Accountability Act — The bill would establish a new, uniform municipal code of conduct, along with a mechanism to remove local councillors from their seat and disqualify them for four years if found guilty of serious misconduct.
If the province’s integrity commissioner has recommended removal, all councillors “would be required to vote in favour.”
—Bill 242, Safer Municipalities Act — The bill would strengthen police’s ability to shut down encampments under the Trespass to Property Act and would ban the consumption of illegal substances in public.
ON THE RECORD
“The moon over Queen’s Park gave a cold eerie glow, as the scent of new taxes began to bestow. But the Premier stood firm, no fear in his gaze. He’d battled Crombie’s taxes through countless long days. With his helpers in tow, on the Premier’s team, it was clear they’d defeated Bonnie Crombie's tax scheme.”
PC MPP Rudy Cuzzetto gave his own rendition of “Twas the Night Before Christmas,” reimagined as a political jab at the Liberal leader. “Merry Christmas to all — and to all a good night, for the future of Ontario shines ever so bright.”
IN THE NEWS
— Who’s behind Ontario Forward: Ontario’s four major teachers’ unions are behind a fresh wave of ads against Premier Doug Ford to “challenge the... propaganda Ford is using to falsely portray a positive image of his leadership.”
According to the group’s corporate registration, the campaign is led by three general secretaries: David Church of the Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association, Sharon O’Halloran of the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario and Chris Goodsir of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation.
Paul Kossta — who ran government advocacy for the high school teachers’ union — is also listed as a director.
Three ads — “friends,” “choices” and “Ford says” — are airing on YouTube, with a fourth on radio.
Arrow Communications has been enlisted to help run the campaign, according to several sources familiar. It’s the agency run by Liberal strategist Marcel Wieder, an advisor and ally to Bonnie Crombie. Wieder, along with Patrick Dillon, was a key architect of the Working Families Coalition, which poured cash into ad blitzes that bedevilled the Tories in previous cycles.
“It’s vital that we cut through the noise and make it clear: Doug Ford is harming front line workers and his corruption is getting in the way of taking care of our schools and hospitals,” said one union source, who spoke on condition of anonymity. “This is the least we can do to counter all that their congratulatory baloney.”
“The public is being hit with a cannon of self promotional ads by the government,” a second said, pointing to a report by the provincial auditor, which found a record year in ad spending. “I think the strategy is already clear. The messaging will evolve,” they added, to counter a narrative “going relatively unchecked.”
— Doug v. Donald: Doug Ford is doubling down on his threat to cut electricity flow to the United States if Donald Trump charges ahead with his plan to slap a levy on local goods and services.
“We’re sending a message that if you come and attack Ontario… we are going to use every tool in our tool box to defend Ontarians and Canadians,” he said. “Let’s hope it never comes to that.”
No big deal, says Trump. “That’s okay if he does that. That’s fine,” he said. “The United States is subsidizing Canada, it’s truly a subsidy and we shouldn’t have to do that.”
Alberta says it will not follow suit. Trudeau hasn’t commented, but Ford’s spokesperson says it was raised during Wednesday’s First Ministers’ call.
— Bonnie Crombie is promising “sweeping” reform that'll kill the Ontario Land Transfer Tax for novice buyers, scrap development fees for new homes under 3,000 square feet and set up a fund to help cities cover lost revenue.
It’s part of her housing plan, which Crombie says will “restore the dream of homeownership” for the middle class. It was developed by a panel — including Adil Shamji, Alvin Tedjo, Sue Chen and Eric Lombardi — that was charged with engaging with community groups, stakeholders and housing experts.
Crombie is also promising to introduce phased-in rent control, clear up the dispute queue at the Landlord Tenant Board and establish a fund to provide emergency loans to “help tenants cover rent payments and prevent evictions.”
Here’s some of the mixed reaction:
“I fear Bonnie Crombie's newly released housing policies are really good actually.”
“The question is whether it's too late to change people's minds.”
And here’s the Tories’ reaction:
But some question the timing of the policy drop. “To pick a day for the announcement where they knew the 6 p.m. news was going to be about Trump, Ford and Trudeau is beyond me,” texted one Liberal. “They are working against the news cycle. Pierre [Poilievre] has been successful because he’s working with it.”
The campaign trail is already ablaze — and housing is at the center of the fight. Last year, Marit Stiles launched “Homes Ontario,” part of her housing strategy, which would expand “public, non-profit and co-op housing.” The plan will double the current supply, legalize fourplexes and increase density around transit.
— A local advocacy group has launched a constitutional challenge of the Ford government's bike lane ban.
In the application, Cycle Toronto, along with two cyclists, called the ban a “ill conceived, arbitrary and hurried legislative campaign” that “infringes the rights” of cyclists, doing so “in full awareness of, or lacking all concern about, the increased number of injuries and deaths that will result.”
Another challenge has been launched against a law that'll close several supervised injection sites.
— Lockout or job action is looming for the province’s colleges. Faculty will “enter a legal position to call for labour action in the new year.”
The College Employer Council says a strike would be “wholly unnecessary.” CEO Graham Lloyd said they “initially proposed binding arbitration” — and accused the union of demanding “vast reductions in classroom teaching time,” which would “ignore the stark reality” faced by these colleges.
— A new study by the Canadian Centre for Economic Analysis found that the price tag of congestion could balloon to $145 billion — over double the current tab — by 2044.
— The LCBO found that customers’ wine preferences are changing, with a move away from heavier styles towards “fresher styles of wine, including lighter reds, low and dealcoholized wines, and refreshing whites.”
WHAT WE’RE READING
— The beef between Mississauga and Brampton is escalating. Mississauga’s councillors were a no-show at a meeting to approve the regional budget.
— A new report found that Toronto has one of the worst commute times in the country.
— A London high school teacher was reprimanded for speaking to the author of a book he was told to stop teaching. “Although it may be well intentioned... my concern is that it essentially excludes, completely excludes, Black voices from the curriculum,” the novelist said of the ban.
— Major utility providers are warning of late fees and service disruptions if they fail to keep their accounts up to date amid the Canada Post strike.
— An early election might be a safe bet for Ford. A new Abacus poll found him well ahead of Crombie and Stiles.
— Brian Lilley says in his skirmish with Trump, Trudeau is “clinging to power while foolishly campaigning” against him.
— It’s been the premiers with the most adequate response to Trump, Andrew Phillips says.
— But Martin Regg Cohn argues that if you think Trump is bad for the economy, Ford is the province’s worst economic enemy.
— Donovan Vincent says he’s interested in how the Liberal leader will make good on her promise to leave identity politics behind.
— John Michael McGrath says we’re seeing signs of how the province will learn from the pandemic.
Thank you for reading POLICORNER. Are you Nish Duraiappah? Hardeep Grewal? Patrick Brown? Annette Groves? We’re still waiting to hear from you. Have feedback? A juicy tip, slice of gossip or FOI idea? Hit me up and you’ll stay anon, just like those mysterious sources you’re curious about. We’re back in your inbox next week.
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Publisher’s note: A previous version of this newsletter stated that Aurora Strategy was enlisted by Ontario Forward. In fact, Arrow Communications — another agency owned by Weider — is working on the campaign. We regret the error.