Headlines
<a href="https://globalnews.ca/news/8845828/del-duca-riding-association-50k-high-end-restaurants/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Global peeked at the expenses</a> filed by Ontario Liberal Leader Steven Del Duca‘s former riding association and found thousands of dollars in hospitality charges for "expensive dinners at upscale restaurants and ritzy steakhouses."
An internal Liberal poll lays out how the Grits could keep the PCs to a minority, <a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/2022/05/24/confidential-liberal-memo-lays-out-strategy-to-hold-doug-fords-pcs-to-a-minority-government.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the Toronto Star reports</a>. However, polls are still showing Ford in majority territory, <a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/2022/05/24/ndp-gaining-at-liberals-expense-but-pcs-still-on-track-to-win-another-majority-in-ontario-election.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the Toronto Star suggests</a>.
Fourth time's the charm? Andrea Horwath and the Ontario NDP are looking for a major breakthrough in her 13th year atop the party, <a href="https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-ontario-election-ndp-hopes-andrea-horwath-is-fourth-time-lucky/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the Globe and Mail reports</a>.
The death toll from Saturday's storm is now 10, with thousands of Ontarians still without power and many communities in the midst of a massive cleanup, according to <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-quebec-thunderstorm-death-toll-1.6463330" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Canadian Press</a>.
<a href="https://globalnews.ca/video/8864065/doug-ford-campaigns-quietly/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Global News</a> caught up with Ford to ask why he's been avoiding reporters during the campaign.
Plus, PC infrastructure minister Kinga Surma has a very narrow lead in Etobicoke Centre, according to an exclusive <a href="https://www.qpbriefing.com/2022/05/23/riding-poll-pcs-have-very-narrow-lead-in-etobicoke-centre/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">riding poll by Mainstreet Research</a>.
And here's the May 23 polling update from Mainstreet:
<ul>
<li>The PCs still have a 10-point lead over the Liberals with the NDP close behind.</li>
<li>The Liberals are strong with university-educated voters, but the Conservatives seem to be gaining with that group as well. College and trade-school-educated voters, as well as those with a high-school education or less, are going strong for Ford.</li>
<li>Mainstreet is also showing the Conservatives quite strong with voters over the age of 35, especially those over 50. They also have a significant lead among men.</li>
<li>Toronto's seeing a three-way race. The NDP is holding strong closer to the lakeshore, the Liberals are winning all of their seats across the middle, and the Conservatives are doing quite well across the northern end just past the 401.</li>
<li>In the GTA, things are getting a bit tighter than before with the Liberals closing in a little, but it’s difficult to say whether they can turn those gains into actual seats.</li>
<li>In the Durham region, two big battles are shaping up, in Ajax between the Conservatives and the Liberals, and in Oshawa between the Conservatives and the NDP.</li>
<li>Peel region is getting very interesting with two large battlegrounds. Up north in Brampton, the NDP are holding Brampton East, but in Centre, North and West are all too close to call</li>
<li>Further south in Mississauga, the battle is between the Conservatives and the Liberals in most of those seats, although the Conservatives currently hold slim leads in most of those ridings</li>
<li>Other ridings to watch are Kitchener Centre, which is turning into a surprise three-way race, and London Centre where the Conservatives are threatening the NDP.</li>
</ul>
Check out all of the charts and crosstabs <a href="https://www.ipolitics.ca/dashboards/ontario" target="_blank" rel="noopener">on our polling dashboard.</a>
Our barometer tells you which way the political winds are blowing. Check back in during the campaign as the weather changes, and follow <a href="https://twitter.com/elxnometre" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@elxnometre</a> on Twitter.
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<img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-406322" src="https://www.qpbriefing.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Election_Barometer_May_24_50-400x400.png" alt="" width="400" height="400" srcset="https://old.qpbriefing.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Election_Barometer_May_24_50-400x400.png 400w, https://old.qpbriefing.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Election_Barometer_May_24_50-150x150.png 150w, https://old.qpbriefing.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Election_Barometer_May_24_50.png 600w" sizes="(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px" />
In case you missed it:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.qpbriefing.com/2022/05/23/riding-poll-pcs-have-very-narrow-lead-in-etobicoke-centre/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Riding poll: PCs have a very narrow lead in Etobicoke Centre </a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.qpbriefing.com/2022/05/23/del-duca-suspends-campaign-to-visit-storm-affected-areas-ford-ghosts-media/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Del Duca 'suspends' campaign to visit storm-affected areas, Ford ghosts media</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.qpbriefing.com/2022/05/22/ford-visits-electorally-intriguing-parry-sound-muskoka-and-then-del-ducas-riding/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ford visits electorally intriguing Parry Sound—Muskoka, then Del Duca's riding</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.qpbriefing.com/2022/05/22/riding-poll-pcs-liberals-roughly-tied-in-barrie-springwater-oro-medonte/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Riding poll: PCs, Liberals roughly tied in Barrie-Springwater-Oro-Medonte</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.qpbriefing.com/2022/05/21/riding-poll-ndp-headed-to-re-election-in-algoma-manitoulin/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Riding poll: NDP headed to re-election in Algoma-Manitoulin</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.qpbriefing.com/2022/05/23/del-duca-suspends-campaign-to-visit-storm-affected-areas-ford-ghosts-media/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The QP Briefing Podcast: Ontario election 2022 week three roundup</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.qpbriefing.com/2022/05/20/ford-wins-the-affordability-debate/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sholes: Ford wins the affordability debate</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.qpbriefing.com/2022/05/20/no-party-is-bold-enough-to-solve-the-housing-crisis-report/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">No party is bold enough to solve the housing crisis: report</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.qpbriefing.com/2022/05/20/horwath-doesnt-rule-out-more-policy-surprises-on-the-campaign-trail/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Horwath doesn’t rule out more policy 'surprises' on the campaign trail</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.qpbriefing.com/2022/05/20/gas-prices-take-centre-stage-as-long-weekend-begins/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gas prices take centre stage as long weekend begins</a></li>
</ul>
In other news:
A year after mass burial sites were found at a former residential school in B.C., Ontario party leaders reaffirm their commitments to searches in this province, <a href="https://torontosun.com/news/election-2021/ontario-party-leaders-reaffirm-pledges-for-residential-school-burial-searches" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Canadian Press reports</a>.
Ontario's housing market has changed during the PC's tenure, <a href="https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-how-ontarios-housing-market-has-changed-under-the-ford-government/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">and the Globe and Mail breaks it all down</a>.
<a href="https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-political-parties-recognize-sprawl-is-unsustainable/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Globe</a> also takes a look at how sprawl is playing into the election.
Kingston and the Islands will get a new MPP after the NDP incumbent decided not to run again, <a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/2022/05/23/for-kingston-and-the-islands-change-is-on-the-way.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the Toronto Star reports</a>.
Will campaign buses be around for the next campaign? <a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/2022/05/24/is-this-the-end-of-the-line-for-campaign-buses.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Toronto Star ponders that question</a>.
It's all hands on deck in the GTA, <a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/2022/05/24/ontario-party-leaders-focus-campaigns-on-greater-toronto-area.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Canadian Press reports</a>.
After a Scarborough college suspended spring enrolments, hundreds of international students are left in limbo, <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/international-students-alpha-college-of-business-and-technology-scarborough-1.6462737" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CBC News reports</a>.
In the opinion pages:
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<li>The <a href="https://torontosun.com/opinion/columnists/lilley-jewish-members-leave-ontario-ndp-over-alleged-anti-semitism" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Toronto Sun’s Brian Lilley</a> reports on NDP members leaving the party of allegations of anti-Semitism.</li>
<li>Doug Ford is a changed man on the campaign trail, <a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/political-opinion/2022/05/24/on-the-campaign-trail-doug-ford-is-a-changed-man-in-changed-times.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">writes the Toronto Star's Martin Regg-Cohn</a>.</li>
<li>Former government financial analyst John Stillich pitches another solution to Ontario's traffic issues <a href="https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/2022/05/24/dont-leave-highway-401-to-die-heres-an-affordable-solution-to-torontos-traffic-woes.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">in the Star</a>.</li>
<li>Density is the answer to Ontario's housing woes, <a href="https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/editorials/article-ontario-election-amid-a-housing-mania-the-challenge-to-build/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the Globe editorial board writes</a>.</li>
</ul>
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Events
9 a.m.
Liberal Leader Steven Del Duca will talk affordability. 8 Dawes Rd, Toronto, and Zoom.
9:15 a.m.
NDP Leader Andrea Horwath will make an announcement. Esplanade Park, 1 The Esplanade, Pickering.
9:30 a.m.
PC Leader Doug Ford makes an announcement. Brampton.
10 a.m.
Green Leader Mike Schreiner talks housing. Zoom.
1:15 p.m.
Del Duca vists Parkdale High Park. Sangria Lounge, 145 Roncesvalles Ave, Toronto.
2:35 p.m.
Del Duca talks his buck-a-ride promise in Toronto. Weston GO Station, 1865 Weston Rd.
3:15 p.m.
Del Duca mainstreets in York Centre. Kabalen Restaurant, 3778 Bathurst St, North York.

Your morning briefing

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