Headlines
The Tories have pored over the province's public accounts and have found the Ontario Electricity Support Program wanting, <a href="http://globalnews.ca/news/3009408/tories-say-liberals-spent-11-7m-on-consultants-media-for-hydro-rebate-plan/" target="_blank">according to The Canadian Press</a>. The PCs are steaming over $11.7 million the Liberals are alleged to have spent on consultants and advertisements for the program, which totalled an $11.9 million expense.  The official opposition intends to ask about it in this morning's question period - so come on back here for the QP Briefing liveblog.
PC Leader Patrick Brown is warning of another bigger and pricier gas plant scandal than the $1.1-billion debacle you're thinking of. As <a href="https://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2016/10/17/taxpayer-cost-of-stalled-wind-project-could-go-way-up-opposition-warns.html" target="_blank">the Toronto Star reports</a>, Monday's question period was rife with questions about the $25 million in damages awarded to Windstream Energy after the project was stalled, and after Ontario's moratorium on offshore wind power, which Brown contends is just the tip of an expensive iceberg.
ICYMI, the provincial and territorial <a href="http://www.qpbriefing.com/2016/10/17/canada-spends-a-lot-on-its-middle-of-the-road-health-care-system-philpott-says/" target="_blank">health ministers will meet with their federal counterpart</a> Jane Philpott today, and as with so many relationships, money might be a touchy topic of discussion.
Correctional officers have <a href="http://www.citynews.ca/2016/10/17/correctional-officers-express-concerns-after-province-vows-to-scale-back-solitary-confinement/" target="_blank">a few grievances to air</a> with Community Safety Minister David Orazietti following <a href="http://www.qpbriefing.com/2016/10/17/ontario-caps-solitary-confinement-at-15-days-seeks-third-party-for-further-review/" target="_blank">yesterday's announcement</a> that he's beefing up rules for the use of solitary confinement in jails.
An Ontario judge says it's play ball for the Cleveland Indians and Toronto Blue Jays. According to <a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/baseball/use-of-cleveland-indians-name-and-logo-challenged-in-ontario-court/article32392221/" target="_blank">The Globe and Mail</a>, the Superior Court decided to throw out a request to issue an injunction brought by indigenous advocates that would have prohibited the Indians from using what they considered a racist team name and logo, Chief Wahoo, at Monday's playoff game. The Jays, too, were shut down last night, but we'll leave it at that lest the baseball gods consider it a jinx.
Andrea Horwath is taking the fight for hydro bill relief into the living rooms of constituents. The NDP Leader was in Sudbury Monday to chat at Maryse Gareau's kitchen table, who has seen her electricity bill grow by a third in a few short years, <a href="http://www.thesudburystar.com/2016/10/18/ndp-pushes-hydro-relief-during-sudbury-stop" target="_blank">the Sudbury Star reports</a>.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Maryse Gareau in Sudbury has seen her family's hydro bill go up 30% — hydro bills are too high in Ontario. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KeepHydroPublic?src=hash">#KeepHydroPublic</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/onpoli?src=hash">#onpoli</a> <a href="https://t.co/wUaWX9BZk2">pic.twitter.com/wUaWX9BZk2</a>
— Andrea Horwath (@AndreaHorwath) <a href="https://twitter.com/AndreaHorwath/status/788104042635468800">October 17, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Three-quarters of Toronto families cannot afford daycare in the city, according to a unique study from the University of Toronto that <a href="https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/10/18/vast-majority-of-toronto-parents-cant-afford-daycare.html" target="_blank">the Star says</a> is "the first of its kind to quantify parent demand and affordability."
Premier Kathleen Wynne is assuring there will be <a href="https://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2016/10/17/wynne-vows-no-sell-off-of-ehealth-records-system.html" target="_blank">no sell-off of the eHealth records system</a>, the Toronto Star reports. As for Ed Clark himself, the privatization czar of Hydro One fame now looking at eHealth, he's saying pretty much the same, <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/toronto/ehealth-ontario-sale-kathleen-wynne-ed-clark-1.3808734" target="_blank">according to the CBC.</a>
The Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan is <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/teachers-pension-constellation-brands-1.3808210" target="_blank">spending $1.03 billion for Mississauga-based Constellation Brands</a> Canada, which operates 163 Wine Rack outlets and commercial wineries throughout the province. The deal comes as new rules governing booze sales are about to take effect.
Police chiefs should have the power to suspend officers without pay if they are criminally charged, say some North Bay councillors who passed a motion to ask the province to make the change in the soon-to-be-rewritten Police Services Act, <a href="http://www.nugget.ca/2016/10/18/city-wants-suspended-officers-pay-cut" target="_blank">the North Bay Nugget reports</a>. The request follows similar calls from the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police.
In the opinion pages
<ul>
<li>Martin Regg Cohn considers Ontario's <a href="https://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2016/10/18/ontarios-love-hate-relationship-with-green-energy-cohn.html" target="_blank">love-hate affair with (unrenewed) renewable energy</a>.</li>
<li>Christina Blizzard' <a href="http://www.torontosun.com/2016/10/17/mpp-absence-not-unprecedented" target="_blank">takes roll call</a> and muses whether MPP Monte Kwinter, who is in a nursing home, could trigger another byelection.</li>
<li>David Reevely's crystal ball signals the <a href="http://ottawacitizen.com/storyline/reevely-the-liberals-gift-to-the-progressive-conservatives-in-ottawa-vanier" target="_blank">beginning of the end</a> for the Liberals in the yet-to-be-called Ottawa-Vanier byelection.</li>
<li>Andrew Coyne says CPP expansion is <a href="http://news.nationalpost.com/full-comment/andrew-coyne-expansion-of-the-cpp-is-risky-business" target="_blank">risky insurance business</a>, and points out some retirees may outlive their savings.</li>
</ul>
Bills
Second reading of Bill 37, An Act to amend the Early Childhood Educators Act and the Ontario College of Teachers Act.
Second reading of Bill 7, An Act to amend or repeal various Acts with respect to housing and planning.
Committees
9 a.m.
The Standing Committee on Estimates will meet to review the 2016-2017 estimates of the Ministry of Energy. Room 1.
The Standing Committee on Government Agencies will meet to consider intended appointments. Room 2.
4 p.m.
The Standing Committee on Social Policy will meet to consider Bill 28, An Act to amend the Children's Law Reform Act, the Vital Statistics Act and various other Acts respecting parentage and related registrations. Room 151.
Events
8 a.m.
Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs, David Zimmer, Ontario Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation and the Algonquin Negotiation Representatives for the Algonquins of Ontario will attend a special event to mark a key milestone in ongoing negotiations on the Algonquins of Ontario land claim. Aboriginal Peoples Committee Room, Centre Block, Parliament Hill, Ottawa. 
8:20 a.m.
Federal/Provincial/Territorial Ministers of Health to meet in Toronto, co-hosted by Jane Philpott, Federal Minister of Health, and Eric Hoskins, Minister of Health for Ontario.  Omni King Edward Hotel 
Windsor Ballroom B, 37 King Street, Toronto. 
10 a.m.
Derek Fox, Deputy Grand Chief of NAN, Walter Naveau, Chief, Mattagami First Nation, Mike Benson , Gogama Fire Chief, Mike Mantha, MPP for Algoma-Manitoulin, France Gélinas, MPP for Nickel Belt will to discuss the clean-up in Gogoma after a CN trail derailment spilled crude oil into the Makami River. Queen's Park media studio.  
11:15 a.m.
Premier Kathleen Wynne to deliver remarks at the Canada Arab Sustainable Business Investment Conference,  Ritz-Carlton Hotel, 181 Wellington Street, Toronto.
12 p.m.
Premier Wynne to attend a caucus meeting. Room 247, Queen's Park.
12 p.m.
David Suzuki and GTA Environmental Organizations will Discuss Ontario’s Environmental Bill of Rights. Queen's Park media studio and a demonstration on the south lawn.
2 p.m.
OPSEU's Mental Health Division will address health and safety issues. Queen's Park media studio.
To contact the reporter on this story: <a href="mailto:snanji@qpbriefing.com">snanji@qpbriefing.com</a>

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