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Category: Government
Who’s lobbying for whom
Registrations with the Office of the Integrity Commissioner for Feb. 10-17. ...
People on the Move
Lots of movement in the Premier's Office, Rae takes another new gig, and Hurrican Hazel hands over the reins of LUMCO. ...
“I’m the change” Wynne says after Libs lose byelections
New Democrats were the clear winners in Thursday night's byelections, stealing the Niagara Falls riding from the Liberals, marking the third year in a row the party had pulled off a surprise win. ...
Ford puts new global car in Oakville plant in a new sign of the times
Ontario's auto sector gets a shot in the arm as Ford Canada announces a plan to build a new Edge vehicle at its Oakville plant and export the popular model around the world. ...
Coach industry ready to work with GO, if Ontario will allow it
Transportation Minister Glen Murray promises 'good news coming' for the private bus sector. ...

Federal-budget bashing dismissed as pre-election posturing
Federal Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver told the Toronto Region Board of Trade Wednesday the Wynne government's reaction was predictable, but wrong. ...
Opposition roundly pans Wynne’s first year at helm
The Tories release a video marking Wynne's year as Premier while Gilles Bisson says nothing has really changed since the Liberals changed leaders. ...
Who’s lobbying for whom
Registrations with the Office of the Integrity Commissioner for Jan. 31-Feb. 10 ...

Murray says Ottawa is ‘freeloading’ on Ontario’s infrastructure spending
Ontario Transportation Minister Glen Murray says the federal government needs to get back into the infrastructure spending game in a big way. ...

GTMA asks Ontario, Ottawa for $2.5 million each to draw in FDI
Marketing alliance co-chairs John Tory and Dave Ryan call on business, cities, as well as Queen’s Park and Ottawa to commit a total of $7.6 million to draw investment to the GTA. ...
Sousa letter to federal Finance Minister over transfers
Click here to see the contents of a letter written by Ontario's Finance Minister to his federal counterpart. ...
People on the move
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We need to make transportation infrastructure matter outside of GTA: Wynne
Premier Wynne tells regional business and community leaders transit will only be built if it's seen to benefit all of Ontario, not just the Greater Toronto Area. ...
Turn down heat, wear a sweater, Bradley advises
Today is National Sweater Day and the Environment Minister says such simple measures as turning down the thermostat represent a commitment to combatting climate change. ...
WSIB’s unfunded liability shrinking faster than scheduled: Witmer
Getting more injured workers back on the job at a faster rate has cut the gap between its obligations and its funds by $2 billion, WSIB chair says, and that trend is expected to continue. ...
Who’s Lobbying for Whom
Registrations with the Office of the Integrity Commissioner for Jan. 27-Jan. 31. ...
Liberals release tape of Tory MPP warning on ‘right to work’
Tory John O'Toole can be heard warning party delegates it might be "the wrong issue" and that "if anyone mentions the word 'Wisconsin,' we're screwed." ...
Sousa rules out deep cuts as CTF calls for leaner, ‘smarter’ government
Finance Minister rules out deep cuts or privatization in response to the Canadian Taxpayers Federation's proposals for a budget. ...
Leger poll finds 61 per cent support for Scarborough LRT plan
New poll shows broad popular support across Toronto for the light rail plan that the Liberals and Toronto City Council abandoned last summer. ...

Minimum wage to rise to $11 and will be tied to inflation each year
The government will also present legislation to guarantee the minimum wage keeps up with inflation, while food services association complains about extra costs to restaurants. ...
Jeffrey says Toronto won’t necessarily get storm aid first
Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Linda Jeffrey said Tuesday some municipalities will have to wait for ice storm relief until the total scope of damages is known. ...
Report of $11 minimum wage premature, Wynne insists
Premier says decision won't be made until cabinet meeting on Wednesday. ...

Tory ‘right to work’ plan called more to the right than U.S. South
Labour-oriented economist John O'Grady says Conservative proposals would be more detrimental to workers and union movement than Mississippi or Alabama - the birthplace of "right-to-work" laws. ...
Government won’t commit to hike in minimum wage
The province is no closer to consensus on the minimum wage as panel report recommends pegging it to inflation ─ but stays silent on what the level should be. ...
PED spreads to at least one more farm, hundreds of piglets dead at first site
In a conference call Monday afternoon, veterinarians confirmed at least one more farm has been struck by PED, a disease that has killed millions of pigs in the U.S. ...
Now on the syllabus: Campus expansion – and how to pay for it
Universities and colleges keen to learn about Liberal government's plans for broadening schools' presence in communities across province. ...
Heard: Ontario pork still safe to eat, Wynne says
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Heard: Government reviews sprinklers in seniors homes
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Soknacki hopes province will be ‘amenable’ if he wins TO mayoral race
The first formally registered challenger to Toronto Mayor Rob Ford says he can work something out with Queen's Park and Ottawa to change the Scarborough subway, again. ...

No price tag yet on first phase of Ontario Place revamp
Initial design proposal envisions replacing the present asphalt jungle with much needed green space and multi-use trails on east side of park. ...
Government warned to stop messing with P3 projects
The CEO of one of the province's largest bidders on P3 projects told the Toronto Region Board of Trade that political interference doesn't help the market. ...
Happening: New Democrats and Greens finalize byelection candidates
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Ontario opening trade office in Sao Paulo
Economic development minister Eric Hoskins says Going Global initiative an opportunity for Ontario companies to tap into Brazil's rapidly growing infrastructure - in time for country's hosting of 2014 World Cup and 2016 ...
Duguid unveils credit-transfer website for university and college students
Staff at Training, College and Universities Ministry estimate a business student looking to transfer credits will save an average of $11,000, and taxpayers $7,500. ...
Horwath hedges on support for a spring budget
NDP Leader, noting a slow response to cutting car insurance premiums, gives her party rhetorical room to say no to the budget, a move that would doom the Liberal government to a spring election. ...
Seen: TransCanada prepared to sign off on $15 billion Bruce refurbs
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The Funding Portal: Who got Funded – Week of Jan. 6
Each week The Funding Portal crunches the numbers on who got funding from where. ...
Province’s closing of small hospitals just the start, union warns
Government plan to shutter five Niagara hospitals and create a larger acute-care facility is a blueprint for other communities, CUPE representative says ...
Who’s lobbying for whom
Registrations with the Office of the Integrity Commissioner for Jan. 7-13 ...
Happening: Ontario Place redevelopment – what a concept
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Hudak presents ‘million jobs act,’ Duguid slams call for spending cuts
Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak called for lower taxes and debt, cheaper energy and other measures to create 125,000 jobs a year for eight years. ...
Industry welcomes fish-farming rule change – but Saugeen Objibway raise alarms
The fish-farming industry is welcoming the recent changes to licensing rules, but the Saugeen First Nation worries the province is getting out of the oversight business. ...
People on the Move
The Ontario Science Centre is looking for a new CEO, and Saad Rafi starts at Pan Am ... and other public appointments announced this week. ...
Toronto City Council set to vote on requesting ODRAP funds for ice-storm cleanup
City staff estimate the ice storm has caused about $106 million in cleanup costs, but past precedence suggests Queen's Park will turn down Toronto's request. ...
Toronto already looking beyond 2015 Pan Am Games
City staff kicking around ideas for such facilities as Ontario Place and its western channel after the Games are completed. ...
Aquaculture gets a small break in 2014
A tweak to the rules governing Ontario's fish farms could mean a more secure industry in 2014. ...
War of words intensifies over ice storm response
The government, in particular Premier Kathleen Wynne's office, spent another day responding to opposition accusations of emergency mismanagement. ...
Heard: Board of Trade urges voters to ‘think twice’ at ballot boxes
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The Funding Portal: Who got funded – weeks of Dec. 23 and 30
Each week The Funding Portal crunches the numbers on who got funding from where. ...