Charlie Pinkerton

ROMA week has come and gone. That's the Rural Ontario Municipal Association conference, of course.

's Jack Hauen's week was dedicated to rural mayors — one of his favourite collections of subjects to cover.

Ironically, their conference was held in Toronto. As usual, along with rural mayors, it served as a who's who in provincial politics.

Jack's coverage touched a lot, so here's my best attempt to summarize.

 likely spooked some staffers by veering off script to talk about a number of unplanned things.

 PO'd with the government's pro-development moves protested outside the conference.

And the always interesting bear pits took place. Bear pits — or ministers' forums — serve as an opportunity for mayors to pepper ministers with questions about basically anything relevant to their portfolio. 

 Environment Minister David Piccini's handling of a bunch of questions about the government's privatization of recycling.

Our semi-regular updates about the recovery of the Ontario NDP seemed to have come to an end. It's the Liberals' time to shine.

Their annual general meeting is approaching. It's slated for the first weekend in March, in the Hammer — which typically tends to be Dipper territory. Whether this has anything to do with an upcoming 

Nevertheless, the Ontario Liberals' upcoming get-together 

be one of their most consequential in their century-and-a-half-long history. They've been walloped in back-to-back elections after running the province for 15 years. They're expected to elect a rookie president. The rest of the party's executive — the group that effectively runs the provincial Grits — will mostly be new. They'll vote on whether to change the party's ways and give all members a say in leadership elections. And their green executive will have the honour of crafting the next leadership election (

 fully encourages #innovation, including food-based competitions and others involving athletic prowess).

Like we've done for the party's other two presidential candidates, 

 — former cabinet minister and mayor Kathryn McGarry — this week.

Meanwhile, the uber-serious leadership candidates (who aren't 

candidates yet) have begun stacking their rosters. 

 how those are coalescing this week as well.

Ontario's Minister of Economic Development Victor Fedeli took some time to speak with us recently, and he was his usual high-spirited self, particularly about the future ahead for the province's auto-manufacturing sector.

's Aidan Chamandy, every day, Fedeli texts Premier Doug Ford.

"I send him the name of a company, how many millions they're investing in Ontario, the city that they're investing in, how many people they're hiring, and whether we have any skin in the game or not," he said.

Between the big auto investments and other ones that might not grab as many headlines, Fedeli is confident the work the PCs have done to "lower the cost of doing business" will pay dividends in a rocky macroeconomic environment.

Ford just so happens to share — or at least did on Monday — a similar general sentiment about Ontario's economic prospects, despite the many economists who have flashed warning signs. "Make no mistake about it: are we all gonna see a few bumps? Sure. But I'm just not seeing it here in Ontario," Ford said of a potential recession at the start of the week.

As alluded to, Fedeli is especially jazzed about Ontario's auto sector. His office provided 

 with a document outlining the investments various automakers have made in Ontario since 2020 — and they tally to about $16 billion. There are remodellings of existing auto assembly plants, plus ventures into next-gen auto manufacturing, like for electric vehicle batteries. There's also probably more to come. Asked about an update to talks that the 

 were happening between Ferrari and Ontario, Fedeli budged a bit, saying, with a slight chuckle, "that we have talks with a lot of companies from around the world."

read Aidan's rundown of his chat with Vic. 

Who's lobbying for whom: Health-care software company Novari Health

Ford 'very confident' a health-care funding deal is coming with premiers, Trudeau meeting soon

Greenbelt is Ontario's jurisdiction, Ford says after federal minister raises concerns

Cabinet signs off on former PC minister's appointment to local police board

MPPs on the finance committee continue their pre-budget tour next week. They've got stops lined up in Sudbury, Sault Ste. Marie and Timmins.

We're expecting word from the Ontario Provincial Police about whether they, too, will be investigating the Greenbelt land swap. Their boots would be the biggest shoes to drop in this saga so far.

Next, next Saturday — aka not tomorrow — is when Marit Stiles is expected to be confirmed as leader of the Ontario NDP. Stiles Fest is planned in Toronto, and 

To honour our usual Leafs update, you can catch them against the Washington Capitals this weekend. Auston Matthews jimmied his knee, which isn't ideal. Hockey legend Alexander Ovechkin will be closely watched, and not only because of his ongoing chase of The Great One's all-time goals record. Ovi's an unabashed Vladimir Putin supporter. 

 has been trying to get him blocked from entering Canada for supporting the aggressors against Ukraine.

And a motley crew of high-profile politicians are getting together next Wednesday in Toronto for the Canadian Club Toronto's 125 anniversary. Former premiers Christy Clark, Jason Kenney and Kathleen Wynne will be chit-chatting with TVO's Steve Paikin about unity in Canada. Should go swimmingly.

Charlie Pinkerton, deputy editor of QP Briefing

QP Briefing Recap: When in ROMA

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