April 17, 2015

Government Liaison Program (GLP) Weekly
April 17, 2015
EO LAKE ONTA IO CHA TE
A TICI ATES IN M
’S CONSTITUENCY OFFICE O ENING
Jennifer French MPP (Oshawa) (centre), NDP Critic for Community Safety and Correctional Services and Pensions opened her new
constituency office in Oshawa on April 11. Attending the event were PEO Lake Ontario Chapter Chair Chester Skomra, P.Eng., (right) and
PEO Lake Ontario GLP Chair
, P.Eng., (left). For more on this story, see page 5.
Through the Professional Engineers Act, PEO governs over 80,000 licence and certificate holders and regulates professional engineering in
Ontario to serve and protect the public. Professional engineering safeguards life, health, property, economic interests, the public welfare
and the environment.
Past issues are available on the PEO Government Liaison Program website at www.glp.peo.on.ca.
To sign up for this publication email: glpweekly@peo.on.ca
*Deadline for all submissions is the Thursday of the week prior to publication. Next issue will be published on April 24, 2015.
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TOP STORIES THIS WEEK
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EAST TORONTO CHAPTER HOSTS FIRST TAKE YOUR MPP TO WORK DAY
PC MPP TO SPEAK AT PEO WESTERN GLP ACADEMY IN COLLINGWOOD
FEDERAL AND ONTARIO FINANCE MINISTERS ANNOUNCE BUDGET DATES
ONTARIO ANNOUNCES NEW PLAN TO FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE WITH QUEBEC AND CALIFORNIA
MINISTER AND MPP PARTICIPATE IN PEO BRIDGE BUILDING COMPETITION
BREAKING NEWS
Arthur Potts MPP (Beaches-East York) (third from left), Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
participated in PEO East Toronto Chapter’s first Take Your MPP to Work Day on April 10. It took place at the City of Toronto’s R.C. Harris
Water Treatment Plant. Participating from PEO were (from left to right) Government Liaison Committee Chair Darla Campbell, P.Eng., City
of Toronto 2014 municipal candidate Dave Andre, P.Eng., East Toronto Chapter GLP Chair Georges Livanos, P.Eng., Plant Manager Gordon
Mitchell, East Toronto Chapter Chair Hugo Maureira, P.Eng., and Senior Plant Engineer Erik Lepik, P.Eng.
EAST TORONTO CHAPTER HOSTS FIRST TAKE YOUR MPP TO WORK DAY
Arthur Potts MPP (Beaches-East York), Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural
Affairs participated in PEO East Toronto Chapter’s Take Your MPP to Work Day on April 10.
The event was held at the R.C. Harris Water Treatment Plant in Toronto. The treatment plant produces 950
million litres of clean drinking water per day.
Mr. Potts was given a tour of the facility by the staff at the City of Toronto, which operates the facility. He had
the opportunity to learn about the important work engineers do in building and maintaining infrastructure.
Participating in the event from PEO were East Toronto Chapter Chair Hugo Maureira, P.Eng., Government
Liaison Committee Chair Darla Campbell, P.Eng., City of Toronto 2014 municipal candidate Dave Andre, P. Eng.,
East Toronto Chapter GLP Chair Georges Livanos, P.Eng., and PEO Student and Government Liaison Programs
Coordinator Gonzalo Piñeros, EIT.
To read the article on MPP Potts’ website, please see: http://bit.ly/1NyfuGO.
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PC MPP TO SPEAK AT PEO WESTERN GLP ACADEMY IN COLLINGWOOD
COLLINGWOOD – Interim PC Leader Jim Wilson MPP (SimcoeGrey) has confirmed that he will be speaking at the upcoming PEO
2015 Western GLP Academy and Congress on June 13 in
Collingwood.
Mr. Wilson will step down as PC Leader following the selection of
a new leader at the party’s convention in May. Mr. Wilson was
first elected in 1990.
Jim Wilson MPP
(Simcoe-Grey), Interim
PC Leader.
Ann Hoggarth MPP (Barrie),
Parliamentary Assistant to
the Minister of Labour.
Ann Hoggarth MPP (Barrie), Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Labour, has also confirmed that she will
be speaking at the event. Ms. Hoggarth was elected in June 2014.
The Western GLP Academy and Congress will be hosted by Vajahat Banday, P.Eng., GLP Chair for the Georgian
Bay Chapter.
FEDERAL AND ONTARIO FINANCE MINISTERS ANNOUNCE BUDGET DATES
Both federal Finance Minister Joe Oliver MP (Eglinton-Lawrence) and
Ontario Finance Minister Charles Sousa MPP Mississauga South) will be
presenting budgets in the coming days.
Mr. Oliver will present his budget to the House of Commons in Ottawa on
April 21. Mr. Sousa has announced that the Ontario budget will be
released on April 23.
Federal Finance
Minister Joe Oliver.
Ontario Finance
Minister Charles
Sousa.
At a pre-budget address to the Toronto Region Board of Trade at the
Hilton Toronto on March 31, Mr. Sousa announced that the provincial
de cit will be reduced to 10. billion and still be eliminated by 2017-18.
To read the details of Mr. Oliver’s announcement on the 2015 federal budget, see: http://bit.ly/1DaXLhP.
To read the details of Mr. Sousa’s announcement on the 2015 Ontario budget, see: http://bit.ly/1DEvjoF.
ONTARIO ANNOUNCES NEW PLAN TO FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE WITH QUEBEC AND CALIFORNIA
Premier Kathleen Wynne MPP (Don Valley West) announced on
April 13 that Ontario will join Quebec and California in
implementing a cap-and-trade system to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions.
The system places a limit on the amount of carbon emitted by
companies in each sector. It forces polluters to reduce emissions
or purchase permits from those who have innovated and
reduced pollution levels.
By setting limits and rewarding innovation, the deal aims to
reduce emissions and save money that can be reinvested to
keep Ontario businesses competitive.
To read the press release, see http://bit.ly/1aJnumt.
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Premier Kathleen Wynne MPP (left) and Quebec Premier
Philippe Couillard MNA (right) signed a deal on April 13
to join in implementing a cap-and-trade system to
reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Photo credit: The
Canadian Press.
MINISTER AND MPP PARTICIPATE IN PEO BRIDGE BUILDING COMPETITION
Brad Duguid MPP (Scarborough Centre) (second from right), Minister of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure
th
participated in PEO Scarborough Chapter’s 12 Annual Bridge Building Competition on April 11. Others participating included Soo
Wong MPP (Scarborough-Agincourt) (second from left), Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Community and Social Services
and Toronto City Councillor Raymond Cho (right). With them in the photo (from left to right) are PEO Scarborough Chapter
Treasurer Ranee Mahalingam P.Eng., (left) and PEO President-Elect Thomas Chong P.Eng., (centre).
PEO Scarborough Chapter held its 12th Annual Bridge Building Competition on April 11. It was held at the
Scarborough Civic Centre.
Special guests included Brad Duguid MPP (Scarborough Centre), Minister of Economic Development,
Employment and Infrastructure and Soo Wong MPP (Scarborough-Agincourt), Parliamentary Assistant to the
Minister of Community and Social Services. Also participating were Toronto City Councillor Raymond Cho and
PEO President-Elect Thomas Chong, P.Eng.
There were 68 teams from 20 schools that participated. Harsh Singh P.Eng., was the MC of the event.
Also in attendance were PEO Scarborough Chapter Chair Jega Jeganathan, P.Eng., Vice-Chair Murad Hussain
P.Eng., Past Chair Madu Suthanan P.Eng., Secretary Victor Lin P.Eng., Treasurer Ranee Mahalingam P.Eng., GLP
Chair Narayana Asogan, P.Eng., Award Certificates Support Junbin Huang, EIT and other Chapter Board
Executives.
The event was attended by over 200 people, including students, teachers and other Scarborough residents.
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EVENTS ATTENDED
PEO LAKE ONTARIO CHAPTER CHAIR A TICI ATES IN M
’S CONSTITUENCY OFFICE O ENING
Jennifer French MPP (Oshawa) (centre), NDP Critic for Community Safety and Correctional Services and Pensions opened her new
constituency office in Oshawa on April 11. Attending the event was PEO Lake Ontario Chapter Chair Chester Skomra, P.Eng., (right)
and PEO Lake Ontario GLP Chair
, P.Eng., (left).
Jennifer French MPP (Oshawa), NDP Critic for Community safety and Correctional Services and Pensions,
opened her new constituency office in Oshawa on April 11.
PEO Lake Ontario Chapter GLP Chair Randy Pickle, P.Eng., and PEO Lake Ontario Chapter Chair Chester Skomra,
P.Eng., attended the opening.
Both Mr. Pickle and Mr. Skomra had a chance to speak with Ms. French and congratulate her on her new
offices.
Ms. French also met with Mr. Pickle and PEO Government Relations Consultant Howard Brown on November 5
during PEO’s Annual Queen’s Park Day.
PARLIAMENTARY ASSISTANT TO COMMUNITY SAFETY MINISTER PARTICIPATES IN PEO AWARDS GALA
Bas Balkissoon MPP (Scarborough Rouge River), Parliamentary
Assistant to the Minister of Community Safety and Correctional
Services will be a special guest at the upcoming PEO Awards
Gala on April 24.
Mr. Balkissoon is a long-time supporter of PEO. He was elected
to the Legislature during a by-election in 2005.
He has previously served as a municipal councillor for 17 years.
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Bas Balkissoon MPP (Scarborough-Rouge River),
Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of
Community Safety and Correctional Services.
WORK IN PROGRESS
PC LEADERSHIP RACE HEATS UP
The PC Leadership race is heating up as the end of the race draws near.
According to a recent story in the Toronto Star, Deputy Leader Christine
Elliott MPP (Whitby-Oshawa) stated that Barrie MP Patrick Brown has
“divisive politics” that are “mired in the past and it is not going to allow us
to win the next election.” She stated that “Progressive Conservatives can
choose my positive, pragmatic and truly progressive conservative vision.”
Ms. Elliott is also the PC Critic for Health and Long-Term Care
Mr. Brown has said that when it comes to voting for a PC Leader to have a
chance in the 2018 election, “It can’t be the same old, same old broken
party establishment that is top down, that doesn’t listen to its members and
continues to run on policy ideas out of left field.” Mr. Brown is the Chair of
the Federal Conservative Central Ontario Caucus.
To read the full Toronto Star story, see: http://on.thestar.com/1aQvzq2.
Patrick Brown MP (Barrie) (left), Chair
for the Federal Conservative Central
Ontario Caucus and PC Deputy Leader
Christine Elliott MPP (WhitbyOshawa)(right) are the last two in the
PC Leadership race.
In last week’s issue of GLP Weekly in the story on the PC Leadership, PC icon Paul Godfrey was incorrectly listed as a
licenced engineer. Mr. Godfrey was a licensed engineer previously but no longer holds the licence.
Ms. Elliott has garnered the support of former leadership rivals Vic Fedeli MPP (Nipissing) who is the PC Finance
Critic, and Lisa McLeod (Nepean-Carleton) who is the PC Critic for the President of the Treasury Board.
Mr. Brown has been endorsed by Lambton-Kent-Middlesex MPP Monte McNaughton, who dropped out of the
provincial PC Leadership race last week.
The vote will be announced on May 9.
NDP HOUSE LEADER TO SPEAK AT PEO GLP NORTHERN ACADEMY IN TIMMINS
TIMMINS - NDP House Leader Gilles Bisson MPP (Timmins-James
Bay) will speak at the 2015 PEO GLP Northern Region Academy
and Congress on June 6. It will be hosted by the PEO PorcupineKapuskasing Chapter in Timmins.
Leaders in engineering from across Northern Ontario are expected
to participate in this session. The purpose is to help engineers
better understand how they can work with their MPPs.
NDP House Leader Gilles Bisson MPP
(Timmins-James Bay) will be speaking at the
PEO GLP Academy and Congress in Timmins
on June 6.
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Mr. isson has recogni ed the engineering profession in the
egislature as leaders in ge ng their views heard by MPPs.
UPCOMING EVENTS
NEW! April 17 – Federal Liberal Finance Critic Scott Brison MP (King-Hants) will speak to the Canadian Club of
Toronto at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel, 100 Front St. West, Toronto at 12 p.m. Tickets are $90 each for nonmembers and $80 for members. For more information, visit
http://www.canadianclub.org/Events/EventDetails.aspx?id=3291.
April 17 – PC Energy Critic John Yakabuski MPP (Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke) will host a Spring fundraiser with
guest speaker PC Interim Leader Jim Wilson MPP (Simcoe-Grey). The event will take place at the Rankin Cultural
& Recreation Centre, 20 Rankin Rink Rd., Pembroke from 6 to 9 p.m. Tickets are $100 each, RSVP is
recommended. For more information, visit https://secure.ontariopc.com/PartyEvents/789.
April 20 – Former PC Leader Tim Hudak MPP (Niagara West- Glanbrook) will be hosting his annual fundraiser at
CC Lounge at 45 Front St. E. from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. Tickets are $300 each. To reserve, call 888-210-1227 or
email hudakfundraiser@gmail.com.
April 21 – Minister of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure Brad Duguid MPP (Scarborough
Centre) will host a Blue Jays Baseball evening reception at the Rogers Centre, John St. Terrace, West of Gate 1
with special guest Paul Beeston, President and CEO, Toronto Blue Jays Baseball Club. The event will take place
from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. followed by the game. Tickets are $450 each, RSVP is required. For more information,
contact Brent Duguid at 416-287-7033 or duguid.brent@gmail.com.
NEW! April 22 – An evening with Christine Elliott MPP (Whitby-Oshawa) will be held at the Riviera Parque
Convention Centre in Vaughan from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Tickets are $500 each. To order tickets, please see:
http://bit.ly/1OBOAeb.
April 22 – NDP Leader Andrea Horwath MPP (Hamilton Centre) will be hosting a Stakeholder Social with other
members of the Ontario NDP caucus at the Gardiner Museum Terrace Room, 111 Queen’s Park, Toronto at 7
p.m. Tickets are $1,500 each, registration is recommended. For more information, contact events@on.ndp.ca.
April 22 – The Economic Club of Canada, along with Senator Doug Black, will be speaking at the Toronto leg of
their Economic Voice Series tour at One King West Hotel, 1 King St. West, Toronto from 7 to 9 a.m. This event
will focus on issues such as Canada's current energy picture, carbon pricing and ensuring market access for
Canada's energy resources. For more information, visit http://www.economicclub.ca/events.
April 23 – The Ontario Society of Professional Engineers are hosting their third Engineering Employment Event
(E3) in Kingston from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Registration is $16.95 until 12 pm on April 23. After that registration is
$25 at the door with cash or credit card. To register, see: http://bit.ly/1C7AZ8O . For any questions, please
contact Chan Drepaul at 416-223-9961 or by email at cdrepaul@ospe.on.ca.
April 27 – PC Leadership Candidate and Health and Long-Term Care Critic Christine Elliott MPP (Whitby-Oshawa)
will speak to the Canadian Club of Toronto at the InterContinental Toronto Centre, 225 Front St. West, Toronto
at 12 p.m. Tickets are $80 for members and $90 for non-members. For more information, visit
http://bit.ly/1HX1Qcw.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
April 27 – Julia Munro MPP (York-Simcoe), PC Critic for the Associate Minister of Finance will host an evening
reception at the Albany Club, 91 King St. East, Toronto from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $200 each, RSVP is
recommended. For more information, contact 905-252-7493 or yorksimcoepc@gmail.com.
NEW! April 28 – Jim McDonell, P. Eng., MPP (Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry), PC Critic for Minister Responsible
for Poverty Reduction Strategy and Children and Youth Services and the PC Caucus are hosting an evening at the
Watermark Irish Pub and Restaurant, 207 Queen’s Quay W, on the ground floor at the south end. The event will
run from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Please RSVP by April 17 to Marilyn McMahon at mma@tri-sis.ca or 613-930-5042.
April 28 - Former Prime Minister Paul Martin will speak to the Canadian Club of Toronto at the Royal York Hotel,
100 Front St. West at 12 p.m. Tickets are $90 each for non-members or $80 for members. For more information,
visit http://bit.ly/1EtfO0V.
NEW! April 29 – Minister of Labour Kevin Flynn MPP (Oakville) will host an evening reception at the Royal Canadian
Military Institute (Short Bar), 426 University Ave., Toronto from 6 to 8 p.m. Tickets are $500 each, RSVP is
recommended. For more information or to RSVP, contact Ben Nilsson at 416-260-1608 ext. 424 or
bnilsson@ontarioliberal.ca
April 29 – The Celebrating Women in Leadership Reception in support of Tracy MacCharles MPP (PickeringScarborough East), Minister of Children and Youth Services and Minister Responsible for Women’s Issues will be
held at The Spoke Club. Tickets are $200 each. To register for the event, go to: http://bit.ly/1xkOihZ.
April 29 – An evening in support of Dave Levac MPP (Brant), Speaker of the Legislature will be hosting a fundraiser
from 6 pm to 8 pm at 2 Lombard St Suite 200 in Toronto. To order tickets, please call 416-820-0790 or
davelevac@gmail.com.
NEW! April 30 – Associate Minister of Finance (Ontario Retirement Pension Plan) Mitzie Hunter MPP (ScarboroughGuildwood) will host an evening reception at the Mandalay Restaurant, 3478 Lawrence Ave. East, Toronto at 6:30
p.m. Tickets are $150 each, RSVP is recommended. For more information or to RSVP contact 416-961-3800 ext.
682 or sgplafundraising@ontarioliberalfund.com.
May 4 – Brad Duguid MPP (Scarborough Centre), Minister of Economic Development, Employment and
Infrastructure will speak to the Empire Club on opportunities and challenges facing Ontario’s economy today and
into the future. The event will take place at Arcadian Court, 401 Bay St., Toronto at 12 p.m. Tickets are $95 each,
registration is required. For more information, visit http://bit.ly/1Mo0omG.
May 6 – Tom Mitchell,President and CEO of Ontario Power Generation will be the guest speaker at this month’s
Ontario Energy Network Luncheon from 11:45 to 2 pm at the Fairmont Royal York in Toronto. Please register at
http://bit.ly/1xxCrgB by May 4.
May 7 – The Ontario Liberal Party will host an Ottawa Trillium Spring Reception with guest, Premier Kathleen
Wynne MPP (Don Valley West), at the Ottawa Marriott Hotel, 100 Kent St., from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $300
each, RSVP is recommended. For more information, contact ilunau@ontarioliberal.ca.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
May 9 – The Ontario PC Party will host its Leadership Convention at the Toronto Congress Centre, 650 Dixon Rd.,
from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. This event will conclude with the announcement of a new Party Leader of the Ontario PC
Party. Tickets are $25 for members, RSVP is required. For more information, visit
https://secure.ontariopc.com/PartyEvents/790.
NEW! May 12 – Catherine Fife MPP (Kitchener-Waterloo), NDP Finance and Treasury Board Critic will host a
cocktail reception at Hart House, 7 Hart House Circle from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. in Toronto. Tickets are $250 each,
RSVP is recommended. For more information, contact 647-469-9695 or friendsofcatherinefife@gmail.com.
May 28 – The Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Centre will host the 2015 Spirit of Hope Benefit with guest, former
Prime Minister of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Tony Blair. The event will also honour Chief of Toronto Police
Services Bill Blair. Location for this event is yet to be announced. Tickets are $1,000 for two, RSVP is required. For
more information, contact Tracey at 416-864-9735 or tsteyn@fswc.ca.
NEW! June 17 – The Ontario PC Party will host a Toronto Leader’s Dinner at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre,
South building, 222 Bremner Blvd. Early bird ticket rates are available until May 7, each is $850 and regular priced
tickets are $950 each. For more information, visit https://secure.ontariopc.com/PartyEvents/784.
If you have any comments, additions, or questions about The GLP Weekly please do not hesitate to call or email:
Howard Brown, President, Brown & Cohen Communications & Public Affairs Inc.
321 Brooke Avenue | Toronto, ON M5M 2L4 |Direct line: 416-783-1140 | Cell: 416-844-1180
howard@brown-cohen.com | www.brown-cohen.com
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