Why Ford waited to shut down Ontario Did someone forward you this newsletter? Sign up here to get it delivered weekday mornings. Robyn Bresnahan, the host of CBC Radio's Ottawa Morning, pulled off an impressive feat yesterday. She extracted a real answer, not a talking point, from a provincial minister whose government is struggling to contain a surge in COVID variants. Bresnahan asked Sylvia Jones, Ontario's solicitor general, to explain why her cabinet waited until after Easter weekend to impose a stay-at-home order meant to protect overstressed hospitals. "We wanted to make sure the modelling was actually showing up in our hospitals," Jones told Bresnahan, who asked the obvious follow-up: "How can your government seriously claim that the scenario playing out now is a surprise?" Jones countered that modelling is not real life, and "now we've seen the ICU numbers" and taken action. Recall that in early February, modelling predicted a disastrous third wave. But Jones was clear. Her government preferred to wait and see. (Read a transcript of that exchange and listen to the full interview.) The Kenney revolt: Sixteen MLAs in Alberta's United Conservative caucus jointly penned a letter that fiercely opposed new public-health restrictions imposed on the province by the leader of their very own party. Maclean's Alberta correspondent Jason Markusoff writes—for Politics Insider eyes only!—about what Kenney can gain, or at least not lose, from the backlash: What kind of premier invites his backbenchers to openly defy his decisions? One who’s as reluctant a gym- and pub-closer as Jason Kenney. Consider this large bloc of rural and small-town backbenchers as the premier’s id—he tilts libertarian and pro-business, and has spent most of the pandemic deploring those who call for restrictions. He still wants to be that premier—these laissez-infect MLAs definitely still want that premier—but he’s gotten realistic about the hospitalization cliff Alberta’s hurtling towards. Kenney gravely fears losing his rural conservative base, so if he permits this out-valve for a few weeks, maybe there’s no long-term harm? As the Liberals gather virtually, convention co-chair Terry Beech threaded the election speculation needle in an interview with the Globe and Mail. “We’re certainly not focused on the election,” he told that newspaper. But he seemed to favour a trip to the polls in the nearish future: “I think this is probably the last convention before the next election.” This newsletter mentioned that on opening night, delegates would hear from former prime minister Paul Martin. Alas, a day-of switcheroo replaced Martin with Ken Dryden, the hockey legend and former social development minister. An archived version of the convention program reveals another subtle tweak for tonight's schedule. Mark Carney's conversation with Marci Ien was initially handed a 20-minute slot. Sophie Grégoire Trudeau followed up with 40 minutes to herself. The current program hands 20 minutes of Grégoire Trudeau's time to Carney's talk. Tories are fuming at conventioning Liberals. Michelle Rempel Garner says both Procurement Minister Anita Anand and Health Minister Patty Hajdu declined urgent invitations to testify at the Commons health committee. Garner accused the committee's chair, Liberal MP Ron McKinnon, of not even attempting to schedule a meeting. Don't forget about the NDP: Federal New Democrats will launch their own e-convention today. First on the docket is party warhorse Ed Broadbent, the 85-year-old elder statesman, at just after 3 p.m. ET. Delegates will also hear from Yukon leader Kate White and Manitoba leader Wab Kinew. They won't hear from Jagmeet Singh until Sunday, when another high-profile leader—Alberta's Rachel Notley—will also take the virtual stage. The sense of urgency around climate change is trending up: The University of Ottawa's Positive Energy initiative is working to understand "how to strengthen public confidence in energy decision-making." Program chair Monica Gattinger and pollster Nik Nanos, writing in Maclean's, pulled key details from their latest survey on climate policy. Building public confidence in decisions will be crucial to charting Canada’s energy future in an age of climate change. Our findings show that Canadians’ level of climate ambition is holding steady during the pandemic and the sense of urgency is growing. Yet the size and strength of opposition is large and concentrated enough to challenge initiatives that have majority support. Best communities in Canada: Yesterday, Maclean's unveiled its latest annual ranking. Atlantic Canada came out on top, particularly "now that many of us are able to work and study from home." You can also create your own ranking of 415 communities across the country. Colour-coded contraction: New economic analysis from the Library of Parliament split 101 job sectors into four colours—green, yellow, orange and red—based on how the pandemic hit employment numbers. The lead analyst, André Léonard, found a massive gulf across industries. Food manufacturers, delivery services, jewelry stores, flower shops and food wholesalers grew the most. Gas stations, air travel, performing arts and accommodations saw the biggest drop. Department stores sat right smack dab in the middle: no change in employment. CERB clawbacks: The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives says 422,000 CERB recipients lived below the poverty line in 2020, and almost half of them are stuck in that spot because they owe taxes on that benefit. The CCPA estimates those low-income households will end up owing $232 million at tax time. The think tank wants a new tax deduction for those earners. Anyone who's watched Doug Ford's press conferences might have heard the voice of Lucas Meyer, who worked at Toronto's NEWSTALK1010 until earlier this year. Meyer announced yesterday that he's left journalism to take up a new role with strategic comms firm Enterprise, where he's now a senior consultant for media and public affairs. We'll always think of him as the guy who has the Best Justin Trudeau Impression in Canada . He even voiced the PM on The Simpsons—and has a convincing Stephen Harper, too. And Naheed Nenshi. And Donald Trump. —Nick Taylor-Vaisey | 
