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October 24, 2016

41st Parliament, 2nd Session

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Hansard Transcripts

Votes and Proceedings

Orders and Notices

Hansard Transcripts 2016-Oct-24 (PDF)

L019 - Mon 24 Oct 2016 / Lun 24 oct 2016

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO

ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE DE L’ONTARIO

Monday 24 October 2016 Lundi 24 octobre 2016

Introduction of Visitors

Report, Integrity Commissioner

Estimates

Oral Questions

Police services

Autism treatment

Energy policies

Electronic health information

Government spending

Long-term care

Sports funding

Niagara Escarpment

Student assistance

Archives of Ontario

Agriculture industry

Labour dispute

School facilities

Access to information

Education funding

Agriculture industry

Correction of record

Introduction of Visitors

Members’ Statements

Prescription drug abuse

Human trafficking

Health care funding

Violence against women

Fort Erie Race Track

World Polio Day

Steve Dickinson

Rural schools

Sports funding

Introduction of Bills

Transparency and Accountability in Government Contracting Act, 2016 / Loi de 2016 sur la transparence et la responsabilisation en matière de marchés publics

Petitions

Niagara Escarpment

Highway improvement

Hydro rates

Energy policies

Hydro rates

Seniors’ housing

Highway ramps

Guide and service animals

Privatization of public assets

Disaster relief

Hydro rates

Orders of the Day

Protecting Students Act, 2016 / Loi de 2016 protégeant les élèves

Patients First Act, 2016 / Loi de 2016 donnant la priorité aux patients

The House met at 1030.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Good morning. Please join me in prayer.

Prayers.

Introduction of Visitors

Mr. Steve Clark: I want to introduce to you, and through you, to members of the Legislative Assembly a constituent from my riding of Leeds–Grenville who is here with the Dairy Farmers of Ontario. Please welcome Henry Oosterhof.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Welcome.

Mr. Wayne Gates: I’d like to introduce two visitors today from the great city of Niagara Falls who are here visiting their favourite MPP, which happens to be me: Pat Olson and his beautiful daughter, Alexandra Olson. Thanks for coming, and I hope you enjoy your day.

Hon. Jeff Leal: In the members’ east gallery—because this is Dairy Farmers of Ontario Day at Queen’s Park—I’m very pleased to introduce Peter Gould, the general manager and CEO of Dairy Farmers of Ontario; Ralph Dietrich, the board chair; and of course, Will Vanderhorst, who is a board director and a dairy farmer in the wonderful riding of Peterborough.

Mr. Ted Arnott: I, too, am very pleased to introduce my friend Ian Harrop, who is here representing the Dairy Farmers of Ontario. Welcome, Ian. Great to have you here.

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: I have three quick things that I would like to do. I want to welcome Laurence Lew and Jane Sit to the Legislature. They are the proud parents of page Samantha Lew, from my riding of Don Valley West. Welcome to them.

Also, Guy LePage from the cabinet office is here. His wife, Jane Gilbert, and cousin, David Gilbert, are here to join us and we welcome them.

Finally, later today we’ll be joined by some of the incredible Olympic and Paralympic athletes that we cheered on, this summer in Rio, many of whom we also got a chance to watch first-hand at last year’s Pan/Parapan Am games. I invite all MPPs to join me and them after question period in the government caucus room as we celebrate them.

Mr. Toby Barrett: I also want to stress the importance of the Dairy Farmers of Ontario coming to our Legislature to try and organize a meeting with the farmers, have a chat in the halls. Don’t forget to attend their reception this evening—Dairy Farmers of Ontario.

Miss Monique Taylor: On behalf of the member for Welland, I would like to introduce Albert Fledderus, a dairy farmer from Welland, who is here with the Dairy Farmers of Ontario today. Welcome to Queen’s Park, Albert.

Hon. Michael Coteau: It’s a great pleasure to welcome a good friend of mine to the Legislature today, Jean Potter. Welcome.

Ms. Lisa M. Thompson: I would like to add my welcome to Ralph Dietrich, a great dairy farmer from my riding of Huron–Bruce hailing from Mildmay, Ontario. He’s also chair of DFO.

Hon. Glenn Thibeault: I would like to welcome the Association of Major Power Consumers in Ontario.

Mr. Jim McDonell: I would like to welcome Nick Thurler from my riding. He’s a successful dairy farmer in Dundas county and we’re looking forward to seeing him at tonight’s reception.

Mr. Percy Hatfield: As you know, our page captain today is Elisabeth Lawton. Her father, Cliff Lawton, has just arrived. I’d like to welcome Clifford Lawton to the Ontario Legislature. Welcome, sir.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Welcome.

Ms. Soo Wong: I would like to welcome two guests who are visiting here to Queen’s Park: Mano Kanagamany and Pastor Paul Raja Mani. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Mr. Randy Pettapiece: I’d like to introduce a dairy farmer from St. Marys, Ontario, here with the Dairy Farmers of Ontario: Henry Wydeven.

Hon. Deborah Matthews: Today is the day we wait all year for and that is the day Fanshawe College comes to Queen’s Park. Welcome to everyone from Fanshawe College.

I invite all members and their staff to come to the Fanshawe College reception.

Mr. Michael Harris: I would like to welcome Murray Sherk, a dairy farmer from Wilmot township here today at Queen’s Park.

Mr. Lou Rinaldi: I would like to welcome from Dairy Farmers of Ontario Sid Atkinson from the great riding of Northumberland–Quinte West. Welcome, Sid.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Welcome.

Mr. Jeff Yurek: I’ve been waiting. I’d like to introduce Paul Vis from my riding, a dairy farmer. Welcome.

Report, Integrity Commissioner

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): I beg to inform the House that the following report was tabled: A report from the Integrity Commissioner of Ontario concerning David Orazietti, member for Sault Ste. Marie.

The government House leader on a point of order.

Estimates

Hon. Yasir Naqvi: I believe we have unanimous consent to put forward a motion without notice with respect to the Standing Committee on Estimates.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Government House leader is seeking unanimous consent to put forward a motion without notice. Do we agree? Agreed.

Hon. Yasir Naqvi: I move that, notwithstanding standing order 60, the Standing Committee on Estimates consider the 2016-17 estimates of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs following routine proceedings on Tuesday, October 25, 2016; and

That on Wednesday, October 26, the Standing Committee on Estimates meet at 3 p.m. to resume consideration of the 2016-17 estimates of the Ministry of Energy, and is authorized to meet beyond 6 p.m. until completion.

That upon completion of consideration of the 2016-17 estimates of the Ministry of Energy, the committee shall resume consideration of the 2016-17 estimates of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs at its next regularly scheduled meeting.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Mr. Naqvi moves that notwithstanding standing order 60—

Hon. Yasir Naqvi: Dispense.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Dispense? Dispensed. Do we agree? Carried.

Motion agreed to.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): I thank all members for their introductions. It’s therefore now time for question period.

Oral Questions

Police services

Mr. Rick Nicholls: My question is to the Premier. Parents shouldn’t have to worry whether their child will come home at the end of the day. As of today, Ottawa has experienced 57 shootings, its highest ever. The frequency and public nature of these recent shootings is unacceptable and it has to stop.

Ottawa’s police work extremely hard, but in the 2016 budget, the Liberal government, which included the former Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services from Ottawa, cut the Ottawa police anti-gang program, taking police officers off the streets.

Mr. Speaker, the impact has been clear. Why did the Liberals cut funding to this vital program that helped keep the streets of Ottawa safe?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: I believe the Attorney General may want to weigh in on this.

Let me just say that of course, any violent act—any harm—that’s done to a citizen or a resident of this province anywhere is unacceptable. It’s up to communities and government to do everything that we can to prevent that kind of violence, which is exactly why we have increased police funding. We created the PAVIS funding and made those investments across the province. The efforts of local police services and other safety partners have resulted in Ontario having among the lowest police-reported crime rates in all of Canada for the past decade.

But the money that has been invested—we need to make sure that that money is invested in the right way.

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member from Nepean–Carleton will come to order.

One sentence, please.

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: The Provincial Anti-Violence Intervention Strategy, which is what the member is talking about, has been reinvested. I’ll say more in the supplementary.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Rick Nicholls: Fifty-seven shootings, and it keeps getting higher. Back to the Premier: Liberals continue to underfund mental health services as well as de-escalation training, forcing police officers to become de facto front-line mental health workers. While Ottawa is a great place to live, work and raise a family, we can do better and we must do better. Parents shouldn’t have to worry whether their child will come home at the end of the day.

There have been a record number of shootings in Ottawa this year, the year the Liberals cut funding to the anti-gang and anti-gun-violence program. In fact, the Ottawa Police Association president, Matt Skof, said, “It’s well known to those engaging in criminal activity that the unit isn’t around” and the cut is emboldening gang members.

Will the Premier explain the Liberal priorities and why they would cut this program?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: As I was saying, the funding for the Provincial Anti-Violence Intervention Strategy program has been reinvested. It is now with local police forces to determine how to allocate that funding. Of the $55 million we’ve invested, $4 million of that has gone to Ottawa.

What we need is that money to be targeted at the programs that work, the strategies that work, working with community agencies and coordinating that work so that there’s a prevention strategy in place as well as reacting to violent incidents.

That money has been reinvested, Mr. Speaker. The police boards are now able to allocate those dollars and we’re very, very convinced that police on the ground will continue to improve those crime statistics, as they have been doing for a decade.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Final supplementary?

Mr. Rick Nicholls: It’s ironic that she talks about allocating funds.

Back to the Premier: The Liberals have spent $4 million on the salary of the new Hydro One CEO. They wasted $70 million on a failed ORPP. They cancelled gas plants for $1.1 billion. Last week, they spent $12 million on high-priced consultants and promotional ads instead of low-income families struggling to pay their hydro bills. Meanwhile, they’re cutting the very funding that keeps our streets safe, and that must change. I question “allocating funds.”

Will the Liberals restore their short-sighted cut to the Ottawa anti-gang and anti-gun-violence program?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Attorney General.

Hon. Yasir Naqvi: I’m very happy to answer this question. Let me get some facts absolutely clear.

First of all, the PAVIS program has not been cut. Second of all, the funding for the Ottawa Police Service under this government has actually gone up just last year by $300,000.

In fact, this is the government which has been undoing the download that the previous Progressive Conservative government has done by downloading court security costs to municipalities—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Finish, please.

Hon. Yasir Naqvi: It’s clear: When it hurts, they shout back.

This is the government that has uploaded that court security cost to make sure that our municipalities and our police service in Ottawa, in particular, have more resources available to them. Our police chief, Charles Bordeleau, and our men and women of our Ottawa Police Service are extremely hard-working. They’re working hard to make sure that Ottawa remains a safe city.

Autism treatment

Ms. Sylvia Jones: My question is for the Premier. On October 3, my leader and I visited Yes I Can Nursery School, which provides unique programs for children with autism. We heard from the school that they will no longer receive funding from the government and have called on the government to restore their funding. Both my leader and I have repeatedly called on the government to reverse this cut. I understand the Minister of Education has finally agreed to meet with Yes I Can. Will the government be offering sustainable funding for Yes I Can at this meeting?

Premier Wynne: Associate Minister of Education (Early Years and Child Care).

Hon. Indira Naidoo-Harris: Thank you so much for that question. I want to point out that our government is proud of the initiatives we are undertaking to give children the best start in life, and we are definitely committed to the early years of a child’s life. We want to make sure that everyday life is easier for our children and families across Ontario. That’s why we’re moving forward with 100,000 new spaces over the next five years.

Let me talk a little bit about Yes I Can and the funding they’ve been receiving over the last few years. We have been supporting them through the municipalities fund that goes to the city of Toronto. However, they did get one-time transitional funding to help them come up with a sustainable plan when it comes to finances. But their funding was one-time transitional funding in order to allow them to develop an adequate and sustainable financial position, and that funding is over with.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary.

Ms. Sylvia Jones: You know, the reality is that if this funding is not restored, they have two choices: They will eliminate the program or they will ask parents who have children with special needs to pay more. Which is it, Minister? Are you asking parents to pay more simply because their child has a special need, or do you want this program shut down? That’s the answer.

Hon. Indira Naidoo-Harris: Thank you very much for that question. Again, we do fund child care in this province, but we do it through a very strict set of rules. Here’s what we’re doing: We are moving more than $1 billion a year towards child care funding. That funding—

Applause.

Hon. Indira Naidoo-Harris: Thank you. That funding moves to municipalities. What that means essentially, in this instance, is there is funding and sustainable funding that is going to the Yes I Can Nursery School at $300,000—$300,000 of funding. If that community and the parents there feel that isn’t enough, and if the daycare and nursery feel it isn’t enough, they should be having that conversation with their municipality and also with the local managers who are making those decisions.

What I can tell you is that they have been receiving the funding. They will be receiving the funding over the next year—$300,000.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Final supplementary.

Ms. Sylvia Jones: This government has been attacking families of children with autism for years. You’ve taken them to court. You’ve threatened to cut their children off IBI —

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Start the clock. First to the Chair. To the Chair, please, and come to order. Thank you.

Ms. Sylvia Jones: Speaker, the government doesn’t want to hear this, but it is the reality on the ground in Ontario if you have a child with autism. They’ve threatened to kick children off the IBI wait-list. Will the Premier finally show some support to families with children and reinstate sustainable funding to Yes I Can Nursery School?

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Be seated, please. Be seated, please. Thank you.

Associate minister.

Hon. Indira Naidoo-Harris: I want to get back to the fact that yes, we have doubled the funding to over $1 billion a year. We provide funding to the city of Toronto, who then funds a number of local child care programs, including Yes I Can Nursery School at $300,000. We know that Yes I Can Nursery School provides valuable services to families. There is a meeting set up on October 31 with officials to discuss the plan and the way forward. Our past support to Yes I Can Nursery School was one-time transitional funding. We encourage Yes I Can Nursery School to continue to work with its local municipality to continue its great service across the GTA.

Our government is committed to ensuring that every child has access to the supports they need to succeed, including students here at Yes I Can Nursery School.

Energy policies

Mr. Peter Tabuns: My question to the Premier: Does the Premier have an internal estimate of what Ontarians could end up paying for the Liberal decision to try to cancel the $5.5-billion contract signed with Windstream?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Minister of Energy.

Hon. Glenn Thibeault: I’d like to thank the honourable member for the question.

When it relates to the Windstream tribunal decision, Mr. Speaker, we have 20 days to review the entire decision, and we are working with our federal counterparts to ensure that we look at all issues that are relating to this. We are very concerned, as we would be, and doing our due diligence is very important, and so that’s what we will continue to do over the total 20 days. We will work with our federal counterparts and we will work with our lawyers to determine what steps are next.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Peter Tabuns: Speaker, I did ask a very different question.

Nonetheless, I spent months on the gas plants committee, getting to the bottom of how the Liberals wasted $1.1 billion by putting the interests of the Liberal Party ahead of people in Ontario struggling to pay their hydro bills. When Liberals and Conservatives signed private energy contracts, it means Ontarians are locked in to paying the profits of those private energy companies. What we learned in the gas plants scandal is that when Liberal politicians cancel those private contracts, people still end up on the hook for paying those profits.

How much are Ontarians going to have to pay because the Liberals signed a $5.5-billion private energy contract with Windstream? How much?

Hon. Glenn Thibeault: I don’t think that the member is hearing what we’re saying. We have a 20-day moratorium in which we have to work with our federal counterparts to review the decision, and that’s what we’re doing, Mr. Speaker. We’re carefully reviewing that decision, and we’re going to continue to work with Canada because we believe that they’re doing the same.

Our decision to place a moratorium on offshore wind is one our government still believes is correct. So we’re taking this cautious approach to offshore wind, which includes finalizing research to make sure that we are protective of both human health and of the environment.

We’ve been advised of the tribunal’s decision in the NAFTA

chapter 11 dispute between US-based Windstream Energy LLC and Canada. I think it’s important to state that the tribunal dismissed the majority of claims, with the final $25-million award being significantly less. We’ll continue to work with Canada on this.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Final supplementary?

Mr. Peter Tabuns: Man, talk about avoiding the question.

Speaker, cancelling the gas plants cost Ontarians over $1 billion because the Liberals signed private power contracts. Selling Hydro One will cost Ontarians because the Liberals are handing it over to private owners. Now because the Liberals signed a $5.5-billion private wind contract, Ontarians could be on the hook for paying 20 years of profits with zero years of electricity.

Let’s be honest. If this had been a public project that had been cancelled, we would be on the hook for those items that have been purchased. Because it’s a for-profit project, Ontarians could be on the hook for billions of dollars in profits.

Are Ontarians looking at the gas plants scandal all over again?

Hon. Glenn Thibeault: Let me once again be very clear that we are reviewing the decision. We have 20 days to do so, and we’ll continue to do so.

In the member opposite’s question, he’s being very speculative.

For us on this side, let’s talk about some of the facts. When it comes to renewable energy, we have 18,000 megawatts of renewable energy online. We are one of the best in North America when it comes to renewable contracts. We are very proud that we’ve eliminated coal. We’ve invested in renewables. We don’t have to send out warnings anymore about smog days, so people can go outside and breathe appropriately.

Mr. Speaker, we’re very proud of our record on this side of the House, and when it comes to Windstream, we’re going to continue to work with the federal government to look at all aspects and do our due diligence.

Electronic health information

M me France Gélinas: Ma question est pour la première ministre.

Figuring out the sale price of eHealth and other health assets will take experts. Ed Clark cannot do that alone. My question is simple: How much has been spent on consultants and how many members of the public service have been used to build a case to privatize our eHealth assets?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Minister of Health and Long-Term Care.

Hon. Eric Hoskins: On a Monday morning, I just love getting questions like this, because as we’ve said so many times, there are no plans to sell eHealth. We will not be selling or privatizing eHealth or any of its components.

The simple reason why we’ve asked Ed Clark to do this value-for-money review is so as we move forward to—there’s a very real deadline where the current mandate of eHealth is due to expire at the end of next year. We are in a completely changed environment with regard to the opportunities for digital health; whether that’s the consumer-facing side of it or even looking at how much we’ve built up eHealth in the past decade in this province. It’s responsible, I think.

My caucus and I think Ontarians would agree for us to look at what we have created in this province. We have national bodies that have told us there is immense value in what we’ve created. We want to articulate that explicitly.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary.

M me France Gélinas: It is entirely possible that the Liberal government has been working on privatization plans for the last 11 months, and I have a feeling they’re not quite done. When the Premier decided to sell off Hydro One, Ontarians got stuck with the $7-million bill for secret consultant contracts. Now I’m asking how much has been budgeted and how much has been spent on consultants to privatize some or all of eHealth.

Hon. Eric Hoskins: I don’t know how many times I can say this: eHealth is not for sale. I know that they weren’t satisfied with us repeating numerous times last week that eHealth and its components are not for sale, including the intellectual property of how we’ve built that up successfully over the past decade. Obviously not being satisfied with that response, now they’ve gone into a deeper conspiracy that somehow we’ve been planning this in the past.

Mr. Speaker, we have not invested funds to privatize eHealth, to consider privatizing eHealth, because we are not privatizing eHealth.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Final supplementary.

M me France Gélinas: Selling Hydro One is making life harder for every Ontarian and every business that pays a hydro bill. But for high-priced consultants, it is a red-letter day, Speaker. Will the Premier release the list of consultants working for Ed Clark to do a value-for-money review or to leverage eHealth assets?

Hon. Eric Hoskins: Once again, eHealth is not for sale. It will not be privatized. Also, the patient records that are part of that, that’s part of the aspect of eHealth which will not be privatized, will not be monetized. We take it very seriously. I can tell them one individual that Ed Clark will be consulting with, and that’s the Information and Privacy Commissioner, Mr. Speaker.

Government spending

Mr. Victor Fedeli: My question is for the Premier. Speaker, somehow this government keeps finding new ways to waste taxpayer money without ever delivering anything: $12 million on consultants, no hydro relief; $70 million, no pension plan; $308 million on OLG, nothing to show for it; $1.1 billion on gas plants, no gas plants.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Finish, please.

Mr. Victor Fedeli: Speaker, this government even wastes money doing nothing at all. I ask the Premier, why do you keep wasting millions of dollars delivering nothing in return?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: I notice that no one in the House this morning has asked a question about the Ontario-Quebec energy agreement. I’m surprised. I’m very surprised that there wasn’t a question because I believe, Mr. Speaker, I’ve heard calls from the other side of the House that Ontario and Quebec work together. We are working together. Working with Quebec to get that clean Quebec power will save $70 million over seven years. That’s just one of the things in the list of things that we are doing to take—

Mr. John Yakabuski: You’ve wasted $1.1 billion on gas plants.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member from Renfrew.

Interjection: I didn’t say a word.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): She’s talented enough to make you sound loud; that’s her issue.

Carry on.

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: It’s just one of the things we are doing to take costs out of the system and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It’s good news. I’m surprised nobody has mentioned it.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Victor Fedeli: Back to the Premier: Families across Ontario are suffering because of this government’s decisions. We now learn this government once again wasted millions of taxpayer dollars in exchange for nothing. This time, their political decision on wind energy put Ontario taxpayers on the hook for another $28 million. Families are now expected to pay for a wind project that was never even built. This is yet another example of this government’s waste, mismanagement and scandal.

I’ll ask the Premier again: Why do you keep wasting millions of taxpayer dollars that deliver nothing in return?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: I assume from the tone of this question, and from the substance, quite frankly, that the member opposite would be supportive of the Quebec-Ontario agreement that was signed on Friday.

Let me just talk a little bit about what that is. Under the agreement, Ontario can import up to two terawatts of power. Just for context, Mr. Speaker, that’s enough power to power the city of Kitchener for a year, so it’s a massive amount of electricity power that is part of this deal. This agreement will reduce electricity system costs for consumers by about $70 million. That’s $10 million a year for seven years. And as I’ve said, that is just one of the things that we are doing to take costs out of the system.

I heard someone over on the other side heckle about making Quebec great. If Quebec is great, Ontario is great, Canada is great. We work together in this country.

Long-term care

M me France Gélinas: Ma question est pour la première ministre. In this beautiful province of ours, we should be able to provide quality care to seniors living in long-term-care homes, but that’s not happening today. Arthur Jones moved into a private, for-profit long-term-care home. Soon after, he suffered from malnutrition and dehydration. He fell repeatedly. He developed a huge bedsore. He spent his final weeks in hospital in excruciating pain.

My question is simple: How can this happen in Ontario?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Minister of Health and Long-Term Care.

Hon. Eric Hoskins: The member opposite knows, as Ontarians need to know, that the safety and well-being of our seniors, wherever they might call home, is of paramount priority to me as Minister of Health and to this government. While the member also knows that I can’t comment on the specifics of this case, I can’t even begin to imagine the challenge that the family has gone through as a result of this.

But let me be absolutely clear that we have a zero tolerance policy when it comes to abuse or neglect, again, wherever that might take place. There are many, many Ontarians who call long-term-care homes their home, and it is their home and their residence.

We continue to work with the various oversight bodies responsible for regulating our health professionals to make sure that that safety is provided.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

M me France Gélinas: Words are not enough. We need action. We need big changes in long-term care, because Mr. Jones is not alone. His family is part of a lawsuit with 82 other families against this one private, for-profit care home chain.

The Liberal government has had plenty of opportunity to act. Families have been demanding change for many years. The coroner, after investigating multiple homicides, told this government that more staff was needed to provide bedside care. Front-line workers are asking for a guaranteed minimum standard of care so this does not continue to happen over and over again.

What will it take for this government to finally step up to the plate and prevent anyone else from suffering the indignity and pain that Mr. Jones had to go through in this for-profit long-term-care home?

Hon. Eric Hoskins: In 2014, we implemented a measure where every single long-term-care home in this province would be rigorously inspected. In 2014, 100% of long-term-care homes were inspected; and again, in 2015, 100% of long-term-care homes were inspected. We’ve looked, and the Auditor General has provided us with very sound advice, for how we can further strengthen that regime by targeting those long-term-care homes where challenges or problems have been identified.

I know the member opposite has a private member’s bill with regard to minimum hours of care. That actually runs against the expert panel and the work of the Sharkey report several years ago, in 2008, which recommended against specific minimum hours because every patient is unique and different. We need to make sure that long-term-care homes plan for the level of services that each individual needs, and we expect that.

Sports funding

Mr. Lou Rinaldi: My question is to the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport.

Minister, Ontario celebrated the outstanding performance of our Olympic athletes with a contribution of 15 of Team Canada’s top 22 medals, including four gold, two silver and nine bronze.

More than half of Ontario athletes in Rio also competed in the Toronto 2015 Pan Am Games and had the benefit of experiencing competition in a high-pressure international multi-sport event. The Rio Olympics are one example of how the Toronto 2015 Pan Am Games legacy is translating into outstanding performances on the global stage.

I also had the privilege of seeing Penny Oleksiak, at 16, make history as the first Canadian swimmer to win four medals in a single summer games. Penny also set an Olympic record of 52.70 seconds in the women’s 100-metre freestyle and became the first athlete born in the 21st century to win—

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Thank you. Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport.

Hon. Eleanor McMahon: I’d like to thank the hard-working member for his question.

Last summer, Ontario athletes won 109 Pan Am medals and 63 Parapan Am medals, with 45% of all medals won by Team Canada. We welcomed the world to our province and successfully hosted the largest, most accessible and most transparent multi-sport games in Canadian history. The games showcased Ontario at its best to an international audience, attracting tourists, jobs and new business investments. More than one million tickets were sold in 15 municipalities.

Ten new internationally certified sports venues and 15 renovated venues were built in places like Minden, Milton, North York, Scarborough, Etobicoke, Caledon, Markham and Hamilton, and even North Bay. Yes, North Bay benefited too. Olympic-grade beach volleyball sand used during the games was shipped to North Bay for a world-class volleyball facility there.

Above all, Speaker, we’re going to continue making these kinds of investments because they inspire athletes like Penny Oleksiak and the next generation, and that is priceless.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Lou Rinaldi: Thank you to the minister. It is fantastic to hear how wide-reaching and how successful our government’s investment in the games has been.

This year, Ontario invested $16.76 million towards Ontario athletes and sporting events, helping athletes reach the highest levels of international competition and supporting the ongoing operation of key sporting venues.

This year, 49 Ontario para-athletes were part of the Canadian team that competed in 19 out of 23 sports. Ontario contributed to four of Team Canada’s total 29 medals, helping Canada finish 14th in overall medal standings. These athletes are an inspiration for future athletes and role models for all.

Mr. Speaker, through you to the minister: Can you tell the members of this House about how Ontario supports our athletes?

Hon. Eleanor McMahon: I want to again thank the member from Northumberland–Quinte West for his question. It’s always a joy to stand in this House and talk about our support for our amazing athletes.

Currently in its 10th year, Ontario’s Quest for Gold program offers $9.76 million to our athletes, including $6.36 million in direct funding for athletes—over 1,200 of them—and $3.4 million this year through sport organizations to enhance coaching, training and competitive opportunities.

The province has also contributed an additional $7 million towards the Toronto 2015 Sport Legacy Fund, which is helping the long-term development of amateur sport by supporting the ongoing operation and maintenance of key legacy facilities of the games, including the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre, the Mattamy National Cycling Centre and the Pan Am/Parapan Am Athletics Stadium at York University. Ontario’s $7 million in the Toronto 2015 Sport Legacy Fund brings the total provincial investment in the fund to $12 million, something we can all be proud of.

Niagara Escarpment

Mr. Bill Walker: My question is to the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry.

Mr. Speaker, I hand-delivered to the minister more than 1,000 petitions signed by people in my riding who are concerned over the lack of clarity of what’s being proposed under the Niagara Escarpment expansion plan for Bruce–Grey–Owen Sound. It’s a proposal that no one seems to be able to wrap their head around. If the plan goes forward, Grey county municipalities will lose $700,000 per year in tax revenues. It’s a huge loss, and this is why the warden and Grey county council, the mayor and council of Meaford, as well as other neighbouring municipalities have called on the minister to abandon the proposal.

My question is simple: Will the minister heed the feedback from the majority of respondents in my riding, which is to drop the NEC expansion proposal for Bruce–Grey–Owen Sound?

Hon. Kathryn McGarry: Thank you very much to the member for that important question.

As the member knows, right now Ontario is undergoing a coordinated land use planning event that many, many municipalities are being asked to weigh in on—including the Niagara Escarpment Plan. Certainly, this is something that I’ve been in contact with many municipalities about. I’ve had many delegations at the recent AMO conference. This has been up on the Environmental Registry to be able to gather good comments from not only municipalities, but stakeholders, landholders and the like.

So this is an area where all of us, working together, are going to be coming together with a plan that respects the landowners, that does protect our essential lands, which we need to do for biodiversity and other environmental reasons in the future.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary.

Mr. Bill Walker: Back to the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry: I respect that her ministry is trying to sort through it, but it’s a little too late. With seven days left until consultations end, the proposal seems to be too much for anyone to handle, which is why complaints continue to pour into her office every day. Some 1,000 people have given her their comments. They don’t want this to happen.

Mr. Speaker, the minister knows she is under no obligation to push this through, especially when there’s so much confusion and lack of information about the overall impact of adding 45,000 hectares under the NEC jurisdiction. Again, the only certainty is that this proposal will cost these rural municipalities and the people who live on this land almost $1 million in lost tax revenues.

Through you, Speaker, I ask: Will the minister stay true to her word? She promised meaningful consultations. This is her opportunity to prove what meaningful means. Will she end the mass confusion by dropping the NEC expansion proposal for Bruce–Grey–Owen Sound?

Hon. Kathryn McGarry: I thank the member opposite for the supplementary question.

Again, I’d like to reiterate that the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry is working very well with the other partner ministries at the moment, including municipal affairs, in order to look at the issues around a coordinated land use plan of Ontario, and that includes the four provincial land use plans. The second round of public consultation is still going on, until October 31.

My ministry and others are still gathering comments on the proposed plans, so I encourage those who are interested to continue to put their comments on the Environmental Registry before October 31, after which my ministry will be looking at those very thoughtfully, coordinating with other partner ministries and coming up with proposing amendments to the Niagara Escarpment Plan, which, again, is up on the registry right now for review and comment.

We will be continuing to work closely with our partners and stakeholders in Ontario to ensure that the coordinated land use plan moves ahead in an appropriate and balanced way for all.

Student assistance

Ms. Peggy Sattler: My question is to the Premier. A new Forum Research poll shows that two thirds of Ontarians support the NDP’s plan to remove interest from student loans. They agree that post-secondary education should be a path to a brighter future with many opportunities, not a path to years and years of debt that delay young people from starting a home, starting a family and other life milestones.

Does the Premier agree with two thirds of Ontarians that interest should be removed from student loans?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Minister of Advanced Education and Skills Development.

Hon. Deborah Matthews: Speaker, we are in fact eliminating debt for many, many thousands of students. We are moving forward with the most ambitious reform of student assistance in North America, and we are very excited about the opportunities that will bring to students across this province, because we absolutely believe that access to post-secondary education should be based on your ability to learn and your hard work, not on your ability to pay. I absolutely expect the member opposite and the party opposite to support us as we move forward bringing in the new reformed OSAP.

Ms. Peggy Sattler: Too many young people in Ontario are graduating and unable to enter the careers they dream of. Instead, they can’t find work, or they end up underemployed in jobs that do not leverage their skills and talents.

After four years of university, young people in Ontario who rely on financial assistance are graduating with average debt loads of $28,000, and that doesn’t include the private loans that many students also carry. We have reached a tipping point in this province, and young people deserve better.

My question to the Premier: Why does her Liberal government think that it is okay to profit from interest charged on student debt? If two thirds of Ontarians support interest-free student loans, why doesn’t the Premier?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: Let me repeat: We are actually eliminating debt for many, many thousands of students. Some 150,000 students will have grants that are higher than their tuition. That’s a very big deal, and we really do support—I think we’re all on the same page. We want students to be able to go on to post-secondary education without worrying about the financial costs. We have an important message to get out to students across this province, and I’m going to talk to the students in the gallery today—

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): No, you’re not.

Hon. Deborah Matthews: You could go on to post-secondary education. You don’t need to worry about—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): I meant it when I said, “No, you’re not.” All questions and answers get put to the Chair.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Armchair not needed.

New question.

Archives of Ontario

Ms. Sophie Kiwala: My question is to the Minister of Government and Consumer Services. On July 1, 1867, three colonies—the province of Canada, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia—joined together to become the Dominion of Canada. Next year, we will be celebrating the 150th anniversary of Ontario as a province within this great country. I think we can all agree that we’re lucky to live in this province and that we’re looking forward to celebrating Ontario’s rich and vibrant history.

The Archives of Ontario will be of special service next year, providing us all with extensive and exceptional documentation of our collective history. Will the minister inform the House of the archives’ plan to celebrate Ontario150?

Hon. Marie-France Lalonde: I want to say thank you to the member from Kingston and the Islands for that question. Ontario’s 150th anniversary provides us with a great opportunity to reflect on our shared past.

Just last month, I had the pleasure of visiting the archives’ head office at York University to see the Family Ties exhibit. It explores the era of Confederation and how families lived during that time. The exhibit features a display on Chief Shingwauk, and I would say this is a very important and particularly moving story of the impact of Confederation on indigenous peoples. I would also like to add that this Archives of Ontario exhibit is free of charge and an exceptional place to take the entire family.

Monsieur le Président, I encourage all Ontarians to visit—j’invite tous les résidants de l’Ontario à visiter—the archives, as our historical records help us understand our—

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Thank you. Supplementary.

Ms. Sophie Kiwala: I want to thank the minister for her information on the Archives of Ontario and its Ontario150 plans. I know that in my riding of Kingston and the Islands, we have a robust appreciation for our history as evidenced in our city’s motto: “Where history and innovation thrive.” I can tell you that we are very much looking forward to Ontario’s 150th.

In addition to its fascinating exhibits and displays, the Archives of Ontario provides the people of this province with important services. It is also an important institution that the government frequently relies on. Can the minister please speak to the significance of the Archives of Ontario?

Hon. Marie-France Lalonde: Thank you again to the member from Kingston and the Islands for the question.

Since 1903, the Archives of Ontario has been the source of information about the history of the province and its people. The Archives of Ontario houses both public and private records, including 106,000 metres of text records, 4.4 million photographs and four terabytes of electronic records. It’s through this wide selection of public records that the archives can create exhibitions such as Family Ties.

For all who cannot make it to Toronto, the Archives of Ontario maintains an incredible amount of resources online. The archives also offer travelling, curriculum-linked workshops at schools.

Mr. Speaker, the Archives of Ontario gives us a chance to reflect upon our past and to remind ourselves of how fortunate we all are to live in this great province.

Agriculture industry

Mr. Toby Barrett: To the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs: The Ontario Chamber of Commerce recently reported serious pressures on our agri-food sector: rising input costs and foreign competition. The chamber laments the dramatic 383% increase in electricity prices, from 4.7 cents a kilowatt hour back in 2004 to today’s 18 cents at peak. That makes it very expensive to provide lighting, cooling, to run pumps and milking machines in a modern dairy operation.

The Ontario chamber issued the government a call to action. The Dairy Farmers of Ontario are here today. Will the minister tell dairy farmers what action he will take on these pressing problems?

Hon. Jeff Leal: I want to thank my friend the honourable member from Haldimand–Norfolk for his question about the dairy industry in the province of Ontario. I had the opportunity to meet with representatives of the DFO this morning, including Will Vanderhorst, who’s a director from my wonderful riding of Peterborough.

It’s interesting. The message that was given to me by the Dairy Farmers of Ontario is somewhat different than what was just articulated by the member from Haldimand–Norfolk. They happen to tell me that the dairy industry in Ontario has never been in better shape. In fact, just recently, because of expansion of the dairy industry in the province of Ontario, they just released 6% more dairy quota in the province because dairy farmers are growing.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary.

Mr. Toby Barrett: Minister, they’re not my words; it’s the Ontario chamber, their report. It’s titled Fertile Ground. It also highlighted the regulatory burden facing agribusiness. As they’ve indicated, policies are not evidence-based. They’re not transparent. They’re not unbiased. There’s a lack of homogenization provincially and federally. How do dairy farmers, for example, understand, navigate and comply with such a schmozzle?

One farm operation told us that they typically respond to two or three EBR postings a year, but last year they responded to more than 20. These things take time. Often, it’s in the middle of haying or working up ground or spreading manure.

Again, what action is the minister taking to cut the unnecessary rules and regulation, the bureaucratic red tape, the paperwork—

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): I remind the member that when I stand, you sit.

Minister of Agriculture?

Hon. Jeff Leal: I want to thank the honourable member for his supplementary question.

Let’s really look at the facts of agriculture in the province of Ontario: $36.6 billion to Ontario’s GDP—790,000 Ontarians are employed in this sector every year. Last year, farm gate receipts in 2015 were $12 billion in the province of Ontario. Mr. Speaker, that’s $12 billion.

By and large, all sectors of Ontario’s agriculture sector are growing each and every year. We’re well on our way to meet the Premier’s goal of 120,000 new jobs in this industry by the year 2020, and around the world, Ontario’s food has the best reputation on an international basis.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Be seated, please. New question.

Labour dispute

Mr. Taras Natyshak: My question is to the Premier. Speaker, this government defines a strong library system as “a cornerstone of a strong community” that “contributes to education, literacy and lifelong learning for Ontario residents.” Yet for over 100 days the people in my riding of Essex have been without their library services due to a strike. We’ve reached a tipping point in Essex. What has the Premier been doing and what can she do to get library services to the people of Essex back up and running?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport.

Hon. Eleanor McMahon: I want to thank the honourable member for his question. You know, Speaker, here on this side of the House we value the contributions of public libraries in building strong and vibrant communities right across our province. We recognize them as essential gathering places for culture and learning and exchanges in technology. In fact, new Canadians flock to our libraries because they understand that they are an opportunity to engage in a wider-community conversation.

Of course, the honourable member asked about the specific situation in Essex. I can’t comment on an ongoing labour dispute. I think the honourable member knows that. But I’m happy to talk with him off-line if there is some specific situation analysis he wants to offer or some problems or answers to the specific issue that he wishes to pursue. But, all in all, on this side of the House, support for our libraries remains an integral part of building Ontario up and that support is going to continue.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Taras Natyshak: Speaker, I’ve met with local councillors to encourage a resolution. I’ve been to the line. New Democrats have a plan for good jobs where workers can get sick and not have to fight for time off, and support the idea that strikes and lockouts shouldn’t drag on indefinitely. We implore the minister to intervene on this issue. She should get involved and extend all the resources that she can through her ministry to find a solution as soon as possible. We cannot wait another day in Essex. We shouldn’t have to wait another 200 days or two years to get this thing resolved.

Will the minister extend her resources and her support to those who are on strike to facilitate a resolution to this strike?

Hon. Eleanor McMahon: As I mentioned in my earlier comment, Speaker, our government values the contributions of public libraries in building strong and vibrant communities across our province. In this particular instance, I encourage the employer and the union to make every effort to resolve their differences at the bargaining table, and it’s important that we don’t interfere in this process. Ontario has an excellent record of dispute resolution. In fact, Speaker, 98% of all agreements are reached without strikes or lockouts. We are confident that by working together the two parties can reach a settlement.

As I mentioned earlier, we believe strongly in the dispute resolution process. We urge the parties to continue to stay at the bargaining table and we offer that as comment on this particular situation. Thank you.

School facilities

Ms. Ann Hoggarth: My question is for the Minister of Education. Ensuring students receive the best possible education, not only in my riding of Barrie but all across Ontario, is our government’s top priority. As an MPP and as an educator, I know Ontario has a lot to be proud of in terms of student achievement, thanks in large part to our great educators and other staff.

Just this morning, our government announced additional funding dedicated to build new schools and expand existing ones across Ontario. Speaker, through you to the minister, what is the Ontario government doing to ensure students are learning in buildings that can better support their achievement and well-being?

Hon. Mitzie Hunter: I want to thank the member for her question. I know how hard she is working on behalf of her constituents.

Mr. Speaker, investing in our schools is one of the most important infrastructure investments that we can make for close to two million students here in Ontario. Since 2004, we’ve invested more than $15 billion in infrastructure, including nearly 760 new schools and more than 735 additions and renovations.

This past June, we announced an additional $1.1-billion investment over the next two years to fund school renewal. Ontario is making the largest investment in public infrastructure in our province’s history. We’re providing school boards across Ontario with more than $12 billion over 10 years. We continue to support school boards across Ontario to ensure that all students have safe and healthy learning environments so that they can reach their full potential.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Ms. Ann Hoggarth: Thank you, Minister. We are extremely proud of the investments made towards education. These investments will help build new schools in areas of high growth, including south Barrie, improve the condition of existing schools and invest in projects to reduce surplus space through consolidation.

It is important that we continue to support school boards in maintaining and improving the condition of Ontario schools. Minister, can you please tell us more about what the school boards will be able to achieve with the additional funding announced this morning?

Hon. Mitzie Hunter: I want to thank the passionate member from Barrie for her question.

We are committed to supporting school boards and providing modern and stimulating learning environments for our students. Just this morning at Courcelette Public School in Scarborough Southwest, we announced that Ontario is investing $474 million this year to build 28 new schools and expand and renovate 23 existing ones. We’re making this investment in 51 schools in 36 communities to address demand in areas of high population growth and to replace schools that are in poor condition.

Giving students the best possible learning environment and high-quality, modern buildings is part of our plan to build Ontario up and deliver on our top priority: growing the economy and creating jobs.

Mr. Speaker, Amy, a grade 2 student in Mrs. Reynolds’s class, said, “Thank you, Premier, for investing in our schools and in our students.”

Access to information

Mrs. Julia Munro: My question is to the Premier. Provincial agencies have specific timelines for submitting and tabling annual reports. Over the past three years, of the 57 government agencies examined by the Auditor General, 95% missed the deadline. Upon further investigation, it was made clear that in most cases the annual report has been delivered to the minister, but has languished for months or even years on the minister’s desk.

In the name of transparency, what steps have been taken to refresh this process and to provide annual reports in a timely manner to the Legislature?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Mr. Speaker, I can tell you that this is something that has been addressed by our cabinet. We are working with agencies and boards to make sure that those annual reports are received in a timely manner.

I agree with the member opposite that it isn’t acceptable that those annual reports would languish, and so we will continue to work to further increase the timeliness of those reports. As I said, there are more of those annual reports being received in a timely way than there were two years ago, certainly, but there is more to be done.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary.

Mrs. Julia Munro: Premier, while I agree that some changes, obviously, are necessary, at this point in time, these reporting requirements are not being met.

Each agency has an obligation to lay upon the table its annual report as a symbolic gesture of the Legislature’s right to know and the people’s access to the public record. However, you have interfered with this access in the February 2015 directive. Here, you have removed the obligation of these agencies to provide annual reports in a timely way.

Without a deadline, our right to know is being eroded. What are you hiding, Premier?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: President of the Treasury Board.

Hon. Liz Sandals: Certainly, ministers are committed to working with their agencies to deliver reports in a timely manner. But one of the things that I’m really pleased that we introduced in 2010 was a systematic review of all of our agencies.

We know that when our agencies are originally set up, they may have one focus. We actually are going through our agencies in a systematic manner, making sure the mandate is still a relevant mandate, because in some cases it’s not, asking, “Are they effective at the mandate? Do they need to improve their practices?” and looking at the effectiveness and the efficiency of every agency. I’m very pleased with that cyclical work, making sure all agencies work.

Education funding

Mrs. Lisa Gretzky: My question is to the Minister of Education. Months of hard work preparing for the test and an entire school day were lost with the cancellation of the EQAO literacy test, yet another IT blunder at the hands of this Liberal government. Failed pilot testing in 2015 and limited access to computers show that this Liberal government fast-tracked rolling out a program they knew simply was not ready. It was our young people who paid the price yet again.

Speaker, be it eHealth, SAMS or EQAO, why is this Liberal government continuing to fail on delivering the fundamentals, the basics?

Hon. Mitzie Hunter: I’m very pleased to receive this question from the member opposite because, first of all, I want to say to the students, the teachers and the entire education community that prepared for the test last Thursday how very disappointing it was that they were unable to complete the test. I understand that frustration and I know that EQAO has apologized to the schools.

EQAO continues to get to the root issue of what happened on Thursday, but they just posted an update this morning. EQAO released a statement regarding their investigation so far, and it confirms that the cause was a technical issue. It was intentional, it was malicious, and it was a sustained cyber attack on their system.

EQAO continues to investigate the matter, and they will look into how to prevent a similar incident from occurring in the future. I support them in their efforts and will continue to monitor this situation.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mrs. Lisa Gretzky: Back to the Minister of Education: Before they rolled out the online OSSLT testing, they should have made sure there was security in place to stop a cyber attack.

Speaker, when half of our students are unsuccessful at provincial math tests and thousands are unable to even take their literacy test, underfunding of education has reached a tipping point. Students at the Rainbow District School Board have started a petition because they didn’t know the online test was a trial and their tests wouldn’t be marked.

With the right tools, education workers can do their jobs effectively, parents can be at ease and students can thrive. We can have the quality education we expect and deserve. When will this Liberal government admit that rushing online testing, cutting in-classroom support and underfunding programs like special education are failing our students?

Hon. Mitzie Hunter: Let me just say that EQAO has gone through an extensive process in preparing for this test, and they were ready. The DDoS attacks that occurred were not limited to the EQAO server. Twitter’s system went down from similar types of attacks.

We are in the process of looking into the root cause of this issue and developing processes to ensure that this doesn’t happen again. The EQAO is doing an internal audit. They have also brought in external support to do the audit.

Mr. Speaker, we are moving to online testing because we know this is a better way to support our students so that they can take the test in the manner in which they would prefer. We want all of our students in Ontario to succeed and to excel, and we will continue to support them and also to support EQAO as it resolves this issue for us moving forward.

Agriculture industry

Mr. Arthur Potts: My question is to the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. Just this month, we celebrated Ontario Agriculture Week, from October 3 to 9. It highlighted the incredible contributions that 52,000 hard-working farmers make in producing food with their families in Ontario. They are the key to almost $36 billion in GDP and they employ upwards of 790,000 Ontarians in the agricultural food sector.

Just this week, we’re welcoming representatives from the agricultural sector from Mexico, the United States and across Canada to the 25th Tri-National Agricultural Accord. I had the opportunity to go down to Mexico last year to the tri-national conference in Guadalajara as the lead Canadian political delegate representing him.

This is our opportunity to host this event, and I would like the minister, if he could, to expand on the role our government is playing at the 25th tri-national accord.

Hon. Jeff Leal: I want to thank the hard-working member for Beaches–East York for his wonderful question. Indeed, because of a family situation, he did an admirable job of representing me in Guadalajara at the tri-national conference last year.

We’re looking forward—this week will be the 25th edition of the tri-national conference, the first time that Ontario has had the opportunity to host this conference. It will bring together the agricultural leaders of Canada, the United States and Mexico.

Mr. Speaker, I’ve got to tell you that this conference will be building bridges, not walls, to our good friends, both the United States and Mexico. We look forward to enhancing our relationship under NAFTA to make sure that more Ontario products go to the United States and Mexico.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Thank you.

Correction of record

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The Associate Minister of Education on a point of order

Hon. Indira Naidoo-Harris: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to correct my record. As I said in my answer earlier, we provide funding to the city of Toronto, who then funds a number of local child care programs, including Yes I Can Nursery School, at $350,000, not $300,000—

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Thank you. There are no deferred votes. This House stands recessed until 1 p.m. this afternoon.

The House recessed from 1142 to 1300.

Introduction of Visitors

Ms. Catherine Fife: Please join me in welcoming representatives from the Ontario Public Services Employees Union, OPSEU: Marilou Martin, Mickey Riccardi, Cindy Falcao and Clarke Eaton. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Welcome. Further introductions?

M me France Gélinas: I’m really happy to introduce Hannah Iles. She is with OLIP, and will be in my office for the coming months. Welcome to Hannah.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Welcome.

Members’ Statements

Prescription drug abuse

Mr. Michael Harris: One week after the Ministry of Health finally announced a strategy to address the explosion of fentanyl and opioid-related deaths on our streets, we saw five more overdoses in Waterloo region. Regional police and public health officials are issuing warnings to stem the loss of life tragically taking its toll on individuals and families alike.

While the government is taking first steps to address the issue on a more comprehensive basis, the rapid acceleration of heartbreaking loss due to an opioid/fentanyl overdose calls for immediate and equally accelerated response.

In April, the Waterloo Region Crime Prevention Council signed on to a letter to the Premier indicating, “A surge in opioid-related overdoses ... is anticipated this year.” With one death every 14 hours in Ontario due to opioid overdose and new overdoses making headlines on a weekly basis, I submit that that prediction is now becoming a reality.

While our Waterloo Regional Police Service are warning users of the risks, their warnings are moot without comprehensive government strategy to address the killer quickly and head-on.

With fatalities mounting and with jurisdictions like BC declaring a public health emergency, we look for further recognition of the fatal impact of opioids here in the province of Ontario. Each day that passes, as we await that recognition and details on the upcoming federal-provincial National Opioid Summit in November, means more lives lost.

For those impacted families in Waterloo region and beyond, I ask that this government listen to the call of health and law enforcement professionals and treat this clear health crisis with the urgency that it deserves.

Human trafficking

Ms. Catherine Fife: Over the weekend I attended Rock to Stop Human Trafficking, a fundraising event organized by women in my community who have been championing this issue for years.

Timea Nagy, a courageous survivor of human trafficking, has dedicated her life’s work to advocate for a future where young women are not exploited and abused right here in Ontario. Timea’s organization, Walk with Me Canada Victim Services, was chronically underfunded and under-resourced and was forced to close its doors on August 15, 2015.

Timea and her supporters are now fundraising to provide a five-day retreat in Waterloo region where survivors of human trafficking can relearn life skills and be supported by community leaders within a safe environment.

It is upsetting that in 2016 we are still holding bake sales and work barbecues to fundraise for a cause that is a matter of life and death. The Liberal government has promised money, but organizations within my community of Kitchener-Waterloo have seen very minimal funding increases that will barely cover the needs of one survivor, let alone address the problem holistically.

We should not let the sex trade stigma prevent action. No one chooses to be trafficked. To quote Timea, “They say that the sex trade is the oldest profession, but in reality, it is the oldest form of oppression.”

When will this Liberal government live up to its promise and properly fund front-line community organizations? We have the leadership; now we need the investment in education, prevention and survivor support today.

Health care funding

Mr. Yvan Baker: Quality health care is critical to the people in my community in Etobicoke Centre, so striving for better access, better quality and better value for money is what we need to do to ensure that the care we need will be there, where and when we need it.

That is why I’m proud to share news about some successes and developments related to key health projects that I’ve been working on on behalf of my constituents in Etobicoke Centre.

My predecessor as MPP, Donna Cansfield, worked tirelessly over many years to improve the quality of health care in our community. Among the many causes that Donna took on, she advocated for the expansion of Etobicoke General Hospital and for additional support for Dorothy Ley Hospice.

Since my election to government, I’ve continued her advocacy. Earlier this year, Speaker, I had the pleasure of standing with Minister Hoskins as he announced that the government of Ontario would be investing $358 million to expand Etobicoke General Hospital. The expansion includes a large state-of-the-art emergency department, a new intensive care unit, a new maternal newborn unit, and a new ambulatory procedures unit.

I’m also pleased to share that Dorothy Ley Hospice, which serves our community, received additional funding of $15,000 per bed from the government of Ontario this year to provide patients with greater access to community-based palliative care and end-of-life care.

Mr. Speaker, these investments will make a significant difference for people in my community of Etobicoke Centre. But I will not stop there. I will continue to be an advocate to ensure that we provide the people of Etobicoke Centre and the people of Ontario with the accessible, consistent and quality care that they need and that they deserve.

Violence against women

Mr. Jeff Yurek: I’m pleased to highlight a local campaign coordinated by the London Abused Women’s Centre called Shine the Light on Woman Abuse.

Spousal abuse has been consistently identified as one of the most common forms of violence against women in Canada. Women are four times more likely to be victims of violence in a relationship. In fact, 83% of all victims are women, and 42% of them are physically harmed. These statistics are heartbreaking.

I fully support the Shine the Light on Woman Abuse campaign that is being launched officially on November 1. This campaign is aimed at helping communities across Ontario raise awareness of men’s violence against women by turning cities purple throughout the month of November.

This year marks the seventh year of the Shine the Light on Woman Abuse campaign. The colour purple is chosen because it is a symbol of courage, survival and honour and is now recognized as the worldwide symbol for the fight to end women’s abuse. Last week, I wrote to all members of the Legislature to invite them to join me in wearing purple on November 15 to show our support for this great initiative.

Each year, the London Abused Women’s Centre honours two women who have experienced abuse. This year’s Shine the Light campaign honours murder victim Paula Gallant from Glace Bay, Nova Scotia, and abuse survivor Mary Meadows, a constituent of mine from St. Thomas. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Mary Meadows for her courage and strength in publicly speaking out about her past and joining forces with the London Abused Women’s Centre to share her past experience and encourage other women to do the same.

I also want to give a special thanks to Megan Walker, executive director of the London Abused Women’s Centre, and of course all the employees and volunteers for putting this campaign together and for all the work they do, day in and day out, to support women in our community.

Fort Erie Race Track

Mr. Wayne Gates: Last week, I was proud to be with my community at the Fort Erie Race Track for the final day of the 119th season of racing.

Speaker, 2016 at the Fort Erie track was incredibly successful, thanks to fans across the province and the US, the hard work of dedicated track staff and horse people, support from the town of Fort Erie, and the sound management of Jim Thibert and his team.

The track saw a 10% increase in attendance, and its off-track wagering rose by 20%. What is more impressive is that Fort Erie’s wagering per purse is now higher than any track in Canada. In fact, the track had more $1-million betting days this year than ever. The Prince of Wales event broke attendance and betting records at $2 million, and since 2011, wagering per horse has risen 87%.

Mr. Speaker, the community in Fort Erie and across Niagara deserve to be recognized for what they have done here and their success story. The track was facing closure, and they came together to save 1,000 jobs there. They said no to the Liberal plan to close one of the most historic parts of our town.

Now we need to work together to ensure the track has a successful future. The Fort Erie Race Track must have a seat on the board of the new alliance that will be set up to govern horse racing. The horse people who rely on the track need to have the confidence that their investment won’t go to waste. The Fort Erie Race Track is one of only two thoroughbred tracks in Ontario and the oldest track in the province. Let’s recognize how important the track is to the province by giving them a seat on the board when the future of horse racing in Ontario is decided.

World Polio Day

Ms. Soo Wong: Today is World Polio Day. This day was established by Rotary International over a decade ago to commemorate the birth of Jonas Salk, who led the first team to develop a vaccine against poliomyelitis.

Polio is a crippling and potentially fatal infectious disease. There is no cure, but there are safe and effective vaccines. Polio can be prevented through immunization.

Through the efforts of Rotary International, polio worldwide has been reduced by 99.9%. Today, there are 30 confirmed global cases of polio. World Polio Day Chair of Rotary District 7070, Jennifer Boyd, stated, “Polio is on the verge of becoming the second disease to have been successfully eradicated from the world. We must ensure that this becomes a reality.”

As I conclude my remarks, I’d like to thank all Ontarians, especially the Rotarians in District 7070, for their continuous efforts and support toward eradicating polio worldwide.

Steve Dickinson

Mr. Bill Walker: I rise to recognize an Owen-Sound-area classic-rock style singer and songwriter who was chosen as the sole Canadian with his own featured track on Double Take, a tribute to Frankie Miller, which was released earlier this month. Steve Dickinson sings When It’s Rockin’ on a 19-track tribute album to esteemed Scottish vocalist Frankie Miller, along with an international all-star cast of Bonnie Tyler, Willie Nelson, Elton John, Rod Stewart, Joe Walsh, Huey Lewis and Kid Rock, among others. The gifted Dickinson will also become the new front man for Frankie Miller’s band, Full House, which is going on tour again as it marks the 40th anniversary of the band.

While some members may never have heard of Frankie Miller, they may want to know that he has written songs for artists like Johnny Cash, Rod Stewart, Ray Charles and the Traveling Wilburys. He has also collaborated with rock legends, co-writing Thin Lizzy’s Still in Love with the late Phil Lynnot, and was a big influence on others like Bob Seger.

I commend and sing Steve’s praises for being part of this meaningful project. Proceeds from the CD are being donated to the Nordoff Robbins music therapy charity and to assist Miller in his recovery following a brain hemorrhage 22 years ago.

Steve is very well known in music circles in Bruce–Grey–Owen Sound, playing with a wide variety of bands. Yet, surprisingly, he’s one of Ontario’s best-kept secrets. I invite all members to hear it for themselves at stevedickinson.ca and to appreciate Steve’s style, which has been described as “Rock ‘N Rural.”

Please join me in congratulating Steve and wishing him the best and many, many more years of success in the music industry.

Rural schools

M me France Gélinas: Today I rise on behalf of students and parents in Nickel Belt to draw attention to the loss of provincial revenues that caused the Rainbow District School Board to start the process of closing or consolidating 12 rural schools.

Rural school closures mean long bus rides. Students in Nickel Belt will leave home before sunrise and return after sunset. Today, a group of parents from Larchwood Public School in Dowling, one of the schools scheduled for closing, are simulating the long morning ride by following the bus that travels from Geneva Lake all the way to Chelmsford composite school. They want to draw attention to the long commute and protest the school closures that will make this problem even worse.

Imagine, Speaker, a four-and-a-half-year-old child in transit for three hours. That means more time on the bus than learning. They get exhausted. Rural students are tired; they cannot take

part in extracurricular activities or take after-school jobs in their communities—not to mention the safety risks on our winter roads.

Rural school closures affect businesses as well. Battistelli’s Your Independent Grocer employs many students in Lively District Secondary School. Once the school is closed, so are the jobs for these young people. Then, the snowball effect starts. School closure means that a community has a hard time retaining families and attracting new ones, which puts the viability of local businesses, like the grocery store, at risk.

The message is simple: Minister, keep our rural schools open.

Sports funding

Mr. Arthur Potts: I’d like to talk a little today about our Rio Olympic athletes, but I’d like to begin by thanking Premier Wynne and Minister McMahon for hosting a wonderful reception this afternoon, as well as our special guests Curt Harnett, chef de mission for Team Canada; Kristina Valjas, Olympic athlete; and Robbi Weldon, Paralympic athlete, for their words of celebration.

As the MPP for Beaches–East York, I would also like to acknowledge the performance and presence of the athletes from my riding: Penny Oleksiak, Crystal Emmanuel and Victoria Nolan. Thank you for your dedication and for your athletic experience and excellence. You’re a credit to the Beach.

Special congratulations to Penny Oleksiak, who won an historic four medals in women’s swimming and a world record in the 100-metre freestyle. The Premier and I had a wonderful opportunity to march in a parade celebrating her and other athletes this summer.

Mr. Speaker, in 2015-16, Quest for Gold provided funding to 1,326 athletes from across Ontario. Some 119 Ontario Olympic athletes and 45 Paralympic athletes received direct funding from our Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport through Quest for Gold. Athletes received funding through an objective ranking process and received up to $7,500 per year. Since 2006, Quest for Gold has supported over 5,000 Ontario athletes.

Our Ontario athletes’ success builds on the history of sports excellence in the province. In partnership with municipalities and the federal government, we showed the world the best of Canadian hospitality and diversity in the Pan Am Games. The athletes’ village for the games was completed on time and under budget. It came along with sports venues which are now used on a repetitive basis all across Ontario.

Thank you so much for the great work that athletes have done in Ontario.

Introduction of Bills

Transparency and Accountability in Government Contracting Act, 2016 / Loi de 2016 sur la transparence et la responsabilisation en matière de marchés publics

Ms. Fife moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 49,

An Act to enact the Privatizations and Public-Private Partnerships Transparency and Accountability Act, 2016 and to amend the Colleges Collective Bargaining Act, 2008 / Projet de loi 49, Loi édictant la Loi de 2016 sur la transparence et la responsabilisation en matière de privatisations et de partenariats public-privé et modifiant la Loi de 2008 sur la négociation collective dans les collèges.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

First reading agreed to.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member for a short statement.

Ms. Catherine Fife: This will require a public sector entity to conduct a preliminary analysis before it can initiate a procurement process for the privatization of public services, including an analysis of the viability, the expected risks, costs and benefits of using a private sector entity to provide the services, and also a value-for-money audit and business case analysis for privatization.

Interruption.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): I’d advise our guests that you don’t participate in anything. Thank you.

Introduction of bills? Motions? Statements by ministries?

Therefore, it is time for the member from Bruce–Grey–Owen Sound to lead us in petitions.

Petitions

Niagara Escarpment

Mr. Bill Walker: “To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas residents and municipalities across Bruce and Grey counties want meaningful consultations on the proposed expansions to the Niagara Escarpment Plan—known as Niagara Escarpment Plan Area 2015 reference 012-7228; and

“Whereas owners of all lands affected should have the right to be fully informed of the merits of the objectives of any such significant proposal; and

“Whereas the proposed change is significant, impacting 45,000 hectares of land in Bruce and Grey counties, including Griffith Island on Georgian Bay; and

“Whereas the potential loss of revenue to local communities would be significant—$700,000 every year in lost tax revenues (Grey county would lose $293,700, Grey Highlands $142,500, The Blue Mountains $102,000, Meaford $87,610, Georgian Bluffs $53,000 and Chatsworth $20,000); and

“Whereas the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry has been to date unable to articulate to area municipalities and people who live on this land the impact on future development from adding 45,000 hectares under the NEC jurisdiction; and

“Whereas the consultation period undertaken by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry concludes as early as October 31st, 2016, making it one of the shortest if not least meaningful consultations carried out by that ministry; and

“Whereas, having shared with the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry more than 1,000 petitions to date signed by local constituents, the minister has been made aware of the significant concerns and opposition from local residents and area municipalities to this proposal;

“Therefore we, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to call on the government to make their NEC consultation meaningful by heeding the significant feedback from local respondents, municipalities and Grey county, which is to abandon the proposal known as the Niagara Escarpment Plan Area 2015 reference 012-7228.”

I fully support it, will affix my name and send it with page Randy.

Highway improvement

Mr. Taras Natyshak: I’m pleased to present a petition entitled “Widen Highway 3 Now.” It reads:

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas Highway 3 from Windsor to Leamington has long been identified as dangerous and unable to meet growing traffic volumes; and

“Whereas the widening of this highway passed its environmental assessment in 2006; and

“Whereas the portion of this project from Windsor to west of the town of Essex has been completed, but the remainder of the project remains stalled; and

“Whereas there has been a recent announcement of plans to rebuild the roadway, culverts, lighting and signals along the portion of Highway 3 that has not yet been widened;

“We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as follows:

“To revisit plans to rebuild Highway 3 from Essex to Leamington and direct those funds to the timely completion of the already approved widening of this important roadway in Essex county.”

I approve of and support this petition and will send it to the Clerks’ table via page Paige.

Hydro rates

Mr. Norm Miller: I have a petition with regard to electricity costs. It reads:

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas electricity rates have risen by more than 300% since the current government took office; and

“Whereas over half of Ontarians’ power bills are regulatory and delivery charges and the global adjustment; and

“Whereas the global adjustment is a tangible measure of how much Ontario must overpay for unneeded wind and solar power, and the cost of offloading excess power to our neighbours at a loss; and

“Whereas the market rate for electricity, according to IESO data, has been less than three cents per kilowatt hour to date in 2016, yet the government’s lack of responsible science-based planning has not allowed these reductions to be passed on to Ontarians, resulting in electrical bills several times more than that amount; and

“Whereas the implementation of cap-and-trade will drive the cost of electricity even higher and deny Ontarians the option to choose affordable natural gas heating; and

“Whereas more and more Ontarians are being forced to cut down on essential expenses such as food and medicines in order to pay their increasingly unaffordable electricity bills; and

“Whereas the ill-conceived energy policies of this government that ignored the advice of independent experts and government agencies, such as the Ontario Energy Board (OEB) and the independent electrical system operator (IESO), and are not based on science have resulted in Ontarians’ electricity costs rising, despite lower natural gas costs and increased energy conservation in the province;

“We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as follows:

“To take immediate steps to reduce the total cost of electricity paid for by Ontarians, including costs associated with power consumed, the global adjustment, delivery charges, administrative charges, tax and any other charges added to Ontarians’ energy bills.”

I support this petition and give it to Nicolas.

Energy policies

M me France Gélinas: I’m happy to present these petitions that were gathered by Mrs. Sharon Chartrand from Whitefish in my riding. It reads as follows:

“Whereas the overwhelming majority of citizens from northern Ontario oppose the sale of Hydro One;

“Whereas the majority of citizens of northern Ontario oppose the rate increase which is the direct result of successful initiative to conserve and reduce electrical power consumption;

“Whereas the majority of citizens of northern Ontario oppose the installation and continued use of the smart meter program due to the unreliability of their metering and billing as well as incidents of causing fire;

“Whereas the majority of citizens from northern Ontario oppose the current inclusion of the delivery fee charges on power bills due to the unfair and confusing policies;”

They petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to:

“Call upon the Liberal government to stop the sell-off and privatization of Hydro One, stop further rate increases caused resulting from lower-than-expected consumption, stop the practice of billing rural customers for line loss charges, and reverse the ill-conceived decision to install smart meters without passing on the expense for replacing equipment to customers.”

I fully support this petition, will affix my name to it and ask page Doen to bring it to the Clerk.

Hydro rates

Mr. Randy Pettapiece: “To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas household electricity bills have skyrocketed by 56% and electricity rates have tripled as a result of the Liberal government’s mismanagement of the energy sector;

“Whereas the billion-dollar gas plants cancellation, wasteful and unaccountable spending at Ontario Power Generation and the unaffordable subsidies in the Green Energy Act will result in electricity bills climbing by another 35% by 2017 and 45% by 2020; and

“Whereas the Liberal government wasted $2 billion on the flawed smart meter program; and

“Whereas the recent announcement to implement the Ontario Electricity Support Program will see average household hydro bills increase an additional $137 per year starting in 2016; and

“Whereas the soaring cost of electricity is straining family budgets, and hurting the ability of manufacturers and small businesses in the province to compete and create new jobs; and

“Whereas home heating and electricity are a necessity for families in Ontario who cannot afford to continue footing the bill for the government’s mismanagement of the energy sector;

“Therefore we, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to immediately implement policies ensuring Ontario’s power consumers, including families, farmers and employers, have affordable and reliable electricity.”

I agree with this petition and will send it down with page Emily.

Seniors’ housing

Mr. John Vanthof: “To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas the elderly residents of the second floor of Villa Aubin located at 145 Holditch Street, in Sturgeon Falls, Ontario, must use a stairway to access their apartments; and

“Whereas these residents face increasing difficulty in using these stairs; and

“Whereas this restricted access could cause health consequences, such as access with stretchers; and

“Whereas various levels of government have announced funding for renovations/improvements to seniors’ housing;

“We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as follows:

“To direct the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing to work with the Nipissing District Housing Corp. to secure funding for an elevator for this and other restricted-access buildings.”

I wholeheartedly agree, affix my signature, and send it with page Kepler.

Highway ramps

Mrs. Julia Munro: I have a petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

“Whereas the town of Bradford West Gwillimbury will continue to have robust growth of population and commercial activity in proximity to the Holland Marsh, Ontario’s salad bowl, which consists of 7,000 acres of specialty crop area lands designated in the provincial Greenbelt Plan and is situated along the municipal boundary between King township and the town of Bradford West Gwillimbury, as bisected by Highway 400;

“Whereas the Canal Road ramps at Highway 400 provide critical access for farm operations within the Holland Marsh allowing for efficient transport of product to market, delivery of materials and equipment and patronage of on-farm commercial activities; and

“Whereas the loss of that critical access to Highway 400 may threaten the significant financial benefits that the Holland Marsh contributes to the Ontario economy;

“We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as follows:

“That the council of the corporation of the town of Bradford West Gwillimbury hereby advises the Honourable Steven Del Duca, Minister of Transportation, that the town does not support the elimination of the Canal Road ramps at Highway 400, and further, that the town requests that the duration of the temporary closure of Canal Road between Wist Road and Davis Road be minimized to the greatest extent possible during the Highway 400/North Canal bridge replacement project.”

As I am in complete agreement, I’ve affixed my signature to give it to page John.

Guide and service animals

Ms. Catherine Fife: This petition is entitled “Expand AODA Service Animal Protection.

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas the expansion of coverage for guide and service animals under the AODA represents a huge step in the inclusion and dignity of all people, there are still gaps in the protection provided by current legislation and policy; and

“Whereas AODA legislation fails to consider the protection and accommodation of:

“—dogs and animals in active training to become certified guide” dogs;

“—service dogs and animals who are trained with special skills related to non-disability identified illnesses, such as detecting oncoming seizures;

“—dogs specifically trained to offer specific emotional support to psychiatric consumer/survivors with diagnosis such as PTSD; and

“Whereas the Blind Persons’ Rights Act, 1990 empowers the Attorney General to provide ID cards for guide dogs, which outline the current legal protection; and

“Whereas the AODA requires service animals to be accompanied by a physician’s letter; and

“Whereas physicians’ letters are inconsistent in content and style, resulting in their being denied, adding further confusion and indignity to the person presenting them;

“We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to introduce legislation expanding the AODA’s definition of a protected service animal, and to empower the office of the Attorney General to provide ID cards for all protected guide and service animals/dogs.”

It’s my pleasure to affix my signature and give this petition to page Aaron.

Privatization of public assets

Mr. Bill Walker: “To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas the current government under Premier Kathleen Wynne is calling for the sale of up to 60% of Hydro One shares into private ownership; and

“Whereas the decision to sell the public utility was made without any public input and the deal will continue to be done in complete secrecy; and

“Whereas the loss of majority ownership in Hydro One will force ratepayers to accept whatever changes the new owners decide, such as higher rates; and

“Whereas electricity rates are already sky-high and hurting family budgets as well as businesses; and

“Whereas ratepayers will never again have independent investigations of consumer complaints, such as the Ontario Ombudsman’s damning report on failed billing; and

“Whereas the people of Ontario are the true owners of Hydro One and they do not believe the fire sale of Hydro One is in their best interest;

“We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as follows:

“To protect Ontario ratepayers by stopping the sale of Hydro One.”

I fully support, will affix my name and send it with page Olivier.

Disaster relief

M me France Gélinas: I have petitions, and I’d like to thank Mr. Nelson Brunet from Gogama for signing the petition—him and over 1,000 other people. It reads as follows:

“Whereas at 2 a.m. on March 7, 2015, a Canadian National train derailed in Gogama;

“Whereas this derailment caused numerous tank cars carrying crude oil to explode, catch fire and spill over one million litres of oil into the Makami River; and

“Whereas residents continue to plainly observe oil and find dead fish in the Makami River as well as Lake Minisinakwa, despite the fact that the Ministry of the Environment has declared the cleanup complete;”

They “petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as follows:

“That the Ministry of the Environment” and Climate Change “require CN to continue the cleanup of Gogama’s soil and waterways until the residents are assured of clean and safe water for themselves, the environment and the wildlife.”

I fully support this petition, will affix my name to it and ask page Paige to bring it to the Clerk.

Hydro rates

Mr. Bill Walker: “To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas household electricity bills have skyrocketed by 56% and electricity rates have tripled as a result of the Liberal government’s mismanagement of the energy sector;

“Whereas the billion-dollar gas plants cancellation, wasteful and unaccountable spending at Ontario Power Generation and the unaffordable subsidies in the Green Energy Act will result in electricity bills climbing by another 35% by 2017 and 45% by 2020; and

“Whereas the Liberal government wasted $2 billion on the flawed smart meter program; and

“Whereas the recent implementation of the Ontario Electricity Support Program will see average household hydro bills increase an additional $137 per year starting in 2016; and

“Whereas the soaring cost of electricity is straining family budgets, and hurting the ability of manufacturers and small businesses in the province to compete and create new jobs; and

“Whereas home heating and electricity are a necessity for families in Ontario who cannot afford to continue footing the bill for the government’s mismanagement of the energy sector;

“Therefore we, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as follows:

“To immediately implement policies ensuring Ontario’s power consumers, including families, farmers and employers, have affordable and reliable electricity.”

I fully support, will affix my name and send it with page Nicolas.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): Unfortunately, that concludes the time we have available for petitions.

Orders of the Day

Protecting Students Act, 2016 / Loi de 2016 protégeant les élèves

Resuming the debate adjourned on October 19, 2016, on the motion for second reading of the following bill:

Bill 37,

An Act to amend the Early Childhood Educators Act, 2007 and the Ontario College of Teachers Act, 1996 / Projet de loi 37, Loi modifiant la Loi de 2007 sur les éducatrices et les éducateurs de la petite enfance et la Loi de 1996 sur l’Ordre des enseignantes et des enseignants de l’Ontario.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): Pursuant to the order of the House dated October 20, 2016, I am now required to put the question.

Ms. Hunter has moved second reading of Bill 37,

an Act to amend the Early Childhood Educators Act, 2007, and the Ontario College of Teachers Act, 1996. Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? I heard some noes.

All those in favour of the motion will please say “aye.”

All those opposed will please say “nay.”

In my opinion, the ayes have it.

Call in the members. This will be a five-minute bell.

I wish to inform the House that I’ve received from the chief government whip a request for a deferral of this vote pertaining to standing order 28(h), requesting that the vote be deferred until tomorrow, Tuesday, October 25.

Second reading vote deferred.

Patients First Act, 2016 / Loi de 2016 donnant la priorité aux patients

Resuming the debate adjourned on October 20, 2016, on the motion for second reading of the following bill:

Bill 41,

An Act to amend various Acts in the interests of patient-centred care / Projet de loi 41, Loi modifiant diverses lois dans l’intérêt des soins axés sur les patients.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): Further debate.

Mr. Shafiq Qaadri: First of all, it’s a privilege, an honour and a responsibility to speak on Bill 41, Patients First Act. I’ll let you know, Speaker, that I’ll be sharing my time with my honourable colleagues the MPP from Beaches–East York, Arthur Potts, and the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry.

As you can imagine, this particular bill is something whose importance I not only recognize, but I think from my own perspective, background, formation and training as a physician, I can see the deep-seated implications and, really, the bettering of Ontario’s health care system that’s embodied in a lot of the different parameters, initiatives, programs and details of this particular bill.

At the outset, for example, as we will expand the role of Ontario’s 14 local health integration networks—or the LHINs, as we call them—this will, of course, help to better integrate, coordinate and, I guess, systematize the health care system, which will include primary care, home care and community care, to improve the planning and delivery of front-line services for patients.

That’s a mouthful. Perhaps I might just expand on that. One of the benefits that we in Etobicoke North have seen, for example, is that as our eyes and ears on the ground, our local health integration network, advised us about the changing demographics and the changing needs, some of the diseases that were unfortunately taking root and hold in Etobicoke—whether it’s diabetes or cardiovascular disease and the increased need for dialysis.

That is part of the reason why, for example, just recently I joined not only the Minister of Health but also my honourable colleague the MPP for Etobicoke Centre and, as well, in spirit, our Etobicoke–Lakeshore MPP, Peter Milczyn, when we arranged for a $358-million expansion of Etobicoke General Hospital. I’m very pleased to say that this particular expansion was in part due to the recommendations of, as I say, our eyes and ears on the ground: our local health integration network.

In particular, this will lead to expanded cardio-respiratory diagnostic services, an entirely new emergency room, an entirely new suite of renal dialysis beds, and so on. So there’s quite a remarkable development going on in Etobicoke General. Just as an example, Speaker, with this build-out, once it’s actually completed, the footprint of Etobicoke General will actually be increased four-fold. So it’s something that we’re very much looking forward to.

If I might, Speaker, just for a moment, speak somewhat offline, our CEO of the William Osler health group, particularly at the Etobicoke General site, Matt Anderson, who has displayed extraordinary leadership and overseen a lot of this expansion, will actually be leaving us very soon. In fact, I think I’m scheduled to go to his farewell—I think it’s a lunch or a dinner—coming up very soon. But I’d just like to do a quick shout-out and salute and commend the extraordinary work by Matt Anderson and his entire team.

Speaker, ultimately this is looking at creating more equitable access to our health care system. As you can imagine, it’s quite an unwieldy file. As I understand it, as I’ve chatted with our Minister of Health on a quarter-to-quarter, doctor-to-doctor consultation, our health care system is something on the order of about $52 billion and counting. I think when we have people who are, for example, through the LHINs, able to help steer that, it’s something that’s very commendable.

The other thing that’s actually, I think, quite remarkable and worthy of note in the Patients First Act, Bill 41, is the expanded integration and coordination with our indigenous partners. Unfortunately, Speaker, as you will realize, that is a community that perhaps can particularly benefit from renewed attention to the health care system. That’s why we will, of course, collaborate with our First Nations, Métis, Inuit and urban aboriginal organizations.

Of course, there are many other communities, many other moving parts to this particular bill. But as I say, as a physician who, by the way, graduated from the University of Toronto in 1988—which seems to be fading into the deep, dark mists of history—but still someone who is actively engaged in the health care field and monitoring, of course, our new therapeutic trends and developments, I think this is very much a bill that I’m looking forward to seeing passed and hopefully have unanimous support across the floor.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): The member for Beaches–East York.

Mr. Arthur Potts: I’m delighted to pick up where the member from Etobicoke North has left off. What an honour to be able to speak here to the Patients First Act, Bill 41.

You may recall, Speaker, that on Thursday, as we finished private members’ business and we went on and started to have a debate on this particular bill, I was slated, actually, to give my five minutes at the end. There were five, maybe six minutes at the end of the day on Thursday, and I was actually quite excited and pumped up for this opportunity to give a stirring, rousing debate so that I could send all the members home on a Thursday with a little bit of vim and vigour to make their drive safer and give them thoughts and things to reflect on.

But as it turned out, the Deputy Speaker at the time didn’t want to do any more work that day and she graciously allowed us to leave a little bit early on Thursday.

But I’m delighted to have a chance now to address some of these issues because, as we listened to the debate on Thursday—we had debate from the official opposition and from the members of the third party—there was a complete, stark contrast between the approaches that both sides were taking. You couldn’t have had a more stark differentiation between the role of the status quo, CMA-guided directive that you were getting from the members of the official opposition—their whole point was seeing what we’re doing here as a consolidation within the LHIN to seize direct control over the health care system, which of course couldn’t be further from the truth.

I’m on the public accounts committee, and we’ve had a chance to look at the operations of CCACs in Ontario and are in the midst of report writing on it. What became very clear is that the CCACs across the province weren’t working as a coordinated, cohesive body. What was happening in some communities with a CCAC—a community care access centre—was that the levels of care varied dramatically across the province. I commend the member from Nickel Belt. She raises the kinds of concerns that we may not see in the downtown Toronto sector, where I represent, but they experience it farther north.

So there’s a real sense that the CCACs needed to have more standardized care provisions, and I think that is the direction that you will see we’re going in now: that when the sub-LHINs start entering into the direction of health care provisions in the province of Ontario, we will see an evolution where, as the auditor has suggested, we need to have, for each—when you get assessed, if you have a certain need of care, there should be a certain number of hours that go along with the needs associated with that patient.

Whether you’re receiving the care in Sudbury or Kapuskasing or downtown Toronto, there should be a direct correlation between what someone needs and the kind of services they get. I get the really strong sense that we weren’t seeing that in the way that the CCACs were practising before.

whereas the members of the official opposition will talk about us seizing direct control through the LHIN system, I actually do see this as more of a devolution of control back down closer to the community. It’s more like responsible oversight that we’re talking about, and through a structured program through the LHINs and the sub-LHINs, you will get a much more structured oversight of the kind of care that’s happening on the ground.

I want to focus a little bit on a constituent of mine, Dervish Mitrovica. Dervish spent the last five years looking after his aged mother. She needed continual care, and he came to see me on a repeated basis trying to get assistance with the CCAC so he would have opportunities for respite, opportunities to bring in care a few extra hours here and there, so his mother could live out her last years in a dignified way. He found that very frustrating, and I found it frustrating, learning how the CCACs functioned.

I realized that what we absolutely needed more of were opportunities for direct family supports for people who are caring for people at home. Whether it’s direct support going to the family to hire a personal support worker or a nurse practitioner or some other direct home care provider, the point is that you need to leave some of that control in the hands of the home care providers.

Dervish’s mother died, sadly, about four or five months ago. He has since become a tireless advocate for the kinds of changes we need in our health care system so that you can support.

That’s what I think we’re seeing in the Patients First Act: a devolution down to where the patient’s needs are paramount and most important. Compare that to the kinds of rhetoric we’re hearing from the members of the third party. There seems to be a focus on the status quo, keeping all institutional workers in institutions, doing the kinds of institutional work in the same proportion—this many doctors, this many nurses, this many support workers—whereas we’re changing that model.

That’s what is really exciting about the Patients First Act, that we are changing the model, and what we’d love to see is that the members of both sides would recognize and participate in this direction where we’re trying to give more support directly to the people who are receiving the supports.

The message I want to leave here is that I hope the members of the opposition will open up their minds to the kinds of provisions that are in the Patients First Act to recognize that this is a patient-centric universe we’re moving towards and that they can support that.

Within my own hospital region, we have what was the Toronto East General Hospital, renamed the Michael Garron Hospital as a result of a very generous donation by the Garron family to recognize their son Michael, who died of cancer at the age of 12. But he was born in this hospital. When we went to a name change situation, the community was a little concerned that the name “Toronto East” was going to get lost out of the lexicon of east Toronto. So we were naming the hospital the Michael Garron Hospital, but we maintained Toronto East as the Toronto East Health Network.

What’s really important about that, when you think about the coordinated, structured care in a community, is that Michael Garron Hospital is now the key focal point of the Toronto East Health Network that coordinates care with all the different health care providers that we see all through the east end of Toronto. I firmly believe that the provisions we see in the Patients First Act will assist the Toronto East Health Network in providing a continuity of care with family health teams, with Toronto East Health Network—a whole bunch of groups—to help make patient care better, more affordable and more predictable.

On that basis, I’d like to sit down and give an opportunity to the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry to continue the debate.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): I recognize the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry.

Hon. Kathryn McGarry: It’s a pleasure to rise in my place this afternoon and add a few comments on behalf of my constituents in Cambridge to the debate on this very important bill, Bill 41, the Patients First Act.

I’ve said many times in this Legislature that I had a front-row seat in the health care system for the last 35 years or so. I know that, over the past decade, Ontario’s health care system has improved significantly. Leading up to 2003, when this government came in and started the historic investments to improve health care, I know that we were looking then at a shortage of patient beds. We were looking at a shortage of nurses and doctors. We needed to significantly improve the health care system.

Since 2003, the number of physicians in Ontario has increased by over 5,600 doctors, and 94% of Ontarians now have access to a family health care provider. We know that more than 95% of patients, for instance, that are waiting for urgent cardiac procedures receive care within the recommended wait times. That’s very essential. And I’m very proud of this: There are 26,300 more nurses working in nursing in Ontario since we took over in 2003, and that includes over 11,000 more registered nurses. I know also that our family health teams are serving over 200 communities, providing care to over 3.2 million Ontarians, including 885,000 who did not previously have access to a family doctor.

In saying that, it’s really leading up to the fact that our government continues to be committed to building a better Ontario by putting patients at the centre of a truly integrated health care system. We’ve been working towards that for many years.

So in speaking specifically to this bill, this legislation, if passed, would give Ontario’s 14 local health integration networks, or LHINs, an expanded role, connecting all parts of the health care system, including primary care and home and community care, to improve the planning and delivery of front-line services for patients. It’s very, very important because the LHINs, to date, have only been planning some aspects of the health care system. This will certainly bring most of the planning under their jurisdiction.

We, as a government, continue to be committed to allowing for easier and more equitable access to care by expanding access to home and community care, ensuring that every Ontarian has access to a primary health provider.

In speaking with the LHINs that I’ve worked with quite closely, in my former role as a care coordinator in a community care access centre, or CCAC, I know how important it was for the LHIN to really look at integrated care throughout the community. Moving forward, we have to shift the spending to where we get the most value. The LHINs will help to coordinate and integrate health care, and we can direct those resources where they can make the most difference—and for me, it’s home and community care.

The LHINs have been working hard to improve health care in our communities, giving people a say in local health decisions, but also determining priorities through community engagement. We heard over and over again that patients really want the care closest to home, in their own community. I know that giving local communities a voice in the local health care system is certainly helpful. We continue to invest in home and community care, where we can keep people in their homes for longer periods of time.

We are now looking, as a province, to ensure that even complex patients with their complex patient care are managed in the home appropriately. That’s what we’re proudest of. That’s certainly where we’re going to continue to invest in in our area. I know that the local LHIN will do a good job at providing the planning to ensure that we have home and community care—and the rest of our health care system—where it needs to be.

I hope that we have good support for this bill going forward.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): Questions or comments?

Mr. Monte McNaughton: I’m happy to add my comments regarding Bill 41, the Patients First Act, 2016. I’d like to start by commending the health critic for our caucus, the MPP from Elgin–Middlesex–London, who has done a very thorough job during his lead and in consulting with different health stakeholders across the province. He has done a really good job leading us on this issue.

We heard the member from Cambridge get up and say how wonderful the health care system is in the province of Ontario, but I can tell you, Mr. Speaker, you just have to open a newspaper every single day to hear about the struggles that average, everyday people in the province have, whether it’s senior citizens or people waiting for hips and knees in southwestern Ontario, or families who are struggling to get necessary pharmaceuticals to combat a disease they may have.

The one thing that I just want to highlight—I’ll be talking in my 20-minute speech this afternoon about just some of the issues we’re facing in southwestern Ontario. I just want to quote from a London Free Press

article recently. It says this: “If you need a hip or knee replaced in the London region, expect to wait about twice as long as patients” elsewhere, “with average waits at one hospital here as long as 449 days.”

So, Mr. Speaker, for this government to get up and talk about our health care system and how perfect things are—it’s a different feeling out there among everyday people, and I would encourage the government to get out and actually talk to patients across the province.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): Questions and comments?

Mrs. Lisa Gretzky: It is my pleasure to rise to share the voice of my constituents in Windsor West around the Patients First Act.

The member from Beaches–East York said, “The patient’s needs are paramount,” and then he went on to say that health care should be patient-centric. We certainly agree with that on this side of the House.

I would like to applaud our health critic, the member from Nickel Belt, for the incredible work that she does and how well she actually communicates and listens to the people who work in the health care sector.

Today, on this particular bill around how patient needs are paramount, I’d like to draw attention to a patient who was in my riding—unfortunately, he has passed away: Dan Duma, who moved from Ontario for work. He had to go to Alberta to work, and while he was there, he was diagnosed with liver cancer. Over time, his health took a turn for the worse. Unfortunately, at the time, he was living in Fort McMurray and he had to be evacuated because of the wildfires.

When he was moved to Edmonton, they mentioned to him that his prognosis was not good, that he was not going to survive, and they suggested he return to Ontario to be with his family for his final days. Unfortunately, under the interprovincial billing agreement that we have, patients returning to Ontario have to wait three months for OHIP coverage to cover their health care needs, unless it is considered medically necessary. So it excludes home care or community care.

Unfortunately, Dan, in his final days, was not able to spend the time with his family in a private residence receiving the home care that he needed to keep him comfortable and allow him to pass with dignity because of the interprovincial billing model.

Tomorrow, I will be bringing forward a private member’s bill in order to allow home care and community care as an exclusion under the interprovincial billing model so that patients like Dan would actually get the community care they need when they return to Ontario.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): Questions and comments?

L’hon. Marie-France Lalonde: It is really an honour. C’est vraiment un honneur pour moi de me lever, pas seulement comme députée d’Ottawa–Orléans mais aussi comme ministre déléguée aux Affaires francophones, par rapport à l’importance que ce projet de loi a sur les gens de l’Ontario.

I have to say that when I think about my time as a social worker working in our health care sector in the late 1990s—I have seen significant improvements in our health care since this government took office in 2003. Having said that, this particular bill, which I’m very keen to talk about because it reflects something that we hear over and over, and also a commitment that we are making as a government—and I’ll reflect back on the comments that the opposition said, and I’ll say it’s committed to building a better Ontario, to putting patients at the centre. We’re hearing this all throughout.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): Questions and comments?

Mr. Randy Pettapiece: It’s a pleasure for me to rise and comment on Bill 41. Speaker, there seems to be a lack of consultation on a number of fronts in this bill with those who actually are involved with the health care sector.

I want to speak of doctors. No input from physicians went into this bill. I don’t know why that happened. You would think that physicians should have been contacted on this bill and asked for their input. They are our health care providers, along with a lot of other people. The government didn’t see fit to speak with them. This is probably due to the adversarial attitude this government has with our doctors, and so they decided not to consult with them. That’s really too bad.

The bureaucracy, to me, looks like it’s going to be increased, and that’s something that we’ve had an issue with for quite a few years. It seems that whenever the government decides to do something or change something, bureaucracy is added to it, taking more dollars out of where they should be going, and that’s to our patients and those who need medical help.

The other thing that concerns me, too, is that the government will have the power with this bill to audit, review and investigate health service providers’ medical records without warrant or patients’ consent. It would seem to me to be an invasion of patient privacy. I think we have to be really careful of this, where a patient thinks their records are safe, they’re confidential, and yet the government has the power to go in and investigate their records without a warrant. This deeply concerns me, Speaker.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): That concludes our questions and comments. I return to the member for Etobicoke North for the reply.

Mr. Shafiq Qaadri: I commend all my colleagues, particularly the member from Beaches–East York, the minister designated for francophone affairs, as well as our Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry, for their comments on this particular bill.

I think it’s a little disingenuous—may I use that word? I don’t know.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): You have to withdraw it.

Mr. Shafiq Qaadri: I withdraw. I’ll try to stay ingenuous—in any case, for the opposition to recommend that our—

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): I think this falls under the rule that you can’t say indirectly what you can’t say directly. So I’d ask you to withdraw that as well.

Mr. Shafiq Qaadri: I withdraw both sides. I withdraw. That’s a bit of a puzzle, Speaker.

In any case, I would commend my colleagues, but I have to question perhaps some of the perspective of the opposition members when they advise that we need to consult physicians. There was a very broad consultation with this particular bill.

As well, I have to say with regard, for example, t