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April 8, 2013

40th Parliament, 2nd Session

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Hansard Transcripts

Votes and Proceedings

Orders and Notices

Hansard Transcripts 2013-Apr-08 (PDF)

L020 - Mon 8 Apr 2013 / Lun 8 avr 2013

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO

ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE DE L’ONTARIO

Monday 8 April 2013 Lundi 8 avril 2013

INTRODUCTION OF VISITORS

ANNUAL REPORT,

CHIEF ELECTORAL OFFICER

BOARD OF INTERNAL ECONOMY

ORAL QUESTIONS

TEACHERS’ COLLECTIVE BARGAINING

ONTARIO PUBLIC SERVICE

CANCER TREATMENT

TAXATION

HYDRO RATES

MANUFACTURING JOBS

TEACHERS’ COLLECTIVE BARGAINING

MANUFACTURING JOBS

CASINOS

STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES

TAXATION

ANIMAL PROTECTION

AUTISM SERVICES

SKILLED TRADES

CANCER TREATMENT

MEMBERS’ BIRTHDAYS

MEMBERS’ STATEMENTS

YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS

PETER KORMOS

CAMBRIDGE WINTER HAWKS

ELECTRICITY SUPPLY

COPTIC COMMUNITY

SPRINGWATER PROVINCIAL PARK

MAPLE LEAF FOODS

TIRE DISPOSAL

NOTICE OF DISSATISFACTION

INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

CONSUMER PROTECTION

AMENDMENT ACT

(MONEY TRANSFERS), 2013 /

LOI DE 2013 MODIFIANT

LA

LOI SUR LA PROTECTION

DU CONSOMMATEUR

(TRANSFERTS DE FONDS)

STATEMENTS BY THE MINISTRY

AND RESPONSES

HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL DAY

PETITIONS

SPRINGWATER PROVINCIAL PARK

HOSPITAL FUNDING

TIRE DISPOSAL

TIRE DISPOSAL

WIND TURBINES

TIRE DISPOSAL

WIND TURBINES

AIR QUALITY

CATARACT SURGERY

WORKPLACE INSURANCE

WIND TURBINES

ORDERS OF THE DAY

AMBULANCE AMENDMENT ACT

(AIR AMBULANCES), 2013 /

LOI DE 2013 MODIFIANT

LA

LOI SUR LES AMBULANCES

(SERVICES D’AMBULANCE AÉRIENS)

The House met at 1030.

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

Prayers.

INTRODUCTION OF VISITORS

Mr. Rob E. Milligan: With us in the west gallery this morning are two very fine gentlemen from the great riding of Northumberland–Quinte West, Mr. Barry Adamson and Earl Ashby. I’d like to welcome them to Queen’s Park. Thank you very much, gentlemen.

Mr. Michael Mantha: Joining us this morning from my riding of Algoma–Manitoulin is Mrs. Kimberly Arnold, who is the mother of our new group of pages, one of them being Callum Arnold. Please welcome her.

Mr. Kim Craitor: I’m extremely proud to introduce two people from my riding of Niagara Falls, Niagara-on-the-Lake and Fort Erie: Donna and Don Cormier are here from Niagara Falls to see how efficiently we operate up here in Parliament. It’s a pleasure to have them here.

Ms. Lisa MacLeod: Although they’re not here, I’m sure that everybody in Ontario is very proud that the Nepean under-19 women’s ringette team won a gold medal this weekend; it defeated Winnipeg. Of course, they’re from the great city of Ottawa, so I know we’re all very proud that that team got the gold medal on behalf of this province.

Mr. Garfield Dunlop: How are the Senators doing?

Ms. Lisa MacLeod: The Senators? We’ll talk about those guys later.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Do I suspect that they’re somewhere here in the gallery and you’re introducing them?

Ms. Lisa MacLeod: Speaker, I’m here and I’m very excited to introduce the fact that they won the gold medal.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Thank you—and I’m glad to see quite well.

Ms. Cheri DiNovo: I’m pleased to introduce trainers and workers formerly of Marineland who are here today in the Legislature.

Ms. Helena Jaczek: In the west public gallery, we have a number of medical students who are here with the Ontario Medical Association leadership day. Many members will no doubt be meeting them later on today. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Mr. Ted Chudleigh: I’d like to introduce Jack Greenberg’s father. Jack Greenberg is one of our pages here today, and Mark, his father, is in the gallery.

Hon. Michael Gravelle: I’m looking forward to introducing a constituent of mine, a first-year medical student at the University of Western Ontario, here with the Ontario Medical Students Association to meet with the Minister of Health: Mathias Fricot. Matt, welcome.

Hon. Reza Moridi: It’s my pleasure to introduce Kitty Chen, mother of Bonnie Wu, the page from Richmond Hill.

Ms. Sylvia Jones: While it’s not formally an introduction, I did want to acknowledge that our own Ernie Hardeman, on Friday night, received an honorary professional agrologist designation from the institute of agrologists.

Ms. Cindy Forster: Speaker, I would like to ask this assembly to have a moment of silence this morning for Peter Kormos, who passed away on March 30.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): I believe the member from Welland is asking for unanimous consent to observe a moment’s silence, and if I would indulge her to accept that after we finish the introductions, I think that would be appropriate.

The member has asked for unanimous consent. Is it agreed? Agreed. Thank you.

Further introductions?

Mr. Frank Klees: My great riding of Newmarket–Aurora has been declared the centre of the universe, and I want to introduce two very special guests from my riding, Mr. Wes Playter and Todd Jackson. Wes is the director and manager of Roadhouse and Rose Funeral Home in Newmarket. We welcome them very warmly today.

M me France Gélinas: I would like to welcome Kayla Sue Marie, who is here representing medical students who will be coming to Queen’s Park today.

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

In the Speaker’s gallery today, we have a delegation from Potenza, in the province of Basilicata, Italy. The delegation is being led by Mayor Michele Mastro, Deputy Mayor Rosella Di Tullo, chief executive officer Luca Festino, councillor Antonio Paradiso, past mayor Mario Romanelli, Giuseppe Romanelli, Michele Romanelli, Bruno Cautela, Ernesto Sessa and Vincenzo Mastrangelo.

How did I do, Rosario? Okay?

Accompanying our delegation is Sam Primucci, president of Pizza Nova; Dan Montesano; and Joe Volpe, a former MP.

I would now ask all members in the House to stand and observe a moment’s silence for the deceased Peter Kormos, former MPP.

The House observed a moment’s silence.

ANNUAL REPORT,

CHIEF ELECTORAL OFFICER

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): I beg to inform the House that, during the adjournment, the following document was tabled: on April 2, 2013, the 2011-12 annual report of the Chief Electoral Officer.

BOARD OF INTERNAL ECONOMY

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): I beg to inform the House that, in accordance with

section 87 of the Legislative Assembly Act, the name of the following person appointed to serve on the Board of Internal Economy has been communicated to me as chair of the Board of Internal Economy: The Honourable John Milloy, MPP, is appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council from among the members of the executive council to replace Dwight Duncan.

ORAL QUESTIONS

TEACHERS’ COLLECTIVE BARGAINING

Ms. Lisa MacLeod: Before I start, I just want, on behalf of Tim Hudak and the Ontario PC caucus, to convey our deepest sympathies to our colleagues in the NDP as well as his family. Peter Kormos was a man whom those of us who were able to serve with him not only enjoyed but learned an awful lot from. So, at this hour of your need, we are there with you, together.

Speaker, my question is for the Premier. Last fall, your government implemented Bill 115. For months after, and during that period, your government said it was the only way to control costs and prevent chaos in our schools. When you ran for Liberal leader, you promised you would not reopen the collective agreements imposed in this House, because there was no new money in the wage envelope. Then you had secret talks with union leaders, and you promised parents around the province that those talks only revolved around process, not more entitlements.

You also started talking about the ministry envelope, not the wage envelope. Then, last week, you broke not one but three promises to parents: You opened up the legislated contracts, you caved on union demands, and your secret talks weren’t about process at all.

The question is: What is being sacrificed in order to pay for these new perks being promised?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: I wanted to take a moment to express my deepest sympathies to the families and friends of, actually, two former members of this Legislature: Peter Kormos, the former member from Welland, whom we have acknowledged today, and Robert Elgie, the former member from York East. Regardless of where we sit in this Legislature, I think we owe a debt of gratitude to each of these men who dedicated their lives to public service in the province of Ontario. My thoughts are with their loved ones, Mr. Speaker.

To the question from the member, Mr. Speaker, I would just say this: I was very clear during the leadership that the process that had been undertaken over the previous year had created fracture, had created, I think, a very difficult and disrespectful conversation between government and the education sector, and I was determined to rectify that. I will say more in my supplementary.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Ms. Lisa MacLeod: It’s estimated that the retirement gratuity alone is going to come in at about $63 million. That’s four elementary schools or two high schools in this province. That’s what’s happening, Mr. Speaker. Our $63-million figure came from consultation with school boards and others, and it’s an easy calculation based on the ministry’s own facts.

So if there’s nothing wrong with the deal that the government has now reopened and renegotiated and given more to, then why won’t they—I’ll tell you why, Speaker. They won’t because of this: They initially said there was no more money in the wage envelope. Then, when they made the secret deal, it became the ministry envelope. When it became clear that that meant taking more money from full-day kindergarten, textbooks, technology and what have you, they said they found efficiencies. When they realized after a decade in office that not one person in this province believes they could find efficiencies, they said they found miraculous saved money. No one believes that, Speaker.

If there is so much new money found in the education budget, why is the government willing to give away the money to unions when students and boards desperately need this money for technology, textbooks—

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

Interjections.

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

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. The money that was in the envelope that was negotiated under the first agreement, that was part of the deal, is the same money that is in the envelope today.

What I said, Mr. Speaker, is that there were implementation details, there were changes that needed to be made and that the money could be moved around. There is no new money in that collective agreement. There’s no new money in those contracts. The money has been moved around.

Here’s the reality, Mr. Speaker: We have reopened our respective dialogue with the education sector, and I know that there are schools in the member’s riding where extracurriculars are back on track, where kids are having the opportunity to take

part in extracurriculars—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): I guess asking for order is not enough, and I’ll just jump right to it. I will now be going after individuals.

Final supplementary.

Ms. Lisa MacLeod: Thank you, Speaker. If the Premier thinks that anybody in Ontario believes that this deal doesn’t cost anything, I have a power plant in Mississauga, and I’ll throw one in from Oakville just so that she can make the deal. Because that is just completely false.

You can’t increase retirement gratuities for sick days from 10 cents on the dollar to 25 cents on the dollar—that costs money; making sure that there are more unpaid days—that costs money. This Premier knows that there is more money being spent, but she won’t be truthful to the people.

The late, great Margaret Thatcher once said, “If you just set out to be liked, you will be prepared to compromise on anything at any time, and you will achieve nothing.” This Premier has achieved nothing for the residents and the students of this province. It is more about this Premier trying to help her electoral coalition with the Working Families coalition than anything else.

So I ask her again: What has this deal cost? Where is it going to be cut from in the rest of the ministry’s budget?

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Before I turn to the Premier, I’m going to ask the member to withdraw that comment.

Ms. Lisa MacLeod: I withdraw.

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

Premier?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: We’re not spending more. The money that’s in the contract is the same money that was in the contract when I came into this office.

I would ask the member opposite to talk to the kids who are practising for soccer. I would ask the member opposite to talk to the kids who are practising badminton, who are getting ready for their proms, who are getting ready for their graduations. I would ask the member opposite to talk to the teachers and the support staff who want to work with their kids, who want to work with government and who want to improve the education sector. I would ask the member opposite to go to some of her schools, look in the eyes of the kids who thought they weren’t going to be able to have a track season this year and ask them how they feel about the fact that they are going to have a track season.

That’s what this is about. It’s about those kids in the 5,000 publicly funded schools in this province who are going to have an enriched experience because we’re having a respectful dialogue with their teachers and support staff.

ONTARIO PUBLIC SERVICE

Mr. Peter Shurman: My question is also for the Premier. Premier, you’ve sent a very clear message to every union in the public service. That message is, “Don’t worry; we’ll take care of you no matter what it costs.”

There are about 4,000 union contracts in place or in negotiation with the Ontario government, as you know. A contract is a legal document that binds the parties to the articles in it, and by reopening them, you’ve hung out a giant sign saying “a contract doesn’t mean a blessed thing.”

So, after Bill 115 and the unwarranted hardship your Liberal approach placed on Ontario kids and their families, you spend tax dollars you really don’t have, you justify what you’ve done by playing a shell game with taxpayers, and now everything is just peachy. Does your new policy mean you are prepared to spend your way out of this mess? Is it your intention to buy union support in the next election by telling them to just come back for more?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: As I’ve said, the money that is in the contracts is the same money that was in the contracts when I came into this office.

To answer the member’s question, the message that I have sent—the message that we have sent to every student in this province, to every teacher, to every support staff and, I would say, to people in the public sector is that we want those services delivered, that we want to work with you, that we want a good rapport between us, because, Mr. Speaker, that’s in the best interests of students, it’s in the best interests of patients and it’s in the best interests of the people who receive the services that are delivered by the public service. I don’t think that having a conflict is any way to progress, is any way to create the conditions that are good for the kids in our schools.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Peter Shurman: You’re maintaining that the changes being made to teachers’ contracts won’t cost taxpayers any additional money. Where I come from, changing formulas that were there for sick days and special leave, among other things, carries a specific value, but, hey, if there’s still some spare money kicking around, you’ll just use that, right? Because last time I looked, we had a $12-billion deficit—more this year, I suspect—a debt of some $250 billion, we pay interest of about $11 billion per year, and that’s before you and the minister raise taxes.

Credit rating agencies were onside with the restraint approach your party has thrown out the window. You yourself have said that Ontario just plain has no money. Oh, I forgot: Taxpayers shelled out over a billion dollars for power plants that were never built.

Premier, am I missing something here, or have you borrowed a printing press from the mint?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: We were committed to finding savings of $1.8 billion in the teacher contracts. We have found savings of $1.8 billion. I would have thought that the member opposite would have been impressed by the reality that there was the possibility of making some changes within that envelope.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member from Renfrew will come to order.

Carry on.

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: I really believe the underlying issue is that we believe, on this side of the House, that it is possible to work with people. It is possible to find common ground with folks who are delivering the services in our schools, in our hospitals and in public services across government.

That’s what we’ve done since we came into office: We’ve worked with the people who deliver those services. This is just another example of that. Being able to have a respectful dialogue with the teachers and support staff in this province means that young people in our schools will do better.

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

Mr. Peter Shurman: The bottom line is that you simply cannot get away with this double-talk and nonsense. No one is buying it. Ontarians—

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member will withdraw.

Mr. Peter Shurman: Withdraw.

Ontarians will make you and your party pay for what you’ve done. You and your predecessor imposed contracts with some unions. You negotiated with others. Then you caved in to labour terrorism and turned contracts on their head after you had screwed up the year for hundreds of thousands of innocent children. Worse, you have thousands of contracts that, by these standards, can all be reopened if the unions don’t like them. What makes public service workers and your government so special and so different that the rules for every other taxpayer in Ontario do not apply? Your message to unions is this: peace at any price.

I challenge you to tell Ontarians how much their taxes are going up and why anyone should ever trust you or your government again.

Interjections.

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

The Minister of Citizenship, come to order, please.

Premier?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Just listening to the rhetoric, it’s hard to know where to start. But let me start here: My belief is that the work that we have done in education, the work that we have done in health care, the way that we have been able to improve the outcomes for people across the province, whether it’s in education or health care—that’s our legacy. It’s not about a particular political interaction. It’s not about a particular election. It’s not about whether our party is losing ground or not.

It’s about whether we are finding ways to provide opportunities for the young people in this province, to make sure that kids have extracurriculars and people have reduced wait-times in the health care system. That’s what it’s about.

That’s why I’m here. I’m not sure why the member opposite is here, but I’m here to make life better for people in Ontario.

Interjections.

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

New question.

CANCER TREATMENT

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Before I put my question to the Premier, I also, on behalf of New Democrats, want to mark the passing of Peter Kormos, who was a friend and a colleague, and give our condolences to his friends and family around the province, and to Bob Elgie as well. It’s tough when we lose these people. They’ve served a great number of years and have done the people’s work for many years. I just want to make sure that we’re acknowledging their passing.

My question is to the Premier. Last week, nearly 1,000 Ontarians found out that they were given the wrong cancer medication. This is a serious error that happened over the course of an entire year and affected hundreds upon hundreds of Ontarians. People need to be able to trust that our health care system works and that it works well.

What is the Premier going to do to provide that assurance to people?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: I agree with the member opposite that it’s unacceptable that doses of these chemotherapy drugs were not accurate.

At this time the hospitals have reached out to all of the patients affected. Every patient is different. As I said last week, I really encourage all the patients to be in touch with their oncologists and to have that conversation with their own doctors.

The Minister of Health is bringing together an expert panel to review the quality assurance, and I believe that group is meeting this afternoon. So we’re taking action very quickly. In addition, we will be appointing an independent third party to provide recommendations on this.

But our first concern is with the individual patients, that they have that conversation with their oncologist and make sure that their treatment is on track.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Ontarians want to know how this happened and how we can make sure that it never happens again. It’s clear that we need a real and truly independent look at what went wrong here. Will the Premier ask Ontario’s Ombudsman to conduct a full and transparent examination, with a clear timeline, of how nearly 1,000 people received the wrong cancer medication, and how we can make sure that it doesn’t happen again?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: I have said it is unacceptable that this happened. We have to get to the bottom of it. We absolutely have to understand how this happened and whether there’s a systemic aspect to this. We absolutely need to get there. The expert panel, as I said, is being pulled together. They’re meeting this afternoon. We do need an independent third party to review the situation. We will be announcing that independent review.

I agree with the leader of the third party that we have to get to the bottom of this. We need an independent look at it, and we are going to be putting that in place.

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

Ms. Andrea Horwath: The Ombudsman’s office has everything it needs in place right now to provide the systemic review that the Premier is talking about.

There are nearly 1,000 families that are wondering what went wrong, and they want to know what they can do—what we can do—to make sure that other people don’t have to face these same kinds of questions in the future. This means an investigation that doesn’t just look at the symptoms but actually gets to the root causes, and it means that the investigation has to be more than simply a review of quality assurance.

Will the Premier give the Ombudsman of Ontario a mandate to conduct a full investigation of how nearly 1,000 Ontarians were given the wrong cancer medication, why it happened and how we can prevent it from happening again?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Again, I completely agree that we need the experts; we need experts to look at this. The group that’s being pulled together, the expert panel—Cancer Care Ontario, hospital leaders, the College of Pharmacists, Health Canada—we need people who really understand the sector to get to the bottom of this.

Everyone in this Legislature and so many people across the province have been touched by cancer in their families or personally. We can all empathize with the families of the people who are involved, and with the patients.

So it is absolutely my determination that we will get to the bottom of this, that we will have expert recommendations, and that we will get to the root causes of what happened and whether this was an isolated incident or there is a systemic aspect to this. We have to find that out, and that’s what we will do.

TAXATION

Ms. Andrea Horwath: My next question is also to the Premier. Media reports last week indicate that the Premier is planning to move ahead with plans to implement a new corporate tax loophole that will allow Ontario’s largest corporations not to pay any HST on meals, entertainment, gasoline and a whole bunch of other expenses. Does the Premier think that makes sense in these tough economic times?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: I know that the Minister of Finance is going to want to speak to the specifics of what the leader of the third party is speaking about. There haven’t been those decisions made, so I’m not sure exactly what she is talking about.

We’re in the process of listening to people around the province, talking to them about what they think should be in the budget. I’ve had input from the leader of the third party, and I really appreciate that, and there are issues that we’re working on that have been raised by the leader of the third party.

But the reality is that the budget isn’t written yet, and we’ll be working diligently between now and the day that the Minister of Finance reads the budget in the House. I hope she’s here, and we will have a good discussion thereafter.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Tough times mean we have to make some tough decisions. The Premier says she’s open to the idea of new sales taxes and fees that are going to hit household budgets, and at the same time, she’s giving Ontario’s largest corporations a break on paying their HST.

The Premier says she wants a balanced approach. Does she believe it’s balanced to ask households to pay more while Ontario’s largest corporations get to pay less?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: I hear now the direction that the leader of the third party is going, and this is a question of whether we need to address the concerns of people around infrastructure and particularly transit in the greater Toronto and Hamilton area. I believe that we have a very urgent problem in terms of the ability of goods and people to move around this region.

I think the leader of the third party and I disagree on the way forward. I believe we need to continue building transit. I believe that we have to have a dedicated revenue stream to be able to fill in the gaps that have been left because of decades of neglect. We have been building transit since we came into office in 2003, in the GTHA and beyond. But if we don’t continue that in an ongoing way, if we don’t take the responsible step to make sure that there is a long-term plan, then we’ll miss a generation and we will be having this conversation 50 years hence, and I’m not up for that, Mr. Speaker.

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

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Speaker, we agree that there is certainly an urgent problem that we need to deal with: infrastructure, and transportation infrastructure particularly, in this province. But the new tax loophole the Premier is creating will let Ontario’s largest corporations stop paying HST on entertainment, on meals and on gasoline and other things, while families are being told that they’re going to have to pay more yet again in tough times by the Liberals. This is not fair, Speaker. It is not balanced. And for people dealing with tough times, it simply doesn’t make any sense.

Will the Premier commit to a balanced approach to balancing the books that starts with closing this tax loophole?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: We are committed to a balanced approach in writing the budget; we’ve said that over and over again. But part of that balanced approach is making sure that we make responsible investments in infrastructure, whether it’s roads and bridges in our rural and northern communities or whether it’s transit in the GTHA, transit in Kitchener-Waterloo, transit in Ottawa or transit in London, making sure that people have the transportation infrastructure across the province that they need to be able to move around.

It actually is the question, Mr. Speaker. The question is, are we willing to, yes, deal with our manufacturing sector, make sure our businesses have the supports they need, but at the same time, make sure that people can move around their region, that their transportation infrastructure is in place and that we have dedicated revenue streams in order to make that happen.

HYDRO RATES

Mr. Victor Fedeli: My question is for the Premier. Premier, your Liberal seat-saver gas plant scandal has finally come home to roost on the hydro bills of Ontarians. On Friday, we learned hydro bills for seniors, families and businesses are going up nearly 3%. On page 18 of the Ontario Energy Board’s report, this sentence details the latest hydro hike: “The cost of the turbine purchase that is part of the Oakville gas plant cancellation agreement is included in the forecast of global adjustment costs.”

Premier, can you tell us today, how much is the Oakville cancellation really adding to our hydro bills?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: To the Minister of Energy.

Hon. Bob Chiarelli: The opposition critic is speaking to the rates that the ratepayers pay. I have to say that over the last nine years, we have been investing in infrastructure, which is reflected over the ratepayers’ base. We have created 11,500 new megawatts of electricity. We have created 7,500 new kilometres of transmission, at a cost of $9 billion. We are investing in clean, reliable energy as we phase out dirty coal fuel generation.

The energy board sets electricity rates. It’s stable, predictable, and rates reflect the actual cost of energy, including the cost of new infrastructure. We have clean, reliable grids that our homes, businesses, schools and hospitals can rely on.

They left us a stranded debt, Mr. Speaker. They did not invest in infrastructure. We are investing in infrastructure. It’s reflected on the rate base, and we’ve been addressing that—

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

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member from Durham, this is the second time, and it’s the same thing that I keep reminding people to do. When I get quiet, that’s not the signal to go ahead and continue again.

And the member from Lambton is not in his seat.

Supplementary?

Mr. Victor Fedeli: Thank you, Speaker. Premier, I was hoping your minister would clarify if the Ontario Energy Board was referring to the $250-million payment that appeared on TransCanada’s year-end financials or if that payment is going to be something new.

Down at the justice committee, we’ve heard sworn testimony that puts the total for the gas plant cancellation up to $991 million. Yet, after the Ontario Power Authority’s JoAnne Butler confirmed that Oakville would cost hundreds of millions more than the $40 million you’ve clung to, you sit over there and shrug your shoulders.

Premier, if energy expert Bruce Sharp and OPA Vice-President JoAnne Butler could tell us how much more than $40 million this is going to cost, why can’t you tell us the total? Can you tell us how much more is going on the hydro bills of ordinary Ontarians, or do you need a little more time to get your stories straight?

Hon. Bob Chiarelli: Mr. Speaker, we feel it’s important that Ontarians have all the facts. That is why we asked the Auditor General to look into the cost, and he’s doing that. That’s why we extended the mandate of the committee. That’s why the committee is having ongoing witnesses to look into the situation.

But let’s listen to what Mayor McCallion had to say. “The people of Mississauga are fed up hearing all this controversy at Queen’s Park over something that they wanted cancelled, the government agreed to cancel it.... Come on. Let’s get on with the business of the province, folks.”

Mr. Speaker, that’s why a couple of weeks ago, I was in Niagara Falls to announce the opening of a new hydro generation facility that’s going to provide hydro to the province of Ontario for another 100 years. Clean, reliable energy, that’s what we’re all about. We have a committee that’s all about looking into this issue. Let’s deal with the business at hand and let the committee deal with the business—

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

MANUFACTURING JOBS

Ms. Catherine Fife: Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Premier. On Friday, when the Premier was asked about the 350 workers from A.O. Smith in Fergus who are losing their jobs, she said, “The problem with the manufacturing sector is that we haven’t celebrated it enough, we haven’t shone a light on it as much as we should.”

Since last year, Ontario has lost 25,000 manufacturing jobs, and in the past seven years, we’ve lost 300,000 manufacturing jobs. Will the Premier admit that the lack of celebrating isn’t the problem but rather that her only job creation plan is just to create more loopholes for corporations like the Royal Bank to lay off workers?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: To the Minister of Economic Development, Trade and Employment.

Hon. Eric Hoskins: Of course, I appreciate the question from the member opposite. I know that she would want to join me in expressing the obvious, which is that, in the case of Fergus and the job losses, our primary concern as a government is for the future of these individuals and their families who, unfortunately, are being laid off. So it’s important that all of us focus our efforts on helping these families that have been negatively impacted by the announcement of this closure.

I should add as well that the Premier, apart from being in Kitchener–Waterloo that day, the previous day spoke with the leadership in Fergus, spoke with the local member from Wellington–Halton Hills, as in fact did the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities.

This is an issue which is never easy, especially for a town like Fergus, which is dependent on this particular firm, I know, for more than 100 years. It’s an issue that we’re working closely on.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Ms. Catherine Fife: Well, the people of Fergus don’t need our sympathy; they need a plan. They need leadership. Last month, 17,000 more Ontarians found themselves without a job, and youth unemployment is almost double that of the workforce as a whole.

Instead of investing in jobs, the Premier seems more interested in creating new tax loopholes for Ontario’s wealthiest corporations so that they can cut the HST when they wine and dine. Ontarians want to see new job initiatives, especially for youth, instead of new HST loopholes for wealthy corporations.

Why is the Premier more interested in creating new tax loopholes than creating new jobs?

Hon. Eric Hoskins: There are so many parts to this supplementary, I’m not sure where you would like me to go on this.

I appreciate the fact that you were also at Communitech on Friday, when the Premier and myself were there, and Minister Milloy as well. We were engaging in—I think it was—the 11th jobs round table the Premier has had thus far across the province. We were engaging the business leadership, the community leadership and the local chambers to do exactly the sort of thing that the member opposite is asking us to do, which is to learn how the government can continue to support industries, whether it’s manufacturing or whether it’s start-ups like the more than 800 that are being supported through Communitech, which of course is being supported through the Ontario government.

We are concerned about job creation. We’ve created nearly 400,000 jobs since the bottom of the recession.

TEACHERS’ COLLECTIVE BARGAINING

Mr. Bas Balkissoon: Mr. Speaker, my question, through you, is to the Minister of Education. Since 2003, our government has made tremendous gains in education. Graduation rates and literacy rates are up. There are smaller class sizes, and full-day kindergarten for our youngest learners. But it is important to constituents in my riding that we continue to improve our education system and ensure stability in our schools.

My constituents have also heard in the news that we have made progress on agreement in principle with the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation. Mr. Speaker, through you, can the minister please update the House on the progress made with our secondary school partners?

Hon. Liz Sandals: I’d like to thank the member for Scarborough–Rouge River for this very important question.

Our government has been having positive collaborative discussions with our education partners, both unions and school boards, over the past few weeks, and those have been successful. We have reached an agreement in principle with the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation and the public school boards and the more than 60,000 members that that represents in terms of secondary teachers. The agreement resolves implementation concerns identified in a number of areas. Those include sick leave, maternity leave, retirement gratuity, unpaid days and local bargaining.

But it’s important to know that I’ve been very clear that this fits within the ministry’s envelope. In fact, the $1.8 billion in savings that was announced by the previous finance minister in January is still $1.8 billion in savings.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Bas Balkissoon: Once again, my question is to the Minister of Education. I’m pleased that our government has reached an agreement in principle with OSSTF. It is important that we continue to work with our partners in education so that our students can succeed. It is important to everyone in my riding that no new money is spent and that we remain within the funding envelope for these agreements.

I also understand that our government is having ongoing discussions with our elementary partners. Mr. Speaker, through you to the minister, can she please provide an update on the ongoing discussions with the elementary teachers?

Hon. Liz Sandals: I’m pleased to report on the progress that we’re making with all of our education partners. We’ve actually come a long way with both the elementary and secondary teachers’ federations, and both have now agreed to lift their ban on extracurriculars, which is great for the students.

As ETFO announced last week, we’ve come to an understanding with ETFO, the elementary teachers’ federation, on a number of issues. We’re going to continue to work with them this week, working towards a final agreement, and I’m confident and optimistic that we will be able to come to an agreement with our elementary teachers as well.

We believe that positive, collaborative conversations with all of our education partners are important, not just to the teachers, the support staff and the school boards involved but also to the parents and to the children.

MANUFACTURING JOBS

Mr. Ted Arnott: My question is for the Premier. Last week’s jobs report showed that in March we lost 24,000 manufacturing jobs. And on Friday, while visiting Kitchener, when asked about the job losses, the Premier said, “We’re trending in the right direction.”

I wish she’d been in Fergus last Thursday, as I was, to see the faces of the A.O. Smith—formerly GSW—workers, 350 of whom had learned the day before that they were losing their jobs.

My question to the Premier is this: How could she possibly say we’re trending in the right direction when so many people are losing their jobs?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: I want to address this question, because I did say that, and I was talking about in general. I was talking about February, I was talking about previous months, and I was talking about the reality that since the depth of the recession, we have increased jobs in Ontario by more than 380,000. That is a very good record.

But the reality is I did speak to the member last week about the situation in Fergus. I spoke to the mayor of Fergus. We’re in the process of setting up workers’ reception centres and making sure that we put the supports in place.

Of course, my heart goes out to families. I know that there are some families where both of the adults in the family worked in that plant, and it’s a very difficult transition and a difficult situation for families.

But the reality is that we are working very hard to put the conditions in place so that more jobs will come to the province, and that is the trend about which I was talking.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Ted Arnott: Mr. Speaker, eight years ago I stood in this House again and again and urged the government to assign the finance committee the task of undertaking public hearings on the competitiveness issues facing our manufacturers. I envisioned us working together to develop a plan for action to strengthen our industries, but the government steadfastly refused.

In the past eight years, Ontario has lost 300,000 manufacturing jobs. Again, last week the Premier also suggested that the loss of manufacturing jobs is a myth. If the Premier had come to my riding last week, she would have discovered that the loss of manufacturing jobs is not a myth; it is real.

How much longer will our manufacturing sector bleed good jobs before this government wakes up and takes effective action?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Minister of Economic Development, Trade and Employment.

Hon. Eric Hoskins: Thank you for that question. I have to say that, of course, the closure of A.O. Smith, as I mentioned a few minutes ago, is something which is extremely difficult for the individuals employed there and families employed there. This is a company that has been around for, I think, about 120 years if not more. In fact, my own uncle worked at Beattie Brothers, as it used to be known as, for 50 years. He started newly employed and worked his way up so he was running a form into the sheet metal.

We’ve set up an action centre to work with those individuals—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): I will consider that completed.

New question.

CASINOS

Mr. Michael Prue: My question is to the Premier. Communities across this province are not being given a chance to have a say in the decision on whether to host casinos or not. To make matters worse, there is total confusion on revenue-sharing mechanisms.

Today, the mayor of Toronto, Rob Ford, in his open letter, states that Toronto will profit up to $150 million annually from casino revenue-sharing alone. The Premier met with Mayor Ford. He obviously thinks he has a deal, yet Ontarians are in the dark on casino revenue-sharing formulas.

Does Mayor Ford have a deal from this Premier?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: First of all, people around the province have got the opportunity to have a say in whether they want a casino in their communities. Municipalities will make those decisions. The province is not going to make those decisions. Municipalities will, and municipal councils are required to do a consultation with their constituencies.

The letter that the member opposite refers to that was put out by Mayor Ford is what it is. I have no idea where the numbers come from; they are not numbers with which I’m familiar. You’ll have to speak to Mayor Ford about where those numbers come from because they are nothing with which I am familiar.

As I said, every municipality is going to have to make this decision in consultation with its residents about whether they want a casino in their jurisdiction or not.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Michael Prue: Back to the Premier: It’s very clear that this province has a plan to force casinos on communities, even those that don’t want them, but there’s no plan to share with Ontarians exactly what the deal is. Mayor Ford, in his open letter, has already started to look at how he wants to use the $150 million, even though we have no idea what other communities will get. Keeping communities in the dark, as this government is doing, is not the right approach.

Will the Premier finally come clean and let communities know what will be the revenue-sharing agreement for casinos in Toronto and everywhere else?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: I have tried to be as clear as possible. Municipalities will choose whether they want to have a casino or not, and they will do that in consultation with their constituents—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member from Bruce–Grey–Owen Sound, the member from Northumberland, the member from Hamilton East–Stoney Creek, come to order.

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: A couple of weeks ago, I said that the formula that applies in terms of the revenue across the province is going to be the same, that it is going to be a fair formula, and there will be no special deals for one jurisdiction, Toronto or any other jurisdiction; I was very clear about that.

As for the numbers that are in a letter that one mayor has released to the media, I have no knowledge of those numbers. I have no way of verifying those numbers, and you will have to speak to Mayor Ford to find out where he got those numbers from. They are not numbers that originated with us.

STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES

Mr. Grant Crack: My question today is for the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities. College and university students in my riding of Glengarry–Prescott–Russell, like so many across the province, face significant academic and social pressures that can negatively impact their mental health and well-being. One in five of Ontario’s young people experience mental health issues, such as anxiety, depression, schizophrenia and eating disorders.

Minister, you’ve mentioned in this House that you have been engaged in consultations with various post-secondary partners on mental health, and I’m pleased to hear that your ministry and our government are taking mental health and our students very seriously. Early identification and intervention of mental health issues are vital to giving students the help and support they need to succeed both on and off the campus.

Speaker, through you to the minister: Could he inform this House of what the government is doing to help ensure that post-secondary students have access to the mental health services that they require?

Hon. Brad Duguid: The fact is that while most of us recall our post-secondary days as a positive time, it is also a very stressful time for young people. Think about it: It’s often the first time a young person is away from home. They’re dealing with the stresses of everyday student life, including exam time. Now imagine putting those stresses together with some form of mental illness that may have just been diagnosed. That’s pretty challenging.

Those students need our support, and that’s why I was very pleased to announce that our new government will be investing $12.3 million as part of a $27-million, three-year commitment to provide support for students dealing with mental health issues. Ten projects, spanning from Niagara to Thunder Bay, have been approved in round one of the Mental Health Innovation Fund. This is a team approach involving partnerships with colleges and universities, student associations and local mental health providers, who have all stepped up to make this important program happen.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Grant Crack: Thank you, Minister, for your response. It’s great to hear that our government prioritizes our students’ mental health and well-being. Students in my riding and in campuses across Ontario believe that mental health services are an important part of creating healthy campuses, so I’m sure that they will welcome this announcement.

You mentioned that through the Mental Health Innovation Fund, students will have improved access to the services and supports that will help them lead happier and healthier lives. Students in my riding of Glengarry–Prescott–Russell want to know what kinds of programs and services will be available to them on campus. Speaker, through you: Could the minister inform the House of some of the ways in which the Mental Health Innovation Fund will truly improve mental health services and outcomes for Ontario’s post-secondary students?

Hon. Brad Duguid: I’d be delighted to do that. Our government has announced that the Kids Help Phone line will be up and operating, likely by the fall. That will offer a province-wide hotline to be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year to college and university students.

In addition to the health line, there are the 10 projects that I mentioned previously. For example, there will be a centre where all institutions will be able to access expert advice to better help students with complex mental health needs; 2,500 college and university community members across the province will be trained to identify and address mental health issues earlier; and a partnership with northern colleges will help tackle the challenges of providing support and services in northern communities and other projects that will help address challenges for aboriginal students.

These important investments will enhance supports for students dealing with mental health issues and help those students continue to learn and succeed throughout Ontario.

TAXATION

Mr. Michael Harris: My question is to the Premier. I want to go over some recent developments with your government’s eco tax system. Last year, the environment minister approved huge eco tax hikes on electronics, some as much as 1,000%. In January, he created a new regulation to send eco taxes on tires through the roof, with some fees increasing by more than 2,000%. But he wasn’t done there; in February, he approved yet another massive eco tax hike on big-screen TVs. Now the environment minister claims that he doesn’t know why there are eco taxes.

I’m seeking some clarification from you today, Premier. Last week you said that businesses and consumers need to understand that these taxes are the cost of dealing with waste. Is that still your position?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Minister of the Environment.

Hon. James J. Bradley: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker—

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Member from Oxford, come to order.

Interjection.

Hon. James J. Bradley: I’m delighted to be able to—

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Excuse me.

Some people just keep talking; they don’t even hear that I’ve asked them to come to order. The member from Oxford, come to order.

Minister of the Environment?

Hon. James J. Bradley: The first thing the member will want to do is correct his leader. I know that’s a difficult thing to do. You get into trouble for correcting your leader, Mr. Hudak, who referred to this as a tax, as though somehow, the Ontario government gets even a penny of it.

Interjection.

Hon. James J. Bradley: He knows that’s true, so he will want to correct his leader in that regard. He knows that these fees—

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member from Leeds–Grenville, come to order.

Hon. James J. Bradley: —are established by the private sector organization.

I happen to believe, and I hope he agrees with me, that they don’t have to include this as a separate “eco tax,” for instance, as you call it, or fee. They don’t do that if there’s an increase in the minimum wage, if there’s an increase to the cost of transportation, if there’s an increase in the cost of rent. That’s simply part of doing business, and they should be innovative in including that inside that cost of doing business.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Michael Harris: Minister, they charge these eco taxes because you signed off and allowed them to do so. I’ll send over to you this letter that you signed.

Premier, I hope you can understand why I’m actually seeking the clarification. I was hoping for an answer from you earlier. After all, you yourself admitted last week that Ontarians need more clarification on the Liberal eco tax system. So let’s recap. After your environment minister rubber-stamped a series of new eco tax hikes, he suddenly developed a case of selective amnesia before going on the radio. In fact, it was so bad that while he was on the air, he claimed to not even know why eco taxes are imposed on consumers and vowed to eliminate them. However, the next day, you told Ontarians that these taxes are just the cost of dealing with waste.

Premier, who should Ontarians believe—you or your environment minister, who suddenly forgot it was the Liberals who created these eco taxes?

Hon. James J. Bradley: First of all, this is a fee that is applied to products or producers, not consumers. That’s on producers, I can say.

Second, I want to say that I think the member has identified a problem—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The frustration that I’m having is that as soon as I sit down, or as I’m standing up, getting quiet, people just keep chirping. It is very frustrating. Particularly, it’s the same people I keep asking, and then I get the eyes looking at me as if I’m the problem.

Minister?

Hon. James J. Bradley: The fee, as I was saying, is on producers; it’s not on consumers.

Now, having said that, I think the member has identified a problem. The problem is the legislation that was passed by the Conservative government in the year 2002. We are going to change that legislation—

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

ANIMAL PROTECTION

Ms. Cheri DiNovo: My question is to the Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services. Last year the minister promised action to protect marine mammals and other animals at Marineland. The only action that has happened since then is that Marineland has sued former trainers, who are here today in attendance. They’re the whistle-blowers who originally brought attention to the animal abuse at Marineland. So I ask, when will the minister take real action to end animal abuse at Marineland?

Hon. Madeleine Meilleur: Thank you very much for this excellent question. I’ll say to you that in Ontario, there’s no place for animal abuse, and this government is going to take every step to make sure that this does not happen.

That’s why recently I launched—last October I announced that our ministry will begin consultation on a three-point plan that seeks to improve province-wide enforcement of the OSPCA Act and strengthen governance to create new regulations to further protect marine mammals in captivity and to explore options for the licensing of zoos and aquariums.

The consultation has been going very well. We make sure that everyone who needs to be consulted or wants to give us their opinion are giving us their opinions and that we’re meeting with them.

In the supplementary, I’ll go on in detail.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Ms. Cheri DiNovo: I’m glad the consultation is going well, because it’s not going well for Phil and Christine here, for the animals at Marineland, and it hasn’t been going well for over 10 years. For over 10 years, we’ve had examples of abuse brought forward. The Toronto Star has covered examples of abuse for over 10 years.

Animal protection agencies have filed actions against John Holer and Marineland, and yet absolutely nothing has been done to protect the animals or the humans who care for them.

Eighty-five thousand people have signed a petition demanding action, Mr. Speaker. When will the minister finally act—not consult, act—to protect animals at Marineland and the former employees who have risked everything to speak out about them?

Hon. Madeleine Meilleur: Monsieur Speaker, on this side of the House, we believe in consultation. We believe in reaching out to the people and asking them to give us their opinion. That’s why our partners wanted to meet with us. We have the OSPCA. We have the Canadian council on animal welfare. We have the Ontario Veterinary College. We have the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies. We have Zoocheck. We have the inter-ministerial partnership—and I can go on. We wanted to hear from them. We reviewed the legislation in 2009. This legislation had not been reviewed since the passage of the legislation in 1919.

When that party was in power, they did nothing. This party is the only party that’s going to move forward to make sure we have the proper legislation to protect these animals.

AUTISM SERVICES

Ms. Helena Jaczek: My question is for the Minister of Children and Youth Services. Last week, when members were in their respective ridings, an important day was commemorated across Ontario. World autism day was held on April 2, with events in communities across the province.

Autism spectrum disorder, or ASD, is having a growing impact in Ontario, with roughly one in 88 children being diagnosed with this disorder.

In my riding of Oak Ridges–Markham, we are very fortunate to be served by the York region

chapter of Autism Ontario, whose members I’ve met with many times.

World autism day increases awareness of ASD and has helped the South Asian community in Markham raise funds for their autism awareness centre.

My question is, in light of last week’s event, Minister, can you tell me what our government is doing to make combatting autism a priority?

Hon. Teresa Piruzza: I’d like to thank the member from Oak Ridges–Markham for this important question and for bringing forward that last week was world autism day. I was very pleased to be able to attend the flag-raising back home in Windsor last week on world autism day. The day, of course, is a day to celebrate the achievements of people living with autism and the front-line workers, advocates and professionals who support them. Together, we have broadened the range of provincial supports and services that help young people with autism develop independence, communications and living skills.

As well, as our understanding of autism continues to grow and we learn more about it, we’re better able to nurture the gifts of children and youth with autism.

Moving forward, we are determined to build off of our progress and make further advances for young people with autism and their families.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Ms. Helena Jaczek: It’s certainly clear to me and my constituents that supporting children with autism is a priority for our government. But as the minister said, we can always do more.

I’ve heard from parents in my riding who have questions about the Intensive Behavioural Intervention program. They are asking for more transparency in the way decisions in the program are made.

At the same time, we know that new information about ASD is coming forward all the time. As we learn more about autism, the way we deliver services must change as well.

Minister, I know that your ministry is focused on enhancing services. Can you tell my constituents what you are doing to improve services, and IBI in particular?

Hon. Teresa Piruzza: Thank you, again. Yes, I will agree that our ministry is very focused on this issue in terms of developing our programs and improving our programs, and I am pleased to speak to some of those changes that we’ve made within the ministry.

In December 2012, we established an arm’s-length committee which is providing important expert advice to inform future policy design and program development. As we learn more, we need to change our programs and we need to continue to evolve with our families and our partners.

Also in December 2012, we established the Independent Review Mechanism for the Autism Intervention Program. This review mechanism now allows families to request an independent review of decisions made regarding their child’s eligibility for, or discharge from, intensive behavioural intervention. We heard from parents, loud and clear, that this was a priority. By listening to parents, experts and service providers, we continue to improve autism services.

SKILLED TRADES

Mr. Garfield Dunlop: My question is for the Premier. Premier, today your unwanted and unnecessary College of Trades begins its commitment to the tradespeople of Ontario who currently hold a certificate of qualification in a particular trade—that, according to a letter sent out by the chair of the board of governors. Tradespeople will now see a 676% tax increase on their membership fee from the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities to the Ontario College of Trades, where they will receive absolutely no new benefits.

Premier, could you give us a date and a time frame when those new members of the College of Trades will get an opportunity to vote on who will represent them on the board of governors of the College of Trades?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities.

Hon. Brad Duguid: The one thing the member is correct in is that the College of Trades is fully operational as of today, which is good news for people in the skilled trades, who will now have a voice of their own.

I guess my question to the member is—it is going to be operational as of today; the decision was made some time ago. Why is the member still trying to tear down the skilled trades? Why does he not believe that they deserve an independent voice? Why does he not think people in the skilled trades deserve a voice like doctors have, that nurses have and that teachers have?

On this side of the House, we respect the people in the skilled trades. We have confidence in their ability to very much govern themselves and make decisions that impact their sector. I don’t understand for the life of me why the member has so little confidence in people in the skilled trades.

Mr. Garfield Dunlop: Minister, tens of thousands of Ontario tradespeople are outraged by the horrible communications, by the greedy tax grab on the membership tax and by the complete lack of transparency by your new College of Trades. It is quickly becoming a boondoggle of a magnitude similar to Ornge or the power plant closures.

For example, do the regular people know that the HST alone on the new yearly membership is only $4.40 less than the cost of the complete fee under the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities? That’s from $20 to $15.60 for the HST. Also, it is now mandatory for tradespeople to join the College of Trades. They have to join the College of Trades or they’ll lose their licence. It’s mandatory.

I’m going to ask you this slowly: When will tradespeople be able to vote on their own chair and members who sit on the board of governors? It’s a simple question. What’s the date that they will be able to—

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Minister?

Hon. Brad Duguid: Incorrect facts in the member’s question, and I don’t have time in the minute that I have to address them, all those incorrect facts. I’m happy, Mr. Speaker, in debate later on in the week to do that one at a time.

I think, really, what we need to know now is why would the member in the PC Party be against enhanced consumer protection for Ontario families when it comes to hiring people in the skilled trades? I think the question that Ontarians need to know and people in the skilled trades need to know is, why would you be opposed to better protection on unfair competition in the underground economy for people in the skilled trades and Ontario families? Why would the member be opposed to empowering this sector to make its own decisions?

I have confidence and this government has confidence in the leaders in our skilled trades sector. We have a lot more confidence in their judgment than we do in the judgment of the member opposite.

That’s why we’re supporting the skilled trades with their own college—

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

CANCER TREATMENT

Ms. Teresa J. Armstrong: My question is to the Minister of Health. On Friday I called on the Minister of Health to do the right thing and allow the Ontario Ombudsman to investigate how cancer patients in my riding and across the province were given diluted chemotherapy drugs. Out of the approximately 1,200 people affected, 665 were from London.

The people of my riding and the minister’s riding are not hearing the answers they need from those who are supposed to be in charge, and they are beginning to lose faith. Will the minister agree to do the right thing and ask the Ombudsman to investigate how things could have gone so wrong?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: Patients deserve answers; their loved ones deserve answers. I can assure you that we will not rest until we have answers to those very legitimate questions that all of us have: What happened in this case? Why did it take a year to discover the problem? How can we ensure that this never happens again? We also have to ask the question: Are there broader cancer drug supply system challenges that have come to light in this situation?

Speaker, we have the best cancer system in the world. We have the best cancer survival rates in the world. We have a lot to be proud of. But we must be ever vigilant; we must always make it stronger. I commit to the member opposite and to all Ontarians that we will get answers and we will share those answers.

MEMBERS’ BIRTHDAYS

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): A very reliable birdie has indicated to me that we have a few members in this House who deserve our attention. The member from Wellington–Halton Hills, the member from Simcoe–Grey and this Speaker share a birthday. Happy birthday.

There are no deferred votes. This House stands recessed until 1 p.m.

The House recessed from 1142 to 1300.

MEMBERS’ STATEMENTS

YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS

Ms. Lisa MacLeod: I’d like to speak directly to the grade 4 students in Carol Ann Aubrey’s class at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton school in Barrhaven, not too far from my constituency office. They’re watching from their classroom today as students, but they deserve big congratulations from this assembly, because they’re also entrepreneurs.

This Friday, April 12, the students will celebrate the launch of an entrepreneurial project as part of the Learning Partnership’s 2013 Entrepreneurial Adventure. The students have undertaken research with local businesses and unemployed youth to address gaps faced by job seekers and employers through their very own hiring guide. The profits from sales will be donated to Big Brothers and Big Sisters.

This is very impressive for a grade 4 class, and for that I congratulate them, Speaker, because I think you can agree that they are going to be using the skills they have adopted during this process into the 21st century. This Friday, I’m looking forward to attending their launch with other business leaders in the community. But until then, I wanted to let them know that on behalf of this assembly, the residents of Nepean–Carleton congratulate them and want to encourage them to keep going.

So, kids, have a great day, listen to your teacher and I look forward to seeing you on Friday. Have a great day.

PETER KORMOS

Ms. Cindy Forster: On March 30, 2013, the Welland riding, the Niagara region and constituents across this province lost a friend, a colleague, a mentor and a fiercely outspoken advocate committed to the values of equity, fairness and justice.

Peter Kormos represented his constituents and the people of this province for more than a quarter of a century as a city councillor, an MPP and, finally, a regional councillor, and he represented them well. His loyalty to his constituents was unwavering, and theirs to him.

He was an eloquent orator, an intellect and well read, and he used these attributes and skills to provoke controversy and ensure good public debate. As the NDP labour critic and the NDP House leader, he served us well. His command of parliamentary rules and procedure was second to none, and his challenges were rarely overruled.

On picket lines across this province year after year, he defended the rights of workers. He lifted their spirits on their lowest days, telling them to be proud of their strengths and courage, and not to apologize for trying to have a better life for their families.

I’ve encountered hundreds of people over this past week, from a public school teacher to his Cub leader—imagine that; Peter Kormos was a Cub—to the organizations that he helped. And every day for the 18 months I’ve been here, a day has not gone by that somebody— from the maintenance and cleaning people to the Attorney General—hasn’t asked me, “How is Peter Kormos?”

Peter wouldn’t want us to be sad about his passing. He would want us to spend this time continuing to fight for fair and equitable access to public health care without having to use your credit card, for affordable public auto insurance, for improved health and safety, for good collective bargaining processes, for a living wage for all and for improvements to human rights. He may not be with us here today in body, but he’ll continue to inspire all of us for years to come.

Rest peacefully, my friend.

Je suis surtout très fier que l’École secondaire catholique Béatrice-Desloges, située à Orléans, soit parmi les trois écoles ciblées pour ce programme novateur. On y trouve aussi l’École secondaire catholique Franco-Cité et l’École secondaire catholique Pierre-Savard.

Comme le mentionnaient MM. André Ouellette, président du conseil, Bernard Roy, directeur général du conseil, et Mario Lajoie, responsable du programme au conseil, ce programme permettra de répondre à la demande croissante de permis d’études d’élèves étrangers. Il nous permettra aussi de faire rayonner la francophonie d’ailleurs dans nos écoles et surtout de faire rayonner la francophonie ontarienne à l’échelle internationale.

Merci, monsieur le Président.

CAMBRIDGE WINTER HAWKS

Mr. Rob Leone: It gives me great pleasure today to inform members of this Legislature that the Cambridge Winter Hawks are the Cherrey Cup champions. This past week—

Applause.

Mr. Rob Leone: I think it does deserve a round of applause.

The GOHL Midwestern Junior B title was contested in front of 1,300 fans at the historic Galt Arena Gardens, and it was the home side that came out on top. Cody Gratton found the net twice, while Nick Caldwell stopped all 27 shots he faced to seal a 4-0 victory in a 4-1 series win over the Stratford Cullitons.

I’d also like to apologize to the members from Perth–Wellington and Kitchener–Conestoga. I know this had to be a particularly heartbreaking month of playoff hockey for the two MPPs, with the teams from Stratford, Elmira and Kitchener no match for the team from Cambridge. However, I encourage them and the rest of my colleagues to get behind the Winter Hawks as they continue their run to the Sutherland Cup.

ELECTRICITY SUPPLY

Ms. Sarah Campbell: This past week, I visited seven remote First Nations communities in my riding. The single biggest concern of the places I visited is access to affordable and reliable energy. The reality for many of these communities is that electricity is created by burning diesel fuel in generators. This future success of these communities depends on their access to a reliable and affordable power supply, yet these communities cannot keep up with demand as their capacity is limited by how much fuel they can transport in during the short winter road season.

Most remote First Nations communities are prohibited from building more houses to ease their housing shortage, which is already at a crisis level; building new schools that are healthy and mould-free; and upgrading their water and sewer systems to address serious environmental concerns, all because of the limitations of their electricity system.

Remote First Nations communities aren’t alone; communities like Red Lake and Pickle Lake face ongoing supply and reliability issues when it comes to power as well.

When communities approach the provincial government and ask to have their basic needs addressed, they are told to present a business case, which begs the question: Why do we in northwestern Ontario have to present a business case to convince the provincial government to invest in basic infrastructure such as electricity, when every other area of the province is afforded this basic right? Are we not equal citizens in the province of Ontario?

COPTIC COMMUNITY

Ms. Dipika Damerla: Saturday, April 6, marked a historic day for Canada and Mississauga when Canada’s Coptic Orthodox Christian community got its first bishop ever. In a church overflowing with the faithful, the air full of anticipation of this historic first, His Grace Bishop Mina was enthroned for the newly established Coptic Orthodox Diocese, which includes western Ontario and western Canada, serving over 10,000 people.

Bishop Mina, appointed by His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, becomes the first Coptic bishop to take office in Canada. It is indeed a matter of pride for Canadian Coptics that the community is now large enough to merit a bishop—a pride that I could see in the eyes of the community at the service. That the first Canadian Coptic bishop will serve out of Mississauga is evidence of Mississauga’s pride of place in the Coptic community.

As a Mississauga MPP, I feel privileged to represent this vibrant and remarkably successful community. I feel particularly grateful to have been invited to the historic ceremony enthroning His Grace Bishop Mina. Divine, moving and beautiful, it was hard not to feel the weight of history on Saturday evening.

I once again congratulate the Canadian Coptic community.

SPRINGWATER PROVINCIAL PARK

Mr. Jim Wilson: I rise today after attending a rally on the weekend about the Wynne government’s recent closure of Springwater Provincial Park. I would like to begin by thanking Dale Goldhawk from AM740, Zoomer Radio, for his presence at the rally, and Les Stewart from the Springwater Park Citizens’ Coalition for organizing the event. Both Dale and Les have been integral in keeping pressure on the Wynne government to allow the Springwater park to remain open.

The loss of this unique resource in our community has been immense. In fact, in recent months I’ve been inundated with emails, letters and petitions from concerned residents and local councils who share this sentiment. For example, here’s an excerpt from one of the many letters I have received.

Carol from Wasaga Beach writes: “This park is a gem that we the people of Ontario cannot afford to lose. The fact that this park is the only provincial park … with a wildlife sanctuary for injured or orphaned animals native to Canada, it houses a World War I cenotaph dedicated to the Vespra Boys, and is located just outside Barrie (one of the fastest-growing cities in Ontario) should be reason enough to overturn your decision!”

I’m pleased that the new minister, David Orazietti, recently gave me a phone call and said he supports reopening the initiative to explore options that will allow the park to remain open. I look forward to these discussions in the weeks ahead, and I know the minister will keep his word to keep an open mind. In the meantime, as the park is now closed, I urge the government to reconsider their decision and give us more time to come up with all the available options.

MAPLE LEAF FOODS

Mr. Bob Delaney: It’s time to talk about jobs and to welcome and recognize one of western Mississauga’s newer corporate citizens, Maple Leaf Foods, now located in our ever-more-vibrant Meadowvale neighbourhood. Maple Leaf is Canada’s largest meat, meals and bakery company, with 2011 sales of $4.9 billion and operating earnings of $259 million. We know the firm through such brands as Dempster’s, Schneiders, Olivieri, Tenderflake and, of course, Maple Leaf.

Like many leading Ontario companies, Maple Leaf got smarter and more efficient as the value of the Canadian dollar rose against the US currency and as the world coped with the recent recession. Like other leading Ontario companies, they’ve become more competitive, less complex and more export-oriented. In Ontario, Maple Leaf operates 38 plants with 8,900 employees and $2.8 billion in direct economic benefits.

Maple Leaf has transformed itself by closing older and outdated facilities and opening new state-of-the-art centres like the $12-million ThinkFOOD! centre in Meadowvale, where the company learns what its consumers in retail and in the food and restaurant business think and want. With upgrades in capital spending planned or in progress across Ontario, Maple Leaf is another Ontario company building our province, our communities, and our citizens’ high-value careers.

TIRE DISPOSAL

Mr. Ernie Hardeman: Last week my colleagues and I were out meeting with farmers. We heard they are frustrated that once again this government has implemented a policy that negatively impacts them, with no consultation. This time it’s the massive increase in eco fees for agriculture tires. The government approved fees that will download millions onto farmers, with no consultation or understanding of the impact on our rural economy. The fees on a single tire can be over $1,000.

I’ve been contacted by hundreds of farmers concerned about the costs. The Ontario Federation of Agriculture said, “It’s a drastic price increase that will be detrimental to Ontario farm businesses and the rural communities they support. The increase is all the more devastating because it has come as a surprise. There were no opportunities for the public” or the OFA “to comment on these increases.”

We launched a petition which is being signed by people across Ontario. We put forward proposals to lower the cost. The Ontario Federation of Agriculture is meeting with the OTS. Why isn’t the government taking action? The Premier acknowledged the problem weeks ago. She could have fixed it, but instead, on April 1, the new fees went into effect, and every day farmers across Ontario are getting hit with these massive fees.

Our farmers need a Minister of Agriculture who will stand up with them. They need a government that will consult with them before making policies that impact them and cost them millions of dollars. And they need these massive increases in the cost of agriculture tires reversed.

I thank you very much for allowing me to bring this statement forward.

NOTICE OF DISSATISFACTION

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Pursuant to standing order 38(a), the member for Kitchener–Conestoga has given notice of his dissatisfaction with the answer to his question given by the Minister of the Environment concerning eco taxes. This matter will be debated tomorrow at 6 p.m.

INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Introduction of bills? Introduction of bills? Finally, introduction of bills.

Motions?

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Slow off the handle. You forgot you did all that writing, the member from Bramalea–Gore–Malton.

Mr. Jagmeet Singh: Mr. Speaker, thank you very much for recognizing me.

CONSUMER PROTECTION

AMENDMENT ACT

(MONEY TRANSFERS), 2013 /

LOI DE 2013 MODIFIANT

LA

LOI SUR LA PROTECTION

DU CONSOMMATEUR

(TRANSFERTS DE FONDS)

Mr. Singh moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 47,

An Act to amend the Consumer Protection Act, 2002 with respect to money transfers / Projet de loi 47, Loi modifiant la Loi de 2002 sur la protection du consommateur en ce qui concerne les transferts de fonds.

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.

Mr. Jagmeet Singh: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I was paying attention this time.

This bill essentially has three components. It seeks to limit the fees that money transferors may charge to a consumer to 5%, to cap those fees at 5%. It also requires disclosure of all the fees that are being paid—whether they’re transfer pays, whether they’re fees, whether they’re exchange rate fees—to require transparency; and also to have an enforcement component.

I have to say, Mr. Speaker, that ACORN of Canada has been integral to making this bill possible. They’ve seen that many communities across Ontario are sending money internationally, and much of the money they’re sending is caught up in fees. They’re not being able to send all that money to those who need the money in, often, developing countries.

This is a bill that would seek to protect those consumers, to add some level of fairness, to ensure that the folks who are worse off in the world are receiving the funds that they’re entitled to.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

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

I will offer another round: introduction of bills?

STATEMENTS BY THE MINISTRY

AND RESPONSES

HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL DAY

Hon. Eric Hoskins: Mr. Speaker, today, we mark Yom ha-Shoah, Holocaust Memorial Day. This is a day to remember the more than six million Jews who were killed in the death camps and ghettos of Nazi-occupied Europe. It’s a time for us to stop, to mourn and to remember the men, women and children who perished. We think of the families that were torn apart, and the talents, the hopes and the dreams that were lost when they perished.

But our memory of them, Mr. Speaker, and our memory of their struggle did not perish. Holocaust Memorial Day is a time to pay tribute to all those who fought, all who suffered and all who died.

We think, too, of those who survived, those who emerged from the darkness, who bore witness and who told the world of all that had happened there. Through them, we learn not only of the horror but also of the bravery of resisters. We also remember and honour today the righteous Gentiles or the Righteous Among the Nations, who, acting on their own initiative, risked their lives, their freedom and their safety to save Jews during the Holocaust—not because they had to, but because it was the right thing to do.

Mr. Speaker, this month also marks the 70th anniversary of the Jewish uprising in the Warsaw ghetto of Poland. Yesterday, I was honoured to attend the Yom ha-Shoah Holocaust commemoration with a number of my colleagues in Vaughan. There, we heard a very difficult but also moving recount of that uprising from a survivor of the Warsaw ghetto.

On April 19, 1943, a group of Jewish fighters—men, women, boys and girls—stood up against their enemy. For nearly one month, they fought heroically and magnificently against insurmountable odds. In the end, they fought with dignity and died with honour. The Warsaw ghetto uprising was the first urban uprising in German-occupied Europe, and news of their brave resistance inspired others as it spread. They were an inspiration then and remain so today for all who fight tyranny and oppression.

It was this same strength of spirit that helped Holocaust survivors rebuild their lives once the war was over. Today, we give thanks to those survivors who made their way to Ontario and to Canada and who have, through their many contributions, enriched the cultural fabric of our great province. Ontario has gained immeasurably through the richness of their faith and heritage and through all they and their families have contributed to our communities, our economy and our society. Their heritage is our heritage. Their struggle is now a part of who we are and who we aspire to be.

We stand together today as Ontarians and indeed as members of that intrinsic community called “humanity” with a vow to never forget. We must continue to fight anti-Semitism and racism and hate of any form to be champions of human dignity and human rights for all. We must defend the vulnerable, foster tolerance and compassion, and strive for justice and peace for everyone. And we must always remember those who died in the Holocaust, those who stood in resistance, those who fought for life and humanity and bore witness to evil.

So on this Yom ha-Shoah, we pledge never to forget—never to forget the victims or the lessons of the Holocaust. We join together with the Jewish community and with all of humanity to make that simple but enduring pledge: Never again.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Responses?

Mr. Ted Chudleigh: Today, the province of Ontario joins with the state of Israel and many other countries around the world in officially observing Holocaust Memorial Day or Yom ha-Shoah. Yom ha-Shoah, the day of remembrance for the victims of the Holocaust, compels us to consider not only the nature of evil, but the determination of people everywhere to triumph over it.

Today in Ontario and throughout the world, Jewish communities recall both the unbelievable tragedy of genocide, but also the courageous efforts of ordinary people to resist, to rescue and to record the truth so that the world will never forget.

We honour the memories of six million Jews and millions of other innocent victims whose lives were tragically taken during the Holocaust over 60 years ago—those who saw the horrors of deportation, ghettos, the concentration camps that witnessed humanity at its very worst—and know too well the pain of losing loved ones to senseless violence.

As we reflect on the absolute horror that was inflicted on so many innocents, we pay tribute to the incredible strength and determination of those who survived. We also recognize the courage of those who provided refuge at tremendous risk to their personal safety. The Holocaust profoundly transformed our perception of humanity and what humanity is capable of. It is our duty to remain vigilant against intolerance, racism and hatred, and ensure that such a tragedy is never repeated.

While this is a time for mourning and reflection, it is also a time for action. On this day, we recall the courage, the spirit and the determination of those who heroically resisted the Nazis, exemplifying the very best of humanity. Like these courageous individuals, we must commit ourselves to resisting hate and persecution in all its forms. By remaining vigilant against those who seek to perpetuate violence and murder, we honour those we lost during one of the darkest periods in human history, keeping their memory alive for generations to come.

Despite the fact that genocides have occurred in the world’s history, the tragedy of Yom ha-Shoah will always stand apart as one of humanity’s greatest shames. Today we see the faces of Holocaust survivors and read in their eyes what God gives us the strength to comprehend.

Mr. Speaker, in 1998 I had the honour and privilege of introducing Bill 66 at Queen’s Park, establishing Holocaust Memorial Day in Ontario, the first such time

an act was enacted outside of Israel anywhere in the world. Please allow me to once again thank each and every person who helped in those efforts each and every step of the way. By establishing this day of commemoration, we provide an opportunity to reflect on and educate others about the enduring lessons of the Holocaust. This day shall also provide an opportunity to consider other instances of systematic destruction of peoples and human rights issues around the world.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of our leader, Tim Hudak, and the entire PC caucus, thank you for allowing me to add my voice to today’s proceedings. Our thoughts and prayers today are with the Jewish community and indeed all those throughout the world who are threatened on a daily basis.

May we never forget.

Mr. Michael Prue: It’s my privilege and honour to stand today to talk about Holocaust Memorial Day, Yom ha-Shoah. Yesterday being Sunday, I was reading the local newspaper, Beach Metro News. I opened it up to see events and things around the Beach, and I saw a tiny ad for the Beach Hebrew Institute and that they were going to be opening their doors and they were going to have a Yom ha-Shoah. Although I have been to Yom ha-Shoahs before in other places, it was the first time I had ever seen one advertised in that location. Of course, I went there to be with my friends, with my neighbours, with people I know from the Beach.

It was a very small institute—a synagogue, a very tiny building. Oftentimes, they have difficulty finding the 12 men or so that they need to hold a service. There were about 20 people there, the families of survivors. There were no actual survivors there. The people there were much too young to have survived the Holocaust. One after another, they stood up and told their stories.

A young woman talked about families that she and her family had known in Europe. She talked about a woman hiding out with her young daughter and how she was protected for over a year in a household, only to be discovered at the end and shipped off to her death. Her daughter was never heard from again, nor the woman. Even to this day, the family wonders what became of her, although they probably know what did.

There were poems of horror; there were poems about the camps and poems about the survivors.

A young woman who was brought up in London talked about the air raids and how, even in the midst of all the bombing that was taking place, she was much, much safer than those who were in Europe.

A young woman, as well, stood up and read a newspaper. It was the first newspaper published by people who were in the camps, after they were liberated. It was entirely in Yiddish, and she was having a hard time getting it translated these days. But she did translate a couple of paragraphs for the audience about what life was like in the camps.

At the conclusion of all of that, of course, there were the customary prayers, the Kaddish; the lighting of six candles, each one representing one million souls who perished—and we all, in unison, said, “Never again.”

It was a very moving ceremony, although a very small one. The Jewish community in Beaches–East York is very small.

People talked, both during the ceremony itself and after, about the troubling aspects of what happened back in the 1930s and 1940s in Europe and, in fact, some of the fears we have of things that we are seeing reoccurring today in parts of Europe and around the world with the rise of neo-Nazism and xenophobia.

We need to be true to our words—and I committed to them that we would—to always remember, never again: never again places like Rwanda, Cambodia or the former Yugoslavia; never again to the sectarian violence in so many parts of the world that we read about each and every day. We have an opportunity as a society to stand united. We have an opportunity to speak about racism and against racism and anti-Semitism. We have an opportunity to uphold the dignity of all peoples and to work for justice. We owe it to the six million people who died.

We owe it even more to those who survived and came to Canada and elsewhere in the world, who built our societies and who have given us the living legacy of knowing the brutality of those times. We owe it to them to make sure it never happens again.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): I thank all members for their thoughtful and heartfelt comments.

PETITIONS

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): It is now time for petitions. I’m going to mix it up: The member from Simcoe–Grey.

SPRINGWATER PROVINCIAL PARK

Mr. Jim Wilson: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas we oppose the termination of the operating budget for Springwater Provincial Park in Springwater township on March 31, 2013;

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

“We ask that the park remain operating and facilities such as the animal sanctuary, cabins/shelters, playground equipment and ground maintenance remain intact and operating.”

I agree with the petition, and I will sign it.

HOSPITAL FUNDING

Ms. Cindy Forster: A petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Re: Dr. Kevin Smith’s Niagara Health System report to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care proposed changes to the hospital services in south Niagara.

“Whereas the residents of south Niagara will not have equal, fair, safe and timely access to in-patient gynecological, obstetrical and pediatric services due to distance; and

“Whereas excessive travel times and lack of public transportation for residents in south Niagara will put patient safety at risk; and

“Whereas, if implemented, Dr. Smith’s recommendations and the proposed location of a new south Niagara hospital in Niagara Falls is approved, a two-tier health system in Niagara will be created, where north Niagara will be overserviced and south Niagara will be underserviced in relation to the safe and timely access to health and hospital care; and

“Whereas if hospital services including in-patient gynecological and mental health, and all obstetrical and pediatric services from the Welland hospital site and the Greater Niagara hospital site will be relocated to the new north Niagara St. Catharines site in 2013, it will undermine the continued viability of these two sites as full-service hospital sites;

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

“We request the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to maintain existing services at the Welland hospital site and the Niagara Falls hospital site and that no services are to be moved until this new south Niagara hospital is open and request that any approval for a new Niagara south hospital include a site that is centrally located in Welland.”

I support this petition and will affix my signature and send it with page Bonnie.

TIRE DISPOSAL

Mr. Ernie Hardeman: I have here a petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, presented to me by the Eringa family from my great riding of Oxford.

“Whereas the Ontario government has approved massive increases to Ontario Tire Stewardship’s eco-fees for agricultural tires, increasing some fees from $15.29 to $352.80, $546.84 or $1,311.24;

“Whereas Ontario imposes tire eco-fees that are dramatically higher than those in other provinces;

“Whereas other provincial governments either exempt agricultural tires from recycling programs or charge fees only up to $75;

“Whereas these new fees will result in increased costs for our farmers and lost sales for our farm equipment dealerships;

“Whereas the PC caucus has proposed a new plan that holds manufacturers and importers of tires responsible for recycling, but gives them the freedom to work with other businesses to find the best way possible to carry out that responsibility;

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

“Please suspend the decision to significantly increase Ontario Tire Stewardship’s fees on agricultural and off-the-road tires pending a thorough impact study and implementation of proposals to lower costs.”

I affix my signature to this petition. Thank you very much for allowing me to present it, Mr. Speaker.

TIRE DISPOSAL

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

“Whereas the Ontario government has approved massive increases to Ontario Tire Stewardship’s eco-fees for agricultural tires, increasing some fees from $15.29 to $352.80, $546.84 or $1,311.24;

“Whereas Ontario imposes tire eco-fees that are dramatically higher than those in other provinces;

“Whereas other provincial governments either exempt agricultural tires from recycling programs or charge fees only up to $75;

“Whereas these new fees will result in increased costs for our farmers and lost sales for our farm equipment dealerships;

“Whereas the PC caucus has proposed a new plan that holds manufacturers and importers of tires responsible for recycling, but gives them the freedom to work with other businesses to find the best way possible to carry out that responsibility;

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

“Please suspend the decision to significantly increase Ontario Tire Stewardship’s fees on agricultural and off-the-road tires pending a thorough impact study and implementation of proposals to lower costs.”

I support it, will sign my name and send it with page Annie to the Clerk’s desk.

WIND TURBINES

Mr. Rob E. Milligan: “Petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas residents of Ontario want a moratorium on all further industrial wind turbine development until an independent third party health and environmental study has been completed; and

“Whereas people in Ontario living within close proximity to industrial wind turbines have reported negative health effects; we need to study the physical, social, eco-nomic and environmental impacts of industrial wind turbines; and the Auditor General confirmed wind farms were created in haste and with no planning;

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

“That the Ontario government place a moratorium on the approval of any wind energy projects and a moratorium on the construction of industrial wind projects until further studies on the potential adverse health effects of industrial wind turbines, their effect on the environment, the potential devaluation of residential property are completed; and that any industrial wind projects not currently connected to the grid be cancelled.”

I agree with this petition and I’ll affix my name to it.

TIRE DISPOSAL

Mr. John Yakabuski: I have a petition here to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas the Ontario government has approved massive increases to Ontario Tire Stewardship’s eco-fees for agricultural tires, increasing some fees from $15.29 to $352.80, $546.84 or $1,311.24;

“Whereas Ontario imposes tire eco-fees that are dramatically higher than those in other provinces;

“Whereas other provincial governments either exempt agricultural tires from recycling programs or charge fees only up to $75;

“Whereas these new fees will result in increased costs for our farmers and lost sales for our farm equipment dealerships;

“Whereas the PC caucus has proposed a new plan that holds manufacturers and importers of tires responsible for recycling, but gives them the freedom to work with other businesses to find the best way possible to carry out that responsibility;

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

“Please suspend the decision to significantly increase Ontario Tire Stewardship’s fees on agricultural and off-the-road tires pending a thorough impact study and implementation of proposals to lower costs.”

I support this petition. I affix my name to it and send it to the table with Callum.

WIND TURBINES

Mr. Robert Bailey: This petition is to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas local citizens’ wishes regarding the development of wind turbines in their vicinity are not being properly consulted or informed;

“Whereas local government decision-making in regard to wind turbines has been rendered powerless;

“Whereas wind turbines have been divisive in other Ontario communities;

“Whereas electricity costs in Ontario have escalated since the introduction of the Green Energy Act;

“We, the undersigned, call upon the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to demand that no further development of industrial wind turbines take place until citizens are properly consulted and informed, and local government processes are respected.”

This is from the residents of Plympton-Wyoming. Thank you, sir.

AIR QUALITY

Mr. Jim Wilson: I have a petition regarding the Drive Clean program, and I want to thank Larry Moore of Tottenham, in my riding, for sending it to us.

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas Ontario’s Drive Clean program was implemented only as a temporary measure to reduce high levels of vehicle emissions and smog; and

“Whereas vehicle emissions have declined so significantly from 1998 to 2010 that they are no longer among the major domestic contributors of smog in Ontario; and

“Whereas the overwhelming majority of reductions in vehicle emissions were, in fact, the result of factors other than the Drive Clean program, such as tighter manufacturing standards for emission-control technologies; and

“Whereas from 1999 to 2010 the percentage of vehicles that failed emissions testing under the Drive Clean program steadily declined from 16% to 5%; and

“Whereas the environment minister has ignored advances in technology and introduced a new, computerized emissions test that is less reliable and prone to error; and

“Whereas the new Drive Clean test no longer assesses tailpipe emissions, but instead scans the on-board diagnostics systems of vehicles, which already perform a series of continuous and periodic emissions checks; and

“Whereas the new Drive Clean test has caused the failure rate to double in less than two months as a result of technical problems with the new emissions testing method; and

“Whereas this new emissions test has caused numerous false ‘fails,’ which have resulted in the overcharging of testing fees for Ontario drivers and car dealerships, thereby causing unwarranted economic hardship and stress;

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

“That the Minister of the Environment must take immediate steps to begin phasing out the Drive Clean program.”

I agree with this petition, and I’m happy to sign it.

CATARACT SURGERY

Mr. Norm Miller: I’d like to thank Ron Struthers of Huntsville, who gathered 500 names on this petition. It is to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario and it reads:

“Whereas the government of Ontario has identified cataract surgery to be a key health service for which it aims to reduce wait times under its Wait Time Strategy; and

“Whereas the current wait time for cataract surgery at Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare exceeds the provincial wait time and the provincial target under the Wait Time Strategy; and

“Whereas demand for health services like cataract surgery is expected to continue to rise with a growing retirement population;

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

“That the government of Ontario maintain adequate funding levels to Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare for cataract surgery procedures so that it may reduce wait times for cataract surgery.”

Mr. Speaker, I support this and give it to Jack.

WORKPLACE INSURANCE

Mr. Jeff Yurek: “To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas the WSIB has mandated that effective January 1, 2013, all independent contractors and small business owners operating in the construction industry must have WSIB coverage;

“Whereas many of these business owners have their own private workplace insurance that in most cases is more affordable, more efficient and provides more extensive coverage;

“Whereas mandatory WSIB premiums add significant costs to small businesses and adversely affects their growth prospects and in some cases their solvency;

“Whereas the government provided minimum notice about the change to businesses with WSIB sending out an official letter dated November 25, 2012;

“Whereas at a time when Ontario is facing a jobs crisis with 600,000 people unemployed, the government and its agencies should not be discouraging private sector job creation and growth by levying additional, unnecessary costs;

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

“To direct the Minister of Labour to issue an order in council eliminating the requirement that mandates compulsory WSIB coverage on all independent contractors and small business owners in the construction industry.”

I support this petition, as do all the residents of Elgin–Middlesex–London, and affix my signature to this and hand it to Annie.

WIND TURBINES

Mr. Jim Wilson: “To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas we, the residents of Clearview township and neighbouring townships, oppose the wpd Canada Fairview wind project on Fairgrounds Road and all wind energy projects in Clearview township; and

“Whereas we support the petition of mayors and councillors from 80 municipalities, farm organizations, the Ontario Federation of Agriculture and the Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario, which petition requested that the province place an immediate moratorium on all wind projects until an independent and comprehensive health study has determined that turbine noise is safe to human health, amongst other things; and

“Whereas wpd Canada is seeking final approval from the province for the Fairview wind project prior to completion of the federal Health Canada study and prior to federal actions to protect aviation safety;

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

“That the government of Ontario agree and accept that until the federal health study is completed and federal aeronautical zoning is in place, that it will immediately take whatever action is necessary to give full effect to a moratorium on all wind turbine development in Ontario, including all projects for which final approvals have not been given.”

I agree with this petition and I will sign it.

ORDERS OF THE DAY

AMBULANCE AMENDMENT ACT

(AIR AMBULANCES), 2013 /

LOI DE 2013 MODIFIANT

LA

LOI SUR LES AMBULANCES

(SERVICES D’AMBULANCE AÉRIENS)

Resuming the debate adjourned on March 28, 2013, on the motion for second reading of the following bill:

Bill 11,

An Act to amend the Ambulance Act with respect to air ambulance services / Projet de loi 11, Loi modifiant la

Loi sur les ambulances en ce qui concerne les services d’ambulance aériens.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): Further debate? I recognize the member from Beaches–East York.

Mr. Michael Prue: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I do believe it is my opportunity at this point, so that’s why I stood. I understand that we have 10 minutes as of now, so I would like to get on with it, because that’s not a long time.

Originally, I had planned to talk about the merits—or perhaps, more so, the lack of merit—to this particular bill. In doing some research around it, it became apparent to me that this bill cannot and should not continue as it is currently written.

We parliamentarians have a choice to make in each and every bill: We can oppose it or we can try to change it. Especially if you’re on the opposition side, those are really the only choices you have. So we’ve made a decision within our caucus to simply try to make the changes to actually make the bill of some value because, as it’s presently constituted, it has very little merit to it at all.

The best thing about having a minority government is that changes can be made. The government has to listen to the opposition, at least in committee. I explained to some people who came into my office today what they thought were the rather arcane rules of the Legislature. If you go to a city council meeting, there’s a motion that passes or doesn’t pass; it’s over. But if you come to the Legislature, you have first reading, which is just to announce what it’s all about; you have second reading, which is approval in principle to send it off to committee; you have committee hearings and you have changes to the legislation, and then it comes back for a third and final reading.

I was explaining all of this to the two people who came to my office this morning, but I told them that it works. It only works in a minority government, and they agreed with me because they have been before this government in the last number of years on a couple of issues and they found the government unwilling or unable to make the changes that were requested because they had a majority then, and everything that the public or the opposition had to say, no matter how valuable, was generally not listened to. Things have changed.

I’m going to direct the rest of my speech to my Conservative colleagues because I don’t know whether you’re going to oppose this bill or not, but probably it’s going to go into committee. If it goes into committee, we have an opportunity to make this bill something that it should be, as opposed to what it is. We all know that this bill has very little substance to it. We all know that, as it’s presently constituted and has been constituted for months and months and months, through prorogation and brought back, there’s nothing of any substance in this bill that’s going to help the people of Ontario.

We believe that a couple of things have to happen and must happen when this goes to committee. If it doesn’t happen in committee, I don’t intend to vote for it at third reading, and I don’t think anybody else in this place should either.

The first thing that has to happen is that we have to make sure that the Ombudsman has oversight. If the Ombudsman had had oversight from the beginning, we wouldn’t be in the mess we are in today with Ornge and this government wouldn’t have to be wiping those slices of orange off their face every single day when the committee meets. Every single day there’s a new revelation of who knew and when they knew or what they knew, and every single day this government looks worse and worse around this entire file.

The second thing we need to do is that we need to have the ability to have Ornge brought before Government Agencies. That’s a committee that can call various ministries or parts of ministries before it in order to discuss what their mandate is and what they’re doing. Many, many government agencies are brought before the committee, and some of the most valuable things I’ve learned in my last 12 years here have been before the Government Agencies committee, as when groups such as MPAC are brought forward to talk about tax rates. The Ontario Municipal Board was once brought forward and made to explain their rationale for being and why they were doing what they’re doing.

We believe that a group like Ornge should be subject to the same kinds of questions from members of the Legislatures. That’s not contained within the body of the four walls of this bill, and that cannot continue.

We also think that this bill must have words in it that force the ministry to examine its own funding role for Ornge and literally for everything else, because it’s not in here. The bill contains very little.

Last but not least, we think that within the body of the bill there should be an assurance that all future governments are held accountable—not what we have seen under Ornge since this began. What has happened is that the minister has said repeatedly that she didn’t know, then she said she found out and fired the staff, then she said, “No, they all quit,” and all the other things in order to try to get around that accountability.

As I said, every day there seems to be some new problem surfacing in committee about Ornge, and the answer is not what is contained within this bill. The answer is for all of us in this Legislature to seize the opportunity, when and if this goes to committee, to change the bill, because there is no sense having a bill on a government agency that’s been dissected from top to bottom and is being resected, if there is such a word, back together again every single day. We know the problems of Chris Mazza. We know the problems of Mr. Apps. We know the problems of people who were putting their hand collectively in the pockets of taxpayers. We know the shenanigans about buying helicopters in Italy—

Interjection: And speedboats.

Mr. Michael Prue: —and speedboats. We know all of those things. This bill, had it been in existence, would not have helped any of that. It would not have helped a thing.

So this bill, in and of itself, is not going to prevent future Ornges, because this bill is confined to the Ornge group itself. It’s not about all the other government agencies, as it should be. It’s not even about the Ministry of Health and the power the minister has over the many, many agencies that report directly to her. It’s about one small group that has been dissected. I can’t even believe we’re still asking all those questions, but I don’t blame us for asking them, because the answers as they’re coming out are so perverse that it’s hard to believe this minister or this ministry had any accountability whatsoever over the money that was being spent throughout the time.

Virtually nothing has changed from when the bill was first introduced. We all need to remember when this bill was introduced in this Legislature to much fanfare by the minister about how this was going to solve all the problems at Ornge, how she was going to get a handle on all of this, how things were going to be so much better. Then we got prorogued, and the bill died. The bill was there for four months with absolutely nothing happening to it, only to be resurrected and brought back to this Legislature after four months.

The only change we saw within the body of the bill that amounted to anything was that Ornge was finally going to be subject to freedom of information. We in this House know freedom of information. You know what you get when you make a freedom of information request from this government? You get stalling, you get weeks and months that go by, you get asked to pay up front monies you don’t have in order to try to get a few pieces of paper, and when you finally get them, everything’s redacted; everything’s blacked out. You don’t know anything. You don’t even know why you sent for it. That’s the reality.

This is what they’re put in here. This is the only change. It’s now subject to freedom of information, which means you’re going to get redacted documents. That is of no great consequence to the people of this province. That, in and of itself, although the government will stand up and say this is a good thing, is not really what the opposition or the people of Ontario are looking for. We’ve had four wasted months. A lot of bills needed to come forward; this was but one of them.

Now we have other things that we’re worried about. If I can digress just for a second here, Mr. Speaker, the estimates committee continues to meet, and we’re not even constituted for the upcoming estimates session. We’re still meeting on the estimates from the last time, although the report has already been given, because part of the problem is, again, the Ministry of Health. The Ministry of Health has a number of documents—we’ve heard, up to a million pages—which have been demanded by the opposition and which have now been produced, but they haven’t been put on the keys yet to put into the computer.

We’re waiting for those. Estimates has to meet again tomorrow because they’re not forthcoming. This government makes everything be dragged out—dragged and dragged and dragged.

That’s why we in the opposition need to send this to committee; it’s why we need to send this bill for radical and major changes. The people of Ontario have an unqualified right to find out what’s going on inside of government. They have an unqualified right to find out how their tax money is being spent. The members of this Legislature need to do everything in their power to make sure that right is there. I ask especially my colleagues in the Progressive Conservatives, if this goes to committee, to do everything you possibly can to open this up so that we can find out how the government is working on the inside and to make the changes the people of this province demand.

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

Ms. Helena Jaczek: Certainly, it’s good to rise in this House on Bill 11 yet again. I do agree with some of what the member for Beaches–East York said. Certainly, I think we’re all very anxious to get this bill into committee. As our Premier and as our Minister of Health and Long-Term Care have said repeatedly, we’re most interested in the ideas the opposition has to bring forward, to perhaps improve and strengthen this bill.

However, I would like to remind the member for Beaches–East York what exactly is in Bill 11, because it is, as I’m sure you know, modelled on the Public Hospitals Act, and I’ve never heard you particularly object to the Public Hospitals Act.

Like that particular piece of legislation, Bill 11 does provide cabinet with the power, upon the recommendation of the minister, to appoint a supervisor to exercise the powers of the board, officers and members and other corporate powers of an air ambulance service provider—surely an important step forward. It also gives cabinet the power, upon the recommendation of the minister, to appoint one or more provincial representatives to the board of an air ambulance service provider. It would give the minister the power to issue directives to an air ambulance service provider.

It would give the government the ability to include provisions in an agreement between Ontario and an air ambulance service provider. Furthermore, it provides cabinet with the power to appoint a special investigator to investigate and report on certain activities of an air ambulance service provider.

These are all strong measures. I think they’re extremely important. I cannot agree at all that there’s nothing in this bill. There are new and, I’d say, extremely strong powers very much in parallel to the Public Hospitals Act, which I think we would all agree has provided a measure of safety and oversight for the government in these essential institutions.

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

Mr. Rob E. Milligan: It’s great to be here in the House again, back to work. I want to wish you a happy 50th birthday, Mr. Speaker. You look very good in the chair. I only hope I can aspire to look as good as you at 50, sir.

I will be addressing Bill 11 here later on, when I have some more time to actually peel back the onion, if you will, and show exactly how toothless this piece of legislation is. This is, echoing the member from Beaches–East York, a lot of fluff. This is what we’ve come to know of many of the Liberal pieces of legislation that are brought forward, Mr. Speaker.

It’s a shame that we’re actually presented with this piece of legislation. I do agree with the member from Beaches–East York: This will eventually make it to committee. We’re going to have to do some serious overhaul of this bill. In fact, when it comes out of committee—if it ever does come out of committee—it won’t even look like the same piece of legislation that went to committee. That’s how much work has to be done on this piece of legislation if we’re going to prevent the scandals at Ornge under this government and this health minister from continuing.

We’re going to have to fillet this piece of legislation like a well-caught fish and gut it and make sure that it actually has some bone to it. We’ll talk about that a little later, Mr. Speaker.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): The member for Hamilton Mountain.

Mr. Paul Miller: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In reference to the member from Oak Ridges–Markham, I appreciate her statement; however, what she did say in her statement was that it was up to the minister. Well, we can’t even get the minister to do an Ombudsman on anything around here without a major fight—and we still haven’t succeeded, I might add. So to leave it up the minister is not making me feel warm all over.

Secondly, if we want to look at the big picture, we saw how much was wasted at Ornge: hundreds of millions of dollars of taxpayers’—folks, that was just one thing. Then there was eHealth and the electronic health card that was supposed to be set up for Ontario; it’s still being worked out seven years later, and they’ve admittedly blown $188 million and they only have $100 million worth of hardware and software out of that. They admitted that at committee. That’s one part of one ministry.

There are 22 ministries. If I could save, say, $300 million or $400 million in one ministry—or $1 billion, for that matter—if you multiply that. That’s not counting the 140 agencies, tribunals and other things that the government has immediate control over. I think it would be safe to say that we could save billions around here. You want more money for education? You want more money for health care? You want more money for poverty and you want more money to help all the other people? If you just clean up you