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July 31, 2018

42nd Parliament, 1st Session

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Hansard Transcripts

Votes and Proceedings

Orders and Notices

Hansard (PDF) 31-JUL-2018_L012

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO

ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE DE L’ONTARIO

Tuesday 31 July 2018 Mardi 31 juillet 2018

Notices of reasoned amendments

Orders of the Day

Government policies / Politiques du gouvernement

Introduction of Visitors

Report, Office of the Integrity Commissioner

Decorum in chamber

Oral Questions

Municipal elections

Municipal elections

Municipal elections

Municipal government

Municipal elections

Municipal government

Public consultation

Immigration francophone / Francophone immigration

Human trafficking

Municipal elections

Ontario Summer Games

Government accountability

Gasoline prices

Government’s record

Correctional services

Government accountability / Responsabilité gouvernementale

Member’s comments / Commentaires d’un député

Notice of dissatisfaction

Members’ Statements

Automobile insurance

Sri Varasiththi Vinaayagar Hindu Temple Chariot Festival

Anti-racism activities

Nicola Rose

Government’s agenda

Events in Orléans / Événements divers à Orléans

Markham Greek Summer Festival

Mental health funding

Baden Corn Festival

Violence in Syria

Introduction of Bills

Fairness in Petroleum Products Pricing Act, 2018 / Loi de 2018 sur l’équité en matière d’établissement du prix des produits pétroliers

Transparent and Accountable Health Care Act, 2018 / Loi de 2018 sur le financement transparent et responsable des soins de santé

PTSD Awareness Day Act, 2018 / Loi de 2018 sur la Journée de sensibilisation à l’état de stress post-traumatique

Brunt and Kendall Act (Ensuring Safe Firefighter and Trainee Rescue Training), 2018 / Loi Brunt et Kendall de 2018 (formation sécuritaire des pompiers et des élèves pompiers en sauvetage)

Garrett’s Legacy Act (Requirements for Movable Soccer Goals), 2018 / Loi de 2018 sur le legs de Garrett (exigences relatives aux buts de soccer mobiles)

Fairness for the Auto Sector Act (Employment Standards), 2018 / Loi de 2018 favorisant l’équité dans le secteur de l’automobile (normes d’emploi)

Time to Care Act (Long-Term Care Homes Amendment, Minimum Standard of Daily Care), 2018 / Loi de 2018 sur le temps alloué aux soins (modifiant la

Loi sur les foyers de soins de longue durée et prévoyant une norme minimale en matière de soins quotidiens)

Petitions

Long-term care

Health care funding

Municipal elections

Municipal elections

Municipal elections

Municipal elections

Affaires autochtones

Municipal elections

Curriculum

Indigenous affairs

Orders of the Day

Cap and Trade Cancellation Act, 2018 / Loi de 2018 annulant le programme de plafonnement et d’échange

Adjournment Debate

Curriculum

Municipal elections

Immigration francophone / Francophone immigration

The House met at 0900.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Let us pray.

Prayers.

Notices of reasoned amendments

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I beg to inform the House that, pursuant to standing order 71(b), both the member for Scarborough–Guildwood and the member for Toronto–Danforth have notified the Clerk of their intention to file notice of a reasoned amendment to the motion for second reading of Bill 5,

An Act to amend the City of Toronto Act, 2006, the Municipal Act, 2001 and the Municipal Elections Act, 1996. The order for second reading of Bill 5 may therefore not be called today.

Orders of the Day

Government policies / Politiques du gouvernement

Resuming the debate adjourned on July 30, 2018, on the motion regarding government priorities.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Further debate?

Mr. Bill Walker: It’s a pleasure to start the morning off by finishing off my speech from yesterday in regard to this motion.

Mr. Speaker, I just want to reiterate what I was sharing yesterday, that in the first couple of weeks of the 42nd Parliament, our Premier and our party are proud to have started to move forward for the people with a clear mandate to pursue policies that put more money in people’s pockets, create and protect jobs, address the hydro crisis, reduce hospital wait times, and restore accountability and trust in government.

Mr. Speaker, it’s a pleasure to see you in the chair.

Truly, I believe we’re getting right to action; we’re getting right to work. We got rid of the hydro CEO, which the Premier said he would do—promise made, promise kept. We’re lowering the price of gasoline, which again will put more money in people’s pockets. He’s already been to see governors in the United States to make sure the border stays open and that Ontario is “open for business,” as he said. Fifteen thousand long-term-care beds have been committed over five years, and 30,000 over 10 years. Mr. Speaker, that is going to get rid of some of that hospital health care hallway wait time.

He is doing what he said would be done. On behalf of our party, he’s certainly stepping up and doing those things. He is making people accountable. He’s putting trust and accountability back into everything we do. We’re going to go through a line-by-line audit of the finances to ensure, where money is being spent, that it’s value for money.

All of these things are on behalf of the people of Ontario. It’s what we campaigned on. We have 76 seats as a result of that. Some of the members of the opposition yesterday were speaking and challenging that mandate, Mr. Speaker, but at the end of the day, 76 of us were elected. We have a majority government and we’re putting those actions into place as quickly as possible to give benefit to the people.

What we have certainly heard of across our ridings is the hydro crisis that the Liberal government created. We’re starting already on that, Mr. Speaker. We want to have those rates lowered so that we again are the most competitive jurisdiction in North America, like we used to be. Ontario should be the economic engine of Confederation. By lowering those rates, making sure taxes are lower and putting more money in people’s pockets, allowing them to go out and be that economic driver, we believe we can do that.

We want to ensure that we create and protect jobs. By doing that, we will again have a thriving economy where everyone can have a better quality of life. We want to make sure that we have health care, the best education systems in the world, and we want to help those less fortunate so that they have a better quality of life as well.

At the end of the day, I am proud to say that we’re part of that government moving forward. In our first couple of weeks of this 42nd Parliament, we’re taking action. We’re trying to make life better and more affordable for people. We’re putting money back in their pockets. I’m proud to say that with all of my colleagues, with all of what we’re doing, a number of things have already been achieved. We’ve made promises. Promise made—

Interjections: Promise kept.

Mr. Bill Walker: Promise kept.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Percy Hatfield): Further debate?

M. Guy Bourgouin: Merci, monsieur le Président. Premièrement, je voulais vous dire comment la chaise vous va bien.

Monsieur le Président, il est un privilège et un honneur de me lever pour faire mon discours inaugural. Je veux premièrement reconnaître les territoires traditionnels des Premières Nations de Haudenosaunee, Hurons-Wendat, Anishinaabe et des Mississaugas de la rivière Credit.

Je veux prendre l’opportunité de me présenter. Je suis Guy Bourgouin, Franco-Ontarien, Métis et je suis le fier député de Mushkegowuk–Baie James.

Le 7 juin dernier, j’ai eu la chance et le privilège de me faire élire dans la belle circonscription du nord-est de l’Ontario où je demeure, à Kapuskasing, depuis 21 ans avec ma femme, Manon Gagné, et mes deux enfants, Anabel et Jérémy.

Ma circonscription est l’une des plus grandes, longe l’autoroute 11, de Smooth Rock Falls à Constance Lake, et comprend de nombreuses communautés de Premières Nations de la Baie James.

Je veux prendre l’occasion de remercier tout le monde qui a travaillé sur ma campagne, car nous savons tous que sans les bénévoles qui travaillent sans arrêt pour nous faire élire, rien ne serait possible.

Je dois avouer que le député sortant, maintenant mon collègue et mon ami Gilles Bisson, a fait un travail exemplaire et qu’il était aimé par les gens de mon comté. Je reconnais que j’ai des grands souliers à remplir. Je veux le remercier pour son soutien et son encouragement de me présenter comme député.

Je suis né à Dubreuilville, un petit village francophone dans le nord de l’Ontario, du comté d’Algoma, avec une population de 1 000 personnes. Dans ma famille, nous étions six enfants, dont j’étais le cadet. Mes racines forestières sont profondes, car Dubreuilville était un village où tout le monde travaillait dans l’industrie forestière.

Mon père travaillait pour la compagnie Dubreuil Forest Products. Comme superviseur, il avait le numéro de badge 11, donc il était le 11 e employé de la compagnie. Mon frère, lui, travaille toujours dans l’industrie forestière, dans les pâtes et papiers, comme électricien. Mes soeurs ont travaillé d’une forme ou d’une autre dans l’industrie forestière.

Moi, j’ai commencé à 18 ans ma carrière comme journalier dans l’usine de sciage. Je me souviens encore de mon numéro de badge : 4258. Plus tard, je suis devenu un homme de métier mécanicien industriel.

Un président de IWA Local 2995, un dénommé Normand Rivard, a vu en moi quelque chose et il m’a engagé comme représentant syndical, ce que j’ai fait pour 21 ans. Monsieur le Président, 16 ans plus tard, je suis devenu le président de la

section locale des Métallos 1-2010. J’ai eu de la chance de représenter 2 500 travailleurs dans différents secteurs de travail. La juridiction que je représentais était de Sudbury à la frontière manitobaine, tout le nord de l’Ontario. La

section locale avait un bureau à Thunder Bay et un à Kapuskasing, où je demeure.

J’ai négocié des conventions pour des travailleurs forestiers, des travailleurs d’usines de sciage, des usines de contreplaqué, des casinos, des conseillers d’addiction, des centres de santé, des magasins et des travailleurs d’entretien hospitalier. En tout, la

section avait 67 unités.

Je peux vous dire que l’expérience et l’apprentissage syndical m’ont bien préparé pour représenter ma circonscription de Mushkegowuk–Baie James. Après 21 ans, je peux vous dire que ç’a été dur de quitter un travail que j’aimais et que j’étais privilégié de faire.

Plus de trois quarts de la

section locale était composé de compagnies forestières et 2 000 travailleurs travaillaient dans la forêt ou dans les usines. L’économie forestière est un des gros aspects économiques de ma circonscription. La plupart des communautés dépendent d’une forme ou d’une autre de l’industrie forestière.

La plupart du monde ne le sait pas, mais la forêt boréale est l’une des forêts les plus certifiées au monde. Les compagnies forestières doivent se conformer aux normes les plus strictes de la planète. C’est pour cette raison que les travailleurs, les compagnies et les communautés de ma circonscription sont fiers de leurs produits, que ce soit le bois, les pâtes ou le contreplaqué. Nos usines sont des plus performantes et compétitives du monde et les salaires et les conditions de travail le reflète aussi.

La forêt, pour nous, c’est notre passé, notre présent et notre futur. Nous travaillons dans la forêt, nos loisirs sont dans la forêt et on se nourrit de la forêt, car les communautés de ma région en dépendent et ça fait

partie de notre quotidien.

Mr. Speaker, in recent weeks when we dealt with a bill to legislate workers back to work, I can tell you it hit home. And we never hear of our government legislating employers back to the table, as it is way easier to legislate workers back and erode workers’ rights.

As mentioned, after 21 years of negotiating experience, I don’t know of one worker that wants to go on strike. Workers sometimes have to go on strike, as this is the only tool they have to gain working conditions that they believe they deserve. It’s only a small percentage of all negotiations that end up on strike. The process works. The parties get the deals done. But in some cases, a small percentage do end up on strike, and that’s part of the process. It’s the constitutional right of unionized workers. It’s part of the balance of power. Legislating workers back to work removes that balance.

Why would an employer negotiate when they know that the government will legislate? No sense in negotiating; 15 minutes is enough. The only message that this government is doing is, again, eroding the constitutional right of workers to strike.

Mr. Speaker, during my campaign I had the chance to travel and visit some First Nation communities along the James Bay coast. I can tell you that First Nations are one of the proudest people I have ever met. They are proud of their beautiful, rich culture and language. But I can tell you that how the First Nation communities are living would be unacceptable in other communities in Ontario. My colleague Sol Mamakwa, the MPP for Kiiwetinoong, described it best: The normalizing of the poverty and lack of service should not be normal in this great province, and yet it is.

It is unacceptable to me, and I will work hard and relentlessly with the leaders of these communities to address these issues, such as lack of clean and drinkable water, and lack of housing. In Attawapiskat, the leaders of the community were telling me that they need 320 houses in a community of close to 1,600. We find some houses where two to three generations are living in a house that was built to house a family of four or six.

The reserve wants to grow. They have identified a parcel of land beside the reserve, and 95% of that land has been accepted. But a small portion, the closest to the reserve, has not been accepted because of a road that crosses the

section which goes to the port. The mine has put a protest on this section, and the federal government is not releasing that small section. The government should have told the company to get the deal done with the First Nation. It’s unacceptable that the federal and/or provincial government continue to play these games of back and forth, because it’s the First Nation communities that pay the price.

Again, in the community of Attawapiskat, there is a problem of illegal drugs and alcohol. They know who sells the drugs and alcohol. The chief says it’s like going to the Tim’s for coffee. People line up. The First Nation police can’t do anything, as they need a search warrant and it takes a week to get it. The justice of the peace is in Sudbury, so they have to wait, and by then it’s too late. There used to be justices of the peace in some of these communities, but they were eliminated by previous governments. Last month, the Mushkegowuk tribal council declared a state of emergency on illegal drugs and alcohol.

Grand Chief Jonathan Solomon said, “This pandemic has reached serious levels where it’s clearly destroying our people and communities.”

Chief Ignace Gull, following the state of emergency triggered by a spate of youth suicide, took things into his own hands. Tired of waiting for others to do something, the chief and four other local officials now search everyone who lands into the fly-in community airport, including local police officers. Mr. Speaker, tell me: Where in Ontario is it acceptable to take the law into your own hands to get things done? It sounds like the Far West; instead, it’s the Far North. We all know it’s not acceptable.

I have spoken to the Attorney General and we have discussed the justice of the peace issue. I have followed up with Chief Ignace and we are working together to find a solution to this issue. That’s why my predecessor, Gilles Bisson, worked so hard and was so passionate about these communities, and that is why I am committed, myself, to do the same.

This weekend, numerous people from my riding spoke to me of the Ontario Northland bus service. Ontario Northland have changed their service hours. These changes are recent. A normal trip by vehicle takes about nine to 10 hours from Kapuskasing. Now the Ontario Northland takes 26 hours to get to Kapuskasing.

One of my constituents had to leave Barrie and come back to Kapuskasing. She told me that she left Barrie at 4 p.m., arrived in North Bay at 8 p.m., and there was no connection until 6 a.m. the next day. You have to rent a room or wait in the station. Once you get to Timmins the next day, you have to wait another four hours for your connection. This is not acceptable. Another option: You have to leave Barrie at 11 a.m., and you arrive in Cochrane at 10 p.m. You’ll say, “Well, that’s not bad.” But there’s only one problem: There’s no connection from Cochrane to Kapuskasing or Hearst or others.

The people in my riding need the Ontario Northland. We need better accommodation.

We lost the train—which, by the way, the Conservatives in the last election promised to bring back. We have not heard anything yet. For some people in my riding, it is the only way they have for transportation for visiting family or attending medical appointments. The Northland needs to return to the previous hours or have more connections for the residents of the north. The Minister of Transportation said, “We will get people moving again.” Well, that should include the people of my riding.

La région a des beaux festivals dont nous sommes fiers. Le monde ne le sait pas, mais la plus grande Saint-Jean-Baptiste en Ontario est à Kapuskasing, où de nombreux artistes francophones viennent fêter la fierté franco-ontarienne.

On a aussi le Truck Fest de Smooth Rock Falls, les tirs de camions lourds, où les camionneurs de partout viennent compétitionner. C’est tout un spectacle à voir, les tirs des camions lourds.

On a aussi le HOG fest de Hearst pour les amateurs de moto. Tous les amateurs de moto de la région viennent fêter. Aussi, on a le Carnaval de Hearst, qui est immanquable. Le Pow-Wow de Constance Lake, on a le « Groundhog Day » de Fauquier, et on a le Carnaval de Moonbeam.

Ma région est une des meilleures pour la motoneige. J’invite tous les amateurs à venir expérimenter nos sentiers, qui sont les meilleurs de la province. C’est un paradis pour les amateurs de pêche et de chasse. En fin de semaine, j’étais au Festival des bûcherons de Kapuskasing. J’invite tout le monde à venir expérimenter une communauté forestière qui est à Kapuskasing.

Je suis fier d’où je viens et de ma région. La fierté francophone est vivante en Ontario et il est de notre devoir de maintenir notre langue et nos droits.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Percy Hatfield): Further debate?

Ms. Lindsey Park: I rise this morning to give my inaugural speech in the Ontario Legislature. My name is Lindsey Park and I’m honoured to be the member of provincial Parliament for the riding of Durham in the 42nd Parliament.

I want to take the opportunity this morning to share with you a bit about my personal journey that led me to this seat in the Ontario Legislature. I want to share with you a snapshot of my riding of Durham and the issues my community cares about. Finally, I want to share a few thoughts about our duties as public servants.

First, I want to say a few thank yous. I’ll never be able to thank everyone enough who supported me throughout the campaign that led to my election to this place on June 7, 2018. As I know that my colleagues on all sides of this chamber appreciate, campaigning for a nomination and then a general election can have many highs and many lows, and we certainly went through a turbulent time in Ontario politics over the last year. I’m forever grateful for my family, friends and supporters, who have been so faithful to stand with me over that time. So many spent countless hours volunteering their time to help elect new representation in Durham.

In particular, I want to thank my mom and dad, Joan and James Park, who have been great sources of strength and support. I want to thank James Burnett, my nomination campaign manager, and Jessica Maga, my general election campaign manager. It’s worth noting, Mr. Speaker, that Jessica gave birth to her first child, Elizabeth, during the general election campaign. Some would say that we ran a very progressive campaign in Durham. I want to thank Sheryl Greenham, my GOTV chair. Sheryl is with us this morning in beautiful pink over here.

Anyone who knows politics in Durham knows all things run through Sheryl’s office, and she takes great pride in being one of the first people to vote in the riding in every general election.

I want to thank the whole team that was with me day in and day out, all the volunteers and supporters. There are so many of them that if I start naming them all, I am sure to miss somebody, and I don’t want to do that. Instead, let me simply say thank you to everyone who encouraged me to seek office and contributed to my campaign.

I just want to name, specifically, the particular volunteers and supporters who are here in the Legislature today.

We have, in the members’ gallery, Charles Stevens, chair of the Ontario Apple Growers.

We have David Prashad, who was an exceptional and faithful door-knocker, on rainy days, cold days and sweltering hot days. Thank you, David.

We have Brenda Virtue, one of the very first people to support me, way back, on my nomination. Thank you, Brenda.

We have Neil McAlister, a doctor of internal medicine, who sits on our board in Durham.

We have Howard Brown—again, an early supporter. Thank you, Howard.

Also, it’s worth mentioning the support and guidance I received from former member of provincial Parliament for Durham John O’Toole, former member of Parliament the Honourable Bev Oda, and the current member of Parliament, the Honourable Erin O’Toole. During this election process, their support and guidance was incredibly valuable, and I’ll be forever grateful to them.

Okay, Mr. Speaker, now that all the thank yous are done, a little bit about my journey: I did not grow up in a political family. In fact, most days, politics was the furthest topic from our hearts and minds. A more likely topic of conversation was the Toronto Maple Leafs’ latest trade or this year’s contenders for Lord Stanley’s cup. I grew up in a hockey family. Hockey was what we discussed at the kitchen table. Hockey Night in Canada was one of the focal points of the week. Saturday night there was only one place to be and that was with Don Cherry.

Dad was a professional hockey player—a goaltender, in fact—in the World Hockey Association. Some of you in this chamber remember that it was a competing league with the NHL in the 1970s and 1980s. While dad retired from professional hockey before I was born, his passion for the game of hockey was contagious and captured our family for the decades to follow.

I guess it’s no surprise that I ended up picking up the sport myself, and, yes, I am a goalie too. I started playing hockey late by Canadian standards, picking up the sport at the age of 11. Looking back, I’m grateful for the opportunities that were starting to boom in the GTA for young female hockey players at that time. Without so many girls’ hockey leagues in the GTA, I may not have been able to start playing, and it would have been difficult to join the league if my only option was to join in with boys at the time.

Durham, the community I now represent in the Legislature, has a special place in my hockey journey. It was a Durham coach who gave me the opportunity to play the top level for the first time. It was a Durham coach who saw my potential. It was my success in Durham that enabled me to later get a scholarship away to play the highest level you can in university in the United States.

Now, when my degree came to an end—you can tell me, Mr. Speaker, if you think I made the right decision—when many girls I played with were going on to train for Team Canada, I decided to become a lawyer. I moved back to Canada to pursue law, and it was while I was getting my legal training, actually, that I had the privilege of getting involved in politics and working for the Honourable Peter Kent. He was then the Minister of the Environment in Stephen Harper’s federal Conservative government. It was by working for Peter Kent that I got a heart for public service in this way and saw the difference that you could make from a political office when in it for the right reasons.

Before being elected, I was a courtroom lawyer based in Durham with a client base I had grown across central and eastern Ontario. I fought hard for my clients in the courtroom, I fought hard for my teammates on the ice and now I’m here to fight hard for the people of Durham at Queen’s Park. As I said at my campaign office in Bowmanville, after a more than 9,000-vote victory on election night, I’m looking forward to being Durham’s voice at Queen’s Park, not Queen Park’s voice in Durham. I will work hard day in and day out to represent the people of Durham and bring their issues to this provincial Legislature.

Mr. Speaker, let me tell you for a moment about the issues that are most important to the people of Durham. Over the past year, across the riding, whether in Greenbank, Courtice, Bowmanville, north Oshawa or Port Perry, I heard the same thing: The cost of living is going up and salaries have not been rising to keep up. People want a government that is going to clean up the hydro mess, that is going to put money back in people’s pockets and bring jobs back to Ontario.

I also heard, whether it was about health care, transportation or economic development, that many people feel that while funding has often gone west of the city of Toronto, the east has been left behind. Well, I’m here to fight for Durham and for its fair share at this critical time of growth for our region.

Whether you’re looking to move to Clarington to start a family, or as you enter retirement, top-quality health care in the area is a big consideration. I was clear in my campaign that I would support and fight for the redevelopment and expansion of Lakeridge Health, Bowmanville, and the long-term-care beds that our region needs.

Clarington residents also deserve better when it comes to transportation. That’s why in our election platform we committed to two-way, all-day GO service to Bowmanville. This project is long overdue, and I’m eager to get to work on it with our Minister of Transportation.

In Durham, we have a diverse population and workforce. So many of the sectors that are key to the future of Ontario touch on the Durham riding in significant ways. We have a robust agricultural industry that produces corn, wheat, beans, fruit, milk and livestock. Agriculture is still one of the largest industries in Durham. While I’m not a farmer, I’ve had the chance to spend time with so many incredible farming families over the last year, and I look forward to being a voice for them in this place.

We’re also home to Darlington nuclear generating station, which supplies nearly 20% of Ontario’s electricity. That’s enough to serve a city of two million people. We have exceptional nuclear professionals who live and work in Durham. It’s these professionals, many of them my neighbours, who ensure that critical baseload supply of electricity for our province. Beyond that, you will find a variety of manufacturing, engineering and service businesses in Durham.

We also have many students. In north Oshawa, we have both the University of Ontario Institute of Technology and Durham College. In Durham, we are training people for the jobs of today and the jobs of the future.

Mr. Speaker, it’s an exciting time for our riding. The areas of Clarington, north Oshawa, Scugog and surrounding communities are growing quickly. I’m in awe every day that I get to stand in this chamber and be the voice for such a dynamic community at such a critical time in its history.

One of the things that attracted me to politics is that it’s the ultimate team sport. It’s about working hard together to deliver the best results possible for our communities. That means we can’t bring the change that is needed in Durham or the change that voters across this province told us they need unless we work together. I look forward to working not only with my colleagues on all sides of this chamber, but also with the many staff who make this place function and all of the hard-working public servants who serve our government every day. Together, we can make our government work for the people.

And it is only by working together that we can make sure that Ontarians in all parts of this province are not only heard, but served. We have a duty to our constituents, we have a duty to each other and a duty to the people of Ontario.

Now, Mr. Speaker, before I close, I want to take a moment to speak about these duties we have as public servants at this critical time in Ontario’s history.

I grew up in a family in Ontario where a young girl was given every opportunity that a young boy was given, if she wanted it. I received an education where female students were given the same opportunity as male students, if they wanted it. I worked at a law firm in Ontario where young female lawyers were trained and promoted just the same as young male lawyers, if they wanted the challenge.

Mr. Speaker, this is true freedom. This is the freedom we were all born to enjoy. Yet still, some are not able to enjoy these freedoms because of the country they were born in or perhaps the family they were born into. We must be diligent every day to work together to stand for and protect this freedom—all of us. We must defend this freedom whenever it is challenged—whether in dark, hidden places or in broad daylight, whether at home or abroad.

I am inspired by the freedom that the Right Honourable John G. Diefenbaker talked about. He said, “I am Canadian, a free Canadian, free to speak without fear, free to worship God in my own way, free to stand for what I think right, free to oppose what I believe wrong, free to choose those who govern my country.”

Mr. Speaker, we are privileged to be beneficiaries of this freedom and we have a responsibility as public servants to pass this freedom on to our successors. To my colleagues in this chamber or who can hear my voice while listening to this from some other location, may we fight together every day we are in this place; fight as our predecessors did for an Ontario where freedom prevails and where justice rules. It is our privilege and our responsibility.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Percy Hatfield): Further debate?

Mr. Wayne Gates: I thought I’d start my speech off by reading the motion of the Conservatives, and then I’ll do my speech: “That, in the opinion of this House, the current government is a government for the people with a clear mandate to pursue policies that put more money in people’s pockets; create and protect jobs; address the hydro crisis; reduce hospital wait times; and restore accountability and trust in government.”

Mr. Speaker, thank you for allowing me to rise and speak on this motion. Frankly, I don’t even know where to start.

Let’s begin with the first line: that somehow this motion assumes that this government is for the people. I’d love to know what people are included in the eyes of this government, because I can tell you right now that they don’t mean everyone.

We know that unionized workers aren’t included. They made that clear in their first week when they unconstitutionally stripped away the bargaining rights of workers at York University.

I know it doesn’t include racialized folks, after the minister and this government decided to use racial stereotypes right in this House.

We know it doesn’t include LGBTQ communities, after they decided to listen to their radical, right-wing, social conservative friends and stripped our sexual health curriculum of any mention of same-sex relationships. They do go on in this province; I just thought I’d let you know that. We’re very proud of that.

Let me remind everyone in this House that when this government says they’re for the people, they don’t mean everyone. They mean their rich insider pals and their social conservative friends. That’s who they are.

This government has already lost its way. Mr. Speaker, let me tell you a story of the history of the term “for the people.” I’ll repeat that so my Conservative friends can listen: Let me tell you a story about the history of the term “for the people” and what it really means to work for every person in the province.

Do you know, Mr. Speaker, who Adam Beck was? You can nod if you like. It’s important that we talk about him in this place, not just because he has connections to Niagara Falls—although, if you get a chance, I invite all of you to come to Niagara Falls and see the Sir Adam Beck generation station. It’s truly incredible. There’s an incredible history behind it, not just because he has a statue up the road here, which many of the members in this House pass every single day—put your hands up if you know where it is. I rest my case. But because he is—

Hon. Sylvia Jones: We’re just ignoring you.

Mr. Wayne Gates: Well, that’s okay. You can do that.

Interjections.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Percy Hatfield): Order, please.

Mr. Wayne Gates: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I like it when you take control.

Adam Beck fought tirelessly so that Ontario could have a public power system that was designed to keep rates down and ensure that residents and businesses had cheap electrical power to use. Do you know what happened from that? Ontario became the manufacturing capital of Canada, whether it be in auto, whether it be in steel, whether it be in plastics, or whether it be in forestry. Do you know what it did? It created jobs right across the province of Ontario—jobs in my community of Niagara, in Oshawa, Toronto, up north, and Windsor. That’s what happens when you make sure you have a publicly funded hydro system, which you guys have decided to destroy.

His plan worked for a century—not a couple of days; not a couple of years; a century. Beck’s plan worked, and allowed us to enjoy some of the cheapest hydro rates in North America. That’s why businesses came to Ontario: because they knew they could access a good workforce and electricity that was cheap. If you talk to anybody who has been involved in business, they will tell you that.

Sir Adam Beck had an ability to draw news in his time. During the struggle for public hydro, they organized an event as they electrified the town of Kitchener. A little history lesson for those who want to listen: On October 10, 1910, Sir Adam Beck flipped a switch which slowly lit up the town. This is 1910. The electricity went through each home and business, turning on lights where they had them until it reached a town square and lit up a sign. Do you know what that sign said? I’ll ask anybody. Does anybody know what the sign said? They’re not listening; maybe my colleagues might know.

Interjection: I don’t know.

Mr. Wayne Gates: “For the people.” That’s where “for the people” came from, because electricity was for all the people. It wasn’t for a select few; it wasn’t for our buddies. It was for everybody. Mr. Speaker, that sign was Sir Adam Beck talking to residents about a publicly owned and operated hydro system that provided for people across the province.

When I see this motion take that wording, I get very confused. Now, some people say I get confused very easily, but having said that, this government refuses to commit to a publicly owned hydro utility. In fact, it was them who said to sell Hydro One in the first place. We know that; it’s going back into the Harris days when he decided to sell hydro, and he was going to do it until he ended up in court. We have to thank CUPE for taking that issue on, on behalf of all Ontarians.

How dare they take Sir Adam Beck’s words and use them for them? Sir Adam Beck was talking about owning a public utility and using it for the benefit of all, meaning all the people, Mr. Speaker—all the people. This government was talking about taking our public utility and using it for the benefit of a few shareholders who own the stocks. Think about that. Their friends are making money at the expense of us, at the expense of seniors, at the expense of small business and big business, so that a few people, a few shareholders, could get rich.

Sir Adam Beck wasn’t looking at getting rich, because he was really for the people. He was for our communities. Make no mistake about this history; it isn’t hard to find, Mr. Speaker.

Think about this: This motion says that this government is for the people and focused on keeping money in residents’ pockets. If that was the case, why wouldn’t they tell us how much the former CEO of Hydro One, Mayo Schmidt, walked away with? Everybody in this House knows I talked about Mayo Schmidt a number of times. Maybe for some of the new members, the ones who did a great job today telling us why they got involved, what it means to be an MPP in their community, and the job they’re going to do—that’s all good stuff.

But I remember Mayo Schmidt when he was making $6 million. He had a press conference. Do you know what he said at the press conference, as our hydro rates went up 300% because we sold it off? Do you know what he said? He’s making $6 million, and he felt our pain. He felt the pain of seniors. He felt the pain of the small business owners who were losing their businesses because they couldn’t afford their hydro rates. That’s the type of individual he was, so I am not sticking up for Mr. Schmidt the CEO, let me tell you that. He didn’t feel anybody’s pain except his own. Do you know where his pain was, Mr. Speaker?

In his wallet. See, the Speaker got it. It was in his wallet; absolutely, that’s where it was. That’s where his pain was, every Friday when he got that big cheque that wouldn’t fit into his wallet.

Doug Ford said he has received nothing after being let go from Hydro One, that he’s not getting anything. Let me think about this. The guy was making $6 million, and he was going to walk away and wouldn’t get anything? You know what? I don’t think this guy is a stupid man. I think he’s probably a pretty sharp man. He’s not walking away with nothing, trust me. He didn’t take all that heat for all those months and walk away with nothing. He didn’t.

To his credit—give the guy credit, because I bargain and I know how bargaining works; it’s all about power—he had some power to walk away. People won’t admit that but he did. He walked away from being the six-million-dollar man, and do you know what he became? The 10-million-dollar man. The same guy who feels the pain of everybody in the province of Ontario—he feels our pain, but he said, “You know what? My pain is really hurting today and I’m going to walk away with $10 million. And whatever happens to Hydro One doesn’t matter because I got my wallet”—to your point, Mr. Speaker, filled with cookies. Or money.

We have no idea what the process is going to look like going forward. I think this is fair, by the way, on my part: Again, I’m left asking: Does that sound like it’s for the people? Can anybody tell me that sounds like it’s for the people? The senior today who can’t get dental care, the senior today who is on a waiting list who has issues in a hospital, or sitting in long-term care and can’t find a bed, or in the hallway in a hospital, like my colleague just said. And don’t tell me they’re not sitting in a hallway in our hospitals for 10, 12, 14 hours.

Some can’t be admitted to a bed because we’ve closed so many beds in the province of Ontario. Do you know where they end up? They end up in that hallway for four and five and six days. Think about it. It could be us. There are a few old people here. But it could be our parents or our grandparents who are sitting in that hallway, and that’s where they die. Somebody tell me that’s with dignity. It’s not. We have to fix that.

Let’s talk about another part of this motion: The ability to trust the government. You know what one of the major criticisms of the last Liberal government was? You know what it was, Mr. Speaker? It was the fact that they didn’t run on a platform of selling Hydro One, and then proceeded to do it anyway. We know the Conservatives wanted to privatize it, so we knew where they were. But, quite frankly, the Liberal government did not tell anybody they wanted to privatize hydro. Somebody said to me, “Well, how do you know that?” I’ll tell you how I knew: I ran in a by-election.

Some of the new members might know exactly what a by-election is. That meant I did a number of debates. Do you know who was at the debates? The Liberal candidate. Not once in the by-election did they raise that they wanted to sell Hydro One—not once. And then—and you guys can clap if you like—I won the by-election. Four months later, guess what happened? Two things could have happened, Mr. Speaker. I’ve told you this story. We had another election in four months. Two things could have happened: I could have been the shortest-term MPP in the history of Ontario politics, and the shortest. So two things could have happened there; I would have been short on both ends.

We ran in a general election. What happens again? As we all know—we all just went through it—you go to debates. You have debates and you’re asked questions from the floor. Not one Liberal person stood up and said, “I want us to privatize hydro.” And then they did it. That’s what happened with them. And, quite frankly, I think—and I’ve said this a hundred times right in this House—that one of the major reasons, if not the biggest reason, that they saw the result that they did in the last election—they did a standing ovation the other day and nobody heard them. Do you remember that? They stood up and clapped.

You couldn’t even hear them in here. They went back to seven seats. It was because you sold off hydro. Because it hit everybody. Because you can’t be for the people if you are going to raise their hydro rates. You are going to hurt business, you’re going to hurt seniors, you’re going to hurt our hospitals and our recreation facilities. It hit everybody.

So this government comes in, and what’s the first thing they do? What’s the first thing you do? You cancel elections. I’m glad you didn’t cancel mine. I wouldn’t be here. Not once, not twice, three times. If you had cancelled any of them I wouldn’t be here, so I’m glad you didn’t have power then. Who knows? You might have cancelled my election, because you cancelled the regional chair’s election in Niagara, which makes absolutely no sense and hopefully I’ll get to that. I’ve only got a couple of minutes left, but I’ll try and get to that.

I might as well get to it right now. You cancelled the election in Niagara region. By the way, there is probably no other area in all of Ontario that needs to have an election for regional chair. We’ve had all kinds of issues in Niagara. And Mr. Ford, the Premier of Ontario, was in Pelham a week ago with the member—

Interjection: Oosterhoff.

Mr. Wayne Gates: Yes. I can’t say his name. But, anyway, the member from the PC Party. And do you know who he is standing there getting a picture with? Think about this: He’s getting a picture with the two guys who are running for regional chair, Mr. Augustyn and Mr. Caslin. Do you think he would have said to them, “Take a good look at this picture because you guys aren’t having an election”? He didn’t do that. He got a nice picture with them. I think it was even in one of the papers. It’s all over Twitter, it’s all over Facebook. These two guys are running against each other, and guess what happens?

They cancel their election. No disrespect to Mr. Caslin and to Mr. Augustyn, but do you know what they had already done? They had already bought time in the paper; they were campaigning.

But here’s the thing, and I’ll ask everybody in this room about elections: You don’t make a decision to run for MP or for city councillor or for president of a local union without having some kind of dialogue with your family. I’ve said this a hundred times: The most important part of our lives is our family, our kids and our grandkids. When you put yourself forward, you’re open to criticism. That means there may be articles in the paper that people say you’re not a good guy or you’re not doing your job. You’ve got to prepare your family for that.

When you put your name forward and you do all that, you’re not expecting on the last day of registering for an election to have your election cancelled. It shows total disrespect for democracy and total disrespect for the candidates who have done all that work with their family and their friends.

It was absolutely disgraceful that just a week before, he gets a picture with the two guys who were going to run against each other. Think about that: They were running against each other, but they had no problem getting a picture together—because you know what? They both wanted to be regional chair. And do you know why? Because they both think that they would do what’s in the best interests of Niagara. And that’s fair, for the people.

Let me tell you—and I’ll tell the Premier as well—cancelling the election in Niagara is not for the people, not at all. Yesterday, you spent an hour and a half here in question period: one mention of Niagara, because it was never about Niagara; it’s about Toronto. But to Mr. Augustyn and Mr. Caslin for putting their name forward, I congratulate them. It’s unfortunate what happened.

In Niagara—I’ll tell you this just quickly—we had four people running for regional chair. Four candidates—I’ll go over this again—who spent money, who came to the decision after months of deliberation with their families and who have worked hard to reach out to the new communities. The Premier cancelled their election. How is that possible? How can you trust a government that cancels your right to vote on your elected head of government? Your elected head of government; we weren’t voting for the captain of the hockey team—something which I’ve never been, by the way, Mr. Speaker. I’ve never been the captain of my hockey team. I was a goalie, just for the record.

Mr. Speaker, people in Niagara have been preparing for an election, and five hours before the deadline, the Premier cancels that election. Explain to me how that instills trust. How is that for the people? It’s no different than what he’s doing in the business world by cancelling contracts without warning. He’s breaking the trust that this province must build to attract businesses, the trust that, by the way, has gone on for years. Who will enter into a contract with the province of Ontario if they know the Premier can just tear up those contracts anytime he likes?

I signed a lot of collective agreements in my day: 150. My colleague talked—I think he said 67. I would never think after I put my name on a contract, I’d rip it up. It’s not what you do. You look across the table at the party, you talk to your membership, and when we all sign our name, it’s there. Whether it’s a three-year contract or a five-year contract, it means something to that relationship and that trust that you have to build.

But in the province of Ontario, “Yeah, just sign here and if I don’t like what we did in a year, we’ll just rip it up.” Think about that. We just rip it up. That’s what it is. They just pick it up, and they just do this: Watch, Mr. Speaker. That’s what they do; they rip it up. Does that make sense? Does that put trust in the government? Is it for the people? Absolutely not.

I’m going to have to tape that back together, I guess, so I can read it.

Laughter.

Mr. Wayne Gates: It looked good, but it’s harder to read now; I’m just saying.

Mr. Speaker, what was that contract? A renewable energy project in a member’s riding. Just an example of how this government doesn’t care about protecting our environment. And I want to get to the environment.

Protecting the environment is the single most important thing we can do as members of this Legislature. Every time I go into the classrooms to speak—and I don’t go just to high school; I go to grade 3, grade 4, grade 5. I talk to them all. I like to go to grades 3, 4 and 5 because I’m taller than the kids there. But having said that, a politician coming, you’d think they’re not going to be engaged. But do you know when they get engaged? When you talk about the environment.

Young kids, as early as grades 2 and 3, understand the importance of the environment. They understand that we can’t survive in this world without clean drinking water. And you think about clean drinking water, and they talk about clean air. But think about clean drinking water, as we all get water here, given to us right here. Look at it, it’s nice and clean. Go talk to the First Nations reserve in Brantford where for 14 years they’ve been boiling their water in the province of Ontario. Think about if that went across the province. Up north, it’s the same way. Nobody in the province of Ontario should have to boil their water, but it’s happening.

Across the world, one of the most important things we have is our water. We’d better start protecting it.

I’ll finish up by saying that in Niagara Falls, we had raw sewage in our rivers. We can’t put raw sewage in our rivers either.

Thank you very much for giving me part of your time.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Percy Hatfield): Further debate?

Mr. Lorne Coe: Thank you, Speaker. You’ll know from your experience in this House that it’s sometimes helpful to restate the government order that’s under debate. I’m just going to do that because I think it’s going to refocus the dialogue in the House, as it should:

“That, in the opinion of this House, the current government is a government for the people, with a clear mandate to pursue policies that put more money in people’s pockets; create and protect jobs; address the hydro crisis; reduce hospital wait times; and restore accountability and trust in government.” That’s the order we’ve been debating for the last couple of days—longer than we would have anticipated due to some of the procedural approaches that the opposition has taken.

John F. Kennedy, the late American President, once said this: “Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or the present are certain to miss the future.” For too long, people in my riding, the great riding of Whitby, and other parts of Ontario have worked more, paid more, but gotten less. Those days are over and help is on the way.

The days ahead will build on the achievements the government for the people have already made, such as freeing taxpayers from the cap-and-trade carbon tax scheme, fixing OHIP+ and reining in government spending, creating and protecting jobs. Promises made, promises kept.

Speaker, not unlike many of the members, including you, in this House, I meet regularly with the Whitby Chamber of Commerce and, up until the last election, the Oshawa chamber of commerce as well. Whether it’s agriculture, food, service, retail, or construction, the message is always the same—and I’m not being critical in that. What they’re telling me is that it’s time for a government that listens to local business owners, and a Premier Ford-led government will do exactly that. Together, we’ll create unprecedented jobs and prosperity and send a message to the world that Ontario is open for business.

What’s clear is that, once again, we can put Ontario on a healthy financial footing and ensure that we can afford to maintain and strengthen our hospitals and other vital public services. We can rebuild the trust between the people and their government based on a shared and simple principle.

Ontario residents should not be forced to pay more. You heard it at the doors; I heard it at the doors during the last election. Instead, the government should be working harder, smarter and more efficiently to make life better for you and your family. The government for the people believes that no dollar is better spent than a dollar that is left in the pockets of the taxpayer. Promises made—

Interjection: Promises kept.

Mr. Lorne Coe: That’s why our government will take action to reduce gas prices and lower Ontarians’ hydro bills.

Speaker, you’ll know from the recent introduction of the bill by our Honourable Minister of the Environment that we’re scrapping the cap-and-trade carbon tax. The orderly and transparent legislation is going to wind down the cap-and-trade carbon tax in a way that minimizes the risk to taxpayers while offering support for eligible registered participants in the previous program.

Eliminating the cap-and-trade carbon tax will save the average family $260 per year. You’ll know, again from going to the doors, people can’t pay any more. They’re looking for relief. They’re looking for help. Help is on the way. Eliminating the cap-and-trade carbon tax is a necessary next step to reducing gas prices by 10 cents per litre.

We are going to be using every tool at our disposal to fight the federal government’s plan to impose a punishing carbon tax on Ontario families, including supporting Saskatchewan’s court challenges. Promises made, promises kept.

In my introduction, I talked about the importance of and restated the order that we’re debating. It also talks about protecting jobs. We’ve already taken action. We’ve taken a lot of action, including on thousands of jobs across Ontario that depend on the continued operation of the Pickering nuclear generating station. There are many members in this Legislature, including my colleague who spoke so well earlier from the riding of Durham, who have residents in their riding who work at the Pickering nuclear generating station, including from the great town of Whitby and from Oshawa as well.

The Premier Ford government’s commitment to keeping open the Pickering plant, which began operations of its A station in 1971, will save and protect 4,500 local jobs in addition to 3,000 other jobs that are dependent on the nuclear industry in Durham. Promises made—

Interjections: Promises kept.

Mr. Lorne Coe: The move to preserve the operations at OPG’s Pickering facility makes sense from a power generation standpoint, too. Speaker, you will understand this from your experience as a critic in this area earlier, before I arrived in the Legislature. The station adds to energy security within Ontario by providing power for 1.5 million homes every day, and is responsible for 14% of the electricity in the province. Pickering represents a large block of energy production that would be hard to replace in the short term; it really would. It’s certainly necessary for the ongoing refurbishment at the Darlington station, as the member from Durham can speak so well to.

The government’s commitment has huge ramifications for the entire province, not only the region of Durham. An impact analysis on Ontario’s economy which was completed in partnership with the Ajax-Pickering Board of Trade, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce and the Canadian Centre for Economic Analysis, and which was sponsored by Ontario Power Generation, found three major benefits to continued operations in Pickering until 2024. Listen carefully: $1.54 billion to Ontario’s gross domestic product per year—that’s per year; 7,590 full-time-equivalent jobs per year; $290 million in government taxation revenues, $155 million federal and $135 million provincial.

The Pickering nuclear plant is a win-win situation, obviously, when you look at that independent analysis, for the workers for Ontario Power Generation and for Durham region. Speaker, not unlike yourself, I had the privilege of serving as a regional councillor on the Durham regional council. I know how instrumental, how critical, this power generation plant is to the economic viability of the region of Durham and to the families across that region of Durham.

This government believes in made-in-Ontario electricity and made-in-Ontario jobs. Promises made, promises kept. Meanwhile, too many people, as I go through my riding—as you would expect, I go to other parts of the region of Durham, not unlike the member from Oshawa and the member from Durham. In our discussions and engagement—because we’re not here at Queen’s Park alone; we’re in our ridings—too many people that we engage with are feeling excluded from a system that too often seems tilted in the direction of insiders and the elite.

The Doug Ford government intends to tackle this problem root and stem by calling, as we already have, a commission of inquiry into the financial practices of government to identify ways to restore accountability and trust in Ontario’s public finances. It includes—and it has already started—a thorough, line-by-line audit of all government spending that will identify and eliminate duplication and waste.

Speaker, what’s clear is that we’ve acted swiftly to restore public confidence in Ontario’s electricity system. Ontario ratepayers will benefit from $790 million in savings. Just stay with that for a moment, Speaker: $790 million in savings, thanks to the government’s decision to cancel and wind down 758 renewable energy contracts. Promises made—

Interjections: —promises kept.

Mr. Lorne Coe: Promises kept.

We clearly indicated during the campaign that we would cancel these unnecessary and wasteful energy projects as part of our plan to cut hydro rates by 12% for families, farmers, and small businesses. In the past few weeks, we’ve taken significant steps towards keeping that promise. All of the cancelled projects have not reached project development milestones, and terminating the projects at this early stage will maximize benefits for ratepayers. Even after all the costs are accounted for, ratepayers can expect to benefit from $790 million in savings from this one decision over all.

I’m conscious of my time, Speaker, so I just wanted to move on to another area, related to health care.

During my time on regional council, I chaired the health and social services committee, I was the president of the Ontario association of non-profit health agencies, and chaired several other health care-related and social services committees going forward. At one time, I worked here at Queen’s Park as a civil servant in the Ministry of Health and several other ministries and crown agencies. So I bring a perspective that I think perhaps rounds out the discussion on health care and social services, moving forward, and correlates to the government order before us—not straying too far from that intent.

Ontario residents can also count on the government to respect our doctors, nurses, and other health care practitioners by working collaboratively with them to ensure we have a system that treats everyone fairly by putting the interests of patients first.

The member from Durham, in her inaugural speech, spoke about long-term care and the impacts in her particular riding. But there’s an underpinning to that, Speaker: The underpinning to that is failed Liberal health care policies. You know that; I know that; everyone seated here this morning knows that; people watching know that. More than 26,000 people are on wait-lists for long-term-care residency in Ontario—shameful; absolutely shameful. With an average wait time of over 100 days, seniors’ organizations and advocates for the long-term-care-home industry say that those figures are only going to grow.

And that makes sense, doesn’t it? When you look at the demographics that are issued every six months by the Ontario Ministry of Finance, they show, increasingly, an upward trend of seniors growing across Ontario.

That is why we’ll be investing in 15,000 long-term-care beds in five years and 30,000 new beds over the next 10 years. Promises made—

Interjections: —promises kept.

Mr. Lorne Coe: Promises kept.

Speaker, our parents, grandparents and others within our communities across Ontario deserve more than long wait times and out-of-date homes. They deserve much more.

Yes, I’m wrapping up.

In closing, I just wanted to draw attention to some of the delaying tactics that have occurred with the opposition related to this particular motion and other particular motions that we have coming forward, some of which we’ll be discussing later today. I alluded to the fact that we’re all in our ridings on a regular basis and we’re listening very carefully to what the demands are from the residents we have the privilege of serving. They’ve made it very clear in articulating them. They are reflected in this government order 2, and they will be reflected in other government orders coming forward. I would hope that the opposition will listen carefully to the intent and purposes.

Promises made, promises kept.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Percy Hatfield): The time for debate this morning has expired.

Debate deemed adjourned.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Percy Hatfield): We will stand in recess until 10:30 this morning.

The House recessed from 1016 to 1030.

Introduction of Visitors

Hon. Michael A. Tibollo: I’d like to introduce my family that’s here today. My wife of 33 years, Silvana, is present here today; my children Michael and Mercedes; my mother-in-law, who has lived here for the last 65 years, Delia Sicilia; and my aunt-in-law, who is here as well. Both have lived in this country for the last 65 years.

Mrs. Gila Martow: I’m very pleased to welcome Perry Goldberg from Toronto, here with our mutual friend the former MPP for Thornhill, my riding, the wonderful Peter Shurman.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Yes, indeed. We welcome the member for Thornhill in the 39th and 40th Parliaments. It’s great to have you here.

Mr. Daryl Kramp: There’s no greater bounty and treasure than family, and today I have an abundance here and/or on the way.

I have, of course, my wife—the deserving soul—of 48 years; Carol Ann will be here. I have three wonderful daughters, Kari, Taryl and Shelby; wonderful sons-in-law—my sons-in-law; their husbands, of course—Brad, Geordie and Tadum; seven grandkids who will be here—and, might I add, formidable campaigners—we will have Ky, Annabelle, Tori, Ainsley, Reese, Henry and Kash. Thank you. Love you all.

Hon. Raymond Sung Joon Cho: I’m very, very happy to introduce a resident from my riding, Geoff Spilar. He worked so hard during the election. We’ve been friends for years. He’s an excellent person. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Ms. Marit Stiles: I’m pleased to welcome today a recent graduate of the Toronto Catholic school board and a resident of my riding, Alexandra Kurtesi.

Mr. Sam Oosterhoff: I have the pleasure to introduce today a couple of visitors in the members’ gallery: two high school teachers, Catalina Diaz from Hawthorn school and Catherine Gay from the Foundations academy; and law student Laura Rodriguez from the university of Carlos III in Madrid. Thank you very much for being here today.

Ms. Lindsey Park: I had the privilege this morning of giving my inaugural speech in the Legislature. Later today will be my ceremonial swearing-in, so I have a bunch of guests in the gallery today from the riding. We have David Prashad, Brenda Virtue, Neil McAlister and, from our constituency office, Sheryl Greenham—everyone in Durham politics knows Sheryl. Of course, I’ll also introduce Howard Brown in the members’ gallery today.

Mr. Sheref Sabawy: I have the honour to introduce Eduardo Harari, my guest. He’s a Hispanic community leader and founder of various not-for-profit organizations enhancing the contributions of the community across Canada through cultural and education events. Thank you. Welcome.

Report, Office of the Integrity Commissioner

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I beg to inform the House that the following document has been tabled: a report from the Office of the Integrity Commissioner of Ontario concerning the review of expense claims under the Cabinet Ministers’ and Opposition Leaders’ Expenses Review and Accountability Act, 2002, for submissions received in April 2018 and complete as of July 27, 2018.

Decorum in chamber

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Before I ask for oral questions, I would remind the House that when you are speaking in the House, especially during question period, you are to address your remarks to the Speaker, through the Chair, at all times.

Oral Questions

Municipal elections

Ms. Andrea Horwath: My first question is for the Premier. The Premier had an entire election campaign to look people in the eye and tell them exactly what he was going to do. But instead of being straight up with the people of Toronto, Peel, York, Niagara and Muskoka, he deliberately kept his plot from millions of voters.

Why didn’t the Premier tell the people about his secret plan to rip up Toronto’s wards and cancel regional elections?

Hon. Doug Ford: Through you, Mr. Speaker: We have big issues in this province. We need to fix health care. We need to create jobs. We need to lower hydro rates and lower taxes. But clearly the Leader of the Opposition doesn’t care about these important issues that matter to the people of Ontario. She only cares about protecting a bunch of politicians’ jobs. This is the second day in a row that the Leader of the Opposition stood up, again, saving politicians’ jobs.

Our party is trying to save the taxpayers money. I’m trying to make a government work for the people, and the opposition is trying to elect more politicians. That’s where their priorities are. I just wish—

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Thank you.

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Thank you.

Supplementary.

Ms. Andrea Horwath: People see exactly what this Premier is doing, and they don’t like it one bit, Speaker. He’s stealing power away from voters, cancelling elections that were already under way and ripping up Toronto’s wards in the middle of a campaign. There was no consultation and no fair process, but the Premier is barging ahead anyway and inflicting his own will on millions of people, millions of voters.

Why is this Premier treating the people of Ontario with such complete and total contempt?

Hon. Doug Ford: Through you, Mr. Speaker, as I was saying, I wish the Leader of the Opposition would spend half the amount of time focusing on priorities that matter to the people of Ontario, that matter when it comes to hospital wait times, when they open their hydro bill every single month and see that they have the highest hydro rates, the highest taxes.

I can assure you, Mr. Speaker, that the people of Hamilton did not elect the Leader of the Opposition to protect a bunch of politicians’ jobs in Toronto. They elected the Leader of the Opposition to lower their hydro rates, like we’re doing. We’re well on our way to lowering hydro rates by 12%. We’re well on our way to reducing personal income tax by 20%. We’re well on our way to making sure we have a good governance system and we get the city of Toronto back on track. There is total gridlock at the city of Toronto—

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Thank you.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Stop the clock. Members will take their seats.

Restart the clock. Final supplementary.

Ms. Andrea Horwath: The people of Ontario can see right through the Premier’s bluster, Speaker, and they don’t see a leader; they see a bully. They see a man who is taking petty, vindictive and mean-spirited retaliation against millions of voters, against a city that rejected him, and against his own political opponents.

Why is this Premier abusing the powers of his office with the most outrageous, antidemocratic action that Ontario has seen in many, many, many years?

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Members, take your seats.

Premier?

Hon. Doug Ford: Through you, Mr. Speaker: Myself and the Leader of the Opposition differ on a few items. The Leader of the Opposition believes in big government, more politicians, higher taxes, high carbon tax, high cap-and-trade. We believe in getting rid of the carbon tax, getting rid of the cap-and-trade, which we are doing and did. We believe in building transit for the great people of Toronto and the GTA. We believe in streamlining the government—I will repeat, streamlining the government, making government work for the people, not the people working for the government; that’s their philosophy.

We’re going to focus on running an efficient government. We’re going to focus on respecting the taxpayers. We’re going to focus on putting money back into the taxpayers’ pockets.

Municipal elections

Ms. Andrea Horwath: My next question is also for the Premier. It’s too bad he doesn’t believe in democracy, though. It’s just too bad he doesn’t believe in democracy.

The people of Toronto should have had the power to decide on how they are represented, who they elect and what Toronto city council should look like. No one else should have that decision—no one else. It should be up to the people of Toronto. That’s why council voted yesterday to oppose the Premier’s plot to rip up wards in the middle of the campaign.

The question is, why exactly is it that this Premier is trying to rig the election and put more power in his own hands?

Interjections.

Hon. Doug Ford: Tell me when I’m ready.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Premier.

Hon. Doug Ford: Through you, Mr. Speaker: Again, this is where we differ a little bit. We believe in streamlining the government. We believe in democracy. We believe in representing the people. Democracy is doing what we said we’re going to do. We said we were going to reduce the size and cost of government, and that is exactly what we’re doing. We’re going to make sure that we get the city of Toronto—the dysfunctional city of Toronto—back on track.

My friends, I want to congratulate the councillors who stood up, 17 of them, for respecting the taxpayers. Councillors Gary Crawford, Vincent Crisanti, Glenn De Baeremaeker, Justin Di Ciano, Frank Di Giorgio, Michael Ford, Mark Grimes, Michelle Holland, Stephen Holyday, Norm Kelly, Giorgio Mammoliti, Denzil Minnan-Wong, Frances Nunziata, Cesar Palacio, Jaye Robinson, David Shiner and Michael Thompson respect the taxpayers.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Stop the clock. Members will take their seats. Start the clock.

Supplementary?

Ms. Andrea Horwath: A little lesson in democracy: That’s less than 50%, Speaker.

What this Premier has not, I think, acknowledged is that what his decision is all about is election-rigging. Anybody who thinks that he gets to decide how to define a democracy really speaks to the issue of his belief in being a dictator as opposed to—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I’m going to again caution the members on intemperate language, because it inflames passions and makes it impossible to have decorum in this House. I’m going to ask the Leader of the Opposition to withdraw that comment.

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Withdraw, Speaker.

The Premier’s secret plot is fundamentally at odds with our democracy. It is not up to one man to decide how an entire city should be governed. It is not up to one man to decide what Toronto’s government should look like. And it is not up to one man to discard years and years of public consultation and impose his own hidden agenda on millions of people.

What is it about democracy that this Premier does not get?

Hon. Doug Ford: Through you, Mr. Speaker: I love the fact that politicians, the ones the Leader of the Opposition is trying to protect—they’re trying to protect their little fiefdom. I can tell you one thing. Did anyone in this room ever get consulted when they wanted to increase the politicians? No. The answer is no. So they rammed it through—a perfect example of how dysfunctional the city is.

You watch it. Yesterday on the news you could see the dysfunction down there. We’re going to make sure we run the city of Toronto more efficiently, with 25 councillors, as we have 25 MPs and 25 MPPs.

As I said the other day, the city of Los Angeles, with four million people, has 15 councillors. Imagine that. Imagine less politicians. Imagine respecting the taxpayers. Imagine reducing taxes. I know you don’t believe in reducing taxes. Our party believes in the reduction of taxes.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Stop the clock. Members will take their seats.

Final supplementary? Restart the clock.

Ms. Andrea Horwath: The Premier’s assault on local democracy is all about helping him take revenge on his political opponents and punishing the people of Toronto who have rejected him over and over again.

Yesterday, Councillor Mammoliti let the mask slip and revealed that this plot is all about purging city council of progressive councillors. It’s all about rigging the election to increase the Premier’s control and make sure that right-wing conservatives take over the city.

At least Councillor Mammoliti had the guts to come clean, Speaker. Why doesn’t the Premier have the guts to do the same?

Hon. Doug Ford: Through you, Mr. Speaker, I’m looking at my list again, and I’m counting that half the members who are for reducing council are part of the Liberal Party. We even have one of your own, one of your own NDP staunch members, voting against you, Leader of the Opposition.

It’s very clear—

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Sorry to interrupt the Premier, but I would again remind all members of the House that you have to make your remarks through the Chair.

Premier?

Hon. Doug Ford: Mr. Speaker, it’s very clear: This isn’t about being red, orange or blue; it’s about respecting the taxpayer. It’s about making sure—they’ve been down there for a number of years. They see that nothing gets done. Transit wasn’t built under David Miller, it wasn’t built under Rob Ford and it wasn’t built under John Tory. It’s about time we stop the gridlock in the city and the GTA.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Stop the clock. Members will please take your seats. Restart the clock.

Municipal elections

Ms. Andrea Horwath: My next question is also for the Premier. Instead of a Premier who does what’s right for Ontario, we have a Premier who is focused on settling scores with his own political opponents. The people of Toronto have repeatedly voted against this Premier, so now he’s trying to punish them with a vindictive and mean-spirited attack on our local democracy.

How can this Premier be willing to attack the very principles of our democracy and rig local elections just to get political revenge on the people—

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I’m already ruling that out of order. I would ask the member, the Leader of the Opposition, again to withdraw.

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Withdraw, Speaker.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Premier?

Hon. Doug Ford: Mr. Speaker, I think the Leader of the Opposition is setting a new record for withdrawing her comments.

What the Leader of the Opposition should be focusing on is why she was elected. The reason the Leader of the Opposition should have been elected was to respect the taxpayers and protect the people in Hamilton.

I can assure you, Mr. Speaker, if I went up into Hamilton and door-knocked in the Leader of the Opposition’s area—and make no mistake about it, the Leader of the Opposition won with a large vote—I guarantee you, the doors I knock on, “Do you want more politicians in Toronto, the people of Hamilton?” they would say, “Absolutely not.” They would say, “I want lower taxes. I want to make sure our businesses thrive. I want to make sure we have lower hydro rates.” That’s what—

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Thank you.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Stop the clock.

Restart the clock. Supplementary?

Ms. Andrea Horwath: I invite the Premier to my riding. He’ll get run out of town. He will get run out of town, because there’s one thing that the people of Hamilton do respect, and that is democracy. They respect democracy, unlike this Premier.

Just a month into office, and this Premier has revealed so much about who he is. His word is worthless; his contempt for voters is on full display. He has no respect for municipal leaders. He is willing to trample on our democracy. He has abused his own office, the Office of the Premier, just to take revenge on his political opponents.

Why doesn’t this Premier understand the difference between being a leader and being a bully?

Hon. Doug Ford: Through you, Mr. Speaker, again, the Leader of the Opposition should start focusing on what matters to the people of Ontario, should start focusing on the great people of Hamilton, the hard-working people of Hamilton.

I went up there and we had rooms full of 500, 600 people packed up in Hamilton. I look forward to visiting my friends in Hamilton to tell them what the Leader of the Opposition believes in. The Leader of the Opposition believes in bigger government, higher taxes, higher hydro rates.

I think the Leader of the Opposition is worried about a couple of things: Mike Layton and Joe Cressy—that’s what the Leader of the Opposition is worried about—who will be taking the Leader of the Opposition’s job in the next little while.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Order. The House will come to order. There’s a member waiting to ask a question.

The member for Etobicoke Centre.

Municipal government

Miss Kinga Surma: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

It is very disheartening to hear the kind of angry, unparliamentary language coming from the opposition that we heard yesterday as they attacked our plan to create a smaller, more effective Toronto city council.

Our government is committed to working for the people and ensuring that their own local governments represent their views and work in an efficient and effective manner. Despite the official opposition’s vicious name-calling, isn’t it true that our legislation actually enhances local democracy?

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Stop the clock. Order. The House will please come to order. The House will come to order.

Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

Hon. Steve Clark: Mr. Speaker, through you to the member, first of all, I want to congratulate the member on being elected as MPP for Etobicoke Centre. I know that my bill is near and dear to her heart.

Our proposed legislation will not only solve the problem of a municipal government that is completely tied up in gridlock; it also addresses the important issue of voter parity. Councillor Justin Di Ciano had some excellent remarks on the subject on Friday, and I want to highlight them by quoting him: “The ridings do not belong to the councillors; they belong to Torontonians. There is a massive improvement—over a million Torontonians who will now have a fairer vote because of the decision made this morning.” That’s the quote.

If the opposition would stop with the attacks and the drive-by smears and actually look at the legislation, they’d see it’s improving local government—

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Thank you.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Stop the clock. Members will take their seats.

Mr. Taras Natyshak: Vic, you’re laughing at that? I used to have a little bit of respect for you.

Sorry, Speaker.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The member for Essex will come to order.

Supplementary?

Miss Kinga Surma: Through you, Mr. Speaker: I would like to thank the minister for that answer. I find it hard to believe that the opposition, who pretends to be standing up for democracy, wouldn’t support a plan to move closer to voter parity, which helps make sure that every voice is heard equally and represented as such at city council.

We all know that if it were up to the NDP, they would encourage even more members of council under the premise of good governance, when it’s really just a matter of bloated governance. One of the original options suggested was 48 wards. That’s 14 new councillors, 14 new speeches and over $16 million in taxpayer money over and above the existing council budget.

To the minister: Can you tell us why that just won’t work?

Hon. Steve Clark: I want to again thank the member. I’d say that just like you don’t put the fox in charge of the henhouse, you don’t let a group of politicians decide how many of them should keep their jobs.

What we’ve proposed in the Better Local Government Act is nothing new. For two decades, cutting the size of Toronto council in half has been discussed. In fact, there’s a 2014 poll that found 56% in favour of reducing council from 44 to 22 seats. But this never goes anywhere because councillors always vote to save themselves.

The NDP will have to explain why they’re champions of big government, instead of supporting the leaner, more effective council that we’re proposing.

Municipal elections

Mr. Peter Tabuns: My question for the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing: During the debate of a bill brought by the Liberals, a bill that would establish that the regional chair position for the region of York would no longer be appointed but elected, the now Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing said, “I think it speaks to the very core of our democracy ... so I hope that members will support this legislation. And perhaps we can expand it at some point down the road for all regions in the province of Ontario.”

My question for the minister is simple: What changed?

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The members will take their seats.

Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing?

Hon. Steve Clark: Thank you, Speaker. Through you to the member: I want to thank you for the question. Do you know what I think was the biggest change for New Democrats? The fact that we’re on this side of the House and they’re on that side of the House. That’s the big change.

I want to talk about a debate that took place during the election that just passed, a debate where our Premier and members on this side of the House talked about committing to reducing the size of government, to respecting the taxpayers of this province. Our government for the people was very clear during the election that we were going to make sure that a more effective and a more efficient government—at all levels—was paramount in our message to Ontarians.

Again, it should come as no surprise to Ontarians that members on that side of the House are going to stand up for big government, and members on this side of the House are going to stand up for effective and efficient smaller government.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Stop the clock. Members will take their seats.

Start the clock. Supplementary.

Mr. Peter Tabuns: Thank you, Speaker. Principle means that when you have power, it’s irrelevant; right? Principle goes out the window.

My question again for the minister: This makes it all the more likely that the Minister of Municipal Affairs, who will be forever associated with this antidemocratic legislation—forever—was as in the dark as the rest of us when it was coming down the pike.

My question: When was the minister made aware of the Premier’s unilateral decision to cut the number of councillors in Toronto? When?

Hon. Steve Clark: Again, thank you for the question. The very first time I spoke to our Premier after he was elected leader, he came to my riding and he made it crystal clear that putting the taxpayers’ dollars—respect, Speaker, respect for taxpayers’ dollars was the number one thing that was going to guide him, guide our members and guide the campaign.

Again, it’s no surprise to Ontarians that New Democrats continue to stand up for bigger government, more politicians. That’s where they stand. We’ve made it very clear time and time again: effective and efficient government, government could be more streamlined, that can make those quick, effective decisions—we’re going to choose that style of government every time.

Municipal government

Mr. Kaleed Rasheed: My question is to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. Some Toronto city councillors are calling for a referendum on our plan for a smaller, more cost-effective council. I know you have said a 25-member council will save taxpayers $25 million over the four-year term. We also know that reducing the size of council is going to ensure important decisions on building transit and housing are made faster. This means that the people of Toronto will get the better local government they deserve. But I’m concerned: No one is considering what a referendum will actually cost. Minister, can you provide the House with details?

Hon. Steve Clark: I want to thank the member for Mississauga East–Cooksville for the question. It’s a great question. You’re absolutely right—Speaker, through you—that we haven’t heard anything about the cost of a referendum, which has to be part of the discussion if you’re going to respect taxpayers. We know that, in 2012, city staff indicated a special referendum would cost as much as an election, or about $7 million. For comparison, in 2014, Toronto’s election cost $8.3 million.

Here’s a question I’d like to ask taxpayers: Would they rather spend $7 million to $8 million on a referendum asking if you should keep more politicians, or would you rather save $25 million and save that money on politicians? You know something, Speaker? I think I know the answer to that question.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Stop the clock.

Start the clock. Supplementary?

Mr. Kaleed Rasheed: Thank you, Minister, for your response and for letting taxpayers know the truth about the cost of a referendum. Hearing those numbers, I’m sure taxpayers would rather have their councillors at city hall taking actions to improve life for—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The House will come to order. The Leader of the Opposition and the Premier will come to order.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The Leader of the Opposition and the Premier will come to order.

Ms. Andrea Horwath: That’s a false accusation. Take it back. Take it back.

Hon. Doug Ford: He should recuse himself.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I was listening to the—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The Leader of the Opposition and the Premier will come to order.

I’m going to recess the House for five minutes.

The House recessed from 1105 to 1110.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Members can take their seats.

Before we resume question period, I wish to explain to the House what just happened, as far as I know. The member for Mississauga East–Cooksville was in the midst of a supplementary question. I was listening to it intently. Apparently something may have been said which caused grave disorder, such that the Speaker felt it was necessary to recess the House.

I didn’t hear any of the comments that may or may not have been made, but I would ask: If there are any members who would like to withdraw any unparliamentary comment, I would appreciate their willingness to do so.

All right. I would ask the House for order for the remainder of question period.

The member for Mississauga East–Cooksville: supplementary?

Mr. Kaleed Rasheed: Thank you, Minister, for your response and for letting taxpayers know the truth about the cost of a referendum. Hearing those numbers, I’m sure taxpayers would rather have their councillors at city hall taking actions to improve life for everyday residents of Toronto than wasting time and money on a costly referendum, keeping more politicians on the payroll.

Frankly, this debate is part of the reason we need these reforms. Looking beyond the cost, without a referendum, what gives you the confidence to say that our legislation is something the people support?

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Stop the clock.

Restart the clock.

Minister?

Hon. Steve Clark: Thank you, Speaker, and again, through you, I want to thank the member from Mississauga East–Cooksville for all of your advocacy and all your efforts. You’re a real class act. We’re lucky to have you in the caucus.

No one has a better feel for the pulse of taxpayers in this city or our province than Premier Doug Ford. We heard loud and clear from voters during the recent provincial election that they want governments at all levels—and I want to stress that; at all levels—to work for them, to work for the people.

There’s no better referendum, Speaker, than the election we just went through, one that sent us here with a majority and a mandate to reduce the size and cost of government. We talked to tens of thousands of people—tens of thousands of people—who wanted us to take action—quick action—after the election. That’s what the Better Local Government Act does for the people of Toronto and for the regions of York, Peel, Niagara and Muskoka. That’s what it does.

Public consultation

Ms. Jessica Bell: My question is for the Premier. Why is the Premier only interested in proper public consultation when it serves his far-right extremist friends who want to drag Ontario’s health curriculum back to 1998?

Hon. Doug Ford: To the Minister of Government and Consumer Services.

Hon. Todd Smith: In my capacity as government House leader, we will be standing on standing order 37(h). We will not be answering any questions from the official opposition until we get some kind of an apology from the member opposite who made those comments. We will no longer be answering questions from the official opposition today.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Members will take your seats. Stop the clock.

Supplementary question?

Ms. Jessica Bell: This Premier has railed on and on about the significance of public engagement, yet he refuses to let the people of Toronto make their own decision about their government. It’s clear that his word means very little. He wants it when he wants to roll back the Ontario health education curriculum, but he skips it when the results could threaten his ego.

If public engagement is so important to this Premier, then why is he trampling over the people of Toronto and forcing this change on them with no input whatsoever?

Hon. Todd Smith: Speaker, the members opposite can continue to ask questions of our government, but until we get some kind of formal apology, as is our right under standing order 37(h), which says, “A minister may, in his or her discretion, decline to answer” questions, the government will not be answering any questions from the official opposition here this morning.

There’s a simple solution to this problem. Everybody makes mistakes, Mr. Speaker. All we’re expecting is an apology for the member of this side of the House who asked a question earlier in question period, and we will not be answering any further questions from the members of the official opposition until that happens.

Immigration francophone / Francophone immigration

M me Marie-France Lalonde: My question is for the Premier. L’immigration francophone est cruciale pour la vitalité et la prospérité des Franco-Ontariens. Ceci dit, votre gouvernement ne travaille pas vraiment en partenariat avec Immigration Canada, a éliminé les postes des ministres de la citoyenneté et de la francophonie et a fait savoir à maintes reprises qu’investir davantage dans la francophonie n’était pas une priorité.

Donc, my question: Est-ce que le premier ministre peut nous expliquer, en termes concrets, les moyens que son gouvernement va prendre pour s’attaquer à cet enjeu important?

Hon. Doug Ford: Minister responsible for immigration.

Hon. Lisa MacLeod: Thank you very much for the question and thank you to the Premier for the opportunity to respond. I’ll have my colleague the minister responsible for francophone affairs address you in the supplemental.

Ontario has set a target of 5% francophone immigration, and we’ve implemented a number of initiatives to increase the number of francophones in the province, including the Ontario express entry French-speaking skilled worker stream, which is an immigration pathway for potential French-speaking immigrants who have skills to succeed in our labour market.

My ministry also funds a municipal francophone immigration web portal, which is dedicated to profiling immigration opportunities in the province’s francophone communities.

But most of all, Ontario will continue to undertake a variety of international outreach and promotion initiatives in order to reach francophone audiences worldwide. I can speak on behalf of this government that myself and the minister of francophone affairs have spoken about this several times since being elected as seatmates. We intend to undertake more initiatives throughout the rest of the world.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Supplementary?

M me Marie-France Lalonde: Écoutez, encore une fois, il y a beaucoup de raisons de croire que ce gouvernement semble concret et confirmé en son engagement envers la francophonie. Il y a une

partie de la réponse qui a été notée concernant la

part internationale—mais aussi d’autres programmes qui existent depuis les dernières années pour la francophonie.

Hon. Lisa MacLeod: The minister responsible for francophone affairs.

L’hon. Caroline Mulroney: Le gouvernement maintient son engagement envers l’immigration francophone.

Notre gouvernement reconnaît l’apport du patrimoine culturel de la population francophone, et nous désirons le sauvegarder pour les générations à venir. C’est pour ça que, en tant que ministre déléguée aux Affaires francophones, je m’engage à travailler avec ma collègue la ministre responsable de l’Immigration pour mettre en place des stratégies pour encourager l’immigration francophone et pour réaliser l’épanouissement de la communauté franco-ontarienne.

Human trafficking

Ms. Natalia Kusendova: My question is for the Minister of Children, Community and Social Services.

Minister, could you tell this House about our government’s commitment to raising awareness and combatting human trafficking?

Hon. Lisa MacLeod: As the minister also responsible for women in this House, I thank the member from Mississauga for her question and for her dedication to ending human trafficking in the province of Ontario.

I would be remiss if I did not point out the excellent work of my colleague and friend the Minister of Labour, who has been one of the strongest advocates in this assembly and throughout all of Canada in trying to end human trafficking. As a result, Ontario has passed legislation, because of the Minister of Labour, to allow individuals to apply for restraining orders against human traffickers and make it easier for victims of human trafficking to get compensation from those who have trafficked them, and we have proclaimed February 22 of each year as Human Trafficking Awareness Day.

Of course, yesterday was a day to remember the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons. I appreciate it, and I’ll have more to say in the supplemental, but this is an important issue that every member of this assembly should stand against.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Supplementary?

Ms. Natalia Kusendova: Thank you very much for your answer. Back to the minister: I appreciate your focus and our party’s long-standing commitment to this issue.

Yesterday, I saw your message on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. I am glad that we are reaching out to different audiences and on multiple platforms. I was troubled to learn that it is largely our neighbours, friends and family who are getting caught up in this terrible crime and that girls as young as 13 are being abused this way.

Hon. Lisa MacLeod: Speaker, through you, again: Just to build on the work that my colleague Laurie Scott has done with the Saving the Girl Next Door Act in really taking this protection of women and girls to the next level, it’s important to note that two thirds of police-reported cases of human trafficking in Canada take place in our province, and they are literally the girls next door. Women and girls are disproportionately represented in victims of human trafficking.

We’re going to continue to work in my ministry with community organizations, police forces, international partners and government ministries to try to solve this crisis. Human trafficking is an offence under the Criminal Code of Canada, but provinces are taking action. I will continue to work with my ministerial colleagues in order to make sure that there is greater enforcement when these issues arise.

Municipal elections

Mr. Jeff Burch: Mr. Speaker, through you to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing: This year, for the first time ever, the people of Niagara were going to be able to elect their Niagara regional chair. But since the Premier started cooking up backroom deals with his friends to meddle in municipal elections, he has removed their democratic power.

As the minister should know, people in Niagara have serious concerns about their regional representatives. The Ombudsman and the Auditor General have both been involved with investigations of their activities, and another complaint has been filed recently.

Now, more than ever, Niagara residents are looking to bring more democracy and accountability to our regional council. Will the minister show some leadership, reverse his short-sighted decision and allow the people of Niagara to elect their regional chair?

Hon. Steve Clark: To the government House leader.

Hon. Todd Smith: We will not be, as I said earlier, answering any questions from the official opposition until we get an apology on behalf of the member for Mississauga East–Cooksville. There was mockery that occurred during question period, and our right under standing order 37(

h) is that as a minister, we may, in our discretion, decline to answer any questions in this House.

We should be very proud of the member from Mississauga East–Cooksville. He arrived here—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Stop the clock. Restart the clock.

Hon. Todd Smith: Speaker, he arrived here from Pakistan in 2004. He had a very, very successful career with BlackBerry, and in less than 15 years of living here in Ontario, he’s a member of provincial Parliament at Queen’s Park in our Legislature. He deserves to be treated better than the mockery that went on this morning during question period, Speaker.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Stop the clock.

Restart the clock. Supplementary?

Mr. Jeff Burch: Mr. Speaker, through you: People in Niagara are outraged by this decision. They’re tired of the lack of transparency and accountability at the Niagara region. The action taken by this government is a slap in the face to the people of Niagara.

Just in the last few weeks, the Niagara regional chair tried to influence an ombudsman’s investigation by using outside counsel. Mr. Speaker, cancelling the election of the chair will only allow these problems to persist.

Does the minister intend to prop up unelected, unaccountable politicians, or will he reverse this decision and give the power back to the people to elect their regional chair?

Hon. Todd Smith: Mr. Speaker, again I’ll cite standing order 37(h). We will be refusing to answer any questions from the official opposition until they actually apologize for what occurred here earlier in question period. It was completely unacceptable. It was very audible by members of the government and other members who are here at Queen’s Park this morning to observe question period. Until the member responsible apologizes for mocking our member from Mississauga East–Cooksville, we won’t be answering any questions from the official opposition.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Stop the clock.

Restart the clock.

Hon. Todd Smith: Mr. Speaker, take a look at this government caucus. We have the member from Mississauga East–Cooksville, who came from Pakistan. We have the first Tamil member elected in this Legislature. We have a very, very diverse group of politicians—

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): That’s enough; thank you.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Stop the clock. Members will take their seats.

Ontario Summer Games

Ms. Donna Skelly: My question is directed to the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport. This weekend, athletes, coaches and spectators will experience the Ontario Summer Games in the beautiful city of London, Ontario. In fact, my riding of Flamborough–Glanbrook will be sending athletes from ages 12 to 18. Many people in my riding are excited about this and they want to learn more about this unique program that is overseen by your ministry.

Can the minister tell the House more about the Games Ontario program?

Hon. Sylvia Jones: Thank you for that question. You are absolutely right; the London 2018 Ontario Summer Games is supported by our government through the Games Ontario program. This program supports events like the Ontario Summer Games, the Ontario Winter Games for youth, and the Ontario 55+ Summer and Winter Games for seniors, as well as the Ontario ParaSport Games for people with disabilities.

The games run from August 2 through to August 5, with over 3,300 athletes, coaches and officials in 21 sports. The games are supported by over 800 volunteers from the local community and the surrounding area. The games’ organizing committee has spent 18 to 24 months to plan and deliver these games. These games are crucial in developing the talents of young athletes.

Notable alumnae of the games include Diana Matheson of the national women’s soccer team, and Aaron Brown, a member of the men’s relay team, who captured a bronze medal at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Supplementary.

Ms. Donna Skelly: Thank you to the minister for the insight into this initiative. I’m really happy that our government for the people is able to make investments in young athletes and our communities that will bring a positive change that will be felt for years to come.

Minister, can you elaborate on how the games are benefits to both our athletes and to our communities?

Hon. Sylvia Jones: Thank you to the member for Flamborough–Glanbrook. I wish your team members well, but of course I’m cheering for all of Ontario.

Through you, Mr. Speaker, thank you to the member for her insight into the Games Ontario program. I’m glad that we are able to shed some light on how important this program is. The games are a valuable motivator to encourage young people to be active and competitive in sports. The games deliver a valuable experience developing Ontario’s athletes.

This year’s Ontario Summer Games are expected to generate an economic impact of $6 million in London. As part of the games’ legacy, 10 new beach volleyball courts will be added to the North London Athletic Fields. With these additional courts, the Ontario Volleyball Association will now be able to run beach volleyball programs in the city.

This is one of the many ways that our government is supporting local communities and sport and increasing economic activity in our province. I encourage all members in the House to support their local participants in the games from their riding in any way.

Government accountability

Mr. Gilles Bisson: My question is to the Premier. Does the Premier believe he can cancel question period just because he doesn’t like the questions?

Hon. Doug Ford: Minister of Government and Consumer Services.

Hon. Todd Smith: In my capacity as government House leader, I’m taking this question.

There was a very, very audible comment that came from the member who just asked that question during question period. It was mocking the member from Mississauga East–Cooksville. If the member opposite, the House leader for the official opposition, wants question period to continue, the honourable thing to do would be to stand in his place and apologize for making those comments and mocking the member from Mississauga East–Cooksville.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Start the clock.

Hon. Todd Smith: Mr. Speaker, many members on this government side clearly heard the mocking remarks that were made. Over here, we are a government caucus very proud of our diversity.

A simple mistake was made. A mistake was made, Mr. Speaker. There’s a simple solution to this. Stand in your place in the supplementary and apologize to the member from Mississauga East–Cooksville.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Stop the clock.

Before I ask for the supplementary, I wish to inform the House—you can see that I’m wearing this earpiece. I have the volume cranked full blast, because otherwise I can’t hear the person who has the floor on many exchanges. That’s because of the loud voices; it seems that everyone in the House is participating. I can’t hear everything that’s said in the House. The government House leader says there was an audible comment. I did not hear it.

Supplementary?

Mr. Gilles Bisson: Premier, I’m being accused of something, and if people know me and have heard me in this House for 28 years, and my constituents, that is not who I am and that’s not what I say. I don’t use that language.

My question is back to the Premier: Does the Premier believe in parliamentary democracy and the right of the opposition to ask questions of the government? Yes or no?

Hon. Todd Smith: Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned off the top, after that mocking remark was made in this Legislature, we’ll be invoking standing order 37(h). We will not be answering any questions from the members of the official opposition until the member opposite apologizes for those comments that were made.

I can tell you, Mr. Speaker, that one thing we do have on this side of the House is respect for this institution. We have respect for this institution. We have respect for all members. We have respect for all members of this Legislature, all 124 members of this Legislature. We will not be mocking the members like the member of the official opposition did. We’ll be standing up for the members of this Legislature. It’s all about respect, and we saw a lack of respect this morning during question period. That’s why—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Stop the clock.

Restart the clock. Next question.

Gasoline prices

Mr. Sam Oosterhoff: My question is to the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. During the summer months, people from my riding and many other ridings across the province enjoy spending time camping with friends or discovering new parts of Ontario while taking the family on a road trip. These used to be relatively easy and, more importantly, affordable ways for average families to get a break without costing them a fortune. Unfortunately, instead of getting a break, these trips are now leaving families broke. The soaring cost of fuel has families looking to this government for relief.

This past week, the Minister of the Environment tabled legislation that will put an end to the cap-and-trade carbon tax. Can the Minister of the Environment please explain to this House how our government’s plan will make life more affordable for families across Ontario?

Hon. Rod Phillips: Mr. Speaker, through you to the member, thank you to the member from Niagara West for that question. Of course, over 10 million people do visit Ontario’s parks during the summer, so it is a popular pastime. But it is a pastime that requires people to drive their cars.

We’ve been clear that we are going to be staying true to the promise we made to the people of Ontario. The Cap and Trade Cancellation Act will deliver real savings for families: $260 per year every year. It’s estimated that the cost of gasoline will be reduced by 4.5 cents per litre and the cost of diesel by 5.5 cents within the year, if this legislation is passed.

On the other side, we’ve asked the question before—of course, they have other things to worry about today. But we’ve asked the question: How high a carbon tax would they support? The member from Ottawa Centre says he wants the highest carbon tax in the world—35 cents. The member from Hamilton West–Ancaster–Dundas calls our policy of lower gas taxes reckless.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Supplementary?

Mr. Sam Oosterhoff: Thank you for your illuminating response, Minister. The truth is we’ve seen this story play out before. A Liberal Prime Minister paired with an NDP Premier: It’s truly a dangerous combination. In British Columbia, the federal Liberal carbon plan paired with the NDP’s carbon tax has seen gas prices skyrocket to more than $1.60 per litre in April. This is the highest gas price in North America. They can say what they want, but a tax is a tax is a tax.

Ontario simply cannot afford to pay for these Liberal policies. Every time the NDP advocates for higher gas prices, they demonstrate just how out of touch they are with the realities that families in Ontario face.

Will the Minister of the Environment advise this House as to the dangers of the NDP’s carbon tax plan?

Hon. Rod Phillips: Mr. Speaker, through you to the member, the people of Ontario can’t afford historically high gas prices. That’s why we’re proceeding with our plan that will reduce the price of fuel. The end of the carbon tax means relief for families. It means relief for businesses and more disposable income for households. We understand the realities that families face when they wait in line, sometimes for hours, to save a couple of cents at the pump.

It’s ironic that the member from Timmins, in a piece of his own legislation, claims he wants to protect consumers from gouging at the pumps, and yet his party sits idly by while this side and this government bring forward legislation that will actually support families and have real reductions at the pumps. The era of the carbon tax is over in Ontario. We will bring relief for families.

Government’s record

Mr. John Vanthof: Last week, we said the Premier is behaving as though he thought he was the king of Ontario—

Interjections.

Mr. John Vanthof: To the Premier: So far he’s rammed bills through the House without consultation or committee hearings. He’s interfering in democratic elections across Ontario.

Will the Premier do the right thing and respect Ontario’s democracy and democratic institutions?

Hon. Doug Ford: Minister of Government and Consumer Services.

Hon. Todd Smith: Thanks to the member opposite for the question, which we won’t be answering here this morning. We’ll be invoking standing order 37(

h) again, which, I will remind the members, gives the minister the opportunity to decline to answer a question.

The reason that we’re doing that is because a member of our government caucus, who we are very proud to have as a member of our government caucus, from Mississauga East–Cooksville, was mocked during question period by a member of the official opposition. It was disrespectful, to say the least.

We could resume question period and the NDP could ask questions and get answers from the government members if they did the simple step of standing in their place and apologizing for the remark that was made during question period earlier. When you make a mistake, apologize. Apologize.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Supplementary?

Mr. John Vanthof: Again to the Premier: The Premier has cancelled contracts, cancelled due process, cancelled consultation, cancelled cap-and-trade, and now he’s cancelling question period. Is the Premier for real, or just trying to change the channel?

Hon. Todd Smith: Mr. Speaker, we could easily resume question period and answer the questions from the members of the official opposition if the House leader on the opposite side would stand in his place and apologize to the member from Mississauga East–Cooksville, a member of our Legislature, a member of our government caucus, a proud Pakistani Canadian who has been in this country for 15 years.

Look at the diversity of this government caucus. We have the first Tamil Canadians elected to the Legislature; the first Korean Canadian MPP, the Minister for Seniors, in this Legislature; the first Coptic Egyptian Canadian MPP, the member for Mississauga–Erin Mills we’re proud to have; the first Armenian Canadian MPP, Aris Babikian, from the other side. We have two Persian Canadian MPPs, three Chinese Canadian MPPs, one Hindu Canadian MPP, four Sikh Canadian MPPs and three Jewish MPPs.

We are very proud of this caucus, and we will celebrate—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Stop the clock. Members will take their seats. Restart the clock.

Next question.

Correctional services

Mr. Stephen Crawford: My question is for the Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services. I would like to begin by congratulating the minister for being tasked with the crucial responsibility of being responsible for overseeing the province’s correctional system, including its many dedicated correctional officers and staff.

Mr. Speaker, for the past 15 years in our correctional system, its many dedicated and hard-working correctional staff were repeatedly neglected. As a member of this government for the people, I am honoured to stand here today, knowing that our government is committed to fixing the crisis in our correctional system caused by the previous Liberal government.

Could the minister please explain what he is doing to address the current crisis in the Ontario correctional system?

Hon. Michael A. Tibollo: Thank you for that question, to our member from Oakville, and congratulations on your election.

Mr. Speaker, the previous Liberal government left our correctional services in a crisis. I’m proud to state here today that our government for the people will remain committed to our promise of hiring more correctional, probation and parole officers to end the current crisis in corrections.

This past Friday, I attended the correctional officer and training assessment graduation in Hamilton, where we graduated more than 182 men and women to become correctional officers, and they are being deployed as of Monday this week.

Our front-line correctional workers know that they finally have a government that will listen to them and deliver on a promise of ending the crisis in corrections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Supplementary.

Mr. Stephen Crawford: Again to the minister: Thank you very much for your update and the work you’re doing to address the crisis in Ontario’s correctional system. I am proud to see our government working for the people, respecting our front-line workers and acknowledging the hard work they do every day.

Mr. Speaker, it is also my understanding that the minister participated in a ride-along with members of the Hamilton police force this past weekend. Will the minister please give the members of this Legislature an update on what he learned from this experience?

Hon. Michael A. Tibollo: Thank you again for the question.

This past Friday, I also participated in a ride-along in Hamilton with the Hamilton Police Service crisis response unit, which consists of the crisis outreach and support team, the mobile rapid response team and the social navigator program. These teams of men and women work together to ensure public safety through addressing the root causes of crime and by participating in crisis prevention training. The mental health training aspect of this unit is just one of the many policing innovations here in Ontario being led by our police services.

Unlike those from the official opposition, Mr. Speaker, we will continue to respect our police and correctional services and remain committed to providing our first responders with the resources they require to perform their jobs.

The status quo failed, Mr. Speaker, and we’re the only party in this House that is prepared to do something about it. We have made a promise, and we intend to keep it.

Government accountability / Responsabilité gouvernementale

M me France Gélinas: Ma question est pour le premier ministre. So far, we’ve heard that the Premier doesn’t need to consult Ontarians because he knows better than them.

Les consultations sont au coeur de la démocratie.

Then we heard that the Premier is cancelling question period. Why does it feel like the Premier believes he is above Ontario’s democracy?

Hon. Doug Ford: Minister of Government and Consumer Services.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Government House leader.

Hon. Todd Smith: Thanks, Speaker. I don’t know about you, but we’re here, in question period. The only questions that we’re not answering, Mr. Speaker, with all due respect to the member from Nickel Belt, who has had her question basically made null and void by the fact that another member of her caucus mocked a member of our caucus earlier during question period—there would be a simple resolution to this standoff if the member responsible would stand in his place and simply apologize to the member from Mississauga East–Cooksville.

He is a very well-respected member, obviously, in his community, a proud Pakistani Canadian who arrived in Ontario 14 years ago to raise his family and to make a living. He has been a contributing member both in the business world and here in our Legislature, and we are very proud of that member.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Supplementary?

M me France Gélinas: I’d like to go back to the Premier, Speaker. This Premier makes his decisions in backrooms. He seems to think that he knows more about Toronto democracy than the people of Toronto themselves. Now he is cancelling question period, something that goes back to Confederation itself.

Does the Premier believe that he is above Ontario’s democracy?

Hon. Todd Smith: It’s amazing to me to hear members on the opposite side say we’re cancelling question period when question period has now gone on for 59 minutes and 30 seconds. Mr. Speaker, what we’re choosing not to do is respond to questions from the official opposition because they are mocking a member of our government caucus, a very proud Pakistani Canadian who represents his community extremely well.

Any member of our Ontario population, no matter where they came to Ontario from, has the opportunity to represent their community in this Legislature, just as Mr. Kaleed Rasheed is doing proudly in Mississauga East–Cooksville.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Thank you.

Hon. Lisa MacLeod: For the people.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Order.

Hon. Lisa MacLeod: Just apologize.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Order.

Member’s comments / Commentaires d’un député

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I recognize the member for Timmins on a point of order.

Mr. Gilles Bisson: I want to thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I just want to say, in regard to the standing orders, it is clear according to standing order 23(

h) and (

i) that you can’t make “allegations against another member,” which they are doing now, and impute “false or unavowed motives to another member,” and clearly that’s what they are doing.

You know me. I’ve been in this Legislature as long as you. That’s not who I am. I understand all about accents. Je suis francophone; j’ai fait rire de moi beaucoup de fois, faisant affaire avec mon langage. I would never do that. Members of this House know that. This, to me, is just a very offensive thing for the government to try to change channels in question period to answering questions about something I never did.

Notice of dissatisfaction

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Pursuant to standing order 38(a), the member for Orléans has given notice of her dissatisfaction with the answer to her question given by the Minister of Children, Community and Social Services concerning support for th