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March 11, 2020

42nd Parliament, 1st Session

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Hansard Transcripts

Votes and Proceedings

Orders and Notices

Hansard Transcript 2020-Mar-11 vol. Array (PDF)

L155 - Wed 11 Mar 2020 / Mer 11 mar 2020

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO

ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE DE L’ONTARIO

Wednesday 11 March 2020 Mercredi 11 mars 2020

Orders of the Day

Rebuilding Consumer Confidence Act, 2020 / Loi de 2020 visant à rétablir la confiance chez les consommateurs

Members’ Statements

John Gaidatsis

Small business

Child care

Government’s record

Cornerstone Family Violence Prevention Centre

Legal aid

Pharmacare

Blind Hockey Night

Health care in Brampton

CFB Trenton

Introduction of Visitors

Question Period

Employment standards

Public health

Protection for health care workers

COVID-19

Indigenous public health

Autism treatment

COVID-19

Government appointments

Public health

Human trafficking

Access to justice

Ontario film and television industry / Industrie ontarienne du film et de la télévision

Education funding

Child care

Public transit

Use of electronic devices in House

Deferred Votes

Time allocation

Report, Financial Accountability Officer

Introduction of Visitors

Introduction of Bills

Strengthening Human Rights in Ontario Act, 2020 / Loi de 2020 renforçant le Code des droits de la personne en Ontario

Cherry Hill Orchards Pelham Limited Act, 2020

Petitions

Long-term care

Northern Health Travel Grant

Northern Health Travel Grant

Public transit

Palliative care

Public transit

Autism treatment

Education funding

Education funding

Social assistance

Autism treatment

Orders of the Day

Supply Act, 2020 / Loi de crédits de 2020

Defibrillator Registration and Public Access Act, 2020 / Loi de 2020 sur l’accès public aux défibrillateurs et leur enregistrement

The House met at 0900.

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

Prayers.

Orders of the Day

Rebuilding Consumer Confidence Act, 2020 / Loi de 2020 visant à rétablir la confiance chez les consommateurs

Resuming the debate adjourned on March 10, 2020, on the motion for second reading of the following bill:

Bill 159,

An Act to amend various statutes in respect of consumer protection / Projet de loi 159, Loi modifiant diverses lois en ce qui concerne la protection du consommateur.

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

Mr. Joel Harden: It’s an honour to rise in this House today, not only as a member of the opposition but, I have to say, as the seniors critic for this province. I know I’m only 48 years old, but one of the reasons I was very happy to be given this particular critic portfolio is that I was actually raised in my formative years by my grandparents and taught that it’s important to listen to our elders.

I’ve had the great fortune, as the seniors critic in the last 18 months, to listen to seniors from across Ontario. One of the seniors I’ve had the great fortune to listen to is Bill Hillier, who lives in a neighbourhood called Cardinal Creek, in the riding of Orléans. Mr. Hillier is one of those who deputed to the travelling committee that wanted to hear from Ontarians on this Bill 159, which is intended, as I understand from my friends, to increase consumer protection. But what Mr.

Hillier’s story revealed to the travelling committee and revealed to the government—and certainly revealed to me as seniors critic in the opposition—is that we are failing consumers. We have been failing consumers in the home building industry since the year Tarion was created, 1976. Why is that, Speaker? And what did Mr. Hillier have to tell us about that?

I want to read from a news

article that my colleague MPP Rakocevic from Humber River–Black Creek cited in his terrific one-hour lead on this particular bill. It’s revelatory because it was written in the exact same year, 1976, that Tarion was created. The author was Jacob Ziegel, a U of T professor of law. What he wrote about Tarion, when it was founded, was this: The provisions in the bill “are neither novel nor objectionable in principle.

They are indeed widely regarded as necessary for the operation of a successful warranty scheme”—the various things Tarion wants to do. “What is without precedent in Ontario consumer protection legislation is the nature of the body entrusted with the administration of the important powers contained in them.

“For it is not the Ministry of Consumer and Commercial Relations or any government agency that is entrusted with the task. It will be a non-profit corporation of undetermined composition incorporated under the Ontario Corporations Act and at best only indirectly accountable for its actions to the Legislature.

“There is no secrecy about the reasons for this feature of the act. It is a surrender to the long-sought goal of HUDAC, the Housing and Urban Development Association of Canada.

“The association has argued for several years that warranty schemes for new homes should be administered by the builders themselves and that the construction industry should have majority representation on the corporation to be established for this purpose. In earlier discussions involving the establishment of a national home warranties scheme, the federal government refused to accede to this demand. There are strong indications the Ontario government will prove more compliant.”

There you have it, Speaker: On the very year that Tarion was brought into being, one of the more informed voices in Ontario was warning us: “Be careful.” We aren’t impugning the whole home building industry. The vast majority of operators in that sector—some are family members of mine—are fine, but we don’t let industries this significant regulate themselves. It ought to be the job of government to do that. That’s what Professor Ziegel was warning us about.

To take us to the neighbourhood of Cardinal Creek, to take us to Mr. Hillier’s home—it was in 2017 when he and his spouse had purchased a beautiful home. I’ve seen it myself. It’s beautiful from the outside. They went down to the basement, because they were having people over for Christmas dinner, and they noticed an enormous pool of water in the basement. Understandably, Mr. Hillier began to ask himself, “What? Where’s this water coming from? This is a brand new home. I don’t see a leak in the ceiling. I can’t see any leak in the foundation of this brand new basement.”

But in fact what they found was massive ice in the walls which then turned into mould. And Mr. Hillier—hi, Bill, if you’re watching this—right now is living with cancer. What’s worrisome about this story, aside from the fact that Mr. Hillier and his family have to go through that, as so many other families in Ontario do, is that this is ominously reminiscent of another story involving Tarion. My friend, the former minister for consumer and government relations, MPP Walker, particularly, met with someone who fought Tarion for 27 years—27 years, if you can believe it, Speaker—and took his own life.

In the last moments of that life he was battling with cancer. MPP Walker, to his credit, did a press conference when he committed on behalf of this government to fix Tarion, which he alleged was broken—I agree with him—with the spouse of that gentleman.

I would say, as the seniors critic, on behalf of not just seniors but all people in this province, we cannot allow seniors and their families to suffer. They’ve built this province. Everything around us—everything: Every single brick in this building, every public institution we have, we have because of grandmothers and grandfathers.

But right now, what I can tell you with confidence is that someone, Mr. Hillier, is sitting in a home in Cardinal Creek which is flawed and faulty, struggling with cancer, worried about the fact that that very home may be making his health condition worse. I want us to marinate in that for a second. I want that to seep in, because I can tell you something. Mr. Howard Bogach—apologies, Mr. Bogach, if I mispronounce your surname—who was Tarion’s CEO, last year earned a salary of $681,000 and had a car allowance of $87,000.

Thanks to MPP Gates, who made the point of insisting under the previous government that the Attorney General look into Tarion and fix the Tarion mess—thank you, MPP Gates—what the Attorney General found out is not that Tarion is being weighed down by a culture of executives rewarding themselves, it is also inclined, rather like bad apples in the insurance industry, to incentivize people working for Tarion who deny claims to people like Mr. Hillier.

The Attorney General found that between 2014 and 2018, Tarion refused over 9,700 requests for defects in homes built because the homeowners missed these tight 30-day deadlines that Tarion insisted upon. Speaker, 1,300 of those people missed that deadline by a single day, often due to delays in correspondence, not concerns from the particular nature of the defects, the severity of the defects.

I was happy because of Canadians for Properly Built Homes, a terrific organization that does great work in this particular field, that’s helped Mr. Hillier and other people like him. Myself and MPP Rakocevic, we went to a large meeting in Orléans, down the road from the Cardinal Creek community where so many homes have been improperly built. I met with so many homeowners who confided in me privately, “Joel, we would love to struggle against Tarion publicly, as Mr. Hillier has done, but we’re worried what that would mean to the property values of our homes.

If we complain, we won’t be able to sell our homes.” Can you imagine, for the most important investment one will ever make in their life, being put in that position?

Nonetheless, there were over 200 people in that room. Mr. Hillier spoke fantastically; so did Karen Somerville. Karen, if you’re watching this, thank you for all your work for justice on this file. I really struggled—I tried to think, on my way back to downtown Ottawa and later on my way back to the Legislature, how do I understand this culture? What has happened? What Professor Ziegel said in 1976 was probably the most apt, but what has happened since?

This is difficult subject material, so I’m going to struggle for levity, if you will allow me, Speaker, with some of my time left. I know there are some people in this House who are suffering Toronto Maple Leafs fans. You’ve suffered for a long time. If there is something Toronto Maple Leafs fans understand, it’s the culture of ineptitude and the self-serving nature that happened under Harold Ballard’s leadership.

We’re talking about an owner of a hockey team, a major crown jewel of this country, who records show—charges were laid, convictions were prosecuted—not only took money from this hockey team for himself, but doled out money for limousines for his daughter’s wedding, bought motorcycles for his son. If you can imagine all those players, all those coaches, all those fans who for years showed up in that hockey rink, supporting that team—and this is what Mr. Ballard was doing with their money.

So Mr. Ballard gets convicted, is sent to Kingston for a short stint in the Kingston Pen—short—and was then allowed, as he described it, motel living conditions, with a television, steak dinners and photos with corrections officers. He operated with impunity, Speaker, operated with impunity. I would hazard a guess that despite the great work—and I’m not a Maple Leafs fan, if I’m honest with you—despite the great work of the fan base supporting that team, the coaches and the players since, they are still living under that legacy. They have not had a reckoning with that legacy.

I think the same is true with Tarion. You have a corporation that, for some reason, was allowed to operate outside the orbit of government on probably the most important investment opportunity for consumers in this province. Some of us in this House may have personal savings or capital gains savings or whatever savings that would be larger than a house; I suspect many of us won’t. The home is the biggest thing that any of us ever invest in. And we have set up, since 1976, an entity which allowed the home building industry, until recently, to regulate itself. The majority of the executive governing body of Tarion, until recently, was the home building industry.

That’s where I’ll give my friends in government some credit here. I appreciate the fact that you’ve changed the governing body of Tarion to reduce the impact of the home building industry having the plurality of votes there—fine, great. But what remains worrisome for me is this: We still have a situation in which Tarion, as an entity, is not democratically accountable to the people of Ontario. There is still a firewall between Tarion and us, and we have to ring the bell pretty hard in this place to get noticed. The Canadians for Properly Built Homes, Mr. Hillier and others, they have to ring the bell pretty hard for us to notice.

Again, I was taught when I went to school that it wasn’t good enough, if I saw injustice, for me to just rail into the wind. I had to try to understand my adversary; I had to try to understand how they thought. So I’m going to give Tarion the benefit of a doubt—I can use this now, I’m told, by the standing orders—and I’m going to quote what one of their policy folks said when MPP Walker, Minister Thompson, MPP Rakocevic, MPP Gates and others pressed, from within this place, questions on their executive compensation scheme.

Because it seems ridiculous on the face of it, right—the notion that someone working for the people of Ontario should be entitled to a salary that is three times what the Premier of this province makes. But I digress.

What Melanie Kearns said to the CBC in response to this question about executive compensation was the following: “We use market salary surveys and independent external HR compensation experts to review our board and executive compensation programs and we benchmark our compensation against Ontario’s other administrative authorities as well as comparable public sector organizations.”

She went on to say, according to the CBC, that the members’ compensation on the executive of Tarion is reviewed every two years and, with the exception of the board and committee chairs, the board’s remuneration hasn’t changed since 2005.

If I’m understanding what Ms. Kearns was telling us through the CBC, the fact that executive compensation has been bloated at Tarion since 2005, the fact that $4 million was spent on its executives alone and that Mr. Bogach received over $681,000, and that that has somehow been held flat for the last 14 years is supposed to satisfy Mr. Hillier, Ms. Somerville, MPP Rakocevic, MPP Gates and others who have led this fight. All that tells me is that there has been a massive problem of outpaced compensation of Tarion executives for a long time, even if it has not been keeping pace with inflation.

It’s certainly not going to give Mr. Hillier any comfort. It’s not going to give—if you’ll allow me the brief digression, Speaker: If you think of what we’re going through as a province, as a country right now with the COVID-19 scare and the need for us to keep each other safe—I woke up this morning and my first thought was for all the foodservice workers in this province, who, because right now if they don’t have the capacity to call in sick they are being compelled to go to work sick, could carry a lot of fear in their heart on their way to work about what they could be transmitting to us—fear in their heart.

I’m going to make a guess that people working in that industry are not well compensated, probably not full-time, probably don’t have benefits, and don’t have a lot of stake. Ms. Kearns’s assertion to us that, “Oh, well, we’ve held executive compensation relatively flat since 2005, even if our executive makes three times the salary of the Premier”—okay, that just shows the entitlement in this corporation. Because that’s what it is. It is an entitled corporation we’ve allowed to develop and exist for decades.

My friends in government have said it’s broken. I agree. But if Tarion is broken, how is the answer allowing members of that same Tarion management team to regain control? Mr. Bogach is on his way out, but the people continuing to run the operation are part of the same Tarion bureaucracy that has existed there for years.

If my grandmother were here, Speaker, whom I’ve spoken about before when you’ve been here—my Presbyterian grandmother, whom I love—she would say, “You do not let the fox guard the henhouse.” You do not. You do not let people who have ripped consumers off for years and rewarded themselves retain control of a corporation that has such an important role in the lives of people in this province. That doesn’t do justice to Mr. Hillier; it doesn’t do justice to what is right.

I want to say something else about Bill 159, because, of course, it’s about much more than Tarion, and my friend MPP Rasheed talked about this yesterday: Part of what this bill will do in ticket sales is ensure that commercial transactions are done in Canadian dollars.

My friend MPP Rakocevic said to committee and in his one-hour lead on this issue that he brought amendments to the relevant committee on Bill 159 asking for ticket sales and resales to not exceed 50% of their advertised price. That amendment was defeated by my friends; it has not been accepted by the government.

Here’s what’s happening to ticketed events right across this country; indeed, from what I can tell, across the world: Scalpers and ticket originators are colluding to restrict the supply of tickets. You have situations where—last year, when our Toronto Raptors did that magnificent run on the way to the world championship, front-row courtside seats—which I will never be able to afford, but nonetheless—at those games were $13,000 each.

Here’s the rub, Speaker: It’s not only that these tickets are the province of the most wealthy folks. Get this: Because of federal tax exemptions that exist—not here but at the federal level—some corporations and some wealthy individuals will be going to those Raptor games that have inflated ticket prices because this legislation doesn’t go far enough and writing them off on all of us. The tax expenditure covers 50% of the value of the ticket. That’s what people will get to write off. Can you imagine?

In a province where we have a child poverty rate, where we have one of seven people, as my friend MPP MacLeod often has said in the past, living in poverty, that we allow a situation where people can write off 50% of the cost of meals and entertainment expenses, like a Raptors game, a ticket that costs $13,000 because this bill doesn’t go far enough—we let that happen. We let that happen in a context where, as my friend MPP Sol Mamakwa has mentioned, we have boil-water advisories, we have unpotable water, we have people living in abject poverty, we have a suicide crisis across Indigenous lands.

Yet we let an executive write off the cost of a $13,000 ticket to a Raptors game? What is going on with this?

I understand there was a prayer breakfast this morning, Speaker; I’m sad to have missed it. We’ve got to pray for something deep. We’ve got to pray for something really deep if we’re allowing a province where people can write off 50% of a $13,000 ticket and Indigenous kids are taking their own lives, Indigenous communities do not have potable water and kids are living in poverty.

I implore my friends in government, show some leadership in this aspect of your bill. Put that cap on the resale value of tickets. Tell the scalping, ticket-originating community, “Do not gouge sports fans or entertainment consumers.” And absolutely, don’t let executives write off the cost of that and make us pay for it. That is the most egregious part of it, Speaker. Send a letter to your counterparts in the federal government. Tell them the gravy train has to stop. Tell them that just because you’re wealthy, you don’t get to ask the rest of Ontario—who have real needs—to pay for your exaggerated lifestyle.

I just want to say in closing: Again, I want to give thanks for people in this House who carried this fight for a long time. I didn’t mention MPP Rosario Marchese, who was a critic on this file for many years—and MPP Gates and MPP Rakocevic.

I take to heart what my friends in government have said about Tarion being broken. Fix it. Also, fix the ticket industry. This is your chance. You’re the ones with the reins. Use them for the wisdom of the people.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Rick Nicholls): Questions?

Ms. Judith Monteith-Farrell: Thank you to my colleague from Ottawa Centre.

When this bill was being reviewed in the justice committee, my colleague the member for Humber River–Black Creek proposed: “An owner may submit a claim to the corporation at any time during the applicable warranty period and may submit one or more updates setting out unresolved defects to the corporation at any time during the applicable warranty period.”

Many homeowners have complained that their claims were denied simply for missing the 30-day window at the beginning and end of their one-year warranties.

In committee, the government members claimed that there were IT problems and talked about needing to consult more.

What would be the impact of extending that deadline?

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Rick Nicholls): I turn it back to the member from Ottawa Centre for a response.

Mr. Joel Harden: Thank you, Speaker. I always like it when you say my riding name. You have that theatrical voice. Never lose that.

I want to say that we’ve heard from consumers, Speaker, that all of these rules— including one my friend from Thunder Bay–Atikokan didn’t mention, which is that if a consumer misses a home visit from a Tarion representative, they’re all of a sudden in default and have fallen outside of rules to allow for warranties to be covered. So these IT rules are important.

It bothers me that home builders—because it’s home builders and home purchasers, who, by their fees, allow Tarion to exist. It sits on a reserve fund of a quarter of a billion dollars. That’s how it operates; it’s how it’s funded. These are rules meant to prevent against claims, often worthy claims, being brought to Tarion’s executive, and I think we should be empowering consumers to seek redress.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Rick Nicholls): Further questions?

Hon. Lisa MacLeod: Our government has acted quickly in addressing 29 recommendations from the Auditor General in the province of Ontario, a well-esteemed individual who I have had the pleasure of working with over a number of years. Again, we’ve acted quickly on this. If the proposed legislation is passed, it will quickly support consumer protections in the province of Ontario and an improved warranty program will be launched in the fall of 2020.

So I ask the member opposite: Why is the opposition trying to stand in the way of progress, trying to stand in the way of these recommendations that the Minister of Government and Consumer Services as well as the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing are trying to bring to consumers to protect them? I don’t understand why the opposition always has to oppose. They can be critical thinkers, they can improve the piece of legislation, but why must they always oppose whatever we propose?

Mr. Joel Harden: What I would say back to the member is: In this place, representing our city of Ottawa, she stood ferociously when in opposition, holding governments to account. That’s what we’re doing. We’re doing our job.

But here’s the point: When you produce a bill that allows the majority of Tarion’s executive team to stay intact, you can expect some squawking from over here, because that’s what consumers have asked for.

I will also say this: I would welcome an opportunity with the member to get out of Cardinal Creek, to get out of Orléans. Let’s take this opportunity on the road in our city of Ottawa. Let’s go to Nepean; let’s go to Barrhaven; let’s go to Kanata. Let’s go to places where homes are springing up like mushrooms. They’re being built so fast—

Mr. Wayne Gates: They’re falling apart.

Mr. Joel Harden: —and homeowners are talking about them falling apart.

So ask the consumers, is what I would say to the member—who is not listening now; it’s too bad, because I’m answering your question. Ask the homeowners if they’re satisfied with the existing Tarion leadership being able to meet their needs. I suspect, given what we’re seeing in the media, they are not. It’s our job to stand up and fight for them and we won’t apologize for doing so.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Rick Nicholls): Further questions?

Ms. Judith Monteith-Farrell: When this bill was being reviewed in the justice committee, my colleague the member for Humber River–Black Creek proposed: “No person may serve as a member on the board if, at the time of the appointment, they would have a real or apparent conflict of interest, as defined in the regulations.”

Conflict-of-interest rules for board members make sense. I think we can all agree to that. What do you believe could be the reason that the government would not support this amendment?

Mr. Joel Harden: It’s so tempting when I get a question like that to go deep into partisan mode and throw words back from the previous Parliament against this government to humiliate them. But do you know what?

Mr. David Piccini: But you’re better than that, Joel.

Mr. Joel Harden: Thank you, MPP Piccini. I am better than that.

The point here is, when there is a real or apparent conflict of interest—if someone is earning their salary or has worked as a consultant on behalf of the home building industry, because there are wonderful, respectable people in that industry who I count as family members—you’ve got to recuse yourself from being a consumer advocate. You have to.

Consumer protection ought to be completely indivisible; it ought to be completely available to everyone. When your case goes to that appeal body, you have to believe that the people who are seeing this are serving no other paymaster than the rules and the better interests of the people of Ontario.

But what I think the evidence has shown us is that that hasn’t been the case with Tarion—and my friends in government agree with them. So it’s time to flush the executive team that exists at Tarion out. That’s when we’ll believe this is actually changing.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Rick Nicholls): Further questions?

Mr. Daryl Kramp: I can assure you that on both sides of the House, we share the concern. We all hear it; it doesn’t matter where you sit in this House. We have had abuse upon abuse, and that is certainly not acceptable.

That is why this government has moved. We’ve moved very, very aggressively. Now, we would all want this problem solved right tomorrow, but we do have legislation, we have processes in place that we all have to follow. That’s why, with my other colleague across there, we sat—the real estate proposals alone were part of the solution to this. We’ve moved forward with the recommendations of the Auditor General. We’ve begun the actual process of setting up the new regulatory board. We’ve required the public posting of boards and executive positions. We’ve introduced new measures for prospective buyers and sellers and a myriad of things.

This is a process in action. By this fall, the new regulations and proposals should be in place.

I ask the member—your advice, your counsel, is certainly welcome on this, but let’s be part of the solution instead of part of the problem, as we have been on all sides of this House, in the future.

Mr. Joel Harden: I brought up the story of Mr. Bill Hillier because he has entered into my heart. I’ve listened to him. It has upset me that, as a senior, he has had to struggle—it isn’t the first time he has struggled with Tarion, by the way. If you look at the Hansard, MPP Rakocevic went into detail about the other two occasions in which he had to engage Tarion, to little success.

I want to end with the story of Marcel and Julie Bellefeuille. They also live in Cardinal Creek. Marcel used to be the coach of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Let me tell you something: Tarion picked on the wrong guy and the wrong woman when they picked a fight with the Bellefeuilles. I went to their home with MPP Rakocevic, at their invitation, with the Ottawa media. When you walk into their home, you would think you’re walking into a war zone. The basement was completely ripped up because radon gas was leaking up into the home. It was the builder’s responsibility to put in a barrier to ensure that doesn’t happen.

That’s law. We needed to do better. The Bellefeuilles say, “Change it. Fix it. Now. Completely.”

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Rick Nicholls): Further questions? The member from Scarborough Southwest.

Ms. Doly Begum: Thank you, Speaker. I also always love hearing you say our riding names.

My friend MPP Harden did a beautiful job outlining some of the issues we have in this bill.

This is actually something that was long coming. We had to fix Tarion. There were a lot of problems. Does this bill go far enough? What do you think?

Mr. Joel Harden: I think you can imagine my response. No, it doesn’t.

MPP Kramp, I hear you, but at the same time—I was on a story about the Bellefeuilles, and I thought I had a little bit more time, so I’ll say this in my response: Marcel said that if you have a losing team in the Canadian Football League, your answer is not to retain the starting quarterback, the starting head coach or any of the coaching staff. You flush it out. You rebuild. Anything short of that is a failure in this case. That’s what consumers are looking to you for. They want you to really tell Tarion you need not just a culture change; you need a personnel change.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Rick Nicholls): There is not enough time for further questions and responses. Therefore, I now turn to the member from Guelph for further debate.

Mr. Mike Schreiner: Like my colleagues, I do like the way you can uplift “Guelph” and make it pretty exciting on a Wednesday morning.

I rise today to speak on Bill 159, the Tarion reform bill. Oftentimes in this House, we have an opportunity to tell the people of Ontario where we stand on issues, especially when it comes to issues of whether we’re going to defend and protect the public interest or private interest. Really, what Bill 159 should be is a consumer protection bill, a bill that’s definitively going to say that the government of Ontario is going to stand up for consumers and is going to put the public interest ahead of special interests.

Since 1976, Tarion has operated with impunity, regulating itself. Tarion’s failures have been well documented by Justice Cunningham’s report, by the Auditor General’s report, by consumer organizations such as Canadians for Properly Built Homes, and by individuals.

I want to thank the member from Ottawa Centre for telling some of those personal stories. In my limited time, I’m not going to go into those. But I would like to say that I had hoped that the government had fully heard all of those stories. I understand they’ve heard some of it and they’ve made some changes. But I had hoped and, I believe, the people of Ontario, especially people purchasing homes, had hoped that they would have delivered the full-scale systemic, transformative change that Justice Cunningham’s report showed was needed.

So this bill does tinker around the edges. It makes some improvements, it answers some of the reforms from the Auditor General, but it doesn’t deliver the systemic, transformative change that Tarion so desperately needs.

In December 2016, Justice Cunningham delivered his Tarion review report to the Ontario government. I will have to say it’s unfortunate that the previous Liberal government failed to even act. But anyway, in effect, what the justice said is that Tarion needs to be dismantled, with a multi-provider competitive model introduced to replace it. And Bill 159 doesn’t deliver on that.

The members opposite have said, “What does the opposition have for a recommendation?” Well, my recommended solution is what Justice Cunningham called for: a multi-provider system. This type of system works very well in other provinces; I don’t see why it wouldn’t work in Ontario. I realize that the Auditor General cited oversight as a possible concern, but we can create mechanisms through a crown agency, for example, to oversee and regulate a multi-provider insurance system. As I said, it works well in provinces other than Ontario.

In this vein, I want to quote from Justice Cunningham’s report. This quote is a bit long, but it’s critically important.

“At an executive level, the structure of having the same leadership team responsible for the rules of the monopoly warranty program, financial management of the program, dispute resolution and builder regulation will inevitably give rise to situations where financial objectives compete with other objectives such as consumer protection. At an operational level, there is potential for conflict when the same person receives a claim, investigates it, attempts to assist the parties in resolving the claim and then sits in judgment on the claim if not resolved.

While Tarion has worked hard to build internal controls to mitigate this conflict, I believe that current controls do not adequately respond to these challenges in a manner that can achieve the objectives outlined above. I do not believe that this problem and the challenges I have identified can be adequately addressed in the current model without significant and”—I emphasize—“structural changes to the new home warranty sector in Ontario.”

Bill 159 fails to adequately address what Justice Cunningham called for. We still have members of the home builders’ association on the board of Tarion. It’s like putting the fox in charge of the henhouse. Justice Cunningham called for massive, systemic changes. But here we are, tinkering around the edges, a few little steps forward here—and I’ll give the government credit; a few steps forward, absolutely—but not the changes that homeowners, home purchasers need.

I want to conclude by quoting from Canadians for Properly Built Homes, who presented to committee. It’s in regard to Bill 159: “It does not go nearly far enough to provide adequate consumer protection, and it is taking far too long to address the serious issues with Tarion.”

This government has a choice to make: Are they going to stand up for the public interest and consumers or are they going to stand up for private interests and home builders?

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Rick Nicholls): Questions?

Ms. Judith Monteith-Farrell: Thank you to the member from Guelph for his talk this morning, much of which I agreed with.

Much of the current bill is in response to the Auditor General’s scathing report on Tarion. One of the things the Auditor General recommended was a review of the executive compensation, and they reviewed the large bonuses many executives also receive. My caucus colleague proposed an amendment to cap executive compensation. When this amendment was brought to committee, the government did not support it. In committee, the government members said that disclosing executive pay was enough. I don’t think they’re going to be embarrassed. They haven’t been embarrassed for many years, obviously.

As the member from Humber River–Black Creek said, it’s not enough to know what the executive compensation is; we have to bring in a cap. We have to be fair.

What does the member believe would be fair compensation?

Mr. Mike Schreiner: I appreciate the question from the member.

Four million dollars of executive bonuses is not acceptable, period. I don’t think you need to be a member of provincial Parliament or have a PhD in economics to understand that those types of compensation levels are completely unacceptable. So I support the amendment that the member from Humber River–Black Creek put forward. We should have caps on executive bonuses.

I’m thinking back to the trust in real estate bill and when it came to committee. I had the opportunity to work with the member from Humber River–Black Creek. In that case, the government actually listened to us and worked with us to improve the legislation, which doesn’t happen very often at committee, which is why it’s so unfortunate that it didn’t happen with Bill 159.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Rick Nicholls): Questions?

Ms. Doly Begum: Thank you to the member from Guelph for his statement on this bill. You mentioned the recommendations, as well as how extensive this bill—how extensive the response should have been. In your opinion, do you think this government has done enough to focus on some of the issues that we’re facing, especially with putting a cap on salaries, and also in terms of the suffering that a lot of people went through throughout the past many, many years?

Mr. Mike Schreiner: I thank the member for the question.

Clearly, this bill doesn’t go far enough. It doesn’t address the systemic changes that Justice Cunningham, in particular, called for, but also that Canadians for Properly Built Homes called for and a lot of the individuals who have struggled for years—the stories of individuals who have struggled for years for just basic justice, basic consumer protection.

I would actually argue that it’s in the best interest of the home builders’ association themselves to ensure that the system works properly, because when you have one bad actor treating people in an egregious way, it paints all home builders with a bad brush, and that’s not right. There are a lot of good home builders in this province who do things well, and they too want to make sure the system works properly, because it protects their reputation as well as consumers.

This bill clearly doesn’t go far enough. It’s disappointing, because this was a perfect opportunity for the government to show that they were on the side of consumers.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Rick Nicholls): Questions?

Mr. Robert Bailey: I’d like to have some questions for the member. I listened to his remarks very carefully. I guess my biggest question is: How can the member say that the government is not moving quickly when we’ve begun the process of setting up the regulatory body outside of Tarion; we’ve required the public posting of board and executive compensation; and we’ve introduced new measures for pre-construction condominium projects? We’ve taken major steps to overhaul the Tarion board, and we’ve also passed the trust in real estate services bill—a bill that will provide all kinds of transparency in the purchase and sale process of a home. I’d like the member to speak to those questions.

Mr. Mike Schreiner: I appreciate the member’s question. I just ask the member to listen carefully to the comments I made earlier. I clearly stated that I thought the government was moving forward and doing a few good things with this bill. They did act quickly, but the problem is that they don’t go far enough. Here’s the opportunity to deliver systemic change.

One of the changes that Justice Cunningham called for was a multi-provider, competitive model that works well in other jurisdictions. I kind of thought the members opposite, given the fact that they’re a party that generally likes competition and doesn’t like government monopolies, would have actually gone for those kinds of changes. It seems like it fits with the way they think about the world. But unfortunately it didn’t go that way, and I think it’s because they didn’t want to land on the side of consumer protection.

What’s the best system that would put the public interest first and protect consumers? I think one of the things we have a responsibility to do as a Legislature is to look at other jurisdictions and look at what works well and then take that evidence and apply it to Ontario in order to protect consumers here in this province.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Rick Nicholls): Further questions?

Mr. Sam Oosterhoff: Thank you very much to the member for Guelph for his presentation this morning, for speaking about this legislation—important legislation, to be sure.

The member opposite referenced other jurisdictions when it comes to a multi-insurance-provider model. I’m just wondering if you could explain a little bit more about what some of the cost-benefit analysis has been in those jurisdictions and if that has informed his comments this morning. If he could speak to that in a little more detail, for the sake of the House and understanding just a bit more where he’s coming from, I think it’s a valuable contribution.

Mr. Mike Schreiner: I appreciate the opportunity to elaborate more. Thank you to the member for Niagara West.

When you have a multi-provider, competitive model, you move away from having a government monopoly and you actually introduce competition within the home warranty system. In particular, you have a model that’s not being overly controlled by home builders. The system is supposed to regulate home builders and ensure that consumers have the best protection in place.

What that model provides is that it gives consumers options. So if the government monopoly is not serving their interest, is not putting the interests of consumers first, it gives people an opportunity to select the best system that works for them. I think that’s the best way we can move forward. It’s one of the reasons I think Justice Cunningham recommended that particular model and it’s why other consumer protection groups have been recommending that model.

The government monopoly model that has predominantly been controlled by home builders, which essentially then puts the fox in charge of the henhouse, hasn’t worked for consumers because it hasn’t put consumer interests first and foremost.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Rick Nicholls): Further questions?

Mr. Joel Harden: I’d ask my friend from Guelph if he wouldn’t mind elaborating on the potential impact that not completely revamping Tarion might mean for green home building, because if we allow for bad apples within the home building industry to slap them up quick, move on to the next project and have no accountability for bad building, it would seem to me—and I could be wrong; the member knows a lot about this—that those builders who take a lot of time and care into building the next generation of a suburban home, of an urban in-fill, of an enterprise for retail are disincentivized. Why make that investment?

It would seem to me that it’s a lot better, they would be led to believe by the market, to simply go with where the bad apples are going: low cost, quick turnover, move on to the next project. Does this hurt green building? That’s my question to the member.

Mr. Mike Schreiner: I appreciate the member’s question.

It’s an absolutely excellent point that oftentimes the quick and cheap way of doing things may look like it’s cheaper at the beginning, but it actually costs you more in the long run because your operating costs of the house, particularly to heat, cool and light the house, are more expensive over time.

As a matter of fact, right now I’m working with a constituent in my office who spent their entire life’s savings to have a highly energy-efficient house that wasn’t built properly. The HVAC systems are not working properly. It’s been devastating for this individual, because it was literally their life’s savings for the home they had planned to retire in and have it affordable because they wanted their energy costs to be low. But because of shoddy building, that’s not going to happen and it has threatened their life savings.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Rick Nicholls): Further debate?

Mr. Jeremy Roberts: It is my honour to rise once again, as the member for Ottawa West–Nepean, on behalf of my constituents today, to contribute to the debate on Bill 159, the Rebuilding Consumer Confidence Act. Bill 159 is the next step in our government’s plan to strengthen protections and promote trust and confidence for the people of Ontario.

We know how important consumer confidence is to our overall economy. The people of Ontario need stronger protections because our economy works best when people have trust in the businesses, products and services that they spend their hard-earned money on. This is true whether they are investing in one of the biggest purchases of their lifetime—a new home—or just regular things such as travelling, using an elevator or making a purchase with their credit card.

One of the key priorities of our government is to put more money back in the pockets of hard-working Ontarians. Part of putting money back in your pocket is ensuring that we are responsible with tax dollars and keep taxes low.

Another critical component is making sure that proper rules are in place to protect our province’s consumers. The Ontario government is strengthening protections for consumers by proposing more effective enforcement tools to address businesses that continue to cause harm to consumers.

Bill 159 includes a wholesale review of the Consumer Protection Act for the first time in 15 years. Fifteen years is a long time. To put it in perspective, I was 13 years old the last time that this act was reviewed. The way that people make purchases has changed drastically in that time, especially with the rise in e-commerce over the years. Consumers now often look for products or services online using sites like Kijiji or Facebook Marketplace, which did not even exist the last time the Liberals conducted a wholesale review of the Consumer Protection Act.

People were still using flip phones when the act was last overhauled. Clearly, a review is long overdue. We need to make sure that every element of the legislation works for consumers and businesses in this province.

This review is being centred around holding consultations with stakeholders and consumers. These consultations will enable us to continue to implement stronger protection for the people of Ontario. Extensive consultations give an opportunity to highlight how the government is listening to ensure that we get changes right.

Despite initially reviewing the Consumer Protection Act at the beginning of their mandate, this file was not treated as a priority by the former government. For the rest of their term, the Liberal government took a reactive approach to consumer protection instead of a proactive one. Updates since then were made on an ad hoc basis to address new issues in the marketplace, which sometimes led to new rules that were difficult for both businesses and consumers to understand. Calls for reform from members of the opposition, and even committees that the Liberals controlled with their majority, were effectively ignored. At times, this reactive approach came with severe consequences.

You don’t have to take my word for it, Mr. Speaker. In 2009, the Auditor General reported that the Liberal government needed to be more proactive in overseeing problem industries and repeat offenders. Although the Standing Committee on Public Accounts had recommended in 2004 that the ministry conduct a review of how well industry-sponsored oversight authorities were protecting the public, it was only after a tragic propane explosion in August 2008 that the ministry launched a comprehensive review of this area.

The auditor’s report described the standing committee’s submission, stating that “recommendations included improving communication with the public; evaluating stakeholder feedback; enhancing public education and awareness; establishing outcome-based performance measures; improving customer services; and better risk management.”

However, sadly, the auditor went on to say that, “The ministry advised us that no further comprehensive reviews were undertaken as a result of the standing committee’s 2004 recommendation.”

We do not want to wait for another tragedy to happen before we do a long-needed review of the Consumer Protection Act. I commend the Minister of Government and Consumer Services for committing to this collaborative consultation approach.

By leaving consumer protection on the back burner, the Liberals eroded confidence in the government’s ability to protect the consumers of the province. This was also noted in the 2009 Auditor General’s report. In fact, the first recommendation regarding consumer protection called on the former government to take meaningful steps to increase public awareness of the ministry’s responsibilities:

“Recommendation 1

“To ensure that there is adequate public awareness of the ministry’s consumer protection mandate and complaint services, the ministry should:

“—consult with other jurisdictions that have significantly more activity and recognition by the public to see if there are any best consumer-protection practices that can be applied in Ontario;

“—assess its outreach and education programs with a view to identifying changes needed to make them more effective; and

“—establish mechanisms for regularly assessing the general public’s awareness of consumer rights and the ministry’s programs.”

These recommendations stem from findings which found that when citizens thought about who to contact about consumer complaint issues, they seldom considered going to their provincial government for assistance. The report stated, “When asked who they would be most likely to contact if they could not resolve a consumer complaint issue with a company, respondents cited the Better Business Bureau, the legal profession, and someone in the media before the government of Ontario.”

The failure by the Liberals had a real negative impact on consumers in Ontario. How did they specifically negatively impact consumers? In many cases, protections that are offered to Ontario’s consumers only work if citizens are aware of those protections. I’ll come back to this point later on in my remarks.

Speaker, I’d like to take a few moments now to describe the overarching framework of consumer protection in Ontario and how Bill 159 will strengthen these areas. Administrative authorities are responsible for ensuring that several laws that protect and serve Ontarians, including those that promote consumer protection, public safety and safe retirement homes, are applied and enforced, but because they are governed by different statutes that have not been updated uniformly, there are inconsistencies. Some of the authorities are subject to relatively more or, alternatively, fewer requirements.

In addition, some legislation governing these authorities has not kept pace with current accountability standards. In fact, one statute that governs five administrative authorities, the Safety and Consumer Statutes Administration Act, 1996, has not been updated in over 20 years.

These inconsistencies were pointed out to the Liberal government by the Auditor General more than a decade ago, as I mentioned earlier in my remarks. Our government, however, knows the importance of improved oversight and more consistent requirements for administrative authorities to ensure they deliver critical programs and services in the best interest of our citizens. We’re doing that by proposing to harmonize certain key accountability, governance and other requirements for most administrative authorities to improve the current framework to rebuild trust and accountability for the people of Ontario.

This is another area that was highlighted by the Auditor General back in 2009 but ignored by the Liberals:

“Recommendation 8

“To better protect consumers and the public, the ministry should strengthen its oversight role and accountability arrangements with designated administrative authorities (delegated authorities) by:

“—establishing formal comprehensive accountability agreements with each delegated authority that cover financial and operational requirements and that would protect the public’s interests;

“—encouraging a more appropriate and fair balance of representation on boards of directors between governments, consumers, the public, and industry;...”

An additional recommendation called on the former government to ensure that changes were made to allow for a comprehensive and thorough assessment of their financial and operational performance.

Many of the elements this bill is responding to are issues that have been around for years, except now the difference is that we have a government that is willing to take action on them.

The Rebuilding Consumer Confidence Act would increase accountability, as the bill would create more consistency regarding the ability for the Auditor General to conduct value-for-money audits of most administrative authorities.

When it comes to encouraging a more appropriate and fair balance of representation on boards, that is exactly what our government is doing. One need look no further than recent changes to the board at Tarion, which is responsible for administering the Ontario New Home Warranties Plan Act. Critics have previously pointed out that they felt that developers had too much power on these boards, which is why our government has made changes to the board’s composition.

The parliamentary assistant for government and consumer services, my friend the member from Sarnia–Lambton, highlighted our balanced approach during his remarks in the chamber last week. I thank the member for Sarnia–Lambton for his leadership on this file. I’ll quote from his remarks: “We felt that builders need to have some presence on that board. If we’re going to hold them accountable and get them to co-operate, we need to have them on the board and have a presence there so that we can make them react to changes we want to make.

We’ve changed the composition, so they will no longer have a majority on that board. I think that the new members will certainly get the message that this is what the minister wants—we want accountability.”

Additionally, the minister would be given the power to require the administrative authorities to publish compensation information on their website about board members, officers and employees.

We remain committed to the administrative authority model. However, unlike the Liberals, we will ensure that this is an accountable model.

We know that while most businesses follow the rules, there are bad actors out there who are not complying with all of them. That is why we are proposing to improve enforcement by enabling administrative monetary penalties under the act to help deal with non-compliant businesses. We want Ontarians to know that their government is there for them. We will protect consumers and hold offenders accountable, which is a stark contrast to the previous government.

As I mentioned near the beginning of my remarks, the government has a responsibility to protect consumers, especially for large purchases. The government is currently consulting on changes under the Condominium Act, 1998, to help improve condo living and protect financial investments for people living in condos. More and more people are looking to condos as a housing option, and we must ensure that we protect these purchases. The consultation feedback will help with developing proposed regulatory changes to:

(1) Provide condo corporations with clear processes and rules for the procurement of services and goods and financial management of condo reserve funds;

(2) Increase the amount of interest that would be owed to a buyer by a developer on their deposit if their pre-construction condo project is cancelled and in other circumstances;

(3) Provide clearer processes for occupancy fees and chargebacks;

(4) Develop a condo guide for buyers and require developers to provide it at the point of purchase. This will better equip condo purchasers with information in an easy-to-understand format.

(5) Clarify the processes for mediation or arbitration between condo corporations and owners.

Speaker, we know that the province has an important role to play when it comes to consumer protection, and we will take on this role in a collaborative way. Consumers in Ontario rely on all levels of government to protect them, and that is why we will be engaging with people right across the province as we look at ways to further protect consumers.

We need to work collaboratively with our federal and municipal partners. Our constituents deserve clear consumer protection rules in each and every corner of this province, whether it’s in my hometown of Ottawa, in Ottawa West–Nepean, or all the way down to Windsor, where my grandparents are—your wonderful riding—or right here in downtown Toronto. We want to pool great ideas from all over Ontario to ensure that we get consumer protection right. We must ensure that whatever laws we install are brought into place with all due diligence completed, which is why we will have thorough consultations to strengthen the Consumer Protection Act.

We can look to our municipal partners for positive examples of consumer protection. As an example, in 2017, Vaughan passed a bylaw to extend consumer protection coverage to include the following businesses: renovators, fence installers, pavers, landscapers and, finally, pool installers. This is all online. It is very accessible for the people of Vaughan, which is very important as well. It has been noted time and time again that consumer protection measures are only effective when the public knows about them.

On the same web page, under a

section titled “Consumer and employee protection measures,” it states the following:

“Licensees are required to undertake several consumer and employee protection measures, such as:

“—providing services in compliance with all relevant city bylaws, regulations and related decisions;

“—carrying a minimum of $2 million in commercial general liability insurance coverage for their work;

“—providing a list of all relevant city bylaws and required permits to a customer in writing prior to providing a written contract.”

This is just one positive example of making rules easy to find and easy to follow. Clearly, this was not a key priority for the previous government, but it is going to be a key priority for us. In the 21st century, where we are today, it is so critically important that we have those consumer protections that are easily accessible, that consumers can understand, so that they know about their rights and they know about their protections when they are making those critical purchases.

Mr. Speaker, this is something that I can speak to personally. As a young Ontarian, I’m hoping to be able to buy my first home in the next couple of years. That’s a daunting prospect because it’s a large investment; it’s probably going to be one of the largest investments I make over the course of my life. I want to make sure that that purchase I’m making is governed by those consumer protections, so that when I get into that new home, finally, and when I have that chance to get those new keys and open that door, that new home is built to the highest standards and upholds the regulations that the people of Ontario expect us to defend here in this chamber.

As I begin to wrap up my remarks, I would like to reiterate my support for this bill. If passed, Bill 159, the Rebuilding Consumer Confidence Act, would take long-overdue steps to strengthen consumer protection measures in Ontario.

I once again applaud the Minister of Government and Consumer Services for her ongoing consultations with citizens and businesses across the province.

I look forward to the rest of this debate.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Rick Nicholls): Now it’s time for questions.

Mr. Joel Harden: I want to thank MPP Jeremy Roberts for his remarks. He is my neighbour. We share a boundary. I just want to extend an invitation to the member. As you mentioned, people need to know about consumer protections as they roll out. I would be more than willing to host a town hall with you on this particular matter with whatever legislation comes from this particular place because residents in your community, residents in our community, very much want to be informed. So that’s an honest offer to you.

I was wondering if the member could elaborate, however, on an issue that I think concerns both of us, and that is the neglect of this particular matter by the previous set of Liberal governments. I note in particular MPP Orazietti saying, “Wow, Justice Cunningham’s report”—the ink was barely dry—saying that he predicted that that report would find Tarion’s practices to be completely acceptable. I was wondering if you thought MPP Orazietti was acting in good faith on behalf of consumers then?

Mr. Jeremy Roberts: I appreciate the question from my friend and neighbour the member for Ottawa Centre. I think this is definitely an issue that we need to make sure we get right for the people of Ottawa, and I look forward to working with you to make sure that we get these consumer protections right.

I couldn’t agree more. Again, as I noted in my remarks, 15 years ago is when this was last updated—15 years of neglect, of not bringing this up to the standards that the people of Ontario expect. And again, you need not look any further than the Auditor General’s report back in 2009 where the Auditor General laid out some concrete steps and issues that they expected the government to take action on. I’m disappointed that it took so long for those recommendations to be acted upon, and I’m pleased that our government has had the chance to act on some of those recommendations here today.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Rick Nicholls): Further questions?

Mr. Daryl Kramp: I’m tremendously blessed and fortunate. I have a number of contractors and builders in my region, in my area, that are just absolutely wonderful. They produce a fine, fine product. People are satisfied, knowing full well that they’re buying and/or inhabiting the biggest purchase of their life, and it’s tremendously important to them that it’s done right.

Regrettably, in the industry, there are bad players. We have seen that. Unfortunately when that happens, it’s not only a disappointment, but the heartache is just tremendous to all of the people who are adversely affected. Can the member tell us just how we are addressing some of those bad actors and the actions that this legislation is taking to prevent future malfeasance from taking place in the industry?

Mr. Jeremy Roberts: I appreciate the question from my friend and colleague. I agree completely with the member’s comments. I know a lot of folks who work in the home building industry who are wonderful members of the community and who do a fantastic amount of work also in the community in charitable efforts—I know I’ve worked with some of them on fundraising efforts for our children’s hospital in Ottawa, as just one example.

But you’re right; we need to make sure that we get these consumer protections right so that people are protected when they are making some of those big, important purchases.

That’s why we are proposing to make the following changes to respond to consumer feedback: We are going to overhaul Ontario’s new home warranty and protection program to make it more consumer focused and reduce the role of builders; we are going to support the new consumer protection priorities that the government committed to in spring 2019 as part of the overhauled program, including enhancing the dispute resolution process and delivering new measures to promote better-built homes.

This is in addition to changes we have already made in the last year, such as board and executive compensation disclosure and enhancing the builder directory.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Rick Nicholls): Unfortunately there isn’t enough time for further questions and responses.

Second reading debate deemed adjourned.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Rick Nicholls): It is time for members’ statements.

Members’ Statements

John Gaidatsis

Mr. Stan Cho: It’s my privilege to rise in the House today to recognize the work, passion and vision of a great community leader, a great friend who grew up in North York, John Gaidatsis. Johnny G, as his friends call him, is a passionate textile artist whose work highlights and pays homage to Ontario’s history.

As part of the Canadian Tapestry and Texture Centre, Johnny G collaborates every day with Canadian artists and art professionals who share his vision of bringing Canadian stories to the forefront, at home and around the world. Through their work with tapestry, Johnny G and his colleagues create lasting memorials that connect community members from across Canada with each other and to our shared history. They remind us all of the importance of helping to tell Canada’s magnificent story.

Through exhibitions and workshops, the Canadian Tapestry and Texture Centre inspires Canadians of all ages and works to attract international textile artists to help them develop the skills needed to create beautiful tapestry. These works of art can take over 450 hours to complete.

Here in Ontario, we’re lucky to have talented and skilled individuals like Johnny G. This morning I want to congratulate Johnny G on his continued success and thank him for supporting Ontario’s arts community. Sorry I missed the reveal of your latest piece. I’ll be sure to be there next time. GG must be very proud of you. You the man, Johnny.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Once again, I’m going to remind members that we are currently in members’ statements. I realize people are coming and going and people are catching up with each other. Please keep the private conversations as low as possible so as to allow the member to make their statement and so that I can hear the member.

Small business

Ms. Jill Andrew: One of Canada’s last standing independent children’s bookstores, Mabel’s Fables, an iconic landmark within our Mount Pleasant Village, is under attack by this government and the previous government’s Eglinton Crosstown construction delays and by a new predatory landlord who increased rent by 70%.

Mabel’s Fables owner Eleanor LeFave is a woman entrepreneur and the keeper of 32 years of beloved memories created in her small business, which doubles as a community second home for everyone who has visited. Indie bookstores are the vibrant cultural DNA of our communities. They are a lifeline for local authors.

Eleanor and other small businesses fighting for their right to exist are exhausted. Their family savings and physical and mental health are depleted. In Eleanor’s words,“$3 million spent on marketing is misguided—this is too late. Reform the punishing Municipal Property Assessment Corp. ... help us with a refund on property taxes, what about rent control for small businesses ... provide us with mental health workers.”

Eleanor is terrified of the looming retail apocalypse if this government doesn’t stand up for small businesses, and I couldn’t agree more. Conservatives, $3 million is a band-aid solution. It is a day late and a dollar short.

In the meantime, though, we are all going to continue to shop on Eglinton and we’re going to bring our friends from across Ontario to shop, drink, eat and do it all until we drop.

Child care

Mr. Kaleed Rasheed: Good morning. This morning, I would like to acknowledge and share an announcement that was held in my great riding of Mississauga East–Cooksville. On March 5, a new child care centre, Caring for Kids, opened up to serve our local community in providing high-quality licensed child care services. Cooksville parents have spoken loud and clear that they want to see greater choice and affordability in our child care system.

This grand opening event was an opportunity for us to celebrate the collaborative effort and partnerships that have resulted in the opening of this wonderful centre that will offer quality, licensed child care for our families.

I would like to thank Caring for Kids and the region of Peel for your dedication to opening this new centre in our community and working alongside our government to make this a reality. Our government is committed to investing in quality child care and early learning for families. Caring for Kids is a start and will lead by example to other areas in the city of Mississauga on the vital importance of having high-quality, licensed child care services.

Government’s record

Mr. Ian Arthur: It’s been a while since I’ve had to sit through that inane “promise made” seal talk from the other side. It’s been nice, and there’s a reason we haven’t had to hear that orchestrated self-indulgent back-patting: because, well, they’re having a hard time keeping any promise. Let’s review:

They set class sizes at 28, then 25, now 23.

They introduced mandatory e-learning; now there’s an opt-out.

They cancelled the francophone university; now it’s being built.

They destroyed supports for autistic children and are currently bungling the repair job.

They vowed to cut children’s aid funding by $28 million, but with pressure, they have still kept the old funding model.

They planned to stop the Transition Child Benefit for low-income families, but thankfully, were forced to keep it.

They cut funding to public health, then they reversed it—although it’s worth noting that despite COVID-19, they have yet to make that reversal permanent.

They axed promised funding for rape crisis centres, then, faced with outrage, partially revoked that cut.

They made invisible licence plates, denied it for months, and now we have the old ones.

They tried to open the green belt for development twice, and—you can guess what I’m going to say here—backtracked on that too.

They brought back patronage appointments that had not been used in decades so the Premier’s previous chief of staff could hand out jobs to his pals, and then they were forced to fire them.

With one failed project after another, how can Ontarians possibly trust this government to lead in a time of actual crisis? Between the unaddressed housing crisis, the coronavirus pandemic and the climate emergency, how can we have faith in a government that has bungled every single one of its decisions?

Cornerstone Family Violence Prevention Centre

Mr. David Piccini: I’m pleased to speak today to a truly remarkable organization in my riding, Cornerstone Family Violence Prevention Centre.

Cornerstone received funding last year from the government of Ontario to build an addition to help expand service delivery and supports for victims of family violence. I’m excited to be attending the ribbon-cutting on Friday to celebrate the opening of the space, which will be utilized as a counselling space to deliver one-on-one supports, including counselling, family court supports and housing support services. The space is a softer, more comforting place to experience these services and will help to increase Cornerstone’s capacity, enabling 30% more people to receive support if needed.

The space is a welcomed addition to the programs Cornerstone offers women and children in Northumberland county.

I would like to thank the truly remarkable staff and board at Cornerstone Family Violence Prevention Centre for their continued work and commitment to ending violence against women.

I would also like to acknowledge Cornerstone’s International Women’s Day lunch last week—unfortunately, I was unable to attend this year—which was a great success in our community, and thank everyone who attended.

In closing, we know that, far too often, gender-based violence targets Indigenous women, racialized women, new Canadians and women in rural and northern communities like mine. Together, we must do better to end violence against women.

Legal aid

Ms. Mitzie Hunter: I rise today in support of our local community legal clinics and to implore this government to stop the cuts to Legal Aid Ontario.

I’ve received dozens of letters from my constituents who access services at Scarborough Community Legal Services, our local community legal clinic. These letters are from the most vulnerable members of my community: from refugees, from new Canadians, ODSP recipients and low-income rental tenants.

The average household income in my riding is well below the city and the provincial average. The message from my constituents is clear: They would not be able to afford essential legal assistance had they not been able to receive the services provided by their local community legal aid clinic.

Earlier this week, the Neither Smarter nor Stronger report highlighted concerns with the government’s proposal to cut services to Legal Aid Ontario, including the removal of language referring to low-income clients. Legal aid should focus on the needs of those who need to access justice.

We should not be cutting services to legal aid. We should not be putting this burden on the most vulnerable people in our communities. The government needs to look at the bigger picture and ensure fair and equal access to justice and legal services in our community, and stop these ridiculous cuts.

Pharmacare

Ms. Jessica Bell: I want to talk about one of my constituents who is here with us today. Cullen Elijah McGrail is a playwright who lives in University–Rosedale. He just celebrated his 25th birthday. Cullen has type 1 diabetes. Before his birthday, the OHIP+ program covered the cost of his insulin and glucose-monitoring tests that Cullen needs to manage his diabetes. But now that he’s 25, he no longer has any coverage. These costs now cost Cullen over $300 a month. That’s a lot of money.

Leading up to his birthday, Cullen reached out to my office with a series of letters. He sent me one every single day. He talked about his life, his goals and his plan to write a play about the discovery of insulin. I learned a lot while reading these letters. In one, Cullen wrote about the scientists who discovered insulin. He said, “The Hippocratic oath was clear that it would be wrong to make money off something that would help humankind.” I agree.

Cullen should not have to pay out of pocket and risk financial uncertainty for the one thing that keeps him alive.

We need a universal pharmacare program—a program where insulin and medications would be available to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay.

I have made copies of Cullen’s letters and will be giving them to the Minister of Health. I look forward to following up with the minister on this important issue.

Thank you for coming today, Cullen.

Blind Hockey Night

Mr. Rudy Cuzzetto: A week ago, I hosted the first ever Blind Hockey Night at the Port Credit arena in Mississauga–Lakeshore. It was great to see so many families attend this special event. Together, we raised over $6,000 for the Canadian national blind hockey team and for the Mississauga Hockey League’s Play-More Program, which helps support hockey families who need financial assistance.

Speaker, I want to take this opportunity to thank a few volunteers—Christine Scaini and Mark DeMontis, this evening could never have happened without you.

Thank you to Nicholas Canade and the Mississauga Steelheads, who joined us and donated 500 tickets—one for everyone who attended this event.

Thank you to the Peel police for joining us, and to ParaSport TV for broadcasting this event.

And thank you to former Toronto Maple Leaf Brad Boyes for joining us and for playing on both Team Rudy and the national blind team, after a trade during the first intermission.

The blind team won 5-4. But we all win every time we demonstrate that sports are for everyone, and that’s what we did on Wednesday night.

Thank you to everyone who attended this event.

Health care in Brampton

Mr. Gurratan Singh: Brampton is the ninth-largest city in Canada. We are one of the fastest-growing cities. And we are facing a health care emergency. The situation is so bad that thousands of people are treated in the hallways in our hospital, which is already overcrowded and underfunded.

For 15 years, the Liberal government made a decision: They decided to not invest in our city’s health care. And since getting elected, the Conservative government has taken this situation from bad to worse. The situation is so dire that the city of Brampton has declared a health care crisis.

The Conservatives can’t ignore this issue any longer. People’s lives are at risk.

Now with the threat of COVID-19 spreading across the world—including cases here in the GTA, the region of Peel and the city of Brampton—people are really worried. They are worried about how our health care system, which is already suffering from the cuts made by this Conservative government, is going to handle the possibility of this virus spreading here in Ontario. Frankly, they shouldn’t have to worry, because the people of Ontario have a fundamental right to public health care that is adequately funded.

Cuts to health care hurt us all, especially at times like this. That’s why we in the NDP will be fighting these cuts and working to make sure that the people of Ontario have access to the health care that they need and deserve.

CFB Trenton

Mr. Daryl Kramp: Colleagues, in the global challenges of preventing, treating and working with COVID-19, we’ve heard many stories of angst, heartbreak, frustration and fear. Today, in contrast, I would like to commend the men and women of CFB Trenton and the people of an entire community and region for their collective response when confronted with receiving repatriated citizens from across Canada. I refer specifically to just under 200 Canadians repatriated from Wuhan, China, and now just over 200 more from the Diamond Princess.

Upon their arrival at CFB Trenton, the air transport capital of Canada, they are processed and quarantined by a broad spectrum of health care professionals, military personnel and community volunteers. Not only are they cared for using strict medical protocols, but many members of the community have stepped forward with books, treats, videos, gifts and more during the entire quarantine period they spend there. This outpouring of generosity and concern, in my mind, truly reflects the caring nature of the Bay of Quinte communities surrounding the Trenton air base.

So to all involved, I say thank you for making the best of a difficult situation in the most Canadian way.

Introduction of Visitors

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): I want to welcome a very special guest to the Legislature, who served as the member of provincial Parliament in the riding of Scarborough–Ellesmere in the 30th, 31st, 33rd and 35th Parliaments, and who also served as Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in the 35th. He was here; I’m sure he’ll be back. David Warner was here a minute ago.

Mrs. Jennifer (Jennie) Stevens: This morning I would like to welcome Jessica Bowprey. She’s from Niagara Falls. She’s a student from Brock University who’s working in my constituency office and doing a wonderful job.

I would like to also welcome Paul Bachem and Kelsey Ewart from Metrolinx. Thank you for the informative visit this morning.

Mr. Billy Pang: I would like to welcome two of my new constituency staff, Kitty Huang and Dickson Mak.

Ms. Teresa J. Armstrong: I would like to welcome two student leaders from Western University: Fatima Amir and Erin McAdam. They are spending the afternoon with me here today to learn about the great work that we do at Queen’s Park. Welcome.

Mr. Aris Babikian: I would like to welcome Victoria Park LINC students and staff. They are somewhere around here in the House, and they will join us a little bit later.

Miss Monique Taylor: I would like to welcome Michau van Speyk from the Ontario Autism Coalition. Welcome back to Queen’s Park.

Mr. Will Bouma: Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank you for hosting the prayer breakfast this morning in the dining room.

I would like to welcome to the people’s House representatives from Leading Influence: Larry Freeman, Tim Schindel and Charlie Lyons—and also my pastor Scott Dibbet and my beautiful and long-suffering wife, Joni.

Ms. Bhutila Karpoche: I would like to recognize Paige Malcolm from my riding, who has done a fabulous job serving the Legislature as a legislative page. Her last day is tomorrow. Thank you, Paige.

Ms. Goldie Ghamari: It’s my pleasure to welcome Alessandro Cunsolo to Queen’s Park today. He’s a Ryerson engineering student, and it’s his first time here.

Mr. Lorne Coe: I would like to welcome Sarah Klein, the director of strategic initiatives at the town of Whitby, to the chamber.

Hon. Doug Ford: We have the Milone family. We have Tony, Maria, Stephanie, Grace, and Daniel is a page here. It was great to see them this morning. Thanks for coming down.

Question Period

Employment standards

Ms. Andrea Horwath: My first question this morning is to the Premier. As families anxiously watch the news of the spread of COVID-19, they’re asking some serious questions about the government’s contingency plans and about their own ability to take time away from work if sickness requires them to. The government has made it clear that they will not take the advice of doctors, nurses and health professionals who have implored them to reinstate paid sick days.

What measures is the government ready to put in place to help people and their employers if they’re unable to work due to illness or quarantine?

Hon. Doug Ford: I can tell you the health and the well-being of Ontarians is our government’s number one priority. Our government has taken a transparent approach, regularly updating to the media and the people of Ontario—via the media and online.

Our government is acting to ensure readiness and to respond to a range of outbreak scenarios. We’re expanding our testing capacity and establishing dedicated assessment centres to ease pressures on hospitals. We’ve also enhanced screening at long-term-care homes.

Ontario has stood ready and assisted by the federal government—I want to thank the federal government for their announcement today. We look forward to going up to Ottawa, starting tonight, to sit down with the rest of the Premiers and the federal government to discuss a further plan.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Supplementary question.

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Indeed, the federal government did announce this morning measures to make it easier to access employment insurance, but thousands of working women and men in Ontario—nearly one in 10—don’t qualify for employment insurance coverage.

Does the Ford government have a plan to protect these workers when they need to take time away from work?

Hon. Doug Ford: Ontario has stood ready, assisted, again, by the federal government in caring for and repatriating the Canadians who are overseas at CFB Trenton and also the Nav Canada centre. Our government will work with the federal government to ensure that our public health care system will respond appropriately.

We look forward to engaging with our provincial and federal partners at the First Ministers meeting.

We’re implementing an enhanced paramedic response team that brings all the partners together.

I look forward to meeting the Leader of the Opposition after this session and the other leaders of the other parties to further discuss this.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Final supplementary.

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Speaker, I’m still not getting a response to the question—outside of the great work that’s been done by our health professionals and public health in the province.

No one should ever have to be in a situation where they’re having to choose between their ability to earn a living and being able to stay healthy or keeping other people healthy. But many working people feel that this is a choice they may be facing. Now, more than ever, they need a government that is ready to act to ensure they don’t have to make that choice. Instead, they have a government that defends stripping working people of paid sick days and has ignored the advice of medical professionals to end mandatory sick notes.

What contingency plans does the government have in place, Speaker, to ensure that people will be able to take time off from work when they need it?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Deputy Premier and Minister of Health.

Hon. Christine Elliott: We are encouraging people who feel ill to stay at home and we are encouraging employers to support that advice, and they are. We have a situation right now where notes are not mandatory. They can be asked for in some circumstances by employers, but employers in Ontario right now understand that we are dealing with a very unusual set of circumstances, and they’re responding accordingly.

Employers now have the option to require reasonable proof of the circumstances that entitle that employee to leave. That is what is happening right now.

People are being responsible, both employees and employers. We feel that no other steps are required at this point because people are acting in the way they should under these circumstances, where everyone is required to play their part and serve their role in making sure that they protect themselves and that they protect their co-workers and the people around them.

Ms. Andrea Horwath: We feel that the government should be taking the advice of health professionals who say to get rid of this requirement for sick notes completely. Don’t make it optional, and make sure people have paid sick days to rely on. That’s what the professionals are suggesting that this government do, and we would agree with that advice. I wish the government agreed with that advice.

Public health

Ms. Andrea Horwath: My next question is to the Premier. This week, the Ford government has repeatedly stated that they have contingency plans in place to deal with everything from increased demands on our health system to disruptions to business to the ability to deliver public services. Will the government start laying out the details of their contingency plan?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Minister of Health.

Hon. Christine Elliott: Yes. Of course, there is a meeting that has been established following question period with the leader of the official opposition and the leaders of the other parties to provide, in greater detail, the enhanced measures that are being taken under the plan.

We can’t sit back and just assume that things will continue to be the way they are right now. We know what’s happening in other countries, that COVID-19 is escalating. We are preparing for that. We don’t assume that what we’re dealing with now will stay the same.

We are looking at assessment centres. For example, having people, in very short order, be able to be diagnosed at home—having the public health worker come to their home to diagnose them. We are putting all of these measures in place.

We’re looking at large gatherings, and what we should do about large gatherings. Should we put protective measures in place and prevent them from happening? We are looking at the entire possibility of events. We plan for the worst-case scenario. Of course, we hope it doesn’t happen but, if it does, we will be ready for it.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The supplementary question?

Ms. Andrea Horwath: I’m certainly looking forward to this afternoon’s meeting, but I believe that it’s really important that the public is provided with information. I think the public having information is paramount to reducing their fears and worries about what’s happening here in our province.

One of the specific areas where people have concerns is in our hospital sector. As the Premier knows, hospitals across Ontario are routinely operating over 100% capacity. People were being treated in hallways and conference rooms before COVID-19 was even a factor here in Ontario. Ontario hospitals say they will need an investment of over $900 million just to stay where they are, which is with the broken system that the Liberals left us with.

What is the government’s contingency plan should a hospital go into a lockdown or quarantine?

Hon. Christine Elliott: There are several issues that were mentioned in the question from the Leader of the Opposition. First, with respect to making sure the public is aware of what is happening, we are doing that. We are being open and transparent with the people of Ontario. Dr. Williams, our Chief Medical Officer of Health in the province of Ontario, holds conferences twice a week, on Mondays and Thursdays, with information that is immediately available to the public.

We are also updating our website ontario.ca/coronavirus twice a day, at 10:30 in the morning and 5:30 in the afternoon, to give people the information they need on where we stand in Ontario with the number of coronavirus cases—of COVID-19—and also the personal precautions people can take. It is very important that people are aware of what they need to do.

Secondly, the leader of the official opposition asked about the preparedness of our hospitals. We have a plan in place that is being discussed on a daily basis at the command table and at the regional tables to make sure that if one hospital has to be shut down because of too many cases of coronavirus or if it’s spreading within that hospital, there are plans for other hospitals to take over the work that’s being done at that hospital. That is happening across the province of Ontario. We want to make sure that if we have a situation where one is in lockdown, others are there to take its place in reasonable proximity to that hospital.

The people of Ontario need not fear about whether the hospitals will be able to handle this situation. They will be, and the plan is set and ready to go.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The final supplementary.

Ms. Andrea Horwath: When the vast majority of hospitals in Ontario are operating at over 100% capacity, that doesn’t leave us with much comfort, unfortunately.

Ontario’s homeless shelters are another situation that we’re concerned about. The shelters and emergency services for people who are without a home are asking similar questions, Speaker. People who are homeless are already at an increased health risk, as we all know, and that’s doubly true during communicable disease outbreaks.

Nurses and health professionals want to know what the government contingency plans are for this particularly vulnerable population. When can they expect to see some answers, Speaker?

Hon. Christine Elliott: First of all, with respect to our hospitals and the fact that many of them are over 100% capacity, that is true. Again, as I indicated the other day, this is not a situation that we created. That was created in the 15 years before our party took government. But we have a plan in place that is going to reduce that capacity.

With all of that said, we know that there is a plan that will work in all of our hospitals. We are very fortunate in that, in the cases that have presented thus far, the vast majority of people are able to be self-isolated at home—those who have been confirmed with COVID-19—and that should we require more spaces in the future, those spaces can be created.

It is important to note that not every patient needs to be treated in a negative pressure room. That is where people are commonly diagnosed. If they have been diagnosed with COVID-19 and need to be in hospital, they can remain in isolation. Isolation spots have been created in our existing hospitals to make sure that we can safely treat those patients who have been confirmed with COVID-19 and the rest of the patients who are there for other reasons.

In terms of people who are in homeless shelters and people who are living on the streets of Toronto, our public health units are working very carefully throughout our entire population to make sure that if people need to be diagnosed, there are places where they can be diagnosed as well as treated. We want to make sure that no person—no person—in Ontario who needs care will go without it. We have a situation set up where every person can receive care. We are working very carefully with our public health units, who are doing a tremendous job in all of our communities.

Protection for health care workers

M me France Gélinas: Ma question est pour la ministre de la Santé. Ontarians count on health care workers to care for them, to help them heal and to keep them safe, and health care workers count on things like infection control and protective equipment to keep them safe, and their patients. In the absence of clear, unequivocal scientific data, they are saying that the province should continue with the precautionary principle, which dictates higher standards of protection.

Will the minister listen to health care workers and provide them with the equipment they are asking for to protect themselves from possible airborne threats?

Hon. Christine Elliott: First, I want to thank all of the front-line personal health care workers who are dealing with COVID-19. They are doing a tremendous job, and they do need to be supported by appropriate personal protective equipment.

We have been following the advice that has been given to us by the medical and scientific community.

Presently, Ontario has been an outlier vis-à-vis other provinces and other countries in the sense that we have been assuming that there is airborne as well as droplet transmission of COVID-19. The medical evidence is telling us that it is not airborne but it is droplet-borne. Protection and therefore the personal protective equipment that is being recommended is what we are switching to now, and that is what we are going to be providing.

We did hear from a group of public health, community and chief nurse executive colleagues. We also heard from a number of leading experts in infectious diseases. Speaker, I would like to read what they have sent to us: “We commend and support efforts to expand Ontario’s stockpile of N95 respirators, but we also strongly believe that it is essential to change current recommendations to manage patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 in droplet or contact precautions and to recommend airborne precautions only for aerosol-generating medical procedures” such as bronchoscopies. “Making this change immediately is the best approach (for pandemic planning).”

This is the evidence and the advice that we have received from the medical experts and the scientific experts, and this is the advice that we are following.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The supplementary question.

M me France Gélinas: Speaker, one of the important lessons Ontario Public Health learned from SARS was to ensure that health care workers have the protections that they and their patients need to stay safe, to be safe. As long as experts are sorting out the science and the science is starting to get disseminated, we all know that we should continue to use the precautionary principle, which means ensuring that there are more rather than fewer precautions for the people who keep our health care system functioning.

Until we get clear science, until we get clear data that shows that COVID-19 is not airborne, will the minister commit to the protection of Ontario patients and the protection of Ontario health care workers in the way front-line health care workers are calling on her to do?

Hon. Christine Elliott: The precautionary principle is very important when there is medical and scientific evidence to back it up. In this case, the World Health Organization, the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario and others have recommended to us that it is droplet transmission we need to be concerned about, not airborne transmission. That is what we are following.

We want to make sure that the people of Ontario are safe, that our health workers are kept safe, but the World Health Organization’s guidance for the rational, appropriate use of personal protective equipment in addressing COVID-19 says that “PPE should be used based on the risk of exposure, the type of activity, and the transmission dynamics of the pathogen, whether contact, droplet or aerosol. The overuse of PPE will have a further impact on supply shortages.

“Health care workers involved in the direct care of patients should use the following PPE: gowns, gloves, medical masks and eye protection (goggles or face shield)”—if needed for bronchoscopies. “Specifically for aerosol-generating procedures [such as intubation or ventilation], health care workers should use respirators, eye protection, gloves and gowns.”

We are following the medical advice that we have received from the World Health Organization, from the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario and from numerous experts on COVID-19. We are following the medical and scientific advice that they are recommending for us, and that is what is going to continue to guide our decisions with respect to coverage and dealing with COVID-19.

COVID-19

Mr. Michael Parsa: My question is to the Premier. Premier, many individuals in my riding and throughout this province have seen continued coverage regarding the coronavirus. I want to take this opportunity to thank Dr. David Williams, Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, for his leadership in providing a strong, reassuring presence during these times.

I know our government is actively engaging on this file, and the Minister of Health and all of her officials continue to provide strong leadership, with twice-weekly media briefings, frequent news releases and daily website updates.

Premier, would you please provide the Legislature with an update on Ontario’s efforts to address the coronavirus in this province?

Hon. Doug Ford: I want to thank our member from Aurora–Oak Ridges–Richmond Hill for the question.

Mr. Speaker, I first want to acknowledge, as we all have, our dedicated health care professionals. We’ll leave no stone unturned to make sure our front-line health care workers are protected—the paramedics, nurses, doctors, long-term-care workers. It’s our top priority to make sure they’re taken care of so they’re able to take care of the other folks there.

Our government takes this issue very seriously, and that is why we have created a central command table headed up by our great Minister of Health. I have to tell you, Mr. Speaker, our Minister of Health is working around the clock, seven days a week, 24 hours a day, making sure the ship is guided in the proper direction.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The supplementary question.

Mr. Michael Parsa: Back to the Premier: Premier, I would also like to take the opportunity to thank all the front-line medical workers in my riding.

We realize this virus has caused concern throughout the world’s financial markets, and I know that my constituents are deeply concerned about the global economic uncertainty. The people of Ontario elected a government committed to fiscal prosperity and sound economic planning.

Would the Premier outline to the House the state of Ontario’s economy during this ongoing global uncertainty?

Hon. Doug Ford: Again, I want to thank the member.

Mr. Speaker, I can tell you we are committed to supporting and protecting the interests of all Ontarians, full stop. We will do whatever it takes to make sure we continue on with the economy moving forward, as we’ve seen.

The economic impacts of COVID-19 are concerning to our government and, I’m sure, governments around the world. But Mr. Speaker, you’ve seen us for the last 18 months in here, making sure that we are prudent with the taxpayers’ money. We’re fiscally responsible. This is the reason you have to be fiscally responsible for situations that you face. As we say, we need the rainy day fund—and that’s exactly what our government is doing.

Mr. Speaker, economically our government is so much further ahead than everyone else. But again, every decision we make, we have to make sure we’re being prudent fiscal managers of the taxpayers’ money, to make sure our economy continues to boom, as you’ve seen—

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Thank you very much. The next question.

Indigenous public health

Mr. Sol Mamakwa: Remarks in Oji-Cree.

My question is to the Premier. Tomorrow, the Premier will be joining first ministers and the Prime Minister for the First Ministers meeting. On Monday, the Premier spoke about the issues he plans to raise, but I didn’t hear the Premier mention any of the challenges facing First Nations, especially in light of COVID-19.

Will the Premier use his opportunity in Ottawa to address these issues with the Prime Minister?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The Minister of Indigenous Affairs.

Hon. Greg Rickford: We of course look forward to this opportunity. The federal government has submitted a couple of items that they want to discuss, and we have a couple that we’d like to discuss. Frankly, in view of these ongoing circumstances with respect to COVID-19, it compels us to talk and ensure that there’s a strategy in place for Indigenous communities particularly, and notably for isolated and remote Indigenous communities.

In the wake of conferences that members have travelled back and forth to, we want to ensure that we take, just as we have and will continue to do in any other community in Ontario, appropriate responses for those communities.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The supplementary question.

Mr. Sol Mamakwa: Back to the Premier: Infectious diseases can be especially devastating for First Nations communities. The government tells people to wash their hands, but that’s hard to do when there’s no clean running water. The government tells people to self-isolate, but how do you do that when you live in a house of 10 to 12 people in each home?

These are the issues that can’t be ignored. Our communities deserve answers. Will the Premier commit to raising them at this meeting?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The Minister of Health to reply.

Hon. Christine Elliott: I thank the member very much for the question. They are serious, significant issues that you are raising. With the new response structure that we’ve set up, with the command table and the regional tables, I can tell you we also have sector or specific-issue tables where we can bring up issues such as repatriation issues, local case issues—but certainly dealing with First Nations partners to make sure that we can understand the specific issues that are being faced and work through solutions.

That’s something that we are working through provincially, but it’s certainly something that I, as health minister, will be raising with the federal health minister as part of my discussions with her because, as I said previously, we want to make sure that everyone in Ontario, should they need assistance with COVID-19, will receive that assistance. Recognizing the unique circumstances that many First Nations partners are experiencing, we want to make sure that we deal with them appropriately and provide the necessary services and supplies.

Autism treatment

Mr. John Fraser: My question is for the Premier. Good morning, Premier.

It’s hard to believe we’re still talking about licence plates some three weeks later. I do have to say that hearing the Premier say that he was heartbroken was hard to understand.

Speaker, here’s what I know: Almost every day in this Legislature, right over here in the gallery, there are heartbroken families sitting here, and we all know why they’re here. We know they’re here because their children aren’t getting the supports that they need. Up until now, the government has only spent about half the $600 million they say they’ve allocated to the OAP. And families with children with autism in the north are not only heartbroken; they’re devastated because the government has destroyed capacity in the north.

Speaker, through you: What does the Premier have to say to these families?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The Minister of Children, Community and Social Services.

Hon. Todd Smith: Thanks very much, Mr. Speaker, for the opportunity to respond to this question.

Under the direction of this Premier, we have actually doubled the amount of funding in the Ontario Autism Program from $300 million to $600 million. With the advice of families and experts from the autism sector, we are developing a needs-based program that is going to meet the needs of far more children in the province than ever received support from that government.

Under the direction of Steven Del Duca and the previous Liberal government, there were 8,000 children in the province that were receiving service from the provincial government while thousands and thousands more waited. I can tell you that in the last several months, we have seen thousands more children than ever before receiving funding from the Ontario Autism Program, and we will continue to see that funding roll out over the coming months.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Supplementary question.

Mr. John Fraser: I thank the minister for his answer. I’m sure the families would have appreciated a response from the Premier. And I don’t think that’s what families are experiencing.

It’s clear that the Premier and his ministers have made a mess of the OAP, which is something this government has a habit of doing. The problem is here—it’s not us. It is children and their families that are paying the price for this.

Now we understand the government is offering interim services in four regions of this province. What about all the rest? What about all the rest?

Speaker, through you, I’ll ask the Premier again: What do you have to say, as leader of this province, to those families who are falling between the cracks because of your mismanagement?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Premier to reply.

Hon. Doug Ford: It’s pretty rich of this member to come out, when the first crisis that I faced as Premier was that you bankrupted the system. You bankrupted the system. We’re $100 million short. We had to put in emergency funds to help families with autism. I met a lady the other day who came up to me out of the blue and said, “Thank you for helping us. This is the first time we’ve seen funding.”

We’ve actually doubled the funding to $600 million—as they sat back and ignored these families for years. For 15 years, they were ignored. Thousands and thousands of families were struggling as they sat back and did absolutely nothing for these families. We’re taking care of these families. We’re putting $600 million in. People are getting their cheques now, and they’re 10 times better off than they were under the Liberal government.

COVID-19

Mr. Billy Pang: My question is for the Minister of Health. We have heard from many of our constituents about the risk of COVID-19. It is apparent that every member of this House is interested in making sure the people of Ontario are safe from this virus. That is why an open, transparent approach has been so important. I have directed my constituents to ontario.ca/coronavirus so that they can get the most up-to-date, accurate information and a fact sheet in a variety of languages. Ontario is continuing to monitor the situation closely as we prepare an enhanced response.

Speaker, I think it is important that we continue to make clear the actions that are being taken in response to COVID-19. Can the minister tell this House about the readiness of our province?

Hon. Christine Elliott: Thank you to the member from Markham–Unionville for his question. I know this is very important to you and to your constituents.

Since we first heard of this virus, our government has been open and transparent with the actions that we’ve taken. We’ve offered media briefings twice a week, frequent news releases, twice-daily website updates, daily stakeholder briefings and a number of briefings offered to all parties in this House.

We are now implementing an enhanced response. This includes a new command table, five regional planning tables, implementation tables and a personal protective equipment table. We are ensuring Ontarians’ readiness should the situation escalate. For example, we are establishing dedicated assessment centres to ease pressures on hospitals and are also increasing our lab capacity.

Speaker, let me be clear: This is our top priority, and we have a plan that is going to work.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Supplementary question.

Mr. Billy Pang: Thank you to the Minister of Health for your response.

To the Minister of Finance: It is reassuring to hear that our government continues to follow this situation closely. Our government is aware of the uncertainty that currently exists but understands the importance of managing these risks. Could the Minister of Finance please explain what our government is doing to ensure we are prepared to respond to the economic impacts as this situation continues to unfold?

Hon. Rod Phillips: Thank you to the member from Markham–Unionville for that question. As always, as with all my colleagues, I appreciate his counsel and advice as we look at the economic impacts.

First and foremost, of course, is making sure that the health resources are in place. We’ve made it clear to our front-line workers as well as to Ontarians that the resources required to address this issue will be in place to support the health of Ontarians.

But we are also in the midst of a difficult economic situation internationally, and we continue to monitor that situation. I can say that it is in the best interests of Ontarians that this government has been focused on a prudent, responsible approach to finances.

As I mentioned in this Legislature last week, the Parliamentary Budget Officer, an independent officer of the federal government, has indicated for the first time since they have been monitoring the fiscal stability of this province that Ontario is on a stable financial footing. This will serve us well as we deal with the uncertainties ahead. Your constituents and the rest of Ontarians can rely on us to manage the books financially in—

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Thank you very much. The next question.

Government appointments

Ms. Andrea Horwath: My question is for the Premier.

This morning, I announced that I’ll be introducing a private member’s bill that, if passed, would protect the independence of the Ontario Human Rights Commission. There’s a need because, as we’ve seen with the Premier’s attempt to appoint his buddy Ron Taverner to the top job in the OPP, this government cannot stop meddling in the independent appointments process. Despite over 300 applications to the commission made through the proper process and agreed-upon channels, this Premier went ahead and appointed his own picks for commissioners, including one who the Integrity Commissioner found would often be in a conflict of interest and therefore unable to do the job much of the time.

Does the Premier believe he should be meddling in the Ontario Human Rights Commission?

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The Attorney General to reply.

Hon. Doug Downey: I look forward to seeing the bill that she announced at 9:45 this morning on the off chance that there’s something constructive in it. I’m looking forward to it, Mr. Speaker.

I am confident with the independence of the OHRC and the important work that they do—but here’s the irony: The Leader of the Opposition would say, “We want to take the politics out of it, so we’re going to politicize it.” It makes no sense.

Mr. Arsenault’s credentials are unparalleled. They are unparalleled. He is exactly the kind of person that you would want on the commission. He has 20 years of front-line experience. He was an Aboriginal liaison officer. He is so qualified. He was the first-ever holder of community engagement officer. He is so—it’s unbelievable.

We know that the opposition has no use for our front-line police officers. They don’t respect them, they don’t want their input and they discount everything they have to say.

Interjections.

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

Start the clock. Supplementary question.

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Well, Speaker, I’ve never seen such a shameful response from an Attorney General. We’re talking about principles that were established in the 1990s by the United Nations when it comes to the independence of these very kinds of bodies, so shame on the Attorney General; shame on a member of this cabinet to behave in such an undignified way when this is an extremely important principle that we’re trying to ensure is upheld in the province of Ontario.

What my bill does is take the memorandum of understanding, which provides a clear understanding of how the appointment process for the Ontario Human Rights Commission should work—the very MOU that this Attorney General refuses to sign—and actually enshrines it into law. I’d say that that’s a huge improvement.

The Premier must stop trying to put his thumb on the scale to influence the appointments process. It has to stop. Will the Premier do the right thing—the thing that is a standard around the world, enshrined in the UN principles that were undertaken in Paris? Will he do the right thing, recognize the need for a Human Rights Commission that actually operates without government interference, and support this extremely important bill?

Hon. Doug Downey: It will come as no surprise to this House that the Leader of the Opposition is ill informed again. I signed that MOU in February, so we can put that to bed.

Mr. Speaker, the second part to this—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Order.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Order. I’m listening to the Attorney General’s answer; so far, he has said nothing that’s unparliamentary.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Order.

The Attorney General.

Hon. Doug Downey: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The other irony here with the opposition is that they think that, by excluding perspectives and experience, they’re being inclusive. That’s how they think. Only in the NDP world do they think that we should shun the advice of front-line officers who have something to contribute to the welfare of this province.

The Human Rights Commission is independent. They operate independently, they will continue to operate independently, and they’re doing a fantastic job.

Public health

Ms. Mitzie Hunter: My question is to the Minister of Health and the Deputy Premier.

Minister, grocery shelves are losing stock of hand sanitizers. I believe that people are following yours and others’ advice to wash their hands with soap and water, but, as concerns over COVID-19 grow, I believe that they need clarity from officials in terms of how to behave and how to act.

So far, I don’t believe that your government is being clear. I’ve listened to you this morning—and the Premier—as you’ve answered questions around, for instance, employers and giving paid time off to employees who need to self-quarantine or who have contracted this virus.

The federal government has acted. Will the provincial government take clear and decisive action? We need to learn the lessons of 2003, from the SARS outbreak. That started in Scarborough; I paid close attention at that time.

Will you ensure that the government restricts access to long-term-care facilities in the event of a community-acquired—

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Thank you very much. Minister of Health to reply.

Hon. Christine Elliott: I would certainly agree with the member that we did learn lessons from SARS. We carefully learned those lessons, and we put into place processes and protocols, including the public health agency of Ontario, to deal with situations such as the one that we are facing now. So we do have a plan in place; we do have people at all levels who are prepared to take action as they need to.

We are following this situation very, very closely. We are letting the public know about every step that we are taking. We are being open and transparent about it. Dr. Williams, our Chief Medical Officer of Health, is the one who is doing the daily briefings. I believe that is very important so the people of Ontario hear directly from him—not through me, not through what some might perceive to be a political lens; they’re hearing directly from him about the steps that they need to take.

I will expand further in my supplemental.

The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Supplementary question.

Ms. Mitzie Hunter: I want to thank the minister for her answer.

Minister, I believe that, at times like this, we need to take courageous action.

The public health units, as you know, are the heroes. They are the ones that protect our societies, our communities, from communicable diseases. Sudbury just received its first case of confirmed COVID-19, so it is now spreading to the north. Right now, under your ministry’s expectations, there’s a modernization effort: There are cuts that have been made to public health boards and public health units, and there’s downloading to municipalities. It’s not the time for that.

Will you suspend that action so that 100% of the resources available to our public health teams across this province can be put toward defending the public against this unknown virus and making sure that Ontarians are protected?

Hon. Christine Elliott: I will agree with the member that our public health units and people in public health, as well as front-line protective personal health workers, are the ones that we should be applauding and celebrating and giving all of the resources that they need in order to do their jobs.

I actually spoke with Ms. Blair, who’s working with Mr. Pine, this morning with respect to the consultation efforts that are being done by Mr. Pine and his group with respect to municipalities and the work that the public health units are doing. They have put their consultations in abeyance because they know that the public health units have to put all of their resources right now into dealing with COVID-19. That is the appropriate use. We need to make sure that we respond to the absolute priorities in public health. That is what they are now doing, and that’s what we would expect them to do. I thank them for their continued efforts.

Human trafficking

Mr. Kaleed Rasheed: My question is for the Associate Minister of Children and Women’s Issues. The members involved in developing the anti-human trafficking strategy have spoken of consultations, round tables and insights they have received from those on the front lines who have devoted their time to support the survivors of trafficking. We know that there is no better measure of success than that of feedback from those who work directly on such challenging issues, and as such, we understand how impactful their opinions are.

Can the minister please tell the House what kind of response they have received from these front-line care providers following the launch of the anti-human trafficking strategy?

Hon. Jill Dunlop: Thank you to the member from Mississauga East–Cooksville for that question.

Our government worked to ensure that our new anti-human trafficking strategy was designed with the input of those who spend every day on the front lines, who helped us create a strategy that would truly serve the survivors of this heinous crime.

Following our announcement, we were encouraged by the tremendously positive responses from these community leaders across Ontario. These are people like Karyn Kennedy, president and CEO of Boost Child and Youth Advocacy Centre, who said, “I commend the provincial government for recognizing the serious issue of trafficking of girls and women in Ontario. They are taking bold steps to implement a comprehensive strategy that supports and enhances the work of community stakeholders, law enforcement and criminal justice across sectors to prevent and hopefully bring an end to th