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May 31, 2007

38th Parliament, 2nd Session

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Hansard Transcripts

Votes and Proceedings

Orders and Notices

Hansard Transcripts 2007-May-31 (PDF)

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO

ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE DE L'ONTARIO

Thursday 31 May 2007 Jeudi 31 mai 2007

PRIVATE MEMBERS'

PUBLIC BUSINESS

VAUGHAN HOSPITAL

BONE MARROW AWARENESS

MONTH ACT, 2007 /

LOI DE 2007 SUR LE MOIS

DE LA SENSIBILISATION

AU DON DE MOELLE OSSEUSE

VAUGHAN HOSPITAL

BONE MARROW AWARENESS

MONTH ACT, 2007 /

LOI DE 2007 SUR LE MOIS

DE LA SENSIBILISATION

AU DON DE MOELLE OSSEUSE

MEMBERS' STATEMENTS

ONTARIO DRUG BENEFIT PROGRAM

STREETSVILLE

BREAD AND HONEY FESTIVAL

KIDS' FISHING DAY

TENANT PROTECTION

ENERGY CONSERVATION

ONTARIO ASSOCIATION OF

CERTIFIED ENGINEERING TECHNICIANS AND TECHNOLOGISTS

CATTLE FARMERS

CONSERVATION

VISITOR

DARRELL PRIEDE

VISITORS

BIRTH OF MEMBER'S GRANDCHILD

VISITOR

WATER QUALITY

INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

ONTARIO SOCIETY FOR

THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY

TO ANIMALS AMENDMENT ACT, 2007 /

LOI DE 2007 MODIFIANT

LA

LOI SUR LA SOCIÉTÉ DE PROTECTION DES ANIMAUX DE L'ONTARIO

LABOUR RELATIONS

AMENDMENT ACT

(CERTIFIED TRADES), 2007 /

LOI DE 2007 MODIFIANT

LA

LOI SUR LES RELATIONS

DE TRAVAIL (MÉTIERS AGRÉÉ

S) MOTIONS

CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH

ACTING CHIEF

MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH

INTEGRITY COMMISSIONER

STATEMENTS BY THE MINISTRY AND RESPONSES

IPPERWASH PROVINCIAL PARK /

PARC PROVINCIAL IPPERWASH

DEFERRED VOTES

STRENGTHENING BUSINESS THROUGH

A SIMPLER TAX SYSTEM ACT, 2007 /

LOI DE 2007 VISANT À RENFORCER

LES ENTREPRISES GRÂCE À UN RÉGIME

FISCAL PLUS SIMPLE

SAFEGUARDING AND SUSTAINING

ONTARIO'S WATER ACT, 2007 /

LOI DE 2007 SUR LA SAUVEGARDE ET LA

DURABILITÉ DES EAUX DE L'ONTARIO

ORAL QUESTIONS

YOUTH SERVICES

WATER QUALITY

IPPERWASH PROVINCIAL PARK

NORTHERN ECONOMY

NURSE PRACTITIONERS

WATER QUALITY

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT

EDUCATION FUNDING

ONTARIO DRUG BENEFIT PROGRAM

DIABETES

HIGHWAY 26

EDUCATION FUNDING

ARTS AND CULTURAL FUNDING

ELECTRICITY SUPPLY

PETITIONS

GASOLINE PRICES

ANTI-IDLING BYLAWS

POPE JOHN PAUL II

LONG-TERM CARE

HIGHWAY 26

COURT SUPPORT STAFF

PARENTING EDUCATION

DOCTOR SHORTAGE

MINIMUM WAGE

LONG-TERM CARE

CHOLESTEROL THERAPY

BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE

ORDERS OF THE DAY

HEALTH SYSTEM

IMPROVEMENTS ACT, 2007 /

LOI DE 2007 SUR L'AMÉLIORATION

DU SYSTÈME DE SANTÉ

The House met at 1000.

Prayers.

PRIVATE MEMBERS'

PUBLIC BUSINESS

VAUGHAN HOSPITAL

Mr. Mario G. Racco (Thornhill): I move that, in the opinion of this House, the government of Ontario support the efforts of the city of Vaughan, the Vaughan Health Care Foundation and the Central Local Health Integration Network as they work toward creating a hospital in the city of Vaughan.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): The member for Thornhill has 10 minutes to make his opening presentation.

Mr. Racco: What a pleasure it is for me today to introduce a private member's resolution in regard to the Vaughan hospital.

For a number of years now, the people of Vaughan and the people of the region of York and, I would also suggest, in particular the people of the 905 area have been asking for additional health care facilities in Vaughan and, as I said, the 905 area. The reason is that there seems to be a shortage that is quite visible, and so the community has initiated a process of making sure that we at the province understand the need for such a facility.

Quite frankly, since Mr. Smitherman became Minister of Health, significant progress has made in the region of York. I make reference to the three existing hospitals: All of them got money for expansions. So we have been able to respond quickly to such a need. Of course, the city of Vaughan is one of the major cities not only in Ontario but in Canada that does not have a hospital within its boundaries. Presently, people such as myself, who reside in the city of Vaughan–more specifically, in Thornhill—must use other hospitals.

Those would be the North York General Hospital, and prior to that, the Branson hospital, or the York Central Hospital in Richmond Hill, or hospitals in Brampton or Toronto. Basically, we tend to go to four different areas for our needs. So the community has expressed clearly that it's necessary that we do something as quickly as possible.

Recently, the Minister of Health, the Honourable Mr. Smitherman, did make such an announcement. What my resolution today is attempting to do is make sure that all honourable members of this House, whether it be the opposition or the third party, potentially show their support for such a need and support the resolution, so that it's clear that all of us in this House have one thing in common when it comes to the city of Vaughan hospital and so that any future discussion or planning that needs to be done, in my humble opinion, would be seen by all as having broad support in this House.

I want to send the message clearly that there is so much support for this from the city of Vaughan. I want to recognize that today we have in the gallery some members and a few others who will be joining us shortly. From the Central Local Health Integration Network, we have the CEO, Mr. Ken Morrison, and from the Vaughan Health Care Foundation, the president, Angelo Baldassarra, and the vice-president, Michael DeGasperis. Both of them have been very much involved with this process from the beginning.

We also have the secretary of the foundation, Quinto Annibale; the foundation administrator, Anastasia Vogt; and Chris Benedetti, who is assisting this organization in presenting the case to the province and everywhere. Welcome.

I should mention that Councillor Racco, who is also a member and my wife, is also to be here at any moment. I think she's looking for a parking spot somewhere.

Mr. Frank Klees (Oak Ridges): Give her yours.

Mr. Racco: The subway is coming up, Frank. Until then, we must use the car.

Health care, as you know, is a priority for our government, and we have focused on innovation in public health care by building a system that delivers on three priorities: keeping Ontarians healthy, reducing wait times and providing better access to doctors and nurses. Of course, all of us know that we debated this issue in the House. We have made investments in health care, and some of those are:

We have invested $5 billion in modernizing and expanding health care facilities by 2010 to meet the needs of the province's growing and aging population.

We have reduced waiting times for five key health care services: hip/knee joint replacements, cataract surgery, MRI exams, cancer surgeries and cardiac procedures.

We have invested $143 million in emergency department action plans, which contain system-wide solutions to ensure that emergency rooms stay open and increase capacity in the health care system to meet the needs of Ontario patients.

Important steps in the area of health care that we have initiated, particularly in the 905 and GTA areas, are:

—Our government has invested $285 million in new hospital funding, which is an 18.5% increase.

—We are also developing four new regional cancer centres throughout the GTA and the 905 area, with two new cardiac surgery programs and five new regional dialysis units.

As I said earlier, the community is certainly very much in favour of and wants a hospital to be built very soon. Of course, the first step was taken when the minister recently made the announcement. The foundation hired EKOS polling some time ago to identify the community feeling on the matter, and more residents considered the establishment of a hospital an extremely important issue—the poll indicated that. In fact, 73% of residents believe that building a hospital in Vaughan is very important, with 61% stating that it is extremely, extremely important.

Sixty-eight percent of residents believe that a hospital needs to be located in Vaughan rather than in a neighbouring community. The GTA/905 Healthcare Alliance is undertaking a postcard mail-in campaign, approaching all MPPs for the GTA. As of yesterday, my office had already received 32 cards from constituents who are asking that we take notice of the health care situation in the 905 and the GTA, and to bring health care services closer to home.

There are many cases we all know, I'm sure, where people are waiting in emergency for hours. Of course, this problem wasn't caused by us. This is a problem that came over a number of years when a little more should have been done. We here together, hopefully all of us, will be able to agree that more has to be done, and together we will make sure that those emergency waiting times will be reduced significantly—I would love to say "completely," but I think we all realize that is not always possible. But we should try to do that. I am also pleased that our government has done so, and, with this resolution, I hope to keep the spotlight on this important issue.

According to the Vaughan Health Campus of Care report, Vaughan residents primarily obtain acute in-patient day procedures and emergency services from one of the following four hospitals, only one of which is in York region: the York Central Hospital, which my friend on the opposite side represents, Humber River Regional Hospital, North York General Hospital and the William Osler Health Centre, which is in Brampton. That's where residents in Vaughan go if there is a need. At present, 56% of Vaughan residents seeking in-patient acute care services travel to Toronto to access essential health care services, combined with 36% of the broader York region.

Quite frankly, when people from my riding go to Toronto, that means we're putting more pressure on hospitals in Toronto, and that's not necessarily proper. There is pressure in Toronto and in the 905, and so we need more facilities to be able to respond within a reasonable time. Over three quarters of residents seeking day procedures and over half seeking emergency procedures have sought them in Toronto.

Is that my time?

The Acting Speaker: Thank you very much. Further debate?

Mr. Klees: I am pleased to rise, I will say at the very outset, in support of the resolution that the member for Thornhill has brought forward. As someone who has represented York region since 1995, no one in this House is more familiar, perhaps, than I with the pressures on our health care services—in fact, on all of our social services—given the population growth we're facing and the challenges we have.

I want, as well, to express my appreciation, on behalf of our caucus and John Tory, for the good work of the members of our community who have in fact shown leadership on this issue, and we wish them well as they continue to dedicate themselves, along with the LHIN, the staff and those showing leadership through that organization, as well as the municipality of Vaughan, which also has been very supportive of this initiative.

The reality is that governments can make many announcements, and I know they will take this one very seriously. I would ask the member to consider that, as we support this second reading of the bill and refer it to committee, he would agree that we incorporate into this—although it is merely a resolution; I understand that. So the committee process will not be entertained.

But I would ask that he on his own, perhaps, agree with us that what we should do is ask that his resolution, in the final analysis, be expanded—and he can perhaps do this in a direct way with the Minister of Health—to include something that I feel is missing in the resolution which I wish the member would have included from the very outset: some very specific timelines relating to the decisions that are going to be made, because I do have a concern, and I'm looking at the news release from the Minister of Health.

What concerns me here is that nowhere in this press release, which is the official communiqué of the Ministry of Health, does it speak to either specific timelines or to specific commitments in terms of this actually being a hospital. What I would like to see is, frankly, a free-standing hospital facility in Vaughan.

I've been there. Knowing how very carefully these communiqués are crafted, the wording is very important. Nowhere in this release does it refer to a hospital in Vaughan. It refers to supporting planning for new hospital services. That's important, I say to my colleague opposite.

I would suggest we work very closely together to ensure that there is no misunderstanding about what the intent of the government is here and that members of the community don't spend unnecessary time thinking they're going in one direction and then, at the end of the day, the announcement is, "Well, thank you very much for all of your good work.

We will provide new hospital services in some sort of alternative facility that may or may not be independent, that may or may not be managed from some other place," that may or may not achieve what in fact my good friend is telling us and what the newspaper reports are reporting. And there is a difference between the ministry's announcement and the

interpretation of the media. The media, interestingly enough, refers consistently to a new hospital, that in fact this will be the first new greenfield hospital in more than a quarter of a century.

I am one who believes that we do need additional facilities in York region. As someone who worked very diligently—and if someone asks me what I take pride in most in the course of having been elected, I point to the Southlake Regional Health Centre and the work I was able to do, as the MPP at that time, for the riding of York—Mackenzie, working with Dan Carriere, the CEO of that hospital, in bringing a cardiac care centre that is now world class into that hospital. I raise a caution here.

I mention that particular example for a reason: That particular facility in Southlake was delivered and established there against the lobbying of the other two hospitals in York region, against a lot of the recommendations that were made even by the Ministry of Health. But the reason we didn't give up that fight is that we believe fundamentally that it's important that we have health services closest to the residents who need them.

The other two hospitals were arguing that that cardiac care centre should be established at Sunnybrook. I met an individual just two weeks ago who said to me, "Southlake saved my life." He's a very good friend. I didn't even know he had a problem. He had a heart attack, and the doctors told him that, had he not had service within moments of when he did, he would not have survived. That's why I am a strong proponent of ensuring we have the appropriate hospital facility in York region, and Vaughan, a very fast-growing community. I will support it. My colleagues, I'm sure, will support it. We've had the discussion, and I've had the opportunity to share with them the important needs.

Let me say that if there is anything any government could ever do for health care in this province, it would be to take politics out of health care. Far too many times, whether it's the announcement of a new hospital or a new clinic or the announcement of this, that or the other thing, it has been used primarily as the staging of a political event and then, by the time the election is over, we somehow forget about it.

I would love nothing better than to be part of a Legislative Assembly that has as its footnote that this group of men and women, as legislators, were able to take politics out of health care policy and do what is right because it's the right thing to do. In this particular case I believe we have it right, I hope the government gets it right, and forgive me if I say that it would give me no greater pleasure than to be part of the government, following October 10, that will have the responsibility to implement this.

Ms. Cheri DiNovo (Parkdale—High Park): I say at the outset that the New Democratic Party is always in favour of publicly funded hospitals. I find it strange in the extreme that the member from Thornhill has to even, for example, raise this resolution. This is a majority government. Presumably with a majority government there is the will to do what this member wants. One suspects that perhaps there's a little infighting going on on the benches across the way and that this poor member from Thornhill has to introduce a private motion, and what a private motion.

Let me just read it: "That, in the opinion of this House, the government of Ontario support the efforts of the city of Vaughan"—"support"; operative word—"... towards creating a hospital"—not that they have a hospital, just that they support the efforts that go towards creating a possible whatever. Is it a publicly or privately financed hospital? It doesn't say. Is it a public hospital? It doesn't say.

So what this resolution says is not much. What it says to the poor members in the gallery is that this is a government that does not support whatever it is they're looking for—I assume, and I hope, that it's a publicly funded hospital—that this is a government that just allows them to blow off a little steam, that their member will get up and say a few nice-sounding words because this government will not act on its own when it can. It's got a majority; it could bring in its own bill tomorrow and pass it. It has with many others. In fact, we've witnessed this government in eight days giving itself a 31% raise.

So this government can act. It can act quickly and it can act with certainty, but in this case, in your case, it's not going to act at all, and that's what we're hearing.

What's happening, I suspect, is that it's probably polling pretty well in the member for Thornhill's riding, so they have to do something. That's my suspicion. My suspicion is that they have to do something, so they're going to introduce a hot-air resolution that doesn't say much, just to please you, they hope, so that they might get re-elected. I really do hope that the folk in Vaughan are a little wiser than that.

It does, of course, give us in the New Democratic Party a chance to talk about what should be happening in health care in this province. Of course we should be putting money into health care in this province, and of course we should be putting money into health care in the area of Vaughan. There's no question. The question is, what kind of health care and who's going to be putting in the money for it? Is this government going to ante up the money or, as we've seen in Brampton, will this be one of those privately-publicly funded so-called P3 hospitals?

Let's talk about what's happening in Brampton. In Brampton, the cost of that hospital has gone from $350 million to $550 million. "At almost double the cost, the new hospital will open with 350 instead of … 608 beds." If we want to look at what happens with privatized health care, we don't have to look far: just south of the border. We can see that privatized health care is way more expensive, way less efficient. This, by the way, is from the Ontario Health Coalition, who got over 80,000 Ontarians to vote to stop P3 hospitals in Sault Ste. Marie and Sarnia.

I'd like to take a few minutes just to run through some of the stakeholders, the health care professionals themselves, and what they have to say about this government's sorry track record on health care in this province.

First of all, private clinics, right across Canada but certainly in this province, are proliferating to the extent that we don't even know how many there are. I quote here from a Globe and Mail article. This is a couple of months back. This is Jason Wright, who operates a website that lists 250 private clinics operating across the country, who says, "I can't help but be interested. I'm probably, as far as I can tell, the only guy out there with this type of directory," who knows what's going on.

"Private clinics, where patients pay an annual membership to buy additional services even when receiving publicly funded treatments, usually open quietly, hoping to avoid the scrutiny or even government intervention." That's one of the things that's happening here.

When Tommy Douglas fought that brave fight to establish medicare for the first time in this country, he did not do so without opposition. In fact, he received an incredible amount of opposition. It's interesting that now we hear everybody in the House supporting medicare. Of course, they support it in word only and not necessarily in deed, as we've seen from our friends across the aisle. Because certainly with 250 clinics and more opening across the country, with an untold number opening in Ontario that are privately funded, that is the erosion of health care. That is a move towards a two-tier system.

Many of us know that federally the New Democratic Party is trying to organize a pharmacare program, trying to get that into place, because even if you can overcome the waiting lists and get to the hospital of your choice now, there is the drug issue: Can you afford the drugs that are then prescribed to you? Many of us, many of those in Ontario, cannot afford that. We not only need medicare, we need pharmacare as well. Of course, with this government, we're no closer to getting that either.

There have been numerous articles written in numerous papers since this government was in place, chastising it, criticizing it for the rush towards privatization—too many really to quote, but hey, you know, I'll try.

For one thing, the nurses' association—we just came through Nursing Week and I had the pleasure of touring through my own hospitals, as I know many members did, and hearing the plight of our nurses: the fact that our hospitals are understaffed, need to attract and retain nurses. This is from Linda Haslam-Stroud, president of the Ontario Nurses' Association. It says that, " ... next year, 15,000 to 30,000 registered nurses—that's one third of those practising in Ontario—are eligible to leave the system." They will be retiring and we do not have the nurses to replace them. We simply don't. We're scrambling.

We don't have doctors. We all know about that. We know what the wait list is like to find a doctor, yet we have internationally trained doctors and surgeons in our midst. We have one in our own riding who is now working in a bake shop. He's going to have to go back to Iran because he can't afford the 10 years it's going to take for him to actually get his medical licence here. So we have internationally trained medical professionals who can't get work. It costs them too much and it takes too long so they return to their countries. We have a system where nurses are retiring.

We all know, if we've had a wait in a waiting room, how long that takes. This is about staffing and it's about funding. At the end of the day, it's about funding. If you do not fully fund the public health care system, you will not have a public health care system, because those with the means, those who can, will always seek out privatized help somewhere else. They'll even leave the country, as we've seen instances of, of course, to get the care they need, to get the drugs they need, that they can't get here.

So this is the situation to which this member from Thornhill introduces a private member's resolution as a member of a majority government that can, quite frankly, do anything it wants, any time it wants, just to encourage a discussion—I mean, you've got to love the rhetoric: to encourage the possible creation of a maybe something somewhat hospital some day. I mean, folks, and those listening and watching at home, please, these are the dying days of a dying regime across the way. We've got maybe four days left in this House. This member knows it as well as everyone else here.

He knows nothing's going to happen from this. What he's hoping to do, though, like all members here, to be frank, is to get re-elected. That's what this is about: This is about getting re-elected and siphoning off some of what I can possibly imagine is real anger and real will to actually have a real hospital built some day in Vaughan.

I think I'll conclude. I'll leave my benchmate here some time. But certainly this is not the way to go about it. What I would suggest, just like the member from Oak Ridges suggested, is that you vote for someone else next time.

The Acting Speaker: Further debate?

Mr. Khalil Ramal (London—Fanshawe): I'm honoured and privileged to stand up and speak in support of the resolution brought by my colleague, my friend the member from Thornhill.

Before I start, I want to welcome again the people from the LHIN and also from the health care foundation in the region, and also Councillor Sandra Racco. I hope you found a parking spot, because I know it's jammed. Hopefully due to Mario's advocacy and support of the subway to Vaughan, it will see the light and then you won't have to use cars anymore, as he mentioned, and in all of Vaughan you will be able to use and commute by subway to Toronto.

I listened to my colleague from Thornhill and I listened to the members from the opposition party and the third party. I see the importance of creating a hospital in the most growing area in the province of Ontario, especially in the Toronto region and especially in the 905 region. It's very important, as my colleague said, to serve the people in their location, especially when they have some kind of disease or some kind of health care problem that happens suddenly. In order to serve them, you have to have a facility in the region.

I was listening also to the member from the third party when she was talking about health care and many different issues. It gives me great pleasure to talk about our record in health care, our investment in health care, our support of public health care, for it to be accessible to all. We in this government invested more than any other government in the history of the province in health care to maintain it in the public domain, to maintain it as accessible for all people seeking health care services.

I want to tell you something about my riding, London—Fanshawe, and London in general. I know how much we invest in the province of Ontario for health care. Of our budget this year, almost $39 billion goes to health care to support the people of the great province of Ontario. Vaughan is one of the fastest-growing cities, one of the most important locations in this region, with very hard-working people, good taxpayers. I think they deserve some kind of service. They deserve some money back to their community to support the vulnerable people among them. That's why I'm standing up to support my colleague.

It's a great motion, a growth resolution. I wish the member from the third party could understand the politics inside any government and the politics in this place. In order to achieve something, it doesn't matter if you are within the government or outside the government; you have to be an advocate on behalf of your people. You have to bring those issues forward and talk about them—talk to the Minister of Health, talk to the Premier, talk to other ministers in order to bring goods for your riding. This is the way. It's part of the game we play in this place.

This member is a great advocate in his community. I had the chance, the privilege and the honour to be in his riding last Sunday. I saw the people from his riding coming to support him because he knows the importance of the hospitals and services in his riding. They also know how hard he is working on a daily basis to ensure he is able to deliver the goods for them, because it goes both ways: They support him, he supports them. I think that's why he got elected to represent them, to be their voice in this place.

The member from the third party said that you can do it fast and quick. That's not the way it works. We decided to invest more than $5 billion to modernize the health care system in the province of Ontario. We didn't say Vaughan or London or Windsor or Toronto or Ottawa or Thunder Bay; we said we're going to invest an extra $5 billion to help many health care services across the province. Therefore, all members of this House want to go forward to the Minister of Health and ask him for some of this money to come to their region, to come to their riding. That's what I do.

I want to go to him and ask him to reinvest and invest more in my riding of London—Fanshawe. All the members, I guess, are open to that suggestion and are open also to go to him, knock on his door or walk across the aisle to him and ask him. That's the way it works. That's how democracy works.

That's why the honourable member brings this issue forward, seeking support from the whole House, to create awareness among not just the members of the House but among all the people of Ontario of how important for us public health care is, how important it is for us as a government to continue to open more services, more hospitals, more places to serve the people of Ontario.

I know she thinks that in four days a government cannot make a difference. Yes, it can make a lot of difference. We're committed to public health care. We're committed to public health care not just in Toronto, not just in the 905 area, not just in the province of Ontario; we're committed to service, to change the way we deliver health care. We decided to go far and wide to expand our service, because so many people don't have to be in acute health care service. They need and seek service in their homes because due to circumstances they have to be able to receive that service.

That's why the great Minister of Health in Ontario was able to create another way to deliver health care to the people of Ontario.

But now we're talking about the resolution brought by my colleague the member from Thornhill to create a hospital in his riding. The numbers are growing on a yearly basis; now almost 240,000, and by 2010 it will be about 330,000, almost the size of the city of London. I think the people of Thornhill are working very hard. They—

Interjection: They deserve it.

Mr. Ramal: They deserve it. That's why I see my colleague in the caucus every Tuesday stand up and tell the Premier and all the caucus members about how important his riding is and how much his riding needs health care service. I know we have hospitals in nearby ridings, but it's very important to also expand health service. We have to expand; therefore, we are not closing hospitals. We are not neglecting the service of hospitals. We have a plan to expand service, with a strategy, with a way that we're able to fund it in Ontario, with a way that we're able to utilize every penny we spend, because it's very important for us and very important for the taxpayers.

Therefore, I stand in my place to support my colleague, and hopefully all the members in the House will support him.

Mr. Ernie Hardeman (Oxford): I am pleased to rise today and speak to the resolution brought forward by the member from Thornhill. I understand how important a new hospital can be to a community and why the member from Thornhill would bring this resolution forward. But I think this resolution is a symptom of something that is wrong with our health care system and the present government.

It seems our health care system is so unresponsive to the needs of the community that this is the third member to bring forward a resolution like this in the last six weeks. The member from Burlington brought forward a resolution asking the McGuinty government to put the Burlington project on the Ministry of Health capital projects priority list and then release the $40 million needed for the Joseph Brant hospital renewal project.

I understand from the member that there is a great staff at Joseph Brant Memorial but their ability to deliver health care is hampered by the fact that they are waiting for a much-needed addition. The hospital addition will let them properly serve the 13,800 people admitted to Joseph Brant every year. Currently at Joseph Brant hospital, an average of 20 admitted patients are sleeping in hallways because there aren't any available beds.

The member for Simcoe—Grey brought forward a resolution asking the minister to provide $1.4 million a year to reopen the birthing unit at Stevenson Memorial Hospital. Since December last year, expectant mothers in his area are forced to drive at least 45 minutes to reach another hospital in Orangeville, Barrie or Newmarket.

The Liberal members opposite used their majority to vote down both of these resolutions. In fact, the Minister of Health even came into the House to vote against the resolutions.

Members have a responsibility to bring forward the concerns of their constituents. However, it seems that with this government there is a constant need for members to not just tell the minister and the ministry but to bring forward resolutions and read petitions over and over again because their needs are being ignored. To me, that signals that there is a problem with the Ministry of Health or that the Minister of Health just isn't listening. The fact that someone from the minister's own party is now bringing forward a resolution asking the government to support their local need for a hospital indicates that the minister isn't even listening to his own colleagues.

I know the frustration from experience. In December 2000, our then Minister of Health, Elizabeth Witmer, and the Progressive Conservative government announced a new hospital in Woodstock, and I was pleased to be a part of that announcement. I was also pleased to be able to follow it up with an announcement of $12 million for a design study to start the process going. Since that time, the hospital foundation and many volunteers have been working hard to raise our community portion of the capital funding. I'm proud to say that they have done an incredible job and they are ready.

I want to commend them for all their hard work. The volunteers have spent many hours organizing fundraising events. Our local schools have had fundraising campaigns. Members of our community and local businesses have made generous donations. It really has been a community effort.

The community is ready, but it seems that since 2003 the new government was dragging its feet on building the new hospital. I asked the minister questions in the Legislature, we talked to the minister's office and the Ministry of Health, but that wasn't enough. Like the member from Thornhill, the member from Burlington and the member from Simcoe—Grey, we couldn't get any action to address the community needs.

In December 2005, we had two busloads—80 people and two cows—come to the Legislature to ensure that our hospital was not forgotten. They brought with them 20,000 postcards signed by residents of Oxford asking the government to get moving.

Finally, in April 2006, we had the announcement that the hospital would be moving forward. Several ministers came to Woodstock and did a ceremonial groundbreaking, but so far that's the only shovel that's gone into the ground.

I understand that to get this hospital built we're going to have to get money through alternative financing and procurement, so the money will come from the private sector and be repaid by the government in the future. What I'm having trouble understanding is that if we don't need government money, why can't we get the hospital started? Things are moving, and we're going to continue to watch closely to make sure that the hospital stays on track, and keep pushing to get those shovels into the ground.

Given what we are going through in our own community, I am pleased to be able to support this resolution this morning. I understand that Vaughan is the largest urban centre in the nation without a hospital. I know that building a hospital is not an easy process, and I want to wish them luck with their efforts.

Mr. Michael Prue (Beaches—East York): It's a privilege and an honour to stand here and debate this resolution. When I read the resolution last night and wondered what I might be saying here today, I was in awe of the simplicity of this resolution. I was in awe of what the member for Thornhill is asking, because of all the resolutions that I've had the honour or the privilege or even, I guess, the obligation to debate in this House, this one seems to me to be one of the strangest.

It seems to me to be one of the strangest because it asks for us to do almost nothing except support three hard-working groups in their efforts. Of course we support the three hard-working groups in their efforts. Who would not support these three hard-working groups as they struggle to get something for their community which is probably very much needed?

I say "probably" because I know from my own experience. In my own office, my executive assistant lives in Vaughan and has had problems over the years trying to get adequate health care for herself and her family. I remember one occasion when her daughter, who was in a minor traffic accident, was taken by ambulance all the way to Uxbridge because there was nothing closer by. I remember that, and the struggle for a local hospital is, of course, important.

Having said that, I'm going vote for this, and I'm all but sure this House will, but at the same time, I wonder why this government and this member have not given this kind of support to other groups who are fighting for equally good things, and seem to have been neglected by this government.

You know, just as he is supporting the three groups in Vaughan, I wonder why he and his government are not supporting agencies who have advocated non-stop for three years, who are fighting for the poor; why he has not supported a minimum wage of $10 an hour, which has been called for; why he and his government have not supported decent and liveable ODSP rates for people who are disabled and who cannot work.

Those disability rates have been increased at such a terrible rate—3% in the first year of the government, zero in the second, 2% for half a year in the third, 2% for half a year in the fourth—so that a person on ODSP in this province is actually worse off today, under this government, than they were in the deepest, darkest days of Mike Harris.

I haven't heard him saying we need to support these agencies for the poor and the work that they're trying to do. I haven't heard him say, when they're talking about ending the clawback, that we need to support these agencies. In fact, all he and his government do is ignore those ones.

The same is true of the legal clinics. We just got a recent e-mail from a legal clinic dealing with South Asians in Ontario and they are being forced to shut down—that same legal clinic that is fighting for new housing, that same legal clinic that is fighting for the rights of recent immigrants, the rights of people to have their credentials recognized, the rights of people who find themselves in trouble with the law. They're advocating, and I don't see this government passing a motion, or this member passing a motion, to support them.

I see the daycare advocates. I see them here all the time when they come here, and they are fighting for really good things—that this government honour its commitment to spend $300 million for daycare, which they promised four years ago and haven't spent a nickel on yet. The daycare advocates come here and want decent-quality daycare, and we've seen, in the Toronto Star for the last few days, the failure of this government to do that. They come here and they ask a simple question: Where are the federal dollars that were given? It seems to me that the government has pocketed those. I haven't seen this member or this government stand up with a motion, saying, "We support their efforts too."

What we have is the member standing up, because it's his responsibility as the member from Thornhill, to recognize the efforts in his own community. Of course, we recognize them too, and I support them, but I also support, and our caucus also supports, the efforts of other agencies, other legal clinics, other daycare advocates, other advocates who are doing an equally good job. They need to be recognized, and their causes need to be recognized as well.

Now, the member from Oxford briefly touched on a couple of things about the other private members' bills that have been here, and I would be remiss if I did not state that the member from Burlington made a very passionate case, only to have the government turn it down—government backbenchers and people present. The member from Simcoe—Grey made a very passionate and well-balanced argument about the birthing centre in his community, only to have the government shut it right down.

What we're going to see today, of course, is, because of the massive government majority, everyone is going to vote for this one, because this one has to do with a government member's riding, not an opposition member's riding. I think that's a real shame, and if the government members had been a little smarter on the last couple of votes, they might have done what was right.

Having said that, here we have a resolution, and, in the end, a hospital needs to be built there. There's no denying there is a need and there is absolutely no denying that we need to support hospitals in each and every community in this province.

Mrs. Linda Jeffrey (Brampton Centre): Thank you for allowing me to speak today on this very important issue. I'm pleased to support the member from Thornhill. He has been a long-time passionate member on this subject. I know that at every meeting I have ever had with him, he's always mentioned the word "hospital," so this is a continuation of the long work in advocacy I have seen him do.

Hospitals, as most people know, are very near and dear to my heart. Since I was elected for Brampton Centre back in 2003, I've championed additional investments in both the health care and the facilities in Brampton. Shortly after arriving at Queen's Park, I spoke with the Minister of Health and the Premier about my community's desperate need for a new hospital. They listened and promised to deliver for my community, and in October 2004, the construction crews and cranes arrived at the Bovaird Drive and Bramalea Road site.

Investing in Ontario's health care is essential, and the government of Ontario has made many improvements to hospitals and the health care system. Our government's investment of $285 million in new hospital funding in the 905 GTA—an 18.5% increase after the Tories cut $79 million—is the reason the new Brampton Civic Hospital is being built and is scheduled to open on

schedule this fall.

Since taking office, there has been a 19.7% increase in the funding of 905 hospitals. These funds went to ensure that the region has improved health care services for our residents. Despite the increase of funds in the 905 region, the city of Vaughan still doesn't have a hospital. I believe residents should have the right to access the same health care services within their own city, without travelling great distances for health care emergencies. I say that because I have the luxury of having a hospital in my community.

It's an older one right now until the new one is built, but I had the luxury of having all three of my children born in my local hospital. In 1984, 1986 and 1988, I had my three sons born in my community hospital. That's something that isn't an emergency, but it's something that helps you feel that community spirit in your own community. It's something that I believe everyone is entitled to: to have that important, life-changing event happen close to home.

In reading the background notes, I couldn't help but look back at what my community was going through at the time I was elected, and I can see so many parallels with my community and the current situation that the community of Vaughan is facing. Much like Brampton, the city of Vaughan has seen a tremendous growth in population for the last two decades and has consistently been one of the fastest-growing municipalities in Canada.

Vaughan has experienced a 60% growth rate in population and has expanded beyond its own infrastructure resources. In 1981, the population was 29,600; in 2005, it was 240,000. The estimated population by 2021 will be over 300,000 people. According to the Vaughan Health Campus of Care report, Vaughan residents primarily obtain acute in-patient, day procedure and emergency room services from one of the four following hospitals, only one of which is in York region: York Central Hospital, Humber River Regional Hospital, North York General Hospital and, of course, my hospital, William Osler.

Like Vaughan, Brampton residents were faced with long wait times and inadequate services. Many times, they would have to leave Brampton and travel to Mississauga or Georgetown to obtain essential services that they should have had access to in their own city, and in October, we'll have access to those services. This trend is never good for neighbouring communities, as it stretches the resources of surrounding hospitals to properly service their own communities.

Local residents in Brampton were also eager to support the building of Brampton Civic Hospital, and they understand that Brampton Civic will provide the quality health care we deserve. The new Brampton Civic Hospital site represents an important extension of health care services to our fast-growing community. Like Brampton, significant community partnerships have been formed between the Vaughan Health Care Foundation, the city of Vaughan and the Central Local Health Integration Network in support of a hospital in Vaughan.

Much like in my community, the enthusiasm and the willingness of the public to support fundraising events held on behalf of the health care facility is the grassroots foundation that's needed to be successful. In Brampton, we have a campaign called "Here for You ... Caring for You." It has been tremendously successful. We have raised over $87 million to date, and we have some very fine people working in the foundation to achieve that.

I know that the most recent fundraiser that was held in Vaughan was the city of Vaughan mayor's gala back in May, and they raised more than three quarters of a million dollars. That's quite a substantial fundraising effort for a hospital in Vaughan.

The government of Ontario has achieved much on the health care file. We have reduced wait times for five key health care services, namely hip/knee joint replacement, cataract surgeries, MRI exams, cancer surgeries and cardiac procedures. We continue to make improvements in our health care system and we're making excellent progress. These improvements are vital. Developing a hospital in the city of Vaughan can only benefit Ontario's reputation as a positive example of an efficient health care system.

I believe the member from Thornhill's resolution is in line with our government's plan for innovation in public health care and building a system that delivers on our three priorities: keeping Ontarians healthy, reducing wait times and providing better access to doctors and nurses. I think the member from Thornhill has been passionate on this issue and he has been consistent. I admire his tenacity, and I support this resolution wholeheartedly.

Mrs. Elizabeth Witmer (Kitchener—Waterloo): I guess I question why this motion is here—because whether or not you build a hospital is not a political decision; it's really based on the population and the need for the services. That's one of the things our government had the courage to do: a review of hospital services in the province of Ontario, recognize that many hospitals were sitting with wings totally unoccupied, yet we were heating the space and paying the rent.

It was our government that made decisions to build new hospitals, such as the one in Thunder Bay, a new hospital in Peterborough and a new hospital in Woodstock, the William Osler hospital. It was unfortunately this government, when they were elected, that delayed the construction of these hospitals. They did nothing for 18 months. In fact, today, Woodstock still sits with no activity. Cambridge hospital, which was promised a renewal, has absolutely no progress going on.

It was our government that recognized the need of the growing areas and communities around the GTA: Oshawa, and my colleague has referred to Southlake, which got cardiac care. We were the ones who expanded and brought services closer to home such as cardiac services, cancer services, dialysis and 20,000 long-term-care beds—there had been none built for over 10 years. For us, any movement towards the recognition of the need for a new hospital in Vaughan makes absolute sense. When the population's there and there is a need, let's go out and support it.

The Acting Speaker: Further debate?

I'll return to the member for Thornhill, who has two minutes to respond.

Mr. Racco: Let me say thank you to all the people who spoke on this resolution: my friend the member from Oak Ridges, the member from Parkdale—High Park, the member from London—Fanshawe, the member from Oxford, the member from Beaches—East York, the member from Brampton Centre and the member from Kitchener—Waterloo. I thank you all because you all said that you're going to support this resolution.

Certainly that was the objective: to make sure that everyone in this House, or certainly the majority, does support the resolution so that the foundation, which is in attendance here today, will continue to do what has been said, and that is to raise money in addition to what the province will be able to provide.

There is strong leadership in the community that is present here today, not only from the foundation but also from the city of Vaughan, and of course from the LHIN. They do see merit in the construction of this hospital as soon as possible. This resolution, once we vote on it today at 12—and it's clear it's going to pass—will give them more momentum to go out there and raise even more money so that the community will be a shareholder more than ever by assisting, if they choose to—they don't have to; but if they want to—so that this hospital will be able to provide some new leadership in health care by looking at new initiatives that probably are not available today.

The people are there, the business community has been there, the community at large has been there and will continue to be there. There are enough leaders within the community who have made a moral commitment to make sure that the people of Vaughan get the best possible hospital that we can not only afford but that the community wants, by their extra input into this construction.

We need to start the process. The minister made that direction, and now it's up to the people of Vaughan to make it happen.

BONE MARROW AWARENESS

MONTH ACT, 2007 /

LOI DE 2007 SUR LE MOIS

DE LA SENSIBILISATION

AU DON DE MOELLE OSSEUSE

Mr. Crozier moved second reading of the following bill:

Bill 225,

An Act to make the month of November Bone Marrow Awareness Month / Projet de loi 225, Loi visant à désigner le mois de novembre Mois de la sensibilisation au don de moelle osseuse.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): The member for Essex has 10 minutes for his leadoff speech.

Mr. Bruce Crozier (Essex): I'm both pleased and honoured to rise this morning to speak to Bill 225, which I introduced a short time ago. The introduction of the Bone Marrow Awareness Month Act is inspired by the story of little Katelyn Bedard, who lost her battle with leukemia at the age of three because she was unable to find a match for a lifesaving bone marrow donation. This bill aims to encourage people to register to become bone marrow donors.

I'm honoured this morning that we have with us, in the members' east gallery, Joanne and Bryan Bedard, parents of Katelyn.

A bone marrow transplant is a procedure that is required when a patient's own bone marrow is destroyed using high doses of chemotherapy and radiation. For many people who are suffering from diseases such as leukemia, a bone marrow transplant is the only hope for long-term survival. A transplant requires matching tissue types between patient and donor. These tissue types are inherited, but 70% of patients do not have a matched donor in their family. These people rely on the kindness of strangers who have volunteered to donate their bone marrow through the national bone marrow registry.

But sadly, the demand for lifesaving bone marrow transplants far outweighs the matches found within the registry.

If passed, my private member's bill would name November of each year Bone Marrow Awareness Month and would help raise awareness about the need for donors in Ontario. It is my hope that this will result in an increase in the number of people registered, and in turn, save the lives of those needing this precious bone marrow.

Each year, as I have suggested, hundreds of Canadians need bone marrow transplants to treat potentially life-threatening illnesses, and yet, as I said, fewer than 30% of these patients will find a family member who can donate compatible stem cells found in bone marrow. For the majority of patients, an unrelated donor is the only available source of bone marrow. In order to help these patients, and others around the world, find compatible, committed and healthy unrelated donors, the Unrelated Bone Marrow Donor Registry was established in 1989 by the Canadian Red Cross Society and was assumed by Canadian Blood Services in 1998.

The success of the registry, however, depends on people who are willing to sign up to provide the gift of life to someone who is not related to them. While many patients have received a lifesaving bone marrow transplant from a donor found through the registry, many others continue to search for their miracle match. For this reason, the Katelyn Bedard Bone Marrow Association was founded in 2005 to promote awareness about worldwide bone marrow registries, to educate on bone marrow donation, to bring attention to the pressing need for bone marrow donors and to encourage all adults to consider joining the registry.

I should mention that Katelyn's parents, Joanne and Bryan, are close to my riding. They're from the city of Windsor.

The Katelyn Bedard Bone Marrow Association has a mission statement. The mission of the Katelyn Bedard Bone Marrow Association is to promote awareness, as I've said, about worldwide bone marrow registries, to educate about bone marrow donation and to encourage all adults to consider joining the registry.

The Katelyn Bedard Bone Marrow Association was founded in July 2005 by Bryan and Joanne. Bryan and Joanne were inspired to start the association after losing their daughter Katelyn to leukemia at the age of three, when she was not able to find a bone marrow donor. The givemarrow.net website is an information centre assisting people in learning about bone marrow donation and making it easier for them to find out how to join the bone marrow registry in their country.

What is bone marrow? It's something that I think much of the population is not aware of. We constantly talk about tissue and organ donation, but I think that too often bone marrow donation is either not thought of in that context or not thought of at all. Bone marrow is the tissue found in the soft centre of the bones. It manufactures blood cells, including red blood cells, which carry oxygen; white blood cells, which fight infection; and platelets, which help to stop bleeding. Not surprisingly, when marrow stops working as it should, the consequences can be life-threatening.

What is a bone marrow transplant? In a bone marrow transplant, a patient's diseased marrow is replaced with healthy marrow from a volunteer donor. To prepare for transplant, the recipient is usually given high doses of radiation and/or chemotherapy to destroy the diseased marrow. At this point, stripped of the ability to manufacture life-giving blood cells, the recipient is extremely vulnerable. He or she will not survive unless the donor proceeds with the donation. Once the healthy bone marrow is collected from the donor, it's given intravenously to the recipient as soon as possible.

Which diseases, you might ask, are treated with bone marrow transplants? Well, there are a wide variety of diseases and disorders that are treated with bone marrow transplants, including blood-related diseases such as leukemia and aplastic anemia, as well as inherited immune system and metabolic disorders.

We also might ask, what can a designated month during the year do to help this cause? Well, it raises awareness. The fact that we're even discussing the issue here in the Legislature today and, of course, what will result from it if this bill is passed—and I certainly seek your support in that respect—the public will become more aware of what is needed when it comes to bone marrow transplants.

There's so much we do today to help each other in society. As we discuss in this House, we provide medical care and education, and there are any number of agencies out there that help those who are in need. Is there anybody in more need than someone whose life is threatened by disease? That's why we need to continue to encourage those who might consider, as I mentioned earlier, tissue or organ donation or, in this case, bone marrow donation?

I seek your support today. In my view, this is truly a private members' issue that we can deal with in this place, that we can seek the support of all members on, and that we can seek unanimous support on.

Simply, what I'm asking today is that you support Joanne and Bryan in their effort to raise awareness of the need for donors and that we all consider, in fact, being a donor if that's at all possible.

The Acting Speaker: Further debate?

Mrs. Elizabeth Witmer (Kitchener—Waterloo): I'm very pleased to support the motion that has been put before us by the member for Essex, Mr. Crozier: Bill 225,

An Act to make the month of November Bone Marrow Awareness Month. I certainly would like to welcome, on behalf of our caucus, the parents, Bryan and Joanne, here today. I do appreciate your efforts to ensure that we have the opportunity to raise awareness of this very significant issue.

I think most of us think about donating organs, but I don't think that in the past there has been much thought given to promoting bone marrow. It's something that people just don't think about. But if we can get passage of this bill today, and if it would help to promote awareness about what we can do here in Ontario by ensuring that each year the month of November would be Bone Marrow Awareness Month, I think in future we would see far more people prepared to donate bone marrow.

I think the reason most people don't is that it's like organ transplants: People don't really give thought, oftentimes, to how they can help other individuals. So I think passage of this bill today would provide us with the opportunity to raise public awareness.

In reading the background information here that has been provided to us by the member, it was interesting to learn more about the Katelyn Bedard Bone Marrow Association and what they're trying to do, not just here in this province but worldwide, and also their attempts to bring attention to the very pressing need we have throughout the world for bone marrow donors and to encourage adults to consider joining the registry. As well, the association does support the families that have a family member in need of a bone marrow or stem cell transplant.

The Katelyn Bedard Bone Marrow Association is one that I think is doing a lot for people in Ontario. I am pleased that Bryan and Joanne are here with us today.

We take a look here at the Canadian Blood Services registry and we find out the connection that they have with bone marrow donations. It also mentions in here that fewer than 30% of the people who need a bone marrow transplant are going to be able to find a family member with compatible bone marrow to donate. For the rest of the people, it's that unrelated donor who is going to be so absolutely essential to find, and of course the Unrelated Bone Marrow Donor Registry does locate these compatible, committed, healthy, unrelated donors for Canadian bone marrow patients and for patients all around the world. So that is a very important service that is provided.

If we can take one month a year each year to ensure that people know about the fact that they can do this, that they can, obviously, save the life of another person somewhere, this is, I think, something most people would take a look at and consider doing. If you can find a match, it is certainly going to give more of an advantage to the individuals in their quest to find somebody who is compatible. So we need to increase the size of the volunteer donor pool in order to better the chances of finding a matching bone marrow donor for every patient who is in need of a transplant.

Really, that's the purpose of this bill: expanding that pool and making sure that everyone who needs a transplant has access to someone who would be compatible. Obviously, the more people you have in the pool, the more of a chance you have that there will be someone who is compatible. So I do compliment the member from Essex for bringing this forward.

Again I express my appreciation to Bryan and Joanne, who started the association after the loss of their daughter to leukemia at the age of three as a result of not being able to find a bone marrow donor. I am confident that this House will support this resolution and that we can quickly pass it.

Mr. Michael Prue (Beaches—East York): I too rise to support this motion. In so doing I hope that the member, when he is asked whether he wants to send this to committee, simply asks that it go for second and third reading. It does not seem to me that this is a bill that necessarily should be held back. It is not a bill that needs any study. It's not a bill that requires input from outside sources. The request is a minor but important one: that the month of November be bone marrow donation month. So I preface my remarks by suggesting that certainly there would be unanimity on this—from this caucus and I'm sure from all members present in the House—if such a motion were made.

Having said that, I support this motion because we have an obligation in this society and as human beings to help those who are vulnerable when we can do so. There is no doubt that the number of people who are requiring bone marrow transplants is increasing as the technology increases, as we better understand the benefits of the bone marrow transplant and those diseases that can be eradicated by its use. This is a relatively new technology in terms of humankind. Oftentimes when people had diseases and there was no known cure, people quite simply died. Today we know how to effect the kind of change, that a bone marrow transplant will take place.

Quite regularly, although not as regularly as I wish, I have been a donor through Canadian Blood Services and through the Red Cross before that. What I have given, of course, is not bone marrow but blood. That service does a remarkable job in terms of saving and protecting people's lives.

What I am hoping as well that the member will consider and that the government may consider is that we need not only to have an awareness month but to beef up the services that are provided by Canadian Blood Services when it comes to the collection of blood and to the collection of bone marrow. We need the registry to be expanded. We need the registry to contain many more names. In order for them to do that, they will require the monies to advertise, to advocate and to teach. Quite frankly, that's where the real impetus may have to come. I agree that we should have a month in November.

But in the final analysis, having done our part here, it is incumbent upon this Legislature, should there be financial wherewithal—which I agree is not part of the motion. But there should be the financial wherewithal for Canadian Blood Services to expand their mandate to expand the list of people who will come forward to make the donation.

The numbers who have required transplants, as I said, have grown and continue to grow, and the numbers that are required will, at the same time, have to expand as well.

I remember only too well, although I was not in this Legislature, the very sad case of Premier Bob Rae's brother. Some of you may remember that Bob Rae tried to assist his brother through a bone marrow transplant that, unfortunately, did not work. His brother eventually died. But it was a very sad and well-publicized case of one man's efforts to assist another human being in his family. If you talk to Bob Rae even to this day, he will tell you about his efforts and how he felt compelled to do what was right and what was just. I'm sure he only wishes it had been successful.

Having said that, we all have that obligation. We all have the obligation to do what we can. I think, as part of the motion here today, we should support it, and I ask the member who puts it forward at the conclusion to seek the unanimous consent of this House for second and third readings.

The Acting Speaker: Further debate?

Ms. Deborah Matthews (London North Centre): I want to start by thanking my colleague Bruce Crozier for raising this issue and making all of us aware of this. I have to confess that although I actually was registered with a bone marrow transplant many years ago, I had forgotten about that. I think what the member has done has made us all just stop and think about it and refresh our memories. It gave me an opportunity to learn more about it, and I want to tell the House about some of the things I learned.

I spoke to a doctor from London at London Health Sciences Centre, Dr. Anargyros Xenocostas. He works with Dr. Kang Howson-Jan at LHSC, which is one of four locations in Ontario that do stem cell mobilization or bone marrow transplants. He welcomes this initiative and asked me to pass on to the Bedard family his appreciation for you turning your personal tragedy into what will be a very powerful force.

He told me a very interesting story that I think should give all of us hope. He told me a story about a Taiwanese monk, a woman who was a monk. I didn't know monks could be women, but he assured me that this was a Taiwanese female monk who took it as her personal mission to get Taiwanese people registered. The results of that one woman are that between one million and two million Taiwanese people are registered, the largest proportion of people anywhere. I think we can move on that and take some heart that if people are asked, they will do it.

It's not a difficult thing to register, and when the call comes, if in fact you are selected, then the sacrifice you're asked to make is tiny relative to the benefits you're giving someone.

Dr. Xenocostas also talked about the very strong need to get donors from a more diverse ethnic mix. In Canada, about 83% of the donors who are registered are Caucasian, but there are some groups that are very much under-represented on the registry, so that when people who need a transplant from those different ethnic groups come up, it's much more difficult to get a match. The importance of all of us registering is great, but also encouraging registration from the full diversity of our province of Ontario.

He said that the greatest need is for donors of African descent, followed by native North Americans and, thirdly, Asians. So it's particularly important that we get more people registered from those particular groups.

There is an international bone marrow registry—fascinating to me—and Canadian Blood Services is part of that international registration. Worldwide, there are over 11 million people registered. That has grown from just 155,000 close to 20 years ago. So the number of registrants is growing by leaps and bounds, and having the international network really does speak to some of the issues around diversity.

I guess what I would really like to do is again thank the Bedard family and thank the member. Let's all of us just undertake to get ourselves registered if we are eligible, and spread the word in our communities that this is a small service to ask. The more people who register, the more likely it is that someone like Katelyn would have found her match and would be with us today.

Ms. Laurie Scott (Haliburton—Victoria—Brock): I am pleased to rise this morning and join in the debate on Bill 225, the Bone Marrow Awareness Month Act brought forward by the member from Essex. I'm used to seeing him on Thursday morning sitting as the Speaker of the Legislature so it's a little unusual for me to be looking across. But I thank him for bringing forward this very important private member's bill.

I appreciate the intent. I'm sure some of us have been directly or indirectly involved in a situation with someone who has fought cancer, leukemia or a related illness where the treatment may require a bone marrow transplant. I was a nurse before I was elected to the Legislature from the riding of Haliburton—Victoria—Brock. When I worked in Florida with a fellow Canadian nurse, she ended up having leukemia and flew back—she was originally from Newfoundland—and was able to receive a bone marrow transplant here in Toronto. It was very successful.

She's back in Newfoundland resuming what nursing duties she is allowed to do because, of course, with a transplant you can't be directly involved with a lot of infected patients.

When I worked in the ICU, I was involved with transplant recipients. The work done by the doctors and nurses there is phenomenal. It was mentioned that Nursing Week happened a couple of weeks ago and the opportunity that we had to go into our hospitals and speak with our registered nurses, our doctors and the health care professionals. Being a nurse before I came here, I can tell you the words that you don't want to hear are, "There is nothing more than can be done." It's hard on all of us, including the families, but it's hard on us working. Our goal is to make people better. When you hear those words, you feel absolutely powerless.

When we have the opportunity to make more people aware of how they can save lives and how strangers can save lives—I don't think many people know about that, and that is the important part of bringing this bill forward today, to make people more aware of the bone marrow registry and how they can sign up. They don't need to know anybody. They might not have a connection. The member who just spoke spoke about the ethnic connections with bone marrow. The fact that Canadian Blood Services is doing that list is very important.

I had a group in my riding that received a Trillium grant last week, Hospice Kawartha Lakes. It's a tremendous organization of staff and volunteers who work there to provide care for bereavement and to patients during illnesses. I'm very proud to have such an organization in my riding.

For so many, a bone marrow transplant is the only thing that can be done to save a life in the brave fight against leukemia. Those folks who are willing and perfectly able to, do want to donate.

The declaration of Bone Marrow Awareness Month, as I said, brings more people on board. The member from Parry Sound—Muskoka's daughter, who is finishing her master's at the University of Toronto and is working at Sick Kids, has signed up already in the bone marrow registry. It's wonderful that Abigale does that, but a lot of us don't know about it. That is what the intent of this bill is.

My colleague from Oak Ridges brought forward legislation regarding organ and tissue donation, Bill 67, the Organ and Tissue Donation Mandatory Declaration Act. Both of these bills—Bill 225 today and Bill 67 that my colleague from Oak Ridges brought forward—are not forcing anyone to make a decision to be a bone marrow donor or an organ and tissue donor. What these pieces of legislation are intended to do is help people to confront these very important issues periodically in the course of their lives and encourage consideration of this life-giving issue.

I want to thank the member from Essex and the member from Oak Ridges for bringing forward this type of legislation, which I think holds the answers to saving a lot of people's lives. I appreciate the short opportunity that I've had to speak to that, I commend the member for bringing this forward and hope it receives all-party support.

Ms. Cheri DiNovo (Parkdale—High Park): It's a pleasure and a privilege to speak, of course, in support of this bill. This is going to have all-party support. Certainly we in the New Democratic Party would like to see this become law while this government still sits in this session, and that next November be the first November to be designated Bone Marrow Awareness Month, so we don't have to wait for another year for this.

I also want to commend Joanne and Bryan. I know, or think I might know, how difficult this must be for you to be sitting there today and to be reminded of why you're here. But I also want to commend you on behalf of all Ontarians and certainly our caucus and our party for your incredible bravery and courage. You've taken a tragedy and turned it into a triumph with your website, which I did spend quite a bit of time last night going through and thought was quite wonderful. Certainly I will pledge in my riding of Parkdale—High Park to put the word out about the registry.

I remember many years back, the best man at our wedding played in a band called Downchild Blues. A wonderful and very talented young woman, Jane Vasey, who played in Downchild and who is a Toronto legend, if not a Canadian legend—Downchild still exists—had leukemia. They lost her before the age of 30. She was a friend of mine. That was the first experience I had of someone who died from leukemia and died for want of a bone marrow transplant. So it affected our family very quickly, very early on, and again, a great loss to the city.

I know that in that instance her family set up a scholarship fund at York University for young musicians—again, people of courage and bravery who took a tragedy and turned it into a triumph for someone else. So thank you for what you've done.

This being a private member's bill, I would urge those across the aisle, because they have the power to do so with a majority government, to not wait, to move this forward quickly. We have all-party support here. There's nothing stopping our House leaders from bringing it forward and making it law. So we need to do that. We need not to wait.

Thank you for what you've done. Actually, on your website, under the information section, I found a very interesting other issue about cord-blood stem cells saving lives. The question at the head of this

article is, "Why Aren't They Readily Available to Canadians?" I quote from that article:

"Canada does not have any large public-access, taxpayer-supported cord-blood banks. Instead, policymakers have stood by while the collection and 'banking' of this valuable resource has been commercialized, with parents who can afford it paying around $1,000 plus a yearly fee of over $100 to store their child's cord blood," in case one day they need it. I thought, not only is this brave family standing up for all of those who we know are in need of a bone marrow transplant but also for other families and also, and in the context of that article, for those who perhaps can't afford to fund it themselves.

I know that many folk, when faced with a calamity in their own family, who have the resources search all over the world for such a donor,

whereas those who live in poverty don't have those resources and can't do that.

We in our caucus would like to see not only Bone Marrow Awareness Month but also money put behind the registry, money put behind an awareness campaign, money put behind a registration system of some sort. We would like to see not only this bill pass but perhaps a challenge to our friends opposite that they could bring in something with some teeth and some dollars behind it so that we could get this moving for everyone.

It reminds me, and it must remind everyone in this House, of the case of organ donation, a very corollary kind of topic that has been discussed here at length. Our own member from Niagara has brought in a bill about presumed consent in that case.

I'm quoting from an

article from April which says: "More than 1,700 Ontarians are waiting for organs, mostly kidneys and livers ... one person dies every three days." Again, this is a huge issue, where people are dying for want of action—and a challenge to the government across the way. With a few days left, we have some time, we have private members' bills before this House that deal with that and should be passed, should be moved into law, so that those people stop dying and families stop losing their loved ones for want of a registry.

I don't think Ontarians are hard of heart. I think, as many members have mentioned already, that people just don't have the awareness. People don't think about it. We're busy, we go about our lives, and until it touches us personally, we just don't know, and we don't know how to go about it. That's the other aspect. That's what your website does so forcibly—but I think you would be the first to agree that it needs some money behind it so that the word can get out on a broader scale.

What might money do to back up this bill? Money might sponsor an ad campaign. Money might sponsor a beefed-up blood registry, as you heard the member from Beaches—East York speaking about. These are dollar-inspired initiatives.

I would challenge the government across the way, which has been free with dollars in other directions which some of us might not think are quite so worthy, to put some dollars towards this because—and I'm sure the member from Essex would agree—this would only add to the strength of this bill.

I also wanted to mention, just because I have a few minutes left, that one of the other groups of folks seeking redress for their children who have come before us many times are those parents of autistic children—and we're sadly lacking in this Legislature. We have challenged those opposite to do something other than taking the parents of autistic children to court—which is what they're doing now—and suing our member for trying to find out how much they've spent doing that; to actually step up to the plate and do something for the parents of autistic children.

In light of that, there is a walk this Sunday—and I wanted to just put a plug in for that—starting from city hall, for those who have been touched by autism, a phenomenally costly disease to be touched by in a family.

I'll wrap up. Suffice to say, thank you for coming today, thank you for inspiring this. Thank you to the member from Essex for putting it forward.

Let's not wait. Let's not tarry. Let's push this through to law. If we can't do it around an awareness month, my goodness, what does this say to the public out there about the state of this government? If we can't move in a few days, when we have all-party support in a House, to make November awareness month, so it can happen next November and not the November after that or the November after that, then we should go home even sooner than I hear we will, which is next week.

Please—this is a question that I think we might even use the word "beg" about—we beg the Speaker and the government to speak within their own caucus to make sure that this happens this session, and that means either today or next week. We hope that that happens, we beg that that happens and we pray that that happens.

We thank you again for what you do. Our hearts and prayers go out to you.

Mr. Tony Ruprecht (Davenport): First, I'd like to thank the member from Essex for introducing his private member's bill, the Bone Marrow Awareness Month Act, 2007, and most importantly, to thank Joanne and Bryan Bedard for their inspiration to all of us and for their very informative website.

I would like to take a broader approach to this very special month. This discussion provides us with the opportunity to think of healthy living. First, we should appreciate the miracle of our own body, and second, we should find ways to protect this miracle and to maintain and develop ways to create healthy and well-adjusted bodies. But as you know, this Legislature, this place, does not lend itself very much to appreciating our health. We just simply take it for granted, because there are so many meetings around here, so many things to do.

While I'm fairly aware of what it takes to maintain my body in perfect health, I'm also aware, because of our situation here, that many times there are too many meetings. Many times, of course, I find myself in a position of wolfing down a sandwich laden with hydrogenated fats and other terrible things that are destructive to the cells in my body.

In fact we are surrounded here, as was said at one time, by lots of negativism—called "nabobs of negativism." I know that does not lend itself to great development of healthy cells. In fact, even this morning I got some knives in my front and I got some knives in my back. In fact, my colleague will help me take them out of the back, right? As you know, Joanne and Bryan, this whole lifestyle here really doesn't lend itself to very healthy living. So it's important to know that there are also positive sides to being here.

I'm fortunate to sit next to the member from Ottawa Centre, who frequently discusses with me ways we can guard against the destruction of healthy cells. Did you know, for instance, that every 35 to 38 days you grow a new layer of skin? Every two to three years your body creates a new liver—all new cells. Every 10 to 15 years, depending on your DNA, you regenerate a whole new body, except for some of the cells found in the bones. Wow, to me that is mind-blowing when I think about it.

Mr. Crozier: We need a new body.

Mr. Ruprecht: My colleague says that yes, we do need new bodies—healthy cells up there; that's right.

In fact, since our body is a protein-producing mechanism and cells are constantly dying and new cells are born, it would make sense to determine the most effective way to strengthen our immune system. To have good health, we can look at certain things. We can look to Canada's Food Guide for a proper diet: Go easy on fats and sugars and watch for spoiled food. Increase the amounts of fruits, vegetables and grains. The sandwich I wolfed down yesterday didn't have any grains, didn't have any positive aspects to it, or vegetables and fruit. It was just wolfing down something because there is no time. Vitamins and minerals are important. Foods may be lacking in them.

Physical exercise is a must. Aerobics, walking, cycling, even dancing, and getting enough sleep are all very important to the healthy, cell-producing mechanisms. In fact, I introduced a private member's bill just last week outlawing adjusting mufflers so that cars and motorcycles can't wake up a whole neighbourhood by increasing the decibel levels.

There is, of course, another aspect and dimension to becoming a healthy person. This new aspect talks about our emotions that are influencing our health. For instance, meditation, faith in God, laughter, imagery, autosuggestion and biofeedback are all important. If you're still not convinced of the powerful influence on your body of one simple thought, think of the last time you blushed. Imagine this: Within a split second, your whole body is subject to a chemical shower and your face turns hot and red.

Interjection.

Mr. Ruprecht: Maybe not you, but this is true.

Just imagine what we can do, then, in terms of some positive actions. Some simple positive thought in your body can create a chemical shower of a positive nature.

To make a long story short—and my time is running out very quickly here—I just want to leave you with this one thought: We want to thank you for attending today's session, and especially the member from Essex. All of us will support this bill because you have inspired us, and we will do whatever we can to ensure its quick passage.

The Acting Speaker: I recognize the member for Burlington.

Mrs. Joyce Savoline (Burlington): I am really pleased to stand up and take

part in the debate on Bill 225, the bone marrow donation month act. This is an age of miracles in science. We used to think of and pray for miracles, but now science actually provides us with miracles. Bone marrow transplants are just one such scientific miracle.

Creating awareness in the general population is so extremely important because it's human nature, as we're busy in our own lives and dashing about, going to work and looking after our families, that we have to learn about issues through general public information. We don't often go and seek out information about issues like this unless we're confronted directly in our own families or our own friends' lives. So unless it touches us, it sometimes goes neglected.

I really appreciate that the member from Essex has taken the time to provide us with such thorough information that's so easily understood, that has captured all our interests and that I certainly feel is an important issue to raise with the general public.

It's also important to understand that ethnicity plays a large

part in transplant success. That's something I personally did not know about until I read the information. I thought a marrow transplant was a marrow transplant, but in fact it is not. To reach out to as many ethnic groups as possible to make it understood that the success of such transplants is sometimes dependent on their ethnicity is a very important part of this information.

It's incumbent on us as community leaders. People look to us for advice, for information, and we should make all aspects of this issue fully known and, most importantly, easy to understand for the general public. In a decent society, what we do is help our fellow man. This is certainly one of those ways. It's no different, in my opinion, than creating awareness about organ donation, cancer, heart and stroke, or any of the awareness we create in the public to allow people to live a fuller, healthier life, with nothing more than just information, and that's what this is.

The information that's being presented has the potential to alter lives, both for the donor and for the recipient. I think that's a really important aspect to remember. You know—but for the grace of God go I—we never know when adversity will touch us, our family, our friends. This could be one of those instances, when somebody close to us needs a bone marrow transplant. Having the awareness out in the public, creating the website and making the month of November Bone Marrow Awareness Month provides the kind of awareness to the public that we know people will take up in our generous society of Canadians.

I want to thank the member from Essex once again for bringing forward this information and for presenting it in such a thorough way, for creating a positive out of a negative. I too am in support of expediting this into law.

Mr. Jeff Leal (Peterborough): It is indeed a privilege to have the opportunity to give a few remarks this morning on Bill 225,

An Act to make the month of November Bone Marrow Awareness Month here in Ontario. In life's journey, there's nothing more devastating than the loss of a child. We salute the amazing courage of Bryan and Joanne Bedard to be with us in the members' gallery today to talk about the issue of creating a month in Ontario to recognize bone marrow awareness.

When you look at the Canadian Blood Services registry today, we have more than 215,000 Canadians who have taken advantage of registering with the Canadian Blood Services to provide that opportunity, to provide the miracle of life, to others within our society. But when you think of that 215,000 for a moment, there should be many more Ontarians and Canadians who take the time to register with the Canadian Blood Services.

When you think of a population across Canada of some 33 million people and here in Ontario between 12 million and 13 million people, there should be many more who would take the opportunity to look at the significant contribution that they could make to medical science by taking the time to register with the Canadian Blood Services.

In this era of medical advances, bone marrow is something that can be donated to others to sustain life and to provide a positive outlook of sustaining one's life over a very long period of time. When you think of the opportunity we have here today, and I'm sure people are watching across Ontario—we have an opportunity this morning to do something that I think is very unique and will transcend when all of us have left this place: the opportunity to create the awareness of the need to register for bone marrow transplants. When you look through it, it's a fairly easy process.

One would register one's name, go in and do some preliminary testing, and then, after that, would provide a donation and information to make sure that that information is readily available through the blood services when needed to provide that life-giving bone marrow.

The tragic loss of a child sometimes provides the opportunity for something great and positive to happen. That's why I want to salute Bryan and Joanne Bedard this morning for taking the very tragic and incomprehensible situation of the death of a child to launch something here today so that we could heighten awareness of the need to register for bone marrow. I salute my colleague the member for Essex who has taken the time to bring this bill forward this morning. We can do something very great by passing this bill as quickly as possible to make this November the first month for bone marrow awareness in the province of Ontario.

The Acting Speaker: Further debate?

Mr. Norm Miller (Parry Sound—Muskoka): It's my pleasure to stand up in the remaining 37 seconds that are left in private members' time to let the member for Essex know that I completely support his private member's bill to make November Bone Marrow Awareness Month. I think raising awareness with the goal of getting more people to participate in the registry is a good thing that will help save lives. I completely support the member with this private member's bill, and I hope he can get unanimous consent with all three parties to see this bill passed, because I think it could do some good.

The Acting Speaker: I believe that concludes the time for private members' business on this ballot item.

Interjection.

The Acting Speaker: I apologize. The member for Essex has two minutes to reply.

Mr. Crozier: Thank you very much, Speaker. I want to thank you personally for standing in for me this morning, and doing such a great job, to allow me to debate this private member's bill.

I want to thank the members from Kitchener—Waterloo, Beaches—East York, London North Centre, Haliburton—Victoria—Brock, Parkdale—High Park, Davenport, Burlington, Peterborough, Parry Sound—Muskoka and others who have indicated their support for this bill.

I especially want to say a very warm thank you to Joanne and Bryan for coming this morning so that they can see how sincerely we can feel about a subject and a debate in this House. I told them earlier today, when we had a bit of a tour, that it's a privilege to work in this place, an absolute privilege—and any time that anybody thinks it's a right, it's time for them to get out—that we can work together on issues and that when we aren't unanimous or when we aren't all in agreement, there are always, in my view, good reasons for that.

With that, I thank you for your support this morning. I look forward to your support when it comes to the vote and I will—once the vote is taken, and if successful—attempt to move this along quickly, as each of you has asked that I do. Thank you very much for your support this morning.

The Acting Speaker: That concludes all the time available for private members' public business.

VAUGHAN HOSPITAL

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): Mr. Racco has moved private member's resolution number 10, private members' notice of motion number 63. Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

BONE MARROW AWARENESS

MONTH ACT, 2007 /

LOI DE 2007 SUR LE MOIS

DE LA SENSIBILISATION

AU DON DE MOELLE OSSEUSE

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): Mr. Crozier has moved second reading of Bill 225,

An Act to make the month of November Bone Marrow Awareness Month. Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

Mr. Bruce Crozier (Essex): I would seek unanimous consent that the bill be ordered for third reading.

The Acting Speaker: The member for Essex is seeking the unanimous consent of the House that the bill be ordered for third reading. Is there such consent? Agreed.

All matters relating to private members' public business having now been completed, I do now leave the chair. The House will resume at 1:30 p.m.

The House recessed from 1158 to 1330.

MEMBERS' STATEMENTS

ONTARIO DRUG BENEFIT PROGRAM

Mrs. Elizabeth Witmer (Kitchener—Waterloo): On April 13, 2006, the Minister of Health announced that his government would expedite patient access to drugs through rapid reviews of breakthrough therapies. This announcement prompted Nick and Sonia Lanese of Fonthill to seek the government's help for their son Andrew. Although Andrew is but 10 years old, he has endured a life afflicted by a rare genetic disorder called MPS II, otherwise known as Hunter's syndrome. The disorder left Andrew in a very uncomfortable state, as it has dramatically impacted his mental capacity.

However, there is treatment, namely Elaprase, an enzyme-replacement therapy that may be able to lessen some of the symptoms of this disorder. Andrew's parents asked the government for funding for this drug. On May 9, they disappointingly received a letter informing them that their son Andrew had been denied funding by the government.

In an

article in the Welland Tribune, Mr. Lanese says that the review "never gave Andrew a chance." I ask the Minister of Health today to give 10-year-old Andrew a chance and to provide funding for this enzyme-replacement therapy to relieve his debilitating symptoms.

I ask the minister today to commit to provide bridge funding for this therapy until a national drug policy is put in place.

STREETSVILLE

BREAD AND HONEY FESTIVAL

Mr. Bob Delaney (Mississauga West): This is the weekend of the Streetsville Bread and Honey Festival. The Streetsville Bread and Honey Festival features activities for everyone, including baking contests, a huge parade on Saturday morning, children's crafts, a fishing derby and, of course, my personal favourite, the Sunday morning pancake breakfast, in which my constituents can have me clean up their tables for them.

Every year, I look forward to participating in the entire Streetsville Bread and Honey Festival, from Saturday morning to Sunday evening, and not just dropping by for a quick appearance.

The bread and honey festival plays a large role in supporting our local community in north Mississauga. All proceeds from the weekend are directed back into the community by the Rotary Club, which does an absolutely fabulous job and supports such projects as Easter Seals, the Vic Johnston Community Centre, Cheshire Homes and the Credit Valley Hospital, among many others.

The bread and honey festival has been held annually on the first weekend of June since 1973. The festival originated in 1973 through the promotion committee of the town of Streetsville. Each year at the festival, everybody enjoys bread baked specially by local milling companies and generously coated with lots and lots of local honey, hence the name.

I look forward to the festival to taste the bread and honey and, more importantly, to spend two full days with as many of my constituents as choose to come by my booth in the arena and say hello to me.

KIDS' FISHING DAY

Mr. Jerry J. Ouellette (Oshawa): I'd like to extend my sincere gratitude and appreciation to all groups and volunteers who worked so hard for the seventh annual Kids' Fishing Day at Heber Down Conservation Area this last Saturday.

What a wonderful, rewarding day it was for both children and adults alike. A crowd about 10% larger than last year came out to enjoy the sun and the great outdoors. Children were able to take part, at no charge, in a day filled with many events, including conservation and wetland displays, lure making, face painting, a casting competition, fishing and, of course, fish identification.

Ducks Unlimited; MPP John O'Toole; Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority; Kids, Cops and Canadian Tire; Muskies Canada; Ministry of Natural Resources, Aurora district; Ontario Sporting Dog Association; Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters, Zone E; Oshawa Community Health Centre; Oshawa Teen Council; Oshawa YWCA; Durham regional police; Pickering Rod and Gun Club; the Christ Centre; Hawgtown Bassmasters; Eastview Boys and Girls Club; Simcoe Hall Settlement House; South Central Ontario Big Game Association; the Westmount Kiwanis Club; and Orono Fish and Hunt Club all contributed time and effort to the great success of the event.

I'd like to extend my special thanks to our leader, John Tory, and his wife, Barbara, who took in the event and met with the young anglers and volunteers; and also the Toronto Sportsmen's Show, which, year after year, shows its dedication to Kids' Fishing Day. Most importantly, I'd like to thank all the parents and kids who participated.

It was a great opportunity for children who don't usually have the chance to learn about fishing and nature and have fun discovering the outdoors at the same time. Hundreds of rainbow trout were caught by the young anglers, but there are more still waiting.

Once again, I'd like to offer my sincere thanks to the many people who made this unforgettable day possible for the children of our community.

TENANT PROTECTION

Ms. Andrea Horwath (Hamilton East): Hard-working families who rent in Ontario are fed up with a McGuinty government that is out of touch with their real issues and needs.

In Hamilton right now, two disabled tenants have been without electricity for 24 days. They paid for utilities as part of their monthly rent, but when the landlord failed to pass through those payments to the utility companies, they were out of luck. Similarly, two years ago, in the dead of winter, an entire building of tenants in my community had their gas services cut.

On February 21, 2005, I introduced a private member's bill that would prevent tenants who pay for rent and utilities together from being victimized by the disconnection of vital services like hydro, water and gas.

I sought the support of the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing for this. He offered platitudes and made promises to include my provisions as part of his new Tenant Protection Act. But, lo and behold—and no surprise—another McGuinty Liberal broken promise. When the government's legislation came forward, there was no trace of vital services language at all—notwithstanding that this one measure would really count for something with tenants, not only in the community of Hamilton but all across this province.

Instead, the McGuinty government was happy to download responsibilities for landlord and tenant issues on to overloaded, financially strapped municipalities. As a result, Ontario tenants still risk losing their vital services through no fault of their own.

A few cities like Hamilton have bylaws, but enforcing them is time-consuming and difficult without the teeth that my bill would have guaranteed them. Ontario legal aid clinics agreement with me. Too bad the minister doesn't.

ENERGY CONSERVATION

Mr. Jim Brownell (Stormont—Dundas—Charlottenburgh): I am proud to announce that last week in my riding of Stormont—Dundas—Charlottenburgh plans were unveiled for the construction of Place Dominion Place, the region's first green, sustainable building.

This state-of-the-art facility will be located in downtown Cornwall, at the corner of Pitt and Second Streets, probably the most visible intersection in the city. It will serve as an example that you can make the commitment of being environmentally friendly while providing high-quality services and displaying acute business sense.

This four-storey structure will be built in accordance with the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program, with the goal of achieving the highest-possible rating under the green building rating system. This structure will be certified to meet high targets for green buildings in this province. It will house retail and professional space while providing a classic, yet modern, look to our downtown core. It is a testament to the renaissance taking place throughout my riding.

I am proud that citizens of my community have taken a leadership role in the preservation of our environment. This is proof of the hope, vision and foresight of my constituents and their interest in a prosperous and healthy future for their families and community for generations to come.

My congratulations go out to local entrepreneur Ron Chenier and his development partners, Dick and Chris Markell of Bourgon and Associates, who are moving this dream to reality. These gentlemen have established a benchmark for all future construction in the region in the hopes that developers will realize that an environmentally sustainable community is important for our well-being, for our economy and for the future of the province.

Ms. Laurie Scott (Haliburton—Victoria—Brock): Yesterday, Dalton McGuinty joined Governor Schwarzenegger to pump up Ontario. He posed for so many photo ops, you'd think he was on the red carpet at the Oscars. We know that back in 2003, Dalton McGuinty was quite pumped up from waving around his big red book of broken promises. The minute he became Premier, he began turning his back on the environment. It's nearly four years later and he still has not presented a plan for climate change, and the coal plants are still spewing out the same emissions he promised to end.

Yesterday morning, while the Premier was in front of the cameras at Queen's Park, pretending to care about climate change and reducing emissions, away from the cameras, there was an entourage of no less than 10 vehicles, most of them SUVs, idling the entire time—idling and ready for a quick getaway to MaRS—not the Mars from the famous blockbuster movie Total Recall, but the MaRS Discovery District research centre, which is only a few blocks away. I'm actually surprised the Premier didn't want to have taxpayers' money pay for the short flight there. Evidently, MaRS has no landing ramp.

What's even worse, these vehicles were outside of Queen's Park, idling and spewing emissions on the very same day the Premier's Minister of the Environment issued a smog warning in Toronto and throughout the province.

It's clear that in Dalton McGuinty's world, he's got his act well rehearsed and has memorized his lines, "Do as I say, not as I do." John Tory is a true leader, who has presented a plan on climate change with real targets and a real plan to deliver on those targets. What has Dalton McGuinty presented? We're quite certain that, with all his broken promises, Dalton McGuinty won't hesitate to join Arnold Schwarzenegger for the filming of the movie True Lies, part two.

ONTARIO ASSOCIATION OF

CERTIFIED ENGINEERING TECHNICIANS AND TECHNOLOGISTS

Mr. Phil McNeely (Ottawa—Orléans): The Ontario Association of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists will mark its 50th anniversary this June. As a former consulting engineer and full member of the professional engineering organization, it is my pleasure to tell the House about OACETT. It is a non-profit, self-governing organization with more than 20,000 members across Ontario.

This association promotes the interests of engineering and applied science technicians and technologists in industry, educational institutions, the public and government. For 50 years, it has upheld a tradition of protecting public safety by certifying its members, many of whom are graduates from the provincial college system. In its first 40 years, the association processed more than 53,000 applications for certification.

All of the certified technicians and technologists in our province, who cover a wide range of engineering disciplines, have contributed greatly to the economic growth of Ontario. What's also noteworthy is that this organization has, from its beginning, measured and recognized the credentials of internationally trained professionals arriving in Ontario, helping them and helping our economy. This has made a difference for many of these new Canadians. From 2000 to 2004, 6,836 self-identified engineering technicians and technologists emigrated to Ontario.

One of the many ways the OACETT has helped foreign-trained professionals has been through the bridge training programs, language training, referrals, employment workshops, career mapping and many other services. With this proud history, it is my pleasure to congratulate the OACETT for reaching its 50th anniversary and for the exceptional work it has done for the past 50 years.

CATTLE FARMERS

Mr. Ted McMeekin (Ancaster—Dundas—Flamborough—Aldershot): Where's the beef? On Tuesday, we welcomed the Ontario Cattlemen's Association to Queen's Park. I had the pleasure of meeting with Dan Darling and Jamie Boles for an update on the state of the industry.

The association has received positive response from members related to funding provided for regional marketing and our government efforts to encourage Ontarians to buy locally. Other initiatives have included delivering as much as $410 million of federal-provincial funding for farmers and monies to an industry affected by BSE, some $138 million coming directly from Ontario. We've also worked tirelessly to fully restore an open border with the US.

Investing $7 million to expand our domestic slaughter capacity and the development of the new Elora beef barn in support of research projects have also helped our beef industry.

The cattlemen's recent report indicated that an overwhelming majority of Ontarians want to protect family farms and see us continue to support initiatives aimed at doubling beef production using existing infrastructure.

The beef sector makes an important contribution to our Ontario economy. Tremendous potential exists for continued economic growth and job creation, and our government is committed to continuing to work with the beef sector on long-term strategies to expand the industry so that its important potential can be realized.

CONSERVATION

Mrs. Carol Mitchell (Huron—Bruce): I rise in the House today to talk about some comments that the leader of the third party made yesterday in regard to our conservation initiatives. The member for Kenora—Rainy River called our government's conservation ads "superficial photo ops."

I would like to point out that Mr. David Suzuki, one of the world's leading authorities on climate change, is in those advertisements helping to promote energy conservation. My question to the leader of the third party is: Does he think that one of the leading authorities on climate change is superficial? I also want to know if the member from Toronto—Danforth feels the same way as his leader.

While the NDP may like to promote itself as an environmental party, environmental groups are less than impressed with their showing, like their flip-flop on the coal issue and the leader of the third party's avoiding the species-at-risk vote.

In contrast, the McGuinty Liberals have been moving forward with real results. Today, Ontario's over 400 megawatts of wind energy make us a leader in wind power in Canada. We have an innovative Endangered Species Act that makes us a North American leader in species at risk and recovery. We are also protecting 1.8 million acres of green space through our greenbelt initiative.

Instead of playing politics with the issue, we are committed to tackling climate change and will continue to move forward with real progress, together with Ontarians.

VISITOR

Ms. Judy Marsales (Hamilton West): On a point of order, Mr. Speaker: I am delighted to introduce to the assembly this afternoon Anne Marie Leonard, who is visiting for the first time. Anne Marie is one of the most accomplished musicians I know, a choral director and choral leader, and a wonderful person on top of that. Welcome, Anne Marie.

DARRELL PRIEDE

Mrs. Joyce Savoline (Burlington): On a point of order, Mr. Speaker: I rise in the House to sadly inform you that the 56th Canadian soldier to die in Kandahar was from Burlington. Master Corporal Darrell Priede was a brave soldier who was a professional and who made the ultimate sacrifice.

We all live in a time of peace here in Canada, where we don't know what war is. I think it is commendable that our young men and women understand the responsibility of freedom and have gone off to corners of the world in order to help preserve our freedom.

My condolences to the family and friends of Master Corporal Priede, and thank you for this opportunity.

VISITORS

Mr. Lou Rinaldi (Northumberland): On a point of order, Mr. Speaker: I want to take the opportunity to welcome Maureen Kelly and son Liam, and Brian and Gail Todd from my riding of Northumberland. They're here today visiting to see democracy at work in this great province of Ontario. Welcome.

Hon. Marie Bountrogianni (Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, minister responsible for democratic renewal): On a point of order, Mr. Speaker: I'd like to welcome to the assembly one of my favourite teachers from the mountain, Mary LaChapelle, who is also an executive at OECTA in Hamilton. Welcome.

Mrs. Carol Mitchell (Huron—Bruce): On a point of order, Mr. Speaker: I want to introduce Richard Elliott, and I will be presenting petitions later on, on behalf of his son. Thank you for coming, Richard.

Mr. Shafiq Qaadri (Etobicoke North): On a point of order, Mr. Speaker: I would like, with your permission, to recognize in the visitors' gallery representatives of CANES Home Support Services from the great riding of Etobicoke North and environs.

BIRTH OF MEMBER'S GRANDCHILD

Mr. Norman W. Sterling (Lanark—Carleton): On a point of order, Mr. Speaker: As a proud grandfather, only a month ago I announced a new tiny Tory to Kingston, Ontario. That was Jordan Stearns.

I want to say to all members of the Legislature that my wife, Joan, and I have another tiny Tory, this time Jonas Fraser Stearns. I want to indicate that his mom, Dawn, and his dad, John, who is 42 years of age and this is his first child, are extremely proud and doing well.

Rest easy, McGuinty government. Unfortunately, this grandson lives in Edmonton, Alberta.

VISITOR

Mr. Peter Tabuns (Toronto—Danforth): I wish to recognize Mary Watts from the Toronto—Danforth riding, who this morning won the Senior Stars competition in Toronto.

WATER QUALITY

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): I beg to inform the House that, further to my communication to occupants of the legislative precinct yesterday, I have now received the results of secondary testing on the assembly's potable water supply. Members may know that secondary testing is done to verify the integrity of preliminary readings.

I am pleased to report to the House that these secondary readings are well within the acceptable levels, to allay all concerns raised by the earlier testing. Notwithstanding the updated results, I have ordered the precautionary measures implemented yesterday to remain in force.

INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

ONTARIO SOCIETY FOR

THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY

TO ANIMALS AMENDMENT ACT, 2007 /

LOI DE 2007 MODIFIANT

LA

LOI SUR LA SOCIÉTÉ DE PROTECTION DES ANIMAUX DE L'ONTARIO

Mr. Runciman moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 232,

An Act to amend the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act / Projet de loi 232, Loi modifiant la

Loi sur la Société de protection des animaux de l'Ontario.

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

The member may wish to make a brief statement.

Mr. Robert W. Runciman (Leeds—Grenville): These are probably modest amendments to the act but, I think, significant. They deal only with pet ownership of cats and dogs, prompted by horrific stories that we have all read in the media recently: cutting off a dog's ears to make it appear scary—those kinds of situations. What the amendments will do is allow for charges under the Provincial Offences Act of up to two years less a day, fines up to $60,000 a year, and bans up to lifetime bans on pet ownership.

LABOUR RELATIONS

AMENDMENT ACT

(CERTIFIED TRADES), 2007 /

LOI DE 2007 MODIFIANT

LA

LOI SUR LES RELATIONS

DE TRAVAIL (MÉTIERS AGRÉÉ

S) Mr. Kormos moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 233,

An Act to amend the Labour Relations Act, 1995 with respect to bargaining units in certified trades / Projet de loi 233, Loi modifiant la Loi de 1995 sur les relations de travail relativement aux unités de négociation représentant des métiers agréés.

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

The member may wish to make a brief statement.

Mr. Peter Kormos (Niagara Centre): I especially want to thank Jimmy Moffat from the sheet metal workers for his leadership. This bill amends the Labour Relations Act, 1995, to restrict who may take

part in a representation vote where the bargaining unit consists of employees who work in a certified trade; specifically, that if a bargaining unit consists of employees who work in a certified trade under the Trades Qualification and Apprenticeship Act, an employee who is not the holder of a subsisting certificate of qualification for the trade or apprenticeship in the trade shall not take

part in the representation vote.

MOTIONS

CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH

Hon. David Caplan (Minister of Public Infrastructure Renewal, Deputy Government House Leader): I move that an humble address be presented to the Lieutenant Governor in Council as follows—

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): First we'd need to agree to unanimous consent to present the motion.

Hon. Mr. Caplan: I don't believe so.

Interjection.

Hon. Mr. Caplan: Well, then, I seek unanimous consent to move a motion.

The Speaker: Mr. Caplan has asked for unanimous consent. Agreed? Agreed.

Hon. Mr. Caplan: The motion reads as follows:

"To the Lieutenant Governor in Council:

The Speaker: Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

ACTING CHIEF

MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH

Hon. David Caplan (Minister of Public Infrastructure Renewal, Deputy Government House Leader): I request unanimous consent to move a motion regarding the acting chief medical officer of health, an extension of the appointment.

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): Mr. Caplan asks for unanimous consent to present a motion regarding the acting chief medical officer of health. Agreed? Agreed.

Hon. Mr. Caplan: I move that an humble address be presented to the Lieutenant Governor in Council as follows:

"To the Lieutenant Governor in Council:

"We, Her Majesty's most dutiful and loyal subjects, the Legislative Assembly of the province of Ontario, now assembled, request the extension of the appointment of Dr. George Pasut as the acting chief medical officer of health for the province of Ontario as provided in

section 81(1) of the Health Protection and Promotion Act, RSO 1990,

chapter H.7 and

section 28(

L) of the

Interpretation Act, RSO 1990,

chapter I.11, to hold office until December 31, 2007 or until the Legislative Assembly appoints a permanent chief medical officer of health, whichever is earlier, having all the same powers and duties of the chief medical officer of health under the Health Protection and Promotion Act," and that the address be engrossed and presented to the Lieutenant Governor in Council by the Speaker.

The Speaker: Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

INTEGRITY COMMISSIONER

Hon. David Caplan (Minister of Public Infrastructure Renewal, Deputy Government House Leader): Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to move a motion regarding the Integrity Commissioner.

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): Agreed? Agreed.

Hon. Mr. Caplan: I move that an humble address be presented to the Lieutenant Governor in Council as follows:

"To the Lieutenant Governor in Council:

The Speaker: Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

STATEMENTS BY THE MINISTRY AND RESPONSES

IPPERWASH PROVINCIAL PARK /

PARC PROVINCIAL IPPERWASH

Hon. Dalton McGuinty (Premier, Minister of Research and Innovation): It will be 12 years this summer since the events at Ipperwash park; 12 years since the George family lost their son and brother, Dudley; 12 years since the Kettle and Stoney Point First Nations lost a member of their community and a friend; 12 years since a dark shadow was cast over the relationship between aboriginal people and the government of Ontario.

Today, thanks to the work of Justice Sidney Linden at the Ipperwash public inquiry, new light has been shed on those events. In the days and weeks to come, I am certain that many people will pore over the contents of Justice Linden's report—scrutinizing it, studying it, commenting on it. That is not my intention today. I do not rise in the House to speak about what the report says but rather to speak about what the report means. This report speaks to something profound, even historic.

Il parle d'un désir commun, parmi nous tous, de guérison, de réconciliation et d'un nouveau début.

It speaks to a shared desire among us all for healing, for reconciliation and for a new beginning.

Nothing can fully heal the pain that Dudley George's family and friends have felt for more than a decade now. Nothing can change the events that took place 12 summers ago or fully erase the scar this has left on the history of aboriginal relationships for all who live here.

Earlier today I spoke with Sam George, Dudley George's brother, and I want to now say publicly what I said to him privately: On behalf of the people of Ontario, we apologize for the events that led to the loss of life. We deeply regret the death of Dudley George. This report and the implementation of its recommendations will serve as a testament to his memory. We will honour his life as we move forward with Ontario's aboriginal community.

I believe that we have within our grasp today the power to change our future, to create deep and lasting change, because this report is more than a record of the events that occurred; it is a source of wise counsel for the future. That future is ours to build, starting today. It begins with an understanding that if we want a lasting partnership built on respect, a future where all our children can enjoy the full benefits of life here in Ontario, the greatest province in the most blessed country in the world, then we must together embrace the same fundamental goal.

That goal is opportunity: the opportunity for all of us to succeed in life, to achieve our potential, to flourish, to be happy. We must embrace a fundamental truth, one so vitally important to our success as a diverse society. That truth is this: When it comes to people, what matters most is not the colour of our skin; it's not the language we speak;