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December 7, 2005

38th Parliament, 2nd Session

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Hansard Transcripts

vol. A

Hansard Transcripts

vol. B

Votes and Proceedings

Orders and Notices

Hansard Transcripts 2005-Dec-07 (PDF)

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO

ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE DE L'ONTARIO

Wednesday 7 December 2005 Mercredi 7 décembre 2005

MEMBERS' STATEMENTS

DRINKING AND DRIVING

EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAMS

ONTARIO PROVINCIAL POLICE

KARLA HOMOLKA

VOLUNTEERS

BLUE PLANET PRIZE

COMMUNITY SAFETY

PETERBOROUGH PETES

VISITORS

REPORTS BY COMMITTEES

STANDING COMMITTEE ON

REGULATIONS AND PRIVATE BILLS

INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

SECURITIES AMENDMENT ACT (INSIDER TRADING AND TIPPING), 2005 /

LOI DE 2005 MODIFIANT LA LOI

SUR LES VALEURS MOBILIÈRES (TRANSACTIONS D'INITIÉ ET COMMUNICATION DE RENSEIGNEMENTS CONFIDENTIELS)

GENOCIDE MEMORIAL

WEEK ACT, 2005 /

LOI DE 2005 SUR LA SEMAINE COMMÉMORATIVE DES GÉNOCIDES

ELECTORAL BOUNDARIES COMMISSION (ONTARIO) ACT, 2005 /

LOI DE 2005 SUR LA COMMISSION ONTARIENNE DE DÉLIMITATION

DES CIRCONSCRIPTIONS ÉLECTORALES

RURAL ONTARIO DAY ACT, 2005 /

LOI DE 2005

SUR LE JOUR DE L'ONTARIO RURAL

TRADITIONAL CHINESE

MEDICINE ACT, 2005 /

LOI DE 2005 SUR LES PRATICIENNES

ET PRATICIENS EN MÉDECINE TRADITIONNELLE CHINOISE

MOTIONS

COMMITTEE SITTINGS

HOUSE SITTINGS

STATEMENTS BY THE MINISTRY AND RESPONSES

TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

VISITORS

OFFICE OF THE AUDITOR GENERAL

DEFERRED VOTES

LOCAL HEALTH SYSTEM

INTEGRATION ACT, 2005 /

LOI DE 2005 SUR L'INTÉGRATION

DU SYSTÈME DE SANTÉ LOCAL

ORAL QUESTIONS

DRIVER LICENCES

EDUCATION FUNDING

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

JUSTICE SYSTEM

DRIVER LICENCES

FAMILY RESPONSIBILTY OFFICE

SECURITIES INDUSTRY

AMBULANCE SERVICES

TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE

WATER QUALITY

SERVICES FOR THE DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED

COMMUNITY SPORTS PROGRAMS

FREDERICK BANTING HOMESTEAD

PETITIONS

SERVICES FOR THE

DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED

LANDFILL

ONTARIO DRUG BENEFIT PROGRAM

CANCER TREATMENT

GOVERNMENT SERVICES

SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION

AFFORDABLE HOUSING

ONTARIO FARMERS

MACULAR DEGENERATION

PUBLIC LIBRARIES

MACULAR DEGENERATION

FREDERICK BANTING HOMESTEAD

HOUSE SITTINGS

ORDERS OF THE DAY

ENDING MANDATORY RETIREMENT

STATUTE LAW AMENDMENT ACT, 2005 /

LOI DE 2005 MODIFIANT DES LOIS

POUR ÉLIMINER LA RETRAITE

OBLIGATOIRE

FAMILY STATUTE LAW

AMENDMENT ACT, 2005 /

LOI DE 2005 MODIFIANT DES LOIS

EN CE QUI CONCERNE

DES QUESTIONS FAMILIALES

COMMITTEE SITTINGS

The House met at 1330.

Prayers.

MEMBERS' STATEMENTS

DRINKING AND DRIVING

Mr. Norman W. Sterling (Lanark-Carleton): Yesterday, the Auditor General released his report for 2005. Today, I want to draw members' attention

to one detail of his report.

On page 138 of his report, the Auditor General says, "In recent years the Ministry [of Transportation] has established two road user safety programs that target

drinking drivers: the administrative driver's licence suspension program (ADLS) and the ignition interlock program."

It goes on to say, "We analyzed the rates of drinking-and-driving-related collisions and convictions before and after the introduction of these programs and

noted that these rates have been declining. Accordingly, it appears that these programs have been successful in contributing to improved road safety."

I want to remind members that it was the PC government that brought in administrative driver's licence suspensions, and I want to also remind members that it was

a private member's bill by the member for Simcoe North, Garfield Dunlop, that brought ignition interlock to Ontario. Congratulations again, Garfield.

I also wanted to take this opportunity to remind members of this House, my constituents and all Ontarians to arrive alive this holiday season. If you drink,

don't drive. Avoid these programs that are a success. Thank you, and I wish everyone a healthy and happy Christmas season.

EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAMS

Mr. Mario G. Racco (Thornhill): Yesterday, I had the pleasure of attending the official opening of the Vaughan Fire and Rescue Service station

and York region EMS paramedic emergency response station.

The EMS component, for which our government shares the costs with the region of York, is a very important service to our residents and will serve the community

in a new and improved way.

The Racco Parkway service station is located on Racco Parkway in Thornhill and is the first of its kind in the region of York. The EMS paramedic emergency

response station has a mandate to provide 24-hour response to emergency and non-emergency requests and to deliver out-of-hospital medical care and transport to individuals suffering injury or

illness in Thornhill and York region, as well as providing front-line care.

With that goal in mind, York region EMS has developed programs to provide customer service response options for its day-to-day operations so they can reach

people who need them.

I'm proud to say that this facility also reflects some of Thornhill's rich history, as some of the windows in the new station were built in 1875 by David Smellie

and were in the old red house that previously stood in that location.

The residents of York region are being heard. They are receiving a well-built facility which will cost less to operate while delivering much-needed services to

the community.

ONTARIO PROVINCIAL POLICE

Mr. Garfield Dunlop (Simcoe North): I'm very pleased to rise today and talk about a few of the activities of the Ontario Provincial Police

Association. Last Friday, December 2, myself, Minister Kwinter and Commissioner Boniface were able to attend a ceremony at the OPP detachment general headquarters in Orillia and presented a couple

of names on the wall of honour for officers who have lost their lives in the last year. I was pleased that Michael Siydock and Andrew Potts, both OPP officers who lost their lives, were honoured in

having their names put on the wall. Their families, of course, were present.

As well, on a bit more of a positive note, I'm very pleased to be taking

part in a function this coming Friday. It's being hosted by the Ontario Provincial

Police Association. It's a curling bonspiel and event at the Barrie Curling Club in the city of Barrie. They're going to raise funds for three officers who were seriously hurt in the last year. One

was Bruce Owen, who worked at the general headquarters in Orillia. He suffered a brain aneurysm, and although his spirits are high, he has a long road ahead of him on the way to recovery. The

others are Matt Hanes, the officer with Andrew Potts the night he was killed in the moose accident up in Bracebridge, and of course Stephen Jones, the officer involved in the accident with a moose

up in the Cochrane detachment of the OPP, who is diagnosed as a paraplegic. He is recovering at home, although he's got a long road ahead of him.

I just want to thank the OPPA for paying so much attention to their officers, both those who have given their lives in the line of duty and those who have

suffered major injuries.

KARLA HOMOLKA

Mr. Peter Kormos (Niagara Centre): Six months ago, the Attorney General was out there in front of every television camera and spotlight that he

or his staff could find, insisting that he, the Attorney General, was going to impose restraints on one Karla Homolka that would make her wish she never left the walls of Kingston Penitentiary for

Women. Six months later, what do we have? We've got an Attorney General who barely whimpers an apology for his failure to carry the ball through the appellate court in the province of Quebec when

the first round imposed some restraints on Karla Homolka.

Rather than admit his dismal failure and his complete ineffectiveness in getting any restraints on Karla Homolka, what does he say? He tells the press that he

has given instructions to have her arrested should she ever set foot in the province of Ontario. I say to the Attorney General, for what now? You didn't know what you were talking about when you

tried to make a big impression with your voters around

section 810.2. I've checked the Criminal Code, Attorney General. You tell me what

section you're going to have Karla Homolka arrested

under.

You dropped the ball. You screwed up royally. You leave people across Canada fearful for the welfare of their communities because this psychopathic killer walks

around unrestrained. That's the best you could come up with: "I instructed the police to bust her"? Furthermore, you as the Attorney General should know full well that it's not your job to instruct

the police to do anything. You may well have scuttled, by that comment alone, any effort to prosecute Karla Homolka under 810.2 in the province of Ontario --

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): Thank you.

VOLUNTEERS

Mr. Ted McMeekin (Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Aldershot): T.S. Eliot, through his Choruses from "The Rock," puts this question to us all: "When

the Stranger says: `What is the meaning of this city?' ... What will you answer? `We all dwell together to make money from each other'? or `This is a community'?"

Today I want to affirm all the local community champions in the great riding of ADFA, those who wrap themselves up and give themselves away every single day: the

volunteers who organize the food drives in Ancaster and Dundas; those who visit and transport the sick and elderly in Flamborough and Aldershot; the wonderful folk at Wesley Urban Ministries who

assist thousands of people struggling on the margins of poverty, who are concerned with the dual tasks of feeding the hungry while struggling to build a just society; and those who volunteer at our

senior citizens' centres.

I also want to take the opportunity to thank the more than 300 people who volunteer their time, talent and energy, lending me their advice through our local

community council, as well as our special listening/advisory groups in education, the environment, concerns of seniors and my small business advisory team.

I've come to truly appreciate that when it comes to community building, none of us is as smart as all of us. To all who contribute to the task of community

building, I paraphrase the words of Tiny Tim: "Now bless them all, every one."

BLUE PLANET PRIZE

Mr. Ted Chudleigh (Halton): I rise in the House today to recognize a constituent of mine whose firm has been recognized by the United Nations

for its contribution to promoting sustainable development in energy production.

Mr. David Carter of Norval, Ontario, is the vice-president of a cutting-edge energy firm called Regional Power Inc. The Sechelt Creek generating station on the

Sunshine Coast in British Columbia, which Regional Power has brilliantly designed and constructed, was awarded the Blue Planet Prize at the United Nations climate change conference in Montreal this

past weekend.

This is a very prestigious award. It is awarded by the International Hydropower Association, in concert with UNESCO, every two years. The project was evaluated

along with projects from 86 other countries around the world. The competition was fierce but Mr. Carter and Regional Power came out on top.

The Blue Planet Prize is the result of a rigorous audit process that takes into account such things as reliability, sustainability, environmental impact, public

health, cultural heritage, social impact, aquatic biodiversity and water quality.

The Sechelt facility generates 16.6 megawatts that is sold to the grid in British Columbia. As part of the Sechelt development, a very successful natural salmon

spawning channel was established below the powerhouse. The channel was established through the existing forest, using local spawning gravel.

The people of Norval in the riding of Halton are very proud of Mr. David Carter. Mr. Carter and his partner, Colin Coolican, are here in the members' gallery

today. Please join with me in congratulating them on this most prestigious award.

COMMUNITY SAFETY

Mr. Vic Dhillon (Brampton West-Mississauga): I'm pleased to rise today in support of a very important announcement by our government that is

near and dear to the constituents of Brampton West-Mississauga. Residents of Brampton and Mississauga will be safer as more police officers are hired under our government's Safer Communities-1,000

Officers partnership program.

I'm proud to announce that our local police force, Peel Regional Police, will be able to add an additional 97 police officers to combat guns and gangs, organized

crime, marijuana grow-ops and to participate in community policing duties.

Peel Regional Police Chief Noel Catney praised the announcement by saying, "I and all members of Peel Regional Police deeply appreciate the sincere commitment of

Minister Kwinter and his ministry in allowing us to hire police officers, thereby adding to front-line response." I couldn't agree more with Chief Catney.

Many residents have presented their concerns to myself regarding the recent spate of violence and headlines in the news. I'm proud to say that with these new

front-line officers, our government is making a permanent commitment to ensure the safety of our residents. These new officers will go a long way in patrolling our streets, helping to prevent crime

and making our community safer.

The hiring of 1,000 new police officers across Ontario is an example of our commitment to the safety of our communities.

Mr. Bas Balkissoon (Scarborough-Rouge River): The people of Scarborough-Rouge River have placed their trust in me to be a fair and honest

representative. Let me tell you, it's a job I don't take lightly. I am going to work hard and raise the issues that are important to my community.

One issue I take very seriously is keeping my community safe. I'm concerned about the increase in gun crime and gang violence. As we are all too aware, this year

has been witness to a spate of shootings across the city. I spoke about this extensively during the campaign and I plan to continue my advocacy here in this House.

This government is tough on crime. We're hiring 1,000 new officers. Thanks to our program, Toronto is receiving the 250 officers it wanted. In fact, on Monday my

former colleagues at city hall reaffirmed the need to take up our offer more quickly, recognizing the previous government's decade of neglect. I've seen how marijuana grow-ops bring crime into

communities. This government is the first to take a major step to stamp out grow-ops. Our government announced legislation on mandatory reporting of gunshot wounds, a first in Canada. Last week,

Chief Blair announced the results of the gun amnesty program. Hundreds of guns, including many deadly handguns, are now off Toronto streets.

We're also getting tougher on the causes of crime. We reduced or eliminated the fees for community groups that use our schools. We've created summer jobs for

at-risk youth, including hundreds in the Malvern area of my riding. We are reviewing the Safe Schools Act to ensure all students are treated with fairness. In fact, I participated in a consultation

meeting in Scarborough last week, where over 250 people attended.

I love what this government is doing to tackle the root causes of crime.

PETERBOROUGH PETES

Mr. Jeff Leal (Peterborough): I'm pleased to be able to speak to the House today about the Peterborough Petes hockey club, which is celebrating

its 50th anniversary. Having played their first Ontario Hockey League game in 1956, the Petes are the oldest continuous franchise in the Canadian Hockey League.

I believe this is an appropriate time to reflect on one of our nation's greatest franchises. In the franchise's 50-year history, it's been to the Memorial Cup

eight times, dating back to 1959 when the Petes played the Winnipeg Braves. In 1979, the Petes won the Memorial Cup and have continuously dominated the OHL and its predecessor, the Ontario Hockey

Association.

The Petes have sent more players to the National Hockey League than any other CHL team. They include Bob Gainey, Steve Larmer, Cory Stillman, Mike Ricci, Larry

Murphy and Doug Jarvis. When thinking of coaching, four legends come to mind: Scotty Bowman, the late Roger Neilson and current GM Jeff Twohey and head coach Dick Todd. Just as important are board

members such as Dr. Bob Neville, Jim Devlin and others.

Over the years, these individuals, along with many others, have provided the necessary leadership and guidance to young men through winning seasons, year in and

year out. We have seen the players develop both hockey skills and life skills, paving their way not only to professional hockey but also to careers in many other occupations. The Petes have

effectively and continuously created new generations of community leaders through sport. I'd also like to recognize the team support staff and the Memorial Centre staff that provided a venue for

fans that is second to none.

On this golden anniversary, the Petes franchise is exemplary in all aspects of Canadian minor hockey. The past 50 years of the Peterborough Petes hockey club

have been a success and its future looks just as bright. Go, Petes, go.

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): I think I should remind members that members' statements are 90 seconds long.

VISITORS

Hon. James J. Bradley (Minister of Tourism, minister responsible for seniors, Government House Leader): On a point of order, Mr. Speaker: I wish

to recognize, in the members' gallery and the public gallery, the Ontario Coalition of Senior Citizens' Organizations, which celebrated its 20th anniversary on November 9 of this year. OCSCO is

comprised of over 140 senior citizens' organizations representing over 500,000 seniors throughout the province. Welcome and congratulations on their 20th anniversary.

Mr. Peter Kormos (Niagara Centre): On a point of order, Mr. Speaker: Page Alexandre Lafontaine from Welland wants to welcome his parents, Paul

and Janique Lafontaine, both educators, and his younger brother Justin to Queen's Park this afternoon.

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): That of course is not a point of order, but welcome.

REPORTS BY COMMITTEES

STANDING COMMITTEE ON

REGULATIONS AND PRIVATE BILLS

Mr. Tony C. Wong (Markham): I beg leave to present a report from the standing committee on regulations and private bills and move its

adoption.

The Clerk-at-the-Table (Mr. Todd Decker): Your committee begs to report the following bill without amendment:

Bill 7,

An Act to authorize a group of manufacturers of Ontario wines to sell Vintners Quality Alliance wines / Projet de loi 7, Loi autorisant un groupe de

fabricants de vins de l'Ontario à vendre des vins de la Vintners Quality Alliance.

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): Shall the report be received and adopted? Agreed.

The bill is therefore ordered for third reading.

Mr. Wong: I beg leave to present a report from the standing committee on regulations and private bills and move its adoption.

The Clerk-at-the-Table: Your committee begs to report the following bill as amended:

Bill Pr17,

An Act respecting Ronald McDonald House (London).

The Speaker: Shall the report be received and adopted? Agreed.

INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

SECURITIES AMENDMENT ACT (INSIDER TRADING AND TIPPING), 2005 /

LOI DE 2005 MODIFIANT LA LOI

SUR LES VALEURS MOBILIÈRES (TRANSACTIONS D'INITIÉ ET COMMUNICATION DE RENSEIGNEMENTS CONFIDENTIELS)

Mr. Hudak moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 46,

An Act to amend the Securities Act with respect to insider trading and tipping / Projet de loi 46, Loi modifiant la

Loi sur les valeurs

mobilières en ce qui concerne les opérations d'initié et la communication de renseignements confidentiels.

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): Mr. Hudak has moved that leave be given to introduce a bill entitled

An Act to amend the Securities Act

with respect to insider trading and tipping.

The Clerk-at-the-Table (Mr. Todd Decker): This is a bill entitled

An Act to amend the Securities Act with respect to insider trading and

tipping.

First reading of the bill; première lecture du projet de loi.

The Speaker: The member for Erie-Lincoln may have a brief statement.

Mr. Tim Hudak (Erie-Lincoln): As I think members know, insider trading and tipping are very serious offences. There's some concern that

Ontario, who may use their inside knowledge to tip or benefit from insider trading.

This legislation, if passed, would allow the OSC to prosecute in those examples.

GENOCIDE MEMORIAL

WEEK ACT, 2005 /

LOI DE 2005 SUR LA SEMAINE COMMÉMORATIVE DES GÉNOCIDES

Mr. Dunlop moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 47,

An Act to proclaim Genocide Memorial Week in Ontario / Projet de loi 47, Loi proclamant la Semaine commémorative des génocides en

Ontario.

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

The member may have a brief statement.

Mr. Garfield Dunlop (Simcoe North): This is a reintroduction of a bill that was previously introduced in the last Parliament by MPP Bob Wood,

and I reintroduced it in the first session. The bill proclaims the week beginning on the fourth Monday of March in each year as Genocide Memorial Week.

ELECTORAL BOUNDARIES COMMISSION (ONTARIO) ACT, 2005 /

LOI DE 2005 SUR LA COMMISSION ONTARIENNE DE DÉLIMITATION

DES CIRCONSCRIPTIONS ÉLECTORALES

Mr. Sterling moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 48,

An Act to provide for the periodic establishment of a commission to readjust the number and boundaries of electoral districts for the purposes of the

Legislative Assembly / Projet de loi 48, Loi prévoyant la constitution périodique d'une commission chargée de réviser le nombre et les limites des circonscriptions

électorales aux fins de l'Assemblée législative.

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

The member may have a brief statement.

Mr. Norman W. Sterling (Lanark-Carleton): We are the only province in all of Canada that has never had an Electoral Boundaries Commission Act.

This act would ensure that boundaries are set for our different electoral districts according to a commission set up here in Ontario. This act would guarantee that the north would retain 11 elected

representatives and that the electoral commission would divide the rest of Ontario up on the basis of the population of the last census.

We are, as I said, the only jurisdiction left in Canada, federal or provincial, that does not have electoral boundaries legislation. I think it's time this

Legislature moves toward that and undoes the constitutionally flawed bill before the Legislature, Bill 214.

RURAL ONTARIO DAY ACT, 2005 /

LOI DE 2005

SUR LE JOUR DE L'ONTARIO RURAL

Mrs. Mitchell moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 49,

An Act to celebrate and recognize rural Ontario / Projet de loi 49, Loi visant à célébrer et à reconnaître l'Ontario

rural.

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

The member may have a brief statement.

Mrs. Carol Mitchell (Huron-Bruce): This bill, if passed, will declare the Wednesday before Thanksgiving Day each year as Rural Ontario Day.

This day will recognize those who have made a commitment to building strong rural communities and will highlight the rural way of life. It will also encompass Ontario Agriculture Week.

TRADITIONAL CHINESE

MEDICINE ACT, 2005 /

LOI DE 2005 SUR LES PRATICIENNES

ET PRATICIENS EN MÉDECINE TRADITIONNELLE CHINOISE

Mr. Smitherman moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 50,

An Act respecting the regulation of the profession of traditional Chinese medicine, and making complementary amendments to certain Acts / Projet

de loi 50, Loi concernant la réglementation de la profession de praticienne ou de praticien en médecine traditionnelle chinoise et apportant des modifications complémentaires à

certaines lois.

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

The minister may have a brief statement.

Hon. George Smitherman (Minister of Health and Long-Term Care): During ministerial statements, Mr. Speaker.

MOTIONS

COMMITTEE SITTINGS

Hon. James J. Bradley (Minister of Tourism, minister responsible for seniors, Government House Leader): I seek unanimous consent to put

forward a motion without notice regarding a change in a committee meeting date.

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): The government House leader, Mr. Bradley, has asked that unanimous consent be granted to move a motion

regarding the date for a committee. Agreed? Agreed.

Hon. Mr. Bradley: I move that in addition to its regularly scheduled meeting times, the standing committee on the Legislative Assembly be

authorized to meet on Monday, December 12, 2005, for the purpose of clause-by-clause consideration of Bill 16,

An Act respecting the Duffins Rouge Agricultural Preserve.

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

HOUSE SITTINGS

Hon. James J. Bradley (Minister of Tourism, minister responsible for seniors, Government House Leader): I move that, pursuant to standing

order 9(c)(i), the House shall meet from 6:45 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday, December 7, 2005, for the purpose of considering government business.

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): Mr. Bradley has moved government notice of motion number 49. Is it the pleasure of the House that the

motion carry?

All in favour will say "aye."

All opposed will say "nay."

In my opinion, the ayes have it.

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

The division bells rang from 1400 to 1405.

The Speaker: All those in favour will rise one at a time and be recognized by the Clerk.

Ayes

Arthurs, Wayne

Balkissoon, Bas

Barrett, Toby

Bartolucci, Rick

Berardinetti, Lorenzo

Bradley, James J.

Brownell, Jim

Bryant, Michael

Caplan, David

Chambers, Mary Anne V.

Chudleigh, Ted

Colle, Mike

Crozier, Bruce

Delaney, Bob

Dhillon, Vic

Dombrowsky, Leona

Duguid, Brad

Duncan, Dwight

Flynn, Kevin Daniel

Fonseca, Peter

Gerretsen, John

Hoy, Pat

Jeffrey, Linda

Klees, Frank

Kular, Kuldip

Kwinter, Monte

Lalonde, Jean-Marc

Leal, Jeff

Levac, Dave

Marsales, Judy

Martiniuk, Gerry

Matthews, Deborah

Mauro, Bill

McMeekin, Ted

Meilleur, Madeleine

Miller, Norm

Milloy, John

Mossop, Jennifer F.

Munro, Julia

O'Toole, John

Parsons, Ernie

Patten, Richard

Peters, Steve

Peterson, Tim

Phillips, Gerry

Pupatello, Sandra

Qaadri, Shafiq

Racco, Mario G.

Ramal, Khalil

Ramsay, David

Rinaldi, Lou

Runciman, Robert W.

Ruprecht, Tony

Scott, Laurie

Smith, Monique

Smitherman, George

Sorbara, Gregory S.

Sterling, Norman W.

Takhar, Harinder S.

Tascona, Joseph N.

Van Bommel, Maria

Watson, Jim

Wilson, Jim

Witmer, Elizabeth

Wong, Tony C.

Wynne, Kathleen O.

Yakabuski, John

Zimmer, David

The Speaker: All those opposed will rise one at a time and be recognized by the Clerk.

Nays

Bisson, Gilles

Horwath, Andrea

Kormos, Peter

Marchese, Rosario

Martel, Shelley

Prue, Michael

The Clerk of the Assembly (Mr. Claude L. DesRosiers): The ayes are 68; the nays are 6.

The Speaker: I declare the motion carried.

STATEMENTS BY THE MINISTRY AND RESPONSES

TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): Statements by the ministry? The Minister of Health and Long-Term Care.

Applause.

Hon. George Smitherman (Minister of Health and Long-Term Care): I thought Ruprecht was starting a standing ovation, so I hesitated, but

no.

I do want to welcome many of the people from the traditional Chinese medicine community who have worked hard on the piece of legislation that I had the

privilege just a moment ago of introducing. I'm pleased to have this opportunity to speak to a bill that I tabled moments ago, a significant piece of legislation,

an act to regulate acupuncture and

traditional Chinese medicine in Ontario.

It's no secret that this government is extremely supportive of complementary and alternative health care services such as traditional Chinese medicine and

acupuncture. As the Minister of Health, I can tell you that our health care system is, without question, strengthened and enhanced by these types of services. I know from first-hand observation

that countless numbers of our citizens benefit enormously from alternative treatments.

We believe that the professionals who practise in this area deserve a say in how their professions are run, over things like admission to the practice, for

example, and dealing with complaints. We also believe that all citizens deserve to know exactly what they're getting. That's a basic principle of consumer protection and it applies even more

strongly in matters of health. The legislation we're introducing today will respond to these very issues.

Traditional Chinese medicine includes treatments such as acupuncture, herbal therapies, exercise and tuina massage. Many of these are gaining in popularity.

But at this time, traditional Chinese medicine is completely unregulated. We don't believe that's fair to consumers and we don't think it's fair to the dedicated professionals who practise in this

area. This is going to change.

This bill, if passed, will result in a stronger profession, better able to serve the people who depend upon it, better able to attract new clients and better

able to manage its growth in the coming years.

With respect to TCM, it will create an autonomous, self-governing college with the authority, among other things, to set standards of practice, to establish

requirements for entry into the profession, to ensure that members are up to date on recent developments in their field and to develop a complaints and discipline process for its members.

The new college of traditional Chinese medicine will also have the authority to grant the use of the "doctor" title to certain members of the TCM college who

meet a minimum but high standard. We will ask the Health Professions Regulatory Advisory Council for advice about what those standards should be.

With respect to acupuncture, this bill proposes that it will be restricted to regulated health professionals and to persons who perform acupuncture as part of

an addiction treatment program within a health facility.

These reforms will make Ontario the second province in Canada, after British Columbia, to regulate traditional Chinese medicine, and the fourth in Canada to

regulate acupuncture.

I'm proud of this bill. I'm proud of the positive changes it will introduce, and I'm particularly proud of the work that went into it and of the efforts of the

team that prepared the report it is based upon. I'd like to take this opportunity to welcome a number of distinguished guests from the TCM and acupuncture community who were able to join us here

today: Professor Cedric Cheung, president of the Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture Association of Canada; Jane Cheung, TCM practitioner; Simon Leung, president, Chinese Medicine Institute of Canada

and China; Dr. Linda Rapson, MD, executive president of the Acupuncture Foundation of Canada Institute; Joanne Pritchard-Sobhani, director, Institute of Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese

Medicine; Raymond Yeh, president, Professional Acupuncturists Association of Ontario; Bin Jiang Wu, president, Ontario College of Traditional Chinese Medicine; Dr. Kwong Chiu, doctor of

chiropractic, president, Acupuncture Council of Ontario; as well as some of our dedicated staff from the ministry.

I also want to acknowledge the tremendous leadership of four members of the Ontario Legislature: Tony Wong, Mike Colle, Richard Patten and Peter Fonseca. They

did good work that involved very, very extensive consultation, and the legislation we have introduced has been guided by the work of these MPPs.

Our government believes in making decisions by talking with the people affected by those decisions, and we've done that. The legislation I tabled a moment ago

reflects the recommendations contained in this report, and the report reflects the views of people across Ontario who care deeply about this subject -- people with expertise and front-line

experience. This truly is an example of the right way to make important decisions. I look forward to the upcoming debate about this bill and to its passage. The benefits will be felt throughout

this province and throughout the entire health care system, and that's good news for all of us.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Hon. Sandra Pupatello (Minister of Community and Social Services, minister responsible for women's issues): As minister responsible for

women's issues, I'm very pleased to be on my feet today to inform the House about the latest step in our government's landmark domestic violence action plan. It's a step that's going to help us

deliver on a key feature of the plan, and that's a comprehensive response to the issue of domestic violence.

When the Premier stood in the House last year and launched our plan, he committed to a long-term, thoughtful and coordinated approach to addressing domestic

violence, an approach that would strengthen community supports to better protect victims; strengthen the justice system's response; put a new emphasis on public education, early intervention and

prevention strategies to help reduce domestic violence before it happens; and better provide access to French-language services for the francophone community.

To deliver such a comprehensive strategy, our government has always said that we need the right people at our table as well. That doesn't just mean having the

justice sector and the women's services agencies working together. It means having people who deal with housing, education, health care and employment working with the justice and women's services

sectors to provide a truly thorough, whole-community response to this issue.

I'm proud to announce that over the next three years, our government is going to invest $4.5 million to strengthen our response to domestic violence at both

the provincial and community levels. Our plan includes stable funding and more resources for Ontario's domestic violence community coordinating committees so that they can strengthen the local

collaboration and partnerships among community, justice, education and health services providers in dealing with domestic violence. Strong community coordination will result in a consistent,

responsive and integrated system of supports that increases safety for women and their children.

Our plan also includes a new provincial domestic violence advisory council, a group that will bring together professionals from a range of sectors to provide

strategic, practical, experience-based advice to our government in addressing this terrible issue. The council will finally give people who have front-line expertise in dealing with domestic

violence a seat at the provincial table. The council will include members nominated from the Ministries of Community and Social Services, Health and Long-Term Care and the Attorney General. The

council will have seven members.

Our domestic violence action plan was designed as a holistic approach to preventing violence and supporting women and children when violence does occur. That

means we all own this issue, not just those of us who work in social services and justice sectors; all of us have some responsibilities. The investment we are announcing today is going to help us

build on a number of new initiatives that will strengthen a whole-community approach to addressing domestic violence, including better training for educators and health care professionals in

recognizing the signs of domestic violence; more affordable housing spaces for women who are escaping violence; and better transitional and housing supports for women who need subsidized housing as

they and their children work to get back on their feet.

We all want to have strong, safe, vibrant communities. But strong, safe communities must start with strong and safe homes. That's why we all have a role to

play in confronting domestic violence in every one of Ontario's communities.

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

TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE

Mrs. Elizabeth Witmer (Kitchener-Waterloo): I'm pleased to respond to the statement regarding the introduction of the Traditional Chinese

Medicine Act, 2005. We certainly do recognize the importance of regulating this area of medical practice. I want to congratulate Professor Cedric Cheung. He and his colleagues have worked long and

hard in order to bring us to where we are today.

The movement toward regulating the practice of traditional Chinese medicine was facilitated by our government. The Health Professions Regulatory Advisory

Council did provide advice to then Minister of Health and Long-Term Care Tony Clement. I think it's important to mention that in 2001, HPRAC recommended to the minister that the profession of

traditional Chinese medicine be regulated with "a distinctive scope of practice ... and four controlled acts authorized to the profession," including communicating a TCM diagnosis; performing a

procedure on tissue below the dermis for the purposes of acupuncture; prescribing and dispensing natural health products; and prescribing, dispensing and compounding Chinese herbal remedies.

I was surprised to see today that this bill does neither of those things. It does not deal with the distinctive scope of practice or reference to any

controlled acts authorized to the profession. Indeed, the scope of practice is overly broad, and it reads: "The practice of traditional Chinese medicine is the assessment of body system disorders

through traditional Chinese medicine techniques and treatment using traditional Chinese medicine therapies to promote, maintain or restore health."

I think we need to compare this to the scope-of-practice statement used in British Columbia, where traditional Chinese medicine practitioners are also

regulated. Again, if you look at their scope of practice, it is more specific. They say:

"4(1) An acupuncturist may practise acupuncture, including

"(

a) the use of traditional Chinese medicine diagnostic techniques, and

"(

b) the recommendation of dietary guidelines or therapeutic exercise.

"

(2) A traditional Chinese medicine practitioner may practise traditional Chinese medicine."

I think you can see that the BC regulations go further and define specifically what qualifies as "traditional Chinese medicine." We don't see that in the bill

today.

We've also heard from the naturopathic coalition. As you know, they came together in August 2005, and they have been asking that they be brought under the

scope of the RHPA. They state:

"Naturopathic doctors use traditional Chinese medicines. The minister may also know that on two occasions the Health Professions Regulatory Advisory Council

has recommended to government that naturopathic doctors be regulated under the RHPA. We call upon the government to move forward on those recommendations now."

I would encourage the ministry to respond to the naturopathic coalition, as well as giving people in this province the opportunity to take a look at the overly

broad scope of practice and also identify any other issues which may be of concern.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Mrs. Elizabeth Witmer (Kitchener-Waterloo): Responding to the domestic violence statement, I would simply say that I want to remind the

McGuinty government of the commitments it made to have the Criminal Code of Canada amended to make it more difficult for those arrested for domestic violence to make bail, and that police conduct

risk assessments of accused abusers on their first charge. These commitments have not been made.

Peggy Nash and Pam Cross did speak to that in a Toronto Star article. They said that since December 2004, when the action plan was announced, 22 women in

Ontario have been murdered by men with whom they have been intimately involved.

The Ontario Women's Justice Network has also pointed out that some of the commitments being announced today by the McGuinty government include dollars

announced by our party when we were in government, and some are reannouncements. It also seems that the money being provided in the area of helping children who have witnessed domestic violence is

simply money that has been rerouted from another ministry. So these are not new investments.

I would also just hasten to add that we need to do more. We need to ensure that women are educated and empowered, and tomorrow the Miss G project will be

here.

TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE

Ms. Shelley Martel (Nickel Belt): As a member of a government which regulated a substantial number of health care professionals, New Democrats

recognize the importance of regulating traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture, both to protect the public and to recognize the value of implementing alternative and complementary medicine in

Ontario.

Our NDP government regulated a record 23 health professions under the Regulated Health Professions Act, including midwifery, optometry, nursing, chiropractic

and physiotherapy, and I would like at this time to acknowledge two former health ministers, Evelyn Gigantes and Ruth Grier, for all of their work in this regard.

The reason for moving forward to regulate health care professions, like the one we're going to regulate through this bill, is in part measure to protect the

public. We need to assure the public that the health care services they receive are being provided by qualified health care professionals who are duly trained in their profession; licensed to

practise by a regulatory college; subject to standards establishing the scope of their practice; can be subject to disciplinary measures by their college, if warranted; and can also lose their

licence to practise altogether if their college determines this should be so. The regulation of health care professionals is intended to undercut those individuals who are not qualified but who

would hang out their shingle to practise and offer that service to the public in Ontario.

Regulation also serves, though, to elevate the profession in question, and we're going to do that with traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture by ensuring

that those members are recognized in law, that their scope of practice in the health care system is clearly defined and that their licence to practise guarantees to the public that they are

qualified to do that. We look forward to that with respect to this particular bill.

Now, it appears that the framework that the government is going to use to regulate traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture is the very framework that we

used to regulate other health care professionals, so I do believe that the protection of the public and the importance of traditional Chinese medicine in the health care system will be

appropriately recognized.

The final point that I'd like to make is that it appears that the bill is going to ensure ongoing patient access to acupuncture services if these services are

delivered by chiropractors and physiotherapists, for example, and that is critical to many people who require acupuncture in many parts of the province who do not have access to traditional Chinese

medicine or traditional Chinese medicine practitioners. So ensuring that those who practise are regulated health professionals and have, within their scope of practice, the ability to carry out

acupuncture is critical to ensuring that patients across the province who can't access traditional Chinese medicine can still access acupuncture services. I hope that provision will remain in this

bill, because it's very important for people from my part of the world.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Ms. Andrea Horwath (Hamilton East): The domestic violence action plan is one small step for womankind, a baby step on the road to eradicating

violence against women. The problem of violence against women deserves full attention, not half measures. Since the McGuinty government introduced its so-called plan one year ago, 23 women in

Ontario have been murdered by their male partners, the latest such murder reported within the last 48 hours.

The current strategy in Ontario does little to stop the cycle of violence for women and children already experiencing abuse. Education, prevention, advisory

committees, coordinating committees are all important issues, but unless the government takes real action on the core issues, the bread-and-butter, bricks-and-mortar issues, everything else is just

tinkering.

Many crucial recommendations from stakeholders, experts and coroner's juries are missing in the Liberal strategy. Housing and income supports must exist for

women and their children to escape violence safely. The current plan does not address Ontario's acute shortage of safe places for women and children to go to rebuild their lives.

Lack of housing and money is the prime factor that drives women and children back to their abuser. That means we desperately need to get serious about

directing funds back into creating second-stage housing and affordable housing. Without money and a place to live, many women will remain in violent relationships so their children will be housed

and fed.

McGuinty Liberals promised 20,000 affordable housing units and funding for second-stage housing. Where is that? If the Liberals across the way are truly

serious about protecting women's lives, then let's see them get serious about implementing a package of emergency measures recommended by the experts already that we know, without a doubt, will

save women's lives. These measures include sustainable and adequate funding for emergency shelters whose funding has been flatlined since 1994; an ambitious program of second-stage and affordable

housing; stronger laws around bail, restraining orders, no-contact orders and peace bonds; risk assessment tools implemented in every court before every bail hearing etc. The list goes on and

on.

You have the recommendations. You know what needs to be done. Just do it.

VISITORS

Mr. Kuldip Kular (Bramalea-Gore-Malton-Springdale): On a point of order, Mr. Speaker: With your kind permission, I want to welcome students of

grade 10 from St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary School in my riding of Bramalea-Gore-Malton-Springdale.

Ms. Judy Marsales (Hamilton West): On a point of order, Mr. Speaker: I beg your indulgence to introduce guests from Hamilton: Jim Commerford,

president and CEO of the YMCA; Bryan Webber, vice-president of financial development of the YMCA; and Neil Smith, a board member from the YMCA. We welcome them.

OFFICE OF THE AUDITOR GENERAL

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): I beg to inform the House that, pursuant to

section 28 of the Auditor General Act, I have laid upon the

table the audited financial statements of the Office of the Auditor General for the year ended March 31, 2005.

DEFERRED VOTES

LOCAL HEALTH SYSTEM

INTEGRATION ACT, 2005 /

LOI DE 2005 SUR L'INTÉGRATION

DU SYSTÈME DE SANTÉ LOCAL

Deferred vote on the motion for second reading of Bill 36,

An Act to provide for the integration of the local system for the delivery of health services /

Projet de loi 36, Loi prévoyant l'intégration du système local de prestation des services de santé.

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): Call in the members. This will be a five-minute bell.

The division bells rang from 1430 to 1435.

The Speaker: All those in favour will rise one at a time and be recognized by the Clerk.

Ayes

Arthurs, Wayne

Balkissoon, Bas

Bartolucci, Rick

Bentley, Christopher

Berardinetti, Lorenzo

Bountrogianni, Marie

Bradley, James J.

Brownell, Jim

Bryant, Michael

Caplan, David

Chambers, Mary Anne V.

Colle, Mike

Cordiano, Joseph

Crozier, Bruce

Delaney, Bob

Dhillon, Vic

Dombrowsky, Leona

Duguid, Brad

Duncan, Dwight

Flynn, Kevin Daniel

Fonseca, Peter

Gerretsen, John

Hoy, Pat

Jeffrey, Linda

Kular, Kuldip

Kwinter, Monte

Lalonde, Jean-Marc

Leal, Jeff

Levac, Dave

Marsales, Judy

Matthews, Deborah

Mauro, Bill

McGuinty, Dalton

McMeekin, Ted

Meilleur, Madeleine

Milloy, John

Mitchell, Carol

Mossop, Jennifer F.

Parsons, Ernie

Patten, Richard

Peters, Steve

Peterson, Tim

Phillips, Gerry

Pupatello, Sandra

Qaadri, Shafiq

Racco, Mario G.

Ramal, Khalil

Ramsay, David

Rinaldi, Lou

Ruprecht, Tony

Smith, Monique

Smitherman, George

Sorbara, Gregory S.

Takhar, Harinder S.

Van Bommel, Maria

Watson, Jim

Wong, Tony C.

Wynne, Kathleen O.

Zimmer, David

The Speaker: All those opposed will please rise one at a time and be recognized by the Clerk.

Nays

Barrett, Toby

Chudleigh, Ted

Hudak, Tim

Klees, Frank

Kormos, Peter

Marchese, Rosario

Martel, Shelley

Miller, Norm

Munro, Julia

O'Toole, John

Prue, Michael

Runciman, Robert W.

Scott, Laurie

Tascona, Joseph N.

Wilson, Jim

Witmer, Elizabeth

Yakabuski, John

The Clerk of the Assembly (Mr. Claude L. DesRosiers): The ayes are 59; the nays are 17.

The Speaker: I declare the motion carried.

Shall the bill be ordered for third reading?

Hon. George Smitherman (Minister of Health and Long-Term Care): I request that the bill be referred to the standing committee on social

policy.

The Speaker: So ordered.

ORAL QUESTIONS

DRIVER LICENCES

Mr. Robert W. Runciman (Leeds-Grenville): A question for the Premier: Next week you're set to meet the border state governors to discuss

border protection. You've apparently been quoted in the media as saying you've spoken with New York Governor Pataki and he shares the concern that requiring a passport to cross the border will hurt

the economy and slow cross-border business and tourism. Also in the articles, you apparently suggested that secured documents like drivers' licences "should be used instead," to use your own words.

Given the damning revelations about the lack of integrity of the Ontario driver's licence raised by the Auditor General yesterday, how can you possibly expect Governor Pataki and others to have any

faith in your proposal?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty (Premier, Minister of Research and Innovation): Since I was not able to be here yesterday, let me begin by thanking the

Auditor General for his excellent work -- and through him, his entire staff. They perform extremely valuable work on behalf of the Ontario public, and we receive that criticism and advice in the

best possible way.

I want the member opposite to know that we take this issue very seriously. We've been actively fixing a system that for too many years lacked essential

oversight. We are the very first government to bring a zero-tolerance approach to the offices that are issuing licences, vehicle permits, validation stickers and the like. In fact, in the last

years in which the Conservatives served as government, they conducted one audit, and this year alone, we are conducting 51 audits: one audit for the Conservative government; 51 audits on our side.

I would ask the member opposite to come to a conclusion as to who is most committed to ensuring that we're bringing essential oversight to a very important undertaking in the province.

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

Mr. John O'Toole (Durham): Premier, I know you weren't here yesterday and I understand that -- you have other business. But this is what was

reported: "Blaming government sloppiness for the problems, McCarter emphasized the offences were grave this year, the first full year of the Liberals' mandate" and his investigation. Clearly what

he has found here is a breach of security at the very highest level. He says there are 56,000 records -- licence plates, stickers, vehicle permits, drivers' licences -- that have been lost or

stolen. This is troubling in itself, but it goes on: 25% of licence-issuing employees sampled by the auditor had not been checked for criminal records, and in fact they found four who had been

checked who were simply hired.

Premier, what are you doing to protect this very vulnerable area of security in the driver permit offices?

Hon. Mr. McGuinty: Information can be very helpful, and I want to supply some more here today. Of the documents that were reported stolen or

missing, 89% were vehicle permits and validation stickers. Not to minimize that particular example, people are especially concerned, I would argue, about what is happening to our drivers' licences.

Two per cent of all the documents were drivers' licences, and all of those were in fact temporary drivers' licences. Furthermore, of the 7,000 documents reported stolen, 10 were stolen in our

first full year in government. In the Tories' last year in government, 2,400 were stolen, just so we have an understanding of who is most committed to bringing the necessary oversight to a very

important enterprise.

Mr. O'Toole: It's important to bring some factual content to the discussion we're having here. It's clear that you've made admissions. You are

the government now. Things have changed.

Premier, in March 2004, the Ministry of Transportation --

Interjections.

The Speaker: Stop the clock. I'm having a great deal of difficulty hearing the member for Durham. I need to be able to hear the

questioner.

The member for Durham may start over.

Mr. O'Toole: Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for recognizing that rude interruption.

Back in March 2004, the Ministry of Transportation completed an internal audit and found the following: "The ministry is unable to reliably account for stock"

drivers' licences, vehicle permits etc. This is in 2004 -- your government. On page 118 of the auditor's report, it says, "At the time of our audit, the ministry had neither investigated these ...

discrepancies nor made attempts to recover" lost or stolen items, and could not account for whether there was criminal activity or other illegal purposes.

Premier, where has your Ministry of Transportation been since March 2004? Perhaps it was too preoccupied with other pressing business, shall we say. This is a

serious breach. What are you going to be telling the Governor of New York and others about the dependability of our licensing system in the province of Ontario?

Hon. Mr. McGuinty: I would like the Ontario public to understand that we are doing everything humanly possible to clean up the mess that was

left to us by the previous government. I want Ontarians to know that we've increased the number of audits that we are doing. Again, in the last year the Conservatives formed the government, they

conducted one audit. This year alone we have conducted 51; more than that, we are increasing the number of staff doing audits. In fact, we are doubling the number of staff to 24.

More than that, we are changing the way these contracts are awarded. We've gone from a lifetime contract, which was awarded by the Conservatives, to a contract

that is limited to five years maximum. Beyond that, we are increasing security features of our drivers' licences, and in the new year we will be issuing an RFP for a new driver's licence with even

more enhanced security features, including micro-printing and holographic symbolism. Those are the kinds of commitments we are making to ensure that our drivers' licences are as secure as they can

possibly be.

EDUCATION FUNDING

Mr. Frank Klees (Oak Ridges): My question is to the Premier: During estimates committee, your Minister of Education was repeatedly questioned

about the lack of accountability of millions of dollars transferred by your government to school boards. These were millions of dollars designated for special education, ESL and other specialized

programs.

Now the auditor states the following: "The ministry provides school boards with specific funding for ESL/ELD services but does not require them to actually

spend the" funds on those programs. "Boards have the right to reallocate those funds...." Your minister, during committee, denied all of that and assured us that there in fact was

accountability.

In light of the Auditor General's findings, will you direct your Minister of Education to ensure that, first, he takes responsibility for this diversion of

funds and, second, puts in place the appropriate mechanisms for accountability?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty (Premier, Minister of Research and Innovation): I'm delighted to receive the question, although I thought that the former

Minister of Transportation wanted to make some inquiries about drivers' licences. I can understand his reluctance. Nonetheless, the member does raise an important issue.

Let me say that we agree with the recommendations of the Auditor General to set up a tracking system. The fact of the matter is that we've invested an

additional $60 million in new funding for ESL training in Ontario schools, and it is incumbent upon us to ensure that funding benefits those whom it is intended to benefit. That is not the case in

every instance now. We agree with the Auditor General's recommendations and we welcome, in fact, the report that was just released by the Ontario school boards' association.

Mr. Klees: The issue is not how much money you're transferring. I refer to the Auditor General's report. It states very clearly on page 151:

"The ministry had no information on how much school boards were actually spending on ESL/ELD programs. Information we received from one board indicated that more than half of its ESL/ELD funding

was spent on other areas."

I'd like to know very specifically from the Premier, does he believe it is appropriate that funds that have been earmarked for very specialized programs are

diverted to other areas of spending within the school boards? Will you answer that question?

Hon. Mr. McGuinty: I want to be very direct with the member, and, no, I don't believe it's appropriate. I think we have to do a better job of

ensuring that the money gets to the children who are supposed to benefit from this.

I can say with some degree of pride that we are investing $1.9 billion in special-ed funding this year; that's up $365 million. Beyond that I can say, and I

know the member will be interested in hearing this, that the Minister of Education did meet with the Auditor General and asked if he might receive specific advice on how we can better track those

dollars. We have, moving forward, sweatered all new ESL funding so that it must be spent on ESL. But we want to make sure now that we are in fact doing the kind of independent tracking that

absolutely assures all of us, but especially the parents of children affected, that this money is going to benefit them.

Mr. Klees: I thank the Premier for that response. I'd like to move on, then, on that same principle about an $80-million transfer the Ministry

of Education made to school boards across the province. Again in committee, the Minister of Education said without question that there were no specific guidelines tied to that. That was the $80

million that was transferred as a signing bonus to sign collective agreements. I asked the Minister of Education whether he would be prepared to have an audit completed on those funds to determine

exactly where those funds were spent. Will the Premier today, in the same spirit, stand in his place and say, "Yes, an audit will be done on that $80 million to determine precisely where those

monies went"?

Hon. Mr. McGuinty: I'm not as familiar with the issue the member is raising now, but I'm glad to provide an undertaking to look further into

that.

But I can say that we consider it an absolute essential that, in order to build a foundation for progress in public education in Ontario, we have real peace

and stability there. For the first time ever in the province of Ontario, all 120,000-plus public schoolteachers have entered into four-year collective agreements with their local school boards, and

that is serving as the basis for progress that we're making in our public schools. When you have peace and stability, more teachers, better training, more textbooks, more resources and a government

that is prepared to champion public education, not surprisingly student achievement and test scores are going up. That's the foundation on which we're continuing to build in Ontario.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

Mr. Howard Hampton (Kenora-Rainy River): My question is for the Premier. On Monday we learned that David MacNaughton, the Premier's former

principal secretary, is lining up for a big nuclear power payoff, but he's not the only Dalton McGuinty crony who's at the trough. In December, the director of issues management and legislative

affairs for Dalton McGuinty left the Premier's office for Hill and Knowlton lobbyists. In March, he became a paid lobbyist for Bruce Power, a private nuclear company. In October, the McGuinty

government signed a $6.5-billion deal with Bruce Power for a fixer-upper nuclear plant. Premier, is it just a coincidence that on the eve of the McGuinty government making a major electricity

supply policy decision, virtually all of your former right-hand political advisers are now acting as lobbyists for nuclear power companies?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty (Premier, Minister of Research and Innovation): The member opposite, the leader of the NDP, knows full well that we have

a very important issue before us, and he somehow thinks that people who used to work on my staff are going to have some kind of influence in how we deal with a very important matter of public

policy. There are very specific rules in place that govern the activities of people who used to work in my office. Those rules are being adhered to in the very strictest sense. I have every

confidence in that. I say to the member opposite that no matter how many times he likes to raise these kinds of issues here, what I'm saying to the people of Ontario is that we will consider

nothing more and nothing less than what serves the greater public interest.

Mr. Hampton: According to these really tough rules, the people who used to work in your office are not precluded from lobbying all of the

other arms of the government. The very people cabinet ministers used to report to are now out there lobbying cabinet ministers saying, "This is what you ought to do."

Now, you should know that Mr. Lopinski's CV says, "He oversaw all aspects of the government of Ontario's contentious issues process [and] coordinated the

creation and implementation of the legislative agenda." This is the guy all your cabinet ministers reported to. New Democrats believe that people like Mr. Lopinski should be banned from lobbying

all government agencies and departments for one full year after they leave your office. In fact, you used to believe that a couple of years ago, before the election. Can you tell us, Premier, the

reason for your change of views? Why is it now OK for your former right-hand people to be lobbying on behalf of nuclear companies that stand to make a lot of money?

Hon. Mr. McGuinty: Shortly the Ontario Power Authority will be coming forward with some dispassionate, and in contrast to the speculation

offered by my friend, non-partisan advice with respect to what we need to do in this province to ensure that we have an adequate, reliable supply of clean, responsibly priced electricity. We very

much look forward to receiving that advice. We will consider it very carefully. We will consider the advice of the public in Ontario, and undoubtedly we will pay some attention to the musings of my

friend opposite. But let me reassure him once again, and more importantly all the people of Ontario, that when it comes to ensuring that we have in our province a reliable supply of clean, safe,

responsibly priced electricity, we will keep only one thing first and foremost in our minds, and that is what serves the public interest.

Mr. Hampton: This is what Dalton McGuinty used to say. Here's the question you asked: "These are some of the people who have left your office

... your senior media adviser, has left ... your senior justice policy adviser, has left ... your director of communications, has left ... your deputy principal secretary, has left. All have left

to act as lobbyists and consultants for those doing business with your government."

Then you say: "In my opinion, the situation that exists is completely unacceptable. I want you to commit today, Premier, that you're going to take action as

soon as possible to restrict your government's senior staffers to ensure they can't pass off and profit from secret insider information."

The same thing is happening here, Premier. Your former right-hand advisers are all paid lobbyists for the nuclear industry as you're about to make a very

important decision. Don't you think they should be prohibited from lobbying your government as you make this decision, so that it's made in the public interest, not --

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): The question has been asked. Premier.

Hon. Mr. McGuinty: The member does understand, although he pretends not to, that we have in Ontario a conflict of interest commissioner. That

commissioner's job is to oversee and advise those who leave government on what they can and cannot do. Anybody who has worked on my staff has the responsibility to abide by those rules. I have no

reason to believe that anyone who has formerly worked on my staff has in any way breached any of those rules, just to be perfectly clear.

Again, we have a very important issue before us, which is, what is the best way for us to ensure that Ontarians have a reliable supply of clean, safe,

responsibly priced electricity. We're going to get all kinds of advice in that regard, but the advice to which I look forward most is to be tendered shortly by the Ontario Power Authority, and we

will listen to that advice. We --

The Speaker: Thank you. New question, the leader of the third party.

Mr. Hampton: To the Premier: You know, I never thought I would hear Dalton McGuinty defending Mike Harris's ethical standards for political

staffers.

Premier, as you say, on Friday the Ontario Power Authority will deliver its report on the future supply of electricity. You want people to believe that the

Ontario Power Authority is independent of the Liberal Party, but evidence suggests otherwise. For example, who do we find in the Ontario Power Authority but Lyn McLeod, former leader of the Liberal

Party of Ontario. I guess she's independent of the Liberal Party. Then there is Jan Carr, chief executive officer of the Ontario Power Authority, former fundraiser for Dalton McGuinty.

Premier, will you admit that neither Lyn McLeod --

The Speaker: There must have been a question. Premier?

Hon. Mr. McGuinty: Now, in an effort to advance his particular agenda -- and the member opposite makes it perfectly clear he believes that we

should have no nuclear generation of any kind, anywhere on the face of the earth. I wish that I could live in that world, but I have to live in this one. The fact is that a significant proportion

of our energy is, in fact, supplied through nuclear generation at this point in time.

Now he's trying to undermine the credibility of the Ontario Power Authority. I have confidence in the Ontario Power Authority, and I very much look forward to

receiving their advice.

Mr. Hampton: Premier, it's you who insists that Lyn McLeod, former leader of the Liberal Party, and Jan Carr, a former McGuinty fundraiser,

are independent. I don't think so.

Then there's John Beck, Ontario Power Authority member and chair and chief executive officer of Aecon, the construction giant that coincidently just recently

got its nuclear certification. In fact, Aecon recently scored a $17-million contract at Bruce Power and is actively lobbying all levels of your government, including the offices of the cabinet and

the Premier, for energy business.

Premier, can you explain how the chief executive officer of a company with such an obvious vested interest in the expansion of nuclear power qualifies as an

independent, impartial member of an organization charting Ontario's future electricity course?

Hon. Mr. McGuinty: First of all, let me say that I'm very pleased that Lyn McLeod has agreed to serve at the Ontario Power Authority. Not only

was she formerly a leader of my party and through that experience had a good understanding of the development of public policy, but she also served formally as Minister of Energy in the Peterson

government. So I think that more than qualifies her to provide good advice.

But to pursue the leader of the NDP's line of thinking, he's suggesting that Bob Rae should not be serving on the board of Hydro One. I think he brings much by

way of experience, competency and qualifications in that capacity. I see no reason why he should be removed from the board of Hydro One, just as I see no reason why Lyn McLeod should be removed

from the Ontario Power Authority.

Mr. Hampton: Premier, you could appoint Bob Rae to whatever you wish. The issue here is the independence --

Interjections.

The Speaker: Stop the clock. Order. Order. The Minister of Natural Resources. The Minister of Community and Social Services. The member for

Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke.

Final supplementary.

Mr. Hampton: Premier, it's interesting you bring up Lyn McLeod, because when she was Minister of Energy in the Peterson government, she

brought forward a plan calling for construction of up to 15 reactors at four nuclear stations, and you say she's independent and open-minded.

The reason this is important is because Ontario families and the Ontario economy depend on a safe, reliable supply of electricity at an affordable price. But

nuclear power in Ontario has a history of being expensive, unreliable and with a long list of health and safety security --

Interjections.

Mr. Hampton: Premier, the question is, how can ordinary Ontarians expect an independent and impartial report from the Ontario Power Authority,

when you've loaded the OPA with Liberal cronies and nuclear power advocates, and all of your right-hand advisers, politically --

The Speaker: Order. The question's been asked. Premier?

Hon. Mr. McGuinty: First of all, let me say that I am quite prepared to act as an intermediary between Mr. Hampton and Mr. Rae. And should he

so choose, I'm also prepared to speak to Mr. Hargrove on his behalf. We will have peace in our time.

Let me say that the leader of the NDP failed to reference some of the many people who are on the Ontario Power Authority board of directors, and I'll just

mention a few of them. Peter Jones is the chair. He's the president and CEO of Diligent Capital Inc. Charles Bayless is president of the West Virginia University Institute of Technology. Louise

Comeau is project director of the Sage Climate Project at the Sage Centre. Michael Costello is CEO of British Columbia Transmission Corp. Richard Fitzgerald is president and CEO of Diageo Canada,

and the list goes on.

JUSTICE SYSTEM

Mr. Robert W. Runciman (Leeds-Grenville): I have a question for the Attorney General. As you know, in early November, Jodie Wheatle, a man now

charged with murder, was granted bail after being charged, among other things, with possessing a loaded 45-calibre handgun and assaulting a police officer: very serious charges. The murder victim's

family and many other Ontarians are outraged that Mr. Wheatle was out on the streets as a result of what appears to be yet another inexplicable decision by the courts. Minister, do you believe the

conduct of this bail hearing should be public knowledge, and if yes, will you immediately make the transcript public?

Hon. Michael Bryant (Attorney General): The issue as to whether or not matters before the courts are made public is up to the court itself. I

think I've said before, and I'll say again, that the crown prosecutor opposed bail. That is our practice and that is the policy, and that is an independent decision made by crown attorneys pursuant

to that practice and policy. I would say to the member opposite that our government is very committed to getting changes made, via the federal Parliament, to ensure that we have new bail laws that

apply to gun crimes that will give people more confidence in the safety of our streets.

Mr. Runciman: The minister appears to be more interested in protecting his legal fraternity friends than getting to the truth and stopping

this kind of bail release decision in the future. Minister, if you're serious about stopping bail decisions like Mr. Wheatle's, you can help by amending Bill 14, the Courts of Justice Act, now

before the Legislature. Will you amend the bill to mandate an inquest where an individual released on bail by a justice of the peace or a provincial judge is found to be responsible for an unlawful

death while on release, and stipulate that the judge or JP is a compellable witness at the inquest? Will you do that?

Hon. Mr. Bryant: The member knows very well that that particular approach is not a Canadian approach. Our approach in Canada is to make

submissions: Crown counsel makes submissions on bail; the independent judiciary make independent decisions. If changes need to be made, they need to be made, in this case, at the federal level.

We had a bill before Parliament. There was a government bill before Parliament which would have made a host of changes and improved our criminal justice

system. But as a result of Mr. Harper's decision to abandon that approach and not do that good business, that has been delayed. I would encourage the member opposite to talk to the leader of his

federal party and tell him that we need these changes, we need them done as expeditiously as possible and we've got to stop the obstruction from the Conservative Party in Parliament when it comes

to making these important changes in the public interest.

DRIVER LICENCES

Mr. Howard Hampton (Kenora-Rainy River): My question is for the Premier. This morning, you said you want Ontario driver licences accepted as

identity documents at the US border. This is what the Provincial Auditor said: Thousands of Ontario licence plates and permits have gone missing or were stolen over the past year while a legal

driver's licence can be obtained with a mere Costco membership card. Premier, how do you intend to convince US governors that Ontario drivers' licences should be used for identity purposes, when

you can get an Ontario driver's licence with a Costco membership card?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty (Premier, Minister of Research and Innovation): To the Minister of Transportation.

Hon. Harinder S. Takhar (Minister of Transportation): Let me first say that most of the items that were stolen were not driver licences, they

were temporary licences -- only 3% of them. The rest were mostly to do with vehicle permits and stickers.

Let me tell you what we have done in order to strengthen our driver licensing system. As soon as we came into power, the first thing we did was add new

features to the driver licences, so that the driver licences became more secure and more reliable than ever before. We added the holographic image to the photo. What we're doing right now is an RFP

process, which we have been working on for the last year, and we will completely change the driver licence system in this province.

So we are absolutely determined to make sure that driver licences are reliable, secure and they can be used --

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): Thank you. Supplementary?

Mr. Hampton: That is the Minister of Transportation's version of events. I think I put more trust, and I think the people of Ontario put more

trust, in the Auditor General's version of the events. I think it's atrocious that somebody can get a photo ID driver's licence in Ontario with a Costco membership card.

Here's how serious this problem is: We know that we do billions of dollars of economic trade and activity with bordering American states, and now they have

good reason to say to us, "We don't trust a driver's licence as a piece of photo ID." They have good reason to say that you have to have a passport. That creates all kinds of complications. Can I

ask, what's the McGuinty government's strategy to get Ontario out of the mess that the McGuinty government has allowed to happen with drivers' licences?

Hon. Mr. Takhar: Let me thank the Auditor General again for his recommendations. I think they are great recommendations, and we are absolutely

determined to implement all of them. But I want to say clearly to the people in Ontario that Costco cards were never used as a primary identification document in this province; it was always a

supplementary.

Having said that, effective at the end of this month, we will be moving ahead with 13 items that will be used as identification items for getting licences in

this province. These are the same 13 items that are being used in North America as standard items. So we are moving ahead with those.

There were problems with the driver licence system left by the previous government, and they did nothing for eight years. We are actually cleaning up their

mess, and we will continue to do that.

FAMILY RESPONSIBILTY OFFICE

Mrs. Maria Van Bommel (Lambton-Kent-Middlesex): My question is for the Minister of Community and Social Services. I know that in my riding of

Lambton−Kent−Middlesex, many of my constituents depend on the Family Responsibility Office to ensure that they receive their monthly support payments to help their families maintain a

sustainable income. The Auditor General's report came out yesterday, and I noticed there's a follow-up report on FRO. In 2003, the Auditor General reviewed FRO and found there were serious concerns

with respect to customer service and collections arrears, something that was neglected by the previous government. Minister, can you tell this House what the Auditor General said in his follow-up

report yesterday and how far FRO has come since 2003?

Hon. Sandra Pupatello (Minister of Community and Social Services, minister responsible for women's issues): I too join my colleague ministers

in thanking the Provincial Auditor for his report because all of us, I think, wait anxiously to see the report. But specifically, I actually do appreciate the items the Provincial Auditor noted

within the Ministry of Community and Social Services. What he did was to recognize that we must move, and are moving, to a case management model. He has acknowledged the development within the

office for the preparation of a proper system that will support case management, and for that I thank and appreciate the auditor's questions.

Since about 1994, going back two previous governments, the governments had cut up to 20% of the staff affiliated with this office. The former government closed

the regional offices and left absolutely no systems in place to help these families who desperately needed it. We have done a tremendous amount of work in the FRO, to the extent that we, frankly,

don't hear many questions --

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): Thank you. Supplementary.

Mrs. Van Bommel: Minister, seeing the McGuinty government's commitment to ensuring that FRO becomes more efficient tells me that we have our

priorities where they should be. The follow-up report is exactly the kind of news we like to hear. When there are recommendations, it is so important to address them, and I know you've stated that

you appreciate the Auditor General's report for bringing this to your attention. Minister, a few weeks ago, we heard you deliver a statement in the Legislature about the great things that are

happening at the Family Responsibility Office. Can you share with us some of the improvements in customer service and arrears collection, and where you see FRO moving in the future?

Hon. Ms. Pupatello: I had an opportunity, on behalf of the Premier, to go down to the Family Responsibility Office and speak directly with the

staff to share with them the kind of changes in terms of our statistics that we're prepared to share, not just with the Auditor General but with members of this House; for example, $157 million

more in arrears that we're collecting today thanks to the good work of the staff at FRO. The people who are calling the FRO office are literally getting their calls answered in half the time over

the course of last year alone. We have several initiatives: the credit bureau initiative; the trace and locate unit where we're finding people; and thanks to the members of this House, we were able

to pass more enforcement measures, which means we're going to find people, and those people need to pay and we have more tools to help us do that. I thank the Premier and the members of this House

for the support we've been able to give to the great staff at FRO. Once again, on behalf of all members, way to go, FRO.

SECURITIES INDUSTRY

Mr. Tim Hudak (Erie-Lincoln): A question for the minister responsible for the Ontario Securities Act: CTV's whistle-blower Kathy Tomlinson has

discovered evidence in writing that seems to suggests some people had advance knowledge of exactly what Finance Minister Goodale was going to say with respect to income trusts. In fact, there was

written evidence on StockHouse, a popular Internet site, some seven hours in advance. Minister, seven hours gave insiders plenty of time to get rich at the expense of retail investors like seniors

and working families. Is the minister aware of this distressing development, and what is he going to do about it?

Hon. Gerry Phillips (Minister of Government Services): I repeat the basic answer I gave last week. We have the Ontario Securities Commission.

It is an arm's-length organization, it has very good credibility and its credibility would be significantly undermined if it were to be taking direction from politicians on when and when not to

prosecute. They monitor the market. That is their job: to constantly be looking at the market. I think it's wise for all of us to leave this matter with the Ontario Securities Commission. They have

the authority to look at insider trading, and as I say, it would be a major mistake for the Legislature, for politicians to be directing the Ontario Securities Commission when and when not to

investigate.

Mr. Hudak: The problem is that the McGuinty government appears to be wilfully blind about the goings-on in Minister Goodale's office. I think

the minister knows that in the United States, the Securities and Exchange Commission has the ability to prosecute members of government offices or politicians who engage in insider tipping and

trading. It appears that the Ontario Securities Commission does not have that same ability. I've brought forward a private member's bill today to correct that loophole. Does the minister agree that

the OSC should have the authority to prosecute members of ministers' offices who engage in insider tipping or trading?

Hon. Mr. Phillips: I'm sorry for the tone of the member's comments. You should be aware that we had a review of the Ontario Securities Act. An

all-party legislative committee looked at it and made 14 recommendations. We've acted on 11 of them. The member over there often reminds me of the adjudicator function. We were looking at that as

recently as this morning. We have listened to the Legislature. We have implemented all of its recommendations on how we can improve Ontario securities law, with the exception of three, which we're

working on.

I would say to the member, you are advising interference in the Ontario Securities Commission -- a mistake. The Ontario Securities Commission has the authority

to look at insider trading with crown employees, crown civil servants and crown agents. It has the authority to look at insider trading there.

Finally, I would say to the public that we care very deeply about investor confidence --

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): Thank you.

AMBULANCE SERVICES

Ms. Shelley Martel (Nickel Belt): I have a question to the Premier. When there's an emergency, patients expect their ambulances to arrive on

time to help, but the Auditor General said that two thirds of Ontario communities don't dispatch ambulances within the time that's required by the Ministry of Health. Yesterday, Auditor General Jim

McCarter said, "The longer it takes, the greater the health risk is to the patient." He said that under your government the situation has become "worse than it was four years ago." Premier, when

will you ensure that patients in Ontario will get the ambulances they need on time?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty (Premier, Minister of Research and Innovation): To the Minister of Health.

Hon. George Smitherman (Minister of Health and Long-Term Care): I appreciate the opportunity to repeat the same answer that I offered in the

House yesterday. First and foremost is to acknowledge the excellent work of the Auditor General. Of course, we recognize there are many opportunities for improvement, and this is one that does

obviously warrant some additional work.

I'm delighted to say that tomorrow, through the leadership of my colleague the Minister of Municipal Affairs, some of that work will transpire, indeed in this

very building, where we work with municipalities, which are the primary delivery agent for land ambulance services. This is work that will result in a comprehensive move forward that recognizes the

necessity of acting in a variety of areas at the same time. I believe that will provide us with the opportunity to improve these response times for Ontarians.

Ms. Martel: I'm glad the minister mentioned municipalities, because the Auditor General also said that downloading is a major reason for

unequal ambulance service across Ontario. In 2003, when the McGuinty Liberals took office, the province was paying 47% of land ambulance costs; now, in many municipalities, your government is only

covering 28% of those costs. The facts are, as a result, ambulance response times are worse now in 44% of municipalities than they were in 2000, two thirds of municipalities did not meet

legislative response times in 2004, and 40% of patients are waiting 40 minutes or more outside emergency to get the care they need. Premier, when will patients get the ambulance service they need

on time, regardless of where they live in Ontario?

Hon. Mr. Smitherman: I believe I expressed, in the earlier answer, the necessity of working with our municipal partners. They are, of course,

the primary service provider. Accordingly, we'll continue to look for opportunities, as we have in public health, to upload the costs that our municipalities have been asked to carry. We recognize

that this is one of those areas where wage increases, as an example, have driven costs. But we want to make sure that where we make investments of people's money, we're able to produce a result

that is obviously necessary. Accordingly, we'll do this hard bit of work with our municipal partners and we will continue to work to enhance the quality of service for the people and patients of

Ontario.

TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE

Mr. Tony C. Wong (Markham): My question is for the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care. I'm very proud of the announcement we made together

today on behalf of the traditional Chinese medicine community of practitioners and patients. Last week, I asked you to reconfirm that our government would move forward on our commitment to regulate

TCM. I was very pleased to hear your response and was proud to take that message back to my community.

With the introduction of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Act today, Ontario moved toward becoming the second province, after British Columbia, to regulate the

profession of TCM, and the fourth in Canada to regulate acupuncture. I can't tell you how much this means to me and I know that the practitioners welcome these reforms.

Minister, can you tell me more about how this bill, if passed, will be good for practitioners?

Hon. George Smitherman (Minister of Health and Long-Term Care): I appreciate the opportunity, one more time, to acknowledge the tremendous

leadership of the member for Markham on the issue of traditional Chinese medicine.

We feel very much that today we've been able to take a bold and historic step forward. We want to acknowledge that traditional Chinese medicine deserves

recognition, respect and professional status, and this bill produces that.

As stated last week, we'll work toward a new college for traditional Chinese medicine that will be allowed to set standards for practice, to establish

requirements for entry into the profession, to develop a complaints and discipline process for members and to empower the profession to self-regulate.

With some advice from HPRAC, the new college will also have the authority to grant the use of the "doctor" title to certain members who meet minimum, but very

high, standards. These things, taken together, do speak to an appropriate acknowledgement of the professionalism of those practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine, and accordingly we're very

proud of today's steps.

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): Supplementary.

Mr. Richard Patten (Ottawa Centre): Minister, I'm also pleased to have been part of that particular process. I found it extremely educational.

It was a delight to hear well over 100 people make representations on their experience, their observations, related to traditional Chinese medicine.

I'd like to hear you explain a little what the bill you've introduced today will mean to patients, many of whom have already found that the holistic approach

of traditional Chinese medicine has been extremely valuable. What will this bill mean to patients who are pursuing this form of therapy?

Hon. Mr. Smitherman: We know that in Ontario hundreds of thousands of our fellow citizens are taking advantage of alternative forms of

medicine to keep themselves well. This approach is one that we think is appropriate. But we have to recognize that in an unregulated environment, which is what we were operating in, pretty much

anybody could hang out a shingle without necessarily having associated with that a standard that Ontarians could have confidence in.

That's why I think the work that the honourable member was involved in has been very helpful in giving guidance to our government in drafting legislation which

has at the heart of it recognizing the professionalism of the traditional Chinese medicine sector while at the same time acknowledging that there are opportunities for improvement in terms of

safety for Ontarians. The steps we're taking today make tremendous enhancements on that. I'd like to thank and acknowledge the honourable member for the efforts he has played.

WATER QUALITY

Mr. John Yakabuski (Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke): My question is for the Minister of Health. In 2004, your ministry rejected almost 12,000 well

water samples submitted because the forms were not fully completed by the submitters, with things omitted such as postal codes.

The staff were not able to send back test results, but they were able to contact these people -- they had to look up their mailing code -- to let them know

that they hadn't filled out the form completely. So we've got time to look up mailing codes to send a letter saying, "You didn't fill out the form properly," but we don't have time to look up a

mailing code and insert it on the form so that we have a quick return on test results. Minister, is that what you call government efficiency?

Hon. George Smitherman (Minister of Health and Long-Term Care): I would like to take the opportunity to acknowledge that the system that was

set up, in this case, by the previous government, post-Walkerton, hasn't served well. The circumstances that the honourable member raises are not ones of which I will be a defender. I've made it

very clear that I thought the decision points taken to contact people to let them know that their forms weren't complete were not the most appropriate ones.

This was a system that was in place at the time that our government came to office, but I have given direction accordingly. I don't think it's the appropriate

way and I agree with the sentiment expressed in the honourable member's question.

Mr. Yakabuski: In fact, the ministry's response basically says that we agree, if the form is not completed, the sample will not be tested. One

sample was rejected because of an incomplete form; when a subsequent sample was submitted, it was found to have a significant level of contaminants. So bureaucracy took precedence over the health

of the people who had submitted that test water sample.

Minister, while you say you don't accept that kind of position on the part of the ministry, this is exactly what the response says, that they will continue to

monitor it that way and put some sort of additional information in a test kit making it clear that we will not accept these samples if these are not complete. Will you change that immediately so

that the health of Ontarians takes precedence over a form?

Hon. Mr. Smitherman: Yes, I can tell the honourable member -- I think I said it in my earlier answer but perhaps not clearly enough -- that's

the undertaking I've given. While the bureaucratic voice of the government spoke in response to the Auditor General's report -- and I don't agree with the bureaucratic voice of the ministry on this

point -- I share the sentiments, as I said in my earlier answer, that the honourable member expressed, and I'm disappointed that when the previous government put this in place they applied those

bureaucratic restrictions. But like the honourable member, I believe that in all instances we must fall on the side of doing the best that we can to evaluate water and to get that information back

to people. Accordingly, that direction has been given to ministry staff.

SERVICES FOR THE DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED

Mr. Michael Prue (Beaches-East York): My question is to the Minister of Community and Social Services. Today we are privileged to have with us

Judy and Don Holmes from Ottawa. They are in the gallery here. Their 39-year-old son, Larry, who lived at home until he was 29, is now a resident of an Ottawa group home run by the Ottawa-Carleton

Association for Persons with Developmental Disabilities. The association is deeply in debt. There have been staff layoffs. One home was closed and its residents moved to adjoining properties,

decreasing the staff-to-client ratio to what they consider to be dangerous levels. At the same time, they have told me, shutting down the Rideau Regional Centre will put more than 300 high-risk,

high-needs people into the community.

Madam Minister, you haven't provided sufficient monies and trained staff to look after people like Larry Holmes. You are evicting 300 residents from the Rideau

Regional Centre. Do you have a plan to put safeguards in place before you add to the problems that this family now faces?

Hon. Sandra Pupatello (Minister of Community and Social Services, minister responsible for women's issues): Let me say first that we welcome

the Holmeses here to the House. All of us as MPPs welcome and treasure the work you have done as parents. We treasure that. We welcome you here to Queen's Park today, and we wish that we had more

opportunity to say thank you for that. So welcome to this House.

Let me also say to the member opposite that I hope you took the time to inform the guests you brought here today that this is a long-standing policy which your

own party also adopted while you were the government.

Let me also correct for the record that the word "eviction" that you chose to use in your question is actually quite offensive to most of us who have followed

this policy for many years. As this member opposite will know, if he chooses to check the books that are tabled in this House so that he can see the financial resources that are attributed to the

developmental services sector in our ministry, he will see the significant investments that are --

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): Thank you. Supplementary.

Mr. Prue: Madam Minister, I don't think these people came all the way from Ottawa to Queen's Park to hear your empty promises or your excuses.

The Holmeses gave me a copy of a letter that you wrote to them in 1998, and I quote what you said to them back then. You said you believed that "the primary objective of government is to ensure

that the best front-line services are being delivered. That means making sure the funding reaches those persons who need it most." You went on to tell them that the Conservative agenda has been

"especially disastrous to the most vulnerable of Ontarians." But methinks today that the same can be said of you.

Again, I ask you to tell the Holmeses, the other parents, the caregivers, the workers who are here today that you will halt the closure of the three regional

centres and invest in the community supports that are essential before you add more people to an overburdened system with huge backlogs and a 10-year waiting time.

Hon. Ms. Pupatello: I really hope you will take the time to inform people when you bring them here to this House that they should see the

history of your government. In 1993, you cut developmental services, which was followed in 1995 by further cuts by the previous government.

In two years of a Liberal government, we have invested almost $200 million more, not in closing institutions but in community services. The agencies we are

working with every day understand that we are moving in the right direction: Millions of dollars for services in the community, including enhanced specialized services for individuals with

extremely high needs to serve.

These communities have never seen a government go through this level of transformation, so that we can look to the future with confidence that we will be able

to care for individuals in our communities, because that is the important thing for families --

The Speaker: Thank you. New question.

COMMUNITY SPORTS PROGRAMS

Mrs. Linda Jeffrey (Brampton Centre): My question is to the Minister of Health Promotion. Minister, I understand that last month you signed a

bilateral sports funding agreement with the federal government to increase participation in sport and physical activity. Can you tell us more about the agreement and how our government plans to use

this initiative to make up for the years of decreased funding to amateur sport and re-engage Ontario's athletes?

Hon. Jim Watson (Minister of Health Promotion): I want to thank the honourable member for Brampton Centre. I'm very proud of the McGuinty

government's commitment to sport and recreation, but I'm more proud of the work that our young athletes do, the commitment they make to their sport, the dedication. They not only need the help of

their trainers, coaches and parents, they also need the help of their community and their government.

Sadly, the previous government did not view sport and recreation as a priority. In fact, provincial sport organizations in the first three years of the

Conservative government saw their funding slashed by 42%, or $3.3 million in the first three years. Contrast that with our government and Premier McGuinty's commitment to amateur sport and the

connection between sport, wellness and health promotion. We've increased funding to PSOs by $1.9 million, the first increase --

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): Thank you. Supplementary.

Mrs. Jeffrey: Minister, I think everyone in this House is interested in seeing more young people get active. Earlier this week, we were able

to attend a reception for our Team Ontario athletes who won the flag. I think we were all proud to attend that reception.

This is a significant investment that demonstrates that both governments actually recognize the direct connection between physical activity, sports

participation and healthy communities. Minister, can you tell me who this agreement is designed to assist -- is it coaches, or is it just the athletes? -- and how this agreement will complement

other sports programs within your Ministry of Health Promotion?

Hon. Mr. Watson: I just want to add that we've also increased overall funding to amateur sport by $4.8 million in our first two years in

government. That is a 61% increase over what the Tories were funding in 2001-02. Part of that equation, as the honourable member for Brampton Centre pointed out, is the $6.1-million bilateral I

signed with Ministers Bennett and Owen at the federal level, and already money is flowing into those organizations.

Let me give you two examples. We signed the agreement at the Boys and Girls Club, and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Ontario have been approved for funding under

this program, as well as a proposal from the Metis Nation of Ontario. There are an additional 31 funding proposals for 30 organizations that are currently being reviewed. The Sport for More program

is aimed at developing provincial athletes from the ground up, and furthermore --

The Speaker: Thank you.

FREDERICK BANTING HOMESTEAD

Mr. Jim Wilson (Simcoe-Grey): My question is to the Premier. On Monday, I was shocked, as I think were some of the 200 historical societies in

the province, that you didn't indicate any support at all when I asked you to support the Frederick Banting Homestead Preservation Act. You sloughed the question off to your minister, and she gave

an answer that was totally erroneous. It had nothing to do with what's been going on in the last two years between the parties: the town of New Tecumseth, the Banting family, my private member's

bill and the Ministry of Culture.

I ask you again, as friendly as I can: Could you indicate some support for this project, this nationally historic piece of property that is deteriorating

because of the lack of attention it has received since it was bequeathed to the Ontario Historical Society six years ago? Could you give us some indication that you personally support this

initiative?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty (Premier, Minister of Research and Innovation): To the Minister of Culture.

Hon. Madeleine Meilleur (Minister of Culture, minister responsible for francophone affairs): I want to thank my honourable colleague for his

renewed interest in this property, and I can assure the member that the Ontario Heritage Act already makes it possible to preserve our built heritage.

The amendment we have introduced, that the past government did nothing about, gives the municipality and the historical society the power to preserve that

piece of property. Both organizations have the responsibility to ensure that this important piece of heritage is protected. I encourage the historical society and the town of New Tecumseth to

continue to negotiate in good faith to find an appropriate solution.

PETITIONS

SERVICES FOR THE

DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED

Mrs. Julia Munro (York North): "To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas, without appropriate support, people who have an intellectual disability are often unable to participate effectively in community life and are

deprived of the benefits of society enjoyed by other citizens; and

"Whereas quality supports are dependent on the ability to attract and retain qualified workers; and

"Whereas the salaries of workers who provide community-based supports and services are up to 25% less than salaries paid to those doing the same work in

government-operated services and other sectors;

"We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to address, as a priority, funding to community agencies in the developmental services

sector to address critical underfunding of staff salaries and ensure that people who have an intellectual disability continue to receive quality supports and services that they require in order to

live meaningful lives within their community."

As I am in agreement, I affix my signature and give this to David.

Mr. Peter Kormos (Niagara Centre): I have a petition addressed to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas, without appropriate support, people who have an intellectual disability are often unable to participate effectively in community life and are

deprived of the benefits of society enjoyed by other citizens; and

"Whereas quality supports are dependent on the ability to attract and retain qualified workers; and

"Whereas the salaries of workers who provide community-based supports and services are up to 25% less than salaries paid to those doing the same work in

government-operated services and other sectors;

"We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to address, as a priority, funding to community agencies in the developmental services

sector to address critical underfunding of staff salaries and ensure that people who have an intellectual disability continue to receive quality supports and services that they require in order to

live meaningful lives within their community."

I affix my signature with support and enthusiasm and send this to the Clerk.

LANDFILL

Mr. Ernie Parsons (Prince Edward-Hastings): "To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas Waste Management of Canada Corp. (formerly Canadian Waste Services) has proposed a 25-year, 18-million-tonne expansion of the existing Richmond

landfill site in the town of Greater Napanee to receive waste from an all-Ontario service area;

"Whereas the town of Greater Napanee has passed a resolution opposing the proposed expansion;

"Whereas the scoped environmental assessment being undertaken by the proponent does not examine whether there is a demonstrable need for the expansion, does

not consider reasonable alternatives to the expansion (e.g. reduce, reuse or recycle) and does not require the proponent to provide participant funding to local residents to facilitate their

involvement in the EA process;

"Whereas the Ontario government has recently proposed a provincial target of diverting 60% of waste from disposal by 2008;

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

"To immediately reform Ontario's EA process to ensure that:

"(

a) proposals to establish or expand landfills are subject to full and rigorous EA studies that examine need and alternatives;

"(

b) unwilling host communities are not forced to accept locally unwanted landfill proposals; and

"(

c) proponents are required to provide sufficient monetary resources to citizens to facilitate meaningful public participation in the EA process."

I am pleased to add my signature to this petition.

ONTARIO DRUG BENEFIT PROGRAM

Mr. Tim Hudak (Erie-Lincoln): I am pleased to present a petition signed by hundreds of residents from the Port Colborne-Wakefield area

gathered by Jack O'Neill of Port Colborne that reads as follows:

"We, the undersigned residents of Ontario, Canada, draw the attention of the House of Commons and Queen's Park to the following:

"That a growing number of seniors in Niagara have a medical condition called incontinence, requiring the use of special undergarments;

"That these incontinence undergarments are not covered under the seniors' drug benefit plan;

"That seniors are living on fixed incomes, many below the poverty line, and unable to afford the additional cost of purchasing incontinence undergarments,

creating personal hardship;

"That seniors need these incontinence undergarments to be independent in their communities, to contribute to their communities and to carry out their daily

living activities;

"That our government is committed to keeping seniors independent and living in their own homes.

"Therefore, your petitioners call upon Parliament to enact legislation to ensure that seniors who have a medical necessity for these items be covered under

seniors' drug benefit plans."

In support of my constituents, my signature.

CANCER TREATMENT

Mr. Ernie Hardeman (Oxford): I have a petition to the Parliament of Ontario and it's signed by a great number of my constituents, primarily

from the great town of Ingersoll.

"Whereas Ontario has an inconsistent policy for access to new cancer treatments while these drugs are under review for funding; and

"Whereas cancer patients taking oral chemotherapy may apply for a

section 8 exception under the Ontario drug benefit plan, with no such exception policy in

place for intravenous cancer drugs administered in hospital; and

"Whereas this is an inequitable, inconsistent and unfair policy, creating two classes of cancer patients with further inequities on the basis of personal

wealth and the willingness of hospitals to risk budgetary deficits to provide new intravenous chemotherapy treatments; and

"Whereas cancer patients have the right to the most effective care recommended by their doctors;

"We, the undersigned, petition the Parliament of Ontario to provide immediate access to Velcade and other intravenous chemotherapy while these new cancer drugs

are under review and provide a consistent policy for access to new cancer treatments that enables oncologists to apply for exceptions to meet the needs of patients."

I affix my signature, as I agree with the petition.

Ms. Shelley Martel (Nickel Belt): I have petitions that have been sent to me by Dr. Gil Flores of Milton, Ontario. They read as follows:

"Whereas Ontario has an inconsistent policy for access to new cancer treatments while these drugs are under review for funding; and

"Whereas cancer patients taking oral chemotherapy may apply for a

section 8 exception under the Ontario drug benefit plan, with no such exception policy in

place for intravenous cancer drugs administered in hospital; and

"Whereas this is an inequitable, inconsistent and unfair policy, creating two classes of cancer patients with further inequities on the basis of personal

wealth and the willingness of hospitals to risk budgetary deficits to provide new intravenous chemotherapy treatments; and

"Whereas cancer patients have the right to the most effective care recommended by their doctors;

"We, the undersigned, petition the Parliament of Ontario to provide immediate access to Velcade and other intravenous chemotherapy while these new cancer drugs

are under review and provide a consistent policy for access to new cancer treatments that enables oncologists to apply for exceptions to meet the needs of patients."

I agree with the petitioners. I have affixed my signature to this.

GOVERNMENT SERVICES

Mr. Lorenzo Berardinetti (Scarborough Southwest): I have a petition addressed to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario and it reads as

follows:

"Whereas the speech from the throne was delivered in the Legislature on October 12, 2005;

"Whereas our government has worked tremendously hard to reduce the $5.6-billion deficit we inherited from the previous government down to $1.6 billion;

"Whereas the government, through the throne speech and the budget, has committed to a record $6.2-billion multi-year plan to fund our colleges and

universities;

"Whereas the government has launched a five-year, $30-billion plan to improve our province's infrastructure;

"Whereas Ontario is seeing dramatic increases in the number of CT scans, cancer surgeries, cardiac procedures and MRI scans that are producing shorter wait

times for these critical health care services;

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

"To support the McGuinty government's plan for progress as outlined in the speech from the throne."

I agree with this petition. I affix my signature to it and give it to page Richard beside me today.

SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION

Ms. Laurie Scott (Haliburton-Victoria-Brock): "To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas students of the former Carden and Dalton townships are entitled to accommodation in and transportation provided to Simcoe county schools, yet now are

being treated as out-of-area students;

"We, the undersigned, petition the Legislature of Ontario as follows:

"

(1) Transportation is provided immediately to all students of Carden and Dalton townships from their homes/previously established bus stops to the most

appropriate schools within the Simcoe County District School Board boundary;

"

(2) Modify the Trillium Lakelands District School Board (TLDSB)/Simcoe County District School Board (SCDSB) boundary to include the majority of Carden and

Dalton townships within the Simcoe county boundary. Such boundary change is implemented prior to December 31, 2005."

It is signed by hundreds of people from my riding.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING

Mr. Lorenzo Berardinetti (Scarborough Southwest): I have a petition addressed to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, and it reads as

follows:

"Whereas the McGuinty government has contributed $301 million to the Canada-Ontario affordable housing program;

"Whereas this program will produce 5,320 new units of affordable housing and provide rent subsidies for up to 5,000 low-income households;

"Whereas the $116 million allocated to the city of Toronto will assist several hundred families across the city;

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

"To support the McGuinty government's commitment to affordable housing and to urge the government to keep affordable housing on the provincial agenda."

I agree with the petition, affix my signature to it, and give it to page Kumail, who's here with me today.

ONTARIO FARMERS

Mr. John O'Toole (Durham): It's my pleasure to present a petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas thousands of Ontario farmers and rural Ontarians have been forced to take their concerns directly to Queen's Park due to a lack of response" or

responsiveness "from the Dalton McGuinty government; and

"Whereas the Rural Revolution believes that rural Ontario is in crisis due to lost property rights and a crushing regulatory burden on rural Ontarians, and"

demonstrated that concern "at Queen's Park on March 9," 2005;

"Therefore we, the undersigned, ask the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to address the issue of respecting property rights as in the Rural Revolution's

resolutions to respect property" rights "and prosperity as follows:

"Resolution number 1: The right to own, use, enjoy, and the opportunity to earn a living from, private property is the basis of freedom and democracy" -- very

important.

"Resolution number 2: Private property shall not be rezoned, redesignated or reclassified in any manner that limits the natural and private use of property

without fair and timely compensation" -- seems like they're breaking a lot of these things.

"Resolution number 7: The proposed greenbelt legislation shall be amended to respect property rights as mentioned in resolutions number 1 and number 2.

"Resolution number 11:" -- I find interesting -- "All entry on to private land by government officials shall only be conducted with the informed consent of

property owners, or under the authority of a search warrant."

This makes eminently good sense. I'm pleased to sign it in support of my constituents in the agricultural community in the riding of Durham and present it to

Nadia. Where are you from, Nadia? Kitchener.

MACULAR DEGENERATION

Mr. Jeff Leal (Peterborough): I have a petition today to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

Whereas the government of Ontario's health insurance plan covers treatments for one form of macular degeneration (wet), and there are other forms of macular

degeneration (dry) that are not covered:

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

"There are thousands of Ontarians who suffer from macular degeneration, resulting in loss of sight if treatment is not pursued. Treatment costs for this

disease are astronomical for most constituents and add a financial burden to their lives. Their only alternative is loss of sight. We believe the government of Ontario should cover treatment for

all forms of macular degeneration through the Ontario health insurance program."

PUBLIC LIBRARIES

Mr. Jim Wilson (Simcoe-Grey): "To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas the Minister of Culture recently announced that there would be funding cuts totalling more than $1.2 million from Ontario public library services;

and

"Whereas over 69 million people visited public libraries in Ontario in 2003, with more than 100 million items circulating; and

"Whereas these cuts will impact you as a library user, resulting in delays in how often your library receives new books;

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

"That the Minister of Culture restore the cuts to funding for Ontario public library services so that our library can continue to promote literacy in our

community."

I want to thank Jennifer La Chapelle, who is the chief executive officer of Clearview Public Library.

MACULAR DEGENERATION

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Michael Prue): The member from Mississauga East -- sorry, Mississauga West. My apologies.

Mr. Bob Delaney (Mississauga West): Thank you very much, Speaker. The citizens of Mississauga West certainly appreciate your recognition.

I'm pleased to join with my seatmate and friend, the member from Niagara Falls, in this petition to the Ontario Legislative Assembly, and it reads as

follows:

"To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas the government of Ontario's health insurance plan covers treatments for one form of macular degeneration" -- which is wet -- "there are other forms of

macular degeneration" -- such as dry -- "that are not covered,

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

"There are thousands of Ontarians who suffer from macular degeneration, resulting in loss of sight if treatment is not pursued. Treatment costs for this

disease are astronomical for most constituents and add a financial burden to their lives. Their only alternative is loss of sight. We believe the government of Ontario should cover treatment for

all forms of macular degeneration through the Ontario health insurance program."

This is signed by a number of men and women from the Niagara Falls area. I'm pleased to support them and affix my own signature to this petition, and to ask

page Katherine to carry it for me.

FREDERICK BANTING HOMESTEAD

Mr. Jim Wilson (Simcoe-Grey): "To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas Sir Frederick Banting was the man who discovered insulin and was Canada's first Nobel Prize recipient; and

"Whereas this great Canadian's original homestead, located in the town of New Tecumseth, is deteriorating and in danger of destruction because of the inaction

of the Ontario Historical Society; and

"Whereas the town of New Tecumseth has been unsuccessful in reaching an agreement with the Ontario Historical Society to use part of the land to educate the

public about the historical significance of the work of Sir Frederick Banting;

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

"That the Minister of Culture endorse Simcoe-Grey MPP Jim Wilson's private member's bill entitled the Frederick Banting Homestead Preservation Act so that the

homestead is kept in good repair and preserved for generations to come."

I want to thank Bill Smith of Essa township for collecting these signatures on this petition.

HOUSE SITTINGS

Hon. David Caplan (Minister of Public Infrastructure Renewal, Deputy Government House Leader): Before we get to orders of the day, I seek

unanimous consent to put forward a motion without notice regarding extending the afternoo