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October 2, 2006

38th Parliament, 2nd Session

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Hansard Transcripts

vol. A

Hansard Transcripts

vol. B

Votes and Proceedings

Orders and Notices

Hansard Transcripts 2006-Oct-02 (PDF)

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO

ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE DE L'ONTARIO

Monday 2 October 2006 Lundi 2 octobre 2006

MEMBERS' STATEMENTS

GOVERNMENT'S RECORD

HISTOIRE FRANCO-ONTARIENNE /

FRANCO-ONTARIAN HISTORY

LANDFILL

ARTS AND CULTURAL FUNDING

ENERGY CONSERVATION

DOCTOR SHORTAGE

ONTARIO FARMERS

HOSPITAL FUNDING

EDUCATION

MOTIONS

HOUSE SITTINGS

WEARING OF RIBBONS

AND BRACELETS

STATEMENTS BY THE MINISTRY AND RESPONSES

AGRICULTURE FUNDING

HEALTHY EATING /

ALIMENTATION SAINE

AGRICULTURE FUNDING

HEALTHY EATING

AGRICULTURE FUNDING

ORAL QUESTIONS

HOSPITAL FUNDING

EDUCATION FUNDING

LONG-TERM CARE

NATIONAL CHILD BENEFIT SUPPLEMENT

LONG-TERM CARE

EDUCATION FUNDING

FOREST INDUSTRY

IMMIGRANTS' SKILLS

WASTE DIVERSION

WINDSOR ARENA PROJECT

POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION

VISITOR

PETITIONS

CELLPHONES

TRADE DEVELOPMENT

PROPERTY RIGHTS

AUTISM TREATMENT

FAIR ACCESS TO PROFESSIONS

SCHOOL FACILITIES

HOSPITAL SERVICES

IDENTITY THEFT

MACULAR DEGENERATION

COLORECTAL CANCER

HIGHWAY 417

GASOLINE PRICES

ORDERS OF THE DAY

CLEAN WATER ACT, 2006 /

LOI DE 2006 SUR L'EAU SAINE

The House met at 1330.

Prayers.

MEMBERS' STATEMENTS

GOVERNMENT'S RECORD

Mr. Jim Wilson (Simcoe-Grey): Isn't it ironic that Premier McGuinty is marking his three-year anniversary in government by doing a self-congratulatory tour of the province? Here we have the

Premier going around, thanking Ontarians for their hard work, when he should be thanking them for putting up with his broken promises and apologizing for his failure to get results for the people of Ontario. This government has completely

abandoned any pretence of trying to govern. Instead, we see a government trying to cover its record through a shameful maze of photo ops and political manoeuvrings. This is a government that said anything to get elected and will now say anything

to get re-elected.

As even the Toronto Star pointed out on the weekend, "Grand promises to close Ontario's smog-spewing, coal-fired generating plants and keep electricity rates capped at artificially low prices proved unrealistic,

while campaigning against `Americanized' health care and then accelerating private sector involvement in hospitals smacked of hypocrisy."

As John Tory said this morning in Ottawa, parents, seniors on fixed incomes and especially the working poor have felt the stunning impact of Dalton McGuinty's failed promise not to raise taxes. His government's

three-year anniversary is marked by a crisis in 20 emergency rooms around the province and no progress on the doctor shortage. Let's be clear: Premier McGuinty's health care plan hasn't helped those waiting in emergency rooms, his broken promises

have left commuters stuck in gridlock, and his disregard for community safety has put the security of our streets at risk. With only one year left, Dalton McGuinty should focus on governing, not campaigning, and actually getting some results for

Ontarians.

HISTOIRE FRANCO-ONTARIENNE /

FRANCO-ONTARIAN HISTORY

Mr. Jean-Marc Lalonde (Glengarry-Prescott-Russell): Je suis fier d'informer l'Assemblée que le 25 septembre dernier, je me suis rendu à deux événements qui soulignaient la

fierté franco-ontarienne.

I went first to the unveiling of the first Monument de la francophonie. This is the first of six such monuments which will be unveiled in Ottawa. The monuments are in small parks graced with huge Franco-Ontarian

flags. In the parks, there are granite monuments on which are written important episodes of the history of francophones in Ontario.

In Ottawa, at the headquarters of le Conseil des écoles catholiques du Centre-Est, over 2,000 people attended the gathering to celebrate our heritage in such a tangible way. Je me suis ensuite rendu à

Rockland, où j'ai participé au défilé du 31 e anniversaire du drapeau franco-ontarien. Environ 1 000 élèves des écoles catholiques de Clarence-Rockland ont défilé dans les rues de la

municipalité pour célébrer l'occasion. Les élèves de la sixième à la 12 e année des écoles de l'Escale et Sainte-Trinité de Rockland, ainsi que ceux et celles des écoles

Saint-Mathieu de Hammond et Sainte-Félicité de Clarence Creek, ont emprunté une tradition acadienne, le tintamarre, afin de démontrer haut et fort leur fierté franco-ontarienne.

This 31st anniversary of the Franco-Ontarian flag is very dear to my heart. As you know, this flag, conceived by Gaétan Gervais, history professor of Laurentian University, was recognized by a unanimous

vote in this Legislature on June 21, 2001.

LANDFILL

Mr. Garfield Dunlop (Simcoe North): I understand that the Premier is embarking on his "Thank you for putting up with my broken promises" tour. Yes, this is the man who will say and do anything

to get elected. As you are well aware, the Green Lane landfill is about to receive the garbage of the city of Toronto with the blessing of Minister Peters, Minister Bentley, MPPs Ramal, Matthews and Van Bommel, and of course the Premier, who is

prepared to sacrifice the London-area ridings.

What is truly interesting is the manner in which the Green Lane landfill received approval to expand. Immediately after the House adjourned for summer recess last June, Green Lane received approval for a huge

expansion. A few days later, the site 41 proposed landfill in the township of Tiny also received draft design approval. Wouldn't you think that a Premier who talks about transparency would have had the courage not to hide behind the summer recess?

In a sneaky, secretive manner both site 41 and Green Lane received approval, obviously with the intention that any negative publicity would be covered up by many summer activities.

At a time when Ontarians expect their Premier to protect their valuable water sources, Dalton McGuinty and former St. Thomas Mayor Steve Peters are finding sneaky ways to approve landfills set upon some of the

most pristine water on our planet, like the water below site 41. To make matters even worse, the Liberals held committee hearings on the Ontario Clear Water Act, thinking they could actually fool other Ontarians. Dalton McGuinty will say anything

and do anything to get elected. I wonder if he will take his "Thank you for putting up with my broken promises" tour to site 41 and Green Lane.

ARTS AND CULTURAL FUNDING

Mr. Rosario Marchese (Trinity-Spadina): New Democrats believe that arts and culture are a social necessity and that access to cultural resources is a right for all people. We believe that

professional community art and culture are vital to society. They enrich the social and economic fabric of Ontario and foster critical thinking in the development of strong local identity. We believe that it is the government's responsibility to

provide stable funding and status to Canadian artists in order to create a climate in which they can excel. What do we mean by "status"? Basically status is about equity, economic and social justice for artists, giving artists the same protections

and rights as other citizens -- in other words, the same status. In practice it means access to social benefits, collective bargaining rights, health and safety, insurance, training, income protection -- bread-and-butter issues for artists to make

their lives more secure.

On September 21, we had a meeting at the Ontario College of Art and Design. A hundred or so constituents demanded status-of-the-artist legislation, one that includes and demands collective bargaining rights. In

2003, the McGuinty Liberals promised that within two years, if elected, it would introduce such legislation. Three years later we are still waiting. Call us at 416-603-9664 and let us, together, force the Liberals to keep their promise.

ENERGY CONSERVATION

Mr. Phil McNeely (Ottawa-Orléans): On September 12 Peter Love, the energy conservation officer with the Ontario Conservation Bureau, presented the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board with

a certificate of recognition for their energy conservation efforts. The OCDSB's conservation plan has saved over $4 million annually for the school board. Through the Ameresco Better Schools Partnership, the board retrofitted a number of schools

across the region. Over 100 schools benefited from lighting upgrades that reduce the cost of operating and maintaining their systems.

The board now expects to avoid over $5 million in annual energy costs for the years to come. It is expected that it will save $2.6 million in electricity alone each year. That is enough to provide for 5,500

homes, plus enough gas to heat 1,200 homes and enough water to serve 1,100 homes. Not only has the board saved on energy costs, but I'm very happy to announce that they have cut enough carbon dioxide emissions to fill 11,000 small gymnasiums.

It is through initiatives such as these that Ontario can continue to be a leader in energy efficiency and conservation, which is a commitment that the McGuinty Liberal government has made. Other examples of this

commitment can be seen in such programs as the installation of smart meters in all homes and businesses by 2010, as well as through the standing offer program, which will allow hundreds of small local energy producers to get involved in the energy

market. I would not only like to congratulate the OCDSB for their efforts, but also the McGuinty government for being a leader in the field of energy conservation and efficiency and promoting these efforts throughout the province.

DOCTOR SHORTAGE

Mr. Ted Arnott (Waterloo-Wellington): This past week, the Minister of Health and newly minted Deputy Premier tarnished the whole government with his disgraceful and appalling performance inside

and outside this House. With bombast, bluster and buffoonery, this minister has taken no new constructive steps towards solving the Ontario doctor shortage. Instead, he has acted more like a pit bull, which I thought the Attorney General had

banned last year.

First, he blamed the local hospital officials for the emergency room crisis at Grand River Hospital in Kitchener-Waterloo, and then he blamed the members of both opposition parties, even though today is the

third anniversary of the election of the Liberal Party as government and he has been Minister of Health for three years this very month. Then, last Thursday on CBC Radio, he threatened all Ontario hospitals with reductions in their operating

budgets if they defied his dictates, after he had said that the Cambridge solution was okay for now, but nobody else had better do it.

Then, on Saturday, he was quoted by the Kitchener-Waterloo Record uttering politically slanderous comments against the member for Kitchener-Waterloo in an unprecedented, unjustified personal attack entirely

consistent with the Liberal Party's nasty and failed by-election strategy in Parkdale-High Park.

Having ignored prudent warnings for months about the emergency room problem and the doctor shortage in Ontario, the minister would now want people to believe that he is the hero who kept the emergency room at

Grand River Hospital open. However, the Record has it right in their editorial of today when they ask, "Why did he not act earlier?" -- all in all, an embarrassing debut for the new Deputy Premier, calling into question the Premier's judgment in

making the appointment in the first place.

ONTARIO FARMERS

Mr. Jim Brownell (Stormont-Dundas-Charlottenburgh): In Ontario, summer is synonymous with the barbecue season. For many, this past summer wouldn't have been the same without some burgers on the

grill and corn in the pot. Beef and corn are but two of the fine products that come from Ontario farmers. Those farmers play an essential role in providing many of the fine foods we look forward to, not just during the summer but all year-round.

Ontario farmers deserve our appreciation and attention. This government has done more than any in the past many years to support our farmers, with funding for ethanol plants, agricultural research and direct financial support for Ontario

farms.

I would, in particular, like to highlight the recently announced $110 million in funding, of which nearly $30 million was earmarked for the grains and oilseeds sector, a sector that certainly can use the

support. Recently, the Minister of Agriculture visited my riding and took the opportunity to meet face to face with many farmers from the region, allowing them to express their concerns directly to her. In September, I participated in the Lanark

county farm tour for the second year and learned that many of the concerns faced by farmers in that region parallel those in my riding. I would like to thank Lanark County Federation of Agriculture president Dave Campbell and Arnprior Federation

of Agriculture president Eve Yantha for inviting me to participate.

This government understands that we need farmers and therefore we must support our farmers and encourage our federal counterparts to do the same.

If you ate today, thank a farmer.

HOSPITAL FUNDING

Mr. John Milloy (Kitchener Centre): Over the last several weeks, the Ministry of Health has been working closely with my community's Grand River Hospital to meet challenges facing its emergency

department. Despite best efforts, it became apparent on Friday night that there was a possibility the emergency room might temporarily close. To avert such an occurrence, the hospital leadership, government officials and the local medical

community redoubled their efforts over the weekend, and I am pleased to report to members that by Saturday night it was clear that the emergency room would stay open.

The Minister of Health personally came to my community to make the announcement and outlined a plan of action to stabilize Grand River's emergency room and begin to address a number of outstanding operational

issues at the hospital and within our region's system of emergency care. One such step involved the arrival of a team earlier today from St. Joseph's hospital in Toronto, home to one of the best-run emergency rooms in the country.

I want to personally thank the Minister of Health and all involved for their quick action in resolving the impending closure. Having spent most of the weekend in communication with many of the parties involved,

I want to assure members that our government was engaged right from the level of Premier through to the Minister of Health on down. There was an equal level of commitment at Grand River and within the region's medical community, and all of us owe

special thanks to those physicians and other medical personnel who came forward.

There remains much work to be done, but I feel that our community turned a corner over the weekend, and by working together we can ensure full access to emergency services in our area.

EDUCATION

Mr. Jeff Leal (Peterborough): I rise in the House today to speak about the progress this government has achieved in just three short years in education. But before we talk about where we are, we

need to remind Ontarians where we were before.

Under the previous Conservative government, our schools suffered. They took $300 million a year out of the public education system and put it into private schools. They let class sizes spin out of control and

infrastructures crumble.

It wasn't just the Conservatives who left education in a state of disrepair. Under the Rae-Hampton government, class sizes increased due to cuts brought in under the social contract. They also said they would

increase provincial funding, and then reduced it.

Under this government, we have invested over $2 billion in new funding for education. This government has built a new foundation with teachers in Ontario. For the first time ever, we have four-year contracts.

What this means is that parents and children can rely on a stable and peaceful environment in which to send their kids to school, something they didn't enjoy under the previous government. Class sizes are down in the all-important early grades. We

have provided the funding to put a principal in place in every school so that every school has the opportunity for managing and building success. ESL funding is up; funding for students with special needs is up; test scores are up.

I am proud of this government's achievements, and I look forward to a future of progress in the education system in Ontario.

MOTIONS

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 Monday, October 2, 2006, for the purpose of considering government business.

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

All those in favour will say "aye."

All those 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 1349 to 1354.

The Speaker: Mr. Bradley has moved government notice of motion number 185. All those in favour will please rise one at a time and be recognized by the Clerk.

Ayes

Arnott, Ted

Balkissoon, Bas

Bartolucci, Rick

Bentley, Christopher

Bradley, James J.

Broten, Laurel C.

Brownell, Jim

Cansfield, Donna H.

Chambers, Mary Anne V.

Colle, Mike

Crozier, Bruce

Delaney, Bob

Di Cocco, Caroline

Dombrowsky, Leona

Duguid, Brad

Duncan, Dwight

Dunlop, Garfield

Elliott, Christine

Flynn, Kevin Daniel

Fonseca, Peter

Hoy, Pat

Jeffrey, Linda

Klees, Frank

Lalonde, Jean-Marc

Leal, Jeff

Levac, Dave

Marsales, Judy

Martiniuk, Gerry

Mauro, Bill

McMeekin, Ted

McNeely, Phil

Miller, Norm

Milloy, John

O'Toole, John

Orazietti, David

Ouellette, Jerry J.

Peters, Steve

Phillips, Gerry

Racco, Mario G.

Rinaldi, Lou

Runciman, Robert W.

Ruprecht, Tony

Sandals, Liz

Scott, Laurie

Smith, Monique

Smitherman, George

Sorbara, Gregory S.

Sterling, Norman W.

Van Bommel, Maria

Watson, Jim

Wilson, Jim

Witmer, Elizabeth

Wynne, Kathleen O.

Yakabuski, John

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

Nays

Bisson, Gilles

DiNovo, Cheri

Kormos, Peter

Marchese, Rosario

Martel, Shelley

Prue, Michael

Tabuns, Peter

The Clerk of the Assembly (Mr. Claude L. DesRosiers): The ayes are 54; the nays are 7.

The Speaker: I declare the motion carried.

WEARING OF RIBBONS

AND BRACELETS

Hon. Mary Anne V. Chambers (Minister of Children and Youth Services): On a point of order, Mr. Speaker: I would like to ask this House for unanimous consent for members to wear either the

purple ribbon or the purple bracelet marking October as National Child Abuse Prevention Month.

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): The minister has asked for unanimous consent to wear either the purple bracelet or the purple ribbon for National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Agreed?

Agreed.

STATEMENTS BY THE MINISTRY AND RESPONSES

AGRICULTURE FUNDING

Hon. Leona Dombrowsky (Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs): I rise today to remind Ontarians that today marks the beginning of Ontario Agriculture Week. Agriculture Week

recognizes the hard work of Ontario's farmers and the incredible contribution that they make to our province. Ontario farmers produce the best quality food in the world. They and the men and women in their work in the food processing industry

contribute to a vibrant world-class industry that generates $30 billion a year for our economy.

This government is proud to support this important industry. We have increased the budget at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs --

Hon. James J. Bradley (Minister of Tourism, minister responsible for seniors, Government House Leader): Increased.

Hon. Mrs. Dombrowsky: Yes, increased -- from $863 million to $880 million.

We have provided over $900 million in emergency assistance through farm income stabilization programs.

We have provided, in partnership with the federal government, $317 million in support for farmers who have been hurt by the repercussions of BSE.

We have invested $50 million in the tobacco community transition fund.

We are expanding new markets for farmers through our $520-million ethanol growth fund, which is already helping to construct new ethanol plants in Cornwall, Hensall and Aylmer, and is supporting existing

plants in Chatham and Collingwood.

We are working with the agriculture industry to develop a branding and marketing strategy that will encourage Ontarians to buy local food.

We are investing $40 million each year in research and innovation to create new opportunities for farmers, and we are rewarding innovation with the Premier's Award for Agri-food Innovation Excellence.

At last month's International Plowing Match, this government announced another $110 million in new provincial funding to support our farmers. With that money, Ontario became only the second province in Canada

to provide its 40% match to the federal dollars that were announced in May. Also, we provided an additional $10 million in support to Ontario's fruit and vegetable growers, support that the federal government has not provided.

This is the record of a government that cares deeply about the issues facing Ontario farmers, and we are investing the resources to prove it. Our record of consultation and investment stands in stark contrast

to previous governments, which cut spending on agriculture, closed field offices, and did not consult agricultural stakeholders on key legislation that impacted farmers.

We will continue to invest in the future of our agricultural and rural communities. We will continue to support growth in innovation and the agrifood industry to make sure our farmers and their families find

success. We will continue to recognize and support the important contributions that farmers make to our economy, to our health and to the very spirit of our communities.

I ask my colleagues and the good citizens of Ontario to join me in saluting and supporting our farmers, not just as we celebrate Agriculture Week and Thanksgiving, but throughout the year.

HEALTHY EATING /

ALIMENTATION SAINE

Hon. Jim Watson (Minister of Health Promotion): The McGuinty government is committed to promoting healthy eating in the province of Ontario and to educating all Ontarians about the health

benefits of eating fruits and vegetables on a daily basis. Today I'm proud to share the details of one key initiative that we have undertaken to improve the health of children in northern Ontario.

On September 15, I visited Queen Elizabeth Public School in Timmins to announce the launch of the northern fruit and vegetable pilot program. The northern fruit and vegetable pilot program is a key component

of our $10-million healthy eating and active living strategy. Together with the Porcupine Health Unit, the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers' Association, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and local schools and school

boards in the Porcupine region, we are initiating this pilot program in northern schools.

A project coordinator has been hired, and his first priority will be to recruit schools and review applications for selecting the schools that will participate. There are already a number of schools in the

Porcupine region which have expressed interest and want to participate in this pilot project, and delivery of fruits and vegetables is expected to begin in late October.

It's appropriate that I'm giving this statement right after the Minister of Agriculture gave her statement, because this is an opportunity for us to support Ontario produce and Ontario farmers.

Il faut apprendre ou rappeler à plusieurs Ontariens et Ontariennes, les adultes comme les enfants, que la consommation quotidienne de fruits et de légumes est bénéfique pour leur

santé. À vrai dire, le Guide alimentaire canadien pour manger sainement recommande un minimum de cinq portions quotidiennes de fruits et légumes, mais des données récentes de Statistique Canada indiquent que la

majorité des Canadiens et Canadiennes consomment un nombre moins important de portions que celui qui est préconisé. Sept enfants sur 10 âgés entre quatre et huit ans, et environ la moitié des adultes de 19 ans et

plus, ne prennent pas leurs cinq portions quotidiennes.

There's a strong correlation between good health and the consumption of fruits and vegetables. A joint paper by the World Cancer Research Fund and the American Institute for Cancer Research reported that

eating an adequate variety of vegetables and fruits may reduce cancer incidence by as much as 20%. Other studies have indicated that eating fruit and vegetables is associated with lowering risks of chronic diseases such as heart disease and

diabetes. Chronic diseases can begin in early years, so developing healthy eating habits, including the consumption of fruits and vegetables, is an important part of disease prevention. That's why the Ministry of Health Promotion is piloting this

initiative with young people in the north.

This initiative addresses a very important recommendation made by the chief medical officer of health, Dr. Sheela Basrur, in her 2004 report Healthy Weights, Healthy Lives. On page 49, the report identified a

need for government to "develop policies and programs that promote healthy eating, ... investigating the potential impact of food pricing options on consumption patterns, especially for communities where healthy foods, such as fruits and

vegetables, are particularly expensive" and "building on the Ministry of Agriculture and Food's Foodland Ontario program, which promotes Ontario grown fruits and vegetable, by adding health messages." This program begins to answer that call.

The year-long pilot program will provide students in 20 to 25 elementary schools in selected communities in Ontario's Porcupine region with a serving of fruit and vegetables two to three times a week. Children

and their families who participate in the program will gain increased knowledge about the importance of fruit and vegetables as part of a healthy diet.

Les résultats de ce programme pilot à la fin de cette année guideront les apprentissages pour une éventuelle expansion du programme. Notre nouveau plan d'action soutient une saine

alimentation et une vie active en Ontario en s'appuyant sur des programmes déjà existants, comme le fonds collectivités actives, et en proposant de nouvelles initiatives telles que le programme pilote pour la consommation de fruits

et de légumes dans le nord de l'Ontario.

We now know that the availability of up-to-date, reliable and easy access to information is crucial to supporting healthy eating. That's why we've created a new web resource called EatRight Ontario. You can

find it at our website: HealthyOntario.com. This site provides nutrition information advice for healthier eating through programs like the northern fruit and vegetable pilot program. We're taking steps towards reducing rates of overweight and

obesity, and we're equipping children and their families with the knowledge they need to live healthier lives.

I also want to thank the honourable member Mr. Pat Hoy. He also made a tandem announcement because many of the fruits and vegetables in fact will come from his portion of the province, as they will from

northern Ontario. So it's a win-win for kids, for families, for the schools and for farmers in Ontario.

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

AGRICULTURE FUNDING

Ms. Laurie Scott (Haliburton-Victoria-Brock): Ontario Agriculture Week is the perfect opportunity to rise and thank Ontario farmers for their hard work and dedication. Farming is crucial to

the prosperity of my riding and to that of the entire province. Farmers contribute $30 billion annually to our economy and employ 650,000 people. They provide us with the highest quality of food and continue to be the most effective stewards of

our land and water, and that is in spite of the McGuinty Liberal government.

In my riding of Haliburton-Victoria-Brock, the Kawartha Lakes Chamber of Commerce said that 50 farmers went out of business last year. With 50 fewer farmers, we are worse off than we were a year ago. Indeed,

the past three years have brought tough times for all of Ontario farmers, despite Premier McGuinty's promise to treat them fairly.

The McGuinty Liberals will promise anything to get elected. Unfortunately, Ontario farmers have learned that Liberal promises are not an effective indicator of their behaviour once elected. Agriculture has

been dealing with numerous issues and challenges over the last number of years. We continue to see inaction, and have been calling on the McGuinty Liberals to help reduce the uncertainty of farmers by establishing a made-in-Ontario plan to build a

secure and sustainable farming industry in Ontario.

Sure enough, the McGuinty Liberals are pleased to try and take credit for funding which they have kept in their own back pockets for months. The CAIS program, the Canadian agriculture income stabilization

payments, has flowed in seven other provinces prior to Ontario's agriculture industry getting their portion, so I'm quite certain that no Ontario farmer is prepared to thank Dalton McGuinty for placing Ontario's farm industry on an even playing

field and holding onto their cash.

They promised to make agriculture a lead ministry. Sadly, that promise is collecting dust next to their promises to not raise our taxes. The only lead we've seen from the Ministry of Agriculture is that they

will lead us to the day where farming, farm families and farming communities no longer have any hope or any future in the province of Ontario. To the Liberals, a promise is a promise and it must be broken.

I, like other members of the PC caucus, had the privilege of traveling to Keene, to the International Plowing Match. It was in Peterborough county this year. One farmer, upon learning of the latest one-time

funding announcement, expressed his thanks to the McGuinty government for yet another drop in the bucket. But the bucket is dry for Ontario's farmers. Remember this year's disastrous budget? Remember the 21% cut to agriculture spending? Remember

this year's $100,000-a-year club being expanded by 11% in the agriculture ministry alone? Remember this year's grains and oilseeds funding announcement, which was 52% smaller than last year's? Remember Steve Webster camping in his car? Remember

the tractor rally, with close to 10,000 farmers on the lawns of Queen's Park? Farmers won't easily forget the three years of neglect and mismanagement from the McGuinty Liberals.

One of the questions we have to ask is, why are farmers so angry with the McGuinty Liberals? You can see they're not even paying attention across the way. But one of the obvious answers is that they are

furious with the years of budget cutbacks, disguised in press releases as good news for farmers. But it goes much deeper than that: It's about respect. In rural Ontario, you treat your neighbours respectfully. For a farmer, your word is your

contract. That's why farmers are so mystified by the current McGuinty Liberal regime. They simply fathom the discrepancy between Premier McGuinty's promises and his actions.

During Agriculture Week or at the plowing match, Premier McGuinty talks a good game, but the farm income crisis is not solved by words of support. It's not solved by pointing the finger at Ottawa. Indeed, if

you want motherhood support, the McGuinty Liberals are as good as it gets, but if you want results, you'd better look elsewhere.

Farmers aren't just suffering from the ongoing neglect. They're furious that this provincial government sees them as opponents. This government sees them as enemies of the environment and clean water. They're

furious that most were excluded from the hearings of the so-called Clean Water Act. They're angry that the hearings were held in the summertime, which is when most farmers are too busy to travel long distances for a 15-minute hearing, and they're

hurt that the McGuinty government would take such a punitive approach to environmental stewardship.

In Agriculture Week, it's important to support our farmers and the entire agricultural community. But support doesn't end with feel-good statements from the minister. Supporting farmers means providing

results. It means telling the truth, not promising anything just to get elected. It means treating the entire agricultural community with respect.

On behalf of John Tory and the entire PC caucus, I would like to express our most sincere appreciation to Ontario farmers.

HEALTHY EATING

Ms. Shelley Martel (Nickel Belt): In response to the statement made by the Minister of Health Promotion, I want to say that the minister and I discussed the government's plan, which the

program he talked about today is part of, at great length in the estimates committee. I want to put on the record some of the concerns that I raised then.

First, we want children and young people to develop healthy eating habits, and the school environment is a good place to do that, as children spend so much time at school. But today there are no mandatory food

standards in place, for any Ontario schools, that emphasize food with maximum nutritional value. This is a key recommendation that was made to this government in 2004 by the school nutrition work group steering committee of the Ontario Society of

Nutrition Professionals in Public Health.

We have recommended nutritional standards only for elementary schools, and only with respect to vending machines. If we're really going to get serious about providing an environment for kids where nutrition

really counts, then we need mandatory food standards to support healthy eating environments in all schools.

Second, the steering committee made eight other essential recommendations about how to support healthy eating at school. All but one of those focuses directly on the supports we need in school to foster that.

I urged the minister then, and I urge him again today, to seriously consider implementing those other recommendations made by the steering group in 2004.

But what is key, my third point, is this: What is in a child's lunch bag or, more importantly, what's missing from the lunch bag, has a great deal to do with the level of income at home. I fundamentally

believe that most parents want to send fruit and vegetables to school with their children, but far too often they can't afford it.

The reality in Ontario today is that the McGuinty Liberal government's increases to the minimum wage have been pathetic. For the working poor, they are barely making ends meet. The reality is that the

increases to social assistance rates are pathetic, and families on social assistance are barely better off than they were under the Conservatives.

Reality today, and this is a really good day to raise this issue, is that the failure of the McGuinty Liberal government to end the clawback on the national child benefit means that so many Ontario families

are relying on food banks. They're in no position to buy fresh vegetables and fruit.

If we really want to foster an environment where kids develop healthy eating habits, then we're going to make sure that their families have the income they need to allow them to buy fruit and vegetables in the

first place. Then we'll really make a difference at home and at school.

AGRICULTURE FUNDING

Mr. Howard Hampton (Kenora-Rainy River): I want to respond to the Minister of Agriculture. This week is an opportunity to recognize the hard work of our farmers and Ontario's proud farming

history, but it's also a time to reflect on the farm income crisis that has left many farm families and farm communities in very dire straits: too many farmers losing their farms, and others forced to work full-time off the farm just to put food

on the table and keep the banker away from the door.

With farm incomes at record-low levels, grain and oilseed farmers continue to call on the McGuinty government to implement a financial risk management strategy that provides long-term sustainability and

confidence for our farmers, but instead of getting to work implementing a long-term risk management strategy for the farm income crisis, one that protects our grain and oilseed farmers from punishing US subsidies, the McGuinty Liberal government

prefers to have piecemeal announcements followed by piecemeal reannouncements followed by a repetition of the piecemeal announcements, none of which does anything to provide some sustainability for our farmers. It's all driven more by the

Premier's desire for photo opportunities than by the desire to do something meaningful in terms of hard-pressed farmers.

Quebec and Alberta have acted unilaterally to stabilize farm incomes and protect their farmers, but the McGuinty government prefers photo ops and then to blame Ottawa. Ontario farm organizations have worked

hard to develop long-term solutions to the farm income crisis. The McGuinty government needs to put their cameras away and start getting down to work. New Democrats congratulate Ontario farmers for their dedication to the job. We congratulate our

farmers for their perseverance in the face of a McGuinty government that continues to make promises and then break them, and continues to prefer photo ops to real action.

ORAL QUESTIONS

HOSPITAL FUNDING

Mrs. Elizabeth Witmer (Kitchener-Waterloo): My question is to the Minister of Health. Minister, your government has broken its 2003 promise to unclog emergency rooms. As a result, we have a

crisis in 20-plus communities across the province.

It is only thanks to the hard work and dedication of the doctors, the nurses, the board and the administrators of Grand River, Cambridge and St. Mary's hospitals that the people of Kitchener-Waterloo have been

able to avoid an emergency-room closure.

Instead of supporting the work of these people, you were quoted as saying that you were "disappointed in the leadership of the hospital." Well, I would say to you, Minister, the people of Kitchener-Waterloo

and the more than 20 communities are disappointed in your leadership. Why have you not taken action on this ER crisis in Ontario when you've known about it since at least May of --

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

Hon. George Smitherman (Deputy Premier, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care): I agree with the honourable member that the function of our emergency rooms is a crucial priority for Ontarians.

I would say that when Ontarians are gathering together to apportion responsibility with respect to circumstances and questions are asked with the word "waiting" in them, I really think that the two individuals who today find themselves sitting

side by each have got a lot of explaining to do.

The point is, the honourable member also demonstrates in her question the Conservative tradition, which is to divide circumstances up. What's clear to everyone is that in order to address the circumstances

which are occurring at present, to be able to build forward in a fashion which provides people with the necessary confidence, it will continue to take everybody working together. That's what we're doing at present in Grand River and other places

and we will continue to move forward on that basis.

Mrs. Witmer: Minister, the plan that is currently in place is just a stopgap. It's temporary. As you know, the doctors are already overworked. They're stretched. We have this arrangement;

however, it's not sustainable. Indeed, Dr. Daniel Kollek, chief of emergency medicine at Grand River, is quoted as saying, "We don't know what we're going to do after Friday." That's Friday of this week.

So I would like to ask you, Minister, what plan do you have to work co-operatively with my community past next Friday? As you know, next week is Oktoberfest. It is the busiest week of the year for the

emergency rooms in Kitchener-Waterloo.

Hon. Mr. Smitherman: Again, the people of Kitchener-Waterloo -- as the honourable member has referred to them as her community -- would be well-inclined to ask her questions about what she was

doing when she served as the longest-serving health minister in the Harris government. The reality is that the necessity of producing more doctors is a very crucial one, of course. The reality is also clear that you can't make a doctor as fast as

you can make a pizza. You can make it up pretty quick, but the reality is that Ontarians know of these challenges.

I tell the honourable member that it is true to say that we have more difficult work to do in Grand River. That's why we're on the scene there with a leadership team from St. Joe's in Toronto, which has

demonstrated good capacity to address underlying challenges. We know that working conditions are an issue in that emergency room and, accordingly, we're going to continue to work through these issues to put the resources there as necessary and to

provide the leadership to stabilize the circumstances in the Kitchener-Waterloo region and, indeed, to move forward doing so in other parts of our province.

Mrs. Witmer: This morning on live radio the Minister of Health said blame is a bit of a counterproductive thing, and yet now in two responses he has tried to assign blame.

I would also say to the minister, your comparison to the pizza maker is an insult to emergency room doctors in this province. They have told me that your response is adolescent and it is trite and they don't

appreciate the comparison.

But I'm going to ask you again. Your Premier blames money; Dr. Bach says it goes to poor working conditions. The Premier says, "Hang in there." People in this province are paying the health tax of $900 a year.

You promised in 2003 to unclog emergency rooms. People are now waiting in Toronto, for example, more than 10 hours. Could you please tell the people in the province what is your long-term plan for people in Ontario?

Hon. Mr. Smitherman: I think the honourable member has a difficult time between the idea of blame and accepting some responsibility; that's accountability and that's what this honourable

member does every day. She pretends that she wasn't the longest-serving Minister of Health in the Harris government.

When I use a quote that says it takes longer to produce a doctor than it does a pizza, there's no offence intended there. What's very clear is that it makes the point that doctors are highly valued and they're

incredibly highly trained. Accordingly, you don't train them overnight. You don't mint them overnight, and that is what is at the heart of that.

We recognize, of course, the necessity of doctors. That's why our government has worked to increase the size of our medical schools by 23% and to bring 750 new doctors -- our foreign-trained doctors -- to work

in Ontario, with 440 more currently being trained. These are the efforts that we're making to make up for the lost time that was squandered on the watch of the two health ministers who sit side by each.

The Speaker: New question. The member for Kitchener-Waterloo.

Mrs. Witmer: I would say to the minister, you have been Minister of Health for three years. The people in this province have a right to demand that you would be accountable for the --

Interjections.

The Speaker: Member for Kitchener-Waterloo.

Mrs. Witmer: I want to ask you, will you release the report Improving Access to Emergency Care: Addressing System Issues, that has been sitting on your desk since at least August?

Hon. Mr. Smitherman: First off, the honourable member is misinformed. The report was received in my office no longer than two weeks ago. But I can confirm for her, and for anyone else who's

interested, it is up on our ministry's website. A quick review of it, though, will be an uncomfortable circumstance for the honourable member, because at the heart of the challenge it characterizes the Conservative strategy of closing 22% of the

acute care beds.

I'm pleased to be part of a government which is rebuilding acute care capacity. With the construction that we have under way in the province of Ontario, we will be a government that's moving forward with an

8.1% increase in the number of acute care beds. In addition, we've opened 5,000 additional long-term care beds, made unprecedented investments at the community level in things like family health teams, which are about providing appropriate care in

the community, and we've worked hard to produce more doctors making up for the lost time of the two health minister twins who sit beside us.

Mrs. Witmer: As the minister well knows, it was his government that in 2003, when they said, "We're going to unclog emergency rooms," also promised that they would add 1,600 beds. Why haven't

you done so?

The report also speaks to the need to build more long-term-care beds. It also speaks to the need to expand community care services. There is nothing preventing this minister, who has been there for three

years, from taking any action.

Mr. John Yakabuski (Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke): Long years, lost years.

Mrs. Witmer: They have been three long years, as my colleague says; they have been lost years.

Last year you were urged by the Coalition of Ontario Physicians in Emergency to make emergency room wait times your sixth priority. You said no. People are now waiting more than 10 hours in emergency rooms. I

ask you today, Minister, are you prepared to release the report and implement the recommendations?

Hon. Mr. Smitherman: I say to the member again, the report that the honourable member has twice asked me about, and I've already answered, is on our ministry's website. The member asked where

the 1,600 beds are that we promised; 2,000 additional acute care beds are under construction in the province of Ontario today. She said, "Where are the long-term care beds?" I say again, as I did in my last answer that 5,000 additional long-term

care beds, funded and in operation in the province of Ontario. She asked about community investment: 150 family health teams; doubling the number of community health centres; more resources for home care; reinvestment in community-based mental

health services; supporting those agencies that provide things like rides and provide Meals on Wheels.

The reality is, the investment pattern of our government, made possible as a result of the health premium, is seeing health care services evolving in a systematic way, not just one thing here and there, but

across the board, reflecting that our patients require services working well together. We have more work to do, of course, to make up for the lost time squandered on the --

The Speaker: Thank you. Final supplementary?

Mrs. Witmer: The minister forgets that it was actually our government that had to cope with the problems that were created by the previous Liberal government. Perhaps the minister forgets that

it was our government that added 8,000 nurses to the health system. It was our government that added 20,000 long-term-care beds to the system because the Liberals and the NDP hadn't built any. It was our government that invested $1.2 billion in

community care services and long-term-care beds. It was our government that gave you the first family health teams; you simply took ours and gave them another name. It was our government that built the new medical school and introduced it. So for

this minister to stand up and say he has taken action on emergency rooms, I would say to you, what action are you going to take today for those 20-plus hospitals that are in crisis? Today, not tomorrow.

Hon. Mr. Smitherman: I like it best when the honourable member manages to dissect eight and a half years, forgetting about the first three or four when they cut everything, when they gored it,

when they closed beds by 22%. She talks about 8,000 new nurses, but she forgets to mention that Mike Harris called them hula hoops and fired 13,000 the day before.

The reality is clear. The circumstances that we have in health care are challenging circumstances indeed. They've been made more challenging by decisions that we inherited. The honourable member makes the

point, of course, that our health care system is the accumulated contribution of all governments over time. The reality is that with respect to the issue of physicians, these two parties did dire damage to Ontarians by making sure that our medical

schools were inadequate -- inadequate in size, and inadequate to meet the needs of a growing population.

We've increased medical schools by 23%, we've brought 750 additional foreign-trained workers already, our foreign-trained doctors, into communities across Ontario -- 440 more in production. Yes, we have more

to do on behalf of those --

The Speaker: Thank you.

New question. Leader of the third party.

Mr. Howard Hampton (Kenora-Rainy River): To the Deputy Premier: We know that the broken promises tour of Premier McGuinty won't be stopping at the Grand River Hospital in Kitchener, nor will

it be stopping at the 18 other hospitals that face emergency room shortages. That's because the McGuinty government's record on hospital emergency rooms is a letdown and a disappointment.

Premier McGuinty was warned about hospital emergency room challenges but did nothing. Then he said that privatized emergency rooms were okay by him. Now, instead of helping hospital emergency rooms in crisis

solve their problems, furious George is pointing the finger of blame.

Deputy Premier, the emergency room crisis is systemic across the province and it's putting patient health and safety at risk. When is the McGuinty government going to show leadership, stop blaming and start

solving the problem?

Hon. Mr. Smitherman: When is the honourable member going to stand up in his place and use even 1% or 2% of his words to acknowledge that he participated, as a member of a government, as a

senior minister in a government -- he didn't squeal out of the parking lot on this one like his seatmate there -- and stood there or sat on his hands while the size of our medical schools was reduced. This created a problem. It's well known to be

a problem, and only the honourable member can pretend his way through it.

The circumstances are clear. Through their working together, one government after the next, Ontario was compromised by about a thousand doctors. There's no doubt whatsoever that a few additional doctors would

be of tremendous benefit in Grand River and in other communities. We don't have them because they didn't produce them.

We're working double time to produce a sufficiency of them, and we will continue on that point.

Mr. Hampton: My, my. Now furious George is even blaming the wannabe Liberal leader he's supporting.

Dalton McGuinty's photo op tour won't visit hospital emergency rooms because this is what he would hear. Dr. John Carter is an emergency room physician at Grand River Hospital, and he writes:

"We have been crying out for the past 18 months, `More nurses, more doctors, more beds,' and in reply we continue to hear, `Give us more time. Get back to work.'

"We do not have more time. As emergency room nurses and doctors we are tired of the rhetoric and empty promises of a Minister of Health who patronizes us in one breath and then turns around and blames us for

the hardships we endure."

I ask the question again: When are you going to stop blaming even Liberal wannabe leadership candidates and start showing some leadership, and produce a plan --

The Speaker: The question has been asked.

Minister of Health.

Hon. Mr. Smitherman: The dearth of talent the aforementioned honourable member was dealing with has been an apparent source of challenge to lots of public policy files.

The reality is that the honourable member offers quotes which are, I think, unhelpful. They're inappropriate in the sense that, for sure, the honourable member seeks to characterize a viewpoint, but the

reality is that we fundamentally understand that doctors are at the heart of the matter.

The point of it is that these two parties are in such a state of denial. They have no sense of obligation to be held accountable at all for a circumstance now playing itself out which, at the heart of it, was

related to their decision-making. They do not answer on point to the circumstances which their very actions have created.

Yes, we have more work to do. That's why we've enhanced our capacity to produce doctors in this province. You cannot make them overnight. The honourable member finds that trite. The reality is that --

The Speaker: Thank you. Final supplementary.

Mr. Hampton: The Minister of Health says it's unhelpful to cite the words of a veteran emergency room hospital physician. I think it's very helpful, because it shows us just how disconnected

and over his head this Minister of Health is.

It's not about producing more doctors. Manitoba didn't go out this summer and produce more doctors. They got emergency room nurses, they got emergency room doctors, they got other health care providers

together and they sat down and worked out a plan which would help them deal with emergency room pressures. They worked out a plan. So far, the McGuinty government talks about privatized emergency rooms, and you, furious George, talk about blaming

everybody you can point a finger at.

Here is what it boils down to --

Interjections.

The Speaker: Order.

Mr. Dave Levac (Brant): On a point of order, Mr. Speaker: We've heard it a few times today. I think we should raise and elevate what we do in this House in terms of how we address each other,

and I think it should be maintained.

Interjection.

The Speaker: It is a point of order. We should, in here, refer to other members only by their riding names or by their portfolio if they're ministers of the crown.

The leader of the third party.

Mr. Hampton: In contrast to the finger pointing in Ontario, Manitoba actually had a plan. It didn't involve privatization.

So I say to you, Minister, when is the McGuinty government going to bring in a long-term plan that addresses an emergency room crisis that has been growing for at least the last 18 months? When will you stop

the finger pointing? When will you stop blaming? When will you stop the Dalton McGuinty photo op tour and bring in a plan that addresses the reality for thousands who cannot get access to the emergency room?

Hon. Mr. Smitherman: The closest that the honourable member can come to acknowledging that he created the challenge with doctor shortages in the province of Ontario is to say that they're not

an essential part of the emergency room restabilization. The honourable member's suggestion is that we can do it without doctors, and this is a very, very odd suggestion indeed. We already have nurse practitioners and others widely deployed across

our emergency room infrastructure. That's known to the member.

Here's what Dr. John Rapin, the president of the OMA, said in 2004: "As the OMA predicted at the time, 10 years later this decision in itself bears much of the blame for the current shortage of all types of

physicians in Ontario."

That is at the heart of the challenge in Grand River, along with a variety of other things, for sure. Doctors are an important part of the resolution, and accordingly, we'll be working with them and working to

produce more of them.

EDUCATION FUNDING

Mr. Howard Hampton (Kenora-Rainy River): Again to the Deputy Premier, we know also that Dalton McGuinty won't be posing for any photos with children in the Dufferin-Peel schools today. That's

because last Friday the McGuinty Minister of Education ordered the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board to make cuts in the classroom. No amount of feel-good rhetoric, no amount of photo ops can hide the fact that the McGuinty government

is now engaging in the same heavy-handed bully tactics that they used to oppose under Ernie Eves and Mike Harris.

You've already admitted that your education funding formula is flawed; you promised to fix it, and you haven't. Why, then, are you forcing school boards to make cuts in the classroom? Why should our students

suffer because of another broken promise by Dalton McGuinty?

Hon. George Smitherman (Deputy Premier, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care): To the Minister of Education.

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne (Minister of Education): I believe I have addressed this issue in the last few weeks. We understand that the education funding formula has needed work, and here's what

we've done since we've been in office. We've increased funding: $2.7 billion -- $1,600 a student across the province. We have put thousands of new teachers into the elementary and the secondary system. We've increased funding for ESL. We have made

the funding formula more transparent to families and to parents across the system. We've updated our school operations grant. We've introduced a new school foundation grant that acknowledges that small schools need a principal and a teacher and a

secretary. We're working on the funding formula. We know it needs more work, and we're continuing to do that.

Mr. Hampton: Now into the fourth year of the McGuinty government, they admit the funding formula is broken, but they say, oh, they're working on fixing it. No, you haven't fixed it. Instead,

you're forcing school boards to make cuts in the classroom. In your letter to the trustees, this is what you wrote: "I hereby direct the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board to identify alternate programs with a view to saving $1.9 million

on the reading recovery program." Minister, the reading recovery program has probably saved thousands of Dufferin-Peel students from years of academic frustration.

I say again, tell the parents of these children what the substitute is for the reading recovery program for kids who are having trouble reading. Why should these children suffer from another Dalton McGuinty

broken promise?

Hon. Ms. Wynne: I'm not sure who in the education system or who in the population of Ontario it serves to have this oversimplified, disingenuous rhetoric.

What I want to say is that in the letter to the Dufferin-Peel Catholic board and in my remarks to the board the night I went and met with them, what I said was that the reading recovery program is one program.

The literacy and numeracy secretariat is going to work with the board to make sure that the students who need the benefit of that program get equivalent or better service. There are different programs in some parts of the province. There are

reading clinics, and parents say that we must have reading clinics. In some parts of the province of Ontario, we have reading recovery. The point is that students who need literacy support will get literacy support. That is our promise to the

children of Ontario.

Mr. Hampton: I'm not that much interested in what you may say; we already know that the McGuinty government will say anything. What I'm interested in is what you wrote.

Interjections.

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

Interjections.

The Speaker: The Minister of Citizenship and Immigration will come to order.

Interjections.

The Speaker: The member for Renfrew is not in his seat. I won't warn him again.

Order. I'd like to be able to go on with question period. I need to be able to hear the leader of the third party place his question.

Leader of the third party.

Mr. Hampton: We already know that members of the McGuinty government will say anything to get a vote. But I'm interested in what you wrote, and you wrote telling them to make cuts.

The reading recovery program, which you're ordering the school board to slash, helps struggling grade 1 students with weak reading skills to catch up to their classmates, and 80% of the struggling students in

that program do catch up with their peers. A principal at the board says that cutting this program won't lead to savings because these children will continue to fall behind and need more help later.

You've admitted that the funding formula is broken, but instead of fixing it, you're forcing cuts on kids who are already struggling. Why is the McGuinty government cutting the best remedial recovery program

available? Why should these kids suffer yet again from the McGuinty government's broken promises?

Hon. Ms. Wynne: I'll try this again, because the member opposite has already indicated he's not really interested in what we have to say. For the benefit of people who might be interested, I'm

going to outline what I said: The literacy needs of the students in the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board will be addressed; they will continue to be addressed. What I said to the trustees was that the particular program that was in

place would be worked on with the literacy and numeracy secretariat, that they're going to have extra support, in order to make sure that those kids get the services they need.

On the funding formula, what I have said many times is that the funding formula that was written by the previous government was not one that met the needs of students across this province. We have been

changing it; every year we have changed it. We have continued to work on it. There is more money in the system; it is more transparent --

The Speaker: Thank you, Minister. New question.

LONG-TERM CARE

Mr. Jim Wilson (Simcoe-Grey): My question is for the Minister of Health. In 2003, your government distributed this brochure entitled the Ontario Liberal Plan for Change. In it, you promised to

increase per resident funding of long-term care by $6,000 per year. Perhaps we shouldn't be surprised, but three years into your mandate, this promise sits alongside 50 other Liberal election campaign broken promises. It's yet another example of

your government and its ability to say anything, do anything and now print anything to get itself elected.

I simply ask you, Minister, when are you going to live up to your promise of $6,000 more per resident for long-term-care residents in this province and do what you said you were going to do: treat residents

and their families with the respect and dignity they deserve?

Hon. George Smitherman (Deputy Premier, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care): It's fantastic to have the inaugural Mike Harris health minister on his feet asking a health question. It gives

me a chance to read from a petition that Ted Arnott, the MPP for Wellington, signed in 1996 denouncing Wilson's health care reforms: "We feel that the measures taken by the health minister, Jim Wilson, are precipitating the rapid decline of the

health care system, to the detriment of the residents of Ontario." That's his record.

I want to say that with respect to the challenges and opportunities in long-term care, our investment pattern to date is $740 million. This has brought 3,140 new full-time equivalents to the delivery of health

care services in our long-term-care homes. We've brought forward a tremendous range of new action on the front of compliance, and we will very shortly be coming forward with a piece legislation which we'll recommend to the Legislature of Ontario

-- 740 million new dollars invested to date.

Mr. Wilson: If you want to talk about historical facts, the last time the long-term-care sector got significant money from the government was when I was health minister; they got $100 million.

They haven't even had cost-of-living increases during the three years you've been in office.

You also made another promise that you would increase long-term-care beds. You say you've built 5,000 beds. I can tell you that people in the county of Simcoe who I spoke to last week don't believe you. Nobody

believes you've built 5,000 beds, and yet you keep getting up here and saying that you have. In 2005, the wait-list in Simcoe county was 864 people; in 2006, that wait-list has grown to 1,084. More people are waiting. In this case, they'll have to

wait two additional years because of your Liberal broken promise.

Minister, when are you actually going to live up to your promises, do what you said you were going to do and stop re-announcing beds that we built; in a factual way, 20,000 beds were built under the

Conservative government. You're re-announcing many of our beds --

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): The question's been asked.

The Minister of Health.

Hon. Mr. Smitherman: Sometimes a minute is hardly enough to correct all the misinformation from the earlier flow. The honourable member characterizes himself as the only one who's made an

investment in long-term care --

Mr. Frank Klees (Oak Ridges): On a point of order, Mr. Speaker: With all respect, the minister referred to misinformation that was being put forward by an honourable member. In the past, my

understanding is that that was not parliamentary, and I would ask you to bring the minister to order.

The Speaker: I appreciate the intervention. The minister may wish to choose a different word.

Hon. Mr. Smitherman: I'd be happy to replace that with "inaccuracies," if that's more appropriate.

Mr. Wilson: It's not inaccurate. Take that away too.

Hon. Mr. Smitherman: If I might just ask for 20 seconds more to make my presentation, then the House itself can judge.

The honourable member said that he was the only one who's ever really made a significant contribution to long-term care. He said that he brought $100 million. In fiscal 2004-05, we brought 191 million new

dollars dedicated to the front line that brought 3,140 new workers to the front line of health care, alongside the 5,000 additional long-term-care beds that we've opened.

NATIONAL CHILD BENEFIT SUPPLEMENT

Mr. Michael Prue (Beaches-East York): My question is to the Minister of Community and Social Services. We know that the Premier is on his photo op tour, but there's another place he won't be

visiting any time soon. That is the home of Beverley Halls, a disabled single mother who is doing her best to put food on the table for herself and her two daughters. Yet instead of helping Beverley, you and your government have chosen every month

to pocket the $240 that she gets for her children.

Three years ago you made a promise to Beverley's children and over 170,000 poor children in this province to do something for them. You promised to stop the clawback of the national child benefit

supplement.

Minister, this is the third anniversary. I have hundreds of letters here which I'd like to send across to you, asking when you are going to honour that promise.

Hon. Madeleine Meilleur (Minister of Community and Social Services, minister responsible for francophone affairs): I want to thank the member of the third party for his question. I want to

tell my colleague what we have done for the children of Ontario since we have been elected.

We are investing $10.3 billion annually for families and social services in this province. We have raised rates by 5%; the second raise will be this fall, a 2% increase. When we took office, we ended the

clawback of the national child benefit supplement going forward. We have made certain that all increases to the national child benefit stay in the hands of the people who need them the most. That's $56 million more a year.

Mr. Prue: Today the Minister of Children and Youth Services asked us all to wear these little purple bracelets, and they say on them, "To end abuse and neglect of children." I want to know,

and you should be asking yourself, what are you doing to end that abuse and neglect?

Your Premier is not out there visiting the home of Jim MacDonald of Manitoulin Island either. You may know him; he's been in the paper. He's a seriously ill father of five who can't put food on his table

because you claw back every cent of the baby bonus. Today Jim and Beverley are begging Dalton McGuinty and yourself to "stop robbing poor children."

My question to you is very simple. Will you keep your promises, will you end the clawback, and will you do it now in your fourth year of this mandate?

Hon. Mrs. Meilleur: I want to remind my colleague that, yes, we did end the clawback, and all increases to the national child benefit stay --

Interruption.

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): Order. We'll wait. Order. Clear the galleries.

Minister?

Hon. Mrs. Meilleur: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

That $56 million more this year: What it means for parents with two children receiving social assistance is that they get $1,620 more per year than they did in 2003.

I want to remind my colleague on the other side what they did to the children when they were in power. They stopped the Ontario child care supplement for working families, they cut the children's mental health

program, they voted against all social assistance increases, and they cut children's treatment centres.

We are investing in child --

The Speaker: Thank you, Minister. New question.

LONG-TERM CARE

Mr. Bill Mauro (Thunder Bay-Atikokan): My question is for the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care. I know that our government has already invested an additional $740 million in the

long-term-care sector and, unlike previous governments, it is doing so without an increase in copayments. As our population ages, there is no denying that long-term-care beds will continue to be in high demand.

Minister, a council resolution was passed in Thunder Bay to give up the operation of 300 municipal long-term-care beds. This is a concern for me and my constituents, because we need to keep these beds in

Thunder Bay. Could you please confirm today that these 300 beds will remain in Thunder Bay?

Hon. George Smitherman (Deputy Premier, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care): I want to thank the honourable member for his ongoing advocacy on this issue. In fact, both members from Thunder

Bay have been very proactive.

Over the course of the summer I had the privilege, with the honourable member, to meet with workers from the CAW, who are the service providers who are helping our vulnerable residents. I want to make this

commitment to the honourable member: While we have some work to do yet to determine the most appropriate operator for those 300 beds in Thunder Bay, I'm pleased to give the honourable member the complete assurance on the part of our government

that those beds will remain in the Thunder Bay community.

Mr. Mauro: Thank you for that, Minister. It's paramount that our government understand the pressures that northern communities are under, and today's commitment clearly demonstrates that

you're getting it.

Three years ago, the McGuinty government took office with a vision for health care that is accessible to all Ontarians, regardless of their financial status or where they live. Minister, I know you have made a

personal commitment to fix the long-term-care sector in this province. Where previous governments cut millions, you have invested millions; where they charged seniors a bigger fee, you have frozen it; and where they cut staff, you've increased

it.

Minister, could you please tell my constituents what our plan is to ensure that long-term-care homes will continue to show the progress that has occurred under your watch as we move forward?

Hon. Mr. Smitherman: None of us doubts the necessity of having good-quality, long-term-care services. We've been able to add, as I mentioned before, 5,000 beds. We have about 75,000 of our

most vulnerable residents in these beds. We work very hard to create a culture of homes -- to call these homes instead of facilities, and to create a culture around that, with much greater enhancement to compliance measures and enforcement around

the standards that we would all agree are appropriate in terms of being able to support these individuals. For two years we froze the copayments for our residents. We've introduced a 1-800 action line, which means that prompt response is now the

norm in a circumstance where any concerns are reported.

At the heart of it, what we're seeking to ensure is that our most vulnerable residents are able to live in long-term care in a dignified fashion that respects to the greatest extent possible their life

circumstances and enhances their quality of life. We are working hard on this, and I look forward to bringing forward legislation soon that will move this initiative even further forward.

EDUCATION FUNDING

Mr. Frank Klees (Oak Ridges): To the Minister of Education: When you were a trustee in 2002, you joined in a lawsuit that challenged the Education Act, and specifically that

section of the act

that requires school board trustees to balance their budget. You also, as a trustee, referred to cuts to school boards as a crime against children.

Today, as education minister, you are forcing multi-million dollar cuts to school boards across this province.

I ask you this question: Were you wrong then, or are you wrong now?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne (Minister of Education): I'm glad to see that you're consistent, because you were wrong then and you're wrong now.

When I was a school trustee in 2002, we did not have a government in place that was investing billions of dollars in publicly funded education. We had in place a government that was giving tax credits to

private schools. And we know that the member opposite fervently believes in private education. So it's a completely different time. It is absolutely a different circumstance.

What I was worried about at the time, actually, was not the issue of whether school boards should balance budgets, but the punitive measures that the previous government had put in place to punish public

school trustees. That whole circumstance has changed.

In the last year, we've been working with the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board to make sure they have a budget in place so they can provide students with the services they need.

Mr. Klees: Minister, this morning the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation held a news conference, and they said this: "While the province added $600 million to the education budget

this year to fund teacher salaries ... it also removed $391 million from the local priorities amount ... $120 million from the local opportunities grant" and an additional $71 million from the declining enrolment component. This is the Ontario

Secondary School Teachers' Federation that accused you and your government of removing some $582 million from school board budgets.

These, Minister, are budget cuts. I'd like to ask you this: Are they wrong or are you?

Hon. Ms. Wynne: We actually put more than $600 million of new money into publicly funded education last year. What we did on the funding formula -- and I've already said, in a number of

answers, that we've added money every year into the funding formula for new teachers, for capital improvements. But this is an important point: What we did last year was we changed the way the balance sheet looks so that parents and communities

could understand. Those local priority grants and those grants you're talking about were being used for teacher salaries. What boards were saying was, "This doesn't make any sense, because we're using these dollars for teacher salaries, but it

looks like it's grant money for other things. So let's straighten that out." That's what that realignment was about. Now it's absolutely clear where the money is going.

FOREST INDUSTRY

Mr. Howard Hampton (Kenora-Rainy River): To the Minister of Natural Resources: Minister, we noticed that on his third-anniversary photo op tour, Premier McGuinty won't be going to any of the

hard-hit forest sector towns and cities in northern Ontario. Today, Red Rock's only major employer, the Norampac mill, shuts down and lays off 275 workers. Last week, the Espanola Domtar mill laid off 115 workers. And in Dryden, Patricia Logging

laid off 35 workers. That's 425 forest sector jobs destroyed in one week.

While Premier McGuinty is out on his photo op tour, which carefully misses northern Ontario, could you tell municipal and labour leaders in northern Ontario: When is the McGuinty government going to implement

a 4.5-cent-a-kilowatt-hour hydro rate, all charges and fees included, that has been asked for, or are you going to stand by while hundreds more forest sector jobs are destroyed?

Hon. David Ramsay (Minister of Natural Resources, minister responsible for aboriginal affairs): It was over two years ago now that I gathered together municipal leaders, labour leaders and

industry leaders, seeing that there was a crisis upon us, and asked for their help to give me some direction as to what the government could do. With that, we have acted with a $900-million support program for the forest industry. We are starting

to basically roll that out now as the industry is prepared to make those investments to reinvest in their operations.

We are saddened when we hear of job losses, but we're starting to see some reinvestments that are going to secure jobs for now, and I hope it will create some new jobs in the near future. It is a tough time --

we are in transition in this industry -- but we're working very hard in partnership with the industry to make sure we sustain the jobs we do have in northern Ontario.

Mr. Hampton: One of the key recommendations of that report was a more reasonable hydro rate that reflected the true cost of generating electricity in northern Ontario. That's what the mayors

and union leaders are asking you for, and the McGuinty government has avoided that issue like the plague.

For months, the mayor of Smooth Rock Falls has been asking for a meeting with the Premier -- since Tembec shut down the pulp mill there and laid off 300 workers -- but the Premier won't answer the call. In

July, when asked if the Premier would visit the north over the summer, the Premier's office responded, "Right now, I can't say if he'll be in the north. The Premier is to attend the Dalton McGuinty Golf Tour, which has him playing in three

tournaments in Ottawa, Windsor, and Markham near Toronto in July and August." Minister, when will the McGuinty government admit there's a crisis in the second-largest industry in Ontario and across northern Ontario's forest sector? When will the

Liberals --

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

Hon. Mr. Ramsay: A couple of weeks ago I met with the mayor of Smooth Rock Falls. I'm working with her economic development team. In fact, they called me about one of the people they are

hiring now. We're working together with that team -- it's very important. I have to tell you that the Premier, the Minister of Energy, the Minister of Finance and I are working with the industry on coming up with a program that will give a

northern industrial electricity assistance program for the industry that would be of benefit to the industry. We're working with them to get it right. The Premier made a commitment to a form of regional pricing for electricity. We're working on

something that would be effective for the industry to make sure that we can sustain them and make them profitable and competitive. So we're working with them. I just say to the member to stay tuned because you will hear some very good news from

this government.

IMMIGRANTS' SKILLS

Ms. Jennifer F. Mossop (Stoney Creek): My question is for the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration. Sixty per cent of Canada's newcomers settle in Ontario, and 85% of Hamilton's growth is

due to newcomers moving into that area. Many people know that Hamilton is a gateway for newcomers in Canada. One of the key questions I get from my constituents all the time, newcomers or not, is: Why are so many foreign-trained professionals not

engaged in their profession? I have explained to them some of the things that we've done, and they're very supportive of that, but I was wondering, Minister, if you could please, for the record, explain exactly what Bill 124 is doing to help our

newcomers.

Hon. Mike Colle (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration): I thank the member for Stoney Creek for her question. Before this House we have, really, a revolutionary bill. For the first time in

the history of Canada, a provincial government will have oversight over our 34 independent regulatory bodies. Lawyers, architects, doctors -- all these regulatory bodies, under Bill 124, if passed, will have oversight to ensure fairness,

transparency and accountability. It will also ask for the appointment of a fairness commissioner to help foreign-trained individuals. Thirdly, it will establish, for the first time in this province, an access centre, a resource centre, to help

internationally trained individuals navigate through the complex system of licensing and accreditation in Ontario. It breaks down barriers, it gives opportunity and ensures fairness for qualified people, and it's long overdue.

Ms. Mossop: Thank you for that, Minister. I do just want to revisit the issues around Hamilton because, as I pointed out, it's a major gateway for newcomers -- key concerns. I know you have

come to Hamilton several times recently with some announcements and initiatives, and I'd like you, again for the record, to explain exactly what those initiatives specifically mean for Hamilton and our newcomers in the Hamilton area.

Hon. Mr. Colle: One of the approaches we're taking in my ministry is a regionalization approach to immigration. We're trying to encourage newcomers -- we're fortunate to have so many choose

Ontario every year -- to look at settling in great cities like Sudbury, Hamilton, Windsor -- another great gateway for immigrants. We are providing service extension into those areas. We are, for instance, spreading the CARE program for

internationally trained nurses in Hamilton so that they can get jobs as nurses. It works very well.

We're also working with great partners in Hamilton: SISO; we're working very well with the association of engineering technologists and technicians to provide employment to 25,000 trained technicians; we're

also working with Mohawk College, a great hub of international students and internationally trained individuals. So, in partnership, we're breaking down barriers; we're bridging the gap between their training overseas and the training here. It's a

great time to invest in immigrants because when they succeed, we all succeed.

WASTE DIVERSION

Mr. Norman W. Sterling (Lanark-Carleton): My question is to the Minister of the Environment. Minister, your leader promised during the last election to divert 60% of solid waste from landfills

by 2008. According to today's Toronto Star, Ontario is diverting only 25% of our garbage. It will now be impossible for you to meet your promised 60% diversion target by 2008. Why have you broken this important environmental promise?

Hon. Laurel C. Broten (Minister of the Environment): It's nice to have an opportunity to lay the blame, perhaps, at the foot of those who should be paying attention to these figures.

Regulations 102 and 103 have been on the books since 1994, and one of the reasons this province faces the extensive challenges that we do with respect to waste diversion is that those regulations were not enforced. One of the challenges in your

own community, sir, is the fact that the ICI waste is not being diverted. For the very first time, this government is taking steps to ensure that our ICI sector diverts that waste. We're working hard every single day to provide the tools that the

municipalities need, and the ICI sector needs to divert that waste, but the first step we needed to take was to turn the page from the history that we received.

Mr. Sterling: If you had kept your promise of 60% diversion, we wouldn't need huge expansions of the Green Lane landfill near London, nor the Carp dump in west Ottawa, nor the Richmond

landfill near Napanee, nor the Warwick landfill in Lambton.

Madam Minister, since you have done nothing with regard to regulating industrial, commercial and institutional waste, and in Ottawa you are not enforcing those regulations -- your own ministry officials tell

us that -- will you give the city of Ottawa the right to regulate it? Because at least they will do something to stem this lack of diversion in the ICI waste stream.

Hon. Ms. Broten: I guess I can say to the member opposite that when I got the privilege of this position, I did look in the drawers and I didn't see any waste diversion plan that had been left

by the previous government. But I can tell you the steps that we've taken: new programs for household hazardous waste, new programs for bottle return, some 260 enforcement and investigations in the ICI sector, new programs with respect to waste

diversion being provided, those tools, to the ICI sector so that they can better divert the waste that they are now currently landfilling.

The Carp landfill expansion in your own community is at the very beginning of the processes. An environmental assessment is beginning. The community is having an opportunity to comment. The Ministry of the

Environment is enforcing the regulations that you did not seek to enforce, and that will increase diversion in this province. At the same time, your community will have an opportunity to participate in an EA process around the Carp landfill.

WINDSOR ARENA PROJECT

Mr. Michael Prue (Beaches-East York): My question is to the Minister of Economic Development. Madam Minister, Dalton McGuinty's trail of broken promises tour won't be visiting Windsor today.

That's because the working families in that particular city are furious they will lose their racetrack, their slots, their proposed rink -- a devastating blow to a community that's suffered a lot lately. The community is going to lose hundreds of

good-paying jobs.

A couple of weeks ago, you were named the Minister of Economic Development. Your job is supposed to be bringing jobs in, not letting jobs go away. What do you have to say about this mess and, more importantly,

what are you going to do about it?

Hon. Sandra Pupatello (Minister of Economic Development and Trade, minister responsible for women's issues): I'm very happy to address this very clearly. I, too, am disappointed, as the local

MPP for Windsor West, to have the raceway move out of Windsor West but stay in the region of Essex county, as raceways are economic engines for the region in which they reside.

Let me say this: I think it's very clear that our government has a track record on economic development that puts most Premiers in the history of Ontario to shame. There were months and months and months that

went by under both the NDP and the Conservative government, where the Premier never went past London down the 401. Our Premier, on the other hand, has come to Windsor more times in our short time in office than any of the other Premiers combined.

I am proud of the record that we have of our Premier coming to our city, and not just to visit, but to deliver for the people of Windsor.

Mr. Prue: The best retort was written today by Gord Henderson, a Windsor Star political columnist. He said, "The truly astonishing thing is seeing ... Dwight Duncan and Sandra Pupatello, wash

their hands of this mess.... If you believe" that they knew nothing, "I have an Ungava Bay moose pasture that will surely catch your fancy."

In Ontario, racetrack owners don't just get up and pull up stakes and move the slots wherever and whenever they want to. I am sure this has nothing to do with a well-connected Liberal and former provincial

candidate being mayor of the town that has just bushwhacked Windsor. I'm equally sure that it has nothing to do with Tony Toldo, the racetrack owner who is hosting a $1,000-a-plate fundraising dinner for Dalton McGuinty on November 2. This is the

kind of behaviour that wins you your party's much-coveted Patti Starr award of excellence.

Minister, just what the hell is going on here, and what are you going to do about it?

Hon. Ms. Pupatello: I'm sure my residents are impressed by the kind of language that the member opposite addresses in this House.

Our record for the Windsor area is clear, whether it's investment to save the Nemak plant, the expansion of the Valiant plant or the $400-million expansion of the Windsor casino. Or perhaps it's the project

associated with DaimlerChrysler that helps our paint shop, or it's a medical school, or it's the investment of $1.2 billion in the city of Windsor since we've become a government. Is that what this member opposite is complaining about?

There's not a resident in my city who would agree with this member opposite, but rather would say that when it comes to the McGuinty government, we deliver for the city of Windsor, and that will not stop.

POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION

Mr. Mario G. Racco (Thornhill): My question is for the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities. Ontario is a province with extraordinary potential, and our greatest resource is people.

The ingenuity of Ontarians has led to inventions and discoveries like insulin, the electron microscope, the Canadarm, for which my riding made a piece, and the BlackBerry. Many of Ontario's greatest accomplishments have been discovered in our

province's universities --

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): Stop. I would ask the member for Timmins-James Bay to come to order. I won't warn him again.

Member for Thornhill.

Mr. Racco: Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for controlling the NDP.

Every day, we hear of a new breakthrough from around the globe in medical research or in the development of smaller, faster and better forms of technology.

In order for us to compete with the rest of the world, we need to develop, support and draw upon innovative thinkers and cutting-edge research right here in Ontario. Minister, what are we doing to make sure

our universities are able to inspire innovation and create a competitive advantage for Ontario?

Hon. Christopher Bentley (Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities): I'd like to thank the member for Thornhill for identifying a very important issue.

Interjection.

The Speaker: I asked the member for Timmins-James Bay to come to order. I warned him.

Minister.

Hon. Mr. Bentley: It's a very important issue that the member from Thornhill raises, one which he's raised quite often, because he has, as we all do, many people in university and college now

who are looking at ways to extend their education, because they know the future is all about knowledge and innovation.

That's why, just the other week, the Premier made an announcement that we're increasing graduate student opportunities for September 2007 by 12,000 more spaces from when we started, and 14,000 by 2009-10. For

universities in the Toronto area, that means a huge additional capacity to take on students. For example, York University will have 1,100 more opportunities, U of T 2,500 more opportunities and Ryerson 900 more opportunities.

Mr. Racco: I'm very pleased to hear that the number of post-secondary students is on the rise. It shows that our commitment to post-secondary education in this province is working.

However, traffic congestion for all is top of mind these days, including how long it takes to get to work and to school. Minister, I want to know what our government is doing to address congestion in York

region and ensure that Ontario students are spending less time on the roads and more time in the library.

Hon. Mr. Bentley: I think this is a question for the Minister of Transportation.

Hon. Donna H. Cansfield (Minister of Transportation): I'm pleased to be able to respond to the member's question. I ought to thank the member as well for his consistent efforts in moving

public transportation forward in this province.

Recently, both Toronto and York appointed municipal trustees in the Move Ontario trust, and I'm encouraged that they've reached a cost-sharing agreement on the subway extension funding. We have invested $1.5

million for an environmental assessment on the TTC Spadina subway extension to York University, we have provided funding for both the EA and construction of the rapid bus transit system to York University, and we have added, through GO Transit, 77

new buses to help move those 65,000 students who attend York University on a regular basis. So I'm proud to say that after years of neglect and underinvestment, we've changed the way things have been done in Ontario, and we're making things better

by putting public transit first.

VISITOR

Hon. Sandra Pupatello (Minister of Economic Development and Trade, minister responsible for women's issues): On a point of order, Mr. Speaker: I'm happy to introduce another resident from the

riding of Windsor West, Lynda Pizzolitto, who is also my sister-in-law and mom to our page, Dominic Pizzolitto. Welcome to Queen's Park.

PETITIONS

CELLPHONES

Mr. John O'Toole (Durham): It's a pleasure to present a petition on behalf of my constituents in the riding of Durham. It reads as follows:

"Whereas the safe operation of a motor vehicle requires the driver's undivided attention; and

"Whereas research has shown that the operation of devices such as cellphones detracts from a driver's ability to respond and concentrate on the task at hand; and

"Whereas close to two dozen government jurisdictions around the world have already passed legislation to restrict the use of cellphones while driving;

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

"That the Legislative Assembly of Ontario enact legislation to curtail the use of cellular telephones proposed in Bill 68, the private member's" bill introduced by MPP John O'Toole.

I support this and would encourage the Premier to look into it. I present it to page Stephen.

TRADE DEVELOPMENT

Mr. Bob Delaney (Mississauga West): I have a petition to the Ontario Legislative Assembly. It was sent to me by a number of people in Brampton who work in the auto trade at DaimlerChrysler. It

reads as follows:

"Whereas more than 260,000 Ontarians make their living and support their families through their careers in the auto industry in Ontario, which has become the pre-eminent manufacturer of motor vehicles in North

America; and

"Whereas Canada imports more than 130,000 vehicles annually from the Republic of Korea, which imports virtually no vehicles or parts from Canada and does none of its manufacturing or assembly in Ontario or in

any other Canadian jurisdiction, even though Canadian auto workers make the best-quality, most cost-effective vehicles in the world; and

to require Korea to reduce tariff and non-tariff barriers to Canadian-made vehicles, auto parts and other value-added services or components;

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

country to the other's domestic markets in manufactured products such as motor vehicles and in value-added services, and ensure that Korea commits to manufacturing vehicles in Canada if Korea proposes to continue to sell vehicles in Canada."

This is an excellent petition. I absolutely support it. I've affixed my signature, and I'm going ask Mississauga West page Taylor Rodrigues to carry it for me.

PROPERTY RIGHTS

Mr. Norman W. Sterling (Lanark-Carleton): "To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms is silent on property rights; and

"Whereas the Alberta Bill of Rights specifically protects the right to the enjoyment of property; and

"Whereas the Quebec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms provides that `Every person has a right to the peaceful enjoyment and free disposition of his property, except to the extent provided by law'; and

"Whereas ownership rights should not be abridged or usurped without due process of law; and

"Whereas owners of all lands affected by expropriation should have the right to be included as parties to a required inquiry to consider the merits of the objectives of the expropriating authority; and

"Whereas the decision of an expropriating authority should be subject to judicial review; and

"Whereas, subject to specific limitations of law, the right to peaceful enjoyment of one's land must be recognized by Ontario law;

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

"To pass Bill 57, the Land Rights and Responsibilities Act, 2006."

I sign my name.

AUTISM TREATMENT

Ms. Shelley Martel (Nickel Belt): I have a petition from parents with autistic children that reads as follows:

"To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas children with autism who have reached the age of six years are no longer being discharged from their preschool autism program; and

"Whereas these children should be getting the best special education possible in the form of applied behavioural analysis (ABA) within the school system; and

"Whereas there are approximately 700 preschool children with autism across Ontario who are required to wait indefinitely for placement in the program, and there are countless school-aged children not receiving

the support they require in the school system; and

"Whereas this situation has an impact on the families, extended families and friends of all of these children; and

"Whereas, as stated on the website for the Ministry of Children and Youth Services, `IBI can make a significant difference in the life of a child with autism. Its objective is to decrease the frequency of

challenging behaviours, build social skills and promote language development';

"We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to fund the treatment of IBI for all preschool children awaiting services. We also petition the Legislature of Ontario to fund an education

program in the form of ABA in the school system."

This has been sent to me by A. Pap of Kingston, Ontario. I agree with the petitioner and I've affixed my signature to it.

FAIR ACCESS TO PROFESSIONS

Mr. Tony Ruprecht (Davenport): I have a petition given to me by skilled immigrants in support of Bill 124. It's addressed to the Parliament of Ontario and reads as follows:

"Whereas the McGuinty government is committed to establishing measures that will break down barriers for Ontario newcomers; and

"Whereas these measures will ensure that the 34 regulatory professions in Ontario have admissions and application practices that are fair, clear and open; and

"Whereas these measures will include the establishment of a fairness commissioner and an access centre for internationally trained individuals; and

"Whereas, through providing a fair and equitable system, newcomers will be able [to] apply their global experience, which will not only be beneficial to their long-term career goals but also to the Ontario

economy as a whole;

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

"That all members of the House support the Fair Access to Regulated Professions Act, 2006, Bill 124, and work to ensure its prompt passage in the Ontario Legislature."

I'm delighted to support this petition and I will sign it.

SCHOOL FACILITIES

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

"Whereas the parents of St. Paul's elementary school in Alliston have raised many issues regarding the security, cleanliness and state of repair of their school; and

"Whereas a 2003 condition assessment completed by the Ontario government identified the need for $1.8 million in repairs to St. Paul's elementary school; and

"Whereas the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board has approached the Ministry of Education with the intention of having the school deemed prohibitive to repair as they believe the school requires

$2.28 million in repairs, or 84% of the school replacement cost; and

"Whereas there are ongoing concerns with air quality, heating and ventilation, electrical, plumbing, lack of air conditioning and the overall structure of the building, including cracks from floor to ceiling,

to name a few;

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

"That the Minister of Education immediately deem St. Paul's elementary school prohibitive to repair, secure immediate funding and begin construction of a new facility so that the children of St. Paul's can be

educated in a facility that is secure and offers them the respect and dignity that they deserve."

As I mentioned, I went to kindergarten to grade 8 at this school. My mother taught there for 33 years.

I want to thank Milva Biffis and Gaynor McLeary for sending me the petitions.

HOSPITAL SERVICES

Ms. Shelley Martel (Nickel Belt): I have a petition regarding this government's P3 hospitals. It reads as follows:

"To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas all hospitals since the inception of public medicare in Canada have been non-profit;

"Whereas `public-private partnership' (P3) hospitals turn over democratic community control to international investors, turning a public service into a commodity sold for profit;

"Whereas worldwide evidence is that private (P3) hospitals lead to doctor, nurse, staff and bed cuts in hospitals in order to make room for profit taking, consultant fees, higher borrowing costs and outrageous

executive salaries;

"Whereas private (P3) hospitals hide information about the use of tax dollars by claiming `commercial secrecy' when they privatize public institutions;

"Whereas the higher costs, user fees, two-tier services and culture of private (P3) hospitals risk the future sustainability of our public medicare system;

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

"We call on the government of Ontario to stop all current and future `public-private partnership' (P3) hospital deals and return full ownership, operation, management and delivery of hospital services to

non-profit hands, and develop a plan to fund new hospitals through public finance, clearly excluding the privatization of hospital services."

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

IDENTITY THEFT

Mr. Tony Ruprecht (Davenport): The following petition has been sent to me by Consumer Federation Canada, and it reads as follows:

"To the Parliament of Ontario and the Minister of Government Services:

"Whereas identity theft is the fastest-growing crime in North America;

"Whereas confidential and private information is being stolen on a regular basis, affecting literally thousands of people;

"Whereas the cost of this crime exceeds billions of dollars;

"Whereas countless hours are wasted to restore one's good credit rating;

"Therefore we, the undersigned, demand that Bill 38, which passed the second reading unanimously in the Ontario Legislature on December 8, 2005, be brought before committee and that the following issues be

included for consideration and debate:

"

(1) All consumer reports should be provided in a truncated (masked-out) form, protecting our vital private information, such as SIN and loan account numbers.

"

(2) Should a consumer reporting agency discover that there has been an unlawful disclosure of consumer information, the agency should immediately inform the affected consumer.

"

(3) The consumer reporting agency shall only report credit-inquiry records resulting from actual applications for credit or increase of credit, except in a report given to the consumer.

"

(4) The consumer reporting agency shall investigate disputed information within 30 days and correct, supplement or automatically delete any information found unconfirmed, incomplete or inaccurate."

Since I agree with this, I'm delighted to sign this petition.

MACULAR DEGENERATION

Mr. Jerry J. Ouellette (Oshawa): I have a petition that 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 (wet), and there are other forms of macular degeneration," such as Stargardt's, "that are not

covered,

"Therefore

be it resolved that we, the undersigned, respectfully petition the government 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 individuals 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."

I affix my name in full support.

COLORECTAL CANCER

Ms. Shelley Martel (Nickel Belt): I have a petition from the Colorectal Cancer Association of Canada, and it reads as follows:

"Whereas it is incumbent that the Ontario government introduce a population-based screening program for colorectal cancer immediately based on the 2002 report by the National Cancer Commission on Colorectal

Cancer Screening and recommendations by Cancer Care Ontario;

"Whereas the Ontario government has not implemented a colorectal cancer screening program, and still has an extra duty to provide the standard of care that is recommended in the treatment of colorectal

cancer;

"Whereas the Ontario government has elected not to fund the medications which form the standard of care for the treatment of advanced colorectal cancer, namely Oxaliplatin and Avastin, and that the government

should rightfully fund these medications;

"Whereas forcing patients to pay for these drugs constitutes a two-tiered health care system which is unacceptable for the standard treatment of Canada's second-biggest cancer killer;

"Therefore, we, the undersigned, petition the government of Ontario to introduce and implement a population-based colorectal cancer screening program and to fund the necessary medications for the treatment of

advanced colorectal cancer, namely Oxaliplatin and Avastin."

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

HIGHWAY 417

Mr. John Yakabuski (Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke): I have a petition here signed by many, many people from my riding of Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke, including Jim Bradley.

Mr. Tony Ruprecht (Davenport): No.

Mr. Yakabuski: Yes; it's right there.

"To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas modern highways are the economic lifelines to communities across Ontario and crucial to the growth of Ontario's economy; and

"Whereas the Ministry of Transportation has been dealing with the planning and design of the extension of Highway 417 for several years; and

"Whereas the previous Conservative government followed through with their commitment to extend Highway 417 to Arnprior; and

"Whereas Highway 417/17 is part of the TransCanada highway system; and

"Whereas local municipal governments, the county of Renfrew and MPP John Yakabuski have continued to press the Liberal government on this issue;

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

"That the Liberal government move as swiftly as possible to approve the extension of Highway 417 through Arnprior to Renfrew and beyond and that this be included in their next five-year plan."

Mr. Speaker, I agree with this petition and affix my signature to it.

GASOLINE PRICES

Mr. Jerry J. Ouellette (Oshawa): I have a petition that reads:

"To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas gasoline prices have continued to increase at alarming rates in recent months; and

"Whereas the high and unstable gas prices across Ontario have caused confusion and unfair hardship to Ontario's drivers while also impacting the Ontario economy in key sectors such as tourism and

transportation; and

"Whereas the member from Superior North and the member from Essex, as well as the current ministers from St. Catharines, Eglinton-Lawrence and Sudbury have introduced legislation to freeze gas prices;

"Therefore,

be it resolved that we, the undersigned, respectfully petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as follows:

"That the government of Ontario considers an immediate, temporary gas price freeze and fair and transparent gasoline pricing by supporting the previous members' bills while international gas prices stabilize:

Bill 10, the Gas Price Watchdog Act, introduced by the Liberal member for Thunder Bay-Superior North; Bill 18, the Gas Price Watchdog Act, introduced by the honourable Liberal member for Eglinton-Lawrence; Bill 80, the Gasoline Consumer Protection

Act, introduced by the Liberal member for Essex; Bill 32, the Petroleum Products Price Freeze Act, introduced by the honourable Liberal member from Sudbury; and Bill 16, the Gasoline Pricing Act, introduced by the honourable Liberal member from

St. Catharines."

I affix my name in support, Mr. Speaker.

ORDERS OF THE DAY

CLEAN WATER ACT, 2006 /

LOI DE 2006 SUR L'EAU SAINE

Ms. Broten moved third reading of the following bill:

Bill 43,

An Act to protect existing and future sources of drinking water and to make complementary and other amendments to other Acts / Projet de loi 43, Loi visant à protéger les sources existantes

et futures d'eau potable et à apporter des modifications complémentaires et autres à d'autres lois.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Bruce Crozier): Ms. Broten, you have the floor.

Hon. Laurel C. Broten (Minister of the Environment): Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. It's a pleasure to introduce Bill 43, the proposed Clean Water Act, for third reading. I am pleased that

I'll be sharing my time with my parliamentary assistant, the member from Peterborough.

This is a great and long-awaited day for the province of Ontario. Today, we consider a piece of legislation that will fundamentally transform the way we protect our greatest natural resource: our water. As the

honourable members know as representatives of the people of this great province, we have a rare and valuable opportunity to truly make a meaningful difference in the lives of Ontarians, not only for today, but for generations to come.

There can be no better opportunity than the one we debate today. Ontario could never have developed into the diverse and thriving province it is today without a constant supply of clean, safe drinking water.

But the quality and quantity of our water are not boundless; we must manage our water responsibly. Bill 43 gives us an opportunity to protect Ontario's environment and also leave an important legacy for our children. I'm very proud to be proposing

legislation that has the potential to make such a profound and lasting contribution to Ontario's environmental well-being and to the quality of life our people enjoy so dearly.

Our government's vision is of a province where our children can live and play in a strong, healthy, vibrant community, an Ontario that is clean and green, progressive and prosperous. This is our government's

vision, and it is also a vision that is shared by people across our province. We know that Ontarians, when asked, will clearly state their profound belief that the environment is a top priority, along with health and education.

Notre gouvernement a comme vision une province où les enfants peuvent vivre et grandir dans des collectivités fortes, salubres et dynamiques, un Ontario propre et vert, prospère et en plein

essor. Cette vision du gouvernement est partagée par les citoyens et les citoyennes de la province.

En effet, les Ontariens et les Ontariennes déclarent que l'environnement constitue une priorité pour eux, comme la santé et l'éducation.

Our government is working on many fronts to realize that vision, and many different ministries and agencies are involved. Unlike some of our predecessors, the McGuinty government understands that Ontarians

want effective environmental stewardship from their representatives at Queen's Park. We take our stewardship very seriously. We are committed to upholding the trust placed in us, to managing environmental issues wisely on behalf of Ontarians. As

stewards, our role is to ensure that environmental protection is being managed at the most effective and appropriate levels.

I want to take a few minutes today to remind the honourable members of the purpose of Bill 43 and briefly describe how it is designed to work in communities right across the province. But first I want to

highlight the extensive consultation process we have undertaken for the bill and how it has helped to make the proposed legislation even stronger and more effective.

Our government consulted with more than 300 groups across the province. We heard from farmers and municipal leaders, large industry, small businesses, conservation groups, health officials, First Nations and

property owners. We listened and we took action on what we heard. There is no better example of this than our drinking water stewardship program for rural Ontario. Property owners and small businesses told us that they needed financial help to

make changes to implement their plans. We've heard their concerns and we responded. We built our financial assistance program right into the legislation itself. Initially, $7 million will be available for early action to protect drinking water.

What's more, we've promised farmers and rural business owners that this is only our initial funding; there will be more.

To ensure that future funding is well invested and meets the needs of rural Ontario, I appointed an 11-member advisory panel to be chaired by Al Lauzon, a past chair of the Ontario Rural Council. The panel

will provide invaluable advice and expertise in designing the program. As communities complete their source protection plans, we'll know better what the costs of implementation are and how to effectively direct sustainable future funding to

address those costs. It is actions like these that prompted Ron Bonnett from the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, to say, "The government is clearly listening to the concerns of rural Ontario."

I should also point out that the program has been very enthusiastically received by the Ontario Farm Animal Council, the Ontario Farm Environmental Coalition, Conservation Ontario, Environmental Defence and

the Association of Municipalities of Ontario.

This is just one example that demonstrates the value of Bill 43. The legislation is built around a clear vision, but it is also highly responsive to community needs. We have a bill that is clear in its goals

but flexible enough to allow local decision-makers to choose their best path. It reflects the desires of environmentalists to take a preventative approach, but also listens to the needs of farmers and property owners who are the stewards of their

land.

I know that every member of this House supports the underlying principle of Bill 43, which is that everyone living in Ontario has a fundamental right to safe, clean drinking water. In order to safeguard that

right, treatment is simply not enough. Justice O'Connor pointed out in his report on the Walkerton inquiry that Ontario needs a multi-barrier approach for water protection, a system with numerous built-in safeguards that protect our water from

source to tap. Protecting our water begins with preventing its contamination. We share that vision.

Prevention is the fundamental goal of the proposed legislation contained in Bill 43. The passage of this bill will mean that 12 of Justice O'Connor's recommendations will be fully addressed, but more than

that, it will start a whole new

chapter in the history of how we manage our supply of water. It all comes down to trust. People need to be able to trust that their water is safe to drink and that the water sources they rely on are free from

pollution. If this public confidence is lost, the results can be devastating. With the passage of the Clean Water Act, communities in Ontario will start developing and adopting a watershed-based approach to prevention. Just as importantly, they

will not have to develop water protection measures in isolation. They will plan prevention measures across the watersheds they share. Under Bill 43, communities would form committees to look at the vulnerability of their drinking water sources and

to evaluate existing and potential threats to local supplies. The committees would then develop source protection plans designed to reduce or eliminate those threats.

When these plans are implemented, communities would begin to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the prevention measures. Over time, the plans themselves will be reviewed and updated to enhance the

protection they provide against existing threats and ensure that they respond to new ones.

For some communities, these source protection planning activities they carry out may well be the first opportunity they have had to identify threats to their water supplies. In other communities, source

protection activities may represent the continuation of work that has already been started. Either way, it is clear that local communities are in the best position to develop and implement effective protection measures to safeguard their water

supplies.

We heard the concerns of property owners and farmers. They agreed that it is important to reduce threats to our drinking water but they were concerned about what it would mean for their land, and we have taken

their concerns to heart. Many threats to drinking water can be managed locally through voluntary efforts, and we've replaced the system of permits and permit officials that was originally proposed with a negotiated risk management approach. This

change recognizes the tremendous work that's already being done on a voluntary basis and it is similar to the stewardship activities that are now common in a number of regions.

Risk management officials will be required to have appropriate training and qualifications to develop plans with property owners. For instance, an official working with farmers would need to have training in

biosecurity and health and safety protocols.

We also know that source water protection plans need to be based on sound scientific principles and good research, and they must be developed in consultation with all members of the community.

We've already committed $120 million for planning to help communities and their partners study and assess their watersheds, undertake water budgets and ensure that they get the science right. A great deal of

work is already under way, and the magnitude of what's being accomplished is truly remarkable. There is no doubt that it is the largest scientific exercise ever undertaken in Ontario to better understand our water resources.

To protect drinking water supplies effectively, we first need to know how much water we have, how much is in reserve, how our water replenishes itself and how those supplies could be threatened both now and in

the future. Right now, right across Ontario, conservation authorities and municipalities are using leading-edge research and technology to build comprehensive maps of their surface and groundwater resources. This research will help them develop

local source protection plans for watersheds across the province.

We recognize that there will be implementing costs involved with this work, and because every region of Ontario has its own unique characteristics and challenges, it's difficult to say precisely what the cost

for each community will be. The need to adapt prevention measures to fit local needs is one of the greatest strengths of the propose