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October 15, 2008

39th Parliament, 1st Session

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Hansard Transcripts

Votes and Proceedings

Orders and Notices

Hansard Transcripts 2008-Oct-15 (PDF)

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO

ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE DE L'ONTARIO

Wednesday 15 October 2008 Mercredi 15 octobre 2008

INTRODUCTION OF VISITORS

ORAL QUESTIONS

TAXATION

TAXATION

FEDERAL-PROVINCIAL

FISCAL POLICIES

MANUFACTURING JOBS

FEDERAL ELECTION

PROPERTY TAXATION

INFRASTRUCTURE RENEWAL

ASSISTANCE TO FARMERS

CHILD ABUSE

SMALL BUSINESS

ONTARIO ECONOMY

NUCLEAR ENERGY

ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE

TOURISM

ONTARIO MUNICIPAL BOARD

YOUTH SERVICES

STANDING ORDERS

INTRODUCTION OF VISITORS

MEMBERS' STATEMENTS

GROVES MEMORIAL

COMMUNITY HOSPITAL

BRAMPTON SAFE CITY ASSOCIATION

KEN ROSS

RIDING OF STORMONT–DUNDAS—SOUTH GLENGARRY

MANUFACTURING JOBS

POVERTY

VERA SCHIFF

ENERGY CONSERVATION

CHATHAM-KENT HEALTH ALLIANCE

INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

EMANCIPATION DAY ACT, 2008 /

LOI DE 2008 SUR LE JOUR

DE L'ÉMANCIPATION

STATEMENTS BY THE MINISTRY

AND RESPONSES

CITIZENSHIP WEEK

CITIZENSHIP WEEK

CITIZENSHIP WEEK

PETITIONS

DRINKING AND DRIVING

CHILD CUSTODY

SEXUAL REASSIGNMENT SURGERY

GASOLINE PRICES

HOSPITAL FUNDING

CAMBRIDGE COURTHOUSE

CHILD CUSTODY

DRINKING AND DRIVING

POPE JOHN PAUL II

SEXUAL REASSIGNMENT SURGERY

GTA POOLING

ORDERS OF THE DAY

ONTARIO ECONOMY

The House met at 0900.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Good morning. Please remain standing for the Lord's Prayer, followed by the universal prayer of the Hindus.

Prayers.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): The Minister of Tourism.

Hon. Monique M. Smith: Pursuant to standing order 8(d), there being no business this morning, I ask that the House be recessed until 10:30 a.m.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Pursuant to standing order 8(d), this House is recessed until 10:30 a.m.

The House recessed from 0904 to 1030.

INTRODUCTION OF VISITORS

Mr. Jim Brownell: It's a privilege for me to stand in the House today to welcome guests from my riding of Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry, who are here for Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry day. I know that many ministers have opened their doors to meetings today, and I appreciate that. I would like to invite this House and the guests to attend a reception this evening in rooms 228 and 230, where we will feature everything that makes Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry a great place to live, work and play.

Mr. Rosario Marchese: I want to introduce a group of young people who are here from Venezuela: from the National Committee of the Roofless, Luis Gascuez; and from the Afro-Venezuelan Network, Ricardo Scott, Alberto Antonio and Juan Carlos Lombardo. Welcome to Toronto.

Ms. Helena Jaczek: We have in the gallery the grade 10 class from St. Augustine Catholic High School in my riding of Oak Ridges—Markham.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): There being no further guests to introduce, it is now time for oral questions. If I may, for just one moment, I want to remind the members that the new revised standing orders are in your desks, so you have them available to you for your perusal.

ORAL QUESTIONS

TAXATION

Mr. Tim Hudak: My question is to the Premier. Working families and seniors in the province of Ontario are finding it increasingly difficult to make ends meet, let alone in today's economic circumstances. Premier, can you stand up and guarantee Ontario families that there will be no new taxes or tax increases in your upcoming economic statement?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: I'll let the Minister of Finance speak to the particulars, but what I can say is that we intend to do what families do in the face of economic challenges at home. They certainly don't look for ways to incur new costs, and they certainly wouldn't welcome new expenses—things that are beyond their control—but they do what they have to when it comes to tightening things up and looking at ways to demonstrate restraint.

If there are undertakings we've made with respect to new initiatives, then we'll do as families do: We'll look for ways to delay some of those, so that we can proceed in a thoughtful and responsible way. We'll take our cue from Ontario families. I think the most direct thing I can say to my colleague opposite is that I know that families would not be looking forward to undue expenditures imposed upon them by any level of government.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Supplementary?

Mr. Tim Hudak: Obviously, working families are facing higher grocery prices. They're facing higher hydro fees, thanks to Dalton McGuinty. They're facing higher taxes, thanks to Dalton McGuinty. They're facing sky-rocketing assessment increases this month, leading to property tax increases, thanks to Dalton McGuinty. Of course they won't welcome it.

What I want you to do, though—the buck stops at your desk. Would you please stand in the assembly today and say there will be no tax increases and no new taxes in the upcoming economic statement and, as well, no new user fees or user fee increases?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: There will be no new taxes and no new fees in the upcoming economic statement.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Final supplementary.

Mr. Tim Hudak: You know, I wish I had asked that question back before Dalton McGuinty brought in the biggest tax increase in the history of our country, despite promises to the contrary.

Interjections.

Mr. Tim Hudak: Now, now, let's hold on a second here—I think the members opposite realize that while Dalton McGuinty says there's no new tax or fee increases, he is bringing in a brand new electronics tax on the backs of working families and seniors in the province of Ontario. Just like Ontario families soundly rejected your friend Stéphane Dion's carbon tax—simply a tax hike gussied up in a green cloak—you're bringing in a new tax on appliances, on microwaves, on TVs and on tires.

Given the Premier's sudden concern for working families, will you stand up now, Premier, and say that you're going to scrap that ill-advised new tax on electronic goods in the province of Ontario?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: I won't do that, and I know my colleague opposite understands that. We certainly feel on this side of the House that we can both grow this economy—we can do everything we possibly can muster in the context of a serious global economic challenge, but we don't feel that we can give up our responsibility to address environmental issues at the same time. So we're going to have to do something about all those tires that we bury in the province of Ontario; we're going to have to do something about that electronic waste.

We've put forward some thoughtful policies. There are some costs associated with that—I will not deny that—but I think that families also understand that in their interests and in the interests of their children and grandchildren, we have got to come to grips with the waste that we're producing. So we move forward in thoughtful, responsible and, I believe, affordable ways to deal with those issues.

TAXATION

Mr. Tim Hudak: Back to the Premier: Would you agree that increases in business tax rates lead to job losses in the province of Ontario?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: We believe that taxes are a real issue for our businesses and that's why they're part of our plan. So far we've managed to reduce business taxes by $1.5 billion; fully implemented, we'll be saving Ontario businesses some $3 billion. My friend opposite knows, as I said several times over, that if we take a look at the discrimination being visited upon Ontarians, on Canadians living in Ontario by Ottawa, we could do more if we were allowed to keep more of our own money, and one of the areas that we could address together would be the level of tax competitiveness for Ontario businesses.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Supplementary?

Mr. Tim Hudak: The Premier claims that business taxes have come down. I think he believes our memories are very short. Premier, you remember in your first budget, in the largest tax increase in the history of our province, you increased business taxes to make Ontario the most uncompetitive jurisdiction in North America when it comes to tax rates on new business investment. You increased the tax on small businesses. You increased the tax on all businesses, and you brought in a delay of the capital tax in the province.

And the result: 200,000-plus well-paying manufacturing jobs have fled the province of Ontario under the Dalton McGuinty government—John Deere, 800 jobs recently; Volvo in Goderich, 500 jobs.

Premier, I'll ask you as well: Will you correct the mistake you made early in your mandate by jacking up business taxes and commit to a

schedule of business tax reductions in your economic statement?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: My friend remembers certain things, and even those things that he remembers, I don't recall, but I do remember a $5.6-billion deficit. That's shown in the public accounts, so that is real.

My colleague opposite knows that we've also done a number of things to help the competitiveness of Ontario businesses when it comes to the levels of taxation. He's dead wrong when he continues to say somehow that we are the least competitive jurisdiction in all North America, and he knows better than that. We have, in fact, a lower combined corporate tax rate than any US state, and I know that my friend recognizes that.

We've also acted to raise the small business tax exemption. We have reduced the business education tax, and we continue to do that, and we've completely eliminated the capital tax for our manufacturers and others who find themselves in the resource-based industries in Ontario.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Final supplementary.

Mr. Tim Hudak: It's not just me or the Progressive Conservative caucus; it's your own adviser, Roger Martin, dean of the Rotman School of Management, who comes forward and says that Ontario under Dalton McGuinty is the least competitive jurisdiction, when it comes to business investment, in all of North America.

The Premier clearly does not understand that lowering the tax and regulatory burden on our businesses will actually increase tax revenue in Ontario by helping to create new jobs that are needed in our province. In fact, economist Jack Mintz recently showed that a 1% reduction in Ontario's corporate income tax rate would actually raise federal and provincial revenues by some 18%.

Premier, since a very modest decrease in corporate taxes can have an enormous benefit for Ontario families, help to create jobs, and at the same time increase government revenues to invest in health care and education, will you please stand in your place and confirm that you'll have a

schedule of business tax reductions in your economic statement next week?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: My friend opposite and several of his colleagues in his caucus have talked about Roger Martin's advice. I listen carefully when Roger Martin speaks, and he has spoken to the issue of tax competitiveness, but he's also spoken over the years about a number of other issues as well. He has said, for example, that we should eliminate the capital tax; we've done that for our manufacturers and resource-based industries. He said that we should focus on increasing apprenticeships; we have 50,000 more young people in the province of Ontario today enrolled in our apprenticeship programs.

He specifically said we need to address the dropout rate in the province of Ontario; we've got 10,000 more young people graduating every single year. He said we needed to increase in post-secondary education generally; we've got a $6.2-billion Reaching Higher plan in place. So what I draw to my friend's attention is that he does speak to the issue of taxation, but he speaks to many other issues as well, understanding that in order to be competitive, you've got to look at the whole picture.

FEDERAL-PROVINCIAL

FISCAL POLICIES

Mr. Howard Hampton: My question is for the Premier. The Premier spent a lot of time over the last couple of months talking about his so-called fairness campaign. He wanted people to put up lawn signs and sign his on-line petition. In a province of 13 million, only 15,000 people bothered to sign the Premier's online petition. Will the Premier now admit that his so-called fairness campaign was a dismal failure and was nothing more than a superficial diversion from the McGuinty government's failure to sustain jobs in Ontario?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: I want to first of all thank my colleague opposite and all the members of this Legislature for their support in the resolution that we put forward in this House. I want to thank the Ontarians who took some initiative to speak out on behalf of fairness issues. My colleague seems not to have grown enthusiastic about this initiative, and I hope that he develops some enthusiasm.

If he doesn't find that in terms of the information that I put forward, I recommend again that he review the TD Economics report, which specified that Canadians living in Ontario are visited with $11.8 billion by way of discrimination from Ottawa. I think that's a real issue; I think it's a pressing issue. We will continue to press this with all 106 newly elected MPs in the House of Commons.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Supplementary?

Mr. Howard Hampton: On the contrary; the real issue is the 230,000 manufacturing jobs and the 40,000 forest sector jobs that have been lost in this province, and the only answer from the McGuinty government is a phony online petition campaign that gets only 15,000 signatures in a province of 13 million people.

I think the Premier needs to look at the election results. Voters in Welland decided that there's a jobs crisis; voters in Thunder Bay sent a message that there's a jobs crisis; voters in Windsor sent a message that there's a jobs crisis; voters in Sudbury, voters in Timmins, voters in Sault Ste. Marie sent a message that there's a—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Stop the clock. I want to thank the members for their interjections and talking about different ridings, but I would like to be able to hear the honourable member ask his question.

Mr. Howard Hampton: All of those voters certainly recognize that there's a jobs crisis in Ontario. When are the Premier and the McGuinty government going to wake up to the fact that there's a jobs crisis in Ontario?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: My honourable colleague fails to see the important connection between our fairness case and our ability to lend further support to folks, particularly in the manufacturing sectors, who are being caught up in the tremendous—

Interjections.

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: He fails to see the connection between our ability to lend assistance to families caught up in this tremendous global economic dislocation, particularly in the manufacturing sector, and our fairness campaign. We are sending, according to the TD Economics report, some $20 billion annually to Ottawa for distribution in other provinces to enable them to provide more support to their industries—to further reduce their corporate taxes, for example. They specify the number as being $11.8 billion in actual discrimination. If we could keep just a bit more of our own money, then we could do more to lend more help to our manufacturers.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Final supplementary.

Mr. Howard Hampton: The Premier talks about everything other than the loss of manufacturing jobs in Ontario. I wonder when the McGuinty government is going to get it. You are losing manufacturing jobs and forest sector jobs in this province at a rate that is not rivalled anywhere else in Canada, yet the Premier wants to talk about his petition campaign that garnered only 15,000 signatures despite the fact that it's the only thing the Premier has talked about for the last 45 days.

How many jobs have to be lost in Ontario before the McGuinty government recognizes you've got a crisis on your hands and an online petition campaign doesn't do one wink of a thing about solving that jobs crisis? How long is it going to take?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: Again, I know it's in my honourable colleague's interest to somehow portray our campaign for fairness as being the only thing that we're doing here, but I want to remind him about our five-point plan, and in particular how it speaks to manufacturing concerns.

Fourteen per cent of Ontario jobs are found in manufacturing, so it remains a very important job base for us here. To help our manufacturing base grow stronger, we know they've got to make a transition to a point where they are more competitive. They need more highly skilled and educated workers. We're on to that with our Reaching Higher plan. They need to be able to buy the latest equipment and technology. We're on to that with our advanced manufacturing investment strategy. They need to take advantage of new ideas and innovation.

That's what the Ministry of Research and Innovation is all about, at $1.5 billion in new investments. They need more competitive taxes. That's why we've cut them by $1.5 billion. They need to know they've got a government that's in their corner and that's prepared to partner with them. That's what our Next Generation of Jobs Fund is all about. Finally, they need good infrastructure so that they can speed their goods to the marketplace. We're all over that as well.

MANUFACTURING JOBS

Mr. Howard Hampton: To the Premier: The Premier mentions once again the McGuinty government's five-point plan. Let me tell you, John Deere thought so much of your five-point plan that they announced the layoff of hundreds of workers in Welland. Volvo thought so much of your five-point plan that they've announced the layoff of over 500 workers in Goderich. And Daimler Trucks in St. Thomas thought so much of your five-point plan that they've just announced the layoff of 1,300 workers. Anybody who is watching knows that there are more layoffs to come as all of the parts makers in the St. Thomas area lay off more workers.

Premier, these companies obviously aren't impressed with your five-point plan. If they were, they wouldn't be laying off thousands of workers every week. What is the McGuinty government strategy, other than talking about an online petition that gets 15,000 signatures—

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Thank you. Premier?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: I just won't allow myself to be overcome by despair, as is evident in my colleague opposite. He's prepared to throw in the towel. He's saying that when it comes to the $11.8-billion discrimination visited on Canadians living in Ontario, he's prepared to give up. When it comes to job losses, he says there's more to come and there's nothing that he can do.

I'm not in that camp. I understand this is a difficult, very challenging time for Ontarians when it comes to what's happening in the global economy and particularly when it comes to what's happening to our manufacturing sector. This has been seen in the US, the UK and Australia. They've gone from 18% of their jobs to 10% of their jobs. We still have 14% of our jobs in the manufacturing sector, and we'll continue to fight as hard as we possibly can to retain every single one of those jobs. But it would be good to know, from time to time, when it comes to a fundamental issue like fairness, that the leader of the NDP was on the side of Ontario workers.

Mr. Howard Hampton: The people who are feeling despair are the laid-off workers: the laid-off workers who look at your so-called Second Careers jobs plan and are only signing up for 10% of the spaces; the laid-off workers who know that your so-called five-point plan doesn't offer them anything either.

We tabled some amendments to the Premier's economy resolution. I want to ask the Premier if he's prepared to support any of them: an industrial hydro rate to help manufacturers; a jobs commissioner to help at-risk companies; and a Buy Ontario policy, especially in the transit sector, so we can help sustain manufacturing jobs. Is the Premier prepared to act on any of those things to help sustain manufacturing jobs, or does he want to talk about his 15,000-signature online petition?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: There's an ongoing debate, and I look forward to the conclusion of that debate and then taking a look at all of the ideas put forward by all members of this House. But let's do a bit of compare-and-contrast here. My friend opposite is suggesting that we need to put in place in Ontario a jobs commissioner. They tried that in BC. That didn't work and they got rid of it. On the other hand, he is critical of our program to reach out to 20,000 Ontarians who have lost their jobs recently and to offer them up to two years of publicly subsidized retraining.

I know we're having a challenge in terms of attracting people in great numbers to that. I know it's tough, if you're 52 and you've lost the job and you've got a mortgage and you've got a couple of kids, to go back to work for a couple of years. But we're looking at ways to improve that program, to make it more attractive to Ontarians who have lost their jobs. We know that in order to help transition our manufacturing sector, we've got to continue to upgrade the skills and education levels of our workers. That's why we're so committed to that.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Final supplementary.

Mr. Howard Hampton: The Premier needs to look at his own fiction. The jobs commissioner was credited with helping to sustain almost 100,000 jobs in British Columbia. It was the new Liberal government that got rid of it, a new Liberal government there that doesn't have a jobs plan either.

The Premier says that a jobs commissioner wouldn't work. Well, Premier, I think it's better than anything you've come up with. But I mentioned an industrial hydro rate; I mentioned a Buy Ontario strategy; I mentioned, for example, tougher plant closure legislation. These are all part of an NDP amendment before the Legislature. Is the Premier prepared to vote for them and put them in place in Ontario so we can actually do something practical to help sustain jobs in Ontario, or is the Premier going to go on talking about his 15,000-signature online petition?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: The honourable member mentioned a Buy Ontario plan, and he should know that over 80% of the investment that we're making in public transit will result in dollars being spent here in the province of Ontario for our businesses and our workers.

Hon. George Smitherman: He's against public transit.

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: He was against investing in more public transit.

He made reference earlier on to Thunder Bay. But just to give you an example of the continuing partnerships that we're striking, today, Minister Cansfield is in Thunder Bay. She's announcing a new investment in AbitibiBowater. This government is putting in $1.5 million to help the company increase its energy efficiency. That efficiency will help the company secure about 350 well-paying jobs. It's a good example of government working hand in hand with industry in difficult economic times to secure good Ontario jobs.

FEDERAL ELECTION

Mrs. Elizabeth Witmer: My question is for the Premier. Yesterday, Ontarians gave a stronger mandate to Prime Minister Harper and the Conservative Party, and they also provided 11 more seats. Yesterday, as well, both Dion and Layton indicated that in light of the economic challenges facing this country, they were prepared to work in co-operation with the Prime Minister.

I'm asking you today, Premier: Are you prepared to put aside your partisan fairness campaign and work co-operatively with the federal government on behalf of all Ontarians in order that we can benefit and keep the jobs in this province?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: I want to take the opportunity to congratulate, first of all, all those who presented themselves as candidates in this recent federal election. I congratulate all the leaders. I congratulate Prime Minister Harper on his success and I look forward to working with him and his government. But in particular, I'll be bringing some particular focus to 106 newly elected Ontario MPs, and I need them to do what MPs representing other provinces do on a regular basis and without hesitation, and that is, from time to time, to stand up on behalf of the folks who sent them in the first place.

There is a real issue—and I know I have my colleague's support on this. It has to do with this $11.8-billion unfairness or, to use the wording of the TD Economics report, "discrimination visited on Canadians living in the province of Ontario." I know I can count on my colleague's support when it comes to that particular issue.

Mrs. Elizabeth Witmer: Again to the Premier: There is an opportunity for us to make a fresh start. The people have spoken, it's time to move forward, and the opposition has indicated their willingness to work with the government in light of the economic challenges that face our province and our country.

People in this province expect us to work in cooperation. I ask you today: What new steps are you prepared to take to work in cooperation with the federal government to ensure that Ontarians retain their jobs and have access to new jobs in order that they can continue to have the quality of life we enjoy in this province?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: Again, I look forward to working with the federal government. I can say that I will be attending a meeting of the Premiers and Ministers of Finance representing the various provinces and territories in Montreal this coming Monday. We will gather together to assess the new landscape when it comes to federal politics and chart a course that is designed to ensure that we cooperate with the federal government so that we can together come to grips with these financial challenges.

I can say as well that I appreciate the spirit of cooperation and collegiality offered by my colleague opposite, but I think one of the things that we have got to stand strong on is this whole issue of fairness. We cannot escape out from under this; it is real. I can tell you, in every other province and every other territory they wouldn't allow it to happen. We need to come together, we need to stick together and we need to press the case in particular with 106 newly elected Ontario MPs—and I congratulate them once again.

PROPERTY TAXATION

Mr. Michael Prue: My question is for the Premier. Mr. Premier, as we speak here today in the Legislature, hard-working Ontarians are getting more nasty surprises in the mail. All across Ontario, property owners are receiving assessment increases averaging 20%, and property taxes are going up for many Ontarians at a time when property values across the province are starting to fall; they're in decline.

Mr. Premier, will you admit that it's time to do away with the market-based approach, which your party has embraced, and turn to the NDP's freeze-till-sale assessment model? We believe it's an idea whose time has come.

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: To the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

Hon. Jim Watson: The honourable member, as a former mayor, surely realizes that an assessment increase does not equate automatically to a tax increase. He knows that; anyone who served in municipal government or who receives an assessment notice knows that. That's point number one.

Secondly, we very much appreciate the input from the Ombudsman, who brought forward a series of recommendations. Those recommendations have now been implemented. Let me quote the Ombudsman's 2008 report. He said, "The Municipal Property Assessment Corp. and the government have come closer to Getting It Right ... by implementing my recommendations for reforming property assessment in Ontario....

"Newly introduced legislation will bring greater fairness to the system of property assessment and appeal."

We respect the Ombudsman's work, we acted on his recommendations and we believe that the municipal governments have the tools necessary to ensure an orderly transition—

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Thank you. Supplementary?

Mr. Michael Prue: To the minister: As a former mayor and a minister, he must surely realize as well that anyone whose property tax goes up above the average for the municipality invariably will get a tax increase. We are suggesting in our freeze-till-sale model that property taxes be frozen until the time they are sold. This would ensure that seniors and others on fixed incomes are not forced out of their homes and away from friends and families.

Will the minister admit that it is precisely at the time of mass layoffs and declining property values that Ontario should reject the Conservative-inspired market-based approach to property taxes and bring in an assessment model that puts people first?

Hon. Jim Watson: First of all, I would challenge the honourable member to bring forward one jurisdiction in Canada that has his frozen-until-sale model, because, quite frankly, that would bring even greater inequities into the system.

Secondly, he talks passionately now about supporting senior citizens. Where was he and where was his party when this government brought forward a senior citizens' property tax credit? They voted against it. They turned their back on senior citizens, and now, in feigned outrage, they're concerned about seniors. You should have been there for the vote, and you should have voted with us to bring forward a senior citizens' tax credit.

Finally, the municipalities, particularly his own municipality, have benefited from $238 million in investment in Ontario funds for infrastructure in his city. What did he do when that money was in the budget? He voted against it. Shame on the NDP.

INFRASTRUCTURE RENEWAL

Mr. Jim Brownell: My question is to the Minister of Energy and Infrastructure. Minister, first, I know that you will join me in welcoming the representatives of my riding of Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry who are here at Queen's Park today.

As MPP for the riding, I have had the privilege of hosting most of cabinet in my riding. I think the Minister of Northern Development and Mines is perhaps the only one who has not been to visit and I certainly encourage him to come down and experience our hospitality.

Those ministers who have had the opportunity to see the good work being done to foster a complete renaissance in my riding have been quite impressed. They have had the chance to meet with community leaders, many of whom are here today, and discuss with them first-hand their plan for community growth.

Many communities across the province, including those smaller communities, face challenges investing in their infrastructure priorities. How is this government helping municipalities invest in the important infrastructure in their communities?

Hon. George Smitherman: I want to join with my honourable friend in acknowledging and welcoming the good folks from Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry. I had a chance to meet with them this morning. We welcome them to the Legislature.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Thank you. Supplementary?

Mr. Jim Brownell: Minister, I think you have probably been the minister who has visited my riding the most, and I certainly know that you have been a steady friend to myself and my constituents.

One of the things I love to hear when you, our colleagues and anyone else comes on a repeated basis to the community in my riding is, "Wow, there's been a lot of positive change around here." Credit for that goes to the dedication and groundbreaking work being done by community groups and the municipalities themselves. I would certainly like to congratulate them on the good work they are doing.

As our infrastructure improves, businesses are looking at our corner of Ontario as a great place to establish next-generation industry, particularly in terms of renewable energy. Minister, can you tell us what our government is doing to encourage this type of development in Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry?

Hon. George Smitherman: First off, I would like to acknowledge the extent to which the R.H. Saunders generating station in Cornwall is such an important asset in the Ontario energy supply mix, with hydroelectric capacity operating since 1958 at more than 1,000 megawatts.

Exciting progress is being made as well through initiatives of the Ministry of Research and Innovation, who are working with Verdant Power Canada for a green energy project to use innovative water turbines to tap even more of the powerful capacities of the St. Lawrence and other rivers in Ontario. We want to maximize our potential to take advantage of those sources of energy which do not have a fuel source, which are not carbon-related. Accordingly, rivers, like the progress that I mentioned before at R.H. Saunders, are very essential to the new generation of green-collar jobs.

We're going to continue to work to build on the 530 megawatts of additional renewable capacity that has already been installed, supporting innovative projects like the one that's ongoing in the—

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Thank you.

ASSISTANCE TO FARMERS

Mr. Ernie Hardeman: My question is for the Premier. Because of your government's policies, hundreds of new and young farmers were cheated out of the support they deserve. When your Minister of Finance releases his statement, can you assure us there will be support for these farmers?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: To the Minister of Agriculture.

Hon. Leona Dombrowsky: Our government certainly values the agriculture industry and our producers, and we have been there for them over the last four years. That is why our government has spent $1.1 billion in extraordinary money—money that was not in our budget—over the last four years.

A year ago, on December 12, the Minister of Finance announced $150 million to support the cattle, hog and horticulture industries—the only province in Canada to provide this kind of support to those struggling sectors. We consulted with the stakeholders in those sectors. We took their advice. They said they needed the money as soon as possible. We used the information we had in our system, and we had those cheques to farmers, $130 million for cattle and hog and horticulture—

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Thank you, Minister. Supplementary?

Mr. Ernie Hardeman: You gave out a lot of money, and the hog producers said they needed it very quickly. Their job was to get it out quickly. Your job was to see that it went to the right people, and you failed miserably on that front.

These farmers create jobs in the rural economy. Some of them are spending millions of dollars a year and hiring numerous people in our rural community. They don't understand why your government won't help them so they can continue farming. You're helping others, but you're not helping these farmers—hundreds of them—who got absolutely nothing out of all that money you're talking about.

Can you assure us that the Minister of Finance will include in the economic statement a way of supporting these farmers, who so far have got absolutely nothing from you?

Hon. Leona Dombrowsky: I think it's very important that I take this opportunity to say that our government has provided $150 million in extraordinary money, which no other province in this nation did. Any farmer who participated in the federal cost of production top-up and would have had application by September 2007 would have qualified for a payment on the Ontario cattle, hog and horticulture program. We have rolled that money out in record time. We have delivered what the agriculture community said they needed most to address long-standing losses in those sectors.

I have letters from stakeholders to thank this government for our prompt response. We have been there for farmers in the province of Ontario for the last five years, and we will continue to be there for farmers—

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Thank you, Minister. New question.

CHILD ABUSE

Ms. Andrea Horwath: To the Minister of Children and Youth Services: Last week, two men were arrested for the alleged sexual assault of a 12-year-old girl who stayed at Benevenga Day Care in Etobicoke. Parents in the area simply want to know why this child care centre is still operating.

Hon. Deborah Matthews: Of course, we put a huge amount of importance on the safety of our children. When they are in a licensed child care setting, we do everything we can to ensure the safety of our children. We continue to strengthen the child care system. We've added spaces, and we continue to improve the quality of care in those centres.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Supplementary?

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Well, last week it was the principal, Edmonda Gilfillan, of the nearby Venerable John Merlini school, who took it upon herself to send a letter to parents and guardians making them aware of the serious situation. Not this minister, but the principal of a nearby school had to inform the community. The community sees a huge vacuum in the ministry's monitoring, or lack thereof, or enforcement, or lack thereof, of these kinds of unlicensed facilities in the province. They've asked me to ask this minister why the McGuinty government won't close down a child care centre where police allege child abuse has occurred.

Hon. Deborah Matthews: It's important to note that this is not a licensed child care facility. When a centre is licensed, we of course have a very high standard of care. When a centre is unlicensed, it is the parents' responsibility to ensure the safety of their children. So the onus is on parents, when it is an unlicensed facility, to take responsibility.

SMALL BUSINESS

Mr. Kevin Daniel Flynn: I've got question today for the Minister of Small Business and Consumer Services. My riding of Oakville, as you know, is a home to many successful small and medium-sized businesses. Oakville has got a thriving chamber of commerce and three business improvement areas. All these businesses are a vital part of our economy. They provide local jobs. They turn great ideas into products and services.

Often, I hear from many small business owners who are expressing concern with government forms and red tape. What is the government doing to help? How can we help so that small and medium-sized business owners can focus more on making their business a success and less on filling out forms?

Hon. Harinder S. Takhar: I want to thank the member from Oakville for asking this question. Almost 98% of the businesses in Ontario are actually small businesses. They create over 50% of the jobs in Ontario in the private sector and about $250 billion worth of economic activity, so they are definitely the engine of economic growth in Ontario.

We are very committed to making sure that they spend most of their time not filling out government forms, but rather focusing on their business. That's why a special secretariat has been created, and in my supplementary I will be able to tell the member what we have done in terms of reducing the burden for the business forms and how we have automated all the business forms for small business.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Supplementary?

Mr. Kevin Daniel Flynn: Thank you, Minister, for that answer. Under previous governments, red tape was allowed to grow, regulations grew and paperwork grew. Small business expressed their concern through the small business agency, and small businesses, including the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, expressed specific concern with the paper burden that applies to small business.

Minister, would you explain to this House and to small business owners all across Ontario how you plan to reduce paper burden in Ontario for small business?

Hon. Harinder S. Takhar: I want to thank the member again for asking the question. For the last three years, we have been moving in a systematic way to reduce the paper burden for small and medium-sized business. In phase one, seven key ministries reduced the paperwork by about 24 percentage points. In the second phase, another eight ministries reduced the paperwork burden by more than 25% in their ministries. And in the third phase, 10 ministries are working diligently to reduce paperwork more in their own ministries.

Not only have we reduced the paperwork, but we have also automated a lot of the paperwork, so that the small and medium-sized businesses don't have to fill out the same information again and again. We are also working on cap and trade so that the rules and regulations stay where they are—and, if anything, that they should be reduced—and that businesses can focus on the business rather than on filling out forms.

ONTARIO ECONOMY

Mr. Ted Chudleigh: My question is for the Premier. In 1885, the famous circus elephant Jumbo was killed in St. Thomas, crushed by a locomotive. Today, another giant has died in St. Thomas, crushed by the economic downturn which plagues Ontario's manufacturing sector. Daimler has announced it will close the Sterling truck plant next year, leaving 1,400 people without jobs. And in nearby Tillsonburg, at DDM Plastics, more than 400 people lost their jobs last week.

Premier, the five-point plan you love so much is not working in southwestern Ontario. It is an outdated plan, not relevant to the new economic realities of the present. When you release your economic statement on October 22, can we expect a new plan for Ontario's new era?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: To the Minister of Economic Development.

Hon. Michael Bryant: I'll give the member the benefit of the doubt with respect to the analogy, but I don't think it's an attempted joke that would find much laughter in the community of St. Thomas. Obviously it is a very difficult time for many workers and for many citizens. That is why this government is reaching out and seeking to work with labour, management, the mayor and our local member of provincial Parliament in trying to do everything that the province can, firstly to see if there is a way in which an alternative might come about that would see those jobs stay in St.

Thomas, and secondly, through the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities to work with those people who face this—

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Thank you. Supplementary?

Mr. Ted Chudleigh: Just like Jumbo, I think I hear the train a-coming. Ontario's manufacturing sector is a train wreck. On the one hand, the minister pretends to be flexible, engaging the opposition in a partisan and inappropriate economic debate. But when asked, the minister shows that he has no intention of changing course, no plan for a new economic era in Ontario. In southwestern Ontario, where the former PC government helped to attract thousands of jobs through policies that adapted to the times, families and communities are suddenly insecure.

Minister, last night, many Ontarians voted for change. Will you heed their advice and give Ontario a new economic plan?

Hon. Michael Bryant: The question was about the news in St. Thomas, so I'll not—as much as I'd like to—jump on the member's political commentary on the result. The mayor has said—I think, helpfully—in the event that it is the case that those jobs cannot be saved, that does not mean there cannot be, through entrepreneurships, small businesses and through skills training, new jobs—second-generation jobs for Ontario. That's why this government has a second-generation jobs fund that makes those investments to allow those new companies to expand or, in fact, to be established.

That's why this government has an advanced manufacturing loan program to allow this. That's why this government has the Ontario Centres of Excellence to help some of these enterprises to start. That is the plan of this—

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Thank you, Minister.

NUCLEAR ENERGY

Mr. Peter Tabuns: To the Minister of Energy: The government's electricity planners have once again grossly overestimated electricity demand growth in order to make the case to build new and expensive nuclear power plants. Ontario teeters on the verge of a recession and electricity demand is declining further. Your government admits that it's facing a budget crisis and it might not be able to meet its core commitments, such as reducing poverty. Can the minister tell us when the government will revise its electricity forecast to reflect the real demand for energy, so that billions of dollars of taxpayers' money are not wasted producing energy that's not needed?

Hon. George Smitherman: I do want to thank the honourable member for the backhanded compliment at the success that has been made to date with respect to conservation in the province of Ontario. Through the good work of the Ontario Power Authority and local distribution companies, and through the efforts of hundreds of thousands of Ontarians, it's true to be able to say that there's a demonstrated reduction in some of the energy needs in the province of Ontario. Of course, it's prudent to always keep one's eye on the progress of that matter.

The honourable member did make a misstatement, I think, with respect to nuclear power. It's our government's intention to continue to ensure going forward that Ontario has a reliable supply of nuclear power in about the exact amount as we've had it here for a good number of decades. This is providing Ontarians with a very reliable and relatively inexpensive form of power.

In supplementary, I'll be happy to talk to the honourable member about the advances that we are making in expanding renewable sources of energy.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Supplementary.

Mr. Peter Tabuns: The minister is talking about a drop in demand far beyond what his planners predicted. Yet he's continuing to go forward with plans to build more expensive nuclear power. He knows that more jobs can be created with renewable power, more jobs with conservation, and more opportunities in a world where the new energy economy is developing. Why are you clinging so hard to a nuclear future?

Hon. George Smitherman: What the honourable member is afraid to acknowledge is that it's not about a nuclear future; it's about the reality of our nuclear past and present. What we're seeking to do is to ensure that, going forward, our fleet of nuclear power plants is able to produce, relatively speaking, the same level of energy that they have for a couple of decades in the province of Ontario. But we're eliminating coal. This is a very, very important step, and it's the opportunity that provides us with expansion of renewable energy—to date, about 530 megawatts of installed renewable, and thousands of additional megawatts of renewable energy in the pipeline.

I've asked those who developed the integrated power system plan to take a harder look as to whether we might actually encourage even greater contribution of renewable energy in Ontario's supply mix, and that work is ongoing at present.

ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE

Mr. Khalil Ramal: My question is for the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care. Just recently, a couple in my riding gave birth to their son, who was born at 26 weeks, weighing barely one pound, seven ounces. When babies are born this prematurely, they require significant medical attention and critical care. My constituents have heard stories of mothers having to be rushed south of the border to receive the special care that is required when babies are born prematurely.

What sort of reassurance can I provide to my constituents, and what is our government doing to support the delivery of healthy babies here in Ontario?

Hon. David Caplan: I want to thank the member for London—Fanshawe for the question because our government is doing everything we can to make sure that our most vulnerable receive the care they need in the time that they need it.

In exceptional emergency circumstances, when acute, life-threatening circumstances require immediate services, our hospitals contact CritiCall to determine the next most suitable treatment bed. However, it is our government's priority to make sure that Ontarians receive the care they need here in Ontario. That's why we're investing $7 million in a maternal-newborn access-to-care strategy. This investment will provide increased access to quality care and services for critically ill infants and their mothers. Part of this $7-million funding will provide six more neonatal intensive care beds.

These new beds will help 129 critically ill infants this year alone. And soon, the province will screen for pre-term labour and for critical premature eye diseases, conditions which directly impact the health—

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Thank you. Supplementary?

Mr. Khalil Ramal: Ensuring the best possible start in life for infants and children is not only a universal obligation driven by compassion, but it's one of the most practical means of ensuring a healthier population in the future. I know my constituents will be happy to learn that this government is taking great steps in this area.

While this investment provides peace of mind to expecting mothers, our government needs to continue to look out for our children as they grow. My constituents in London—Fanshawe would like to know what the government is doing for our youngest Ontarians when it comes to wait times and pediatric surgery in our hospitals. Our province currently focuses on wait times for key surgery for adults. The parents of my youngest constituents—what is our government doing for the youngest ones?

Hon. David Caplan: Along with the maternal-newborn access-to-care strategy, we're investing an additional $7.2 million to increase pediatric surgeries in key specialty areas and to reduce wait times. That means more than 4,200 additional pediatric surgeries, including dental, eye, ear, nose and throat surgeries, as well as orthopaedic and urology surgeries.

Since we began focusing on pediatric wait times, we've seen wait times for pediatric surgeries drop by approximately 17%. In London—and I know the member from London—Fanshawe is interested—London Health Sciences will receive over $480,000 for 164 additional cases. These surgical procedures were identified by the pediatric action committee as provincial priorities and include additional dental/oral surgeries, ophthalmology surgeries, plastic surgeries, urology, orthopedic, and ear, nose and throat.

Ontario is the first—

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Thank you, Minister.

TOURISM

Mr. Ted Arnott: My question is for the Premier. Ontario's tourism industry needs the Premier's help now. What new initiatives to support tourism will be included in next week's economic statement?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: To the Minister of Tourism.

Hon. Monique M. Smith: I'm delighted to have the opportunity today to speak to the House again about Ontario's competitiveness study, which is well under way. As members in the House know, last week we discussed the tourism summit that was held last week. It was very successful, and all the buzz at the tourism summit was about the great work that Greg Sorbara is doing on his competitiveness study across the province.

We anticipate that, with this study, we will have a game plan for the future of tourism in Ontario. We expect that the study will be released in the new year, and we know that Mr. Sorbara is working very hard on behalf of all of the tourism stakeholders. He's also meeting with stakeholders that are not in the tourism industry but that have input into the industry. It's a well-thought-out study and it has a number of studies being integrated into his report. We look forward to and appreciate very much the work he is doing on behalf of the industry.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Supplementary?

Mr. Ted Arnott: The House should be aware of the fact that the tourism industry has offered numerous thoughtful, well-researched proposals which the government could act upon next week; for example, a new centre of excellence for tourism, working collaboratively, a best-of-the-best philosophy of continuous improvement, a tourism committee of cabinet, and many more.

The minister does not have to wait many more months for the member for Vaughan to complete his tourism study. What specific initiatives can the tourism industry expect in next week's economic statement, and will the government offer hope to this $23-billion industry that employs 200,000 Ontarians?

Hon. Monique M. Smith: In fact, we are not waiting; we have been investing. Since 2006, we have invested 14.5 million new dollars into the tourism industry. Just this year alone, we have been investing in Celebrate Ontario. We also initiated a new marketing initiative, There's No Place Like This, which has seen a 5% increase in domestic tourism this year.

We are investing in festivals across the province. Just this past Friday, I had the opportunity to be in Kitchener—Waterloo for Oktoberfest, where we had invested an additional $260,000 in their new program, which was held a week before Oktoberfest. There were thousands of people out; it was a sunny day. To Leeanna Pendergast and John Milloy, thank you for the wonderful welcome. It was a great day to tap the keg and celebrate with the people of Kitchener—Waterloo—another great investment by this government into the tourism industry and into the festivals and attractions across the province.

ONTARIO MUNICIPAL BOARD

Ms. Cheri DiNovo: My question is to the Minister of Housing. A subsidiary of developer giant Geranium is asking the Ontario Municipal Board to force a citizens' group to cover the company's $3.2-million legal bill. To say this claim will scare citizens' groups off from speaking out is a gross understatement. Why will you not intervene and support a community's democratic right and ability to challenge large developers?

Hon. Jim Watson: The honourable member would know that the matter is before the Ontario Municipal Board and it would be entirely inappropriate for me, as a minister of the crown, to comment on that specific case.

I can say that the history of the OMB is that it is authorized to award costs; it does very rarely, and when someone's conduct is clearly unreasonable, frivolous or in bad faith.

The other point is that this government, through OMB reform, in fact did a number of measures, including establishing the citizen liaison office that assists individuals appearing before the OMB. These are progressive measures; they're reasonable measures. But with respect to the specific case that the honourable member refers to, I cannot comment on that because it is before the board.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Supplementary?

Ms. Cheri DiNovo: Clearly, the outcome of the hearing is less important than the fact that it's happening at all, and clearly the changes you've made to the OMB have not prevented this abuse of democracy. The developer is seeking costs to scare citizens' groups across the province away from public participation. The minister has been silent. As the Toronto Star put it, "Watson can't just sit on the sidelines forever." So I'm asking you again, Minister, why will you not intervene and support a community's democratic right and ability to challenge large developers?

Hon. Jim Watson: It's the same question; the honourable member will receive the same answer. If I were to intervene in this case, who would be the first up, ranting and raving and criticizing me for intervening in an OMB case? As the honourable member knows, the OMB is a quasi-judicial body, and it would be entirely inappropriate for a minister to intervene or to comment on a matter that is before the board.

We did make a number of significant changes. I commend my colleagues the Attorney General and my predecessor, who is now the Minister of the Environment, for the work they did in terms of establishing the citizens' liaison office. The quality of appointees that this government has put on the OMB is something I'm also particularly proud of. But for me to intervene in the case or to comment would be entirely inappropriate and I just won't do that.

YOUTH SERVICES

Mr. Joe Dickson: My question is for the Minister of Children and Youth Services. Too often youth are shown in a negative light in the media. Most young people aren't involved in crime and are hard-working, but they need the opportunity to achieve their potential. Minister, what is our government doing to help kids achieve their potential and keep them away from crime?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: Let me thank the member from Ajax—Pickering for his relentless advocacy for better opportunities for kids in this province.

Under my predecessor at the Ministry of Children and Youth Services, Mary Anne Chambers, our government created the youth opportunities strategy to help youth in high-needs neighbourhoods have the opportunity to be successful. One component of the youth opportunities strategy is the youth in policing initiative. It's an incredible opportunity for youth from priority neighbourhoods in Ottawa, Toronto, London, Durham, Hamilton, Windsor and Thunder Bay to spend their summers working side by side with police officers.

Youth in the youth in policing initiative work in all areas of policing. For example, this summer, youth in the Toronto Police Service helped to catalogue and organize almost 3,000 stolen bicycles. The—

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Thank you. Supplementary?

Mr. Joe Dickson: There is no doubt that this is a valuable program. It's a great way for any youth to spend the summer, learning important skills, while at the same time earning money. It's also a great way for young people to become involved in their communities. Would the minister be good enough to tell us what the police have to say about this particular program?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: Not only do the program graduates rave about their experience and many of them start thinking about a career in policing, but the police are also huge supporters of the program and are extremely proud of their graduates. It's an opportunity for young people to learn more about the work police do, but it's also an opportunity for the police to learn more about young people in those high-priority neighbourhoods. I've spoken with several police who have participated in the program and they tell me it truly is a tremendous learning experience for them.

Police love having young, eager people to work with them in the summer, and they also recognize that these youth become ambassadors of the police to other young people in those neighbourhoods.

The youth opportunities strategy helped over 1,800 youth find summer jobs this year, including the 162 participants in the youth in policing program. It's a great program that—

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Thank you.

STANDING ORDERS

Mr. Jerry J. Ouellette: On a point of order, Mr. Speaker: There appears to be some concern about the way the standing orders are taking place today. According to standing order 8(a), question period was to start at 10:35 a.m., according to the standing orders we've received. Question period started at 10:32 instead of 10:35, and I would ask to make sure there is some clarity so that individuals who are preparing for oral questions comply with the standing orders and that we are making sure that we're following the guidelines that are established for us.

Hon. Michael Bryant: On the same point of order, Mr. Speaker: An excellent intervention. We're going to need to coordinate whether it's the lunar calendar or it's Greenwich Mean Time that we're going to apply it to.

I say to all members of the House, a five-minute bell will ring, as is in the standing orders. When the five-minute bell rings, it means that it's five minutes from question period beginning, although I bet that there will be some coordination of times and ensuring that the member from Oshawa's watch matches the Speaker's watch.

We appreciate the intervention—and I bet that question period will start at 10:35 in the future—and appreciate his keeping an eye on the clock.

Mr. Peter Kormos: On the same point of order, Mr. Speaker: Of course, and New Democrats want to make it very clear that question period doesn't start until the Speaker starts it. Whenever the Speaker arrives and starts question period is the right time, as far as New Democrats are concerned, and variations in timepieces from member to member notwithstanding, we respect the leadership of the Speaker in this regard.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): I thank all the honourable members. I will remind the House that standing order 36 says "up to five minutes" for the introduction of guests, and it's a bit of a presumption that maybe the full five minutes isn't needed. I do admit that, in trying to ensure the flow of the business of the House, I moved directly to question period, trying to make the best use of the time within this House.

I appreciate the point of order. I will watch the clock. I will remind members, too, that it says "up to five minutes," and that if anybody is going to go beyond the five minutes on introduction of guests, I will be shutting them down on that as well.

Thank you to the member from Oshawa and to the other two members as well.

This House stands recessed until 3 p.m.

The House recessed from 1136 to 1500.

INTRODUCTION OF VISITORS

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): On behalf of page Sarah Holman—she has had some guests here at the Legislature—today we'd like to welcome her mother, Suzanne Holman; her father, Tim Holman; her sister, Laura Holman; and her brother, Sean Holman.

As well, on behalf of Paige Weller, her guests today have been her uncle, Eric Clarke; her grandmother, Norma Weller; and her grandfather, Jim Weller.

We welcome those guests, and we welcome the re-enactors, who I'm assuming are from Cornwall. Welcome today.

Mr. Jim Brownell: Mr. Speaker, if I could make a statement in welcoming the interpreters from Upper Canada Village: It was going to be part of my statement this afternoon, but certainly we're very happy that they are going to be here to welcome everybody to the reception this afternoon in rooms 228 and 230.

MEMBERS' STATEMENTS

GROVES MEMORIAL

COMMUNITY HOSPITAL

Mr. Ted Arnott: Once again, I rise in this House to call upon the Minister of Health to expedite the approval for our new Groves Memorial Community Hospital in the township of Centre Wellington.

Last week, I spoke to the minister to follow up on the urgent letter I sent to him last month. Briefly, the situation is this: On September 11, I met with hospital representatives and ministry staff in the minister's boardroom. We made a strong case for moving the Groves proposal to the next stage of planning to get the project moving forward again. We are prepared to work in co-operation with the Waterloo-Wellington Local Health Integration Network, but the minister cannot use this as an excuse for further delay. Delays have plagued this project for far too long already.

We have been working on this proposal in the township of Centre Wellington since 2001. Our communities are rightfully expecting progress, not new roadblocks.

I think I can safely say there is no hospital in Ontario that has stronger community support than Groves. I urge the minister to acknowledge that community support, approve our proposal/business case submission, and move us forward to the functional program stage of planning for the new hospital immediately.

BRAMPTON SAFE CITY ASSOCIATION

Mrs. Linda Jeffrey: I rise today in the House to congratulate the city of Brampton for a top score of 20 out of 20 in the annual Safe Communities Canada report card released by the Safe Communities Foundation of Canada.

It was one year ago that Brampton was designated an international safe community by the World Health Organization in recognition of their capacity to deliver safety education and programs and a proven ability to work together with community partners. Brampton is one of 10 municipalities in North America and the first municipality in the greater Toronto area to achieve this designation.

The Brampton Safe City partnership was formed in 1997 and currently has 36 member agencies and citizens. This speaks to the high involvement level of the citizens of Brampton to ensure that their community is as safe as it can be. Programs and services are delivered in eight key areas, including children's safety, fire prevention, safety for seniors, workplace safety, emergency preparedness, road safety, crime reduction and violence prevention for youth.

Brampton has invested considerable time and effort to develop a culture of safety and injury prevention. They've worked hard to mobilize citizens to make a difference. Please join me in congratulating Brampton on its safe-city distinction.

KEN ROSS

Ms. Lisa MacLeod: "Good things grow in Ontario" is more than just a catchy jingle. It speaks to both locally grown produce in our province and the Ontario retailers who promote it in their grocery stores.

Today, Foodland Ontario will be honouring one such retailer, Ken Ross, owner of Ross' Your Independent Grocer in Barrhaven, with the Foodland Ontario Retailer Award. Ken and his produce manager, Gilles Laporte, are this year's gold category winners.

I can tell you why Ross' Your Independent Grocer is a gold category winner. Summer, winter, fall; rain, hail, snow or sleet; regardless of the weather or the season, their Ontario produce is the most bountifully, beautifully and proudly displayed.

The gold category award winners for best produce display also have a heart of gold. Ken and his wife, Kelly, have owned and operated Ross' Your Independent Grocer for six years now and have since given back almost $1 million to our community through donations and allowing community groups to use their store as a fundraising venue.

Congratulations go out in this Ontario Legislature today to Ken and Kelly Ross, Gilles Laporte and, of course, all of the staff at Ross' Your Independent Grocer for winning the Foodland Ontario Retailer Award, and thank you to them for all that they do for the riding of Nepean—Carleton and the people they represent in Barrhaven.

RIDING OF STORMONT—DUNDAS—SOUTH GLENGARRY

Mr. Jim Brownell: I am sure that all of us at one point in time have enjoyed a McIntosh apple, but did you know that the very first McIntosh apple tree was propagated in my riding at Dundela, Dundas county?

Did you know that Ontario's first Premier, John Sandfield Macdonald, was born in St. Raphaels, Glengarry county?

You have likely enjoyed a movie starring the latest Hollywood star, Ryan Gosling, but did you know he was raised in Cornwall?

My riding of Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry has always been a hotbed of talent, ranging from authors to athletes, actors, businessmen and politicians. The leaders of my community—-many with us here at the Legislature today—have time and again demonstrated the ability to turn adversity into opportunity. Thanks to their work and the support of this government, my riding is facing a renaissance on many fronts.

The people of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry have a proud and diverse heritage, ranging from First Nations to United Empire Loyalists, from home children to new Canadians. They have added to the fabric of our communities.

I encourage everyone here in this Legislature and in the precinct to come out and learn more about my riding, be welcomed by interpreters from Upper Canada Village and meet with the community leaders first-hand at the Stormont, Dundas and South Glengarry Day reception today between 5 and 8 p.m. in rooms 228 and 230. I welcome you all and hope that you will attend.

MANUFACTURING JOBS

Mr. John O'Toole: Mr. Speaker, you and the other members today have learned of yet another community suffering the loss of manufacturing jobs. The closing of the Daimler AG plant in St. Thomas next year will cost approximately 1,300 jobs. The families will be devastated.

Last June, the members will recall an announcement that the award-winning GM truck plant in Oshawa would be closing in July 2009. This means the loss of approximately 2,600 jobs, many in my riding of Durham.

This House must, at this time, recognize that each plant closure is a devastating loss for the communities and the families they represent. What's disturbing is the lack of an effective plan from the McGuinty government for the recovery of the manufacturing sector in Ontario. The losses of jobs in my riding and indeed across Ontario, not just St. Thomas, will not be solved by ignoring the problem.

In the federal election, Prime Minister Harper explained his $8.6-billion focused, achievable plan for responding to Canada's economic challenges. This plan includes initiatives to create jobs, support manufacturing and support small business.

I urge this House and the Premier to work together with our federal and local governments to repair and renew Ontario's economy. Let's have the plan. The discussion is on, and there's no plan from the McGuinty government at this time.

POVERTY

Ms. Cheri DiNovo: I rise to read a letter from a very feisty grandmother. She directs it to:

"Dear Liberal MPPs:

"Do you know that last week Madeleine Meilleur, in her capacity as Minister of Community and Social Services, cut off funding for all Ontario grandchildren being raised by their grandparents? Now thousands of families will no longer receive Ontario Works temporary care assistance.

"Although the financial amount is very small (about $200 a month), there is also limited drug, dental and eyeglass coverage. Without this, most families will not have any extended health coverage for their grandchildren. And what about food, shelter, clothing?

"The Ontario Liberals' 'poverty reduction strategy' will have to be changed to read 'poverty increase' strategy. None of our e-mails [and] telephone calls have been answered by government MPPs."

It's signed, "Donna Bush, media representative, Cangrands."

VERA SCHIFF

Mr. David Zimmer: I rise today in recognition of my constituent Vera Schiff of Willowdale, who was recognized last week in the 2008 Senior Achievement Awards, this province's highest recognition for seniors.

Vera Schiff is committed to making Ontario the land of opportunity and respect. She has written two books about her experiences during the Holocaust. In sharing her story, Vera Schiff has demonstrated an extraordinary amount of courage and personal strength. Vera works as a volunteer speaker to teacher candidates across Ontario and indeed across Canada. She has touched thousands of hearts and minds with her message of hope, forgiveness and the ability of one person to make a real difference despite the tragedies of her youth.

I want to congratulate Vera Schiff and thank her for her years of service and contributions across Ontario. Her strength of spirit, grasp of history and courage of conviction is a gift and an example for all of us.

ENERGY CONSERVATION

Mr. Phil McNeely: Tomorrow, Bill 101, the Home Energy Rating Act, will be debated in this Legislature. This legislation is about building better, greener, more efficient new housing and providing more incentives to retrofit our existing homes.

We all know that the hidden cost of home energy use has a major impact on the long-term cost of a home, and realtors tell us that presently there is no mandated, consistent measure to let consumers know what the future energy cost of their homes will be. Bill 101 will change that.

The EnerGuide rating and energy efficiency evaluation report developed by Natural Resources Canada and part of the federal ecoEnergy retrofit program provide the tools for homeowners to invest in reducing the long-term energy costs of owning or renting a home.

The federal and Ontario governments together will provide up to $10,000 to homeowners who invest in energy efficiency retrofits as suggested by the energy rating of their homes. Paybacks on new home energy efficiency upgrades and on energy retrofits are generally well under 10 years, and savings continue for tens of years into the future.

With the downturn in the economy and the job losses in many communities, the Canadian and Ontario governments should consider a major job creation program in improving the energy efficiency of our housing stock, thereby protecting Ontarians against future energy costs, creating employment, improving air quality and helping our planet.

I invite all members to join me at a luncheon in committee room 2 tomorrow at noon to learn more about this important bill.

CHATHAM-KENT HEALTH ALLIANCE

Mr. Pat Hoy: I'm pleased to inform the House that the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance has been named one of Canada's top 100 employers in a recent Maclean's magazine. It is one of only three hospitals to make the list.

The hospital is the municipality's third-largest employer, with 1,384 staff members. It competed against 2,000 other Canadian employers in eight key areas: physical workplace; work atmosphere; health, financial and family benefits; vacation and time off; employee communication; performance management; training and skills development; and community involvement. This honour is a testament to the hospital's strong commitment to provide excellence in service.

Thank you to the staff, volunteers and board of directors for their tireless efforts to deliver health care with skill, compassion, and dedication to the people in this community. I congratulate everyone for their contributions in making the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance a great place to work.

The McGuinty government is committed to strengthening our health care system. Our government is working hard to reduce wait times and improve access to health care in our hospitals. We will continue to work with our health care partners to ensure that the people of Chatham—Kent are able to access high-quality care close to home and when they need it.

Again, congratulations to the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance on achieving this outstanding accomplishment.

INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

EMANCIPATION DAY ACT, 2008 /

LOI DE 2008 SUR LE JOUR

DE L'ÉMANCIPATION

Mr. Arnott moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 111,

An Act to proclaim Emancipation Day / Projet de loi 111, Loi proclamant le Jour de l'émancipation.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

First reading agreed to.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): The member for a short statement.

Mr. Ted Arnott: This bill, if passed by the Legislature, would proclaim August 1 in each year as Emancipation Day in recognition of the abolition of slavery in the British Empire on August 1, 1834.

I believe this is an historic occasion in this Legislature because I believe this is the first bill that is being introduced that is actually co-sponsored by a member from another party, and I want to thank my friend the member for Lambton—Kent—Middlesex for participating in this process with me.

I also want to recognize in the House and introduce Rosemary Sadlier, who is the president of the Ontario Black History Society. Welcome, Rosemary. We'll be working with that organization in support of this bill.

I would urge all MPPs to support this particular piece of legislation.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Introduction of bills? Motions? Statements by ministries? Petitions? The member from Newmarket—Aurora.

Mr. Frank Klees: This petition to the Parliament of Ontario—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): I apologize. I didn't—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): The acting House leader: Seek unanimous consent.

The Minister of Research and Innovation.

Hon. John Wilkinson: I'd ask for unanimous consent so we may hear a statement by the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Is there unanimous consent to revert to statements by ministries? Agreed.

STATEMENTS BY THE MINISTRY

AND RESPONSES

CITIZENSHIP WEEK

Hon. Michael Chan: I rise today to recognize Citizenship Week in Canada. In fact, it is an honour and a privilege, as an immigrant to this great country 39 years ago, to now stand before you to speak about the importance of citizenship.

When I took my Canadian citizenship oath, it was one of the most humbling and joyous days in my life. I knew that as a citizen of the greatest country in the world, I would enjoy the many privileges and rights we are so blessed to have, and I vowed to give something back to my new country.

Just yesterday, millions of us had the opportunity to exercise one of the most important and treasured aspects of our citizenship; that is, our right to vote in a democracy.

It wasn't that long ago when Canadians did not have the many privileges citizenship offers. In fact, the first Canadian to become a Canadian citizen was Prime Minister Mackenzie King in 1947. Prior to then, Canadians were merely British subjects living in Canada. Prime Minister King wisely noted, "Without citizenship, much else is meaningless."

Citizenship is the key to opportunity, to rights and to privileges. It is our membership in the community of Canada and Ontario and our neighbourhoods. But it is also about so much more. It's about becoming participating members in our communities. It's about making an individual commitment to keep our province and our country the finest place to live.

Our province is home to people from more than 200 countries who come to Canada to realize their hopes and dreams for a better future. One of these dreams is to become a citizen of this country. In fact, 85% of our immigrants do become Canadian citizens.

As Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, I have the honour of taking

part in many citizenship ceremonies. At these ceremonies and throughout my travels, I hear the stories of so many who give so much to their new country.

One of the most valuable ways citizens contribute is through volunteering. More than five million Ontarians give their time, their skills and their caring to more than 45,000 non-profit organizations across the province. They volunteer with the arts community, sports teams, food banks, service organizations, and the list goes on.

Their contributions are their commitment as Canadians. They are participating and they are giving. This participation and these contributions enrich our country, our province and each and every one of us. Volunteering is truly citizenship in action. Citizenship is so much more than a handshake and piece of paper. It's a lasting bond with our country. It is our individual and collective commitment to care for our neighbours, share with our communities and work together to make this country an even greater place to live.

This week, let us pause to reflect on what we have to gain and what we have to offer our fellow citizens of Canada.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Responses?

CITIZENSHIP WEEK

Mrs. Julia Munro: I welcome the opportunity to respond to the Minister of Citizenship. Citizenship Week in Canada encourages all Canadians to recognize the value of Canadian citizenship. Our citizenship is not just about our status or a card or a piece of paper. It is a statement of the freedoms that all of the people in Canada enjoy—freedoms that Canadians built together over the last 200 years, freedoms passed down to us by our ancestors, freedoms we will pass on to our children and grandchildren.

Every year, thousands of new Canadians join in Canadian citizenship. They are joining a long tradition of freedom, justice and equality. These traditions are what make our citizenship worth something. Newcomers past and present make immense contributions to our province culturally, socially and economically. People coming to our province contribute significantly to all of our communities. They obey our laws, recognize individual freedoms and share the Canadian values of tolerance and understanding.

When an immigrant to Canada becomes a citizen, he or she has to take a test. Here is what they have to study for that test about the rights and responsibilities of citizenship. I think every Canadian should study them. All Canadians have certain rights and responsibilities. They are based on Canadian laws, traditions and shared values. Some of these rights and freedoms are: legal rights, such as the right to a fair trial; equality rights, such as the right to protection against discrimination; mobility rights, such as the right to live and work anywhere in Canada; aboriginal peoples' rights; and basic freedoms, such as freedom of thought, speech, religion and peaceful assembly.

Citizenship also brings responsibility. For example, voting in elections is both a right and a responsibility. All Canadian citizens have the responsibility to vote in elections, to help others in the community, to care for and protect our heritage and environment, to obey Canada's laws, to express opinions freely while respecting the rights and freedoms of others, and to eliminate discrimination and injustice.

Being a Canadian citizen is more than voting and obeying laws. Being a citizen also means getting involved in your community and your country.

CITIZENSHIP WEEK

Mr. Peter Tabuns: It's my pleasure to respond to the comments from the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration. As I've said before in the House, my parents, who emigrated here from Europe in the wave of immigration in the 1950s, were extraordinarily proud to have become Canadian citizens. My father throughout his life felt that one of the best decisions he'd ever made was to come to this country and become Canadian, and I'm glad, very glad, that they did.

I've been around a number of other countries. I've seen the conditions under which people live. I've seen the restrictions on civil liberties and political rights, and I have to say that we have done many things right here. But I have to say further, and this is important, that in a situation of poverty, of deprivation, of non-recognition of peoples' talents and skills and a lack of opportunity for them to exercise those, those people are deprived of much of what they need to live fully as a citizen in this country.

As all the members in this chamber probably have, I've canvassed through many communities, communities where people work two or three jobs, where, when I talk to them about elections, they say that they simply cannot get time off work. They cannot take the time to be away from income-generating activities; they don't have the resources. In practical terms, in order to survive, their rights as citizens, their ability to hold governments to account and put people into office and take people out of office—which is, I think, one of the fundamental powers of a citizen—is compromised.

I think, frankly, in this chamber, the fact that we have not put forward and developed a minimum wage that's higher than what people have now means that people are, in practical terms, deprived of much of those rights they have as citizens.

It's very disturbing to me. I'm very concerned when I read reports and, frankly, when I go and talk to my friends in South Asian communities and find more and more that that term "colour of poverty" is one that is real, that there is an increasing correlation between one's complexion and one's colour and one's income. In Toronto, if you look at a map of the city that has been done by demographers, you will see a stratification by income and increasingly a stratification by racial or ethnic background. That disturbs me.

No one, based on their national origin, on their cultural origin, should be deprived of opportunity, should be put in a situation where they would be profiled or discriminated against. So, for me, to fully ensure that people can exercise their rights and responsibilities as citizens, we have to address those issues of poverty and the racialization, the colouring of poverty.

I want to speak briefly to this whole question of volunteering. Every year when the minister makes this speech I make a similar comment back, and that's that although I think volunteering is an extraordinarily good thing to do—I think it's valuable; I think it's needed in society—the simple reality is that in the last 20 years, more and more crucial services that are needed to keep this society functioning have been devolved to volunteers, to charitable groups, to churches.

I talk to many volunteers who work in Out of the Cold programs in churches overnight. If they weren't there, people would literally be sleeping on the street. That doesn't make sense to me. I value what those people do. I think they do it out of the goodness of their heart. I think it makes a difference in this society, but it is wrong that the difference between life and death, between freezing to death and being able to sleep safely and securely for a night, is simply goodwill. In this society, one of the richest on earth, no one should have to sleep in the streets. No one should have to depend on a volunteer to make sure that they can be secure for that one night.

Food banks, when they were introduced, were considered to be a temporary measure, something we'd do for a short while and then we'd get rid of them. They're institutionalized. If you didn't have them, many more people would go hungry.

Volunteering is good, but the downloading of social services onto the backs of volunteers is a backwards step for this society. I ask this government and this minister to look at the social realities that we're encountering and take the steps necessary to ensure that volunteering is something that enriches society and is not something that society has come to depend on as a branch of social services.

PETITIONS

DRINKING AND DRIVING

Mr. Frank Klees: A petition to the Parliament of Ontario:

"Whereas Tyler Mulcahy and his friends lost their lives in a tragic accident that could have been avoided; and

"Whereas young people must learn zero tolerance for drinking and driving to protect themselves from enduring tragedy that will severely impact them, their families and their friends; and

"Whereas, towards this end, young people need to acquire safe and responsible driving habits from as early an age as possible; and

"Whereas improved provincial driving laws can effectively contribute to the process of enhanced driver training and responsible habits among youth in this respect;

"Therefore we, the undersigned, petition the Parliament of Ontario to call on the Ontario Ministry of Transportation to enact laws to revoke the licence of drivers 21 years of age and younger with alcohol in their bloodstream, and to also revoke their licence for speeding, for a period of from three months to one year, based upon the determined amount of alcohol or the level of speed involved."

I'm pleased to affix my signature to this petition.

CHILD CUSTODY

Mr. Kim Craitor: I'm pleased to introduce this petition, given to me by the Grandparents Requesting Access and Dignity Society. The petition reads as follows:

"To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"We, the people of Ontario, deserve and have the right to request an amendment to the Children's Law Reform Act to emphasize the importance of children's relationships with their parents and grandparents, as requested in Bill 33 put forward by MPP Kim Craitor.

"Whereas subsection 20(2.1) requires parents and others with custody of children to refrain from unreasonably placing obstacles to personal relations between the children and their grandparents; and

"Whereas subsection 24(2) contains a list of matters that a court must consider when determining the best interests of a child. The bill amends that subsection to include a specific reference to the importance of maintaining emotional ties between children and grandparents; and

"Whereas subsection 24(2.1) requires a court that is considering custody of or access to a child to give effect to the principle that a child should have as much contact with each parent and grandparent as is consistent with the best interests of the child; and

"Whereas subsection 24(2.2) requires a court that is considering custody of a child to take into consideration each applicant's willingness to facilitate as much contact between the child and each parent and grandparent as is consistent with the best interests of the child;

"We, the undersigned, hereby petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to amend the Children's Law Reform Act to emphasize the importance of children's relationships with their parents and grandparents."

I'm pleased to sign my signature in support of this and present it to page Sarah to give to the table.

SEXUAL REASSIGNMENT SURGERY

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

"To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas the previous Progressive Conservative government determined sex-change operations were not a medical spending priority and instead chose to invest in essential health care services; and

"Whereas Premier McGuinty said in 2004 that funding for sex-change operations was not a priority of his government; and

"Whereas the current Liberal government has eliminated and reduced OHIP coverage for chiropractic, optometry and physiotherapy services; and

"Whereas the present shortage of doctors and nurses, troubling waiting times for emergency services and other treatment, operational challenges at many hospitals, as well as a crisis in our long-term-care homes, signify the current government has not met their health care commitments;

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

"That the government of Ontario does not fund sex-change operations under OHIP and instead concentrates its priorities on essential health services and directs our health care resources to improve patient care for Ontarians."

I affix my name in support.

GASOLINE PRICES

Mr. John O'Toole: I'm pleased to present a petition on behalf of my constituents in the riding of Durham that reads as follows:

"To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas the skyrocketing price of gasoline is causing hardship to families across Ontario; and

"Whereas the McGuinty Liberal government charges a gasoline tax of 14.7 cents per litre to drivers in all parts of Ontario; and

"Whereas gasoline tax revenues now go exclusively to big cities with transit systems, while roads and bridges crumble in other communities across Ontario"—communities like mine—"and;

"Whereas whatever one-time money has flowed to municipalities from the McGuinty Liberal government has been neither stable nor predictable and has been insufficient to meet our infrastructure needs;

"We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to redistribute provincial gasoline tax revenues fairly to all communities across the province."

I am pleased to sign and support this petition and present it to Connor, one of the new pages.

HOSPITAL FUNDING

Mr. Bob Delaney: It's my pleasure to present this petition to the Ontario Legislative Assembly. It has been signed by patients of a number of family physicians in western Mississauga. It reads as follows:

"Whereas wait times for access to surgical procedures in the western GTA area served by the Mississauga Halton LHIN are growing despite the vigorous capital project activity at the hospitals within the Mississauga Halton LHIN boundaries; and

"Whereas 'day surgery' procedures could be performed in an off-site facility, thus greatly increasing the ability of surgeons to perform more procedures, alleviating wait times for patients, and freeing up operating theatre space in hospitals for more complex procedures that may require post-operative intensive care unit support and a longer length of stay in hospital;

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

"That the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care allocate funds in its 2008-09 capital budget to begin planning and construction of an ambulatory surgery centre located in western Mississauga to serve the Mississauga-Halton area and enable greater access to 'day surgery' procedures that comprise about four fifths of all surgical procedures performed."

It's an excellent petition. I'm pleased to sign and support it and to ask page Lauren to carry it for me.

CAMBRIDGE COURTHOUSE

Mr. Gerry Martiniuk: I have a petition, signed by hundreds of good citizens of Cambridge, to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, headed "Keep Cambridge Courthouse Open.

"Whereas the McGuinty government plans to close the Cambridge courthouse; and

"Whereas the closing of the Cambridge courthouse could hurt the Galt core, which goes against government objectives to encourage development in the core area; and

"Whereas Cambridge law firms may end up moving to Kitchener as a result; and

"Whereas Cambridge is the second-largest municipality in the regional municipality of Waterloo (and similar in size to many other Ontario cities such as Barrie, Brantford, Guelph, Kingston, Peterborough, St. Catharines, Sarnia, Sudbury etc.), which continues to grow at a rapid rate; and

"Whereas a larger facility with all regional courthouses under one roof could result in higher operating costs;

"We, the undersigned, hereby petition the government of Ontario as follows:

"That the McGuinty government ensure the Cambridge courthouse remain open whether or not a new courthouse is constructed in Kitchener."

As I agree with the contents of this petition, I affix my name thereto.

CHILD CUSTODY

Mr. Bob Delaney: It's a pleasure to read this petition from some good people here in Niagara Falls. It is addressed to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario and reads as follows:

"We, the people of Ontario, deserve and have the right to request an amendment to the Children's Law Reform Act to emphasize the importance of children's relationships with their parents and grandparents, as requested in Bill 33, put forward by" the member from Niagara Falls; and

"Whereas subsection 20(2.1) requires parents and others with custody of children to refrain from unreasonably placing obstacles to personal relations between the children and their grandparents; and

"Whereas subsection 24(2) contains a list of matters that a court must consider when determining the best interests of a child. The bill amends that subsection to include a specific reference to the importance of maintaining emotional ties between children and grandparents; and

"Whereas subsection 24(2.1) requires a court that is considering custody of or access to a child to give effect to the principle that a child should have as much contact with each parent and grandparent as is consistent with the best interests of the child; and

"Whereas subsection 24(2.2) requires a court that is considering custody of a child to take into consideration each applicant's willingness to facilitate as much contact between the child and each parent and grandparent as is consistent with the best interests of the child;

"We, the undersigned, hereby petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to amend the Children's Law Reform Act to emphasize the importance of children's relationships with their parents and grandparents."

I am pleased to sign this petition and to ask page Timothy to carry it for me.

DRINKING AND DRIVING

Mr. John O'Toole: I'm pleased to present a petition to the Legislative Assembly which reads as follows:

"Whereas Tyler Mulcahy and his friends lost their lives in a tragic motor vehicle accident that could have been avoided; and

"Whereas young people must learn zero tolerance for drinking and driving to protect themselves from enduring tragedy that will severely impact them, their families and their friends; and

"Whereas, towards this end, young people need to acquire safe and responsible driving habits from as early an age as possible; and

"Whereas improved provincial driving laws can effectively contribute to the process of enhanced driver training and responsible habits among youth in this respect;

"Therefore we, the undersigned, petition the Parliament of Ontario to call on the Ontario Ministry of Transportation to enact laws to revoke the licence of drivers 21 years of age and younger with alcohol in their bloodstream, and to also revoke their licence for speeding, for a period of from three months to one year, based on the determined amount of alcohol or the level of speed involved."

I'm pleased to sign this in support, that this should never happen to one of our children, and present it to Connor on his last day here at the Legislature.

POPE JOHN PAUL II

Mr. Kim Craitor: I'm pleased to stand again and present the following petition to the House.

"Petition to the Parliament of Ontario:

"Whereas the legacy of Pope John Paul II reflects his lifelong commitment to international understanding, peace and the defence of equality and human rights;

"Whereas his legacy has an all-embracing meaning that is particularly relevant to Canada's multi-faith and multicultural traditions;

"Whereas, as one of the great spiritual leaders of contemporary times, Pope John Paul II visited Ontario during his pontificate of more than 25 years and, on his visits, was enthusiastically greeted by Ontario's diverse religious and cultural communities;

"Therefore we, the undersigned, petition the Parliament of Ontario to grant speedy passage into law of the private member's bill by the member from Newmarket—Aurora entitled

An Act to proclaim Pope John Paul II Day in Ontario."

I'm pleased to sign this petition in support of it.

SEXUAL REASSIGNMENT SURGERY

Mr. Gerry Martiniuk: I have a petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

"Whereas the previous Progressive Conservative government determined sex-change operations were not a medical spending priority and instead chose to invest in essential health care services; and

"Whereas Premier McGuinty said in 2004 that funding for sex-change operations was not a priority of his government; and

"Whereas the current Liberal government has eliminated and reduced OHIP coverage for chiropractic, optometry and physiotherapy services; and

"Whereas the present shortage of doctors and nurses, troubling wait times for emergency services and other treatment, operational challenges at many hospitals, as well as a crisis in our long-term-care homes, signify the current government has not met their health care commitments;

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

"That the government of Ontario does not fund sex-change operations under OHIP and instead concentrates its priorities on essential health services and directs our health care resources to improve patient care for Ontarians."

As I agree with this petition, I affix my name thereto.

GTA POOLING

Mr. Bob Delaney: I have a petition signed by a number of people from Forestwood Drive in Mississauga—Streetsville as well as Parkerhill Road in Cooksville. It is a petition to the Ontario Legislative Assembly. It's entitled "End GTA Pooling" and it reads as follows:

"Whereas the city of Mississauga faces a long-term labour shortage, resulting in some 60,000 more people commuting into the city of Mississauga than leave Mississauga to earn their living and support their families each and every day; and

"Whereas 10 years ago the Ontario government of that day introduced the concept of GTA pooling, whereby funds are taken from the municipalities surrounding the city of Toronto and channelled into the city of Toronto without benefit or accountability to the taxpayers of those fast-growing cities, which face big-city needs and issues of their own; and

"Whereas GTA pooling places an additional tax burden on the municipal property tax bases of some $40 million each and every year to the city of Mississauga; and

"Whereas the government of Ontario in its 2007-08 budget proposes to completely eliminate GTA pooling during a seven-year span beginning in fiscal year 2007-08, and that, as pooling is phased out, Ontario will take responsibility for social assistance and social housing costs currently funded by GTA pooling;

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

"That all parties within the government of Ontario support the ... provisions ending GTA pooling ...."

It's an excellent petition. I'm pleased to sign and support it and to ask page Matthew to carry it for me.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): The time for petitions has ended.

ORDERS OF THE DAY

ONTARIO ECONOMY

Resuming the debate adjourned on October 9, 2008, on the amendment to the amendment to the motion by Mr. McGuinty to acknowledge the economic challenges facing the province and continuing to implement an economic plan.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Further debate?

Hon. Sandra Pupatello: I'm very pleased to be here to speak to the resolution that the Premier tabled in the House the other day.

I read with interest some of the comments. Having been on a trip representing Ontario while the debate started, I was very interested to see what some of our colleagues in this House had to say. So I wanted the opportunity to share with the House and the people of Ontario some of the initiatives that our government is taking—especially important in the face of the economic challenges that we face here in Ontario.

The very makeup of our economy, the fact that we are 40% of the GDP of the nation, the fact that 20% of our GDP, in fact, is manufacturing, so when our manufacturing sector feels some kind of constraint, whether that be the oil prices, the challenge of the US sales market—all of those things mean that Ontario will feel that harder than any province in the country, which is especially why we now beseech the new government—the same old, perhaps some might say, government in Ottawa—to pay special attention to Ontario, to say, "Ontario, in fact, drives the national economy." They too, in the scope of the last few weeks, have had to realize what an impact Ontario has on the nation, what an impact the US economy has on the world, with every part of the world having to respond to what was going on in the US economy these last couple of weeks.

No matter where I was, representing Ontario, I could see and hear and feel the impact of the US economy around the world. So imagine a jurisdiction like Ontario, 87% of whose market is exported to that very US market that is undergoing fundamental change right now—and we are holding our own.

I want to talk about our plan and why international trade is so vital to Ontario, that our history is, in fact, being an export jurisdiction. I worry when I hear some of the commentary around Buy Ontario, Buy Canada. All I can say is, no matter where we are in the world, imagine if the rest of the world was to take a position of buying only their own product. Where would that leave Ontario, whose very fundamental is built around the fact that we are an export jurisdiction?

It was very clear that in the Premier's response to our economic challenges and in the very development of a ministry to heighten awareness around international trade and investment—he created a ministry especially to do just that. I'm proud as the minister to go out and speak about Ontario and talk about Ontario's strengths.

I just want to give you some examples of what we've been doing as a government over the course of these last five years. We've created 10 new international marketing centres and put those 10 in vital areas around the world.

If we start with Europe, where the euro is quite strong by comparison to North American currency now, they, worried about their own economies, start looking outside and say, "How can we get into the North American economy?" We say, "We believe that Ontario can be your portal." We believe that Ontario, given our kind of economy and our kind of people, actually makes Europeans feel the most comfortable in doing business. They can come in via Ontario and access an economy of $440 million in North America.

That's our message to Europe, the result of which is opening an office of this ministry in London, England; in Paris, France, which we just did this past summer to a tremendous response, where the French were saying, "Wow, nous avons des francophones en Ontario aussi. Il n'y a pas de francophones seulement au Québec."

I practised really hard for that speech at the chamber of commerce in Paris to make the point that there's lots of room for French companies to come into Ontario, and they agreed, and we're so pleased to be getting such a positive response from them. We have an office in Munich, Germany, at the heart of some of the most exciting changes in alternative energies and company growth, where we want to latch onto that and link that to our green economy. So, three significant offices in Europe.

If we move to south Asia, where we know there is growth and we're feeling some of that intense competition in manufacturing, we have an office in New Delhi linking us—not just companies, but educational institutions as well—to find opportunities in India, because we know it's there. We know it's growing and we want to be a part of that.

We've got two offices now in China. We can't fear China; we can't ignore China. We have to jump in there and find the opportunities that exist in China. To that end, I've just opened the second office there. The first one is in Shanghai, a vibrant, booming office doing a tremendous amount of work on our behalf, these days preparing for the Premier's journey to China, where he's bringing environmental technology companies with him. This will be his second trade mission there in his term as Premier.

The second one is in Beijing, where in some cultures like the Chinese culture, government-to-government representation actually matters. Some of the companies that we deal with in China, in fact, are state companies, so the relationship between ministers and between governments really matters. So an office in Beijing, their country's capital, is vital to continuing those relationships and making them understand that we want to do business with China. They want to learn from our technologies which, frankly, are the best in the world.

If we swing through the Americas, what's important to us? Our financial services sector, for example, linked—third largest in North America—ICT. What do we have to link to? Where the big bold sectors are in North America. We have a New York office to link us with financial services there. In Los Angeles, again, close to that whole swooping west coast, a huge ICT sector, where we have to link into that market—and two more offices there.

Where are we doing an abundant business in our car manufacturing base, the very heartland of Ontario's manufacturing sector? In Japan. We have an office in Tokyo, where we've begun that relationship, many years now, but that has landed us that second Toyota plant in Woodstock. How proud we are that that's coming with the hundreds and hundreds of jobs that that will bring, because we could maintain a relationship, again, with a culture where the ministerial leadership and governmental relationships really matter.

I think it's fair to say that that's not the case in every government, in every part of the world and in every culture, but it is in some. So government recognizes when they've got to take leadership and bring our Ontario companies with us.

The Middle East may be just one such region where it's important that the Ontario government open the door and get our companies in there for opportunities that frankly, let me say colloquially, would blow your mind in terms of what they're looking to do in their own markets and what they want to do with money to invest and diversify in our markets.

Why I chose to make notes is beyond me, because we can talk for a long time about the opportunities.

There are two areas of interest for the Ministry of International Trade and Investment. One is looking for those international companies to come in and invest in Ontario, and the second is bringing our Ontario companies that are export-oriented, or not, and make them export-oriented and get them out to all kinds of new markets around the world, because that means jobs in Ontario. That's our focus. It's that simple. Two things: companies out there coming to Ontario; Ontario companies getting out to the world. That's the job of the Ministry of International Trade.

It could never be more important than now, when we recognize that there may not be as many opportunities right now in this fiscal year, say, in North America as there are abroad. We've got to extend our focus and our range. We've got to help our companies get out there and look at places they never would have gone on their own, perhaps.

Hence this trip to the Middle East this past week, where we brought 20 companies to participate in the Cityscape Dubai show, the focus of which is development. Our Ontario companies were so proud to understand that in some of these instances, the only reason that our companies employ people in Ontario is because of the business that they do in the Middle East. It's a phenomenal story. It's a story of people who had the nerve to get out there, really ahead of the curve.

There's a glass company in Guelph that employs over 300 people, whose whole job is based on the fact that they are selling beautiful glass for these magnificent buildings in Dubai, in Abu Dhabi, all over the Middle East. So if you walk into these grand foyers of these hotel lobbies and you see this artistic décor of glass, that's our glass made in Guelph, Ontario. Can you imagine? There's a place called Crystal Fountains. It's a company based here in Toronto. Again, in the Middle East, there they were in this show. They are employing people in Ontario, but all of their business is outside.

These magnificent builds that are going on around the world are finding our companies in Ontario and saying, "We want yours because it is world-renowned."

There is an engineering firm—I need to give them a plug, I was so impressed with them; hang on now—RWDI.

Mrs. Liz Sandals: Also Guelph.

Hon. Sandra Pupatello: This is a Guelph company, says the MPP from Guelph. Yes, it was. I was very impressed with them. The Dubai Cityscape show has models to beat the band, models beyond description of the most magnificent dreams that people will actually build at some point. But RWDI have a niche product that they sell. They're an engineering-based company. They employ tens upon tens of people here in Ontario, but all of their business is overseas. They are the specialists for wind engineering for skyscrapers.

So all of these magnificent skyscrapers—and we've got a few in Canada, but not that many compared to other parts of the world—call RWDI because they are the best in the business. They figure out where the holes have to go in the skyscraper so that these things are going to be very, very stable when they go up a kilometre in the air. Imagine: I had the opportunity in a helicopter to see this kilometre-high building. Now, of course we only got up to halfway and the building went up another half overhead and it wasn't quite done yet. It was a phenomenal story.

A fellow named Jim Metcalfe has been in Abu Dhabi for 40 years, and he employs people in Ontario. His is an engineering firm with an expertise that is well known throughout the Middle East.

People employed in Ontario are known around the world in many, many places, with this level of expertise. If you want proper architecture, design and builds engineering, come to Ontario.

This speaks to a part of the resolution that the Premier tabled. He said, "What do we have to invest in for our future? Education." What is our selling feature about Ontario? In all of the OECD countries, there's not a jurisdiction that has a higher level of educated workforce than Ontario. That's because of our investments and that's because in our Ministry of Education we start with the little ones. I can go around the world and say that there's nowhere in the world with a law that says that when your child is in the primary grades it's against the law to have a class of more than 20 kids.

How impressive is that? When these companies come to build a plant in our jurisdiction, they know that in 20 years they will still have the best-educated workforce in the world. That's what they're going to find in Ontario. What an exciting story that is to tell.

When I go and meet companies that are out there and are looking for where they are going to invest—let me tell you a little story about Capcom. Capcom is a digital gaming company based out of Tokyo. The digital gaming sector is a booming sector within the information technology sector—they're saying, over the course of the next four years, a $50-billion industry. Off we went to their headquarters to sit down and say, "How can we get you to expand your base in Ontario?" She said to me, "You don't need to convince me. You in Ontario are the only place that I can find the kind of people I need to hire.

They come out of your education system with art, with music, with computer science"—with that kind of skill set, where they learn math by music in many instances. They've got that right combination for that sector.

What's happened since then? Since we were there to meet with Capcom, they've invested and expanded their footprint in Ontario. We're proud of that kind of story.

Aditya Birla is a great Indian company with a multitude of departments within that company. Aditya Birla has, since we've met repeatedly with them, again expanded their footprint in Ontario. So we have to go and maintain good relationships with Aditya Birla, to find out where they're going and how that can be applicable to Ontario.

Denso, one of the suppliers to Toyota: How is it now that we've got some 13 suppliers who have also landed their footprint around Toyota? Because we are reaching out to them and saying, "Come to Ontario."

We also have the opportunity to incent them to come, whether that's through our advanced manufacturing investment strategy or the Next Generation of Jobs Fund. Why do we know that's important? Because we know that every other jurisdiction is trying to cut our grass on this front, and we have to be first and foremost in their minds. It's more than just the money when you come to Ontario. We have far more than that to offer in a number of sectors.

When we have concerns, we see huge changes in the steel sector, very relevant to the Hamilton area, for example, or Algoma Steel up in the Soo. So we go and meet with these new owners whose headquarters are far-flung from us, and yet they need to know about us. We need to know that they care about their footprint in Ontario, and how we can entice them to make more investments, and make the investment that they currently have in Ontario secure. That's a significant part of this job, and we have done that.

At the same time, imagine the terrible job to have to go and visit Ferrero, the famous chocolate company in Italy—

Hon. John Wilkinson: Someone has to do it.

Hon. Sandra Pupatello: Somebody has to do that job. Well, let me tell you that their headquarters footprint is almost as nice as the one in Brantford, Ontario. A Brantford, Ontario, investment by Ferrero in Italy is one of their best footprints around the world. How impressive to have an opportunity to speak to them about what else they can do in Brantford, and that was the chance that I had. Imagine getting out of the car, and you are overwhelmed by this smell of hazelnut and chocolate. It's fabulous. Anyway, it was as wonderful as their Brantford site.

Let me talk for a minute about Ontario companies, how well we're doing around the world and why we need to be so proud of them. We've led a number of companies to the aerospace show in Farnborough, England. It's one of the largest aerospace shows in the world. We have 30% of Canada's aerospace industry right here in Ontario, one big assembler—of course, we all know Bombardier—but we also have the huge benefit of suppliers to aerospace.

Did you know that 70% of all the landing gear in the world comes from Ontario—Messier-Dowty, Goodrich—and that Goodrich has a testing facility that is the biggest in the world, right here in Ontario? We're proud of that. That means they sell their product to everybody. Whether it's Embraer or Airbus, through EADS, all of those great companies rely on Ontario supply companies. That's why we have to continue to be international in scope.

I know we've joked in this House about ball bearings before, but there's an important story behind ball bearings. The people from Stratford will know this. FAG Aerospace makes the best ball bearings in the world. That may mean nothing to those of us in this House, but if you're flying that engine on that plane, you want to know that you have a Stratford-built FAG Aerospace ball bearing in that engine because it is precise within a hair's breadth. That's how precise it is.

And we're thrilled to see that because we've been able to incent and they care about Ontario, they've made an additional investment in Ontario to grow their facility in Stratford. They sell that product all over the world, and it's very impressive.

A really neat little story, and I know all of you know the movie Titanic: There's that one scene where Leonardo and Kate—of course, I focus on Leonardo—are at the bow of the ship, with their arms extended. That shot is a famous shot for the movie Titanic. The way they took that shot for this film was that the camera was in a helicopter, swooping around the ship. The only reason they're able to take that film, and it's so precise and it doesn't move, is because of a great innovation of technology by L-3 Communications, right here in Ontario.

And that kind of technology is not just for Hollywood; it's for defence, it's for the airline industry, it's for aerospace, and that was created right here in Ontario. Of course, I think that's a great story, because who knew we've got such a hand in that great scene from the Titanic, that that would be a great Ontario company?

Let me just finish by saying that we have a number of things we have to be proud of, that this is the Ontario story that we take abroad. We talk about our great cars. Do you know, I met a guy in Saudi Arabia who is the largest Crown Vic salesperson in world—the Speaker of the House will appreciate this, because the Speaker comes from St. Thomas: 6,000 cars a year, and he can't get enough. So I've got to call our Ford execs and get them to ship him more Crown Vics, because they love our cars.

The truth is that we make 2.5 million cars in Ontario, 85% of which are exported—another great example of being an export jurisdiction. We can't just shut our doors. We need to burst them open and get out there on the world scene to tell them the great facts of Ontario.

I'm just proud to be a part of a government that lets us do this, that lets us boast, with rights, about a great education system, about great incentives, about the best apprenticeship tax credit worldwide, bar none—that's what you get in Ontario—a digital media tax credit that gets better and better, enticing those new companies from those new sectors to come and invest in Ontario. All I have to say to the people in the House is, be proud and get out there and tell the Ontario story.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Bruce Crozier): Further debate?

Mr. Jerry J. Ouellette: I just want to go over the wording:

"That the Legislative Assembly of Ontario acknowledges our province faces economic challenges created by the high dollar, high international oil prices, the US economic slowdown, international economic turmoil, and increased global manufacturing competition