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September 30, 2013

40th Parliament, 2nd Session

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Hansard Transcripts

Votes and Proceedings

Orders and Notices

Hansard Transcripts 2013-Sep-30 (PDF)

L065 - Mon 30 Sep 2013 / Lun 30 sep 2013

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO

ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE DE L’ONTARIO

Monday 30 September 2013 Lundi 30 septembre 2013

INTRODUCTION OF VISITORS

ORAL QUESTIONS

JOB CREATION

PAN AM GAMES

COLLECTIVE BARGAINING

COLLECTIVE BARGAINING

PAN AM GAMES

COLLECTIVE BARGAINING

SENIOR CITIZENS

PUBLIC TRANSIT

COLLECTIVE BARGAINING

TEMPORARY EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES

HORSE RACING INDUSTRY

COLLECTIVE BARGAINING

RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE

ONTARIO NORTHLAND

TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION

COLLECTIVE BARGAINING

YOUTH EMPLOYMENT

HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENT

VISITORS

INTRODUCTION OF VISITORS

MEMBERS’ STATEMENTS

SENIOR CITIZENS

GIRL POWER PROJECT

ERINOAKKIDS CENTRE FOR

TREATMENT AND DEVELOPMENT

POLICE

DOCKS AT MOOSONEE

GIVE THE GIFT OF LIFE WALK

WASTE MANAGEMENT

ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE

CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

OMBUDSMAN AMENDMENT ACT

(INVESTIGATION OF HEALTH CARE

SERVICES), 2013 /

LOI DE 2013 MODIFIANT

LA

LOI SUR L’OMBUDSMAN

(ENQUÊTES SUR LES SERVICES

DE SOINS DE SANTÉ)

STATEMENTS BY THE MINISTRY

AND RESPONSES

COMMUNITY HEALTH AND

WELLBEING WEEK

PETITIONS

CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE

PULMONARY DISEASE

AIR-RAIL LINK

SERVICES FOR THE

DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED

OFFICE OF THE OMBUDSMAN

SHALE BEACH

LONG-TERM CARE

HOSPITAL PARKING FEES

ONTARIO COLLEGE OF TRADES

ONTARIO COLLEGE OF TRADES

DOG OWNERSHIP

HYDRO RATES

ALL-TERRAIN VEHICLES

ONTARIO COLLEGE OF TRADES

DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES

ORDERS OF THE DAY

ORDER OF BUSINESS

The House met at 1030.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Good morning. Please join me in prayer.

Prayers.

INTRODUCTION OF VISITORS

Mr. Garfield Dunlop: I know the Minister of Northern Development and Mines will want to say—I’m not going to steal all your thunder.

But I do want to introduce to you today Dr. Brian Stevenson, Ms. Debbie Comuzzi and Richard Longtin from Lakehead University, who, by the way, have a campus in my riding, in Orillia. They have 700 new first-year students this year. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Hon. Michael Gravelle: I’m very pleased to follow the member for Simcoe North. Dr. Brian Stevenson, of course, is the president and the vice-chancellor of Lakehead University; Deb Comuzzi is the vice-president of external relations; and Richard Longtin, the director of government relations, is here as well. This is their Queen’s Park day, and they’ll be meeting with many members of the Legislature. There’s also a reception this evening from 5 to 7 in the dining room, which we want to invite everybody to. Let’s welcome our friends from Lakehead University.

Mr. Tim Hudak: I’m pleased to introduce some family members of page Erica George. You may remember Lauren George, who was a page last time around. Her sister Vanessa George—a future page, perhaps?—is here to join with and watch her sister Erica George.

Apparently, their aunt Charmaine Reid—I know, Speaker, that you may have noticed this in my bio. I actually had the honour of representing Notre Dame College School at the all-Ontario badminton championships back in 1986, I believe it was. Charmaine was about 10 years younger. She beat me handily. That’s because she was an Olympic badminton player. She’s a proud member of the Niagara Peninsula and a long-time friend. Charmaine, it’s great to see you again. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Hon. Ted McMeekin: I’m delighted to draw attention to members from the Retired Teachers of Ontario sitting in the west gallery. Thank you for being here. One I know quite well: Leo Normandeau, who is in my riding and the immediate past president. Welcome, all.

Mr. Frank Klees: Speaker, I ask all members to join me in welcoming two very special visitors to the members’ gallery today: Andra Capannelli and Natalie Capannelli. Both will be joining me for lunch today, along with their mother, Heather MacGregor, who some of us will remember from her work here at Queen’s Park.

Also joining us for lunch today will be page James Prowse, because both of these young ladies are interested in one day being part of the page program, and I thought, “No better way to introduce them to that than to have them join us for lunch with page”—here he is right here—“James Prowse.” Let’s hear it for page Prowse.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The timing is impeccable.

Ms. Andrea Horwath: I’m proud to introduce, and ask all members to welcome to the House today, James St. John, the business manager at Central Ontario Building Trades; Steven Martin, business manager, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 353; and Jack Barbosa, business manager, Marble, Tile and Terrazzo, Local 31.

Hon. Tracy MacCharles: I’m really happy to introduce Peter Vanderyagt from Pickering–Scarborough East to the Ontario Legislature today. He’s here with the Retired Teachers of Ontario to take

part in the first annual seniors’ day at Queen’s Park—a very good friend; welcome, Peter—as well as well as Marjorie Blake from Pickering–Scarborough East. It’s wonderful to have them here today.

Mr. Bill Walker: It’s my pleasure to introduce Margaret Howard from Leith, the same birthplace as famed painter Tom Thomson. We invite everyone to visit the Tom. She is the grandmother of page William Howard-Waddingham. Joining her is Helen Hatton from here in Toronto, best friend, godmother and number one fan of William Howard-Waddingham.

Hon. Mario Sergio: We are joined today by some 100 seniors from different organizations celebrating the very first seniors’ day at Queen’s Park. We are joined by members from the Ontario Gerontology Association, the Municipal Retirees Organization Ontario, the Ontario Coalition of Senior Citizens’ Organizations, the Ontario Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse, the United Senior Citizens of Ontario, and the Retired Teachers of Ontario. I’d like to welcome them all, Mr. Speaker, and remind all the members that there’s going to be a reception after question period, so join us in room 228.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): I’m going to use Speaker’s prerogative and continue the introductions to ensure that—there are some wonderful visitors here. We want to see them all. But I’m also going to use this moment to remind us to please just do the introductions, and I’ll get to everybody inside of the five minutes.

Mrs. Christine Elliott: Our great page from Whitby–Oshawa, Pratah Bhatt, is page captain today. I’d like to introduce his family, who are in the members’ gallery: Pranav Bhatt, his father, is here; Falguni Bhatt, his mom, is here as well; and Sanat Bhatt, his grandfather. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Hon. John Milloy: I would like members to join me in welcoming Sue Morgan, a friend, a constituent and a community activist, who’s in the Speaker’s gallery with us today.

Ms. Sylvia Jones: I have two sets of guests to welcome. One of my great constituency staff members, Carol Clarke, has brought her friends Bob and Doris, so please welcome them to Queen’s Park.

And from the Ontario Gerontology Association, on behalf of my seatmate, Julia Munro, I would like to welcome their executive director, Norm Shulman.

M me France Gélinas: It is my pleasure to introduce Mary Gavil, who is here from Mississauga, as well as Bernard Jordaan, who is the president of the United Senior Citizens of Ontario, as well as Maria Descalos. They are here to support the Ombudsman oversight bill this afternoon.

I also want to mention the Ontario Gerontology Association—l’Association ontarienne de gérontologie—the Municipal Retirees Organization Ontario, the Older Adult Centres’ Association of Ontario, the Ontario coalition of services for seniors, the Ontario Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and the retired teachers’ association in support of—

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): I was just clearing my throat. To the member for Nickel Belt, I just wanted to let you know I was clearing my throat.

The member from Scarborough–Agincourt.

Ms. Soo Wong: I’m pleased to welcome the parents of page Daniel Velyvis: his mother, Linda Chow-Velyvis, father, Mr. Vytas Velyvis, and grandmother Ngan Sau Chow. Welcome to the Ontario Legislature.

Hon. Michael Coteau: It’s my distinct pleasure to welcome Harold Brathwaite, the distinguished educator and a former director of education in the Metro and Peel district school boards. Welcome.

Hon. Liz Sandals: I was going to welcome Harold and all the other members of the Retired Teachers of Ontario. If there are any RTO members who haven’t been specifically named yet, welcome to all of you. I would like to note—I don’t think he’s come in yet—my constituent Simon Leibovitz is the communications officer at RTO and he’s, I think, still to come in.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): I would be remiss not to score some brownie points myself, so I would like to introduce a friend of mine, my former grade 7 teacher, June Szeman, retired teachers’ association—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Hang on, I’ve got some more for you. She was one of these people who actually did start teaching when she was 17 years old, so that means she’s very young right now. That’s an extra brownie point.

Anyway, I thank all of our visitors for being here, and thank you for your indulgence in not making speeches when you’re introducing someone.

ORAL QUESTIONS

JOB CREATION

Mr. Tim Hudak: A question to the Premier: Premier, one of the common issues I hear from parents is that they are concerned about their sons and daughters. They usually characterize it that their daughter has her university degree or their son has a college diploma and they thought by this time in life they would be on their own, in their own place making their way in the world, on their own career path. But they’re back home with mom and dad. Instead of occupying a job, they are occupying the couch. They’re getting frustrated with this province.

When asked on Friday when you will produce your jobs plan, you told the media to ask you in six months. Premier, it is unacceptable to wait another six months after nine months of delay and 10 lost years. When will we actually see your jobs plan tabled? These people cannot wait another six months.

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: I just want to put the comment in context because when I was asked, the youth employment fund, the $295 million that we are investing to put supports in place for young people—that opened on September 23. I was asked by the media a couple of days after and I said of course we want results, but it was a bit too early.

In fact, Mr. Speaker, as of today, according to the ministry, there are 535 youth employment fund placements across the province, 126 more than anticipated. So in fact, the results are already coming in, and I anticipate we will hear more good news about that fund in the days to come.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Tim Hudak: You know, Speaker, I remember when the PC government set the stage for a million new jobs in the province of Ontario and we led North America in job creation.

Frankly, Premier, we had agreed with you to—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): I’m waiting. Keep it down.

Please finish.

Mr. Tim Hudak: You know, Premier, we had agreed with you. You had suggested a number of bills; we agreed to pass those bills in a programming motion with the goal of clearing the deck so we could focus on jobs and the economy. The programming motion was tabled a couple of days ago and your only response to date was to tell everybody to wait six months, and then to launch a website on the weekend, I guess, which was noplan.ca.

Premier, waiting six months is far, far too long. Our plan is out there. I beg you: Steal any ideas in our plan; bring something forward to actually put people to work and entrepreneurs back in business in our province. Surely—

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Thank you.

Premier?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: I remember when the PC government wrought havoc across this province in terms of our education system and our health care system. In fact, many of us are here because of the undermining of the contracts that we had in this province in terms of civil society that were really blown apart by the PC government.

What I would say to the member opposite is that we have a plan in place. Evidence of that is investment in the Ford plant: $70. 9 million that we put in place to protect more than 2,800 jobs, and our introducing of the small business act, which will help 60,000 small businesses by helping them with their payroll tax. The Youth Employment Fund, as I have already said today, is showing results: 535 placements across the province, according to the ministry. There is much already under way, and our ongoing connection with the people of Ontario is very important.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Final supplementary.

Mr. Tim Hudak: Quite frankly, Premier, these are all warmed-over ideas that you stole from the NDP. We saw what an incredible mess—

Interjections.

Mr. Tim Hudak: They’re applauding that, but we know what an incredible mess the NDP made of this province. They drove our economy into the ditch, and we’re not going there again.

Premier, no questions asked, take any of our ideas. There’s no charge. We actually want to get on with the job of creating jobs in the province of Ontario, an Ontario that’s number one for jobs and last in debt, not the other way around. We put ideas on the table to get energy costs under control, to make sure we lower the cost of doing business by lowering taxes, to actually move forward with apprenticeship reform so young people can get jobs in the trades in Ontario, not Saskatchewan and Alberta. Pick all three; pick one. But surely, Premier, pick something. It’s part of the job. Let’s get on with it. Let’s move our province forward and create some jobs.

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Here’s what we’re getting on with. If the observers from the PC Party at our provincial council on the weekend had heard what I said, they would know that investing in people, investing in the infrastructure that’s necessary and investing in a dynamic business climate: That is the plan; that’s the framework; that’s what we’re doing. All the specifics, Mr. Speaker, fit within that framework—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Shouting people down is not really what we should be doing here.

Please.

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I reject the notion that’s coming from the other side that driving down wages with harmful legislation that would undermine all of the good work that organized labour has done for the last decades, firing 10,000 education workers and firing 2,000 health care workers—that’s not a plan; that’s just a blueprint for destroying the province once again. We’re not going to go there.

PAN AM GAMES

Mr. Tim Hudak: While young women and men are facing a job market worse than the Rust Belt states, while the Premier’s only response is to tell them to wait six months for her plan and to launch the new website wehavenoidea.ca, she is rewarding, however, the Pan Am executives and board members whose expenses I’m sure the Premier will agree are a wanton abuse of taxpayer dollars.

Premier, you said you would be different. You said that you would not follow the same pattern of behaviour for the culture of entitlement of the Dalton McGuinty Liberals. Let me ask you then, Premier: When did you become aware of this abuse of taxpayer money at the Pan Am Games?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: I agree with the Leader of the Opposition that there are expenses within that report that are unacceptable. Three weeks ago, the minister responsible for the Pan Am Games asked the board to review their policy and strengthen it where appropriate. It’s unacceptable that public dollars would be spent in that way. My hope is that all the other two levels of the government, both the city and the federal government, will take the same action, because we have already taken action on tightening up those rules.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Tim Hudak: Thank you, Premier, but with all due respect, doing another study is not taking action. Ending the free ride on the backs of taxpayers: That’s actually taking action, and you should get on with that job.

According to Pan Am executives, there was a provincial audit. There was an audit done, supervised by the province, I think a number of months ago. It says that they passed that audit.

So I’ll ask you this, Premier: Will you table today the results of that provincial audit and then tell us exactly what you did when you found out about this extraordinary abuse of taxpayer funds?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: I’ve already said that the minister responsible for the Pan Am Games has told the board that the rules need to be tightened. The rules were followed, but they need to be tightened up, Mr. Speaker, and that is what is happening.

What I think we need to do is make sure all levels of government—because all three levels are involved in getting ready for the Pan Am Games—are taking the same tack and that those rules are tightened.

The Pan Am Games are going to be fantastic. The Pan Am Games shine a light on the province, on our talent and the beautiful cities that will host the different events.

We need to make sure that all the rules are tightened, as the minister has asked, and get ready for the best Pan/Parapan Am Games ever.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Final supplementary.

Mr. Tim Hudak: We have the best hopes for the Pan Am Games and the Parapan Am Games. We know it can be a success, but we can’t have that kind of success when you see this kind of abuse of taxpayer dollars, expensing everything from Starbucks coffees to lavish trips and dinners for the executives. If they’ve reached that culture of entitlement two years before the games take place, how bad is it going to be in two years’ time? The test is, Premier, what are you actually going to do about this?

I want to give credit where credit is due. My colleague the member from Barrie, Rod Jackson, has risen time and time again in this House to point out accountability problems. If your minister is AWOL, if you’re not looking out for taxpayer dollars, then Rod Jackson and the PC caucus are prepared to do so.

Will you join our call for the auditor to do a complete review of Pan Am expenses to make sure they’re going to the right place and not to this kind of abuse? Will you do that, Premier?

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Be seated, please. Thank you.

Premier?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: We’ve already taken action. The minister has already given instructions to the board to tighten the rules. We are already reacting. I agree with the Leader of the Opposition: The rules should be tighter; there should not be that kind of entitlement. So we’ve already taken action.

I think we need to make sure that the dollars are spent wisely, that there’s good judgment in place and that the rules are appropriate. At the same time, I hope that the Leader of the Opposition and the leader of the third party will join with me and join with the federal government and the municipal government to make sure that these are the best Pan/Parapan Am Games ever, that we showcase Ontario in the very best light and that we involve people from all communities, including schoolchildren, who can be inspired by these fantastic athletes. That’s our objective.

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member from Bruce–Grey–Owen Sound will come to order. Do you get the hint?

New question.

COLLECTIVE BARGAINING

Ms. Andrea Horwath: My question is for the Premier. When I met face to face with the Premier just weeks ago, she told me that closure motions that shut off debate weren’t in her plans. Now, the Premier is supporting a motion to shut down debate on a series of bills, including one custom designed to help construction giant EllisDon, one of her party’s biggest donors. Why did she forget to mention that to me at our meeting, Speaker?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: We did not have an explicit discussion about programming motions, and I think the leader of the third party knows that. What we talked about was our ability to move ahead, to get some legislation passed on which there is agreement. Within the programming motion there is the opportunity for debate. There’s the movement of bills to committee and lots of opportunity for input, not just from members of the House but from people outside in the public.

I think that what we have put forward is absolutely consistent with the conversations I had with both the Leader of the Opposition and the leader of the third party, where I said, “You know what? Where there’s agreement, let’s move this legislation ahead. There are lots of areas where there’s disagreement, but let’s try to move ahead where we can find that common ground.”

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Ms. Andrea Horwath: The Premier likes to talk about worthy bills being slowed down in the House, but the bill written for EllisDon has sailed through the House past dozens of other bills with a fraction of the debate, despite significant controversy.

In our meeting, the Premier never once mentioned this bill. How did it suddenly become such a priority, Speaker?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Here’s the reality, Mr. Speaker. There are three parties in this House. There’s our party, there’s the Progressive Conservatives and there’s the NDP. When I had a meeting with the leader of the third party—she’s right—this particular bill didn’t come up. When we met with the Leader of the Opposition, that is a bill the Leader of the Opposition wanted to put forward. The reality is that in a minority government we need to work—all of us—together. So I’m working with both the opposition and the leader of the third party. That’s how the particular mix of bills got into the programming motion.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Final supplementary.

Ms. Andrea Horwath: A lot of people have raised serious questions about the Liberals’ eagerness to ram legislation through the House at the behest of a single well-connected company. This issue is still being fought in the courts. But instead of respecting that process, the Liberals are working with the Conservatives in an undemocratic attempt to ram through changes at the behest of one well-connected company. Why won’t the Premier respect the process and stop her undemocratic attempts to ram this bill through this House?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: I think the leader of the third party knows that all of the bills that are within the programming motion will go to committee. They will be subject to a vote, Mr. Speaker. This is a private member’s bill that was put on the list of bills that the opposition was interested in moving ahead on. To characterize a programming motion that’s going to go through debate in the House, debate at committee and debate in the House again as ramming I think is really a misrepresentation of what’s actually going to happen.

This is a bill that was put forward by the opposition, by a private member. It is part of the overall programming motion, which includes many pieces of legislation that I know the leader of the third party and her members support.

COLLECTIVE BARGAINING

Ms. Andrea Horwath: My next question is also for the Premier. Can the Premier tell us whether she or her staff discussed the EllisDon bill with the company or anyone working on behalf of that company in the last six months?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Mr. Speaker, I’m not sure of the scope of the leader of the third party’s question. What I know is that this is a private member’s bill that was brought forward by a member of the PC caucus. And within that programming motion, there are a number of pieces of legislation that I know that the leader of the third party and her members support: the Local Food Act; the tanning bed legislation, which will prevent cancer in young people; consumer protections—the wireless phone contract rules to help consumers.

My hope is that the leader of the third party will be able to support those and doesn’t think that we should drag out the process around those pieces of legislation, because we all support them and we should move those ahead.

The fact is that there was another private member’s bill that was brought forward, but I hope that the leader of the third party will support those pieces of legislation that her members have already claimed they support.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Published reports indicate that the bill was crafted by lobbyists at StrategyCorp as a Conservative private member’s bill so it wouldn’t look like the Liberals were violating collective agreements yet again. Can the Premier confirm or deny that report?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Mr. Speaker, I can’t even follow the convolutions of that question. The fact is, it’s a private member’s bill that a member of the opposition has brought forward. My hope is that the leader of the third party will see that the pieces of legislation that we’re bringing forward—the Local Food Act, the tanning bed legislation, the consumer protections—that she will understand that the programming motion is intended to deal with those pieces of legislation where we can find agreement. And on many of them there’s agreement among all parties in the House.

That was my objective in meeting with her and meeting with the Leader of the Opposition, to find a way to move ahead those pieces of legislation where there was agreement. I think that’s how minority Parliament should work, Mr. Speaker. I hope she will accept that as these pieces of legislation go through, they will go to committee, there will be input and they will come back to the House for a vote. That’s how it needs to work.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Final supplementary.

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Speaker, when I met with the Premier two weeks ago, at the beginning of this session, the challenges facing EllisDon weren’t even on the agenda. At the time, the Premier actually agreed that the challenges facing families in this province should be our main priority. But now we see a bill, championed by well-connected Liberal and Conservative insiders working on behalf of a company making billions of dollars annually, somehow becoming a top government priority.

When is the Premier going to stop the excuses and the evasions and explain to people why she’s making it her priority to help well-connected insider Liberal friends?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Our priority on this side of the House is to create jobs and light a fire under the economy by investing in people, investing in infrastructure and investing in a business climate that is going to bring business to this province and is going to create jobs. That’s our priority, and that’s what’s happening.

I’m sure the leader of the third party will be happy to know that, already, the $295-million Youth Employment Fund is creating those jobs; it’s creating those placements—535 placements, Mr. Speaker—and the fund only opened on September 23.

That’s our priority. Job creation is our priority, and it will stay our priority as we continue to work with the members of the opposition.

PAN AM GAMES

Mr. Rod Jackson: My question is to the Premier. Early in my business career I learned that to get the outcomes you want, you need to inspect what you expect. You permitted the minister of the Pan Am Games to use taxpayers’ money to write a blank cheque for all the needs and wants of the multi-million dollar TO2015 executive, including things like Starbucks coffee, pet travel—travel for pets—and Advil.

Premier, talk is cheap. Will you remedy this today and ask them to repay all expenses that were made in bad faith? Yes or no?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Let me just say I have already answered this question. I’ve already said that the minister responsible for the Pan/Parapan American Games has instructed the board to tighten up those rules.

But, Mr. Speaker, the member—

Interjection.

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Hold on—the member of the opposition makes a very good suggestion. If there are expenses that are inappropriate and are not within the rules—

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member from Bruce–Grey–Owen Sound, come to order.

Premier?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. The member opposite makes a good point. If there are expenses that fall outside the rules that have not been paid back, then they should be paid back. I agree.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Rod Jackson: That’s good. Maybe we’re getting somewhere here today.

Premier, it’s important—you’re right—that the Pan Am Games shine the light on TO, not on the endemic waste that’s going on in your government.

The minister’s credibility for Pan Am oversight has diminished with one spending scandal after another. The TO2015 organizing committee executive salaries are greater than those of the Prime Minister, the police chief of Toronto and the mayor of Toronto. Plus let’s not forget the significant bonuses they get just for completing their jobs; we don’t even know what those numbers are yet.

Then let’s talk about the duplicate 62-person secret secretariat, costing us an extra $2.8 million per year and counting in administrative costs. And the latest: unlimited expense accounts—just what this government doesn’t need, and not what the people of Ontario need.

Premier, will you allow the Auditor General oversight of your latest scandal-plagued portfolio?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Let’s just be clear. I’ve already said that the minister responsible has talked to the board and has instructed that the rules be changed. Also, let’s remember that all levels of government—federal, provincial and municipal—are involved in the administration of the Pan/Parapan Games.

Let’s also remember that this is a very significant investment of dollars and energy into what will be job creation—26,000 jobs showcasing Ontario as a place to visit, as a wonderful venue. This is an extremely important investment in the future of Ontario, and I agree with the member opposite that where there are rules that need to be tightened, they absolutely should be. That’s why the minister has already instructed the board to do so.

COLLECTIVE BARGAINING

Mr. Taras Natyshak: My question is to the Premier. Last year the Premier told reporters, “I have never thought that we should legislate collective bargaining.” Why is she now breaking that promise with the imposition of Bill 74?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Minister of Labour, Mr. Speaker.

Hon. Yasir Naqvi: I appreciate the question from the member opposite. In relation to the particular bill he is raising, I do want to inform the House, and I’m sure members know, that late Friday afternoon we received a decision from the Divisional Court that looked into the decision of the Ontario Labour Relations Board that has been raised in that particular bill. In the review of the decision, the court have quashed the decision of the Ontario Labour Relations Board.

We, of course, are closely reviewing the decision, which came late Friday, and we’ll have a better understanding of what that decision means, but it seems at the moment that the company can continue to operate under the status quo as part of the decision of the Divisional Court.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Taras Natyshak: The minister is right that the decision is still before the Divisional Court. But why intervene through this legislation? Why intervene in collective bargaining rights—it defies logic—through this House? This special EllisDon deal has the potential to completely negate hundreds of existing labour agreements which have nothing to do with that company.

Does the Premier think that the interest of one major donor is so important that she is willing to ram through a bill that will help one singular company and negate hundreds of existing functional agreements between workers and employees?

Hon. Yasir Naqvi: Let me just try one more time and correct the member opposite. The Divisional Court has rendered a decision. It came out late Friday afternoon. In that decision, the Divisional Court reviewed the decision of the Ontario Labour Relations Board that is subject to Bill 74 and have quashed the decision of the Ontario Labour Relations Board. It gives a pretty strong indication that the status quo as it relates to the company in question stays intact. We are reviewing the decision—it came late Friday afternoon—and we will have a better sense in coming days as to the meaning of the decision.

SENIOR CITIZENS

Mr. Bas Balkissoon: My question is to the minister responsible for seniors’ affairs. Today is older adults’ day at Queen’s Park. Many seniors’ groups and advocates from Ontario are here to meet with local MPPs. Among those participating, I would like to specifically recognize those visiting from my riding of Scarborough–Rouge River who are here in the gallery. I thank them for their work and advocacy.

One thing that I have been hearing from constituents in my riding is on the issue of safety and security for older Ontarians. Can the minister please inform this House of some ways the government is protecting seniors in Ontario?

Hon. Mario Sergio: Thank you very much, Speaker. Through you, I want to thank the honourable member for his question. It is a good question.

Let me say, Speaker, that you, every member in the House and the member from Scarborough–Rouge River have the firm commitment of this government, and mine, as the minister responsible for seniors, to have our seniors live in a healthy, safe environment, whatever that may be. With respect to the government, we are the first one in Ontario and in Canada to introduce a strategy to combat elder abuse, which is a strategy aimed to improve the coordination of community resources, to build capacity of front-line staff, and to increase public awareness as well. We have already committed and spent—invested, I should say—$8 million, and $900,000 on a yearly basis.

For me, it doesn’t matter where seniors live. They live in one Ontario, and they all deserve to be living in confidence and in dignity.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Bas Balkissoon: It is good to hear that our government is taking serious efforts to ensure that seniors are being protected. As a matter of fact, I am hosting a community health fair at Malvern Town Centre this Saturday. This information will be something that I will make sure to pass along to seniors.

Many seniors that I will meet this Saturday will want to know that they will be able to live in their own homes for as long as possible. Staying at home provides them the independence and dignity that they need and deserve. Can the minister please tell us what this government is doing to ensure that seniors are getting the care they need so they may remain living in their own homes?

Hon. Mario Sergio: The Minister of Health and Long-Term Care.

Hon. Deborah Matthews: Thank you to the member for this very important question, one that touches so many of us.

One of the most important goals of our action plan for health care is to help seniors stay at home with the right supports, to make sure seniors have that opportunity, because home is where we all want to be. It’s better than being in hospital or having to move to long-term care.

So we are increasing funding to the community sector; in fact, this year, a 6% increase over last year—that’s $260 million more this year than last year—and three million more hours of personal support worker care over three years. We’re investing in 30,000 more house calls by our doctors. Our Healthy Homes Renovation Tax Credit is helping seniors retrofit their homes so they can safely live in them longer.

This means more Ontarians are going to be able to live where they want to live, in their own homes, for as long as possible.

PUBLIC TRANSIT

Mr. Douglas C. Holyday: Madam Premier, I received a copy of the TTC report prepared by CEO Andy Byford for the TTC commission last week, and it comments on your plan to put the subway extension through Scarborough. I hope that you and your caucus have had an opportunity to review this report, because there are several things in here that would tell anybody that what you’re proposing is just not feasible or right. I’d like to quote some of the things from the plan, if I could.

Firstly, slower operation: Because of maximum curves and maximum grades, there are six speed-reduction zones where the train can only go 50 to 55 kilometres instead of 80. This increases overall trip and passenger time.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Question?

Mr. Douglas C. Holyday: My question is, also, that there is $300 million to $400 million not accounted for in the funding.

I want to know when you’re going to meet with the TTC and the Toronto mayor to move forward with the Toronto council plan.

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure.

Hon. Glen R. Murray: The engineers at both Metrolinx and the TTC talk and work together, week to week, on a regular basis. I think that Mr. Byford was very clear that this is technically feasible. There is a great deal of work being done on looking at the different options, and our report will be released.

You’ll notice in that report that such basic things as ridership are absent and it is very early going. Also, a lot of the assumptions that the member opposite is making may not be entirely accurate.

What we do have is a real critical need to stick to the existing plan and to go where people are, which is where the Scarborough Town Centre is. We will continue to work with the city and the federal government now that there is an appearance of some funds there to complete the project.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Douglas C. Holyday: Last time, I asked if the government would please let us know when they planned to open their first subway station in Toronto. I’d like to read from Hansard, because it’s an interesting answer they gave me. The minister said, “We will shortly, within the next few years, have a better record than the party opposite.”

“The next few years” is very vague. It’s not a fair answer for the opposition and it’s certainly not a fair answer for the citizens of Toronto. I want to know when they are going to open their first subway station. The score is 64 to nothing. They’ve been in power for 10 years and it’s about time they did something.

Hon. Glen R. Murray: We are about to open dozens of subway and LRT stations at an unprecedented rate across the GTHA. Here we go back to the basic problem: We have a $50-billion, 15-project major move to deal with congestion. This is unprecedented. This means that people in Scarborough and Etobicoke and north Toronto won’t be waiting 40 minutes for a bus. They’ll get the high-speed, high-quality transit that they have waited for.

They didn’t get it when the party opposite was in power. They didn’t put a penny in. The party opposite still in power has hardly funded it. We’re funding 90% of the Big Move costs; the federal government, 3.85%. Our friends at city hall appear like they’re getting into the game for the first time. We welcome that, and we’ll work on them to accelerate not just one project but all 15 and solve a larger problem.

COLLECTIVE BARGAINING

Mr. Gilles Bisson: My question is to the Premier. John Duffy is a lobbyist with a strategy group that is registered to work on behalf of EllisDon. Mr. Duffy touts his close relationship with you on the StrategyCorp website, noting that he worked with you—

Interruption.

Interjection: Turn your phone off.

Mr. Gilles Bisson: Jeez—noting that he worked on the Premier’s leadership campaign last winter.

On April 19, he registered to lobby on behalf of EllisDon.

Has the Premier met with Mr. Duffy, and if so, did she discuss this bill?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Government House leader.

Hon. John Milloy: It’s quite unbelievable that the New Democratic Party, which put together and helped draft a motion of this House which programmed the Financial Accountability Officer legislation, who voted for it, who voted for closure on it, are now upset because we’re putting forward a similar programming motion dealing with eight bills and the establishment of a Select Committee on Developmental Services.

All the programming motion does is allow for debate and discussion in a programmed way as it would be put forward, in a way which will allow a smooth passage but will allow debate and discussion. There will be committee time on this bill that he’s so concerned about. There will be time for amendments; there will be time for votes at all stages.

It’s just a little bit passing strange that when it’s the FAO, it’s okay, but when it’s a programming motion with these eight bills, suddenly their sensibilities are offended.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Gilles Bisson: Back to the Premier, and hopefully I’ll get an answer this time: The issue is that Mr. Duffy registered to lobby on April 19 and, within days, that particular bill was custom-made for his client and was introduced into this House. Within weeks, it sailed past a vote with the enthusiastic support of the Liberal caucus.

So I ask you again: Will the Premier—I repeat, will the Premier—tell us what meeting Mr. Duffy organized with you and with anybody else on your staff?

Hon. John Milloy: If my honourable friend has questions about the particular bill, perhaps he should be asking the member from Lambton–Kent–Middlesex, who brought forward this private member’s bill.

This private member’s bill came forward. It had debate and discussion at second reading, and a vote. All this programming motion does is ensure that it is addressed by a committee. There will be an opportunity again for debate, discussion, amendments and witnesses to come forward, and the honourable member can ask all the questions that he wants.

But as I say, if he has a question about who met with who, perhaps he should address it to the member for Lambton–Kent–Middlesex.

TEMPORARY EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES

Ms. Dipika Damerla: If you’ve been out of a job and you’re worried about where your next rent is going to come from, often a temp agency can be a lifesaver. They allow you to pay the rent and put food on the table while you wait for that permanent job.

Another thing I’ve learned is that these temp agencies often provide something very valuable, that much-sought-after thing: Canadian work experience for new immigrants. So they really do provide a very important service.

However, at the same time, I do hear concerns from my constituents about employment standards and health and safety issues that are facing them in the workplace.

Miss Monique Taylor: I can’t believe you’re supporting temp agencies.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Member from Hamilton Mountain, come to order.

Ms. Dipika Damerla: The fact is that the most vulnerable of our workers are the least likely to complain about these abuses, so it’s important for somebody like me to stand up on their behalf and ask these questions.

My question to the minister is, what are you doing to ensure the rights of my constituents?

Hon. Yasir Naqvi: I really do want to thank the member for asking a very important question on an issue that I hear quite often about. I want the member to know that her constituents can rest assured that we are out there, as the Ministry of Labour, in workplaces across the province, ensuring that workers know their rights and that employers are living up to their responsibilities.

On the issue of temporary work agencies, I want to give special credit to the member from Brampton–Springdale and the member from Brampton West for being tremendous advocates on this issue. In fact, it was the member from Brampton West who brought in a private member’s bill in terms of regulating temporary work agencies back in 2006.

I’m very proud to say that our government, in 2009—the first provincial government in Canada—brought a specific law regulating temporary work agencies. Under the law, we’ve made sure that employees are not unfairly prevented from being hired directly by employers; agencies are prohibited from charging fees to workers for such things as resumé writing and interview preparation; and agencies are required to provide information to workers about their rights under the Employment Standards Act.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Ms. Dipika Damerla: Thank you to the minister for that great answer. It’s really good to know that our government has put in place all of these rules and regulations to protect our workers.

However, I do have to say that a rule is only as good as its enforcement, so if the minister can tell me what his ministry is doing to make sure that these rules are being enforced.

Hon. Yasir Naqvi: Thank you very much. Enforcement is a very important question. I want to give credit to my predecessor, the former Minister of Labour, the member from Brampton–Springdale, for actually initiating the first-ever blitz for proactive enforcement in the temporary work agencies. As a result, our inspectors visited about 100 temporary work agencies and laid over 200 work orders to ensure that the law that we brought in in 2009 is fully complied with.

Similarly, a few weeks ago I did a round table in Brampton, talking to constituents, along with the members from Brampton–Springdale and Brampton West, and assured them that we’re doing everything in our power to inform constituents. In fact, we have information about temporary work agencies available in 23 different languages. I encourage all to go to ontario.ca/labour to get that information.

HORSE RACING INDUSTRY

Mr. Randy Pettapiece: My question is to the Premier and concerns the horse racing industry. That industry was devastated when, without warning, the Liberals pulled the plug out from under it. They then struck a panel of former politicians to clean up the mess it made, at a cost of over half a million dollars so far.

This weekend, we learned that Woodbine Entertainment paid out $51 million in bonuses over 12 years. The Globe and Mail reports that the CEO is believed to have earned just over $1 million last year.

Speaker, the Liberals have been in office for 10 long years. Premier, why have you failed so miserably when it comes to enforcing basic standards of accountability?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Minister of Rural Affairs.

Hon. Jeff Leal: Our government believes in a strong, sustainable future for the horse racing industry in Ontario. Our plan is guided by the work that’s being done by the horse racing transition panel. The panel is led by three very honourable gentlemen: John Wilkinson, John Snobelen and Elmer Buchanan. Premier Wynne has asked the panel to develop a comprehensive five-year plan.

Our government will continue to work with Ontario’s great horse racing community to ensure that racing remains vibrant in the years to come. I do have a quote from John Snobelen: “SARP needed to end. Hundreds of millions in slot dollars had the perverse effect of turning the industry away from its fans and customers.”

There is no doubt: “that is no longer in doubt”—John Snobelen, a member of the horse racing transition panel.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary.

Mr. Randy Pettapiece: The issues at Woodbine took place right under this government’s nose. Horse breeders themselves were raising questions which the Liberals ignored. Obviously, they have no capacity for effective oversight. It’s so much easier for them to just look the other way.

But the horse racing industry is much bigger than one racetrack. Instead of dealing with the issues at Woodbine, the Liberals targeted an entire industry—talk about throwing the baby out with the bathwater. They deliberately jeopardized 60,000 jobs, mainly in rural Ontario. Some 9,000 of those jobs are already gone.

My question is this: Why should 60,000 people have to pay the price for this government’s own breakdown of accountability?

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Be seated, please. Thank you.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): I’ll wait.

Minister?

Hon. Jeff Leal: Well, Mr. Speaker, as John Snobelen said, there was a lack of transparency in the SARP program—

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member for Dufferin, come to order.

Hon. Jeff Leal: —and he has many members on the side opposite. The lack of transparency and accountability in this PC-initiated Slots at Racetracks Program is exactly—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The members from Northumberland, Simcoe North, Leeds–Grenville and Durham, come to order.

Interjection: I didn’t hear him say anything.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Oh, I did, and so did the member from—I want the member from Prince Edward–Hastings to relax.

Finish your answer, please.

Hon. Jeff Leal: Mr. Speaker, I’m quite shocked today that a former cabinet minister, Mr. Snobelen—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Look, I’m not fooling around, here. That goes for everyone.

Answer, please.

Hon. Jeff Leal: I want to reiterate what Mr. Snobelen said again—

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Wrap up.

Hon. Jeff Leal: “SARP needed to end. Hundreds of millions in slot dollars had the perverse effect of turning the industry away from its fans and customers.” One question, he says, “is no longer in doubt: Horse racing is here to stay in Ontario.”

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Thank you.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): When I stand, you sit. New question.

COLLECTIVE BARGAINING

Mr. Jagmeet Singh: My question is to the Premier. In the past, the government—

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Yes, and so does the member from Renfrew know the rules. When I ask for quiet, I should get it.

Mr. Jagmeet Singh: Mr. Speaker, in the past, the government has made it clear that they don’t legislate or even comment on issues that are still before the courts. Given that the issues between EllisDon and their employees are still before the courts, why is this government changing the rules?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: I know the Minister of Labour will want to comment on the supplementary. I want to be clear that the Divisional Court rendered a decision. We are reviewing that decision. I think the Minister of Labour made it very clear that, as we understand it, the status quo can pertain vis-à-vis EllisDon. There is a 15-day period, I believe, where there may be an appeal, but the Divisional Court has rendered a decision.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Jagmeet Singh: My question is, again, to the Premier: What we know is that the government is still trying to figure out the impact of this decision. For 10 long years, we’ve heard the courts used as an excuse by this government. Whether it’s the parents of children with autism fighting for IBI treatment or part-time college instructors looking for rights on the job, the Liberal government has hidden behind the phrase, “It’s before the courts.” But when EllisDon is fighting for a matter before the courts, the Liberals scramble to change the laws. Why?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Minister of Labour.

Hon. Yasir Naqvi: First of all, let’s just state the fact again that this is a private member’s bill that we’re dealing with; this is not a government bill—number one.

Number two: As I mentioned earlier and as the Premier restated, late Friday afternoon we received a decision from the Divisional Court to the decision of the Ontario Labour Relations Board. The decision is by three justices who have reviewed the decision of the Ontario Labour Relations Board. After thorough analysis, they have quashed the decision that was made by the Ontario Labour Relations Board. In fact, they applied the principle of estoppel and made the estoppel permanent. The decision came late Friday. We are, of course, very closely reviewing the decision at the moment. I encourage the members opposite to read the decision as well.

RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Mr. Phil McNeely: Speaker, my question, through you, is to the Minister of Rural Affairs. Ontario’s small and rural communities have many unique and diverse challenges when it comes to infrastructure. Ensuring roads, bridges and other critical infrastructure are maintained and upgraded requires significant investment, which many municipalities find costly.

According to a recent city of Ottawa survey titled Building a Liveable Ottawa: Focus on Rural Issues, fixing and improving rural roads was identified as the main priority for residents. My constituents and residents across Ontario want to know how their government is supporting municipalities with these critical investments.

Speaker, through you to the Minister of Rural Affairs, could the minister please update the House on what our government is doing to help rural municipalities fund infrastructure projects?

Hon. Jeff Leal: I want to thank the member from Ottawa–Orléans for his question. Investing in local infrastructure is critical for rural municipalities and one of our government’s main priorities. In the 2013 budget we announced a new $100-million fund for infrastructure in small, rural and northern communities.

Over the summer, my colleague Minister Murray and I criss-crossed Ontario, hosting 10 consultations to discuss the fund’s scope and size. We heard from over 500 municipal representatives and logged nearly 50 hours of consultation. This is in addition to the nearly $90 million in investments under the MIII program announced this summer. These investments will help rural municipalities build roads, bridges and other critical infrastructure to keep our communities moving forward.

We’ll have more to say on this in the coming days.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Phil McNeely: Thanks to the minister for that answer. My constituents will be pleased to hear that our government is committed to investing in infrastructure.

One of the main concerns I’ve heard has been a desire for a permanent, stable source of funding. As a consulting engineer, I’ve worked for many of these municipalities. They have prepared detailed asset management plans but now need the predictable funding associated with a permanent fund so they can better plan. Bringing in this stability will allow small and rural municipalities to properly build and maintain key roads and bridges for years to come.

Speaker, through you to the Minister of Rural Affairs: Could the minister please update the House on what our government is doing to ensure municipalities have stable, predictable funding for infrastructure?

Hon. Jeff Leal: I want to thank, again, the excellent member from Ottawa–Orléans for his supplementary.

We know that one of the main priorities in rural Ontario is predictable, stable funding. Premier Wynne stated her intention to make infrastructure funding permanent. We’re looking to the advice we received over the summer as we build on what the permanent infrastructure fund could look like. Our government is working with rural communities, providing the support they deserve.

But don’t take my word here. Here’s what a very fine mayor from Orillia, Mayor Angelo Orsi, had to say: “I applaud the Wynne government for reaching out to rural municipalities to understand their concerns with respect to infrastructure funding.”

Mr. Speaker, I’m confident that by working together, we can continue to strengthen rural communities through key investments in infrastructure.

ONTARIO NORTHLAND

TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION

Mr. Victor Fedeli: My question is for the Premier. On page 96 of your 2012 budget, it lists a savings of $265 million for the sale of Ontario Northland. But in confidential advice to cabinet, there was a document entitled Fiscal Implications at Variance from the 2012 Budget. It states that you won’t indeed save the $265 million that was budgeted; instead, it will cost you $790 million for this fire sale. Premier, that spread leaves a billion-dollar hole in your budget. According to the documents, you knew this when your 2013 budget was presented.

So I’m asking you a simple question: When are you going to come clean with the taxpayers of Ontario about the billion-dollar hole in the Liberal budget?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Minister of Northern Development and Mines.

Hon. Michael Gravelle: I’m glad to have an opportunity to address this issue, particularly because I think the member from Nipissing’s approach has been alarmist and not at all helpful and, by the way, not even remotely accurate in terms of how we are approaching the opportunity we have to transform the Ontario Northland Transportation Commission.

Certainly, when we’re looking at options for the ONTC, I think it’s fair to say the government has a responsibility and a duty to assess all associated liabilities. I think that would be described as a prudent part of responsible governance.

The numbers that the member from Nipissing has been sharing would see absolutely no job retention, no considerations about the socio-economic considerations for the future of the thing. This is, quite frankly, an alarmist depiction that doesn’t in any way reflect the approach that we are taking towards the Ontario Northland Transportation Commission.

We recognize that the status quo is not going to work. We have a minister’s advisory committee that has been set up to work to make those decisions, and we’re—

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Thank you. Supplementary?

Mr. Victor Fedeli: Let me tell you what is alarming. What’s alarming is that the treasury told your government to defer the fire sale announcement and wait for “further due diligence and analysis of fiscal implications.”

Speaker, those new numbers did come and, yes, they are alarming; I’ll give him that. Instead of the $25 million that the Liberals listed for severance, it’s now listed at $250 million, and I say to you right here and now, that’s still low by half.

Also, they had absolutely no retirement benefits listed. They were not going to pay any benefits to any retirees. I stood and fought for those retirees, and now it’s listed in the new documents as $56 million.

They showed pensions at only $100 million, when it’s $200 million; in fact, it’s $212 million.

Do I need to go on and show why I’m so alarmed at this $790 million? When are you going to—

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Thank you.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Be seated, please. Be seated, please.

Minister?

Hon. Michael Gravelle: What the member is talking about is an assessment of all the associated liabilities if we absolutely shut the system down, something that was never the approach that we were going to take. Certainly, we’re very, very keen to make sure that we have a positive way to work our way through the challenges of the Ontario Northland Transportation Commission. We are committed to a sustainable, efficient system, and we think there are some great opportunities for the ONTC.

Again, the picture that the member for Nipissing has brought forward is not even a remotely accurate representation of the approach we were taking, and certainly not the approach we are taking now. We are working through a ministerial advisory committee. Again, I’ve asked the member on a number of occasions to work with us, to provide a co-operative approach. This approach is one that is not helpful to the ONTC employees, not helpful to the municipalities that care so much.

I say on behalf of the ministerial advisory committee, I say on behalf of Mayor Al McDonald of North Bay and Mayor Spacek, the president of FONOM, and others, work with us to try to come up with a positive way—

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Thank you.

New question.

COLLECTIVE BARGAINING

Ms. Catherine Fife: My question is for the Premier. The government now has a decision that makes it clear that the EllisDon bill is not an urgent matter, even for the well-connected company that asked for it. Whatever excuse the Premier had for rushing the bill ahead is falling apart. Will she clear things up today and stop pressing ahead with moves to ram it through?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Government House leader.

Hon. John Milloy: Mr. Speaker, let’s review what’s happening again. The member for Lambton–Kent–Middlesex has put forward a private member’s bill. It has been debated here in the Legislature. It is part of a larger programming motion, the same type of motion that the member’s party pushed for for the Financial Accountability Officer legislation.

There will be an opportunity, if this programming motion passes, for the bill to go to committee, where the issues that she has raised and her colleagues have raised can be discussed, where there can be witnesses, where there can be amendments and, ultimately, a vote on all aspects of the bill. Then it will come back here, where there will be more discussion and votes. Mr. Speaker, this is a private member’s bill, and it will be looked at thoroughly by the committee.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary.

Ms. Catherine Fife: The government can’t have it both ways. If this bill isn’t an urgent matter, if it’s before the courts, why won’t she clear things up today and make it clear that she won’t proceed with this undemocratic legislation?

Hon. John Milloy: Mr. Speaker, the honourable member can’t have it both ways. All of a sudden, programming motions are horrible, unless the NDP proposes the programming motion. We have put together a set of eight bills on which there is some consensus within the Legislature. One of them is a private member’s bill for the member from Lambton–Kent–Middlesex. There are other bills, too, as well as the formation of a special committee to look at developmental services.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): We can’t have the debate going on between the members who are asking the question and the members who are answering. Thank you.

Hon. John Milloy: Mr. Speaker, I think it is very important to stress that all this programming motion does is allow for further debate and discussion and votes on all these matters. Any issues that the honourable member, or any honourable member in this Legislature, has can be raised if and when it goes before committee.

YOUTH EMPLOYMENT

Ms. Soo Wong: My question is for the Minister of Children and Youth Services. Our government has made it a priority to invest in youth throughout the province. In my riding of Scarborough–Agincourt, there are many creative and talented youth who would like to make a difference in their community. The minister recently announced an exciting partnership with MaRS. This is to create Studio Y, Ontario’s social impact and leadership academy. Mr. Speaker, through you to the minister, can she please inform the House how this partnership gives youth the opportunity to make a positive impact in their community? Also, how does this program work?

Hon. Teresa Piruzza: Thank you to the member for the question. I’m pleased to be able to stand to speak a bit about Studio Y, which we just announced last week. I agree with the member that there are many youth, not just in her riding but all across the province, who are talented, well-educated, with a strong desire to make a positive impact in their communities. Our government wants to identify and refine that talent so their great ideas can become reality.

I am proud to say that we are supporting MaRS with launching Studio Y, Ontario’s impact and leadership activity, designed to educate young leaders in social innovation and really help them grow their great ideas. Every year, 25 youth aged 18 to 29 from across the province—not just from Toronto, but across the province—will be selected by MaRS to take place in this nine-month program. They will receive intensive training and mentoring. This really is an investment in our future and in our—

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Thank you. Supplementary?

Ms. Soo Wong: I’m pleased to hear that we are supporting social innovation throughout this province. Ontario youth are recognized as some of the best educated in the world—our page Daniel goes to Kennedy Public School, in my riding of Scarborough–Agincourt, which is recognized as the number one elementary school in the system. That’s another great thing I wanted to promote: They are talented, global minded and passionate about making a difference.

Investing in leadership skills will help these young people become social entrepreneurs, change agents and civic leaders of tomorrow. Creating a highly skilled workforce is important to every Ontarian in this competing era of globalization. I’m pleased to see that we are partnering with MaRS, as they have a proven track record of driving social innovation and economic prosperity.

Mr. Speaker, through you to the minister, how does Studio Y strengthen Ontario’s social innovation culture?

Hon. Teresa Piruzza: I agree; we do have a fantastic education system here and, again, talent and creativity across the province. The curriculum in Studio Y will help build on that education and that strength to help youth turn their business ideas into reality.

There are three essential components to this intensive nine-month program. The first three months, youth will learn about governance, business planning, negotiating and communication skills; the next four months will help them use those skills in real-life situations, working with enterprises or other organizations in their communities. Then there will be a team project in the last two months. It’s certainly an exciting initiative, and one that I wish was around when I was younger.

Applications for Studio Y, just so everyone knows, open tomorrow, online at studio.marsdd.com. The first group of young people will begin in January, and I can’t wait to see the creativity and the environment that is created through this project.

HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENT

Mr. Jerry J. Ouellette: My question is for the Minister of Transportation. As you’re well aware, there is an ongoing study on the 401 expansion going through the region of Durham. The difficulty that it has caused is that it has shut down all development in the area until such time as the study is completed.

Now the problem is complicated such that, Minister, your senior ministerial individuals have come to city council and explained to city council that there will be no expansion through the area until the year 2030 or 2031. The difficulty is that I have developers in the area who are waiting to build—and have permits waiting to go—until they get the okay from the Ministry of Transportation.

Minister, what’s happening with these permits and the expansion in the area?

Hon. Glen R. Murray: First, to give some context to this, we not only have one of the biggest transit builds that we’re spending more on highway expansion than ever before; our annual highway budget is now an unprecedented $2.6 billion.

I also want to compliment the federal government. You know I’ve been critical of them when they’re not a partner. Certainly on the 407, the federal government has been a good partner on that project, and we’re trying to advance that project.

I realize that the highway and transportation right-of-ways do cause problems for development. I’m not particularly familiar with the details. I accept that there is some validity to the concern that you are raising. I will happily meet with you and with the municipalities to try to resolve it, and I greatly appreciate you raising the issue.

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Point of order, Speaker.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The leader of the third party, on a point of order.

Ms. Andrea Horwath: I move unanimous consent that the provisions of government order 8 relating to Bill 74 be deleted.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The leader of the third party is seeking unanimous consent to delete a portion of the programming motion. Do we agree? I heard a no.

VISITORS

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): A point of order from the member from Mississauga–Streetsville.

Mr. Bob Delaney: I am pleased to introduce, in the west members’ gallery, Bernard Jordaan and his wife, who are from Meadowvale. He’s the president of the Meadowvale senior citizens’ club, and he is here for senior citizens’ day. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The minister responsible for seniors, on a point of order.

Hon. Mario Sergio: Speaker, in the audience, we also have a constituent of mine from York West, Omalola Are. Welcome.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): There are no deferred votes, so this House stands recessed until 1 p.m.

The House recessed from 1145 to 1300.

INTRODUCTION OF VISITORS

M me France Gélinas: I would like to introduce a few guests of mine: Mrs. Maria DasKalos and her nephew, Nicholas Theolis, as well as Mary Gavel, who are here to support the Ombudsman oversight bill. Thank you.

Ms. Laurie Scott: In the west lobby gallery, I’d like to introduce my executive assistant, John Spink, who’s on his last day of work. He’s actually retiring, and I want to thank him for his years of service to the Legislature and wish him many happy days of retirement. Thank you—if you could all join with me.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Happy retirement.

MEMBERS’ STATEMENTS

SENIOR CITIZENS

Mrs. Julia Munro: Today is seniors’ day at Queen’s Park. Tomorrow is international seniors’ day and, therefore, an appropriate time to recognize the valuable contributions seniors make to our communities across the province.

As the critic for seniors and retirement security, I’ve had the opportunity to look extensively at the issues which our seniors face on a daily basis. Increasing lifestyle costs, such as the high price we pay for energy, the growing number of fees and the burden of drugs all threaten the financial stability of our seniors. As we see more and more people retiring, it is critical that we develop a system that encourages seniors to stay in their homes, instead of driving them out.

These are the people who have contributed in so many ways to our society. They are our parents, grandparents, neighbours, friends and mentors. We need to ensure that seniors can continue to live with dignity and feel safe, as we move forward as a province.

I hope that everyone was able to attend the lunch reception that was held today by the Ontario Gerontology Association, to learn more about some of the issues our seniors face.

GIRL POWER PROJECT

Ms. Teresa J. Armstrong: This past Saturday, I had the pleasure of joining members of the London community for a tree-planting initiative along the Veterans Memorial Parkway in London–Fanshawe. The tree plant this weekend marked the inaugural community service venture of a newly established organization called Girl Power.

I would like to take this opportunity to introduce this commendable project to the members of the Legislature. The Girl Power project is a mentorship initiative that unites the 27th Girl Guides and London’s Women in Rotary. This unique partnership provides a multitude of benefits to the women and girls involved.

The Women in Rotary provide the Girl Guides with positive female role models, encouraging them to establish community service as a lifelong habit, and provide an example of strong female community leadership.

Through their participation in the Girl Power project, the Girl Guides are given the opportunity to explore their own potential as young trailblazers and observe the community contributions of their Rotarian counterparts.

Mentorship of this kind lays the groundwork for a strong sense of social citizenship and responsibility and, most importantly, self-confidence, the crucial ingredients for young women wanting to establish themselves as leaders in their communities.

I would like to congratulate the 27th Girl Guides and the Women in Rotary and everyone involved in the Girl Power project for establishing such a pioneering and dynamic partnership.

ERINOAKKIDS CENTRE FOR

TREATMENT AND DEVELOPMENT

Mr. Bob Delaney: In 2007, when ErinoakKids unveiled its new name, I pledged to do everything I could to help Ontario’s largest children’s treatment centre, and the 14,000 or so families it serves at any given time, to get a new home in Mississauga.

From its inception in Erin Mills in 1977, ErinoakKids now serves more families of children with developmental difficulties and autism than any other children’s treatment centre in Ontario. But ErinoakKids had grown into 10 awkwardly located rented facilities and couldn’t provide the care that kids and their families needed.

Our Peel and Halton MPPs worked with our Ministry of Children and Youth Services, and in the past few weeks have announced that ErinoakKids will soon operate out of three state-of-the-art facilities, one each serving Brampton, Mississauga and Oakville.

The new Mississauga location for ErinoakKids will be across from the Erindale GO Station, near the corner of Burnhamthorpe Road and Central Parkway. ErinoakKids will shortly put the project to tender.

With a projected 2016 occupancy date for its new headquarters and Mississauga children’s treatment centre, the ErinoakKids development in Brampton, Mississauga and Oakville is a promise made and a promise kept.

POLICE

Mr. Garfield Dunlop: Mr. Speaker, last Thursday morning, MPP Laurie Scott and I were at the police memorial outside, at the kickoff of the 460-kilometre run. It’s the ninth annual memorial peace officers’ run between Toronto and Ottawa. Over 250 participants took

part in that particular run. It was beautiful weather; they had a beautiful weekend for it. The whole intent, of course, is to draw awareness to the great work our police officers do and to pay tribute to those who have lost their lives in the line of duty.

I thought it was very special that the mother of Jennifer Kovach, a Guelph officer who lost her life earlier in the year, ran in the race. As well, I thought it was really special that the commissioner of the OPP, although he couldn’t run the whole 460 kilometres, did run 10 kilometres: five kilometres at the beginning and five at the end. It was special that we had this many people pay tribute to our fallen officers at this time.

Of course, it all ended on Sunday at the Canadian national police memorial in Ottawa, where we paid tribute to those police officers and peace officers from across our nation who have lost their lives in the line of duty.

DOCKS AT MOOSONEE

Mr. Gilles Bisson: Mr. Speaker, earlier this summer we had a unique situation in Moosonee, Moose Factory, where the docks that are normally used to offload people from the water taxis on the Moosonee side of the river had not been installed. I just want to take this opportunity in the House to thank a few people for having resolved that issue, and one of them happens to be sitting across the way from me, Minister Gravelle. We were able to work together in trying to find not only a solution for the summer, but hopefully I think we found a solution that will bring us into next year and the years to come.

It wasn’t easy. It meant that a lot of people had to roll up their sleeves and try to find a way to resolve this particular issue.

I also want to thank the town of Moosonee for their bit and really want to thank Chief Hardisty and the Moose Cree First Nation for having stepped forward to agree to put in the docks this year. We’re hoping to get similar agreements in the future, but we’ll see where that goes.

I just want to take this opportunity to say it’s one of those cases where something had to be done. As the local member and those people within the community affected, we approached the minister and, together, we tried to find a solution. It may not be exactly what people would want, but, I’ve got to tell you, at least now when you get off the docks at Moosonee, you don’t have to step into the water.

I know the Clerk is interested in this, because she has walked off those docks with me before, and I’m sure she would not appreciate getting her black cloak all dirty when she walks off the boat. I just wanted to make sure the Clerk knows that we have your interests at heart.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Does that have something to do with a long walk off a short pier?

Mr. Gilles Bisson: No, that’s tomorrow—

GIVE THE GIFT OF LIFE WALK

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Members’ statements. The member from Oakville.

Mr. Kevin Daniel Flynn: It’s tough to follow up on that one, Speaker, but thank you.

On September 21, I had the opportunity to join 120 of my constituents at Bronte Creek Provincial Park for the Give the Gift of Life Walk for the Kidney Foundation of Canada. This year, the walk surpassed its goal and raised over $36,000 to help provide kidney patients and their families with education and emotional support.

The walk in Oakville was first organized by Ron Newman in 2011. Ron is very thankful for all the support that he and his family have received from the Kidney Foundation during his—and get this, Speaker—76 surgeries. The foundation also supported him during his 10 years of dialysis before he finally had a kidney transplant.

He’s always emphasizing the importance of exercise during recovery. He cites regular exercise during dialysis for helping him come through his surgeries with flying colours.

He’s also involved with a local advocacy group called Be A Donor Oakville. They raise awareness about the importance of organ donation.

Today I’d like to thank Ron Newman for all the work he has done to bring the Give the Gift of Life Walk to Oakville and congratulate him and the Kidney Foundation on another very successful event to help our community understand exactly what challenges some people in our society are facing on a daily basis.

WASTE MANAGEMENT

Mr. Jack MacLaren: The Carp landfill is in my riding of Carleton–Mississippi Mills, and it is full. A plan to build a new landfill beside the old landfill has caused much discussion on the pros and cons of landfills in general and the Carp landfill in particular. It is a contentious issue. Nobody wants a landfill in their backyard.

As a result, six concerned people in my riding formed a committee to research, discuss and write a report with a conceptual plan on how to best manage the disposal of waste in the province of Ontario. In the report, the committee recommends that Ontario reduce, reuse, recycle and recover. This includes composting, recycling and incineration. Incineration produces energy that can be used. Composting and recycling would be done by the private sector without government subsidies. The profit would come from the marketplace. Materials that are not composted or recycled would be incinerated.

The report also identifies that residential and ICI waste should be combined into one class of waste and that the management of all waste should fall under municipal jurisdiction. That way, municipalities would have the freedom to choose landfill or incineration. This would simplify the management of waste.

ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE

Mrs. Donna H. Cansfield: It’s my pleasure to be able to stand up and say that I had the opportunity to participate in the Alzheimer’s gala last Thursday for the Toronto chapter, where the money they raised went towards Alzheimer’s research. During that particular evening we had a lot of discussion about some new therapy that was occurring: the therapy of music. There’s a new documentary called Alive Inside, where music actually awakens a person who is sleeping with this incredible disease and gives them back some life and really proves to all of us that there is life inside someone with Alzheimer’s.

One of the reasons why this is particularly important is that currently in this province, if you look at the number of seniors over the age of 65 to 84, 61,655 of them are prescribed antipsychotic drugs used to control behaviour, which I call a constraint. In fact, the question remains: Is this required? Antipsychotics were not originally designed for people with Alzheimer’s; they were designed for psychosis.

The question really is: Do all of these people who are taking these drugs require them, or are there other methods such as music therapy—or art therapy, which is another approach? I think that we need to change our thinking and remember that just because someone has Alzheimer’s—as someone said to me recently, “I’m not dead yet. I’m alive. I’m alive inside. I deserve to be treated with respect and dignity as I age. Please don’t drug me to death.”

CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

Mr. Rod Jackson: Last week I had the opportunity and the pleasure of meeting with a number of different representatives from the Barrie Construction Association. They were here with the COCA reps to lobby all of us, talking about their concerns in their local ridings.

The hard-working people of the Barrie Construction Association have an issue with Bill 69, the Prompt Payment Act for the construction industry—not with it, but for it, in fact. Their concern is that this bill may not see the light of day, and it is something that is critically important to them. Having been a small business person myself, I know how critical prompt payment is. To go months and months, and, in some cases, to not get paid, means it’s money out of their pockets. It means, in many cases, that they can’t continue their business if they’re not paid promptly.

It means apprenticeship growth, job creation, and it means that small and medium-sized businesses can invest in new equipment so they can grow. Most importantly, prompt payment means fairness for the hard-working Ontarians who make up the industry, which is a primary driver of Ontario’s economy.

Although we all support this bill in the Legislature, we need the government to call the bill for third reading. This is of critical importance to our economy. So I’m here today to represent the hard-working Barrie Construction Association worker members, and speak, in a way, for the 400,000 members of COCA and ask the government to call their bill for third reading so that we can make prompt payment a reality in our economy in the province of Ontario today.

INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

OMBUDSMAN AMENDMENT ACT

(INVESTIGATION OF HEALTH CARE

SERVICES), 2013 /

LOI DE 2013 MODIFIANT

LA

LOI SUR L’OMBUDSMAN

(ENQUÊTES SUR LES SERVICES

DE SOINS DE SANTÉ)

Mme Gélinas moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 109,

An Act to amend the Ombudsman Act with respect to investigating specified health care services / Projet de loi 109, Loi modifiant la

Loi sur l’ombudsman en ce qui a trait aux enquêtes sur des services de soins de santé précisés.

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

First reading agreed to.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member for a short statement.

M me France Gélinas: For the fourth time, I am introducing a bill that will amend the Ombudsman Act to give the Ombudsman oversight of our health care system. That would include homes for special care; long-term-care homes; community care access centres; hospitals, whether they be public or private; ambulance services; air ambulance services; health units; as well as retirement homes.

Ontario is the only province in Canada where the Ombudsman does not have oversight of health care, and it is time for Ontario to follow suit.

STATEMENTS BY THE MINISTRY

AND RESPONSES

COMMUNITY HEALTH AND

WELLBEING WEEK

Hon. Deborah Matthews: I rise today to mark September 30 to October 6 as Community Health and Wellbeing Week in the province of Ontario. This year’s theme is, “Community Health and Wellbeing: Shift the Conversation.”

Before I go on, I would like to acknowledge some guests we have in the House today. I’d like to welcome staff from the Association of Ontario Health Centres, the Access Alliance health centre and the Four Villages Community Health Centre. I want to say thank you for being here, but I want to say, especially, thank you for the work you do every day.

Keeping Ontarians healthy is one of the key pillars—the first pillar—of our Action Plan for Health Care. We are putting a strong focus on health promotion and prevention of illness, because I think the people of Ontario want better health, not more health care.

Speaker, during this week, providers are focusing on broadening the health care conversation, concentrating on the root causes of poor health. In particular, this week we reflect on our collective responsibility to keep Ontarians healthy so that they don’t end up in our hospital emergency rooms.

I’d like to give a special mention to Ontario’s community health centres, our aboriginal health access centres, our nurse-practitioner-led clinics and our family health teams, who are crucial partners in helping us move this important conversation forward.

This week, our partners are participating in a variety of activities in communities right across this great province in conjunction with our LHINs and social service agencies, focusing on the social determinants of health—things like poverty, nutrition, access to education—which have a very real impact on health.

As a former Minister of Children and Youth Services and a member of this government for the past 10 years, I must say I’m very proud of the work we’re doing to address these very real issues. Launched in 2008, our poverty reduction strategy is focusing on lifting tens of thousands of children and their families out of poverty. We introduced the Ontario Child Benefit, which is helping upwards of a million children and their families.

Our investments in affordable housing have surpassed the previous two governments combined, and we continue to build and renovate more units across the province each and every day. We introduced a rent bank program, helping low-income tenants avoid eviction in the event of a missed payment, and we’ve increased supports through the Ontario Drug Benefit, ODSP, OW and other social services.

We’ve nearly doubled the number of community health centres. We’ve put in place 25 nurse-practitioner-led clinics. We’ve added 200 family health teams, serving almost three million Ontarians.

This government and this Premier believe in giving Ontarians the tools to succeed and to live a healthy life. We believe in a fair Ontario for all.

Speaker, there is more to do, and this government is doing more. In fact, this morning, along with my colleague the Minister of Children and Youth Services, we announced the first of several initiatives focused on keeping our children and families healthy, starting with our youngest Ontarians.

Babies get the healthiest start in life when their moms are able to breastfeed. That’s why we’re making sure that every mom in Ontario who wants to breastfeed has the supports to do so. First, we’re going to expand access to breastfeeding telephone support services so they’re available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Second, we’re supporting Ontario’s hospital and community health providers to achieve the World Health Organization’s baby-friendly initiative designation so they can better support new moms in breastfeeding.

Third, we’re helping moms in population groups that have lower rates of breastfeeding with targeted supports, and we’re developing new resources to support breastfeeding.

Health and well-being begin in our homes, our schools and our communities, where access to education, employment, housing, nutritious foods and social supports all play a significant role in keeping people healthy and out of hospital. We know the important work our community health centres and our aboriginal health access centres do every day to help segments of the population that are faced with additional challenges. We applaud their work.

We also know that in order to reach more people, we need to ensure that our partners have the tools they need at their disposal, which is why this past April, I was very pleased to announce increased funding to renovate and expand 15 community health centres and aboriginal health access centres across the province.

Speaker, I would once again like to applaud all our community health service delivery agents for being so actively involved in this conversation. Together we can shift the conversation; together we can keep Ontarians healthy. As Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, I salute their work. I’m happy to join in celebrating new approaches that achieve the best possible health and well-being for everyone in our province.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Statements by ministries? Last call for statements by ministries.

It is now time for responses.

Mr. Bill Walker: During Community Health and Wellbeing Week—where is page 1? My apologies, Mr. Speaker. I was mesmerized by the minister’s speech. It kind of threw me off a little bit.

Speaker, I am pleased to rise today on behalf of Tim Hudak, Christine Elliott, our health care critic, and the Ontario PC caucus in recognition of Community Health and Wellbeing Week. All this week, between September 30 and October 6, some 108 community-governed primary health care organizations are hosting special events across the province around the theme “Community Health and Wellbeing—Shift the Conversation.”

Through these community-based health promotion initiatives, the group’s aim is to engage everyone in a new dialogue about their health, and move beyond the traditional health system of diagnosing and treating disease. This is one of the major challenges of the coming years: to improve our understanding of the root causes of well-being versus ill-being.

Primary health organizations participating in Community Health and Wellbeing Week include Ontario’s community health centres, CHCs, aboriginal health access centres, community-governed family health teams and nurse-practitioner-led clinics.

As things now stand, far too many Ontarians experience preventable illnesses because our fragmented health care system remains poorly prepared to address the most important determinants of good health: access to good nutrition, housing, social supports, employment, income and education. The province, local health integration networks and all the different parts of the health and social service sector need to do a better job of responding to these social determinants of health.

Experts agree that these problems can be addressed and financial burdens on the acute care system eased by shifting from a downstream emphasis on treating illness to an upstream approach that prevents illnesses before they take hold. This was confirmed by the Canadian Index of Wellbeing in its second annual report and composite index on the well-being of Canadians, released last fall.

Fortunately, I believe the potential for this shift is quickly emerging, as this is the approach that’s applied at Ontario’s community health centres and other community-governed primary health care models throughout the province. An excellent example of one is the South East Grey Community Health Centre, which serves my constituents in Markdale and area. With a strong primary care team that includes doctors, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, social workers, a physiotherapist, a registered dietitian, a chiropodist, a health promoter and a community developer, it is a role model of community care.

I would also note that the board chair, Terry Mokriy, and the executive director, Allan Madden, have demonstrated great leadership, and we’re proud of the results they have achieved. Most importantly, the services that they and other groups deliver to patients are helping to ease the burden on other health care facilities, namely the Markdale Hospital, which hasn’t been rebuilt as promised by the minister.

The CHC’s collaborative approach promotes the best possible health and well-being outcomes for everyone. This is the approach that we are celebrating during the Community Health and Wellbeing Week.

Today, we are very blessed to have many of the professionals who work in our community health centres joining us in the Legislature, including staff from the Association of Ontario Health Centres and Access Alliance health centre. They’re all here today to help celebrate community health week.

I myself have had the honour to meet with some of these great professionals and their teams and learn about the valuable and excellent care they provide to more than 400,000 Ontarians across over 108 centres and satellites throughout the province, serving seniors, people with disabilities, youth, francophones, aboriginal Ontarians, low-income individuals and families and immigrants, as well as underserved rural populations, including my riding of Bruce–Grey–Owen Sound.

I would also like to note that community health centres came into being 40 years ago under the leadership of Bill Davis, who was first to set them up as pilot projects in Ontario. In 1982, Tory health minister Larry Grossman announced that community health centres would make the leap and become part of Ontario’s mainstream health system.

Today, as you heard, they work in teams of physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, counsellors, community workers, dietitians, dentists, chiropodists etc., to deliver primary health services and social services to individuals, families and communities: a one-stop-shop focused on patients’ well-being.

Speaker, I’m pleased to be able to stand here and thank those people who drive our heath care service in the community health centres. In my riding, it has certainly been a boon. They’ve been able to take stress from the emergency departments, which is our most costly form of health care. The model in Bruce–Grey–Owen Sound certainly is a model that I believe serves us all well, and it’s certainly a privilege to work alongside with them in my role as deputy health critic. We need to ensure that these continue; we need to ensure that primary care is always the focus, and we go through rural and northern Ontario to the best of our capability.

M me France Gélinas: It is my pleasure to rise today to recognize Community Health and Wellbeing Week in Ontario. As many of you already know, I come from the community health centre movement. I was the executive director of Le Centre de santé communautaire du Grand Sudbury—the Sudbury community health centre—before I came here.

We know that the Association of Ontario Health Centres will celebrate with all 108 community-governed primary health care organizations across the province by holding special events to mark the week and by calling for a shift in the conversation to community health and well-being. Therefore, the theme for this year is a shift in conversation.

The NDP is a strong supporter of that shift in conversation on health care in Ontario, to focus on what we call the upstream approach; that is, to prevent illness and to promote good health. Our party helped bring in medicare in Ontario 50 years ago, but now it is time to put in place what Tommy Douglas used to call “the second part of medicare”; that is, the conversations about keeping people healthy.

According to the most recent report of the Canadian Index of Wellbeing, Canadians are living longer but they are not living better. After the 2008 recession, Canadian well-being levels decreased by 24%, and they have not fully recovered. Diabetes rates are on the rise—a 53.1% increase in diabetes in the last 17 years. The likelihood of depression is also steadily growing. Canadians’ rating of their own health status has declined, especially for teenagers.

We have health care disparities, with low-income people that are at higher risk of poor health and more likely to have diabetes or any other chronic condition. We all need to recognize that the biggest barrier to good health sits actually outside of the health care system; it is poverty. An upstream approach to health and well-being has to bring effective poverty-reduction strategies, with investment in the social determinants of health, to ensure secure and livable income, safe housing, accessible education, training programs etc.

An upstream approach to promote health and well-being includes investing in community health care centres, aboriginal health access centres, community-led, nurse-practitioner-led clinics, as well as community family health teams.

So we join with primary care organizations participating in community health and well-being to celebrate Ontario’s first Community Health and Wellbeing Week. It is quite something that for the first time—I have been here for six years—we are going to be celebrating community health and well-being. I dream of the day where our efforts will bring us to a year of celebration of community health and well-being, and I think I dream even bigger of the day where we will see a generation growing in health and well-being.

This is what drives me to come here even on days when my plane is fogged in and I’m having a hell of a tough day.

Ça me fait extrêmement plaisir de me lever aujourd’hui pour célébrer la Semaine de la santé et du bien-être communautaire, que l’on célèbrera aujourd’hui, le 30 septembre, jusqu’au 6 octobre. C’est l’association des centres de santé communautaire de la province qui a mis cette idée de l’avant, et c’est une idée que le parti néo-démocrate appuie depuis longtemps.

Mettre l’accent sur la promotion de la santé, sur les déterminants de la santé et sur la prévention de la maladie, c’est ce que notre ancêtre, M. Tommy Douglas, appelait la deuxième phase du système de santé. La première phase était de s’assurer que les gens avaient accès aux services de santé, peu importe leur portefeuille. La deuxième phase, c’est de s’assurer qu’on les garde en santé.

Aujourd’hui, le lancement de cette semaine—la première en Ontario—nous fait faire un pas de plus vers cet objectif. J’espère que bientôt on pourra voir toute une année de santé et de bien-être. Peut-être, j’espère, qu’on verra bientôt une génération complète en santé et en bien-être.

PETITIONS

CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE

PULMONARY DISEASE

Mr. Frank Klees: This petition deals with a very important health care issue in York region. Addressed to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, it reads as follows:

“Whereas more than 850,000 Ontarians live with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD (more than 70,000 in Central LHIN) and these numbers are climbing quickly; and

“Whereas COPD is one of the most costly chronic diseases in Ontario, currently responsible for 24% of emergency department visits and 24% of hospitalizations in this province; and

“Whereas respiratory rehabilitation is a Health Quality Ontario endorsed, evidence-based intervention that improves quality of life for people with COPD and other lung diseases while saving health care dollars; and

“Whereas due to lack of dedicated funding for lung health programs the respiratory rehabilitation program at Southlake Regional Health Centre—the only such program in Central LHIN—was recently cancelled;

“We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to request the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care to urge Central LHIN—and all LHINs—to develop evidence-based plans to address COPD and other lung diseases that coordinate resources and care across all levels of the health care system; and further

“We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to request the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care to immediately work with stakeholders to develop a province-wide action plan for lung health to improve prevention, early diagnosis and patient outcomes, while maximizing the return on health care investment.”

Speaker, I’m pleased to affix my signature to this petition, and I trust that the Minister of Health will in fact work with us to address this issue.

AIR-RAIL LINK

Ms. Cheri DiNovo: It’s a pleasure to read yet some other people—I think everybody in my constituency has signed this petition.

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas diesel trains are a health hazard for people who live near them;

“Whereas more toxic fumes will be created by up to 400 daily trains than the car trips they are meant to replace;

“Whereas the planned air-rail link does not serve the communities through which it passes and will be priced beyond the reach of most commuters;

“Whereas all major cities in the world with train service between their downtown core and the airport use electric trains;

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

“That the province of Ontario stop building the air-rail link for diesel and move to electrify the route immediately;

“That the air-rail link be designed, operated and priced as an affordable transportation option between all points along its route.”

I couldn’t agree more. I’m going to sign this, and I’m going to give it to Bridget to deliver to the table.

SERVICES FOR THE

DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED

Ms. Laurie Scott: I have a petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. Donna Thomson and Lynda Amting are here today, and collected the signatures on this petition.

“Whereas we are distressed by the lack of regulated equalized treatment of special-needs students with autism spectrum disorders as defined by the special-needs education act. In 2011, one child in 50 was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. This rapid increase must be addressed.

“Many students are discriminated against and not recognized due to this invisible disability. Some vulnerable students have deplorable conditions at school in which educational assistants escort students with ‘blocker shields’ and wear protective equipment/gear as their method of restraint. Some caregivers are completely unaware that their children are being subjected to these procedures.

“These students are segregated, ostracized and are labelled and advertised as dangerous. Physical and emotional barriers are being created by these so-called measures of protection. They prevent interaction with other students and the development of essential lifelong social skills.

“We want students with special needs to be accepted, respected, treated fairly and inclusively in all areas of school activities.

“We want schools to facilitate a safe and supportive educational experience by delivering effective, measurable and meaningful educational programming for all students.

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

“That it is mandatory that all educational assistants working with special-needs students with autism spectrum disorder have certified intensive qualified training specifically for autism spectrum disorder students.”

These ladies are here from my riding today. I welcome them again and hand the petition to page Sean.

OFFICE OF THE OMBUDSMAN

Miss Monique Taylor: I have a petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

“Whereas the Ontario Ombudsman, who is an officer of the Legislature, is not allowed to provide trusted, independent investigations of complaints in the areas of hospitals, long-term-care homes, school boards, children’s aid societies and retirement homes; and

“Whereas Ontario is the only province in Canada not allowing their Ombudsman to investigate any of these areas; and

“Whereas people wronged by … institutions are left feeling helpless and … have nowhere else to turn for help to correct systemic issues;

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

“Grant the Ombudsman the power to investigate hospitals, long-term-care homes, school boards, children’s aid societies and retirement homes.”

I couldn’t agree more with this. I’ll affix my name to it and send it with page Taylor.

SHALE BEACH

Mr. Jim Wilson: “To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas the Ministry of Transportation closed public access to Shale Beach off Highway 26 in the town of Blue Mountains suddenly and with no consultation; and

“Whereas the closure will impact fisherman, swimmers and visitors who have been frequenting the beach for generations with no problem; and

“Whereas the closure will remove one of the only wheelchair-accessible fishing locations in the area; and

“Whereas the McGuinty-Wynne Liberal government won’t let Ontarians enjoy anything for free anymore without implementing a new tax or a new fee;

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

“That Premier Kathleen Wynne and the Minister of Transportation immediately restore access to Shale Beach so that residents can continue to enjoy the beach and all that it has to offer for generations to come.”

Mr. Speaker, I used to enjoy going to Shale Beach, and I do hope the government will listen to this petition.

LONG-TERM CARE

M me France Gélinas: It is my pleasure to present this petition, which comes from all over Ontario.

“Whereas there are a growing number of reported cases of abuse, neglect and substandard care for our seniors in long-term-care homes; and

“Whereas people with complaints have limited options, and frequently don’t complain because they fear repercussions, which suggests too many seniors are being left in vulnerable situations without independent oversight; and

“Whereas Ontario is one of only two provinces in Canada where the Ombudsman does not have independent oversight of long-term-care homes. We need accountability, transparency and consistency in our long-term-care home system;

“Therefore we ... petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to expand the Ombudsman’s mandate to include Ontario’s long-term-care homes in order to protect our most vulnerable seniors.”

I fully support this petition, will affix my name to it and ask Erica to bring it to the Clerk.

HOSPITAL PARKING FEES

Mr. John O’Toole: It’s interesting; this petition on seniors’ day here at Queen’s Park reads as follows:

“Whereas the United Senior Citizens of Ontario has expressed its concerns over the high costs of parking at hospitals in Ontario on behalf of its more than 300,000 members; and

“Whereas thousands of Ontario seniors find it difficult to live on their fixed income and cannot afford these extra hospital parking fees added to their daily living costs; and

“Whereas the Canadian Medical Association Journal has said in an editorial that parking fees are a barrier to health care and add additional stress to patients who have enough to deal with;

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

“That Ontario’s members of provincial Parliament, and the provincial government, take action to abolish parking fees for all seniors when visiting hospitals.”

I’m pleased to sign and support this and give it to Kyle, one of the pages.

ONTARIO COLLEGE OF TRADES

M me France Gélinas: I have this petition that comes from all over Ontario.

“Whereas the Ontario College of Trades has been given authority to raise trade licence renewal fees by 600%; and

“Whereas as part of the working middle class we pay more than our fair share of taxes in this country with few tax breaks”—they ask “To limit the Ontario College of Trades’ authority to raise trade licence fees or to return control of trade licences to the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities.”

I will ask page Taylor to deliver it to the Clerk.

ONTARIO COLLEGE OF TRADES

Mr. Bill Walker: “To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas Ontario’s tradespeople are subject to stifling regulation and are compelled to pay membership fees to the unaccountable College of Trades; and

“Whereas these fees are a tax grab that drives down the wages of skilled tradespeople; and

“Whereas Ontario desperately needs a plan to solve our critical shortage of skilled tradespeople by encouraging our youth to enter the trades and attracting new tradespeople; and

“Whereas the current policies of the McGuinty/Wynne Liberal government only aggravate the looming skilled trades shortage in Ontario;

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

“To immediately disband the College of Trades, cease imposing needless membership fees and enact policies to attract young Ontarians into skilled trade careers.”

I support this petition and will send it with page Daniel to the Clerks’ desk.

DOG OWNERSHIP

Ms. Cheri DiNovo: On behalf of the thousands of dogs that have already died, this is to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas aggressive dogs are found among all breeds and mixed breeds; and

“Whereas breed-specific legislation has been shown to be an expensive and ineffective approach to dog bite prevention; and

“Whereas problem dog owners are best dealt with through education, training and legislation encouraging responsible behaviour;

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

“To repeal the breed-specific sections of the Dog Owners’ Liability Act (2005) and any related acts, and to instead implement legislation that encourages responsible ownership of all dog breeds and types.”

I couldn’t agree more. On behalf of thousands of residents and myself, I’m going to give it to Erica to be delivered to the desk.

HYDRO RATES

Mr. Jim McDonell: I have a petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

“Whereas the Green Energy Act has driven up the cost of electricity in Ontario due to unrealistic subsidies for certain energy sources, including the world’s highest subsidies for solar power; and

“Whereas this cost is passed on to ratepayers through the global adjustment, which can account for almost half of a ratepayer’s hydro bill; and

“Whereas the high cost of energy is severely impacting the quality of life of Ontario’s residents, especially fixed-income seniors; and

“Whereas it is imperative to remedy Liberal mismanagement in the energy sector by implementing immediate reforms detailed in the Ontario PC white paper Paths to Prosperity—Affordable Energy;

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

“To immediately repeal the Green Energy Act, 2009, and all other statutes that artificially inflate the cost of electricity with the aim of bringing down electricity rates and abolishing expensive surcharges such as the global adjustment and debt retirement charges.”

I agree with this petition and will be passing it off with Ravicha.

ALL-TERRAIN VEHICLES

Mr. Michael Mantha: This is a petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in regard to all-terrain vehicles.

“Whereas these vehicles are as safe as any motorcycle carrying a passenger since all of the manufacturers of the ‘2-up machines’ have redesigned their original models by extending the wheel bases, beefing up their suspension to allow the carriage of passengers on the machine safely and providing a rear seat, many with handholds;

“Whereas the privilege to ride on secondary highways and trails with two people on a recreational vehicle is denied to off-road vehicles (ORV) operators but is granted to snowmobiles;

“Whereas the definition of an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) in regulation 316/03 no longer reflects the majority of ATVs being marketed and sold in Ontario;

“We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly as follows:

“Amend the definition of an ATV to include those that are: (

a) designed to carry a passenger; (

b) with more than four tires and designed to carry passengers; (

c) without a straddle seat; and (

d) carries passengers and has a steering wheel.”

I agree with this petition and present it to page Pratah to bring to you.

ONTARIO COLLEGE OF TRADES

Mr. Norm Miller: I have a “Stop the Trades Tax” petition signed by a lot of people from Bracebridge, Hunstville and Gravenhurst, and it reads:

“Stop the Trades Tax petition

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas the newly created Ontario College of Trades is planning to hit hard-working tradespeople with new membership fees that, if the college has its way, will add up to $84 million a year;

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

“That the Liberal government stop their job-killing trades tax and shut down the Ontario College of Trades immediately.”

I support this petition, Mr. Speaker.

DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES

M me France Gélinas: I have this petition from the people of the northeast of Ontario.

“Whereas the Ontario government is making PET scanning a publicly insured health service available to cancer and cardiac patients...; and

“Whereas, since October 2009, insured PET scans are performed in Ottawa, London, Toronto, Hamilton and Thunder Bay; and

“Whereas the city of Greater Sudbury is a hub for health care in northeastern Ontario, with the Sudbury Regional Hospital, its regional cancer program and the Northern Ontario School of Medicine;”

They “petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to make PET scans available through the Health Sciences North, thereby serving and providing equitable access to the citizens of northeastern Ontario.”

I fully support this petition, will affix my name to it and ask page Kyle to bring it to the Clerk.

ORDERS OF THE DAY

ORDER OF BUSINESS

Resuming the debate adjourned on September 26, 2013, on the motion to apply a timetable to certain business of the House.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): Further debate?

Mr. Gilles Bisson: I had started to speak on this particular motion late last week, and I’m just glad that the government House leader is looking forward to a replay. I’m just going to repeat what I had said at the beginning for the sake of those people who may not have been able to be here in the House when that debate was going on.

The first thing I want to say—what I find really passing strange is that we have essentially a time allocation motion, that is supported by the Conservative and Liberal caucuses, that is going to time-allocate bills to which this entire House is able to agree on—

Interjections.

Mr. Gilles Bisson: I know that Mr. Garfield is really interested in this particular motion, and I know that Mr. Miller is really interested in this motion—and I wouldn’t mind, if you’re going to do that—

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): Fair enough, but I would ask you to refer to the members by the name of their riding, not by their surnames.

I would ask all members of the House to respect the member for Timmins–James Bay. He has the floor and he should be given the opportunity to make his remarks, and I need to be able to hear him. Thank you.

Mr. Gilles Bisson: Mr. Speaker, this is why I don’t want to be Speaker; I would never remember the riding names. I’m bad enough with names, and everybody who knows me knows that’s the case.

I just want to say again that it is really passing strange. Here we are dealing with a time allocation motion that is going to essentially time-allocate bills that this House agrees on. They’re bills that the Conservative, Liberal and New Democratic caucuses have said they’re in favour of. Why are we time-allocating something if we’re all in favour of it?

Let’s take a look at what’s in the motion. The government has, as one of the orders they want to pass in this time allocation motion, G30, the Skin Cancer Prevention Act, a bill that France Gélinas has brought to this House how many times? This government has seen fit, and thankfully so, to introduce a bill to essentially do what our member from Nickel Belt—I remembered that riding; I was very good—was trying to do. But we all agreed. We were here when all members stood in the House and said, “This is a bill we can all agree to. Let’s, by unanimous consent, send this bill to committee so that we can get the committee work done and have it come back to the House.”

We have the Local Food Act. Who has spoken against the Local Food Act in this House? I don’t hear anybody speaking against the Local Food Act. Yes, I’ve heard our critic Mr. Vanthof from Timiskaming–Cochrane and I’ve heard Mr. Bailey from Sarnia—I’m not sure of the riding names; I’m just going to take a stab at them. I’ve heard certain members talk about how they want to strengthen the bill because it’s a toothless wonder.

It’s a bill that says, “We believe in local food and we’re going to have a plan, but there’s not really any dollar side to the plan and we’re not beholden to uphold the plan.” So of course we want to amend that bill; we think there are things that could be done. But generally, who would be opposed to local foods?

Then we have the Stronger Protection for Ontario Consumers Act. Who could be opposed to protecting consumers from things where they might be taken advantage of by some company? Then there’s the Wireless Services Agreements Act, that deals with cancellation fees on wireless cellphones.

Who in this House is opposed to any of those bills? Please stand and make yourself be seen. I don’t see any. So I say to myself, why are we time-allocating? Why are we time-allocating bills that this House has agreed on?

Here’s the part that I think is really the irony. On some of these bills, such as the Local Food Act, for example, the Conservatives have put up 33 members out of their 36 or 37 in order to filibuster a bill that they support. Then we take a look at the next one, which is the Stronger Protection for Ontario Consumers Act. They almost beat that record. The Conservatives put up 29 speakers on a bill they support.

So one can conclude that the reason we are time-allocating is that the Tories don’t trust themselves, so they have to time-allocate themselves to hold to some agreement they may have made with the Liberals to pass some of their private members’ bills. That could be one of the conclusions. I would think that maybe there is more to it than that, and I’ll talk about that a little bit later. But I think it’s passing strange.

I just want to say for the record, as I said the other day, that it is a bad precedent to put ourselves into that this type of thing happens. Last spring and the spring before, we did programming motions—the first one supported by all three parties and the second one by the Liberals and New Democrats, to pass the budget. That’s quite a different thing.

The other thing is that we, as New Democrats, negotiated major concessions from the government to do things like the Financial Accountability Office, which is a mechanism that could have prevented something like the gas plants, eHealth or Ornge from happening. So, yes, we thought it was important to allow that bill to go forward. But in this particular motion, the only thing that the government and the Tories seem really excited about is Bill 74, the EllisDon bill.

I listened to the banter going on in this House earlier today between the Liberals and Tories at questions we were asking, that I think we have every right to ask in this House—they were going on, “Oh, but you had a programming motion.” Well, I will gladly defend our doing so in order to get a Financial Accountability Officer, in order to get a $230-million fund to help kids get their first real job, to make sure that we’re able to deal with waiting lists for seniors and to get a reduction on auto insurance, to say a few things. But the fact that you guys are ganging up against the building trades in favour of one contractor in this province is, I think, just deplorable.

I would have thought the McGuinty government wouldn’t have done a lot of things, and I would think for sure, under the Wynne government, that