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October 11, 2006

38th Parliament, 2nd Session

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Hansard Transcripts

vol. A

Hansard Transcripts

vol. B

Votes and Proceedings

Orders and Notices

Hansard Transcripts 2006-Oct-11 (PDF)

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO

ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE DE L'ONTARIO

Wednesday 11 October 2006 Mercredi 11 octobre 2006

MEMBERS' STATEMENTS

MEMBERS' COMMENTS

POVERTY

CANCER RESEARCH

CLIMATE CHANGE

ROCKTON FAIR

COAL-FIRED GENERATING STATIONS

KENT COUNTY

AGRICULTURAL HALL OF FAME

WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY

WATER QUALITY

INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

EDUCATION AMENDMENT ACT (SCHOOL WASTE REDUCTION), 2006 /

LOI DE 2006 MODIFIANT LA LOI

SUR L'ÉDUCATION (RÉDUCTION

DES DÉCHETS DANS LES ÉCOLES)

MOTIONS

HOUSE SITTINGS

STATEMENTS BY THE MINISTRY AND RESPONSES

TRANSIT SERVICES

NORTHERN ECONOMY

TRANSIT SERVICES

VISITORS

ORAL QUESTIONS

HEALTH CARE

EDUCATION FUNDING

GOVERNMENT APPOINTMENTS

DISABILITY BENEFITS

BRIDGE SAFETY

LONG-TERM CARE

AGGREGATE EXTRACTION

HYDRO RATES

SERVICES FOR THE DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED

MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

PETITIONS

ELECTRICITY SUPPLY

PRESCRIPTION DRUGS

HEALTH CARD REGISTRATION OFFICE

LONG-TERM CARE

IMMIGRANTS' SKILLS

WATER QUALITY

IMMIGRANTS' SKILLS

HEALTH CARD REGISTRATION OFFICE

VISITORS

LONG-TERM CARE

GASOLINE PRICES

PROPERTY RIGHTS

WATER QUALITY

PROPERTY RIGHTS

MEMBERS' CONDUCT

ANSWERS TO WRITTEN QUESTIONS

ORDERS OF THE DAY

TRADITIONAL CHINESE

MEDICINE ACT, 2006 /

LOI DE 2006 SUR LES PRATICIENNES

ET PRATICIENS EN MÉDECINE

TRADITIONNELLE CHINOISE

The House met at 1330.

Prayers.

MEMBERS' STATEMENTS

MEMBERS' COMMENTS

Ms. Lisa MacLeod (Nepean-Carleton): It's time the members across the aisle were held accountable for some of the outrageous things they say in this Legislature.

Last evening, the member from Etobicoke North made remarks about my party that were nothing more than rubbish. They diminished the integrity of this chamber and they were remarks that attempted to impugn my

party's commitment to immigrants. This is the same member who made ignorant and sexist remarks toward the former female member from Toronto-Danforth.

Mr. Speaker, I want you to know something: I am a proud member of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario, and the PC Party is the party of trailblazers in this province. We are trailblazers for women,

minorities and new Canadians. Look at our legacy: The PC Party is proud to have elected the first female cabinet minister, the first Jewish cabinet minister, the first cabinet minister of Japanese descent, the first cabinet minister of South Asian

descent, the first female finance minister. The list goes on, and with many more firsts to come.

The PC Party built this province, and we built this country. We built it with women, with new Canadians, with visible minorities, with ordinary Ontarians. Liberals may say one thing, but we know the truth.

Before the member opposite makes a half-hearted apology and wishes his mum a happy birthday, we're still waiting for an actual apology out of the member from Sudbury, who made equally demeaning and outrageous

statements last week in this place.

Might I remind these members that the conduct in this chamber reflects on all of us. I sincerely hope that the members across the aisle will stop saying whatever they please just because --

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

POVERTY

Ms. Cheri DiNovo (Parkdale-High Park): October 17, which is next Tuesday, is the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. It's apropos that I rise to discuss the plight of our working

poor in the wealthy province of Ontario.

The House should be aware that any family working full-time and making minimum wage falls below the poverty line in this province, and that the gap between wealthy and poor is wider now than when we all agreed

in the House of Commons in 1989 to eradicate child poverty by the year 2000.

The Toronto Star, in a series of articles, has demanded action. It is time that we in this House respond.

Here is what Campaign 2000 recommends and asks for:

(1) That the government build affordable housing. We have 50,000 to 70,000 families waiting for it, and the wait time is five to 10 years, so clearly whatever response has happened is too little, too late.

(2) That we raise the minimum wage and index it to inflation. The poverty line is $10 an hour. That should be our minimum wage.

(3) That we stop the clawback of the national child supplement.

(4) That we create the daycare spaces required to fulfill your promise to fund this necessary requirement to employment for women.

(5) Restore employment insurance to workers. Currently, only 29% of unemployed workers qualify for unemployment insurance.

One in six children in this wealthy province lives in poverty; 13,500 use food banks. This is ethically reprehensible.

CANCER RESEARCH

Mr. Phil McNeely (Ottawa-Orléans): I rise in the House today to add my voice to a cause that I recently added my footsteps to. Two weeks ago, I participated in the Run for the Cure, in

Blackburn hamlet, and was proud to help raise $18,000 for cancer research.

Many others in our community also took steps to support this worthy cause, even our children. At the Henry Munro Middle School in Beacon Hill, students and staff ran 3,630 kilometres, the distance that would

have completed Terry Fox's Marathon of Hope in 1980. At St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School, students from kindergarten up to grade 6 ran a one-kilometre track for an hour, raising $800. In addition, $310,000 was raised in the annual Terry Fox

Run in Ottawa, the second-highest amount ever raised. I would like to congratulate all the people who made these events such a tremendous success.

Raising funds for cancer research is vitally important. One in three Ontarians will be impacted by cancer. This year, 25,900 people in Ontario will die from cancer, while more than twice that will be diagnosed.

But, thanks to this government, we are now better equipped to find a cure and develop stronger treatments than ever before. The McGuinty government has invested $142 million to create the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, which brings

together public and private sector researchers to share resources and ideas. This government also gave $65.2 million to the Ontario Cancer Research Network.

While our government has invested millions into cancer research, our communities are likewise making a difference. As the students of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School said in a letter to a local

Orléans newspaper, every little bit helps.

CLIMATE CHANGE

Ms. Laurie Scott (Haliburton-Victoria-Brock): I rise today to express my concern for the misdirection and contradictions that Ontarians have been subject to by the McGuinty Liberals.

The Premier stated loud and clear that it's time for the federal government to come to the table about climate change. Yet when the federal government begins to work with the auto industry in their plan to

reduce air emissions, he immediately is seen arm in arm with Buzz Hargrove, saying that the feds should back off on their plans.

This is a Premier who attacked the federal auto emission controls on the same day that Ontario's Environment Commissioner gave a scathing report, saying the McGuinty Liberals are neglecting their obligations to

the environment. This is a Premier whose environment minister says she has a plan for Ontario with respect to climate change, but the Environment Commissioner's report says that after a search of ministry websites and contacting ministry staff,

there is no formal plan for climate change.

This is a Premier whose energy minister says that coal-fired electricity needs to stop because of the air emissions, yet he purchases electricity at ridiculous prices from outside of Ontario, which is fired by

-- you guessed it -- coal. This is a Premier who says he doesn't think it's right to get into jurisdictional battles when it comes to climate control, but immediately throws barbs at the province of Alberta, which actually has a plan for climate

change.

Contradiction after contradiction; broken promise after broken promise. Say anything to get elected: That's the legacy of this government.

ROCKTON FAIR

Mr. Ted McMeekin (Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Aldershot): One evening, heading out to a farm meeting in Rockton, my seven-year-old daughter asked me where I was going. When I told her "Rockton,"

she begged to come with me. I asked her what it was about Rockton that got her so excited. "Oh, Daddy, Rockton has everything. They have the lion safari and the berry farm and the Cookhouse restaurant and, most important of all, the Rockton

World's Fair." Those were pretty heady words straight from the heart of a seven-year-old expert, and of course she was right. Rockton does have everything.

There's a reason we refer to the annual Thanksgiving fair as the Rockton World's Fair. Simply put, it's a world-class event, organized and run by world-class volunteers, proudly displaying the richness of our

vibrant agricultural community. This year's fair was the 154th and, according to early reports, probably the best attended in Rockton history. Four days of great weather certainly helped, as did the exciting array of rides, displays, homemade

crafts and pies, exceptional entertainment and the incredible livestock competitions.

I was pleased to spend the better part of three days at this year's Rockton Fair. It has become a Thanksgiving tradition for many in our community, including myself, to stop, reflect and give thanks at

Thanksgiving time in Rockton for the incredible people who have done so much to build our strong and diverse agricultural community.

To all of those connected with the Rockton Agricultural Society and the fair, I say, "Well done." I can hardly wait to get back next year.

COAL-FIRED GENERATING STATIONS

Mr. John Yakabuski (Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke): Picking up on the theme, it is clear that the only health that concerns the McGuinty Liberals is the health of their own party. If they think

it's good for them, they will say it, whether they believe it or not.

Case in point: Their total climbdown from their ironclad commitment to shut down all coal-fired power plants by 2007. The promise was ridiculous from the start, but that didn't matter to Dalton McGuinty. When it

became obvious that they could not follow through, they tried to blame the IESO. We know Liberals could never admit they were wrong themselves. My predecessor, Sean Conway, who knew more than anyone else in the Liberal Party about energy, wanted

nothing to do with this promise. He knew that it couldn't be kept.

The Premier said that they based their promise on the best advice available to them from experts at the time. Last week in estimates, I asked the Minister of Energy to provide for me and the people of Ontario

the names of those experts. None were provided, although he has promised to get them for me. I won't be holding my breath waiting for him to keep his word. After all, he is a Liberal. Just look at his record.

The McGuinty Liberals won office by saying anything to get votes, anything they felt would work in their favour. We're now into the election year. To the people of Ontario: Heed my warning. The Liberals will be

out looking for your votes. More fabrications are on the way.

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): I would like you to withdraw the last noun.

Mr. Yakabuski: I withdraw, Speaker.

KENT COUNTY

AGRICULTURAL HALL OF FAME

Mr. Pat Hoy (Chatham-Kent Essex): On October 25, six exceptional individuals will be inducted into the Kent County Agricultural Hall of Fame.

Barry Fraser is the father of the Kent County Agricultural Hall of Fame. He was concerned that the pioneer work of county farmers and their wives in developing agriculture and farm organizations would be

forgotten. With the same determination that has earmarked everything he has done, Barry drafted a framework for an agricultural hall of fame that would provide a permanent record of accomplishments.

Edgar and Lynda Gervais have shown tremendous commitment to the future of agriculture through their extensive involvement in 4H and Junior Farmers. They are leaders and mentors to our youth.

In addition to John Peter and Betty VanHaren's contributions to the community, farm and church organizations, their courage and vision have led them to successfully develop swine of superior genetics that have

been recognized internationally for their quality.

The late Victor Lauriston was an author, journalist, historian and long-time school trustee. He will be recognized for his pioneer effort in the development of technical education and as a forerunner of

agricultural education. His publications, such as Romantic Kent, provide a vivid portrayal of the hard work and sacrifices of early Kent farmers.

I take this opportunity to express my sincere appreciation to these six outstanding Kent county citizens for their contributions to the betterment of agriculture and the quality of life in our rural

communities.

WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY

Mrs. Liz Sandals (Guelph-Wellington): I rise today to join Children's Mental Health Ontario in recognizing World Mental Health Day.

It was not long ago that mental illness sufferers were shamed in their communities and quickly labelled as insane. Green was often used as the colour to label these individuals. Today, we use the colour green as

a tool in the construction of a more educated and tolerant world when it comes to mental health. Green signifies new life, new growth and new beginnings.

World Mental Health Day was first observed in 1992. The theme for this year is "Building Awareness -- Reducing Risks: Mental Illness and Suicide." Since 1994, many countries, particularly England and Australia,

have held campaigns to mark this day.

Given the violent incidents in schools in both Canada and the United States over the past month, the theme for this year is particularly important. We must all work to recognize mental health issues and reduce

stigmas so that those in need seek treatment.

In fact, the McGuinty government has funded a number of new programs in my riding of Guelph-Wellington. An assertive community treatment team which provides intensive supports for people with serious mental

illness to live in the community has been funded, and we've just been pleased to host Minister Smitherman announcing a new home for the Community Mental Health Clinic.

World Mental Health Day is a valuable occasion for all of us to work together to focus on mental health and support the people who suffer from --

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

WATER QUALITY

Mr. John Wilkinson (Perth-Middlesex): There is John Tory and then there is also his contradictory caucus. According to the contradictory Conservative caucus, John Tory will vote against our

proposed Clean Water Act. The former Tory government that was forced to call a public inquiry over the tragic loss of life in Walkerton due to contaminated water, the party that campaigned on implementing all of Justice O'Connor's recommendations,

plans, according to the backbencher caucus over there, to vote against the proposed Clean Water Act. Now their leader will have to explain to the voters of Don Valley West why he does not believe governments should act when there is a significant

threat to their source of drinking water.

In debate, the contradictory caucus of the Conservative Party says, according to the member for Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke, that if they form the government, they will amend the bill, while the member for

Barrie-Simcoe-Bradford says they will repeal the bill.

Joe Tascona went on to say last night that the cost of Bill 43 should be borne entirely by the provincial government. John Yakabuski says the cost is $7 billion; Bill Murdoch says the cost is $18 billion. I'm

looking forward to John "Contradictory" Tory and his platform when he tries to resolve that one. Who is running the shop over there -- John Tory or the caucus?

Laurie Scott says that Bill 43 is draconian in regard to property rights --

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): Order. The member for Perth-Middlesex.

Interjections.

The Speaker: I'd like to remind all members, but particularly this member, that using the proper names of members is improper and that you need to use the constituency name or a particular title

of a member in this place.

Mr. Wilkinson: Well, then, I say to the Speaker, when is the vacating member for Dufferin-Peel-Wellington-Grey going to get his caucus in order?

INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

EDUCATION AMENDMENT ACT (SCHOOL WASTE REDUCTION), 2006 /

LOI DE 2006 MODIFIANT LA LOI

SUR L'ÉDUCATION (RÉDUCTION

DES DÉCHETS DANS LES ÉCOLES)

Mr. Patten moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 147,

An Act to amend the Education Act / Projet de loi 147, Loi modifiant la

Loi sur l'éducation.

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

Member for Ottawa Centre, you may wish to make a brief statement.

Mr. Richard Patten (Ottawa Centre): I think members on all sides of the House will be interested in this insofar as all parties participated in this particular venture, so I'm happy and I'm

proud today to rise to speak to the bill,

An Act to amend the Education Act regarding school waste reduction. This bill, if passed, will reduce waste generated by schools by requiring, first of all, every classroom in the province to have a

minimum of two recycling containers, one for paper, one for plastic and aluminum. Secondly, what's required is that every school cafeteria have a recycling facility and that the recycling facility clearly indicate which materials are recyclable

and where in the facility the recycling materials are to be placed.

This bill, before resting sponsorship in my hands, was originally introduced by Kathleen Wynne, the MPP for Don Valley West. As you are aware, she is now the Minister of Education and can no longer sponsor

this. Therefore, I stand before the Legislature today to sponsor this bill proudly.

I want to recognize Mike Wise of the CBC, who is with us today, who organized and shepherded the pilot project Making the Grade, which involved all parties in this House --

Interjection.

Mr. Patten: -- excuse me for speaking while you're speaking -- the teacher Laura Hudgin and the 10 students from the geography club at Georgetown District High School. It is this group of

people who, with their perseverance and dedication, made this bill possible.

The project Making the Grade was intended to provide an exercise for students to get involved and to learn more about the political process. From 106 preliminary ideas, five became bills, and three were

finally chosen and presented by each party in this House. Those bills were introduced and called for second reading debate on May 10.

I believe that recycling is a worthwhile cause and is in keeping with the government's waste diversion goal of 60%. If this bill is passed, it will create jobs in recycling facilities and will do much to help

the environment for the future of these students and their children to follow. I hope that you will support this, and I congratulate the students and the teacher as well.

MOTIONS

HOUSE SITTINGS

Hon. James J. Bradley (Minister of Tourism, minister responsible for seniors, Government House Leader): I move that, pursuant to standing order 9(c)(i), the House shall meet from 6:45 p.m. to

9:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 11, 2006, for the purpose of considering government business.

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): Mr. Bradley has moved government notice of motion number 194. Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry?

All in favour will say "aye."

All opposed will say "nay."

In my opinion, the ayes have it.

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

The division bells rang from 1353 to 1358.

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

Ayes

Arnott, Ted

Arthurs, Wayne

Bartolucci, Rick

Bradley, James J.

Cansfield, Donna H.

Caplan, David

Chambers, Mary Anne V.

Chudleigh, Ted

Colle, Mike

Crozier, Bruce

Dhillon, Vic

Di Cocco, Caroline

Dombrowsky, Leona

Duguid, Brad

Duncan, Dwight

Dunlop, Garfield

Elliott, Christine

Fonseca, Peter

Hardeman, Ernie

Hoy, Pat

Jeffrey, Linda

Lalonde, Jean-Marc

Levac, Dave

Marsales, Judy

Martiniuk, Gerry

McMeekin, Ted

McNeely, Phil

Meilleur, Madeleine

Miller, Norm

Milloy, John

Mitchell, Carol

Patten, Richard

Peters, Steve

Phillips, Gerry

Pupatello, Sandra

Ramal, Khalil

Runciman, Robert W.

Ruprecht, Tony

Sandals, Liz

Scott, Laurie

Smith, Monique

Smitherman, George

Sterling, Norman W.

Takhar, Harinder S.

Tory, John

Watson, Jim

Wilkinson, John

Wynne, Kathleen O.

Yakabuski, John

Zimmer, David

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

Nays

Bisson, Gilles

DiNovo, Cheri

Horwath, Andrea

Marchese, Rosario

Martel, Shelley

Murdoch, Bill

Prue, Michael

Tabuns, Peter

The Clerk of the Assembly (Mr. Claude L. DesRosiers): The ayes are 50; the nays are 8.

The Speaker: I declare the motion carried.

STATEMENTS BY THE MINISTRY AND RESPONSES

TRANSIT SERVICES

Hon. Donna H. Cansfield (Minister of Transportation): I rise in the House today with an update on the McGuinty government's ambitious and multi-faceted plan to make public transit more

convenient and more reliable across the province.

Our government has invested more in public transit in Ontario than any other government in the last decade. The provincial gas tax program will pump $1.6 billion into transit systems across the province by

2009. That is a record investment. The McGuinty government has made good on its commitment to invest two cents of every litre of gasoline sold in Ontario into municipal transit systems across the province to increase ridership. Very shortly I will

announce the third-year gas tax allocations.

Tomorrow I will have the pleasure of announcing a major step forward for the GTTA, the Greater Toronto Transportation Authority. So whether it's the GTTA, the gas tax, the high-occupancy vehicle lanes -- I

don't know if you've used them; they're absolutely phenomenal -- Move Ontario or the growth plan, these are all important elements of our plan to ease congestion and improve public transit so that more people can simply leave their cars at

home.

The greater Toronto area occupies less than 1% of Ontario's land mass, but nearly half of the province's 12.5 million residents live in the region. Improving public transit services and increasing ridership

are crucial to easing congestion in the greater Toronto area. GO Transit is the backbone of public transit in this area, and I'm pleased to report that GO Transit recently marked its one billionth rider. The original GO Transit train service

carried 2.5 million passengers in 1967 -- that was its first year of operation. Today, the combined rail and bus system moves more than 48 million riders annually. That's the equivalent of taking 170,000 cars off our roads every day.

In one hour on a typical weekday -- on a morning, for example -- some 39,000 passengers arrive by GO train at Union Station in downtown Toronto. If all of those people drove instead of taking transit, we would

need to build four more Gardiner Expressways and four new Don Valley Parkways.

The McGuinty government has invested $1.6 billion in GO Transit since 2003 -- $1.6 billion. We have helped GO Transit add more than 4,000 new parking spaces at GO lots. We've built four new train stations,

ordered 31 new buses, 14 double-decker buses, 50 new bi-level passenger rail cars and 27 more powerful locomotives. GO ridership is expected to double in the next 20 to 30 years, and without our critical planning and key investments, such as the

ones our government has delivered, we will not be able to handle the increase in ridership, so we've made the investment.

We must be mindful that convenient, reliable and safe transportation is vital to our quality of life and also to Ontario's prosperity. Sustainable transportation is also vital. As Minister of Transportation,

sustainable transportation and the protection of our environment are among my highest priorities. When we look at solutions to traffic congestion, keeping goods and people moving safely and efficiently, they must be sustainable solutions.

This is what our plan is doing for GO Transit riders and for commuters right across Ontario. We are making public transit more convenient and reliable, and more people are choosing to leave their cars at home.

Fewer cars on our roads means we are spending less time stuck in traffic, burning less fuel, and ultimately breathing cleaner air.

Starting with the 2004-05 budget, the McGuinty government has put $3.5 billion into public transit. We have delivered better public transit; we have delivered convenience; we have delivered reliability and

I know that all of our honourable members will support all our public transit initiatives and investments right across this province.

NORTHERN ECONOMY

Hon. Rick Bartolucci (Minister of Northern Development and Mines): I rise today to inform members of the most recent steps taken by the government to help ensure sustained investment in

mineral exploration and to strengthen the north's economy.

Historically, the prosperity of northern communities has been grounded in the rocks and forests of northern Ontario. This is a region that comprises nearly 90% of our province's land mass, a region whose

natural resources contribute profoundly to Ontario's economy. In 2005, for example, the province's annual mineral production was valued at $7.2 billion.

We know that the fortunes of resource industries and the communities that rely on them cycle through highs and lows. While this has challenged governments for years, the difference is that our government is

working in an unprecedented manner alongside northerners to seek solutions to our regional issues. But this is not just a concern of northerners. For example, those who live in other areas of Ontario may lose sight of the profound benefit of

mining activity for all Ontarians. Beyond the reality that minerals are needed for virtually every aspect of our daily lives, there is the fact that the province's mineral sector provides 23,000 direct jobs and 75,000 indirect jobs in southern as

well as northern Ontario.

Currently, the mineral sector is benefiting from an exceptional boom in global demand and profitability. Our government is acting to help ensure sustained, strong investment in mineral exploration. For

example, members of this House will recall that the ministry has already launched Ontario's first mineral development strategy, which will enhance the mineral sector's global competitiveness while opening new opportunities for all Ontarians.

Members will also recall that we are investing $15 million over three years for geological mapping in the far north, and members will recall that we are investing $10 million to help establish the Centre for Excellence in Mining Innovation, housed

at Laurentian University.

While the mineral sector is booming, the forest industry in northern Ontario -- and across Canada for that matter -- continues to be under pressure from several directions. The government is keenly aware of

the challenges to this resource-based industry, and that is why we are investing $900 million over five years to boost the competitiveness of this vital sector. That's also why we are making a concerted effort on many fronts to promote a

diversified economy in the north.

We are focused on building new opportunities and new economic development in the north. Our government's northern prosperity plan brings together a range of targeted initiatives to drive job creation, economic

growth and competitiveness, and the participation of northerners in charting our own future.

In addition to increasing the ministry's operating budget by $3 million and highway spending by $60 million, our government is working together with northerners to achieve real progress. For example,

investments totalling $182 million through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corp. alone have helped create or sustain just over 6,000 jobs and work placements since October 2003.

Our government recognizes that young people are yet another valuable northern resource. We are working to provide opportunities for youth to remain in the north, have satisfying careers, grow families and

build lives. Through the northern Ontario heritage fund, young northerners are taking advantage of new youth-specific programs for internships, co-op placements and support for entrepreneurs. To date, the youth internship and co-op program have

created 425 jobs or work placements in businesses across the north. The young entrepreneur program has helped launch 54 new businesses and created 77 new jobs in northern Ontario.

Another initiative under the northern prosperity plan aims to attract major international investors in northern Ontario. The GO North investor program is marketing the north's advantages abroad in sectors that

have been identified as a good fit for northern Ontario. Here at home, the program is helping northern communities ensure that they are ready to attract and respond to interest from foreign investors.

Understanding that economic development is inextricably linked to infrastructure, the McGuinty government, through the Ministry of Public Infrastructure Renewal with Minister David Caplan at the helm, is

investing an unprecedented $1.8 billion over five years -- including a record $357 million in this fiscal year alone -- to ensure that northern highways are safe and efficient.

A significant aspect of the northern prosperity plan is northern engagement. Never has a government opened so many avenues of participation for northerners, who are now directly engaged in talking to our

government about northern policies and initiatives. For example, northern development councils represent the far north, northwest, northeast, and the major urban cities in northern Ontario. Their first report to me will be based on extensive

dialogue for northerners about creating opportunities for the youth in northern Ontario.

Through such measures, the government is actively engaged with northerners to build on the region's proven strengths as well as its tremendous potential to secure jobs and attract new businesses, innovation

and diversification.

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

Mr. Norm Miller (Parry Sound-Muskoka): I'm astonished at the unmitigated gall of the member opposite to stand up and declare that the Liberal Party's northern policies are a success. People in

communities like Smooth Rock Falls, Red Rock, Kenora, Opasatika, Thunder Bay, Kapuskasing, Terrace Bay and Sturgeon Falls, to name but a few, will beg to differ.

It's like watching those Liberal ads about how rosy things are in Ontario. Another broken promise: a promise that they made where they said they weren't going to be having partisan ads. You just need to watch

your TV daily to see that that promise has been broken.

I'd like to remind you of some of the other promises you made. You promised to make Northern Development and Mines a lead ministry in the Liberal government. The truth is that in 2006 you've cut funding to the

Ministry of Northern Development and Mines, and on top of that, in 2005 you chose not to spend almost half the budgeted amount for the ministry. Where did that money go?

You also promised to return the heritage fund to its original mandate: fostering private sector job creation through partnerships with the private sector to diversify and grow the northern economy and create

jobs. But the truth is, you've used the northern Ontario heritage fund to fund infrastructure projects like water pumps and plants; important, yes, but not the private sector job creators that we were told the money would flow to.

You promised to ensure that the community reinvestment fund would provide northern communities with their fair share of provincial funding, but the truth is that the Liberals' version of the community

reinvestment fund, the Ontario municipal partnership fund, has left northern Ontario communities searching for money to pay the bills. The fund makes winners and losers, and unfortunately cities like North Bay, Parry Sound, Greenstone and many

others are the losers and are seeing their share reduced as the cost of everything goes up, up and up.

Your government's "let them eat cake" approach to your energy policy has been the final straw for many businesses across the north, and municipal mayors who attended the Northwestern Ontario Municipal

Association conference are on the record about their relationship with the government. They describe your government as the "say anything, promise anything to get elected" McGuinty government.

Michael Power, the mayor of Greenstone, is quoted as saying -- I suggest the minister listen to the clip of the five or so mayors from the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association conference -- "If you do

not, Dalton McGuinty, government of Ontario, step up to the plate now and put in place the promises you have given us, I swear by all that is holy that there will not be a Liberal elected in northern Ontario -- not one." That's a direct quote.

There were many other mayors on the record. Another mayor says, "It appears that nobody cares and nobody wants to listen and nobody is willing to step forward to the plate, and all we keep hearing is, `Soon,

soon, soon.' It means more delays" and more job loss.

Your energy minister was in Sudbury, where he advised northerners on how to deal with the 55% increase in energy prices in the time this government has been in power that is so crippling the forestry sector.

His advice: "Find a blanket, buy some good red wine" -- if you can afford the good red wine, you'd be able to pay your energy bill -- "and cuddle with someone." That was the Minister of Energy's advice to northerners.

I know the minister likes to talk about grow bonds. I'm curious, because every time I go to northern Ontario, I'm asked, "Who bought those grow bonds, anyway? What are they being used for?"

Where else has your government failed the north? Your timelines for completing Highway 69 and the Highway 11 four-laning are years behind those of the previous government; for Highway 69, which was a favourite

project of the minister, five years behind the past government. There have been no improvements in rail and air to better connect the people in the north.

The North Bay hospital is still just a field of dreams. In fact, the only time there's action on the North Bay hospital is when the Leader of the Opposition, John Tory, goes to North Bay. Then, all of a

sudden, miraculously, the next day, there's an announcement that some progress has been made. Having been in North Bay just a few weeks ago, the people are still asking, "What's going on with the hospital? It's still an empty field."

The forest industry has been in a crisis for more than half of this government's mandate, but your government has done little or nothing to help, despite the fact that you had all sorts of advice from industry

experts. You created a fund, but less than 5% of it has been distributed to an industry in dire need -- the number two industry in Ontario, certainly the number one industry in the north, an industry that complete towns rely on, an industry that's

seen 9,000 direct job losses in the province. Don't insult the intelligence of --

The Speaker: Thank you. Responses?

Mr. Gilles Bisson (Timmins-James Bay): The minister has a lot of gall to stand in this House today on the very day that Domtar announced that another 140 workers are going to be losing their

jobs in Nairn Centre because of this government's failed policy on electricity and a number of other issues that have basically assisted in the layoffs of over 4,500 workers in northern Ontario.

Let me read the list, just so I remind you, Minister: Cascades, Thunder Bay, 375 permanent jobs lost; Abitibi-Consolidated in Kenora, 350 permanent jobs lost; Norampac container board, Red Rock, 300 permanent

jobs gone; Columbia Forest Products veneer plant in Rutherglen, 63 jobs lost; Columbia Forest Products, OSB mill, in Hearst, 76; Tembec sawmill in Timmins temporarily shut down, another 19 jobs gone permanently; Weyerhauser, one paper machine and

wood house, 115 jobs lost for the community of Dryden; Weyerhauser sawmill in Dryden, 385 jobs lost permanently; Weyerhauser, Sturgeon Falls, 125 jobs lost permanently; EXCEL sawmill in Opasatika. 78 jobs lost permanently; Domtar sawmill,

Chapleau, 67 permanent jobs lost; Bowater newsprint, Thunder Bay, 100 jobs lost permanently; Bowater kraft pulp, Thunder Bay, 250 jobs lost permanently; Bowater kraft mill, Thunder Bay, 250 jobs lost permanently; Smurfit-Stone containerboard,

Thunder Bay, 100 jobs lost permanently; Temagami Forest Products, Temagami, 55 jobs lost permanently; Tembec, Smooth Rock Falls, 230 jobs lost indefinitely, the only employer in town, as is the case with most of these communities; Tembec, Mattawa,

111 temporary jobs lost; Tembec, Kapuskasing, 65 permanent jobs lost; Kruger, Longlac Wood Industries, 350 jobs lost; Domtar pulp and paper, Espanola, 100 jobs lost; Devlin sawmill, Kenora, 30 jobs lost permanently; Patricia Logging, Dryden, 35

jobs lost permanently; Interlake Paper, St. Catharines, 48 jobs lost; Sturgeon Timber, 70; and the list goes on to Domtar, Cornwall, 910 permanent jobs; and Domtar Ottawa, 185. Some record.

If this is good for northern Ontario, I don't know what planet you're on, Minister, but you're not on the same planet as the rest of us. The quicker you figure out that your policies are leading to what is

happening in northern Ontario when it comes to communities across the north, when it comes to forestry, and you guys take your responsibility, maybe the better off we'll be.

All we've had from this government is one announcement after another, which at the end has done nothing. What has been one of their things? Electricity policies. They take the failed electricity policies of

Ernie Eves and Mike Harris; and then they say, "We're opposed to it," in opposition; they campaign against it; and then they become Mike Harris incognito when it comes to Dalton McGuinty being the Premier of Ontario.

You take a look at what's going on in regard to forestry policies as far as wood fibre and what it costs to bring wood into mills. This government has had one solution. To an industry that is in debt, they

turned around and they said, "Here: We're going to help you out. We're going to lend you money." You tell me of one industry that is in debt as much as the forestry sector, and to say to them, "Here -- your Visa is maxed out -- let us give you a

MasterCard," has been the effect of this government.

If you stand in this Legislature today and say you're proud, as the McGuinty Liberals, of your record in northern Ontario, I can tell you, in the next election in northern Ontario, as it will be in other

places, people will remember just how dismal that record is, and far fewer Liberals will be returned to Queen's Park.

TRANSIT SERVICES

Mr. Peter Tabuns (Toronto-Danforth): The Minister of Transportation made an announcement in the House here a few minutes ago, and that announcement is going to be very cold comfort to those

who will be sitting in their cars this evening, going nowhere on the Don Valley Parkway, on the 401 or on the Queen Elizabeth Way, and it will be very cold comfort to those who are packed in like sardines on the Yonge Street subway, because the

reality is that this government still spends $2 on highways for every $1 it puts into transit.

What we didn't get today was an announcement that the Greater Toronto Transit Authority is going to get the money and the authority to do the job that it's supposed to do. What we do get is a government that's

on track to ensure that this whole region, the GTA, will become a scene of permanent gridlock.

The GTTA, this shell, this cover for GO Transit, doesn't have the resources to do what has to be done. This region is more difficult to travel through every day. This government is responsible for that

gridlock.

VISITORS

Mr. Gilles Bisson (Timmins-James Bay): On a point of order, Mr. Speaker: Members will be glad to know that today, in the members' west gallery, is a very special guest, none other than my

youngest daughter, Natalie, and her friend Sean. I want to attest that it's all her mother's doing. She doesn't look anything like me.

Mr. Ted McMeekin (Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Aldershot): On a point of order, Mr. Speaker: I'm sure members of the Legislative Assembly will want to welcome Bernadette, Mary Ann, Amanda and

Teena, the staff from my constituency office, who are down for a political insight day. Welcome.

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): I would bring members' attention to the Speaker's gallery. We have there His Excellency Mr. Nguyen Duc Hung, the newly appointed ambassador to Canada from

Vietnam.

Mr. Tony Ruprecht (Davenport): On a point of order, Mr. Speaker: I'd like to remind all honourable members that the Vietnam-Canada Friendship Association has a reception for the newly

appointed ambassador to Canada at 3 o'clock in room 228. All honourable members are invited.

ORAL QUESTIONS

HEALTH CARE

Mr. John Tory (Leader of the Opposition): I have here a copy of an ad. My question is for the Premier. I have a copy of an ad from the September 22 to 24, 2006, issue of 24 Hours newspaper.

It's an ad about wait times, and it says, "To find out how to reduce your wait times, call or visit our website." We had someone call to ask about reducing a wait time in a hypothetical case for someone waiting for 48 days for an MRI. The operator

responded by saying that that wasn't too bad a wait time at all. I didn't know they were hired to give editorials as well, but that should fit in with the rest of the millions of dollars of taxpayer money that you're spending on this. The same

response precisely was received in a second call.

Premier, millions of taxpayer dollars are being spent on these ads to create a sense of hope among the people who read them and then pick up the phone to call that their wait time is going to be reduced. It's

your "say anything to get a vote" at its worst. This ad is clearly misleading, on top of being a waste of taxpayers' money. Will you withdraw --

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): I need you to withdraw the offending word "misleading."

Mr. Tory: The reference I made, Mr. Speaker --

The Speaker: Just withdraw, please.

Mr. Tory: I withdraw, Speaker.

The Speaker: Thank you. Premier?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty (Premier, Minister of Research and Innovation): The leader of the official opposition may not think that information relating to wait times in Ontario is important, but I

can tell you that since we've put up our wait times website, there have been more than 1.65 million visits, which are arming Ontarians with information they never had in the past. It gives a better understanding of what is happening to wait times

in the province of Ontario. It gives them a good sense of specifically what is happening with wait times at their local hospital. It helps them make a decision as to where they want to go if they're going to undergo certain kinds of treatment or

procedures.

The previous government was afraid to share that kind of information with the public. That's not the kind of information they were prepared to share with the public. We've collected that information for the

first time, we've made it available to the public and we're more than proud to share that with them. We look forward to sharing even more information with them in the future.

Mr. Tory: The claim in the ad, which is put into the newspaper at a cost of millions of dollars of taxpayers' money -- millions of dollars, by the way, funnelled through your Liberal

advertising agency at Bensimon Byrne -- is that we can find out how to reduce the wait times by calling this number. Those are exactly the words it says: "To find out how to reduce your wait times, call or visit our website." So we called and

asked about someone who had a wait time for four to six weeks for an MRI in Brockville. We were told to talk to the family doctor and get a referral to another hospital. We asked, "Is there any other way to do that?" The answer was, "No." You are

creating a false sense of hope among people in the province that they can reduce their wait times. You've put in ads that are incorrect in that they can't reduce their wait time through this website or any other place. Why don't you withdraw the

ad and stop wasting the taxpayers' money?

Hon. Mr. McGuinty: The leader of the official opposition is clearly now establishing himself as a purveyor of doom and gloom in the province of Ontario. He's very reluctant to admit that wait

times are coming down. Cancer surgeries are down by 3.7%; angiographies are down by 50%; angioplasties are down by 25%. Cataract surgeries are down by nearly 20%; by the way, that's down by 61 days. Hip replacements are down by 18%; that's 63

days' shorter wait. Knee replacements are down by 12%; that's down by 52 days. MRIs are down by 23%, down 28 days; that's the equivalent.

The leader of the official opposition is reluctant to admit that by working together with our doctors, nurses, health care professionals and patients, we are actually scoring some real successes in getting

wait times down in Ontario.

Mr. Tory: Of course, the facts show that in many places the wait-lists for those very same procedures you talked about are going up, not to mention the new wait-lists that are being created

for heart bypasses, shoulder surgery and all kinds of other things -- new wait-lists are being created on your watch.

Now, we called your --

Interjections.

The Speaker: The Minister of Health needs to come to order. I will not be warning him again.

Mr. Tory: We called your multi-million-dollar hotline and asked them again about how we can reduce wait times, which is what the ad says. When we called about an MRI in Barrie, they asked us

if Barrie was close to Timmins or Peterborough or was it closer to Toronto, which is an interesting commentary on how the money is being spent in and of itself.

But here are a couple of the other helpful answers we got. One of the operators said, "Usually we just tell people to wait for their appointment if there's already one booked." Now there's some helpful advice

on how to reduce your wait time.

Another one, when they said, "I don't have a family doctor I can go to to try to get referred somewhere else; I'm one of the 1.2 million who don't have one," the answer was, "Please call the College of

Physicians and Surgeons." There's some other really helpful advice on reducing wait times.

How can you countenance wasting these millions of taxpayers' dollars to give people --

The Speaker: The question has been asked. Premier?

Hon. Mr. McGuinty: Mr. Doom and Gloom has a tremendous amount of difficulty receiving, accepting and welcoming good news. The fact is that we're getting wait times down in the province of

Ontario.

I think the leader of the official opposition needs a brief history lesson in terms of what it really means to waste money on advertising. I have a full selection of advertising propaganda that was released

during the term of the previous government. Out of respect for this House I will not hold it up, but I can tell you this: If you look at the one relating to education, there's a lovely picture of one Mike Harris on the inside front cover; if you

take a look at the one on SuperBuild, there's a picture of six members of the government inside the front cover; if you take a look at the one on health services, there's one there of one Mike Harris and a senior --

Interjections.

The Speaker: Order. Minister of Energy, Minister of Economic Development and Trade, I need to be able to hear the Premier. Premier?

Hon. Mr. McGuinty: To make a long and abysmal story very short, that government excelled in an exceptional way when it came to wasting taxpayer dollars on blatant partisan advertising, putting

their faces at our front doors every single day.

I have confidence in the people of Ontario to distinguish blatant partisan, door-to-door advertising and good public information.

The Speaker: New question, the Leader of the Opposition.

Mr. Tory: My question is for the Premier, and let's talk about some of that good public sector information, or whatever he called it, that Mr. Broken Promise was talking about.

It's very clear that the facts don't support the claims made in this advertisement. We asked how easy it was, when we called the very same call centre -- the very same ad that said, "Here's how to reduce your

wait time." We asked, "Well, how easy is it to get a referral to a family doctor, so that you might actually explore reducing your wait time?" Here's one of the responses we got, and I quote, "Well, it depends on the family doctor and the

relationship with the family doctor. The patient would have to explain to the doctor why the procedure was needed and why they couldn't wait. If the patient had a good rapport with the doctor, a good relationship, then it shouldn't be a

problem."

Premier, you're spending $2 million running these ads -- taxpayers' dollars that could be spent on doctors, nurses, waiting rooms and so on, and all they're telling people is that if they have a good

relationship with their doctor, they can reduce their waiting time. This is ridiculous. Will you withdraw this ad?

Hon. Mr. McGuinty: Again, Mr. Doom and Gloom is reluctant -- most reluctant -- to admit that we are making some real progress when it comes to getting wait times down in Ontario.

He's also reluctant to admit and accept that some 420,000 Ontarians have now found a doctor since we first formed the government. He doesn't believe it was a good thing for us to put in place 150 new family

health teams. He doesn't support the construction of a brand new medical school in Ontario. He doesn't believe we should be expanding medical school spaces by 23%. He doesn't believe we should be increasing family medicine resident spaces by

70%.

But what he does believe, the hill he's prepared to die on, what he's prepared to go to the wall for, is to take $2.5 billion out of health care in Ontario. That's what he believes in.

Interjections.

The Speaker: Order. Stop the clock. Minister of Health Promotion. I can wait. The member for Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound will come to order. Minister of Labour.

Supplementary.

Mr. Tory: Again, we kind of knew where Mr. Broken Promise was going with that one, but I'd like to ask the Premier this: The ad makes a very strong claim that this ad is about how to reduce

your wait times. That's what it says it's about. That's why we're spending millions in taxpayers' money.

We asked, "If we followed the advice to talk to the family doctor and got a referral to a new hospital, would we automatically get the procedure done within a shorter period of time?" That's a logical thing to

say: "If we went to the family doctor and got the referral, would we get a shortening of the wait time?" The answer was, "We can't guarantee that."

This is a perfect example of how you and your ads are prepared to say absolutely anything to get a vote or anything else. You don't care whose hopes you dash. You don't care if there are old people who are

sick who are waiting on these lists. This ad is not supported by the facts. Will you get rid of it and stop implying to people that you're going to give them some hope that they can reduce their wait time? You're spending taxpayers' money to raise

false hopes in people, and that's wrong. It's wrong to spend it and it's wrong to raise false hopes. Will you withdraw it?

Hon. Mr. McGuinty: The facts here are incontrovertible, they are incontestable, and the head of the Wait Times Alliance -- in fact, I'm sure the leader of the official opposition will be

interested in this information -- described Ontario as having gone from a laggard to a leader when it comes to getting wait times down on a national basis.

If we take a look, for example, at the issue of cataract surgery, wait times are down by 19.6%. That's down 61 days. That may not be of any real significance to the leader of the official opposition, but if

you are a senior living alone in your home, it matters one heck of a lot to have your sight restored so you can lead a fuller, more enriched life.

The leader of the official opposition thinks that is meaningless. He thinks it's not important to make wait time information available to Ontarians --

The Speaker: Thank you. Final supplementary.

Mr. Tory: You ask six different questions, and the point isn't at all that you don't want to make the information available to people; the point is -- we'll try it one more time -- that you

spend millions of taxpayers' dollars, channelled through your friends at Bensimon Byrne, to put ads in the newspaper and on television saying you're going to reduce their wait time and how they can phone and find out how to reduce their wait

time.

Lastly, at least for today, we actually went to the example of someone who did need shoulder surgery and had them phone and say, "Could you help me out? I've got a shoulder surgery and it's taking a long time

to get this dealt with." What do you think they were told? "Well, we're sorry. That's not important. It's not on our priority list." And we said, "Wait a minute. It doesn't say in the ad that you have to be in the priority areas to reduce your

wait times; it just says to call to reduce your waiting times."

Again, we're insulting the hard-working people of Ontario by spending their money -- millions of dollars of their money -- funnelled through your Liberal ad firm, to say you can reduce wait times when, if

you're needing shoulder surgery or --

The Speaker: The question has been asked.

Hon. Mr. McGuinty: I'll give the leader of the official opposition something: He's got no shortage of nerve. Even though he speaks on a platform, on a foundation, of a previous government that

did not want to tackle wait times in any meaningful sense, that refused to make information public to the people of Ontario, he is saying to us that what we've done is wrong because we've chosen five specific areas and chosen to define successes

in those five specific areas. Furthermore, he says it's wrong for us to make that information public, and he says we should be expanding this.

What I can infer from that is, yes, we are going in the right direction; yes, it was right for us to choose the five specific areas we've tackled; yes, it's right for us to continue to make progress in those

areas; yes, it's right for us to make this information public; and yes, it's right for us to build on this foundation and to look to other areas where we can still reduce wait times.

EDUCATION FUNDING

Mr. Howard Hampton (Kenora-Rainy River): A question for the Premier: Four years ago, the provincial government took over school boards in Toronto, Ottawa and Hamilton so it could force cuts in

the classroom. At the time, you called this "martial law" and said that nothing could improve while school boards were being forced to cut services for kids. You said, "Review the funding formula, make it fair and then talk to school boards about

balancing their books."

It's now 2006. You admit that the funding formula is still flawed, unfair and inadequate, but you refuse to conduct the review of the school funding formula that you called for.

Premier, if it was martial law when the Conservative government forced funding cuts on our school classrooms, how is it not martial law when your government is now doing exactly the same thing?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty (Premier, Minister of Research and Innovation): It's a different time, it's a different era and we're bringing a different approach. The NDP will well remember the

combative approach brought by the Conservatives, and of course he will want to forget about the social contract that was foisted upon public servants right across Ontario.

We're bringing a different approach. It is a collaborative approach. The Minister of Education has put in place an individual who will chair a co-management team. We will work together with two trustees from

the board. We will work together in the interests of the students. We will build on the solid financial foundation that we have laid together. We've increased funding so far by 22% for that particular board, even though growth in enrolment has

only been 3%. We think we're on the right path.

Mr. Hampton: Parents and students find this all too familiar. You admit the school funding formula is flawed, yet you refuse the fundamental overhaul of the school funding formula that you

called for, just like the Conservatives.

Members of your government attack school board trustees, calling them "an embarrassment" just like the Conservatives did, because those trustees refused to force your cuts in the classroom. Now you expect

parents and students to be fooled because you're calling your school supervisor a co-manager. As one school board trustee said, "It's like saying the hangman is a nicer guy."

Premier, the parents, students and trustees ask you: When it's all about forcing your cuts in the classroom, how is your hangman any different from the Conservatives' hangman?

Hon. Mr. McGuinty: What I'm sure the leader of the NDP would want to admit is that in fact what we're hearing by way of commentary from parents, whether in that board or in any other board

across the province, is that they welcome the era of peace and stability. They welcome the massive infusion of new funding into our public schools. They welcome the thousands of new teachers that have been hired. They welcome the new textbooks.

They welcome the new funding to restore plant and physical infrastructure. They welcome the fact that our children are making progress on their test scores. They welcome the fact that more and more young people are staying on and completing their

high school education.

They welcome the fact that they finally have a government that is fully committed to public education. They welcome the fact that, in those few instances where boards are having challenges when it comes to

balancing their budgets, we are bringing a co-operative, collaborative approach. It certainly is a new era in Ontario when it comes to public education.

Mr. Hampton: I admit there are more photo ops now -- there are certainly more photo ops -- but the whole situation seems so similar.

Democratically elected trustees, backed by parents and their community, voted 7-2 against your cuts. They said no to cutting the reading recovery program, a remedial reading strategy that helps grade 1 kids

learn how to read. They're tired of seeing washrooms without soap and buildings in disrepair. They said no to cuts in special education. They don't want to see kids who need extra help languishing on a waiting list.

Premier, this is the question these parents are asking. They say that Dalton McGuinty can find millions of dollars for your pre-election TV ads, but they're asking you, why can't you find the money to fix the

funding formula that you called for and that you admit is flawed and inadequate?

Hon. Mr. McGuinty: Something else that parents throughout the province are welcoming is the absence of strikes, the fact that they can rely on schools being open and that the children go to

school every day, uninterrupted. They welcome the fact that we're funding especially teachers like librarians and music teachers and phys ed teachers. They welcome the fact that we've in fact increased the fund for special education.

But maybe the Brampton Guardian had it best of all when they said in an editorial, "Finally, staff, students and parents with the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board will be able to ... get on with

the important things, making sure children get the best possible education.... Regardless of what's gone on to get everyone to this point, working together to minimize the impact on the classroom should be the thing everyone focuses on." I simply

could not agree more. We will now work together and get on with the job.

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): New question.

Mr. Hampton: To the Premier: I think parents will find it strange that you can find the money for your feel-good pre-election television ads, but at the same time, you say it's okay to cut

reading recovery. But what's happening in Dufferin-Peel is being mirrored in school boards across the province. Northern Ontario boards, 11 of them, have seen their budgets slashed by your government, and some of them are closing schools and

cutting programs to make ends meet. In Ottawa, specialist teachers and educational assistants are on the chopping block. In Toronto, both the public and separate boards are being pushed by the McGuinty government to make cuts on the backs of

students.

Premier, you admit the funding formula is flawed, it's inadequate, but then you tell boards to make the cuts and live with it. My question is, are you now going to take over other boards who say they're not

going to make your cuts? Are you now going to axe their trustees too in order to force your cuts in the classroom?

Hon. Mr. McGuinty: The leader of the NDP says that we've slashed funding to northern school boards, and that is completely wrong -- completely wrong. He knows better. For 2006-07, northern

boards are projected to receive over $1.3 billion, representing an increase of $334 per pupil over 2005-06, while enrolment is declining by 2.5% -- funding going up dramatically while enrolment is going down.

When it comes to the Toronto District School Board, he knows as well that that's another case where enrolment has gone down but funding has gone up dramatically. Only the NDP would argue that 2.7 billion more

new dollars invested in public education does not represent a significant increase in public funding for education, nor a significant commitment on the part of our government for education. Only the NDP could argue that that was not

sufficient.

Mr. Hampton: Premier, I've actually met with some of those boards. They're not falling for your movement of some money out of this envelope into another, but at the end of the day, when they

look at the bottom line, they've got less money. They're not falling for that; they're calling you on it. In fact, they refer to this study, an independent study by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, which says that many boards have less

money now than they had in 1997.

Here is the situation: Students in Toronto are at risk of losing educational assistants, special education and, in some cases, their local school. Once again, you say the funding formula is flawed, you say

it's inadequate, but you refuse to do anything about it. I ask you the question again, Premier: Are you going to take over those boards too, axe the trustees and force your cuts on the classroom in those boards, just as you did in

Dufferin-Peel?

Hon. Mr. McGuinty: No, to be direct. We will continue to work with trustees wherever they may be found throughout the province. We will continue to work with all of our school boards, all of

our teachers, all of our administrators, all of our parents, to improve the quality of learning that we can offer inside our public schools. And we will also continue to work on the funding formula.

But I'm sure the leader of the NDP will want to acknowledge some of the progress we've made in that regard. We've created a new $1.1-billion school foundation grant, part of which will ensure that every school

with more than 50 students is now funded for a principal and a secretary. We've created special-purpose grants, because we recognize that one size doesn't fit all, so that rural boards will now receive an additional $125 million this year. We've

also updated the formula's salary benchmarks, so that teachers' salaries no longer have to be taken from other areas of school board budgets. Those are all specific, concrete improvements to the funding formula, and we look forward to working with

trustees, parents and administrators to make still more.

Mr. Hampton: School boards hear you make these announcements and then they look at their budget and they see that they actually lost money in their budget so that you can make your photo op

announcements.

I just want to remind you of what a certain trustee said in 2002 -- on the verge of being thrown out of her job by the former Conservative government committed to making cuts: "The minister has known that

boards were going to be in trouble this year, and personally, I think it's irresponsible that the minister, having admitted the funding formula was flawed, that they didn't provide an arrangement to provide funding." Who said that? That's your new

education minister, Kathleen Wynne.

Premier, in a matter of weeks, trustees at both boards in Toronto will refuse to make the cuts in the classroom that the McGuinty government is demanding. My question again: Since you admit the funding formula

is wrong, since you yourself called for a review of it and the fixing of it, are you going to do what you promised --

The Speaker: The question has been asked. Premier.

Hon. Mr. McGuinty: I just don't share the leader of the NDP's pessimism, nor can I claim to be what he's pretending to be, which is clairvoyant, in terms of the outcome of these collaborative

efforts that we are making with our school boards, particularly those here in Toronto. Sixty-eight out of 72 school boards have managed to balance their budgets. There are four in particular which have some challenges. We will continue to work

with those boards.

Now, only the leader of the NDP could claim that $2.7 billion more constitutes a cut. Maybe that's the new math or something, but over here on this side of the House, we consider $2.7 billion to be a

significant new infusion of public money into our school boards, and we will continue to bring a co-operative, collaborative approach to dealing with all of our school boards as we share in this wonderful enterprise of improving the quality of

learning experience for all Ontario children.

GOVERNMENT APPOINTMENTS

Mr. John Tory (Leader of the Opposition): I have a question for the Premier. At a time when your government is spending millions on advertising, as we discussed earlier -- $219,000 on the

trillium logo, $6 million on the lottery corporation logo, $55 million and counting on Caledonia -- at a time when we have 1.2 million Ontarians without a family doctor, emergency rooms in crisis, nurses facing an increasing workload -- and you're

not keeping your promise on that -- can you tell us why you felt it was necessary to create a kind of all-you-can-eat buffet for your Liberal cronies and pals in agencies, boards and commissions by jacking up the pay for appointments substantially

and increasing the term lengths for all the people you're appointing to things in your dying days?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty (Premier, Minister of Research and Innovation): At this point, I'm not going to begin to list former Conservative members we've appointed to Ontario's agencies, boards and

commissions. If called upon to do so, I'll be more than pleased.

But let me say this: We think it's very important to retain the best possible talent, to ensure that we have attractive working conditions, including pay, so that people who come and work for Ontario's

agencies, boards and commissions, and who do so at arm's length from the government, can deliver the best possible progress and service to the people of Ontario.

Maybe the leader of the official opposition feels that we should not be providing that kind of pay, that kind of remuneration, that kind of support to people whom we are trying to attract into some element of

public service, but we think it's the right thing to do for the people of Ontario.

Mr. Tory: Arm's length from the government? If they were any closer, they'd be under arrest.

The old terms for public appointments --

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): Stop the clock. Order.

Interjection.

The Speaker: Order, the Minister of Economic Development and Trade.

Supplementary.

Mr. Tory: The old terms were six years, and now you've extended them to 10 years. This is a bold attempt on your part to try and rule from your political grave when you're out a year from

now.

But let's look at the money. The Conservation Review Board: The chair gets a 353% increase; the vice-chair gets 304%; the members get a 274% increase. The Ontario Film Review Board: They all get a 102%

increase. That is just a sampling of the 1,000 jobs you're handing out to your Liberal friends with a huge raise. It's going to cost $20 million for you to fund these increases to these people who are on your Liberal gravy train.

I ask you this: You've offered this pork smorgasbord to these people. Don't you think the money would be better spent helping to hire some more nurses, to get some more doctors out there or to get those

emergency rooms fixed, or maybe give the money to the school boards instead of--

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

Hon. Mr. McGuinty: When I asked Ernie Eves if he might accept an appointment to one of Ontario's agencies, boards, and commissions, we worked long and hard to ensure that we could accommodate

and capitalize on his particular talents. There have been dozens of others of this political stripe opposite who have been hired by an agency, board or commission, including our adjudicative tribunals, to ensure that we have the best possible

talent working on behalf of the people of Ontario.

Again, the leader of the official opposition had his office or his team briefed on this weeks ago. There was nothing secret about this. We made it very clear: This is about ensuring that we attract the best

people of all previous political stripes to come and work on behalf of the people of Ontario.

DISABILITY BENEFITS

Mr. Michael Prue (Beaches-East York): In the absence of the Minister of Community and Social Services, my question is for the Premier. Mr. Premier, yesterday, I went to Lindsay to represent

the man that I spoke to you about in this Legislature last month. His name is Brian Woods. We learned, during the course of his appeal, that he cannot eat the food that his doctor is prescribing for him because he doesn't have it. We learned that

it's not available in the food bank. We learned that, in his case, he has lost 75 pounds this year. We asked your minister, in May and in June and over the summer months, to intervene. We asked you in September to intervene when she refused to do

so.

Today, she is quoted in the Toronto Star as saying that poverty is complex. Carol Goar commented, "It is hard to tell whether the minister is defending a vision she believes in or delivering the party

line."

Mr. Premier, your special diet allowance

schedule is the root cause of this man's grief. When are you going to change it?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty (Premier, Minister of Research and Innovation): I've just been provided with correspondence from Madame Meilleur's office, who's been in contact with Mr. Prue's office,

and there's an acknowledgement here: "Thank you for your quick response. I will call you tomorrow. I look forward to working with you to resolve this issue as quickly as possible." That was September 27.

Obviously, this is an issue that has been raised in this House before by the member opposite. There has been some communication with Madame Meilleur's office. It remains an ongoing concern. I know that the

minister has now had this matter clearly brought to her attention by my office, and I fully expect that she will continue to work on it.

Mr. Prue: Mr. Premier, your minister's tenure as minister has been catastrophic to special diet recipients.

Hon. Mike Colle (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration): Oh, come on. Don't exaggerate.

Mr. Prue: No, I'm not. Don't you exaggerate. From February 2006 to June 2006, a period of only four months, payments to special diet recipients have been reduced from $151 per month on average

to $100 per month on average -- a decline of 35%. Brian Woods has diabetes; bleeding, ulcerated feet; heart problems; and he is blind. He is forced to attend the hearing just so that he can eat. Your across-the-board cuts have been depriving

thousands of people just like him of decent-quality food.

You should be a champion for the poor, Mr. Premier. Why are you content to enforce the shameful Harris legacy and, moreover, why have you actually made it worse?

Hon. Mr. McGuinty: Again, I can't speak to the specifics of the case, but I, of course, remind the member that this is a matter of ongoing communication between himself and the minister's

office.

What I can remind the member is that for 12 years, there had been no increases in social assistance benefits in the province of Ontario; in fact, all there had been were cuts. We increased social assistance

benefits not once, but twice.

I say to the member opposite, he raises an important issue. It's a matter that has been raised with the minister. It is unfortunate that he did not, when the minister was here earlier today, cross the floor

and raise it with her directly, but again, I will convey this to the minister, and I know that she's already in communication with the member's office.

BRIDGE SAFETY

Mr. John Milloy (Kitchener Centre): My question is to the Minister of Transportation and concerns Highway 7/8, a provincial thoroughfare that goes through the heart of my riding.

Over the long weekend, residents of my community were concerned to hear reports about falling concrete and unsafe road conditions on this highway as it passes over Courtland Avenue. I know that the ministry's

staff have been on the scene, and I want to ask the minister what steps are being taken by her ministry to repair this important overpass and ensure the safety of this very crucial transportation artery for my community.

Hon. Donna H. Cansfield (Minister of Transportation): I'd like to thank the member for the question. Indeed, a stretch of Highway 7/8 over Courtland Avenue had identified some bonding that had

separated on the surface of the road. That was identified on October 8, a Sunday. We sent a site engineer immediately. The site engineer made the inspection and determined that in fact the structure was safe. We then, however, made a detour and

closed the lane. We also contracted with a local contractor to have the surface fixed. It will take three days, weather permitting, but I can reassure the member that indeed the structure is secure.

Mr. Milloy: I want to thank the minister for the answer, but raise the issue that the situation on this highway raises obvious concerns about bridge safety in general throughout this province.

I wonder if the minister could tell the Legislature: What exactly are Ontario's inspection and safety standards that we apply to our highway bridges?

Hon. Mrs. Cansfield: I'm delighted to be able to respond. The Canadian highway bridge design code in fact is based on the Ontario code. We have the only jurisdiction in Canada that inspects

our bridges by professional engineers, required by law, every two years. In addition to that, we do ongoing patrol and we do annual inspections by our own Ministry of Transportation trained engineers. Actually, we are also the only jurisdiction in

Canada that does electronic load testing on bridges to ensure that the loads can be taken by the vehicles.

Furthermore, I think that some comfort should be taken that the particular design of the bridge that did collapse in Quebec is not a design that is used in Ontario.

Having said that, however, we are reviewing all of our procedures and practices with the municipalities, as well as ourselves, to ensure that all of our bridges are in good shape and people can feel secure

that they have the best bridges in Canada.

LONG-TERM CARE

Mrs. Elizabeth Witmer (Kitchener-Waterloo): My question is for the Minister of Health. I have here a letter that you sent out to long-term-care home operators, and in it you claim that the

"proposed act will be the cornerstone on which we build the long-term-care home system that will be a model for the rest of country." Well, I can tell you that this bill is definitely not a model, because the rest of the country is already moving

ahead with definite plans to eliminate the last of their four-bed wards for residents.

Minister, it was our government that developed the 1998 design standards for long-term-care homes. We built 20,000 new beds to meet the standards. We invested in a renewal plan to upgrade the D homes to meet

those standards so that people could live in dignity. I ask you: Where is your capital renewal plan for the remaining 35,000 beds?

Hon. George Smitherman (Deputy Premier, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care): It's not surprising that the honourable member would bring a budgetary matter to a discussion about a piece of

legislation.

It's appropriate to characterize this legislation as a framework for the long-term-care sector, looking forward many, many decades. Of course, through the licensing regime which we propose in this piece of

legislation, we are very, very deliberately getting the appropriate attention focused on the renewal of capital stock and, alongside that, making important improvements that will give much greater protection for our most vulnerable residents who

find a home in our long-term-care homes.

This is legislation that we're proud of. It provides a very, very appropriate framework to be able to offer even stronger and more strenuous protections in quality care for the residents in long-term-care

homes, and I would very much look forward to ongoing debate with the honourable member on all points.

Mrs. Witmer: I would again say to the minister that the current bill is no model for the rest of Canada, as we've certainly learned from other provinces. In fact, you talk about dignity,

comfort, security and safety. Well, there are in this province at the present time about 50%, 35,000 residents, who are going to be continuing to live in homes that are 25 to 35 years old. They simply meet the 1972 design standards, which means

basement. They are paying the same amount of money as the people who are living in the new beds and who are living in the renovated D beds. I ask you again: Where is your plan to ensure that these people do live in dignity, security, safety and

comfort? Where is your plan to upgrade these facilities?

Hon. George Smitherman: As I said in my previous answer, that is a budgetary matter, and we look forward to opportunities to discuss that further. I've spoken about the licensing regime, which

is an important element of this bill. But let me talk about dignity and respect and the like, which the honourable member was mentioning. Bricks and mortar are, of course, one contribution to the overall experience people have. We can make no

argument about that. We understand this well, as a government that inherited hospitals that were, on average, 43 years of age in our province, and we've been working hard to address that. We've been building new long-term-care stock as well, with

5,000 additional beds that have opened on our watch.

Mrs. Witmer: Those are our beds.

Hon. Mr. Smitherman: But you didn't pay for them, Elizabeth.

Interjections.

Hon. Mr. Smitherman: I might say, if my caucus members will let me, on all points related to the legacy of the honourable member as it relates to health, that it's your bed, so you sleep in

it. The reality is that, all across the landscape, this honourable member's efforts, her fingerprints, are very, very well identified with most of the most serious challenges we have.

But in this bill, what we seek to be able to do is offer dignity and respect to our residents through a code that --

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

AGGREGATE EXTRACTION

Mr. Peter Tabuns (Toronto-Danforth): My question is for the Premier. The proposed 205-acre expansion of Dufferin Aggregates' Milton quarry makes a mockery of your greenbelt legislation and

threatens source water protection. The expansion not only carves up the Niagara Escarpment's natural corridor; it requires that massive engineering works be put in place that have to function forever in an attempt to stop this quarry from sucking

dry the local creeks and wetlands. Premier, you have been sitting on an appeal to cabinet from environmental groups for over a year. Today, are you going to say no to the expansion of Dufferin Aggregates' Milton quarry?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty (Premier, Minister of Research and Innovation): The Minister of Natural Resources.

Hon. David Ramsay (Minister of Natural Resources, minister responsible for aboriginal affairs): As the member rightly notes, this is subject to an appeal to cabinet. It is involved in those

processes and is moving along. It hasn't gotten to cabinet yet, but when it does, cabinet will deal with it.

Mr. Tabuns: Wow. We had a lengthy hearing. We had environmental groups that came to cabinet over a year ago, Minister -- over a year ago -- in one final attempt to see that the environment in

this province will be protected. Ontarians want to know: Are you going to stand up for your own greenbelt legislation? Are you going to protect source water? Are you actually going to protect the Niagara Escarpment? Again, are you actually going

to take this into cabinet, come back and tell us that this quarry expansion is in fact going to be rejected?

Hon. Mr. Ramsay: Again, when it's appropriate, cabinet will be considering the various petitions that come before it. Those have not reached cabinet yet, so they're not there for those

decision points.

Let me say to the member that the McGuinty government takes the greenbelt very seriously, as you know, and open spaces and natural spaces in southern Ontario. The greenbelt, I believe, is one of the best

accomplishments of this very government. It protects those vital areas of southern Ontario from development so that we have organized planning, development and growth in southern Ontario.

Aggregates are a very important part of planned development. We need to have aggregates. We need to make sure, for the environment, that aggregates are within the scope of development areas so that you don't

have to be importing them for hundreds of miles and causing pollution. There's a balance when it comes to all of this, and I'd just let the member know that in the next few months we'll be talking about some new policy when it comes to

aggregates.

HYDRO RATES

Mr. Phil McNeely (Ottawa-Orléans): My question is for the Minister of Energy. Electricity prices are always a concern to my constituents. They're still talking about the time when their

bills skyrocketed back in 2002, when the Tories irresponsibly opened up the market just before they brought in their irresponsible cap. Electricity isn't something that people can just do without. It plays a major role in people's lives, so I know

they would be very interested to know what the Ontario Energy Board had to say earlier today with respect to the price of electricity and whether or not they will see an increase in their bills this winter.

Minister, can you share with the House what this winter's electricity prices will be?

Hon. Dwight Duncan (Minister of Energy): I'd like to thank the member for his question and I'd like to share some good news with the House and with the people of Ontario. Earlier this

afternoon, the Ontario Energy Board released their regulated price plan adjustment for November 1 of this year and they announced that prices are going down, on average, 6%. Now we will get out the quotes from the leader of the third party

particularly who said that prices were going up this winter. They are in fact going down. What's particularly satisfying about the OEB's decision is that for the first time in the history of Ontario, prices for electricity are being set without

the political rhetorical flourish that's been so common on the opposite side of the House.

The member would be curious to know that consumers will pay 5.5 cents on the first 1,000 kilowatts, which is yet a greater incentive to conservation. Conservation, we all know, is very important to the future

of our province.

Mr. McNeely: Thank you, Minister. I know that the people in Ottawa-Orléans will be very interested to hear that. Just a question: How did the OEB come to these prices, and will they be

sustainable? I know that the artificial Tory price cap ended up costing Ontarians $1 billion. Can you assure my constituents that the plan in place is a sustainable one that won't leave our children and grandchildren with a debt to bear?

Hon. Mr. Duncan: The regulated price plan was introduced by the OEB in April 2005 to reflect the true cost of energy. It's designed to provide stable and predictable electricity prices for

consumers, as well as encourage conservation. While the regulated plan reflects the blended cost of supplies from our sources like Niagara Falls and the whole range of sources, the plan we've laid out has brought on more supply in three years and

will bring on yet more supply. It has also produced a reduction in demand by the most aggressive conservation programs, which are just now starting to take hold. In order to deal with rising electricity prices -- price increases that are being

reflected in virtually every other jurisdiction in North America -- this government has taken the steps and established a plan that is now showing positive benefit to the people of Ontario, and I would predict that those positive trends will

continue.

SERVICES FOR THE DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED

Mr. Garfield Dunlop (Simcoe North): My question today is for the Premier. On September 9, 2004, your former Minister of Community and Social Services announced that three regional centres in

Ontario would be closed by March 2009. She indicated that the facilities were institutions and that all residents of the three regional centres would move into small units of five, six, seven or eight people and they would receive the same level

of care that they have been accustomed to in the regional centres. I'd like to also inform this House that the county of Simcoe has the longest waiting list for long-term-care beds in the province.

Now we are told that a desperately needed new long-term-care facility in Orillia, with beds that have been transferred from other areas -- not new beds added to the provincial total -- is about to receive

approximately 18 Huronia Regional Centre residents who now have comfortable, apartment-style homes in the Huronia Regional Centre. Premier, the families of the HRC residents were promised smaller units, with the same level of care and service. Why

are you breaking that promise by moving them now into institutions?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty (Premier, Minister of Research and Innovation): I know that the Conservative Party and the NDP fully support our government and our move to build more inclusive

communities and to remove patients from these long-term institutions. I know we have their complete support in that regard, and we're building on the foundation that they themselves developed.

We have a $272-million, four-year plan to transform and revitalize the development services sector, and that is underway. Transformation of developmental services in Ontario began in the 1980s and has been

supported, as I say, by all three parties over the decades. We look forward to proceeding with that plan, knowing that we will continue to have the support of all parties.

Mr. Dunlop: I actually asked you why you were allowing them to be moved into the institutions. You're moving them out of one institution into another. You're closing the doors on good

apartment-style living. Can you tell me then today what I am to say to families who have had their loved ones on long-term-care waiting lists now that their spaces are now being displaced by residents of the Huronia Regional Centre, who already

have comfortable homes? What am I to tell them, Premier?

Hon. Mr. McGuinty: I say to the member opposite that he can tell his constituents that we will continue to work with them. We will continue to work with the developmental services sector and

all people who are committed to ensuring that residents who are finding themselves out of the original institutions have a comfortable place that is in keeping with their needs and that assures their safety and security.

MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES

Ms. Andrea Horwath (Hamilton East): My question's for the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care. Minister, you recently attended the groundbreaking for a new facility for the Centre for

Addiction and Mental Health here in Toronto. The centre's press release acknowledged that "the physical environment makes an enormous difference on how clients recover" from addictions and mental illness. CAMH is the crown jewel of addiction

treatment facilities, but are you aware of the problems that the centre has in providing a safe environment for the clients who seek help there?

Hon. George Smitherman (Deputy Premier, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care): I think the honourable member has more to ask and I'll await it in her supplementary. I don't know why she's

playing hide and seek here. Here's what I'm aware of: Last week, I had the privilege of being alongside my colleague the Minister of Public Infrastructure Renewal at the event for CAMH. I'm intrigued to hear whether the third party is now

supportive of that or whether they're opposed to it. What we obviously see is an opportunity at CAMH to order the service delivery in buildings which are better suited to what we now know about the very best models of care. It's part and parcel of

a $5-billion reinvestment in the infrastructure of our hospitals, which, as I mentioned earlier in question period, averaged 43 years of age.

We acknowledge the tremendous work that goes on at CAMH, and we appreciate so much the front-line caregivers who provide so much great care, but we acknowledge as well that renewal of capital facilities is one

part of the important range of services that can be provided. That's why we're so glad that we could move forward with the first stage of redevelopment at the CAMH site.

Ms. Horwath: The minister can be sure that I'm not playing a child's game. I'm raising a serious issue here in the House regarding my constituent Tim Pocius, who's here today from Hamilton. He

went to CAMH for help but had to leave because staff at the time did not enforce the very rules that they put in place to keep their clients safe. They refused to remove a menacing and violent client who was clearly drunk and stoned, who was in

possession of alcohol and who was criminally abusing and abusive to other members in the program. Tim complained to the centre's officials, but no one even bothered to move to enforce the rules that existed and make that environment safe for the

clients. He did the right thing and sought treatment, but he was forced to quit the program before it was even over for fear of his safety.

Now that you're aware of problem, Minister, will you agree to investigate Tim's complaint? Will you investigate and ensure that CAMH has the staff and resources to enforce their own rules 24/7 and keep the

environment safe for people like Tim?

Hon. Mr. Smitherman: I will remind the honourable member that our commitment to people in Ontario with mental health is found very clearly in the over 50% increase in funding that we've made

for mental health since coming to office. This was to start to clean up a record that goes back to the time when the honourable member's party was in office, because for 13 years there was no investment in the community-based mental health

programs.

I'll give the member the benefit of the doubt, and I will work with her to try and make sure that she understands that community-based governance in the province of Ontario means that CAMH is an independently

governed hospital. There are appropriate patient advocates who are active within those environments. I will work with the honourable member --

Interjection.

Hon. Mr. Smitherman: I will work with the honourable member, difficult as that's proving, to assist her in making sure that the hospital does take very seriously this concern raised by a

patient there. We will do that immediately.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

Mrs. Carol Mitchell (Huron-Bruce): My question is for the Minister of Natural Resources. Minister, there is a belief that Ontario's Endangered Species Act is outdated and is not doing its job

of protecting Ontario's many endangered species. Scientists have currently identified 190 endangered species in Ontario, of which only 43 are protected by the current act. Minister, what are you doing to ensure that Ontario's species are protected

from harm, and how will the Endangered Species Act be updated?

Hon. David Ramsay (Minister of Natural Resources, minister responsible for aboriginal affairs): I thank the member for her interest in this very important subject. We are currently reviewing

our Endangered Species Act so we can provide greater protection for species at risk in Ontario. We're looking at ways to put in effective measures to protect species at risk, including a science-based process to list species and to develop

effective tools to help them recover.

I think what's very important is that we're using an advisory committee, a panel of individuals from a variety of backgrounds who are experts in the field of species at risk. This group has met on several

occasions over the past few months and is giving us some very good advice as to how we could bring forward some proposals in nine key areas to make this a stronger act.

Mrs. Mitchell: Thank you very much, Minister. Ontario is home to many different kinds of plants and animals. It's a part of our unique character, and it's something that we have a duty to

protect.

The members opposite have repeatedly claimed that the Environmental Commissioner of Ontario's report highlights what we have done with the environment. The ECO's report mentions the MNR specifically. Minister,

is the ECO's report all doom and gloom? Has the MNR abdicated responsibility for environmentally sound policies?

Hon. Mr. Ramsay: I'd like to thank the Environmental Commissioner for his praise for a lot of the work that the Ministry of Natural Resources has been doing and some of his helpful suggestions

to help us along with further work in regard to helping our environment. I'd like to quote from his latest report. He says:

The MNR has launched a biodiversity strategy for Ontario. I applaud the ministry for taking this initiative. The challenge going forward is to make sure that we follow through with the strategy and integrate

procedures to protect and conserve biodiversity into operations of all ministries" across government. I would certainly consider our Planning Act reforms and also our greenbelt reforms in this government to be consistent with that. We're very

proud of the work we're doing, as the McGuinty government, in protecting our environment in Ontario.

PETITIONS

ELECTRICITY SUPPLY

Mr. Norm Miller (Parry Sound-Muskoka): I have a petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

"Whereas Hydro One Networks Inc. provides hydro to many communities in the region of Parry Sound-Muskoka; and

"Whereas there have recently been several lengthy power outages in this region affecting both private residences, schools and businesses; and

"Whereas rural customers pay among the highest distribution and delivery charges for electricity;

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

"That the Minister of Energy and the Ontario Energy Board require Hydro One Networks Inc. to make improvements in line maintenance and forestry management in the region of Parry Sound-Muskoka to ensure

reliable energy for its customers."

I support this petition and affix my signature to it.

PRESCRIPTION DRUGS

Mr. Lorenzo Berardinetti (Scarborough Southwest): I have a petition. It's addressed to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

"Re: Expiration dates on prescription drug bottles

"Whereas the health and well-being of all Ontario citizens is of the utmost concern for everyone in this province;

"Whereas to date there is little to no marking on prescription drug bottles in Ontario stating clearly when the drug is past its primary date of use, possibly leading to harmful effects on the health of

Ontario citizens;

"We, the undersigned, therefore petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to request that it is made mandatory for the expiration date of prescription drugs to be clearly placed on all prescription drug

bottles and containers, as it is for food products, ensuring that no one accidentally uses them past that date, causing unnecessary and preventable harm."

I agree with this petition and I give it to page Olivia, who's with me here today.

HEALTH CARD REGISTRATION OFFICE

Mr. Tim Hudak (Erie-Lincoln): I'm pleased to present a petition, signed by people like Mary Lou Garr of Smithville and Tony Maus of Smithville as well, that reads as follows:

"Reopen the Beamsville Health Card Registration Clinic

"To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas the Beamsville health card registration office has helped over 4,000 local seniors, families and other local residents over the last five years renew their health cards close to home; and

"Whereas the Lincoln Centre provided the room and services to the province free of charge; and

"Whereas Lincoln residents are now paying more in a new health tax but are receiving less in services;

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

"The Dalton McGuinty Liberals should immediately reopen the Beamsville health card registration office, which they closed without any notice in the Lincoln community."

In support, I affix my signature.

LONG-TERM CARE

Ms. Shelley Martel (Nickel Belt): I have petitions that have been given to me by members of SEIU local 1.on. It reads as follows:

"Whereas, in June 2003, Dalton McGuinty said, `Ontario Liberals are committed to ensuring that nursing home residents receive more personal care each day and will reinstate minimum standards, and inspectors

will be required to audit the staff-to-resident ratios'; and

"Whereas Health and Long-Term Care Minister George Smitherman, in October 2004, said that the Ontario government will not set a specified number of care hours nursing home residents are to receive each day;

and

"Whereas Ontario nursing home residents still receive the lowest number of care hours in the Western world; and

"Whereas studies have indicated nursing home residents should receive at least 4.1 hours of nursing care per day; and

"Whereas a coroner's jury in April 2005 recommended the Ontario government establish a minimum number of care hours nursing home residents must receive each day;

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

"That the government of Ontario immediately enact a minimum standard of 3.5 hours of nursing care for each nursing home resident per day."

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

IMMIGRANTS' SKILLS

Mr. Jeff Leal (Peterborough): I have a petition today for access to trades and professions in Ontario.

"To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas Ontario enjoys the continuing benefit of the contributions of men and women who choose to leave their country of origin in order to settle in Canada, raise their families, educate their children and

pursue their livelihoods and careers; and

"Whereas newcomers to Canada who choose to settle in Ontario find frequent, arbitrary and unnecessary obstacles that prevent skilled tradespeople, managerial and professional talent from practising the

professions, trades and occupations for which they have been trained in their country of origin; and

"Whereas action by Ontario's trades and professions could remove many such barriers, but Ontario's trades and professions have failed to recognize that such structural barriers exist, much less to take action

to remove them, and to provide fair, timely, transparent and cost-effective access to trades and professions for new Canadians trained outside Canada;

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

"That the Ontario Legislative Assembly urge the members of all parties to swiftly pass Bill 124, the Fair Access to Regulated Professions Act, 2006, and to require Ontario's regulated professions and trades to

review and modify their procedures and qualification requirements to swiftly meet the needs of Ontario's employers, Ontario's newcomers and their own membership, all of whom desperately need the very skills new Canadians bring working for their

organizations, for their trades and professions, and for their families."

I agree with this petition and I will affix my signature to it.

WATER QUALITY

Mrs. Christine Elliott (Whitby-Ajax): A petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas every Ontarian wants the best water quality" available; "and

"Whereas the goal of clean water can be achieved effectively through amendments to existing legislation; and

"Whereas the McGuinty Liberals are determined to hammer through the flawed legislation known as the Clean Water Act; and

"Whereas the McGuinty Liberals have failed to put in place adequate, stable, long-term funding into the bill; and

"Whereas the McGuinty Liberals have failed to effectively address the numerous problems in the bill; and

"Whereas rural Ontario stands to suffer significantly under this poorly-thought-out policy;

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

"To not pass Bill 43 (the Clean Water Act) until proper funding and amendments are in place."

As I'm in support of this petition, I'll affix my signature to it and give it to Bryce.

IMMIGRANTS' SKILLS

Mr. Bob Delaney (Mississauga West): I have a petition to the Ontario Legislative Assembly. It reads as follows:

"Whereas Ontario enjoys the continuing benefit of the contributions of men and women who choose to leave their country of origin in order to settle in Canada, raise their families, educate their children and

pursue their livelihoods and careers; and

"Whereas newcomers to Canada who choose to settle in Ontario find frequent, arbitrary and unnecessary obstacles that prevent skilled tradespeople, managerial and professional talent from practising the

professions, trades and occupations for which they have been trained in their country of origin; and

"Whereas action by Ontario's trades and professions could remove many such barriers, but Ontario's trades and professions have failed to recognize that such structural barriers exist, much less to take action

to remove them, and to provide fair, timely, transparent and cost-effective access to trades and professions for new Canadians trained outside Canada;

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

"That the Ontario Legislative Assembly urge the members of all parties to swiftly pass Bill 124, the Fair Access to Regulated Professions Act, 2006, and to require Ontario's regulated professions and trades to

review and modify their procedures and qualification requirements to swiftly meet the needs of Ontario's employers, Ontario's newcomers and their own membership, all of whom desperately need the very skills new Canadians bring working for their

organizations, for their trades and professions, and for their families."

I completely agree with this petition. I'm pleased to affix my signature and to ask Mississauga West page Taylor Rodrigues to carry it for me.

HEALTH CARD REGISTRATION OFFICE

Mr. Tim Hudak (Erie-Lincoln): I'm pleased to present a petition signed by Christine Nation of Beamsville and Jennifer Wild of Vineland that reads as follows:

"Reopen the Beamsville Health Card Registration Clinic

"To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas the Beamsville health card registration office has helped over 4,000 local seniors, families and other local residents over the last five years renew their health cards close to home; and

"Whereas the Lincoln Centre provided the room and services to the province free of charge; and

"Whereas Lincoln residents are now paying more in a new health tax but are receiving less in services;

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

"The Dalton McGuinty Liberals should immediately reopen the Beamsville health card registration office, which they closed without any notice in the Lincoln community."

In support, I affix my signature.

VISITORS

Mr. Vic Dhillon (Brampton West-Mississauga): On a point of order, Mr. Speaker: I'd like to welcome Mr. Harpal Dhaliwal. He's a pioneer in educating prospective immigrants who are coming to

Canada from India, mainly specializing in the medical field. With him today is a delegation from a medical school in India: Dr. K.M. Selvaraj, J. Arawindhan, K. Ramakrishnan and Dr. Ramadoss. I'd just like to extend a very warm welcome to these

folks.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Michael Prue): Thank you for the introduction. It was not a point of order, so I have nothing on which to rule. I would ask the honourable members in future, as this is

a limited -- I had to stop the clock. Points of order such as this should be raised after, when the clock is not running. I didn't want to impede on the times. But welcome to the Legislature, gentlemen.

LONG-TERM CARE

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

"Whereas long-term-care funding levels are too low to enable long-term-care homes to provide the care and services our aging seniors and parents need, with the dignity and respect that they deserve; and

"Whereas, even with a dedicated staff who do more than their best, there is still not enough time available to provide the care residents need. For example, 10 minutes, and sometimes less, is simply not enough

time to assist a resident to get up, dressed, to the bathroom and then to the dining room for breakfast; and

"Whereas the allowance for three meals is $5.34 per day; and

"Whereas those unacceptable care and service levels are now at risk of declining, and there is a further concern with the residents' safety;

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

"We, the undersigned, petition the McGuinty government to increase operating funding to long-term-care homes by $306.6 million, to allow the hiring of more staff to provide an additional 20 minutes of care per

resident per day over the next two years (2006 and 2007)."

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

GASOLINE PRICES

Mr. Gerry Martiniuk (Cambridge): I have a petition signed by the good citizens of Cambridge, which reads:

"To the Parliament of Ontario:

"Whereas gasoline prices have increased at alarming rates during the past year; and

"Whereas the high and different gas prices in different areas of Ontario have caused confusion and unfair hardship on hard-working Cambridge families;

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

"

(1) That the Ontario McGuinty Liberal government immediately freeze gas prices for a temporary period until world oil prices moderate; and

"

(2) That the Ontario McGuinty Liberal government and the federal Martin Liberal government immediately lower their taxes on gas for a temporary period until world oil prices moderate; and

"

(3) That the Ontario McGuinty Liberal government immediately initiate a royal commission to investigate the predatory gas prices charged by oil companies operating in Ontario."

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

PROPERTY RIGHTS

Mr. Robert W. Runciman (Leeds-Grenville): "To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I affix my signature.

WATER QUALITY

Mr. Norm Miller (Parry Sound-Muskoka): I have a petition to amend the Clean Water Act. It says:

"To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas every Ontarian wants the best water quality possible; and

"Whereas the goal of clean water can be achieved effectively through amendments to existing legislation; and

"Whereas the McGuinty Liberals are determined to hammer through the flawed legislation known as the Clean Water Act; and

"Whereas the McGuinty Liberals have failed to put in place adequate, stable, long-term funding into the bill; and

"Whereas the McGuinty Liberals have failed to effectively address the numerous problems in the bill; and

"Whereas rural Ontario stands to suffer significantly under this poorly-thought-out policy;

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

"To not pass Bill 43 (the Clean Water Act) until proper funding and amendments are in place."

I support this petition.

PROPERTY RIGHTS

Mr. Ted Arnott (Waterloo-Wellington): I have a petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, and it reads as follows:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

MEMBERS' CONDUCT

Mr. Robert W. Runciman (Leeds-Grenville): On a point of order, Mr. Speaker: I'm referencing standing orders 23(h), (

i) and (k). Standing order 23(h), "Makes allegations against another

member"; (

i) references "Imputes false or unavowed motives to another member"; and (

k) says "Uses abusive or insulting language of a nature likely to create disorder."

I know that we do not have the ability to challenge the rulings of a Speaker, and I would never do that. However, earlier today, the Speaker ruled on a comment made by the Leader of the Opposition where he

used the word "misleading" with respect to government advertising. Mr. Speaker, I would ask you and others who sit in the chair to consider the implications of our concern with respect to that ruling: that one party, through disruption in the

chamber, can result in a ruling that impinges on the ability of another to accurately pose questions or take a position in this Legislature. I think that's a very serious concern and I would ask the Chair to respond to our concern at the

appropriate time.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Michael Prue): I will take that under advisement and will refer this to the presiding officers' meeting. I would agree with the honourable member that it was a little

unruly here today. I think your point may be well taken, and we'll leave it for the Speaker and the presiding officers to consider this at the appropriate time and report back.

ANSWERS TO WRITTEN QUESTIONS

Mr. Robert W. Runciman (Leeds-Grenville): On a point of order, Mr. Speaker: I'm referencing standing order 97(d), which requires the government to respond to written questions within 24

sitting days. We have the following questions for which answers are due: In the name of the member for Durham, question 194, and in the name of the member for Haliburton-Victoria-Brock, questions 188, 189, 190, 191 and 193. I'd ask that you direct

the government to provide responses, as required by the standing orders.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Michael Prue): To the government House leader: I want to remind you that your colleagues are required, under standing order 97(d), to provide answers to written

questions within 24 sitting days. The responses are now overdue. I would ask that you give the House some indication as to when the answers will be forthcoming.

Hon. James J. Bradley (Minister of Tourism, minister responsible for seniors, Government House Leader): I will look into the matter at this time, urgently, I'll say to my friend, and try to

ensure that the rule is complied with.

ORDERS OF THE DAY

TRADITIONAL CHINESE

MEDICINE ACT, 2006 /

LOI DE 2006 SUR LES PRATICIENNES

ET PRATICIENS EN MÉDECINE

TRADITIONNELLE CHINOISE

Resuming the debate adjourned on September 27, 2006, on the motion for second reading of Bill 50,

An Act respecting the regulation of the profession of traditional Chinese medicine, and making complementary

amendments to certain Acts / Projet de loi 50, Loi concernant la réglementation de la profession de praticienne ou de praticien en médecine traditionnelle chinoise et apportant des modifications complémentaires à certaines

lois.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Michael Prue): It was my understanding on the last occasion that Ms. Martel had spoken and had completed her statements. It would now go in rotation to the government

bench.

Mr. Khalil Ramal (London-Fanshawe): I have the privilege and honour to stand up today and speak in support of Bill 50, the Traditional Chinese Medicine Act, 2006. It's a very important issue

before us, before the House. It was debated very well last week and hopefully will continue. And hopefully it will pass, because if this bill passes, it will add another alternative to many people who are seeking some kind of treatment.

As you know, Chinese medicine has been used for thousands and thousands of years in many different parts of the globe. It came to Canada not a long time ago and is being practised across Ontario, across

Canada, and has been effective in many different situations. Many Ontarians go to Chinese medicine doctors to seek support and help. It has been proven, through many locations and many times, that its effective treatments help many Ontarians to be

cured of certain diseases and illnesses.

It's part of our commitment in Ontario to support and ensure the wellness of the people of this province and also, as much as possible, to prevent illness. It's our duty as a government, it's the duty of the

Minister of Health, to make sure that people who live in this province live in good health. We also try as much as possible to prevent many different diseases and many different issues that will cause illness and disease.

This issue was brought before the House years ago, and the minister and many different members of our government caucus worked very hard to conduct information consultations, to go across the province to talk

to many different Chinese doctors, to see how important this bill, if passed, would be for the people of Ontario.

They found that there is a need -- a big demand and a big request by many health professionals in Ontario -- for passing this bill. As you know, many Chinese doctors practised without any licence in the past,

and without regulation. It is part of our duty as a government to make sure that all practices, all conduct, all services and regulations in Ontario are done according to the law, and regulated. That's why there is a need for a college to regulate

all Chinese medicine and Chinese doctors across Ontario, to make sure all the people who practise in Ontario get a licence. If this bill is passed,

an act will be established to make sure all the people who practise will have a licence from a new

body, and to make sure all the people who practise Chinese medicine are very well qualified in order to serve the people of Ontario.

So many questions came up about acupuncture. As you know, many people seek this treatment, go to many Chinese doctors, go to many different areas to seek acupuncture treatment, which has been proven to have

the ability to cure many people in this province. This bill doesn't speak to that directly but in general. Because doctors of Chinese medicine use acupuncture for a big part of their treatment, that doesn't mean that only Chinese doctors would be

practising acupuncture. It will be maintained, and all the people in different professions who use it will continue to use it, according to their ability and their professions.

This bill is important for many people in Ontario. People who come to Ontario have a special degree from China, Taiwan, Australia, British Columbia. They have been working and practising medicine for a long

time, but didn't get accreditation. They have no rules. In Ontario they were given the ability to have the title of doctor. Then the title of doctor became an issue, because so many people were saying, "We cannot grant the title of doctor to

everyone who is practising Chinese medicine." That's why this title and this issue will be left to the regulatory body that will be established if this bill passes, to determine which person will be entitled to carry the title of doctor and which

person will be entitled to only carry the title of practitioner. They can use it on their card, on a banner or on advertisements. It's very important to make sure that all the people who practise in Ontario will be qualified, and all the people

who deserve the title of doctor will be granted the title of doctor, a