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November 14, 2005

38th Parliament, 2nd Session

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Hansard Transcripts

vol. A

Hansard Transcripts

vol. B

Votes and Proceedings

Orders and Notices

Hansard Transcripts 2005-Nov-14 (PDF)

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO

ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE DE L'ONTARIO

Monday 14 November 2005 Lundi 14 novembre 2005

MEMBERS' STATEMENTS

BULLYING AWARENESS WEEK

AGRICULTURAL AWARDS

FREDERICK BANTING HOMESTEAD

AFFORDABLE HOUSING

MCMASTER BASKETBALL V. BULLYING EVENT

TORONTO POLICE SERVICE CONFERENCE

MEDEC

ESTHER AND CHARLES MULLI

BY-ELECTION IN

SCARBOROUGH-ROUGE RIVER

INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

AMENDMENT ACT, 2005 /

LOI DE 2005 MODIFIANT LA LOI

SUR LA PROTECTION

DE L'ENVIRONNEMENT

GRAVESITES OF FORMER

PREMIERS ACT, 2005 /

LOI DE 2005

SUR LES LIEUX DE SÉPULTURE

DES ANCIENS PREMIERS MINISTRES

MOTIONS

PRIVATE MEMBERS' PUBLIC BUSINESS

COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP

HOUSE SITTINGS

STATEMENTS BY THE MINISTRY

AND RESPONSES

COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTRES

SECURITIES LEGISLATION

DIABETES

COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTRES

SECURITIES LEGISLATION

DIABETES

SECURITIES LEGISLATION

COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTRES

DIABETES

ORAL QUESTIONS

JUSTICE SYSTEM

SENTENCING

PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM

HYDRO RATES

SCHOOL SAFETY

JUSTICE SYSTEM

PRIX D'EXCELLENCE

CANCER TREATMENT

HOSPITAL FUNDING

STUDENT DROPOUT RATE

METIS NATION AGREEMENT

HYDRO RATES

INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM FUNDING

COMMUNITY CARE ACCESS CENTRES

PETITIONS

SERVICES FOR THE DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED

CANCER TREATMENT

IMMIGRANTS' SKILLS

SERVICES FOR THE DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED

MACULAR DEGENERATION

FREDERICK BANTING HOMESTEAD

CANCER TREATMENT

PROSTATE CANCER

GAMMA FOUNDRIES

IMMIGRANTS' SKILLS

HEALTH CARE FUNDING

SERVICES FOR THE DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED

MACULAR DEGENERATION

ORDERS OF THE DAY

BUDGET MEASURES ACT, 2005 /

LOI DE 2005

SUR LES MESURES BUDGÉTAIRES

The House met at 1330.

Prayers.

MEMBERS' STATEMENTS

BULLYING AWARENESS WEEK

Mr. Frank Klees (Oak Ridges): This week is designated as Bullying Awareness Week across Ontario. For the past two years, parents and advocacy

groups have been asking this Minister of Education to assume his responsibilities by ensuring that every student in this province knows that their hotline for protection from intimidation and

bullying is their principal or the nearest teacher in their school.

Teacher training needs to include practical methods for detecting and dealing with bullying. Principals need to know that they will be held accountable for what

is going on in their schools.

Student-to-student bullying is the face of this issue. However, we need to be aware that teachers, education workers and parents are also victims of bullying.

The problem is significant and it isn't going away.

The excellent work being done by the 200-member London Anti-Bullying Coalition was the subject of a newsmagazine by TVO's Studio 2 entitled Battling Bullies. It

has been nominated for a Gemini Award, in the best news magazine segment, to be awarded later this week. It profiled the devastating consequences of bullying, the role of the Internet, which is the

latest method of bullying, as well as examining the behaviour of bullies.

We owe a thank you to the London Anti-Bullying Coalition for their determination in bringing this issue forward. They are part of a growing network of parents

and educators who want real solutions to this very real and dangerous problem that plagues our schools and our communities, and threatens the right of every student to a safe and supportive

environment.

AGRICULTURAL AWARDS

Mr. Pat Hoy (Chatham-Kent Essex): Last Wednesday, I attended the annual rural-urban dinner hosted by the Chatham and District Chamber of

Commerce. I was honoured to have the opportunity to celebrate the achievements of five exceptional individuals.

Dennis Jack was the recipient of the Agriculturalist of the Year Award. He has served and belongs to numerous agricultural organizations. Dennis is chair of the

Ridgetown College Agri-Food Foundation, which is responsible for the fundraising efforts for the Rudy H. Brown Rural Development Centre. I am proud that the McGuinty government has made a

$3.5-million commitment to this worthwhile project.

Dave and Brenda Baute received the Agriculture Innovator of the Year Award. They operate Maizex Seeds and have introduced several innovations to hybrid corn seed

production. They market over 60 grain and silage corn hybrids across all growing regions in Canada and the northeastern United States.

Kelly Snobelen is the female 4-H Member of the Year. Kelly received many awards, both in competitive and non-competitive clubs, and participated in 4-H

association events and fundraisers. Mitchell Pool is the top 4-H male. He has competed in 4-H competitions locally, regionally in London and internationally at the Royal Winter Fair. Both Kelly and

Mitchell have exemplified the "Learn to do by doing" motto of the 4-H program.

Through their hard work and dedication, these five individuals have made tremendous contributions to the betterment of agriculture and the quality of life in our

rural community.

FREDERICK BANTING HOMESTEAD

Mr. Jim Wilson (Simcoe-Grey): Sir Frederick Banting was born on this day in 1891. In recognition of his contribution to humanity, today is also

World Diabetes Day.

Canadians connect Sir Frederick Banting with the discovery of insulin. For this outstanding medical discovery, Banting was awarded the Nobel Prize for medicine

in 1923, Canada's first.

A noble man, he did not seek to profit from his achievement. Instead of applying for a patent, Banting transferred the rights for his life-saving serum to the

University of Toronto for $1. This magnanimous gesture ensured affordable insulin for millions of people suffering from the metabolic disorder known to us as diabetes. His contributions to medicine

were so immense that CBC viewers and listeners selected him as one of our top 10 greatest Canadians.

At the Legislature this afternoon, I joined Bob Banting, a descendant of Sir Frederick Banting; his wife, Trudi; former New Tecumseth Mayor Larry Keogh; and Alex

Wright to meet the Queen's Park press galley. Our message is to encourage all members of the Legislature to support my private member's bill, the Frederick Banting Homestead Preservation Act. The

purpose of the bill is to preserve Sir Frederick's memory by safeguarding the buildings and property where he was born. The home and buildings on Sir Frederick's Alliston farm are deteriorating.

I'm sad to say that the homestead is in ruins, largely because of the inaction of the Ontario Historical Society.

This significant piece of legislation will be voted on this Thursday during private members' business, and I encourage all members to support it.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING

Mr. Rosario Marchese (Trinity-Spadina): Last week, I met with representatives of a number of Anglican parishes in my riding. They wanted to talk

to me about the need for affordable housing. They visited me as part of a campaign organized by the Anglican church in Toronto. As part of this campaign, members of many parishes around Toronto and

the surrounding area are visiting their MPPs to discuss housing issues in their ridings. Some of you may already have talked to them during constituency week.

Members of these congregations are concerned at the lack of truly affordable housing for the poorer members of our community, and they want to find ways of

working together to bring about some action on the construction of new affordable and supportive housing units.

My advice to them is that they need to continue to put pressure on members of the governing party until the McGuinty government keeps its promises not just to

build more affordable housing but to amend the Tenant Protection Act. The Tenant Protection Act is also an issue for my constituents. Just this morning I had a call from a lifelong Liberal in my

riding who asked me to convey a message to Mr. McGuinty. The message was: Keep your promise to fix the Tenant Protection Act, or in the future she will be voting for the NDP.

MCMASTER BASKETBALL V. BULLYING EVENT

Ms. Judy Marsales (Hamilton West): On October 24, over 10,000 middle school students, 500 volunteers from McMaster University and Mohawk

College, members of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Toronto Raptors, McMaster Marauders and McGill Redmen, and players from the Youtheatre Ottawa, alongside delegates from Vancouver, Saskatoon, Toronto,

Montreal, Halifax, and Rochester, New York, all gathered at Copps Coliseum in downtown Hamilton.

It was not a sporting event or a pep rally. It was not a concert or a convention. This formidable gathering of people was for the third annual McMaster

Basketball v. Bullying event, an assembly of people from all walks of life who have one thing in common, and that is to reduce bullying.

Tracy Vaillancourt, an assistant professor at McMaster University, believes that bullying is becoming increasingly evident in schools. It has come to the point

where even the teachers feel they are victims of bullying by their own students. Ms. Vaillancourt decided to be proactive and to address this trend by organizing the basketball v. bullying event to

promote awareness and to encourage an attitude of sportsmanship that she hopes will carry on into every aspect of our lives. This wonderful event finished off with a university basketball game that

demonstrated the type of sportsmanship Ms. Vaillancourt would like to promote.

I would like to extend my sincerest congratulations to Ms. Vaillancourt on this very successful rally in downtown Hamilton.

TORONTO POLICE SERVICE CONFERENCE

Mr. Garfield Dunlop (Simcoe North): I was very pleased last Saturday to attend the ninth annual Toronto Police Service Community Police Liaison

Committee conference, which was held here at Queen's Park. The theme of this year's conference was Community Engagement -- Emergency Preparedness.

I was one of the sponsors of the event, and I was pleased and honoured to take

part in the opening ceremonies with Minister Kwinter, Chief William Blair of the

Toronto Police Service and Dr. Alok Mukherjee, chair of the Toronto Police Services Board.

I'd like to take this time to thank Mr. James Sneep, staff inspector with the Toronto Police Service, for acting as MC; he did an excellent job during the day.

I'd also like to thank the organizing committee: May Chow, chair of 52 division CPLC; Lorrie Ming-Sun, chair of 32 division CPLC; Adrian Richter, vice-chair of 53 division CPLC; Frank Sword, chair

of 22 division CPLC; Jeff Paulin, chair of 55 division CPLC; and Staff Sergeant Steve Clarke, Constable Candace Paul and Sandra Farrell of volunteer resources with the Toronto Police Service.

In the end, what we tried to do in this particular conference was draw as many people together as possible to deal with emergency preparedness. I just want to

thank all the people who took

part in that particular conference. It was an excellent day. We need to know that we can count on our volunteer services within our province.

MEDEC

Mr. John Wilkinson (Perth-Middlesex): It's with great pleasure that I rise in the House today and offer words of welcome to representatives of

MEDEC, the national industry association representing Canada's medical device and diagnostic companies.

Representatives from the association and 16 member companies are here today to promote innovations in medical device technologies, as well as the good work this

important sector does for communities right across Canada.

Through their strong and valued partnerships with health care professionals, patients, hospitals and governments across the country, MEDEC members are key

drivers of innovation aimed at improving health outcomes and the quality of life for patients in Ontario and across the country.

also share their views on how patient access to innovative and safe medical device technologies can advance health care, and how the medical device industry can contribute to enhancements in

quality and delivery of care and a robust economy.

MEDEC will be hosting a reception in the legislative dining room today from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., where political and public policy-makers will have further

opportunities to speak directly with company representatives from across Ontario and take a look at just some of these important technologies. I'd encourage all members to attend.

I'd like to once again extend a warm welcome to MEDEC and their member companies represented here today and wish them a very successful day at the Ontario

Legislature. I know many of the members are here in the gallery. Welcome.

ESTHER AND CHARLES MULLI

Mr. Kevin Daniel Flynn (Oakville): It is not Mothers' Day, but today we do have the opportunity to recognize a guest in the assembly whose work

as the "mother" of over 1,400 Kenyan street children is well worth celebrating.

Esther and Charles Mulli have used their private resources to build a series of orphanages in Kenya dedicated to rescuing and raising street kids. Many of these

children are AIDS orphans or substance-dependent.

I had the opportunity to join them in Kenya this summer and witnessed first-hand the incredible results that these entrepreneurs-turned-foster-parents have been

able to obtain in their orphanages.

The children raised in their homes graduate with top marks. They have embarked on some incredible sustainable agricultural projects that feed and provide

business opportunities for the kids, and they are making tremendous strides in both health care and education for the children.

I think we can learn a lot from the Mullis and their orphanages in Kenya. Tonight, all members of the assembly will have a chance to meet and speak with Charles

and Esther Mulli at a reception in committee rooms 228 and 230 at 5 p.m. I hope to see you there.

It's an honour today to introduce Ms. Esther Mulli, who is in the members' gallery. She is in Ontario to talk about her and her husband Charles's work in the

Mulli Children's Family Orphanages in Kenya.

BY-ELECTION IN

SCARBOROUGH-ROUGE RIVER

Mr. Brad Duguid (Scarborough Centre): I had the honour of serving on the former city of Scarborough council and on Toronto city council for nine

years with one Bas Balkissoon, our Liberal candidate in the upcoming by-election in Scarborough-Rouge River.

I must say I'm very impressed by the strong support Bas and our campaign have been receiving at the doors. I know that Bas has both the talent and the integrity

to serve Scarborough very well in this House. It's my understanding that these sentiments were shared until very recently by the honourable Leader of the Opposition, who contacted Bas earlier this

fall, writing -- and I suggest all members listen very carefully to this because they may get a kick out of it. The Leader of the Opposition wrote, "I wanted to drop you a note to tell you how

enthusiastic I would be about discussing your possible candidacy for our party in the Alvin Curling seat just vacated." This is a direct quote. "I have always been impressed by your strong

commitment to accountability in government and some of the great leadership you have shown in that area."

Wisely, Bas turned the Tories down and opted to run for a party that understands and cares about the needs of the constituents in his riding. The Tory caucus has

resorted since then to petty digs at Bas's credibility in order to prop up what is fast becoming an increasingly desperate campaign. The man that the Tories were too quick to woo is now the target

of the PC Party's unabashed and undeserved scorn.

For a politician who loves to wax eloquent about the importance of being straightforward and accountable to voters, John Tory has some accounting to do of his

own for this duplicity.

INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

AMENDMENT ACT, 2005 /

LOI DE 2005 MODIFIANT LA LOI

SUR LA PROTECTION

DE L'ENVIRONNEMENT

Mr. O'Toole moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 24,

An Act to regulate the spreading and storage of sewage sludge and biosolids / Projet de loi 24, Loi réglementant l'épandage et le stockage des

boues d'épuration et des matières sèches biologiques.

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

The member may have a brief statement.

Mr. John O'Toole (Durham): I'm reintroducing this private member's bill for two fundamental reasons: first, to focus our attention on this

important matter of protecting our environment; and second, to respect the ongoing work being done by Deb Vice and members of the Protect the Ridges organization and a study that's ongoing in

Durham in this region to resolve this matter.

GRAVESITES OF FORMER

PREMIERS ACT, 2005 /

LOI DE 2005

SUR LES LIEUX DE SÉPULTURE

DES ANCIENS PREMIERS MINISTRES

Mr. Brownell moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 25,

An Act to preserve the gravesites of former premiers of Ontario / Projet de loi 25, Loi visant à conserver les lieux de sépulture des anciens

premiers ministres de l'Ontario.

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

The member may have a brief statement.

Mr. Jim Brownell (Stormont-Dundas-Charlottenburgh): This bill has seen two previous incarnations at the hands of the now Honourable Steve

Peters. If passed, this bill would require the Minister of Culture to mark the gravesites of our former Premiers with, at minimum, an Ontario flag. It would be within the minister's power to

recognize the gravesites of our former Premiers with further markers such as plaques or signs. When Minister Peters tabled his variants of this bill, it received support from all parties, who

recognized the great importance of acknowledging the 18 Premiers who led this province. I hope this bill can again count on all-party support.

MOTIONS

PRIVATE MEMBERS' PUBLIC BUSINESS

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

a motion without notice regarding private member's public business.

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): Mr. Bradley is seeking unanimous consent to move a motion without notice regarding private members' public

business. Agreed? Agreed.

Hon. Mr. Bradley: I move that, notwithstanding standing order 96(d), the following change be made to the ballot list of private members' public

business: Mr. Kular, Mr. Lalonde and Mr. Zimmer exchange places in the order of precedence such that Mr. Kular assumes ballot item 59, Mr. Lalonde assumes ballot item 15, and Mr. Zimmer assumes

ballot item 12.

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

COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP

Hon. James J. Bradley (Minister of Tourism, minister responsible for seniors, Government House Leader): I move that the following amendment be

made to the membership of a certain committee: Ms. Mossop replaces Mr. Brown on the standing committee on justice policy.

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

HOUSE SITTINGS

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

order 9)c)(i), the House shall meet from 6:45 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Monday, November 14, 2005, for the purpose of considering government business.

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

All 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 1352 to 1357.

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

Ayes

Arthurs, Wayne

Baird, John R.

Bentley, Christopher

Berardinetti, Lorenzo

Bradley, James J.

Brownell, Jim

Bryant, Michael

Cansfield, Donna H.

Caplan, David

Chambers, Mary Anne V.

Colle, Mike

Craitor, Kim

Crozier, Bruce

Delaney, Bob

Dhillon, Vic

Di Cocco, Caroline

Dombrowsky, Leona

Duguid, Brad

Flaherty, Jim

Flynn, Kevin Daniel

Fonseca, Peter

Gerretsen, John

Hoy, Pat

Jeffrey, Linda

Klees, Frank

Kwinter, Monte

Lalonde, Jean-Marc

Levac, Dave

Marsales, Judy

Matthews, Deborah

Mauro, Bill

McNeely, Phil

Miller, Norm

Mitchell, Carol

Mossop, Jennifer F.

Munro, Julia

O'Toole, John

Parsons, Ernie

Peters, Steve

Phillips, Gerry

Qaadri, Shafiq

Ramal, Khalil

Rinaldi, Lou

Runciman, Robert W.

Ruprecht, Tony

Sandals, Liz

Smith, Monique

Smitherman, George

Sorbara, Gregory S.

Sterling, Norman W.

Takhar, Harinder S.

Tascona, Joseph N.

Tory, John

Van Bommel, Maria

Watson, Jim

Wilkinson, John

Wilson, Jim

Witmer, Elizabeth

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

Chudleigh, Ted

Churley, Marilyn

Hardeman, Ernie

Horwath, Andrea

Kormos, Peter

Marchese, Rosario

Martel, Shelley

Murdoch, Bill

Ouellette, Jerry J.

Prue, Michael

The Clerk of the Assembly (Mr. Claude L. DesRosiers): The ayes are 61; the nays are 10.

The Speaker: I declare the motion carried.

STATEMENTS BY THE MINISTRY

AND RESPONSES

COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTRES

Hon. George Smitherman (Minister of Health and Long-Term Care): This past Thursday I had the opportunity to make an announcement of which I'm

extremely proud. More importantly, it was an announcement that will have a profound effect on the health of people and communities throughout Ontario. Allow me to share this good news with all

members of the House.

Last week, our government announced the largest-ever expansion of our province's community health centre network. We are investing $74.6 million over the next

three years to enhance services at all existing community health centres and to create 22 new CHCs and 17 new satellite community health centres. That's a 60% increase.

As impressive as these numbers are, what's even more impressive is the breadth and distribution of these new CHCs and satellite community health centres. Once

this expansion is complete, we will have 76 full CHCs and 27 satellite community health centres, and they will be located in every part of this great province.

Mr. Speaker, as you and many members of this House know, community health centres are a tremendously effective and important part of this government's efforts

to reform primary health care. They offer an interdisciplinary approach to health care and healthy living through a team of health care professionals working together. They provide both front-line

primary health care services as well as community health programs. They're community-focused and cost-effective, and they are particularly oriented toward those who face barriers such as poverty,

homelessness or language barriers. In short, they're one of the most effective tools we have to address health issues. By "health issues" we don't just mean treating people when they're sick; we

mean the entire range of factors that contribute to healthy lives and healthy communities.

Please allow me to quickly list the communities that will be receiving full community health centres over the next three years: Woodstock; Fort Erie-Port

Colborne; Malvern, in Scarborough; Cornwall; Prescott-Russell; Sudbury East; Kapuskasing; Chatham-Kent; St. Thomas; St. Catharines; Bramalea; Belleville; Minden; Brock township; Markdale;

Brantford; Niagara Falls; Vaughan; Port Hope; Collingwood; Midland; and Sturgeon Falls.

Those are just the full community health centres. As I said, we are also creating 17 new satellite community health centres. Satellite community health centres

are smaller centres, just as important as full CHCs but tuned more specifically to the needs of their communities. Satellite community health centres are going into Shelldale, Smiths Falls, Nepean,

Thunder Bay, Wallaceburg, Malton, Pickering, Napanee, Trenton; and here in Toronto in Crescent Town; at Jane and Finch; in Jamestown in Rexdale; at Kipling and Dixon; at Mount Dennis in Weston; at

the Peanut Plaza at Don Mills and Finch; at the Junction triangle in the west end; and in York Centre.

I can see members on all sides of the House struggling to contain their enthusiasm and applause. But the real winners are the people of Ontario. Once this

expansion is complete, every community identified in the Strong Neighbourhoods report prepared by the city of Toronto and the United Way will be serviced by a community health centre or the

satellite of a community health centre. We know that they're especially effective in urban areas because they do much more than provide health care. They offer programs to combat violence, they

help young people with education and training, they offer support networks to isolated individuals and they help new Canadians with ESL. That is precisely why this government is investing in one

new community health centre and eight new satellites for Toronto neighbourhoods.

This dramatic and historic expansion of community health centres is the right thing to do, and this is the right time to do it.

SECURITIES LEGISLATION

Hon. Gerry Phillips (Minister of Government Services): I rise today to update members of the House on the progress made since the standing

committee on finance and economic affairs tabled its report on the five-year review of the Securities Act just over a year ago.

The Securities Act provides for regular legislative review. A committee chaired by Mr. Purdy Crawford conducted the initial five-year review. That committee's

report was tabled and referred to the finance committee, which reviewed the report and held hearings last year. Based on its findings, the legislative committee issued a unanimous report with 14

recommendations to the government a year ago.

We have completed many of the recommendations and have made significant headway on many others, from implementing civil liability in the secondary market to

advancing the design of a common security regulator. We have proposed a number of changes in the Budget Measures Act, 2005 (No. 2), introduced by my colleague on November 2, that respond directly

to the standing committee's recommendations.

Of particular interest to the members of the House, the bill proposes a new mechanism to strengthen the Legislative Assembly's oversight of the OSC by having

its annual report referred to a legislative committee. Other amendments in my colleague's act would, if passed:

-- give the OSC broader rule-making authority over corporate governance matters;

-- allow the OSC to make rules to give shareholders more flexibility to communicate with each other during a takeover bid; and

-- give the OSC authority to make rules to require an investment fund, such as a mutual fund, to establish an independent governance body to oversee specified

activities of the fund and the fund manager.

In addition to these amendments, I would like to outline some additional significant accomplishments to date. We are the first government in Canada to give

secondary market investors a statutory right to sue public companies for misleading disclosure and failure to make timely disclosure. These new investor rights take effect December 31, 2005, just

over a month from now. We have also amended the Securities Act so that the next review committee will begin their work in May 2007, and subsequent reviews will take place every four years. We've

made consistent changes, as well, to the Commodity Futures Act. We've listened carefully to the legislative committee and, as recommended, we have not given the OSC basket rule-making authority,

nor the power to make blanket rulings and orders.

As for other report recommendations, we have made significant progress on a number of important regulations. Considerable effort and I think steady progress is

being made toward a common Canadian securities regulator. There have been significant developments in the last year: The work of the Crawford panel, a panel that we appointed, is well underway to

design a more detailed proposal for a common regulator. We expect the panel's report shortly, within the next few weeks. In late September, for the first time ever, provincial, territorial and

federal ministers responsible for securities regulations met to discuss a range of capital market issues and securities regulations. At that time, I apprised my colleagues of the work being done by

the Crawford panel and offered to circulate a copy of the panel's report when it is available. Ministers have agreed to a follow-up meeting; the panel's report is one of the items we will

discuss.

The legislative committee recommended separating the adjudicative function of the OSC from other functions if substantial progress within 12 months toward a

single regulator is not made. We believe this issue is especially relevant to the structure of a common regulator. Steady progress has been made over the past 12 months toward establishing a single

regulator. In the context of a goal that has been proposed since the 1960s, that progress is significant. We have asked the Crawford panel to look at the structure of the adjudicative function in

the model they develop, and I look forward to their recommendations in the next few weeks. In the meantime, it's important to remember that the independent Fairness Committee headed by the

Honourable Coulter A. Osborne found no evidence that the OSC hearings have been biased or unfair.

I would like to now talk about some of the legislative committee's other recommendations.

The 2005 budget announced that we will introduce updated securities transfer legislation later this year. We plan to do that very shortly. We are working

toward establishing a task force to review the role of self-regulatory organizations, and we are exploring timely and affordable ways for wronged investors to seek restitution.

Finally, I would like to welcome Mr. David Wilson as our new chair of the Ontario Securities Commission, effective November 1, 2005. We are looking forward to

Mr. Wilson's contribution to ensuring Ontario's capital markets are strong and healthy, and have the confidence of investors and publicly traded companies alike. Mr. Wilson is an outstanding

individual, and we are pleased that Mr. Wilson has agreed to lend his talent and expertise to this important role.

In closing, our government continues to work and ensure that our capital markets continue to be attractive to investors, that investors are well protected and

that Ontario remains a great place to invest.

DIABETES

Hon. Jim Watson (Minister of Health Promotion): Today, November 14, has been designated by the International Diabetes Federation and the World

Health Organization as World Diabetes Day, in an effort to promote global awareness of the complications of diabetes and to celebrate the lives of those who cope with the disease every day.

November 14 has been chosen because today is the birthday of Ontario's Sir Frederick Banting, the co-discoverer of insulin at the University of Toronto. As the

honourable member for Simcoe-Grey pointed out, we have members of Sir Frederick's family, his descendants, with us in the gallery, and we very much welcome them to the Legislature.

Diabetes is a serious public health issue in Ontario, and one that is of great concern to this government. As this government works to strengthen Ontario's

economic advantage by improving the health of our population, I'd like to take this opportunity to share with you some facts related to diabetes:

-- In Ontario, approximately 800,000 people suffer from this potentially debilitating disease, and an estimated 200,000 may be completely unaware that they

have diabetes;

-- Diabetes accounts for one third of all heart attacks and strokes, 43% of heart failures, 51% of new dialysis patients and 70% of the amputations done in

this province; and

-- Diabetes and its complications cost Ontario's health care system $1 billion annually.

The approach this government has adopted is that the best health care system seeks to prevent illness in the first place. That's the kind of system we're

trying to build in Ontario, and what my Ministry of Health Promotion is all about.

As well as the services and assistance this government provides to diabetes patients, it's important to know that the McGuinty government is taking action to

prevent the risk factors that lead to diabetes. My ministry is directly addressing the need to increase the level of physical activity in Ontario through our Active 2010 program and through our

communities in action fund.

The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, under the leadership of my colleague George Smitherman, provides diabetes education and assistive devices programs

to help those who have diabetes cope with their day-to-day challenges.

In co-operation with our aboriginal communities, we have developed diabetes initiatives that improve access to programs and services for our First Nations

people.

As Minister of Health Promotion, and using World Diabetes Day as the format, I'd like to encourage all Ontarians to increase their awareness of this disease.

I'd like to remind everyone of the potential that exists to prevent diabetes.

Just this morning, here in Toronto, I was pleased to join Sobeys and the Canadian Diabetes Association in launching a new Smart Options initiative that

highlights healthy foods. Innovative partnerships like this one will help us make progress in avoiding this disease.

I also want to thank Michael Howlett, president of the Canadian Diabetes Association, all the men and women of the CDA and the thousands of volunteers who work

tirelessly to raise funds and help diabetes patients and their families for the CDA's great work. I had the pleasure this past weekend, for instance, of kicking off one of the races for the cure in

Ottawa and want to congratulate Melanie Estable-Porter and other volunteers for a wonderful event.

Our government places a priority on improving the health of the people of this province. They can take comfort in knowing that this government is taking steps

to address diabetes in a concrete and meaningful way.

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

COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTRES

Mrs. Elizabeth Witmer (Kitchener-Waterloo): I am pleased to be able to respond to the statement in regard to community health centres today. I

have always -- as has our government -- certainly supported health centres. I did find it very interesting that the minister made the announcement last week in the riding of Scarborough-Rouge

River, which happens to be having a by-election this month. It was a rather political announcement, and I know there were a few people who questioned the location of the announcement and whether

this was really about improvements for people. The other question that has been asked is about concern over the amount of money that is going to be provided for existing community health centres.

There was no information whatsoever provided, and there's certainly concern.

The other concern is the timeline for funding. It's very unclear and very vague.

I think we also need to take into consideration the fact that this government often makes health care announcements, and a lot of it is hype and rhetoric. We

all know about the family health team announcements which have been made. I think it's important to note that despite the fact that about 69 have been announced, about 50 of those were former

family health networks which our government had set up, and only one family health team today is fully operational as a family health team. So this government makes lots of announcements, but we

see little action and little impact on changing health access for people in the province of Ontario. This government does a much better job of making sure that people are asked to pay more in the

form of a $2.4-billion health tax and yet get less, because today they don't have the same access to optometry or physiotherapy or chiropractic services. We also know this is a government that has

fired 767 nurses. So as far as improved access to doctors, nurses and health care, that's not the case.

SECURITIES LEGISLATION

Mr. Joseph N. Tascona (Barrie-Simcoe-Bradford): I'm pleased to respond to the Minister of Government Services. The minister says that they're

doing everything they can to ensure that investors are well protected. But I would say to the minister, you're not doing enough, and your Attorney General is standing in the way of protecting

investors in this province. He has been asked on more than one occasion to protect small investors and seniors from financial fraud, to increase the time limitation period from two years to six

years, because the financial complaint system just doesn't work to allow small investors and seniors to put their claim forth in a period that would not be within the two-year period. He knows that

we have to extend the period from two years to six years.

So I would ask the minister to try to convince the Attorney General, who in Bill 14, under

schedule D, made sure that his Bay Street friends would get an

increase. They have an agreement that they can extend the time limitation period so they're not subject to the Limitations Act. Convince your Attorney General, under

schedule D of Bill 14, to

ensure that small investors and seniors across this province can have fairness and investor protection by increasing the time limitation period from two years to six years, Minister.

DIABETES

Mr. Norman W. Sterling (Lanark-Carleton): In response to the minister, with regard to World Diabetes Day: Our fight to control and our fight

to cure diabetes, of course, knows no political boundaries. All members of the House are interested in forwarding the agenda with regard to this terrible disease. We have had in this Legislature a

private member's bill from a backbencher on the Liberal side, Bill 55, which died on the order paper, which allowed people to access additional care. Many of us in this Legislature voted for that

bill and would like to support that bill for insulin pumps to be available to all those in need.

More importantly, we have a bill that we're going to debate this Thursday, Bill 20, the Frederick Banting Homestead Preservation Act, put forward by Jim

Wilson, the member for Simcoe-Grey, to preserve the birthplace of Dr. Banting. I urge all members to support that. I would look that we could pass second and third -- and final -- reading this

Thursday, and celebrate this wonderful day for Mr. Banting's tremendous contributions.

SECURITIES LEGISLATION

Mr. Michael Prue (Beaches-East York): In response to the Minister of Government Services: The problem I have with the statement you have made

today is that the separation of the adjudicative function was the cornerstone of the reform put forward by the all-party committee. A whole year later, virtually nothing has been done. The

honourable Coulter Osborne argued persuasively against the current system, not, as your statement said today, in support of it. His statement was that justice not only must be done, but it must be

seen to be done appropriately. It's clear that there is no movement. It is clear that given the glacial speed at which federal-provincial relations seem to be going, on everything from the labour

market to immigration and now to this, that we can expect only more of the same. It is time for you to move this process along as speedily as possible to protect those investors in Ontario who are

desperately in need of protection.

COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTRES

Ms. Shelley Martel (Nickel Belt): In response to the statement made by the Minister of Health, the question is, how long have New Democrats

been urging this government to fund CHCs? The answer is: For two long years since this government was elected, every time the minister got up and talked about primary care reform, I said in

response, why doesn't the government move forward on this effective model of primary care? That's what our government did. We recognized that it was a good idea to have health care providers on

salary, that it was a very good idea to have a full range of health care providers -- doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, mental health workers, social workers -- providing care to patients, that

it was a good idea that the focus shouldn't just be on illness, prevention or treatment but on health promotion initiatives as well keeping people healthy longer, and that it was a very good idea

to have local boards determine what the direction of those CHCs would be so that they could be responding to the health care needs in those communities. That's why our government funded 21 new CHCs

and nine aboriginal health and wellness centres in the depths of a recession.

The real question is, why did it take the government so long to deal with the some 80 applications for CHCs that were at the ministry the day the Liberals

arrived as the government? Over the past two years, because the government hasn't responded, many communities have lost opportunities for primary health care because this government didn't move on

this effective model.

This brings me to the point of a CHC in my own my community, Le Centre de santé communautaire de Sudbury, which operates two satellites in Rayside-Balfour

and Valley East in my riding, primarily francophone communities. In the fall of 1995, under the Conservatives, the then assistant deputy minister, Mr. Szende, wrote to the president and promised

that $1 million in capital funding would be made available to two or more satellite clinics in the outlying communities where it was clear there was a need for services to francophones. Since that

time, the Conservatives, and now this Liberal government, have refused to provide the funding to Le Centre de santé communautaire de Sudbury to expand the satellites in Rayside-Balfour and

Valley East, and that is a shame. It is clear that if those satellites were funded, then francophones would move to the centre and become patients of the centre, and many doctors who now service

those francophone patients would have space available to treat anglophones.

It is wrong for this government to deny funding to the centre because the government insists that the services be bilingual. Francophones in this province have

a right to French-language services under Bill 8, and that includes those francophones who live in Rayside-Balfour and in Valley East. This government is going to end up with its own Montfort

Hospital -- the day is coming -- because francophones in our community are going to challenge this decision to deny funding to this centre.

I say to the minister, do what is right; do it now. Provide funding so that francophones in Valley East and Rayside-Balfour can get access to health care

services in their own language, like they deserve.

DIABETES

Ms. Shelley Martel (Nickel Belt): With respect to the statement made by the Minister of Health Promotion, I wish the minister would have stood

today and said what his government was going to do in response to the presentation that was made by the Canadian Diabetes Association during the pre-budget consultations in February of this year,

when they came before that committee and urged this government to expand its Ontario monitoring for health program to include those diabetics who don't qualify now because their diabetes is

controlled by oral medication; to have the program pay for needles, syringes and insulin pumps; and to increase the reimbursement cost of these supplies because the current reimbursement cost

doesn't cover the full cost of supplies. Has this government responded to any of these needs? No, they have not.

Finally, poor Mr. Gravelle, a member of the government side, introduced a bill to have insulin pumps covered in April 2004. His bill was passed unanimously at

second reading and sat in committee for 16 months before it finally died when this government had a new session of Parliament. Why don't you at least pass --

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

ORAL QUESTIONS

JUSTICE SYSTEM

Mr. John Tory (Leader of the Opposition): My question is for the Acting Premier. I'm sure you're aware of the tragic circumstances involving

37-year-old Lori Dupont, a nurse who was stabbed to death at the Hotel-Dieu Grace Hospital in Windsor on Saturday. I think I speak for all of us here in extending our heartfelt sympathies to her

family, and especially to the eight-year-old daughter that she leaves behind.

According to media reports, Ms. Dupont applied for a restraining order against her former partner, a doctor who worked at the hospital, in April and she was

told that the next available court date to have that application for a restraining order heard would be in December. That is an eight-month delay. Without asking you to comment specifically on the

details of any case, can you inform the House as to how an eight-month delay is possible for anyone, anywhere, any time in Ontario in the justice system for which your government is

responsible?

Hon. Michael Bryant (Attorney General): It is a terrible, terrible, terrible, tragic thing that has happened, and we certainly add our voices

to that of the leader of the official opposition in offering our condolences to her daughter and to her family. As the member said, the matter is subject right now to a criminal investigation, so

we cannot get into the specifics of it. Certainly I am in the process of determining exactly who knew what and when, and at the same time doing so without in any way interfering with the criminal

investigation that's underway.

Mr. Tory: Carrying on in that regard, according to the Windsor Star this morning, the hospital where Ms. Dupont worked had been providing

security guards to help her to her car. The hospital helped her in preparing the restraining order and reserved a parking spot for her next to the security office at the hospital, so it's clear

that the hospital took precautions to help ensure her safety. Where the system seems to have fallen down was Ontario's justice system, for which you have ultimate responsibility. Are you prepared

to use your offices to find out how many of these kinds of applications are pending across the province, the kinds of delays they are experiencing and the reasons why, and to let all of us know --

the public and this Legislature -- the results of those inquiries on a timely basis?

Hon. Mr. Bryant: There are indeed some questions that need some answers, and I agree with the member that we need to determine what the facts

are. I recognize that the member is relying upon media reports, and of course the police are in the process of their own investigation. I don't wish to do anything to interfere with that. But

certainly we need to determine, on both the criminal and civil sides, whether or not we need to be making any changes and assess the situation immediately. In a further supplementary, I can speak

to some actions that have been well underway since this government took power to address these fundamental issues and protections when it comes to protecting women from becoming victims of domestic

violence.

Mr. Tory: Of course, I was dealing with the question of process, and I remind the Attorney General that I had asked him whether he could give

us a list and a number as to how many of these kinds of applications are pending across the province and the kinds of delays they are experiencing. I think our interest here is to ensure that no

woman, no partner in a violent or potentially violent situation should be made to wait until it's too late for justice. I think we all agree in this House that that is just not acceptable. As the

government of Ontario, you have the responsibility to take whatever steps are necessary to ensure this doesn't happen again.

We have here an instance in which a person was murdered while waiting for a date to have a hearing with regard to a restraining order. Can the Attorney General

immediately cause, or can the government immediately cause, through the Attorney General's office, to be issued whatever directive it would take to ensure that in applications of this kind an

eight-month delay is declared and stipulated to be unacceptable and that urgency is to be the rule, as opposed to any exception at all? Can you give us that undertaking?

Hon. Mr. Bryant: Well, it's true that urgency is the rule. That is why we launched the Ontario domestic assault risk assessment tool. That is

a tool that involves police, crown prosecutors and others who assess the risk in abusive situations. They have a series of tests and a checklist to go through to determine where there are urgent

situations and assure that the matter is given the highest priority. That is something this government launched. It is a tool that had not been available before, and it is a tool that we are

continuing to pursue to try to prevent tragedies from taking place.

SENTENCING

Mr. John Tory (Leader of the Opposition): It's a bit frustrating, because I asked for a list of these incidents and a directive to be

issued.

My new question is for the Attorney General. You issued a report to your federal counterparts last week asking for tougher sentencing, but didn't offer any

suggestions or any specifics as to what an appropriate sentence might be, an appropriate mandatory sentence for crimes involving the use of a firearm. The federal minister was equally non-specific.

For certain offences today, the minimum stipulated in the Criminal Code is one year. You have said that is not acceptable.

Can you share with us exactly how long you think a sentence should be for someone convicted under the current provisions, how long we should make the sentence?

And for some of the new offences that I think you've correctly suggested should be created, can you suggest to us some specifics here so we know exactly what you are advocating to the federal

government as to minimum sentences for the commission of a crime involving guns?

Hon. Michael Bryant (Attorney General): The highest constitutionally appropriate sentence that can be brought down to express Parliament's

extreme denunciation of these horrific gun crimes and to ensure that appropriate punishments and deterrents are in place.

Mr. Tory: Well, the problem we all have here is that that, of course, is not a specific answer either, and the federal minister didn't help us

either.

In any event, we'll move to another area that you have more direct responsibility for. It's something else you just haven't addressed, and it has been going on

for some time: the issue of the kind of two-for-one and three-for-one deals, the sentencing credits for convicted criminals. Police officers have shared cases with me, as I'm sure they have with

you, where they have arrested someone, the person is charged, the person is convicted, and the very same day that their sentence is pronounced upon them, they walk out of the courtroom because your

crown prosecutors have made a three-for-one deal to give people three days' credit for every day they've served before trial.

Ontarians instinctively know this is wrong. Will you take immediate steps to ensure that these two-for-one and three-for-one let's-make-a-deal arrangements are

not bought into by your prosecutors and are not something your prosecutors agree to? Will you take that step?

Hon. Mr. Bryant: We're actually a little bit ahead of that, I say to the leader of the official opposition. Last week in Whitehorse we

achieved quite an historic accord. We had all provinces agree, firstly, to immediate changes to bring forth increases in mandatory minimum sentences for gun crimes, new offences to reflect the

supply of legal guns into the illegal gun market, and also an agreement federally and provincially that in fact the federal government would work upon the recommendation made by Ontario and

Manitoba such that we would have a reverse onus put into place so that if it was a gun crime and a violent offence that was involved, the onus would be --

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

Mr. Tory: I actually asked about the two-for-one and three-for-one deals, which we never got to.

But having said that, my final supplementary is also to the minister. What's needed here in some cases is immediate solutions, a sense of urgency about these

things, whether it has to do with mandatory minimum sentencing or whether it has to do with these let's-make-a-deal, two-for-one and three-for-one deals.

Another area where you've overpromised and underdelivered is on the 1,000 new police officers on the street. This morning, your colleague the Minister of

Community Safety claimed that 400 of these officers have already been hired and are to be paid retroactively to 2003. Exactly when --

Interjections.

The Speaker: Stop the clock.

Leader of the Opposition.

Mr. Tory: Exactly when can the municipalities expect to see the cheques totalling $28 million for your share of these officers, and since you

obviously know right now which police services, if you can come come up with a precise number of 400, will you commit to bring the list to this House, to this Legislature, of exactly which

communities have had how many new officers hired, and have the cheques been sent to those communities to cover the costs of those officers?

Hon. Mr. Bryant: I want to congratulate Monte Kwinter, the Minister of Community Safety, for putting 400 new officers on the streets and 1,000

to come.

We welcome the agreement of all provinces and the federal government to bring forth new mandatory minimum sentences and new gun crimes. In fact, although I

understand he doesn't understand the answer, I'll speak slowly. Bringing forth a reverse onus for bail for gun crimes means that we are going to be requiring that everybody who is before the court

involving a gun crime and involving bail has to themselves prove that they ought not to be in jail. Between the guns and gangs task force, the 1,000 more police officers, the additional 26 police

officers announced two weeks ago, the additional crown attorneys brought forth, an agreement by the federal government to have a federal-provincial guns and gangs task force, sir, that's not like

the stuff that you used to do when you were in government: all talk. We are all action when it comes to gun crime.

PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM

Mr. Howard Hampton (Kenora-Rainy River): My question is for the Acting Premier. Today there is no local medical officer of health standing

guard for ordinary families in one third of Ontario's local health units. In Brant, Chatham-Kent, Elgin, Haldimand, Lambton, Oxford, Simcoe, Muskoka and Timiskaming there is no medical officer of

health. Why? Because the McGuinty government refuses to come up with the money so that health units can carry out basic services.

My question is this: Will you commit today to hiring full-time medical officers of health for every health unit in Ontario without delay?

Hon. George Smitherman (Minister of Health and Long-Term Care): As the honourable member will know if he wants to, the situation concerning

having full all of the rolls of medical officers of health in our province is something that, quite frankly, has eluded us for well over a decade. That's a circumstance that has been ongoing while

all parties in this House were governments in Ontario. That is an explanation; it is not an excuse.

Accordingly, we're working very hard to revitalize public health in this province. That has involved an investment of hundreds of millions of dollars to date.

Public health units in this province this year received not only an increment increase where the province took back a share of costs, but also a 9% increase for growth. This is a reflection on the

commitment that our government continues to make. Under the leadership of Dr. Basrur and schools like McMaster, we're working hard to produce the future medical officers of health, but I will

acknowledge to the honourable member that this is a piece of work that we have more to do on.

Mr. Hampton: I'm surprised at the Minister of Health's response, because it wasn't that long ago that someone named Dalton McGuinty said that

not having medical officers of health in place was a violation of the law -- not just an administrative problem but a violation of the law.

Here's what the Ontario Medical Association says: Ontario is not prepared for a pandemic like avian flu because the McGuinty government has underfunded public

health, because local public health units don't have the resources for even basic tasks like inspecting restaurants, and because we don't have enough local medical officers of health to stand guard

for ordinary families' health. Then they say, "A public health emergency could strike at any day."

A simple question, Minister: Will you hire the eight medical officers of health who are not in place today, which your Premier describes as a breach of the

law?

Hon. Mr. Smitherman: The member is choosing, as normal, to be rather selective in his analysis of the circumstances at hand. There is plenty

of evidence -- it abounds, in fact -- of the investments and the initiatives that our government has undertaken with respect to rebuilding public health. There are interim medical officers of

health acting in every one of the public health units in the province of Ontario.

With respect to planning in our province related to the challenges, those known and unknown, we've done a tremendous amount of work. We have a public health

agency in our province that's coming to life next year. There's active work on its role. We've increased quite dramatically the funding for our public health units, as I alluded to in my earlier

answer. We've established a provincial infectious disease advisory committee that's working hard, and new software, IPHIS, that we spent tens of millions of dollars developing, along with the 180

infectious disease officers that we're fully funding in these public health units. These are just some of the initiatives that we've taken to protect the health of Ontarians.

Mr. Hampton: I repeat the words of Dalton McGuinty: He described interim medical officers of health as a breach of the law; part-time medical

officers of health as a breach of the law. That was your Premier.

I want to quote again from the Ontario Medical Association. They say that Ontario's public health system should be second to none, but they then say that

Ontario's public health system is "the worst of all the provinces." Dr. Greg Flynn, the president of the Ontario Medical Association says, "Our public health system is broken. It remains unprepared

for challenges we know it must meet."

It was Dalton McGuinty who said to the people of Ontario, "Choose change." Tell me, Minister, where's the change when the Ontario Medical Association calls

Ontario's public health system the worst of all the provinces?

Hon. Mr. Smitherman: On the issue of responsibility and accountability for words, I believe the honourable member would be doing a better

service to Ontarians if he stood in this place and acknowledged that it was the leadership exerted by his government which has resulted in some of the chronic challenges we have with doctor

shortages in our province. Public health, we all acknowledge, is one of those areas in our health care system that was allowed, especially under the previous government, to diminish.

Accordingly, since arriving in office we've worked very, very hard and contributed considerable new resources to enhance the quality of our public health

system. On this idea that has been advanced today by the OMA, of course it's appropriate to call for areas where there's more that can be done; but I think it's inappropriate, particularly as there

is no objective way to measure the quality of our public health system -- I think that we've worked very, very hard, and Ontario's capacities are growing every day. This is important news for the

people of Ontario.

HYDRO RATES

Mr. Howard Hampton (Kenora-Rainy River): Again to the Acting Premier: Your hydro rate policy of driving electricity rates through the roof is

proving more expensive for ordinary Ontario families. In community after community your policy of driving electricity rates through the roof is shutting down factories, mills and plants, killing

jobs and hurting entire communities. On Friday, Ontario Power Generation, the company you control, reported an extraordinary profit of $181 million for one quarter. That's not their money; that's

the people's money.

My question: Will you instruct Ontario Power Generation to roll out a rebate and return that $181 million to the people who are already paying too much in

Ontario?

Hon. George Smitherman (Minister of Health and Long-Term Care): To the Minister of Energy.

Hon. Donna H. Cansfield (Minister of Energy): Thank you to the honourable member for his question. In fact, after the 5%, Ontario Power

Generation's profit goes to pay the stranded debt, so in fact it does go back to the people of Ontario -- to all the people of Ontario.

Mr. Hampton: As we see paper mill after paper mill close, as we now see the steel industry threatened, I don't think anyone is going to find

any solace in that answer.

I want to quote from Adam White, the president of the Association of Major Power Consumers in Ontario. He says, "It's unconscionable that Ontario Power

Generation should be reporting record profits while high electricity prices are causing plant closures and layoffs, and people are worried about finding money to pay their power bill."

We know that the money has come from the people and it has come from Ontario industries. Will you instruct Ontario Power Generation to return that $181 million

to the people today through a rebate? Yes or no, Minister?

Hon. Mrs. Cansfield: Thank you again for the question. I state quite emphatically that the OPG is permitted to keep the 5% return and the rest

goes to pay down the stranded debt, which, by the way, is $20.9 billion. That's money that people have to pay anyway. This way they actually get to reduce that amount of money. I find it

interesting as well that the concern is -- in fact, we have just brought in over $700 million to the province in renewable energy projects and $3 billion in new projects in future generation that

are currently underway or in the process of being underway. So in fact we are contributing to this economy, sir.

Mr. Hampton: The minister says the McGuinty government is contributing to the economy. Here's the reality: Ontario has lost 42,000

manufacturing jobs, most of them casualties of the McGuinty government's policy of driving electricity rates through the roof. The forest industry is in crisis, with 12 mills, 7,500 direct jobs and

17,500 indirect jobs at risk. That's what's happening out there because of your policy of driving electricity rates through the roof, and now we know that Ontario Power Generation took $181 million

out of the pockets of Ontario consumers in the last quarter alone.

Minister, how many jobs is the McGuinty government prepared to kill? How many communities are you going to decimate before you realize that your policy of

driving electricity rates through the roof is a destructive one? Will you return the money now?

Hon. Mrs. Cansfield: The money has been returned. It has gone to pay down the stranded debt.

It's fascinating: When I was doing my reading, a little bit of homework, this was the government that I think purchased land in Costa Rica for a rain forest. I

think there were other governments involved in purchasing or paying for a yacht.

We've actually put the money back into the stranded debt. Five per cent is the amount they're able to keep and the rest goes to pay down the stranded debt. I

don't know, but $20.9 billion, to me, is a lot of money. Maybe it isn't to the honourable member.

Mr. Hampton: On a point of order, Mr. Speaker: I wish to give notice of dissatisfaction --

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): You can do that by filing with the table. New question.

SCHOOL SAFETY

Mr. Frank Klees (Oak Ridges): My question is to the Minister of Education. Sexual harassment, forcible confinement, criminal harassment,

sexual assault: Those are the charges against a 16-year-old following what Christie Blatchford in the Globe and Mail today noted as a "campaign of terror" against a young teenager over an 18-month

period of time. That campaign of terror took place in one of our public schools in this city, apparently without a teacher or a principal knowing that it was taking place. Minister, what do you

have to say about that?

Hon. Gerard Kennedy (Minister of Education): I'm sure that anyone in this House apprised of the details of that story extends the greatest of

sympathy to the person affected.

Of course, we are constrained in this House not to discuss the details of an individual case like that. What I will say is this: We are, this week in fact,

going to be strengthening the protections we have within the system, to make sure that for the first time in Ontario there is a comprehensive approach to activating every person -- not just the

teachers but every person on school property in terms of prevention of bullying. I would say that the kind of terror that is described in that

article goes to the heart of why we -- all of us --

bear a responsibility to make sure that that finally happens.

Mr. Klees: Minister, this should be a wake-up call to you, as Minister of Education, to note that there's a serious supervision problem in

that school. It should be a wake-up call to you that if it's happening in that school, it is probably happening in others.

My question to you is this: Will you now take seriously a warning that was issued to you by the Ontario Principals' Council following your negotiation of a

collective agreement that strips supervision time from contracts throughout the province?

They said in that letter, and I quote: "Supervision is an issue that has been an ongoing concern for us, since a decrease in supervision time has a direct and

negative impact on our ability to keep our schools safe. We are therefore alarmed to learn that school boards across the province appear to be negotiating this limit on supervision time without

regard for the preconditions established in the memorandum."

Minister, will you undertake to ensure that supervision --

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

Hon. Mr. Kennedy: I'm sure the honourable member opposite is not trying to link, in the juxtaposition of his questions, problems experienced

by principals in some schools as the start-up of a new kind of arrangement at some schools where there is an absolute override that no compromise can be made to school safety or, indeed, to the

cost to the board or the government. He knows that. And I'm sure the member opposite is not trying to link that at the commission, on anyone's part, with the tragedy in the

article in the paper

today because, if he is, he is linking a situation in which he does not have the facts -- and we are constrained to deal with the facts in this House -- to administrative things that are being

worked out.

I've met with the principals' association. I've met with a number of the people involved. We have a provincial stability commission addressing that directly.

What we need is what hasn't happened under the administration of the gentleman opposite and didn't happen in the previous government: a serious approach to detecting, preventing and stamping out

bullying in our schools. It didn't take place under that previous government. I'm happy to tell you that this week we'll give you details on how it will take place under this government.

JUSTICE SYSTEM

Ms. Marilyn Churley (Toronto-Danforth): I have a question for the Attorney General. I want to follow up on the question by the Leader of the

Opposition.

Lori Dupont, a nurse and single mother of an eight-year-old girl, was stabbed to death on the job at a hospital in Windsor. Ms. Dupont had feared for her

safety for some time. The hospital took her concerns seriously but the justice system let her down. She applied for a peace bond against a former boyfriend and co-worker in April, but it was

contested and the hearing was delayed until December, eight months later.

I want to ask you again, what is your government doing to ensure a prompt hearing in a situation where a woman's life is in danger, and to ensure that this

never happens again?

Hon. Michael Bryant (Attorney General): I say again, as Mr. Hampton would have said when he was the Attorney General, that I can't speak to

the specifics of the matter because a criminal investigation is underway.

A restraining order can be obtained as a civil remedy under family law. A person can get one from a court without the named person knowing about it. A peace

bond, which was sought here under

section 810 of the Criminal Code, is a criminal remedy available to anyone and, as such, the criminal process then takes over.

We are asking the very questions that the member is asking right now, to determine who knew what and when. I can assure the member that I share her concern,

and I think every member of this Legislature shares her concern, to find out what happened and to see if there is anything that we can do to prevent it from happening in the future.

Ms. Churley: Minister, Gillian Hadley, May-Iles, and on and on -- the very nature of the application was because she feared for her safety.

Lori Dupont asked for a peace bond restraining order in April. She never got it, and now she never will.

Women are dying, and unfortunately your government seems more interested in saving money than in saving these women's lives. For years, women have asked for

and recommendations have asked for standardized risk assessments in determining bail for better enforcement of restraining orders for action on the court backlogs that leave women waiting for peace

bonds. And all we have are pilot projects.

How many more women are going to have to die before your government takes action and makes these pilot projects permanent? When, Minister, is it going to

happen?

Hon. Mr. Bryant: Mr. Speaker, I am going to refer that supplementary to the minister responsible for women's issues.

Hon. Sandra Pupatello (Minister of Community and Social Services, minister responsible for women's issues): It's very difficult to sit and

listen to such a question when this member herself was at yet another announcement at the expert training panels on domestic violence this morning. She knows better than any that this government

has done more on this issue than any in history. We have an extremely large and all-encompassing domestic violence action plan. One of the largest pillars of this is the justice sector. While we

are working diligently to review restraining orders so that they're done in a consistent way, in this case, the most tragic of all, in my own hometown, when I had to know about a nurse who was

killed on the job, and you would suggest for a moment --

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): Order. Order. The member for Toronto-Danforth will come to order. I will name the member for

Toronto-Danforth.

Minister.

Hon. Ms. Pupatello: All of us in this House know that one of the significant pillars of our action plan is the justice sector. What we know

happened over this past weekend, those kinds of --

Interjection.

The Speaker: I name the member for Toronto-Danforth, Ms. Churley.

Ms. Churley was escorted from the chamber.

PRIX D'EXCELLENCE

M. Jean-Marc Lalonde (Glengarry-Prescott-Russell): Ma question s'adresse à la ministre de la Culture.

Au début du mois, vous avez participé à la remise des Prix d'excellence pour les subventions bien méritées de la Fondation Trillium de

l'Ontario, édition 2005. Parmi les finalistes éligibles pour obtenir un prix était le spectacle l'Écho d'un peuple de Francoscénie, qui a eu lieu dans ma circonscription

lors des deux derniers étés. Madame la Ministre, pouvez-vous partager avec nous quels sont les Prix d'excellence, et comment Francoscénie est-elle venue à être nommée

finaliste pour un de ces prix?

L ' hon. Madeleine Meilleur (ministre de la Culture, ministre déléguée aux Affaires francophones) :

Premièrement, je voudrais remercier le député de Glengarry-Prescott-Russell pour sa participation à l'événement, et aussi tous ceux et celles qui ont participé.

Alors, un gros merci.

Lancés en 2002 par la Fondation Trillium de l'Ontario, les Prix d'excellence pour les subventions bien méritées rendent hommage aux organismes

qui ont su profiter des subventions octroyées par la fondation pour créer des retombées au sein de leur communauté et pour l'ensemble de la population ontarienne. L'édition

2005 des Prix d'excellence présente de magnifiques exemples de subventions ayant servi à promouvoir davantage la mission de la Fondation Trillium de l'Ontario, qui est de favoriser

l'épanouissement des communautés saines et dynamiques en Ontario en investissant dans des initiatives communautaires qui renforcent les capacités du secteur bénévole.

Les Prix d'excellence pour les subventions bien méritées sont décernés dans les quatre secteurs de financement de la fondation : arts

et culture, environnement, services sociaux, sports et loisirs. Les finalistes des Prix d'excellence pour les subventions bien méritées ont été choisis parmi 3 800

bénéficiares. Je suis --

Le Président (L'hon. Michael A. Brown): Merci. Thank you.

M. Lalonde: Merci, madame la Ministre. C'était en effet un prix bien mérité pour un spectacle très éducatif sur

l'histoire des Franco-Ontariens. Pour la population de Prescott et Russell -- oui, je dis la meilleure circonscription de l'Ontario -- l'Écho d'un peuple de Francoscénie est plus qu'un

spectacle musical à grand déploiement qui célèbre 400 ans de présence francophone en Amérique du Nord. Lancée en 2004, l'Écho d'un peuple est la plus

importante réalisation artistique de la région. Cette production a attiré plus de 30 000 spectateurs durant sa première saison, puis elle a remporté le prestigieux

prix Trille Or de l'Association des professionnels de la chanson et de la musique, décerné au meilleur événement musical en 2005.

Comment la Fondation Trillium de l'Ontario a-t-elle contribué au succès de Francoscénie et de l'Écho d'un peuple, ainsi qu'au succès

des organismes qui ont bénéficié d'une subvention de la Fondation Trillium?

L'hon . M me Meilleur : Oui, en effet, comme j'ai dis tantôt, Francoscénie a remporté le Prix

d'excellence dans la catégorie arts et culture. Francoscénie a reçu de la Fondation Trillium en 2005 une subvention de 30 000 $. Les retombées de la production

musicale ont atteint plus d'un million de dollars dans la région de Prescott-Russell. Les bénévoles ont bâti la scène, ont préparé le spectacle, et sont

montés sur les planches soir après soir.

Cet argent a servi également à faire la promotion du spectacle. Ce spectacle, une vitrine sur l'histoire des francophones de l'Ontario, est

Prescott-Russell.

Je voudrais féliciter tous ceux et celles qui, de près et de loin, ont travaillé à la réalisation de ce spectacle extraordinaire.

Merci.

CANCER TREATMENT

Mr. Cameron Jackson (Burlington): My question is for the Minister of Health. On October 17, Suzanne Aucoin from St. Catharines and 21 other

cancer patients attended question period. I asked a question seeking your support for their cancer treatments in Ontario. Since then, Suzanne Aucoin has been rejected twice by your government. It

took your government two days to reject her application for out-of-province coverage for life-saving intravenous chemotherapy treatment. She is maxing out her Visa card to simply stay alive to

receive these treatments near Buffalo. My question to you, Minister: Why isn't your ministry working with this young woman to help save her life?

Hon. George Smitherman (Minister of Health and Long-Term Care): The government of Ontario, through its agency Cancer Care Ontario, is working

actively every day to save the lives of people with cancer. This has included, of course, significant new investments in regional cancer centres and a more than 1,000% increase in new cancer drug

funding. These, I think, speak of our commitment to addressing issues that people have related to cancer.

There will be circumstances when people seek treatments that are made available in other parts of the world. In accordance with that, the Health Services

Appeal and Review Board is involved to offer appeals on any decisions related to out-of-province coverage. It has always been the case that there are treatments available in the world that the

government of Ontario is or has not been in a position to fund. As we rely on scientific evidence as the basis for these decisions, I continue to rely on people like that for advice.

Mr. Jackson: I think Suzanne Aucoin came to Queen's Park today, as she is in the gallery, trying to seek support from her Minister of Health.

You see, her application for out-of-province coverage, containing some 25 pages, also included an

article in the Mississauga News of July 13, wherein one Mario Codispoti is getting treatment -- the

exact same treatment for the exact same cancer. He's having it paid for by your ministry, and yet Suzanne Aucoin's was rejected.

This is what the Codispoti family said about this process: "The whole process is absolutely disgusting and criminal. What the government is doing is deciding

if people live or if they die."

Minister, we know of four cases where you're paying for treatment in Buffalo. We would ask you again, why are bureaucrats in your ministry deciding that Mario

should live and that Suzanne should die?

Hon. Mr. Smitherman: I suppose it's very nice to offer some suggestion that it's bureaucrats. But the honourable member, who served as an

associate minister in this very same ministry, understands the process well. He knows that the process is one that, like in many other ways related to the delivery of health care services, involves

scientific advice. Accordingly, not all treatments are well suited to the same individuals, not all presentations are identical, and science is used to determine these very, very difficult

circumstances. I'm very happy to take up the suggestion that the honourable member offers to try to help determine if that's the case, as I believe it is. But I do think that it has been a

long-standing circumstance in our province that we have depended upon clinical advice to guide us in these very, very important decisions. That is the case that has been followed in this

circumstance, but at the honourable member's suggestion, we will take it up again.

HOSPITAL FUNDING

Ms. Shelley Martel (Nickel Belt): I have a question to the Minister of Health. Last Monday, staff at Bluewater Health in Sarnia were told that

10 of the 13 security personnel will be laid off in April 2006. These job losses relate directly to your demand that the hospital balance its budget by the end of this fiscal year. Management and

front-line staff are very concerned about how these job cuts will impact on the safety of patients, staff and visitors who access the hospital sites. My question is, how will you guarantee the

safety of everyone who uses Bluewater Health in the face of these cuts?

Hon. George Smitherman (Minister of Health and Long-Term Care): Bluewater, like all other hospitals in the province of Ontario, has received

significant new funding this year, as they have in each of the past two years that it has been our privilege to offer funding to Ontario's hospitals. At the same time, Bluewater is obligated to be

a hospital that operates well in comparison to its peer hospitals. It had started out a process that included peer review with the active engagement of a CEO from a local hospital, with a view

toward trying to help Bluewater get its cost basis in a fashion that is consistent with its peer hospitals, which is appropriate.

This is a community where we wish to make a significant new capital announcement. Accordingly, I can confirm that the local community and the peer reviewer

from a local hospital have been working through solutions to address these underlying concerns. We believe in community-based governments, and accordingly, we have been supportive of the actions of

the board to address the underlying fiscal circumstances there.

Ms. Martel: The question concerns security at the hospital. You see, Bluewater Health now has 13 full-time security staff 24 hours a day at

the two hospital sites. The cuts mean that there will not be full-time staff at the Norman Street site, where Alzheimer's patients reside. Those cuts are in addition to the eight to nine orderlies

who are also going to be laid off at the Alzheimer's unit in January. Nurses who work in the methadone clinic have also expressed concerns that if things go wrong in the clinic, they will not be

physically able to restrain patients. Management, for its part, is suggesting that dietary, housekeeping and custodial staff be trained to respond to code white situations involving violent

patients. I think that response is unacceptable.

I again ask the Minister of Health: These cuts are happening because you have demanded that the hospital balance its budget, so what are you going to do to

protect the safety of the staff, the patients and the visitors who access these sites?

Hon. Mr. Smitherman: The honourable member is suffering from the same malady as her colleague in the front row, which is limited memory,

because the circumstances are such that the honourable member asking the question was part of a government that brought forward a multi-$100-million cut to hospitals. There are only two parties in

this Legislature that have done that, and they're both on that side of the House.

We continue to support the efforts that local hospitals will make because we fundamentally believe in community-based governance, that people closer to the

action will be in a position to make those decisions.

Interjection.

Hon. Mr. Smitherman: I'm heckled by the former Minister of Health. She was part of a government that was often very used to installing

supervisors to take over hospitals.

We believe in community-based governance, and accordingly, we have supported the actions that Bluewater Health has taken to get their hospital in a

circumstance where it compares favourably to its peer hospitals, which we think is appropriate, not only in that community, but in all other communities as well.

STUDENT DROPOUT RATE

Mr. David Zimmer (Willowdale): My question is for the Minister of Education. When our government came to office, we promised we would improve

the education system in Ontario. Specifically, we promised to address the rising dropout rate experienced during the previous government's mandate. My constituents are happy that there is a new

tone of co-operation between teachers, school boards and the Ontario government, but they want to ensure that our government is accountable when it comes to education. They want tangible proof that

our plan is really working. Minister, how do we know that our government's plan is producing real, tangible results?

Hon. Gerard Kennedy (Minister of Education): I want to thank the honourable member for his question. There is no doubt that it is important

that we have a climate, for the first time in probably 10 or 15 years, that is actually one of co-operation between the different sectors within education, but it does only set a platform for

progress. I'm pleased to report to this House that we have already seen some increase in terms of graduation rates. The legacy of the previous government is a 56% four-year graduation rate,

compared to 80% in some other provinces: We have that up to 60%. The five-year graduation rate was 68%; it's now up to about 71% or 72%.

Those are numbers. What really matters is that there are 6,000 students who now have a better future, people who have a diploma and access to what to do. Those

are results that we hope will be held to account for every initiative that the government has, that students are materially better off and have better access to their future because their

education, finally, is working for them.

Mr. Zimmer: While the decrease in the dropout rate is good news for my constituents, I'd like to know how our government plans to bring down

the dropout rate even further and provide pathways for at-risk students in my riding of Willowdale.

Hon. Mr. Kennedy: There's the critic from the third party laughing on the other side of the House when there are still 45,000 students who

need access to a better future. It will take a considered initiative, and it deserves the support of the member opposite. It deserves the support of all members in this House. The high school

graduation rate needs to be based on the accomplishment of a high standard for a lot more of the students we have. This is not a reflection of their potential. It may be a reflection of the

commitment from previous governments -- that may be possible -- but I wouldn't even ascribe it completely there.

This fall there are student success teachers in every school in the province. They are providing individualized attention, as they should, to every struggling

student. In addition, we're soon bringing forward legislation that will help create a framework for success. But most importantly, there are programs to bring students into success in the different

courses we have in high school, to make sure they have the best chance possible --

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

METIS NATION AGREEMENT

Mr. Norm Miller (Parry Sound-Muskoka): My question is for the Minister of Natural Resources. A few short weeks ago, when speaking about

Kashechewan, both you and the Premier said that you wish the federal government would honour its agreements with aboriginal people. Minister, why are you now breaking your agreement with the

Métis Nation of Ontario?

Hon. David Ramsay (Minister of Natural Resources, minister responsible for aboriginal affairs): I'd like to say to the member that the Metis

are hunting in the vast majority of the land base of Ontario, probably up to about 85% of it. This is an area where we recognize the historical connection of the hunt and to communities, as was

spelled out in Powley Supreme Court decision two years ago. What we've entered into is a four-point framework agreement that we carry on the research together to ensure there is that historical

connection in the rest of the province.

Mr. Miller: Minister, you didn't answer my question. I know about the four-point agreement. That's why Tony Belcourt, president of the

Métis Nation of Ontario, and Gary Lipinski were here at Queen's Park today doing a press conference, because you, the Premier and the Attorney General, according to Tony Belcourt, were

personally involved in negotiating this four-point agreement, and they like the agreement. It's very specific, it's responsible, it's limited and controlled, it has a maximum number of 1,250

harvester licences and it's in their traditional areas.

The question is, you made this agreement with them; why are you not honouring it? Why are you not keeping your word and fulfilling the agreement you made? Why

are you forcing them into the courts now? Who will benefit, other than lawyers, from this court action?

Hon. Mr. Ramsay: As in most agreements, the difference here is how one interprets that agreement, and we have a difference of

interpretation

with this agreement. I think the member must understand, like other members of the House, that nobody in the Ontario Legislature or the government of Ontario can confer rights upon anybody in this

province. That is something the Supreme Court would do or the Parliament of Canada through constitutional amendments. Therefore, we have to work under the letter of the law, which in this case is

the Powley decision from the Supreme Court.

We are, quite frankly, interpreting that decision very generously in our agreement with the MNO. We continue to work with them and certainly ask them to come

to the table and continue to work with us.

HYDRO RATES

Ms. Andrea Horwath (Hamilton East): My question is to the Minister of Energy. On Friday, Metal Technologies in Woodstock announced it was

closing its doors and laying off 160 employees. The plant, which is a fixture in Woodstock, has been in operation for over 100 years. It makes automotive castings.

Metal Technologies is not alone, though. This year alone, 42,000 manufacturing jobs have been lost in the province of Ontario. From steel to forest products to

auto casting operations, the McGuinty hydro policy is killing jobs.

Minister, what are you going to do to stop the damage being done to the Ontario manufacturing sector due to your job-killing hydro policy? How about listening

to the association of major power users and return OPG's $181 million in profits to Ontario families and manufacturing companies?

Hon. Donna H. Cansfield (Minister of Energy): This is the same party that not long ago was condemning these corporations for X number of

things -- taxes, and doing all sorts of things to the public -- and now you've become some sort of saviour. I find it absolutely fascinating.

I think I said earlier that in fact 5% is a recoverable amount from OPG that goes to their base earnings and the rest of it goes to pay off the stranded

debt.

We also are conveniently forgetting that Woodstock is going to get a new green plant at Toyota and the fact that DMI has just come into Fort Erie with a new

wind turbine plant.

Ms. Horwath: Unfortunately, the number of jobs leaving the province of Ontario in the manufacturing sector far, far outweighs the ones we're

gaining.

At that point in time, that company had already invested, in 2004, $8 million in a capital retooling project and was doing everything it could possibly do to

be competitive. But in Dalton McGuinty's Ontario, energy-intensive companies in forest products, steel and auto casting just can't make it because of your another-one-bites-the-dust, job-killing

energy policy.

The association of major power users is asking your government to return to the people and businesses of Ontario the $181 million in profits that OPG pocketed

because of this summer's long heat wave. I'm asking the same of you, Minister. I'm asking you to give back OPG's summer bonus bucks that they gained over three months this past summer. Will you

take the advice of the Stelcos, Dofascos and Alcans of Ontario and rebate the $181 million? Will you at least do that?

Hon. Mrs. Cansfield: I don't know how many times I have to say this: OPG retains 5%. The rest of the money goes to pay down the stranded debt.

It does not go into anybody's pocket.

Mr. Howard Hampton (Kenora-Rainy River): So everything's OK.

Hon. Mrs. Cansfield: Well, what has happened, as a matter of fact --

Interjection.

Hon. Mrs. Cansfield: It was OK when you lost 1,000 jobs a week in the previous government?

Hon. John Gerretsen (Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing): You, 1,000 a week.

Hon. Mrs. Cansfield: A thousand a week. The fact of the matter is, it's a $20.9-billion debt. It has to be paid down. All Ontarians benefit

from this when that debt is paid down. You may not like it, but the fact of the matter is that $3 billion in new money has come into this province with the new generation, both renewable and non-,

in the last while. That is a fact.

INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM FUNDING

Mrs. Maria Van Bommel (Lambton-Kent-Middlesex): My question is for the Minister of Public Infrastructure Renewal. Municipalities are strapped

for cash and face significant challenges to invest appropriately in their important and much-needed infrastructure projects. This government is creating and improving viable tools for municipal

governments to build, renovate and finance their local infrastructure needs. One of those tools is the Ontario Strategic Infrastructure Financing Authority, or OSIFA. Minister, could you tell us

more about this innovative tool for municipal infrastructure financing?

Hon. David Caplan (Minister of Public Infrastructure Renewal, Deputy Government House Leader): I want to thank the member from

Lambton-Kent-Middlesex for the question. The Ontario Strategic Infrastructure Financing Authority, or OSIFA, is a tool that we created to allow municipalities to access low-cost, long-term and

fixed-rate financing to meet critical municipal infrastructure projects.

Back in the 2005 budget, the finance minister announced that OSIFA is being broadened to support provincial infrastructure initiatives in the university sector

and in municipal tourism, culture and recreation. OSIFA's infrastructure renewal loan program for municipalities is currently helping more than 160 Ontario communities meet their infrastructure

investment objectives. Pooled financing through OSIFA enables our government and, more importantly, our public sector partners to renew critical municipal infrastructure, long-term-care homes,

universities and housing infrastructure projects. I'll have more in the supplementary.

Mrs. Van Bommel: I want to thank the minister for his answer. I know that municipalities in my riding of Lambton-Kent-Middlesex are looking

forward to using and applying for this excellent infrastructure financing tool. The municipalities of North Middlesex and Adelaide-Metcalfe have already received approvals of loans for $12.8

million and $420,000 respectively to renew their public infrastructure. The municipality of Chatham-Kent and the counties of Lambton and Middlesex have already qualified for substantial loans. This

financing program is helping municipalities in Lambton-Kent-Middlesex and all across the province tackle their infrastructure deficit. The expansion of this program exemplifies the way in which

OSIFA and this government are working with Ontario's communities to maintain a strong working relationship and a prosperous future. Minister, can you please tell the Legislature and the people of

Ontario how the program is helping their communities meet their infrastructure objectives now and in the --

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

Hon. Mr. Caplan: I'd like to share what a success story OSIFA has been with all members of the Legislature.

Speaker, you'd be interested to know that a majority of municipalities, in fact fully 88% of those borrowing from OSIFA, are smaller communities, with

populations of less than 100,000 residents. Smaller communities, especially smaller rural and northern communities, achieve significant savings by borrowing through OSIFA.

But that's not all. Larger communities are also benefiting from OSIFA's low-cost, long-term, fixed-rate financing. All municipalities, large and small, urban

and rural, can secure low interest rates for the entire life of the loan. To date, OSIFA has committed to provide more than 160 Ontario communities with up to $2 billion in low-cost, longer-term

loans for over 1,000 local infrastructure projects. OSIFA's infrastructure renewal loans are making a real difference in communities right across Ontario --

The Speaker: Thank you very much. New question.

COMMUNITY CARE ACCESS CENTRES

Mrs. Elizabeth Witmer (Kitchener-Waterloo): My question is for the Minister of Health. Despite the rhetoric about democratic renewal and

public consultation, there has been no consultation with health stakeholders in this province about the new agenda in health, which many consider to be a hidden agenda, which includes the LHINs. We

now learn that the government plans to reduce the number of community care access centres from 42 to 14. Minister, can you confirm that you will be reducing community care access centres from 42 to

14?

Hon. George Smitherman (Minister of Health and Long-Term Care): Quite to the contrary of the honourable member's suggestion, there has been an

extensive amount of consultation, not only involving me personally, but my deputy minister has been doing a very, very extensive round of consultation.

We are working very hard in the ministry at the moment on a piece of legislation that will be forthcoming before the end of this session. I can't confirm for

the honourable member all of the contents of that, but I can assure her that as it moves forward, we'll be looking for the opportunity to bring it to the House, to have a debate here in this

chamber, and presumably as well for the bill, with all-party support, to go out for some further committee work. I would just want to let the honourable member know that that's forthcoming. And in

keeping with our tradition to date, the honourable member will mostly certainly be briefed in advance of the presentation of any such legislation.

Mrs. Witmer: Despite what the minister says, we do know that health stakeholders are increasingly becoming more concerned about the

government's secret agenda. It all started with Bill 8, the attempt to eliminate hospital boards. I can also tell you they have now been informed that CCACs are going to be reduced to 14.

This minister talks about consultation. Consultation, for the Ministry of Health, involves someone getting a letter or someone getting a phone call, and, more

often than not, being asked not to talk about it publicly.

I would ask the minister: If you are going to reduce the CCACs to 14, have you conducted an independent analysis of the cost of CCAC consolidation? Have you

submitted this cost in submissions to cabinet, and if so, can you tell us how much this decision is going to cost, because there are going to be severance costs, legal costs --

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

The Minister of Health.

Hon. Mr. Smitherman: There would be, of course, with any significant changes to health care, one-term costs associated with it. But I want to

return to the issue that the honourable member raised, which I really think is very, very unfair and quite unfortunate too. She speaks more specifically about a lack of consultation in the context

of community care access centres. Obviously, you have some connection to these people, since you put many of them in place after you took away the responsibilities and powers of communities to

appoint their own boards to community care access centres.

It was a steaming day in July or August in room 247 when I had all of the leadership of community care access centres here for a consultation. It was only two

weeks ago that I spent quite a long period of time on a conference call with those same organizations. So to suggest, as the honourable member had, that there is no dialogue going on, that there is

no consultation going on, that our affairs are being conducted in a private fashion, is regrettable and erroneous.

PETITIONS

SERVICES FOR THE DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED

Mr. Jerry J. Ouellette (Oshawa): I have a petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario which reads:

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

of the benefits of society enjoyed by other citizens; and

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

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

government-operated services and other sectors;

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

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

live meaningful lives within their community."

I affix my name with full support.

CANCER TREATMENT

Ms. Shelley Martel (Nickel Belt): I have a petition that has been sent to me by Mr. Charles Plourde of North York, Ontario. It reads as

follows:

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

"Whereas cancer patients taking oral chemotherapy may apply for a

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

place for intravenous cancer drugs administered in hospital; and

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

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

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

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

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

I agree with the petitioners. I've affixed my signature to this.

IMMIGRANTS' SKILLS

Mr. Bob Delaney (Mississauga West): I have a petition here from a group of people in Brampton, Mississauga and Oakville to the Legislative

Assembly of Ontario regarding access to trades and professions, and 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 and unnecessary obstacles that prevent skilled tradespeople, professional and

managerial talent from practising the professions, trades and occupations for which they have been trained in their country of origin; and

"Whereas Ontario, its businesses, its people and its institutions badly need the professional, managerial and technical skills that many newcomers to Canada

have and want to use;

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

"That the government of Ontario, through the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities and the other institutions and agencies of and within the

government of Ontario, undertake specific and proactive measures to work with the bodies regulating access to Ontario's professions, trades and other occupations in order that newcomers to Canada

gain fair, timely and cost-effective access to certification and other measures that facilitate the entry, or re-entry, of skilled workers and professionals trained outside Canada into the Canadian

workforce."

I affix my signature to this petition and ask page Stephen to carry it for me.

SERVICES FOR THE DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED

Mr. Garfield Dunlop (Simcoe North): I have a petition here from the staff at Simcoe Community Services in Orillia and Barrie. It reads:

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

of the benefits of society enjoyed by other citizens; and

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

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

government-operated services and other sectors;

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

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

live meaningful lives within their community."

I'm more than happy to sign this, and I'll pass it over to Nathan to present to you.

MACULAR DEGENERATION

Mr. Kim Craitor (Niagara Falls): I'm pleased to present this petition on behalf of the riding of Niagara Falls, signed by a number of people,

including Yvonne and Bruce Walker. The petition reads as follows:

"To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

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

degeneration (dry) that are not covered.

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

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

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

of macular degeneration through the Ontario health insurance" plan.

I'm pleased to sign this petition in support.

FREDERICK BANTING HOMESTEAD

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

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

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

of the Ontario Historical Society; and

"Whereas the town of New Tecumseth, under the leadership of Mayor Mike MacEachern and former Mayor Larry Keogh, has been unsuccessful in reaching an agreement

with the Ontario Historical Society to use part of the land to educate the public about the historical significance of the work of Sir Frederick Banting;

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

"That the Minister of Culture and the Liberal government step in to ensure that the Banting homestead is kept in good repair and preserved for generations to

come."

I have signed, and agree with, that petition.

CANCER TREATMENT

Ms. Shelley Martel (Nickel Belt): I have a petition that has been signed by 160 people and sent to me by Shirley Cornes of Aurora, Ontario. It

reads as follows:

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

"Whereas cancer patients taking oral chemotherapy may apply for a

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

place for intravenous cancer drugs administered in hospital; and

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

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

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

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

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

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

PROSTATE CANCER

Mr. Bob Delaney (Mississauga West): I'm pleased to stand and support my seatmate, the member for Niagara Falls, in this petition to the

Legislative Assembly of Ontario. It reads as follows:

"Whereas the government of Ontario's health insurance plan does not cover the cost of the PSA (prostate specific antigen) test as an early method of detection

for prostate cancer in men;

"Whereas mammogram tests for women are fully covered by the Ontario insurance plan for early detection of breast cancer, and the PSA test for men is only

covered once the physician suspects prostate cancer,

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

"We support Bill 201. We believe PSA testing should be covered as an insured service by the Ontario health insurance program. Prostate cancer is the most

commonly diagnosed cancer in Canadian men. At least one in every eight Canadian men is expected to develop the disease in their lifetime. Some five million Canadian men are currently at risk in

their prostate-cancer-risk years, which are between the ages of 45 and 70. For many seniors and low-income earners, the cost of the test would buy up to a week's worth of groceries for some

individuals."

This is a very powerful petition. I'm pleased to affix my signature to it and to ask page Kumail to carry it down for me.

GAMMA FOUNDRIES

Mr. Frank Klees (Oak Ridges): I have a petition to the Parliament of Ontario. It reads as follows:

"Whereas all residents in the town of Richmond Hill have the right to enjoy their homes, property, neighbourhood and to breathe clean air; and

"Whereas Gamma Foundries, a division of Victaulic Co. of Canada Ltd., is clearly the identifiable and documented source of noxious fumes and odours in the

Newkirk Road area of Richmond Hill; and

"Whereas Gamma Foundries has persistently failed to respond to the legitimate concerns of the community regarding these odours and emissions; and

"Whereas Gamma Foundries has refused to initiate engineering solutions to these issues as identified in a report by EarthTech and as ordered by the Ministry of

the Environment; and

"Whereas the Ministry of the Environment has specifically directed Gamma Foundries to initiate engineered controls to address the adverse effects of these

pollutants;

"We, the undersigned, petition the Parliament of Ontario and the Minister of the Environment to take all measures possible to enforce the provincial officer's

order issued on November 3, 2005, and to ensure that residents are afforded the right to enjoy their property and neighbourhood as is their right under law."

I'm pleased to affix my personal signature to this petition, and I trust that the wishes of the residents will be adhered to.

IMMIGRANTS' SKILLS

Mr. Kim Craitor (Niagara Falls): I'm pleased to introduce this petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. 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 and unnecessary obstacles that prevent skilled tradespeople, professional and

managerial talent from practising the professions, trades and occupations for which they have been trained in their country of origin; and

"Whereas Ontario, its businesses, its people and its institutions badly need the professional, managerial and technical skills that many newcomers to Canada

have and want to use;

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

"That the government of Ontario, through the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities and other institutions and agencies of and within the government

of Ontario, undertake specific and proactive measures to work with the bodies regulating access to Ontario's professions, trades and other occupations in order that newcomers to Canada gain fair,

timely and cost-effective access to certification and other measures that facilitate the entry, or re-entry, of skilled workers and professionals trained outside Canada into the Canadian

workforce."

I'm pleased to sign this petition.

HEALTH CARE FUNDING

Mr. John O'Toole (Durham): "To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas the federal Income Tax Act at present has a minimum amount of medical expense for which a taxpayer is entitled to claim a non-refundable income tax

credit;

"Whereas the" tax "and medical expenses of every citizen in the province of Ontario, great or small, affects their overall net income;

"Whereas the Ontario Liberal government moved in their 2004 budget on May 18 ... to delist publicly funded medical services such as chiropractic services,

optometry examinations and physiotherapy services,

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

"That the Income Tax Act remove the present minimum amount of medical expense for which an Ontario taxpayer is entitled to claim a non-refundable income tax

credit."

I'm pleased to sign this in support of my constituents in the riding of Durham.

SERVICES FOR THE DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED

Mr. Bill Murdoch (Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound): I have a petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

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

of the benefits of society enjoyed by other citizens; and

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

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

government-operated services and other sectors,

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

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

live meaningful lives within their community."

I have also signed this.

MACULAR DEGENERATION

Mr. Bob Delaney (Mississauga West): It's my pleasure again to support my seatmate, the member for Niagara Falls, in this petition to the

Ontario Legislative Assembly, which reads as follows:

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

degeneration (dry) that are not covered.

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

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

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

of macular degeneration through the Ontario health insurance program."

Speaker, it's a very powerful petition. I'm pleased to affix my signature to it and to once again ask page Kumail to carry it for me.

ORDERS OF THE DAY

BUDGET MEASURES ACT, 2005 /

LOI DE 2005

SUR LES MESURES BUDGÉTAIRES

Resuming the debate adjourned on October 31, 2005, on the motion for second reading of Bill 197,

An Act to implement budget measures / Projet de loi 197, Loi

mettant en oeuvre certaines mesures budgétaires.

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

Mr. John Yakabuski (Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke): I'm pleased to join the debate on Bill 197, the Budget Measures Act. That is what we're

talking about today, correct? Thank you very much. It took me a little off guard there. I wasn't sure that I was on the roster right now.

So, the Budget Measures Act -- yes, I guess I would ask just what this budget had --

Interjection: Just say it's a great budget.

Mr. Yakabuski: Who said that? I wish I could say that. There used to be great budgets in this House, but that was at another time -- a better

time.

What is in this budget for hard-working families, seniors, fixed-income people and businesses trying to keep their heads above water? What is in this budget

for them? Nothing. It just simply is one of this government's -- it goes back to last year. There's no credibility; none whatsoever. In fact, there's a poll out: They're rating the Premier. How

many people believe he's unbelievable? And I don't mean "unbelievable" like, "That shooting star was unbelievable." He is a falling star; there is no question about that. He is a falling star,

falling rapidly, and he is viewed as being very unbelievable by an amazing 21% of the people polled in this province. That is a scandalously high figure for a Premier in the middle of a term. And

why has he reached those kinds of numbers? Because you can't believe a word he says. You simply can't believe it. The people have accepted that this man does not keep his promises --

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

Clearly in this House either we have a rule that you can't say that somebody's misleading or not telling the truth, or you don't have the rule. If the rule is that you can, then I'll do that later

on. But if it isn't, the member just violated that rule --

The Deputy Speaker: I'll listen more carefully. I didn't hear those words, but if the member said them, I give him the opportunity to

withdraw. In other words, you can continue as well.

Mr. Yakabuski: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. If I said anything unparliamentary, I withdraw it, even without being asked, because that

would certainly not be my intention. I'm simply trying to articulate the feeling of the electorate out there when it comes to their opinions on how much they can depend on the word of this

government and this Premier.

In the Premier's own words, I guess whatever he says would be OK because he has admitted to the people of Ontario -- -finally. It took a long time for this act

of contrition, but he did say in early October, "Yes, I broke my promise. I told the people of Ontario that I would do certain things, and I didn't do that." Some people would say that when you say

you're going to do something and you don't do that, they could categorize you as being something unparliamentary. I'm not going to say that, but apparently the Premier has characterized himself as

that kind of person. Those were his own words to the press in early October, that he didn't keep his promises. In fact, he didn't keep over 50 promises.

One of those such promises was, "I won't raise your taxes." He has admitted that he wasn't dependable on that promise; he didn't keep his word on that. Other

promises, such very important ones -- you see, he stood in front of the television cameras, in front of reporters with pen in hand, and they wrote it down verbatim, as Dalton McGuinty, then

opposition leader, stood in September 2003 and said to the people of Ontario, "I won't raise your taxes." Plain and simple; no need for an explanation: "I won't raise your taxes." As a matter of

fact, only four weeks before they tabled the first budget, he repeated that he would not raise your taxes, and now he is on