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May 31, 2005

38th Parliament, 1st Session

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Hansard Transcripts

vol. A

Hansard Transcripts

vol. B

Votes and Proceedings

Orders and Notices

Hansard Transcripts 2005-May-31 (PDF)

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO

ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE DE L'ONTARIO

Tuesday 31 May 2005 Mardi 31 mai 2005

MEMBERS' STATEMENTS

HIGHWAY 406

BETTER SPEECH,

LANGUAGE AND HEARING MONTH

EASTERN ONTARIO

ADOPTION DISCLOSURE

NORTHERN ONTARIO

SCHOOL OF MEDICINE

ADOPTION DISCLOSURE

NORTHUMBERLAND

CHEVALIERS DE LA PLÉIADE

VISITORS

LEGISLATIVE PAGES

REPORTS BY COMMITTEES

STANDING COMMITTEE

ON THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY

INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

INSTITUTE FOR

CHRISTIAN STUDIES ACT, 2005

MOTIONS

HOUSE SITTINGS

STATEMENTS BY THE MINISTRY AND RESPONSES

TOBACCO CONTROL

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE /

VIOLENCE FAMILIALE

TOBACCO CONTROL

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

TOBACCO CONTROL

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

VISITORS

DEFERRED VOTES

MANDATORY GUNSHOT WOUNDS

REPORTING ACT, 2005 /

LOI DE 2005 SUR LA DÉCLARATION

OBLIGATOIRE DES BLESSURES

PAR BALLE

ORAL QUESTIONS

ADOPTION DISCLOSURE

SERVICES FOR DISABLED CHILDREN

ADOPTION DISCLOSURE

SERVICES FOR DISABLED CHILDREN

TOBACCO CONTROL

ADOPTION DISCLOSURE

DUFFINS-ROUGE

AGRICULTURAL PRESERVE

EDUCATION FUNDING

ADOPTION DISCLOSURE

REGIONAL CENTRES FOR THE

DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED

STRATFORD FESTIVAL /

FESTIVAL DE STRATFORD

PETITIONS

RIGHT TO LIFE

LANDFILL

REGIONAL CENTRES FOR THE DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED

TEACHER QUALIFICATION

WEARING OF HELMETS

RIGHT TO LIFE

CREDIT VALLEY HOSPITAL

FREDERICK BANTING HOMESTEAD

ANTI-SMOKING LEGISLATION

REGIONAL CENTRES FOR THE

DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED

ANTI-SMOKING LEGISLATION

REGIONAL CENTRES FOR THE

DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED

ORDERS OF THE DAY

REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY

OF PEEL ACT, 2005 /

LOI DE 2005 SUR LA MUNICIPALITÉ

RÉGIONALE DE PEEL

The House met at 1330.

Prayers.

MEMBERS' STATEMENTS

HIGHWAY 406

Mr. Jim Wilson (Simcoe-Grey): Amy Ball of the Thorold Chamber of Commerce has informed me that they have launched their Click for the 406

campaign to demand that the McGuinty government put their money where their mouth is and expand Highway 406. The chamber and the Niagara Economic Development Corp. have launched an on-line petition

at www.build406now.com to encourage Niagara residents to raise their voices and demand that the Liberal government get to work on the 406.

This major transportation and trade corridor carries 27,000 vehicles per day and is the busiest two-lane highway in southern Ontario. It links St. Catharines,

Thorold, Welland, Pelham and Port Colborne, and is badly needed for the safety of area residents and those travelling the highway. In fact, the accident and fatality rate doubles on the two-lane

stretch of the 406 compared to the four-laned portion, and the McGuinty government promised to put this project in their 2005 capital plan.

There are 12 days left in the local campaign. I'm encouraging everyone in the Niagara region to go on-line at www.build406now.com and sign the petition and show

your support for this vital transportation corridor.

This Liberal government has let the people of Niagara down again. I'm calling upon the government to stand up for Niagara, ease congestion, improve safety,

promote economic development and, for Pete's sake, for once, keep a promise over there.

BETTER SPEECH,

LANGUAGE AND HEARING MONTH

Ms. Laurel C. Broten (Etobicoke-Lakeshore): Today I rise in support and recognition of Better Speech, Language and Hearing Month. Many residents

and organizations across Ontario are devoted to and enthusiastic about raising awareness for those who suffer from communication disorders.

In fact, in my own community of Etobicoke-Lakeshore, we too have concerned citizens. Mr. James Toccacelli of Etobicoke-Lakeshore was the first to write to me

about better speech, language and hearing in May, and I want to thank James for his concern and interest. I am sure he is working hard in our community on this front.

Increasing knowledge and understanding about the issues that affect persons with communication disorders is essential. There are many professional services

across Ontario -- our hospitals, our hearing clinics, our language and speech schools and our community organizations -- that are working hard to improve a better quality of life through a variety

of treatments, classes and services.

My community is no different. Whether my constituents are using services offered by speech and language pathologists at Trillium Health Centre or making use of

the programs offered at Evans Hearing Clinic, the residents in my community are benefiting.

Our government recognizes the importance of getting help early on, which is why the Ministry of Children and Youth Services has information both on the infant

hearing program and a preschool speech and language program to provide assistance to our children.

I want to once again thank James and also add my own support to encouraging recognition of and, most importantly, responsiveness to better speech, language and

hearing, not just in May but all year round.

EASTERN ONTARIO

Mr. Jim Brownell (Stormont-Dundas-Charlottenburgh): There is an old saying here in Ontario that the province, to the east, ends at Kingston.

This is simply not true. Beyond Kingston lies some of the most significant land in Canadian history, rich in tradition, culture, resources and natural beauty.

Due to long-standing external factors, however, eastern Ontario finds itself in an unenviable economic state. My own riding of Stormont-Dundas-Charlottenburgh

has recently witnessed the closure of several key industries, meaning the loss of hundreds of jobs. While the situation being faced by my riding was ignored by the last government, the McGuinty

government has shown its leadership and commitment to the people of eastern Ontario.

Last Friday, I had the pleasure of hosting the Minister of Economic Development and Trade at a round table discussion with leaders of local businesses and

communities. Minister Cordiano was not only receptive to the concerns and suggestions of those assembled, but had suggestions himself. It was clear to all present that the minister was aware of

what is happening in the region and is committed to doing what he can to help.

Eastern Ontario has a great deal to offer in terms of development, industry, tourism -- in every sector. As representatives of the people, we must do all we can

to ensure that the rest of Ontario and indeed the world is aware of this. It fills me with great confidence that the Minister of Economic Development and Trade feels the same way. Through words and

actions, the minister and the McGuinty government have shown their commitment to all Ontarians. It is clear to all that this government's Ontario includes the east and my riding of

Stormont-Dundas-Charlottenburgh.

ADOPTION DISCLOSURE

Mr. Norman W. Sterling (Lanark-Carleton): I want to read a letter on Bill 183, the Adoption Information Disclosure Act, from a parent who has

adopted children.

"I was wondering if anyone looked at how this bill would affect children that have already suffered horribly at the hands of the very people this bill would

allow access to the child's identity and location. I understand that the child would be 19, but that still is a very vulnerable age to force them into meeting the person responsible for their

earlier pain and terror. This would have far-reaching effects on the child/young adult for the rest of their lives.

"As much as I wish that all children in need of adoption were merely the blessings of young people's mistakes, this is not the reality. Unfortunately, the

reality is that many are children with horrifying pasts that this bill would endanger.

"If we look at the recent case in the news of the man who beat his own six-year-old child into critical care at the hospital, this Bill 183 would allow that same

individual to find his victim again.

"Time does not heal all wounds. The child/young adult should have the choice of when and if they wish to deal with meeting their biological parents. The adopted

child should not be forced into dealing with situations they may or may not be able to handle."

This person is outraged at the inability to come forward and have their say on this bill because this bill was truncated to one day of hearings for all of

Ontario, some 250,000 files that that represents. This is awful, Mr. Speaker.

NORTHERN ONTARIO

SCHOOL OF MEDICINE

Mr. David Orazietti (Sault Ste. Marie): Residents in my riding of Sault Ste. Marie are very pleased about the opening of the Northern Ontario

School of Medicine. In fact, northern Ontario, as well as the entire province, will benefit from the increase in physician supply. This coming fall, we will be opening the first medical school in

Ontario in more than 30 years, and we will be doing it in northern Ontario.

Our government provided over $95 million to make the newest school of medicine a reality despite the fiscal challenges left to us by the past government. We

provided $32.9 million for the school's capital construction on two sites, and we provided $62.4 million for the first three years of operating, with additional funding to come.

On Monday, May 16, Dean Roger Strasser of the medical school was in Sault Ste. Marie, and together with Jerome Quenneville, CEO of the Sault Area Hospital, they

signed a landmark agreement. This agreement reaffirms our city's role in the success of the medical school program. Dr. Strasser said, "Sault Ste. Marie is and will be a major part of the school

and the school will be a major part of Sault Ste. Marie."

A medical school office is scheduled to be opened in the community to provide services for students during their third year of clinical training.

By signing a new OMA contract, by more than doubling the number of foreign-trained medical graduates, by increasing physician enrolment by 15% and by building

the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, we are reversing some very poor decisions made by our predecessors when it comes to physician supply. Premier McGuinty, Minister Smitherman and our

government are following through on our commitment to improve Ontarians' access to physicians.

ADOPTION DISCLOSURE

Mr. Jim Flaherty (Whitby-Ajax): The Adoption Information Disclosure Act, Bill 183, before this House fails to protect the privacy rights of

birth parents and adopted persons who wish to have their private, personal information remain private. The basic principle is that if the natural mother doesn't want to reveal her personal

information, that's her right to the privacy of her very private, personal information.

Within the past hour, I've had yet another phone call from an adopting parent concerned about the absence of anonymity promised by the government of Ontario when

the adoption took place, now being proposed to be breached in this new legislation retroactively.

The government of Ontario gave its word to adopting parents and birth parents over these many years. Now, retroactively, this Liberal government wants to strip

those privacy rights away.

I've heard comments from constituents in Whitby and from people across the province to the same effect as Information and Privacy Commissioner Cavoukian put it

yesterday in her quote: "How can people ever trust government again?"

That Information and Privacy Commissioner is our commissioner in this Legislature. I urge members to respond to her warnings to us and even to listen to the

Toronto Star when it quoted the Information and Privacy Commissioner and concluded that she is right and to bring in the appropriate veto amendment to the bill.

Mr. Gilles Bisson (Timmins-James Bay): I'm going to take a totally opposite view than that of my colleagues within the Tory party, and I'm going

to speak about it in a personal sense.

I was contacted by somebody from my family that I didn't know about. I got a phone call about four or five years ago from Collette, my sister who lives in

British Columbia, who had been trying for years and years to get in contact with our family. She was blocked. Why? Because we didn't have adoption disclosure legislation. For 20 years, she tried to

find her family and was not able to. The only reason she did was because -- guess what? -- her brother happened to be an elected official in the province of Ontario, and she knew that her mother

had eventually married a person by the name of Bisson. So here I am: somebody who was contacted by his adopted sister. I have nothing bad to say about the experience.

I've got to tell you a story. It's kind of funny. My sister and I had an opportunity to meet a number of times, but the neatest was last summer. We all went to

the family cottage. There we were: my sister Louise, my brother Claude, my sister Collette from British Columbia, and my mother. Even though we had not been raised together -- my sister is now over

50 years old -- it was as if we had lived together all of our lives. A connection was there.

So I say to those birth mothers and children who are trying to get in touch with each other that it's a great experience, a wonderful experience, and one that

I'm certainly glad we had the opportunity to have in my family, because I not only have Collette as a sister but I have three wonderful nephews and nieces and their children as part of my extended

family.

I look forward to other people being able to be successful in their encounters in the future.

NORTHUMBERLAND

Mr. Lou Rinaldi (Northumberland): Before I begin, I'd like to welcome a number of co-op students from my riding, my staff member Karen, and

Mayor Forrest Rowden from Hamilton township.

Last week, John Tory visited my riding of Northumberland. However, while Mr. Tory portrayed himself as an expert to our local media, his statements revealed that

he had not learned a lot about the riding while he was there. Perhaps this is because Mr. Tory failed to hold discussions with Warden Delantey, Mayor McMillan, Mayor Rowden, Mayor Herrington, Mayor

Dekeyser, Mayor Finley and Mayor Campney.

Had Mr. Tory taken the time to meet with the mayors in the riding, he would have learned that we are the benefactors of over $3 million from the new Ontario

municipal partnership fund. Mayor Forrest Rowden, right here today, could testify that his municipality got an increase of over $405,000.

We also provided funding for two new family health teams, $350 million for long-term-care facilities, over $1.3 million to improve our rural schools, $500,000 of

provincial funding for our First Nations, $440,000 in new gas tax funding for our municipalities, and the list goes on and on.

Mr. Tory should spend more time meeting with these people before speaking to the media, because he still doesn't know what Northumberland riding is all

about.

CHEVALIERS DE LA PLÉIADE

M. Jean-Marc Lalonde (Glengarry-Prescott-Russell): Chers collègues, c'est avec honneur et fierté que je viens partager avec vous que

cet après-midi à 16 h, en présence de l'honorable James Bartleman, lieutenant-gouverneur de la province, la

section ontarienne de l'Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie

procédera à la décoration de sept Ontariens et Ontariennes qui se sont particulièrement distingués en servant les idéaux de coopération et d'amitié de la

francophonie.

Les récipiendaires se méritant le grade de Chevalier de la Pléiade, ordre de la Francophonie et du dialogue des cultures, sont :

M. Sylvain Charlebois de Casselman, qui a été l'un des grands artisans de l'Écho d'un peuple, spectacle qui raconte 400 ans d'histoire du

Canada;

M. Robert Dickson de Sudbury, auteur, professeur et créateur qui participe depuis plus de 30 ans à l'enrichissement de la vie culturelle et artistique

Le sergent d'état-major Yves Dupuis de la Sûreté provinciale de l'Ontario, du détachement de Russell, qui a pour but d'embaucher des agents

bilingues et dont le détachement comprend actuellement 47 agents bilingues;

M. Gaétan Gervais de Sudbury, qui en 1975 a conceptualisé le drapeau franco-ontarien avec un groupe d'étudiants de l'Université

Laurentienne;

et qui en revendique les droits avec grande conviction;

M me Léonie Tchatat, qui, de par ses actions sociopolitiques, ne rate jamais l'occasion de promouvoir la francophonie ontarienne et la

diversité culturelle;

M. Marcel Beaubien, ancien député de la circonscription de Lambton-Kent-Middlesex et ancien vice-président de l'APF.

Chers récipiendaires, mes plus sincères félicitations.

VISITORS

The Speaker (Hon. Alvin Curling): Just following up on that statement, we have in the Speaker's gallery today Ontario's recipients of the

internationally recognized medal of la francophonie, l'Ordre de la Pléiade, for their outstanding contributions to French-speaking communities in the province.

Please join me in welcoming our honoured guests.

LEGISLATIVE PAGES

The Speaker (Hon. Alvin Curling): I would like to ask all members to join me in welcoming this group of legislative pages serving in the first

session of the 38th Parliament:

Paige Allerton, Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound; Luke Andary, Chatham-Kent-Essex; Alecia Blackman, Hamilton East; Alexander Debski, Mississauga Centre; Kyra Droog,

Perth-Middlesex; Alexandra Edgar, Oakville; John Griffiths, Waterloo-Wellington; Benjamin Head, Oshawa; Emma Mew, Trinity-Spadina; Sarah Osman, Scarborough Centre; Nicholas Palombo,

Vaughan-King-Aurora; Patrick Quinton-Brown, Whitby-Ajax; Misha Schwartz, Beaches-East York; Devon Sweetnam, Dufferin-Peel-Wellington-Grey; Graeme Tyrrell, Windsor West; Meredith Williams,

Scarborough Southwest; Courtney Young, Lanark-Carleton; and Kai Zhao, Brampton Centre.

Let me welcome them to our session here today.

REPORTS BY COMMITTEES

STANDING COMMITTEE

ON THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY

Mr. Bob Delaney (Mississauga West): I beg leave to present a report from the standing committee on the Legislative Assembly and move its

adoption.

The Acting Clerk-at-the-Table (Ms. Tonia Grannum): Your committee begs to report the following bill as amended:

Bill 133,

An Act to amend the Environmental Protection Act and the Ontario Water Resources Act in respect of enforcement and other matters / Projet de loi 133,

Loi modifiant la

Loi sur la protection de l'environnement et la

Loi sur les ressources en eau de l'Ontario en ce qui a trait à l'exécution et à d'autres questions.

The Speaker (Hon. Alvin Curling): Shall the report be received and adopted? Agreed.

Pursuant to standing order 72(b), the bill is therefore ordered for second reading.

INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

INSTITUTE FOR

CHRISTIAN STUDIES ACT, 2005

Mr. Marchese moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill Pr14,

An Act respecting the Institute for Christian Studies

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

Pursuant to standing order 84, the bill stands referred to the standing committee on regulations and private bills.

MOTIONS

HOUSE SITTINGS

Hon. James J. Bradley (Minister of Tourism and Recreation): I move that pursuant to standing order 9(c)(ii), the House shall meet from 6:45

p.m. to 12 midnight on Tuesday, May 31, 2005, for the purpose of considering government business.

I want to work.

The Speaker (Hon. Alvin Curling): Order. Is it the pleasure of the House the motion carry?

All those in favour, please say "aye."

All against, say please "nay."

I think the ayes have it.

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

The division bells rang from 1353 to 1358.

The Speaker: Order. Would all members please take their seats.

Mr. Bradley has moved government notice of motion 383.

All those in favour, please rise one at a time and be recognized by the Clerk.

Ayes

Arnott, Ted

Arthurs, Wayne

Baird, John R.

Barrett, Toby

Bartolucci, Rick

Bentley, Christopher

Berardinetti, Lorenzo

Bradley, James J.

Broten, Laurel C.

Brownell, Jim

Cansfield, Donna H.

Chambers, Mary Anne V.

Chudleigh, Ted

Colle, Mike

Cordiano, Joseph

Craitor, Kim

Crozier, Bruce

Delaney, Bob

Dhillon, Vic

Di Cocco, Caroline

Duguid, Brad

Flaherty, Jim

Flynn, Kevin Daniel

Fonseca, Peter

Gravelle, Michael

Hardeman, Ernie

Hoy, Pat

Hudak, Tim

Jackson, Cameron

Jeffrey, Linda

Klees, Frank

Kular, Kuldip

Kwinter, Monte

Lalonde, Jean-Marc

Levac, Dave

Marsales, Judy

Martiniuk, Gerry

Matthews, Deborah

Mauro, Bill

McMeekin, Ted

McNeely, Phil

Meilleur, Madeleine

Miller, Norm

Milloy, John

Mitchell, Carol

Mossop, Jennifer F.

O'Toole, John

Orazietti, David

Parsons, Ernie

Patten, Richard

Peters, Steve

Peterson, Tim

Phillips, Gerry

Pupatello, Sandra

Qaadri, Shafiq

Racco, Mario G.

Ramal, Khalil

Rinaldi, Lou

Runciman, Robert W.

Sandals, Liz

Smith, Monique

Smitherman, George

Sterling, Norman W.

Tascona, Joseph N.

Tory, John

Van Bommel, Maria

Wilkinson, John

Wilson, Jim

Witmer, Elizabeth

Wong, Tony C.

Wynne, Kathleen O.

Yakabuski, John

Zimmer, David

The Speaker: All those against, please rise one at a time.

Nays

Bisson, Gilles

Churley, Marilyn

Horwath, Andrea

Kormos, Peter

Martel, Shelley

Prue, Michael

The Clerk of the Assembly (Mr. Claude L. DesRosiers): The ayes are 73; the nays are 6.

The Speaker: I declare the motion carried.

STATEMENTS BY THE MINISTRY AND RESPONSES

TOBACCO CONTROL

Hon. George Smitherman (Minister of Health and Long-Term Care): As I am sure many of my colleagues are aware, today is World No Tobacco

Day.

This is an event that, if I had my way, we would not be observing. That is because if I had my way, there would be no smoking. Sadly, the fact is that smoking

is too entrenched a habit in our society for it to disappear any time soon.

That does not mean, however, that there is nothing we can do. That does not mean that we shouldn't make it an absolute priority to protect people from

second-hand smoke, to help prevent young people from starting and to help those who want to quit.

I am so very proud, therefore, to stand in my place today to inform this House that we are stepping up our battle against smoking with a historic $50-million

investment to support our Smoke-Free Ontario campaign, the toughest, most comprehensive, far-reaching anti-smoking strategy in North America. This $50 million represents a 66% increase from last

year, and it is the largest single amount ever spent in this province to protect Ontarians from what is truly a deadly killer.

I know that my colleagues have heard these statistics many times before: smoking is the number one preventable cause of death and illness in Ontario; 16,000

premature and preventable deaths in Ontario every year -- that's 44 Ontarians killed by tobacco every day -- $1.7 billion in health care costs and 500,000 hospital days per year. These aren't just

numbers, they're lives: lives lost, lives shortened, lives made painful and sad, wasted lives.

The $50 million will be invested in 2005-06 to support the three main goals of the Smoke-Free Ontario campaign: protection, prevention and cessation. It will

focus on youth prevention programs, public education and cessation, and contains specific initiatives geared to help high-risk populations like gay and lesbian communities and the aboriginal

communities, where there may be linguistic, cultural or economic barriers that are more difficult to overcome.

The $50 million includes $5.6 million on youth prevention programs in communities, schools, universities and colleges; $13.8 million on innovative cessation

programs, including, as I mentioned, specific initiatives for high-risk populations. We will be announcing details of the province's largest ever cessation program later this year.

There's $2 million specifically for aboriginal programs: funding for prevention, education and cessation activities, as well as increasing tobacco control

resources in aboriginal communities; $4.6 million on evaluation, surveillance and administration; $2.7 million on provincial support programs: funding for province-wide programs to provide training

and technical assistance to tobacco control personnel, and resources and educational materials for health care organizations, communities and the public; $7.7 million to public health units to

increase resources for health protection and enforcement; $13.6 million on public education.

These programs are a vital part of our strategy. They are also accompanied by an extremely tough piece of anti-smoking legislation, which is being debated for

the final time here in this House today.

I'd like to take this opportunity to urge all my colleagues on both sides of this chamber to support the Smoke-Free Ontario Act. If passed, the bill will

protect Ontarians from second-hand smoke by banning smoking in all enclosed public places and workplaces as of May 31, 2006. It will ban smoking on school grounds, it will outlaw the large

cigarette power walls that our kids see every time they step into a convenience store, and it will increase penalties for those who sell cigarettes to our kids.

If it passes, one year from today Ontario will be a healthier place to live and to work. We have a chance to do the right thing and protect this and future

generations of Ontarians from the perils of tobacco smoke. To my colleagues, I'd just like to say, let's get this thing passed. This isn't a battle we're going to win overnight but we are, as a

government, absolutely committed to fighting it and winning it over the long haul.

That's why we've brought together what we're calling our campaign cabinet: 12 concerned Ontarians from various walks of life who will bring expertise, skill,

passion and commitment to the job of providing our government with advice and guidance on how best to wage this battle, and wage it we will. We share a vision of health care with the people of

Ontario. It's a vision of a system that helps keep Ontarians healthier, gets them good care when they are sick and will be there for their children and for their grandchildren.

On this World No Tobacco Day, I want to say that there is nothing better we can do to help keep Ontarians healthier than to protect them from second-hand

smoke, convince our young people not to start smoking, and to help our smokers quit. That's our mission, and by working together I'm confident we can have success.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE /

VIOLENCE FAMILIALE

Hon. Sandra Pupatello (Minister of Community and Social Services, minister responsible for women's issues): It is my great pleasure to inform

the House that earlier today our government took important steps toward reducing domestic violence in Ontario. Our actions respond directly to recommendations put forth earlier this month by the

domestic violence death review committee to the chief coroner. They advance the government's commitment, through our domestic violence action plan, to better protect women and children now, and

reduce domestic violence in the future.

They recognize that May is Sexual Assault Prevention Month. In fact, today is the last day and we wear this daisy proudly as a symbol. It's up to all of us to

help stop all forms of violent behaviour against women and girls. They build upon our firm belief that all women deserve to live free of fear in their homes and in their communities.

To do this most effectively, we must take domestic violence out of the shadows and bring the full force of public censure to bear. Our $66-million action plan

launched last December and developed through extraordinary commitment, partnership and co-operation has provided the visionary blueprint to build awareness, to support women and to prevent and

reduce domestic violence.

Let me remind the House of the plan's four fundamental components:

(1) Our government is notably enhancing and improving vital community supports such as counselling and housing.

(2) We are strengthening Ontario's justice system. The McGuinty government will absolutely not tolerate domestic abuse and our strengthened justice system will

better support women who have been victimized, and we will hold their abusers strictly accountable for their violent behaviour.

(3) We are placing greater emphasis on training to enable early identification and intervention by professionals of abused women.

(4) We recognize that in order to reduce domestic violence, it is critical to break the destructive cycle of attitudes and behaviours that make it possible for

women to be victimized in the first place. Our government is committed to changing attitudes and preventing violence before it occurs.

It's up to all of us -- individuals, communities, the province -- to work together to prevent and reduce domestic violence. This morning we took one giant step

forward. I was pleased to announce that our government is investing $4.6 million in 28 pioneering new initiatives. Fourteen of these initiatives are specific to our commitment to early intervention

and to strengthen justice, and they address the domestic violence death review committee's recommendations on risk identification and to ensure improved ability to identify abuse early on.

Our government will support training that is targeted to a broad range of professionals working in a wide range of sectors. We are supporting a great

initiative, for example, by Legal Aid Ontario, together with their partner, the Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic, to train legal aid service deliverers to identify abuse and on guidelines for

providing services to abused women.

We are funding the National Judicial Institute's proposal to provide skills-based education to assist Ontario's judges in court cases involving violence

against women. Shelternet for abused women will, with this grant, provide training, host conferences and conduct research to enhance service delivery of shelters.

These people and others are often in the best position to spot cases of abuse before the abuse has a chance to escalate. Our goal is to provide them with

appropriate training so they can intervene earlier and provide abused women or women at risk with the proper response, advice, information and support to rebuild their lives.

Fourteen additional programs focus on our government's commitment to mobilize communities to stop the abuse from happening in the first place.

D'après la recherche, les attitudes touchant l'égalité et le comportement approprié au sexe se forment en principe dans l'enfance. Ces

initiatives ciblent tant les enfants que les jeunes, ainsi que les adultes qui les influencent.

They are focused on helping young Ontarians develop positive attitudes now so they can develop healthy, equal relationships in the future. They particularly

target at-risk communities such as Aboriginal women and girls, new Canadians, northern, rural and francophone women.

Let me give you a few examples of these innovative programs. The Mujer will train young Latin American women and men as peer educators to deliver violence

prevention and healthy relationship programs to children and youth in the greater Toronto area's Latin American community. Le Centre ontarien de prévention des agressions reçoit des fonds

huit à 16 ans. Minwaashin Lodge, an Aboriginal women's support centre, will deliver a symposium for service providers working with Aboriginal youth and will develop a peer education tool kit

to be distributed province-wide.

These announcements we made today continue to build on the announcements of our action plan over the past five months. Each advance reflects the balanced

response of this government in supporting victims of domestic abuse and in reducing domestic violence. They include: a $2-million investment to strengthen 98 women's shelters; second-stage housing

providers as key points of refuge for women fleeing abusive situations; investing $3.5 million in training programs to help disadvantaged and abused women succeed in the workplace and gain economic

independence; piloting a risk assessment tool to help police and prosecutors determine quickly whether an accused seeking bail is likely to commit another domestic assault; investing $3.5 million

annually in additional funding to create housing supports for abused women and their children; investing $2.1 million in

interpretation services for victims of domestic violence with a limited

Ontario, with vulnerable groups, including victims of domestic violence, receiving priority.

Our government is committed to building strong communities. We know a community is only as safe as the support it offers its most vulnerable members. We all

have an obligation to work together to prevent and reduce the terrible reality of domestic violence. I am proud to chair an interministerial taskforce where all hands are on deck. And we will make

a difference.

The Speaker (Hon. Alvin Curling): Responses?

TOBACCO CONTROL

Mrs. Elizabeth Witmer (Kitchener-Waterloo): I'm pleased to respond to the announcement that has been made today by the Minister of Health in

recognition of World No Tobacco Day. This particular day has as its theme this year the role of health professionals in helping individuals quit smoking, and I think we must recognize that it is a

role that most health professionals do take very seriously.

There is an

article here today by Dr. Albert Schumacher, president of the Canadian Medical Association, which speaks to the fact that "in an average week,

physicians will deliver a diagnosis of lung cancer to 427 people and in 85% of cases the source of the disease can be traced to tobacco use." If you multiply that, you will see that the message of

lung cancer is going to be delivered to people 22,000 times each year.

In this article, Dr. Schumacher also goes on to say that as a result of people working together -- governments and obviously health professionals -- "Canadians

are quitting smoking at a remarkable rate.

"Even though tobacco-related disease still claims 47,500 Canadian lives annually, with smoking accounting for about 30% of all cancers reported, recent data

indicate that only 21% of Canadians still smoke, down from 29% a decade ago."

If we take a look here, we see that all the provinces in Canada are taking action to eliminate smoking from their workplaces and public places. "Manitoba and

New Brunswick ... have been 100% smoke-free since last October, and Saskatchewan's public places joined the list January 1." Of course, it is the hope that legislation banning smoking in Ontario's

workplaces and public places will pass this year. However, it will not take effect until next year, 2006. It should also be pointed out that some parts of the legislation will not actually take

effect until 2008.

I think it is important to acknowledge the fact that tobacco is a leading cause of death and disease in Canada. We have been observing this day since 1988.

Obviously it's important that the government continues to build on the initiatives we have put forward. In fact, if I take a look, we actually provided $57 million between 2000 and 2003 on tobacco

control initiatives. At that time, that was by far the most extensive tobacco control commitment of any province in the history of Canada.

Again today, we see that this government continues in the fight against smoking. We obviously need to continue to work together to ensure that all Ontarians

have the opportunity to live longer and healthier lives.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Mrs. Elizabeth Witmer (Kitchener-Waterloo): Putting on my other hat, I want to respond to the statement today from the minister responsible

for women's issues and her announcement that the government is going to continue to put forward initiatives to address violence against women and girls. That, of course, is very important. It's a

very non-partisan issue. We certainly support the initiatives of the government today and we all recognize that there is a need for much more to be done.

I hope the government will also continue to move forward with other election promises, such as amending the Employment Standards Act to allow victims to take

unpaid time off from work so they can attend court proceedings involving the crimes committed against them. I hope we will see increased support to the provincial network of sexual assault centres

so they can continue to expand awareness campaigns in our high schools, universities and colleges. I hope we can expand access to testing for date rape drugs so that women who have been assaulted

can go to their sexual assault centre, their doctor or their hospital and get the information they need.

Most importantly, the government did commit to pass within the first year strong victims' rights legislation that will ensure victims have access to

information and services. I hope the government will definitely move forward on that commitment.

TOBACCO CONTROL

Ms. Shelley Martel (Nickel Belt): I'm pleased to respond, on behalf of New Democrats, to the statement made by the Minister of Health.

I want to say to him and to this government: Look, if you really want to convince young people not to start smoking, then you would be banning all tobacco

advertising in retail stores and you would be doing that by May 31, 2006.

The fact is that under the amendments that were put forward by the Liberals at the Bill 164 hearings, cigarette packages will continue to be on display in

retail stores behind the counter, row upon row upon row of cigarette packages behind the counter for all young people to see.

I asked the question of the parliamentary assistant very clearly: "Is there going to be any restriction on the number, any restriction on where they can be

displayed?" No. Any number of cigarette packages will continue to be displayed and will continue to really form an attraction for those young people who are coming into convenience stores on a

regular basis, who think it's normal to smoke and who will start smoking merely because of that advertising influence.

It is why, on May 4, the Ontario Convenience Stores Association said they had no trouble taking down any of their lights or the colours on the so-called power

walls because those are the least of the attraction to young people. It's the row upon row upon row of cigarettes that give them the impression it's normal to smoke, that so many adults smoke, that

so many young people smoke and it's OK for them to start smoking.

The Liberal election platform said this, and I'm quoting: "We will ban countertop and behind-the-counter retail displays of tobacco products." I don't think

most people thought that meant the government wouldn't ban behind-the-counter retail displays until 2008, but that is what Bill 164 now says.

The fact is that during the public hearings, we heard from every health-care-related organization, public health unit and every group of young people who made

a presentation that the government should ban tobacco advertising in retail stores. Why? Because 60% of tobacco purchases are impulse purchases. Someone's in the convenience store, they buy

something else, and they pick up cigarettes. They are placed in a prominent way to attract young people and to attract people who are picking up stuff and going through the cash register. The

behind-the-counter displays add to the normalization of tobacco. It encourages former smokers to start smoking again, and it really does influence young people to start smoking in the first place.

We heard that again and again, from young people in particular, who came to the public hearings.

I say to the government again: You have missed a golden opportunity. The fact of the matter is, having those displays of cigarettes, individual packages in the

dozens, in the hundreds, behind the counter is going to continue to influence young people to smoke. Between 2006 and 2008, thousands and thousands more young people will start to smoke, and they

will be the cancer statistics 20 years from now.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Ms. Marilyn Churley (Toronto-Danforth): I am responding to the minister responsible for women's issues. You've all heard me repeatedly bring

up the issue of the Ontario domestic violence risk assessment tool as a way to save lives. One prominent recommendation repeated in the succession of coroners' reports has been to use these risk

assessments to determine bail conditions.

Minister Monte Kwinter stated in this House, in response to my questions, that the government has in its hands such an assessment tool that has been proven to

work, but that has been implemented only on a pilot project basis. Why in the world would you pilot project something that you know works, that can save lives? I fear that one of the main reasons,

if not the reason, is to save money, and that is unacceptable. You know it works; get on with it.

The minister's announcement today also comes at the end of Sexual Assault Prevention Month. The minister chose to mark it with what is in essence a

re-announcement. What Ontario women have been waiting for throughout this month is finally an announcement of a plan to combat sexual violence. The McGuinty Liberals, despite repeated requests from

myself and sexual assault centres and victims' advocates, has yet to develop a plan to address sexual violence. When pressed, the minister said the domestic violence strategy, despite its name,

would target all forms of violence against women, including sexual violence, but it does not do that, with the exception of a preventive education campaign which is limited to students aged eight

to 10. That is it.

What we need to hear is a comprehensive plan to measure and resolve the shortcomings toward sexual violence on every front. As a result, it would review and

improve procedures that police, crowns and judges currently follow in sexual assault cases, followed with appropriate training and education, plus other components. I'm hoping to hear this

announcement from the minister very soon.

VISITORS

The Speaker (Hon. Alvin Curling): I want to specially mention that in the Speaker's gallery is former member Mr. Marcel Beaubien from

Lambton-Kent-Middlesex in the 36th and 37th Parliaments.

Ms. Andrea Horwath (Hamilton East): On a point of order, Mr. Speaker: I want to acknowledge Michele Blackman who is here, the mum of our page

from Hamilton East, Alecia Blackman.

The Speaker: That is not a point of order, but --

Ms. Marilyn Churley (Toronto-Danforth): But we welcome them anyway.

DEFERRED VOTES

MANDATORY GUNSHOT WOUNDS

REPORTING ACT, 2005 /

LOI DE 2005 SUR LA DÉCLARATION

OBLIGATOIRE DES BLESSURES

PAR BALLE

Deferred vote on the motion for third reading of Bill 110,

An Act to require the disclosure of information to police respecting persons being treated for

gunshot wounds / Projet de loi 110, Loi exigeant la divulgation à la police de renseignements en ce qui concerne les personnes traitées pour blessure par balle.

The Speaker (Hon. Alvin Curling): Call in the members. This will be a five-minute bell.

The division bells rang from 1426 to 1431.

The Speaker: Order. Would all members please take their seats.

Mr. Kwinter has moved third reading of Bill 110,

An Act to require the disclosure of information to police respecting persons being treated for gunshot

wounds.

All those in favour, please rise one at a time and be recognized by the Clerk.

Ayes

Arnott, Ted

Arthurs, Wayne

Baird, John R.

Barrett, Toby

Bartolucci, Rick

Bentley, Christopher

Berardinetti, Lorenzo

Bountrogianni, Marie

Bradley, James J.

Broten, Laurel C.

Brownell, Jim

Bryant, Michael

Cansfield, Donna H.

Caplan, David

Chambers, Mary Anne V.

Chudleigh, Ted

Colle, Mike

Cordiano, Joseph

Craitor, Kim

Crozier, Bruce

Delaney, Bob

Dhillon, Vic

Di Cocco, Caroline

Duguid, Brad

Duncan, Dwight

Flaherty, Jim

Flynn, Kevin Daniel

Fonseca, Peter

Gerretsen, John

Gravelle, Michael

Hardeman, Ernie

Hoy, Pat

Hudak, Tim

Jackson, Cameron

Jeffrey, Linda

Kennedy, Gerard

Klees, Frank

Kular, Kuldip

Kwinter, Monte

Lalonde, Jean-Marc

Levac, Dave

Marsales, Judy

Martiniuk, Gerry

Matthews, Deborah

Mauro, Bill

McGuinty, Dalton

McMeekin, Ted

McNeely, Phil

Meilleur, Madeleine

Miller, Norm

Milloy, John

Mitchell, Carol

Mossop, Jennifer F.

O'Toole, John

Orazietti, David

Parsons, Ernie

Patten, Richard

Peters, Steve

Phillips, Gerry

Pupatello, Sandra

Qaadri, Shafiq

Racco, Mario G.

Ramal, Khalil

Rinaldi, Lou

Runciman, Robert W.

Sandals, Liz

Scott, Laurie

Smith, Monique

Smitherman, George

Sterling, Norman W.

Takhar, Harinder S.

Tascona, Joseph N.

Tory, John

Van Bommel, Maria

Wilkinson, John

Wilson, Jim

Wong, Tony C.

Wynne, Kathleen O.

Zimmer, David

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

Nays

Bisson, Gilles

Churley, Marilyn

Horwath, Andrea

Kormos, Peter

Martel, Shelley

Prue, Michael

The Clerk of the Assembly (Mr. Claude L. DesRosiers): The ayes are 79; the nays are 6.

The Speaker: I declare the motion carried.

Be it resolved that the bill do now pass and be entitled as in the motion.

ORAL QUESTIONS

ADOPTION DISCLOSURE

Mr. John Tory (Leader of the Opposition): My question is for the Premier. Few would argue with the desirability of making the process easier

for people involved with adoptions to learn more about their identities, including medical information. Having said that, does the Premier agree with me that many of those who would have given up a

child for adoption in past years would have had reason to believe, based on what they were told and whatever the exact words were, that their identity, for example as a birth mother, would never be

disclosed?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty (Premier, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs): I know the minister would like to speak to this, but let me take this

first one here.

I know this can be a challenging issue. The call we have made is that we believe the highest priority must be attached to the right of children to acquire

information about their background: where they come from, who their parents are. We think that is very important.

We recognize, however, that there may be some exceptional circumstances where the rights of the birth parent ought to prevail. The amendment we have proposed

takes that into account, so that in those exceptional circumstances the birth parent may make an application to override what we think is a very important right that we should recognize attaches to

children to gain better understanding of their background.

That's the call that we've made. We think it serves the greater public interest, and we think it gives primacy to the most important right of all here, which

is the right of the child to know something of their background.

Mr. Tory: Again, to the Premier: In the past, you've held up the privacy commissioner as the ultimate arbiter on questions of privacy. As

recently as last December you referred a matter involving a privacy breach by the government to the privacy commissioner for her views. Now the privacy commissioner, who, as you know, is an officer

of the Legislature, says that we are reversing the onus on these people -- meaning the parents -- forcing them to argue as to why their identity should not be disclosed and making them appear in

front of a tribunal to plead their cases, when they had been given an assurance of one kind or another by a government official many years ago.

Does the Premier think that the legislation, which will be seen by these people as a breach of trust based on what they always thought they were told and that

reverses the privacy onus on to them, strikes the right balance in terms of making it easier on one hand and respecting privacy rights on the other?

Hon. Mr. McGuinty: First of all, the Information and Privacy Commissioner phoned me yesterday afternoon. I was pleased to take her call. I

thanked her for her interventions. I thanked her for the advice she offered. The Information and Privacy Commissioner does not technically have jurisdiction over adoption issues, but she does

obviously have some very important advice to offer whenever she seeks to offer it.

Having said that, we have made a call and it is found in the legislation.

Mr. Jim Flaherty (Whitby-Ajax): You're wrong.

Hon. Mr. McGuinty: Someone opposite says that we're wrong. I'm prepared to ultimately stand in judgment before the people of Ontario.

But we have made a call. We think we have struck the right balance, as I say, between the right of a child to know something of their background -- where they

come from and who their parents are -- and that we recognize there may be exceptional cases where a parent's right to privacy ought to prevail over that. Again, I believe we've struck the right

balance.

Mr. Tory: Again to the Premier: I've said to many people in the short time that I've been here -- and you've mentioned this -- how difficult

some of these issues are.

Would the Premier agree with me that given the fact that even his own government's position is evolving in recent days -- given the amendments that were filed

on this legislation, I think just yesterday -- that some additional discussion may be necessary, perhaps involving all of the parties, to try to address the broader public interest and to try to

ensure that we have that delicate and important balance between the right to know and the right to privacy just right? Would you agree with that?

Hon. Mr. McGuinty: It has been important for all of us of late to address issues of reuniting families. Minister Bountrogianni is very

concerned about moving forward in that particular area at this point in time.

This is another instance of what it is that we need to do to reunite families. There have been families who, by virtue of our laws, have been separated since

the 1960s, have been unable to acquire information about a child or a parent. We think it is high time that we move forward on this issue.

I've had the privilege of serving in this Legislature for some 15 years now. I can't recall how many bills have been put forward.

Interjection.

Hon. Mr. McGuinty: Five bills, Ms. Churley tells me, over that period of time. This is not an easy thing to do, but I can tell you, I believe

in my heart of hearts that it is the right thing to do. I think that we have struck the right balance. I think it's time to move forward on behalf of the people of Ontario, but especially on behalf

of those families that deserve the right to be reunited.

The Speaker (Hon. Alvin Curling): New question.

Mr. Tory: I'd like to continue with this. Many people inside and outside of this House support the principle, as I said, that we need to make

it easier for people to obtain this information, parents and children, but it does have to be balanced against the impact on the privacy rights of other people involved. Many of us, including me,

have heard moving stories from people on all sides of this, and I assume, in response to that, that the government did introduce some amendments to the legislation yesterday to deal with some of

the difficult circumstances that citizens have raised with us.

These amendments introduced yesterday would require, for example, a woman who's been a victim of sexual assault and had a child as a result to appear in front

of a tribunal and plead her case for non-disclosure. Can the Premier confirm that this is the process intended by these amendments, and does he think that is an appropriate requirement to place on

someone in that particular circumstance?

Hon. Mr. McGuinty: I would like the Minister of Community and Social Services to speak to this.

Hon. Sandra Pupatello (Minister of Community and Social Services, minister responsible for women's issues): I think it's important to know --

and let me start by saying that what I do appreciate is the support of this bill by the Leader of the Opposition. We supported him taking a stand and voting for this bill. What was important in

this process is that we said we would listen when we got to the hearing stage, which we have done. We prepared, as a government, several amendments in order to strengthen the bill. Many are just

technical in nature, but several are from things that we heard at that committee. A significant piece that came from your seatmate, in fact, on the other side of the House was a review of the

legislation in five years, and we've added that as an amendment. We think that is a critical piece to make the legislation stronger, and we've added that.

The idea that people would go before a Child and Family Services Review Board is critical to this, because there may be extreme circumstances that none of us

in this House has encountered, and we don't know what they are. The detail of how that works, who comes before it and in what way is what we're going to deal with in regulation once this bill is

passed, and we hope it will be passed. We plan to address all of that so that it will be the easiest way, so that it is easy for people. We don't want to make things difficult for people. Once

again, I do appreciate this member's support of the bill.

Mr. Tory: That is part of the problem here. The purpose of second reading and input from the public, limited though it was in terms of how

long it lasted, is to have people come and put their concerns forward, and then we all have the opportunity to vote again on third reading, beyond the principle of the bill, which is to make more

open this kind of information.

You didn't really address my question, and I'll add another example to it. Beyond someone who's been the victim of sexual assault and had a child, there could

be a child who's been adopted and who has been the victim of abuse in the past. Upon reaching their 19th birthday, I think these amendments provide for them to have to appear in front of the same

government board to plead their case as to why their personal information should not be revealed. I'd like to ask the Premier to confirm that this is the process that would have to be followed

pursuant to the amendments tabled by the government this week. Does he think that is an appropriate requirement to place on someone in that circumstance?

Hon. Ms. Pupatello: Let me say that it is important that included in the law itself is the notion that adoptees and birth parents can both

appear before the board. The detail of how people come to appear there, or the regulations that would cover who appears, comes in regulation. That is a standard format of law here. We will get to

that serious discussion when the law is passed.

I do want to say, in the number of cases that this member is choosing to put forward, I hope he'll also speak about the many, many, many young women who were

promised information many years ago. They were promised that when the child that they chose to give up for adoption turned 18, they would be able to know how that child fared. They were promised

this, and today they are furious. They have been incredibly frustrated because they have not been given this information. So equally, when you hear of those who were promised confidentiality --

depending on the circumstances, this member knows -- others were promised guaranteed information. The reality is, none of them has been satisfied.

We believe that this bill is balanced, that it accounts for those extreme circumstances, and I would encourage his support on its next reading.

Mr. Tory: Again to the Premier: I've referred over and over again today to the need to strike a balance. I think it's not very comforting to

people around the province to think that a lot of the final discussions as to the circumstances in which these people in exceptional circumstances will find themselves will be decided in a

closed-door room, with no input from the public at all.

I want to make reference to one more example, because the minister herself made reference the other day to some very difficult family and cultural issues which

could result from the disclosure of adoption-related information where other family members may not have known about the birth of a child outside of marriage. I would ask the Premier how this bill

and the amendments offered thus far help people who might find themselves in exactly this situation, especially in light of the minister's own statement, carried in the newspaper today, that a

birth mother's desire to keep her past secret would not likely be sufficient to keep the records closed. That's what you said. How is that going to comfort anybody in the very circumstances you

referred to or in any of these other extraordinary circumstances, and why are you deciding these things in secret? Let's do it together, out in the open, so everybody can see.

Hon. Ms. Pupatello: I think it's very important to go back to the fundamental piece of this bill, which is the no-contact veto, and contrast

that with what is currently the case. Currently in Ontario there is no structure, there is no protection, and in this modern age of technology, people are being found -- the fateful phone call out

of the blue, the knock on the door -- with no ability to say, "I don't want to be contacted."

The first time the bill was introduced in this House, we were very clear: We are here because we believe there is a right to information, not a right to a

relationship. In this bill, when and if it becomes law, it will also have the proviso to include a no-contact notice, which today does not exist. People in every other jurisdiction where it is used

place a no-contact. It still allows the passage of vital information, like medical, like the circumstances surrounding the adoption, on forms that we would develop, again, after the bill becomes

law. This is important. Today there is no protection. After our bill, there will be significant protection that has worked in every jurisdiction where it's been employed.

SERVICES FOR DISABLED CHILDREN

Mr. Howard Hampton (Kenora-Rainy River): My question is for the Premier. Yesterday I asked your Minister of Children and Youth Services about

the Ombudsman's report that calls your government's treatment of disabled children with severe special needs unjust, oppressive and unfair. Your minister said, "I understand the parents'

frustrations. It has taken far too long. But we are taking action." A little bit of hope was offered to these parents. But then late yesterday, your government filed court documents that state your

intention to fight the class action lawsuit launched by these parents. Is this what the McGuinty government calls taking action to help these parents: forcing them into court and fighting them

every step of the way?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty (Premier, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs): I'm going to deal with this and then provide the Attorney General with

an opportunity to speak to it.

Let me reassure the member opposite of our intent and our earnest desire to move forward as quickly as we reasonably and responsibly can to reunite these

families. The Ombudsman has raised the profile of this issue, as he should, and we welcome his recommendations. The minister has indicated it's our intention to move forward as quickly as we can,

but there has been a development that has thrown a bit of a wrench into the works, and I'm going to allow the Attorney General to speak to that. I know he would like to speak to this in response to

the member's supplementaries.

Mr. Hampton: Premier, let me tell you the response of one of the parents who has to look after one of these disabled children. This is her

response. This is Anne Larcade, and in her press release she notes that Liberals were supportive of her case when they were in opposition: "When we were suing the Harris government, the Liberals

could not wait to welcome us into their offices. They attended all our press conferences. Now, they won't acknowledge we exist. They won't even talk to us. I wrote to the minister almost two weeks

ago asking for a meeting to try and resolve all of this to end any further suffering for the families. She has not even had the decency to respond."

Premier, before the election you were the best friends of these parents and their unfortunate children. After the election, you forced them into court and you

fought them every step of the way. Is this what you call helping these very disabled children and their parents?

Hon. Mr. McGuinty: To the Attorney General.

Hon. Michael Bryant (Attorney General, minister responsible for native affairs, minister responsible for democratic renewal): I say to the

member, as the minister said earlier on this week and many times thereafter, we are, as a government, trying to do everything we can -- everything possible -- to reunite families. At the same time

as this action is taking place, we have to comply with concerns raised by counsel. I'm very optimistic that in fact we're going to be able to do that.

I say to the members opposite, if they have specific questions about that, I can assure them that we are doing everything we can to work with counsel for the

plaintiffs, because counsel for the plaintiffs have expressed some concern about our directly contacting these families. We are trying to work that out and we intend to work it out between now and

Friday. We remain on track and optimistic that we will get there.

Mr. Hampton: We checked with counsel for the plaintiffs, Premier; all they're asking you to do is abide by the law, something your government

seems to have a lot of trouble doing when it comes to disabled kids. But this is a pattern, because the Ombudsman says that over the past two years, instead of helping children and parents, your

government has accused them of milking the system and jumping the queue. Your minister even suggested that they were unethical, "... those who have the political astuteness to come to this gallery.

That's unfair, that's unethical...."

Premier, I want you to know what I think is unethical. I think it's unethical that you pretend to be the best friend of these parents and these kids before the

election, that you can't stop yourself from attending all of the press conferences, but now, for two years, you've done everything to frustrate them and throw them off. This even continues after

the so-solemn statements of your minister yesterday. When are you going to stop fighting them? When are you going to settle the court case? When are you going to keep your promises?

Hon. Mr. Bryant: Again I say to the member opposite, who I'm sure does understand this, as a former Attorney General, that counsel

representing the plaintiffs have expressed some concern about the government directly contacting these families to try and ensure that we get them together again. So we are trying to comply with

and work with counsel for the plaintiffs, and I'm optimistic we will do that. Discussions are ongoing. I understand you've spoken with plaintiffs' counsel, and so are we, literally having ongoing

discussions right now with counsel for the plaintiffs, and we will continue to do that.

The point is that we, as a government, are committed to moving forward. We're committed to making this happen. We are trying to comply with counsel's requests

and also ensure that we're doing everything in accordance with the court's wishes. As we have updates, we'll provide them, but we continue to be optimistic that we will in fact be able to reunite

these families.

The Speaker (Hon. Alvin Curling): New question.

Mr. Hampton: To the Premier again: Anne Larcade is clear. In her press release she says the government should announce today that they will

drop the appeal, "implement all four recommendations of the Ombudsman's report with a

schedule by June 30." Instead, we have the minister saying one thing here yesterday and doing something later

on that day.

But I want to go back to the Ombudsman's report, because the Ombudsman says that your government's so-called progress reports of the past two years on this

issue are "jargon-laden missives designed to create the illusion of progress while nothing concrete was being done." He said, "I am concerned from the response that I am getting that nothing will

be done and this will be justified in the name of avoiding an ad hoc response so that a long-term solution can be crafted." But nothing gets done.

Premier, for two years you could have addressed this. The parents called and pleaded, "Please, meet with us now after the election, the way you used to meet

with us before the election." Why are you still fighting them in court and why are you still giving them the hands off?

Hon. Mr. McGuinty: To the Attorney General.

Hon. Mr. Bryant: I said I would provide updates as we get them, and I'll give you an update.

We will bring a motion before the court to get direction from the court to permit us to move as quickly as possible to achieve the goals that have been

announced by the minister. We feel that is in the public interest. We feel that is in the kids' interests. We are trying to do exactly what the members opposite are calling for.

I'm happy to provide this update, and if I have another one, I'll provide another one.

Mr. Hampton: I want to go back to the Premier, because these are his promises.

Premier, this is what you said during the election: "We will ensure that all our children get what they need to succeed." But for two years, these parents have

been stonewalled. For two years, they've been told, "If you want your children to get the services they need, then you must give up your children." When they tried to contact your minister, she

pretended they didn't exist. This is the same minister who used to fawn over them before the election.

Premier, I don't understand why it has taken a court challenge and an Ombudsman's report to get your government to do the right thing, and still you can't

manage to do the right thing. What's the problem over there?

Hon. Mr. Bryant: I just want to say again that we are proceeding as aggressively as possible to in fact reunite these families. If the former

Attorney General is suggesting to me that we simply settle a half-billion-dollar class action right here on the legislative floor, I say to you that I am more interested in empowering the minister

and the government to be able to reunite these families.

Ms. Shelley Martel (Nickel Belt): Tell the truth, Michael.

The Speaker: Order. Member from Nickel Belt, would you like to withdraw your comment?

Ms. Martel: I withdraw.

The Speaker: Attorney General?

Hon. Mr. Bryant: As I say, we are bringing a motion to get the authority from the court and direction from the court to ensure that our

government is doing what previous governments did not do and reuniting those families.

Mr. Hampton: Here's the position of these desperate parents and their kids. The Ombudsman says these parents are in crisis. Many of their

families are breaking up. Many of them are under a doctor's care themselves. For two years, they've been trying to get your government to do the right thing.

You said, "Oh, it's finances." The Ombudsman said, "It's not finances. This is not a financial floodgates argument." Then you offered up all these missives

that the Ombudsman calls nothing but an effort to delay, nothing but an effort to put these parents off.

They came here yesterday, and as is so typical of the McGuinty government, you get up and give a speech and say, "Oh, everything is going to be fine," and then

they go home and they find out that you're filing documents to fight them in court.

Tell me something: Is this strategy over there, or are you people really this inept and uncaring?

Hon. Mr. Bryant: The government is doing the right thing here. The minister asked children's aid societies to identify children with complex,

multiple special needs who enter their care for the sole purpose of receiving services. At this point, counsel for the plaintiffs has indicated that they do not want children's aid societies to

contact those families. Well, we need some direction from the court, because we want to contact those families, because we want to reunite those families. That's what we're trying to do, and that's

what we will do.

ADOPTION DISCLOSURE

Mr. Cameron Jackson (Burlington): My question is for the Premier. Premier, in the Sunday Sun there was an exclusive, dealing with Jane Doe and

Stef Doe, whose identities, as you can tell, are not known for very good reasons. These women were sexually assaulted and nearly murdered by Bernardo and Homolka. What's important here as well is

that these two individuals have their identities protected under laws that were created in this very chamber.

Premier, how is it that you refuse to protect the identity of young women in this province who are sexually assaulted and victims of incest, yet you refuse to

provide the protection that they have requested and that Ann Cavoukian, the commissioner, has requested for this unique group of victims in this province? Nowhere in the world has anybody exposed

these victims, predominantly young women, to this kind of risk.

I ask you, Premier: Will you not consider the amendments that respond to this very unique group of individuals so that their lives are not put at risk? We

fought for years to win these concessions in our court system and to protect victims. Will you not consider these today?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty (Premier, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs): To the Minister of Community and Social Services.

Hon. Sandra Pupatello (Minister of Community and Social Services, minister responsible for women's issues): We had been working on this side

of the House for many months before a bill on adoption was introduced. Serious meetings occurred with the children's advocate, with the Attorney General's office, with the minister for children --

a whole series internally before we went outside of government. These are the people we consulted with, especially the advocate for the child, who came to us with serious concerns much like the

description the member opposite poses today.

The result of that was the crafting of a bill that would have protections for these people. We had to make sure of that. We talked to adoptees, and adoptees

told us very clearly that they are adults. Adults want to have adult choices, and adults want information available to them. We went to these people with the absolute worst-case scenario about what

they might find if they were to have that access. They simply want to know, and that's exactly what they told us.

Mr. Jackson: Premier, your minister earlier today announced funding for sexual abuse victims, for incest survivors, for a whole host of women

and others in this province whose rights are being protected and upheld, and yet we have legislation in front of us that even New South Wales, the model we're led by your government to believe is

the model you're using in Ontario, doesn't go so far as to put these individuals at risk.

Premier, I remind you, your legislation eliminates the registrar of adoption information and adoption disclosure registration. It means that court records of

children who were sexually abused, victims of incest, will disappear under this legislation, and there will be deemed no crime ever to have been committed against these children, because those

records will not be accessible for their own defence. So a person who perpetrated that and received leniency from not being able to have the full force and effect of the law brought against them --

those children were simply removed from that abusive situation and they were put up for adoption. We ask that you give those children the right of a veto, which is in three other provinces. Just

this group of individuals, Premier: We ask you for their protection.

Hon. Ms. Pupatello: I have to say that I don't know what bill that member is speaking about, because that is not the bill that is before our

House today. I will say once again for this member that before we presented the bill, we had a number of months of serious deliberation to present the bill that was tabled in the House. We spoke

with the child advocate's office and the Attorney General's office, all of whom knew what the serious concerns would be and what had to be addressed in the bill. That bill went forward to internal

committee in this House, and once again it was put to rigorous testing by the members of our own committee. All of us on our side of the House will remember those days. We went again and said that

when the bill was tabled, we would listen.

We have listened to the privacy commissioner. We have listened to people who have come forward. Once again we've introduced amendments for further protections.

When we have extreme circumstances in these cases, we need to be sure, and we've submitted those amendments. But I can tell you this: There is nowhere in the world where we have no-contact vetoes

that have not worked.

We have good legislation before the House today. We have, in those extreme cases, safeguards put in place; even more so now with our amendment. I am

comfortable that this is good legislation and I look forward --

The Speaker (Hon. Alvin Curling): Thank you.

SERVICES FOR DISABLED CHILDREN

Ms. Andrea Horwath (Hamilton East): In the absence of the Minister of Children and Youth Services, my question will go to the Premier.

Yesterday your minister promised to return children with special needs to the custody of their parents, parents who were forced by that very minister to give up custody of their children in order

to get the services they require from children's aid. But no commitment was made to the hundreds of children whose families are at the breaking point right now because they still can't access the

services they so desperately need. You said nothing at all about actually getting care for the children who are currently languishing on waiting lists because their families are working so hard to

try to cope with their needs at home. When are you going to give these disabled children the services they need?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty (Premier, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs): Let me say that we are proud of what we've been able to do thus far

with respect to helping our most vulnerable children in the province of Ontario. In fact, I would argue that no government has done as much in such a short time as our government has.

Interjection.

Hon. Mr. McGuinty: It is never enough for the NDP, but that's not our concern; our concern is the greater public interest and the people of

Ontario. We have made some dramatic increases, for example, to children's mental health. The NDP, when they had the privilege of serving Ontarians as government, cut children's mental health

programs. We've increased funding for children's mental health programs.

Ms. Horwath: Notwithstanding the comments of the Premier, the Ombudsman was quite clear on the inaction of this government on this particular

file. In fact, he said in his report, "If we wait for a perfect systemic solution before acting we ignore those families who are in crisis and who could be helped now."

The Ombudsman confirmed that you still have the legal authority at this moment to sign those special-needs agreements. So will you immediately reactivate the

special-needs agreements as temporary measures so these families don't have to wait any longer for the services that their children so desperately need, or do you choose to continue to ignore

them?

Hon. Mr. McGuinty: To the Attorney General, Speaker.

Hon. Michael Bryant (Attorney General, minister responsible for native affairs, minister responsible for democratic renewal): Again, I say the

Ombudsman has made a recommendation and the government has said that in fact we need to move immediately to implement his number one recommendation.

Interjection.

Hon. Mr. Bryant: I'm sure that the former Attorney General wouldn't want to confuse people as to what the government is doing. I'm sure he

wouldn't want to do that. And I'm sure he would want people to know, as they should know and as the public deserves to know, that we are bringing a motion to try to enable the minister to reunite

the families. That's what we are trying to do. I'm sure that the former Attorney General, Mr. Hampton, when he has an opportunity, would want to clarify that

whereas he cut the funding, we are

attempting to reunite families like never before.

TOBACCO CONTROL

Mr. Brad Duguid (Scarborough Centre): My question is to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care. I was pleased to hear the minister's

statement today that our government is moving forward and fulfilling our goal of making Ontarians healthier by urging them to quit smoking or not smoke in the first place. There's no question that

the McGuinty government is moving forward in an unprecedented way to protect the health of Ontarians.

Today you outlined an initiative that demonstrates that our government is moving forward like no government ever has to make Ontarians healthier. I'm

particularly interested in finding out how we're going to be able to help prevent young people from smoking. As the father of a young son soon to be nine years old and the uncle of a 14-year-old, I

recognize the importance of achieving this goal. Can the minister outline what is being done to prevent young people from smoking?

Hon. George Smitherman (Minister of Health and Long-Term Care): As we seek to further stimulate our efforts to help people to quit smoking, we

must recognize of course that our first and foremost challenge should be to prevent people from taking up this habit in the first place. The statistics are pretty clear: If a young person doesn't

start smoking by the time they're 20, the chances that they will take that up are very, very low indeed. So we're working with youth and involving them very dramatically, as we did in our stupid.ca

campaign, where youth activists like Michelle Tham helped to guide that campaign.

Further, through the investments that we're making today, our Youth Action Alliance will allow youth leaders to build coalitions to combat smoking in their

communities, there will be education programs aimed at reducing illegal sale of tobacco to minors, funding for six regional youth events, an annual province-wide youth anti-smoking conference and

grants to high schools for student-driven anti-smoking projects that are linked to local and provincial programs.

We believe fundamentally that we need young people to help guide this campaign, and that's why I'm very pleased that we'll have a young person, Michelle Tham,

sitting on our campaign cabinet helping to make sure that our efforts to assist youth in not taking up this initiative are very, very strong.

Mr. Duguid: I'm proud to be part of a government that not only recognizes that young people are our future but that we have a responsibility

as a government to ensure that they have the opportunity to excel and succeed. Whether it be investing in their elementary, secondary or post-secondary education or encouraging healthy lifestyle

choices, the future of this province is being made brighter because of the McGuinty government.

There's been some media about smokers' rights. While many smokers welcome our smoke-free strategy, they're also looking for help in their efforts to quit

smoking. We all know that's a very difficult thing to do. Do we have any plans in place or do we plan to put any plans in place to assist smokers in overcoming their addiction?

Hon. Mr. Smitherman: We will have more to say as we go forward on the largest-ever cessation initiative in Ontario's history. We begin

immediately by investing in programs targeting all smokers, including youth, as I mentioned, and focusing resources in particular on high-risk communities. There will be $1.5 million in innovative

programs targeted at high-risk communities, because we know that in some communities -- aboriginal communities, gay and lesbian communities, low-income earners and some ethnocultural groups --

there is a higher proportion of those individuals who smoke. That means we need a higher degree of effort involved in helping to give people the tools they need to quit smoking.

We're going to expand the intervention program delivered by our partners -- the Ontario Medical Association, the Ontario Pharmacists' Association and the

Ontario Dental Association -- to get all of these health care professionals aligned behind this very significant challenge, and we're going to strengthen the smokers' hotline so that people who

need support and are ready to move can get the support they need in a timely way.

These efforts, together, will help us to make Ontario a much healthier place.

ADOPTION DISCLOSURE

Mr. Norman W. Sterling (Lanark-Carleton): This is a question, again, to the Premier. In Alberta and BC they have a bill similar to ours, but

they allow a veto to disclosure, and only 3% to 5% of the people are taking that up.

I want to talk about one of the persons who would take it up here in Ontario who has written to me. This is a 70-year-old woman who was raped 55 years ago by

her father. Cases of incest are not uncommon in the CAS, the children's aid society. She gave up her child for adoption. She has spent her entire life forgetting about this tragic event. She hasn't

told her husband, her children or her grandchildren. Now you expect her to come forward under this legislation, in front of a bunch of strangers, a government board, behind closed doors, a

government that has changed its promise to her that she would have her records sealed forever. Do you expect this woman to come forward and appear before this board? Do you think it's fair to a

70-year-old woman who was raped by her father to come in front of a board and reveal this secret, which she has held close to her heart for all of her life? Do you think that's fair, Mr.

Premier?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty (Premier, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs): To the Minister of Community and Social Services.

Hon. Sandra Pupatello (Minister of Community and Social Services, minister responsible for women's issues): Directly to the point of this

question, the way we have the laws today in Ontario, the woman that this member is bringing forward has no protection, and in this era of modern technology, she is being found, with no protections

in place. People are Googling the Web sites; people are employing agencies whose express purpose is to find people. So today, people are being found -- I will in a supplementary give you just such

an example -- but with our bill, this woman will have the opportunity to place a "no contact" on her file.

There is no community like the adoption community that understands the need for privacy; those who have had to suffer under the shame of the word "adoption,"

the secrecy that has always surrounded adoption. They understand privacy more than anyone else. They understand that if there is a "no contact" on that file, then they in fact do not contact. That

has been the experience of all of the jurisdictions that have employed this, including New South Wales, which is the example that was just brought forward in the other question. In our legislation,

the proposal is based on that New South Wales example. Even after a five-year review of their legislation, they have elected not to change it at all, because it has worked so well.

Mr. Sterling: This bill, as presented, with a disclosure veto, could provide tremendous happiness for a whole number of people across Ontario.

There are 250,000 files, and 95% to 98% of those would be opened, and people could make contact. But we're talking about a small but significant minority here. This 70-year-old woman would be

required, in order to protect her anonymity -- which she has been promised -- to prove to the board that because of exceptional circumstances the order is inapproriate, in order to prevent

significant harm to the birth parent.

Well, it depends on her luck of the draw when she walks into that room, because the board will be given nothing more than those parameters to make the decision

as to whether or not she can protect disclosure of her information. Why should she, I ask the Premier, trust the appointed members of the board, when you've broken such a sacred trust with her to

keep her record confidential? That promise was made to her 55 years ago, and you're breaking that promise now. You're going to put her up in front of a kangaroo court. Why should she trust your

government now, after you've broken this sacred promise --

The Speaker (Hon. Alvin Curling): Minister?

Hon. Ms. Pupatello: Let me say again that in today's world of modern technology, people are being found -- people like Graig Stott. This

individual wrote to us and appeared before the committee: "My own search and reunion has not been without its painful hurdles for my mother, for my adoptive family and for myself ... My mother was

a victim of a rape that resulted in my birth. My mother was terrified about letting me into her life and opening up those secret wounds, but, at the age of 75, and in her own time, she eventually

did, and in her own time and in her own way, she chooses to share more and more of herself and her story."

This woman was found. He was a late-find. He said that he was 31. "I'm a late-discovery adoptee ... brought up much grief, unfinished business and other

unresolved issues between myself and my adoptive family." He has come to speak in favour of our bill because he believes that he shouldn't have gone through the hurdles that he did to find her.

This woman deserved to have the protections if she didn't want to be contacted, but she had none. That's why she was found. I think it's only reasonable that when you do hear and read the bill,

there are protections in it that currently do not exist. We have been careful and we intend to continue to be careful on this very important issue.

DUFFINS-ROUGE

AGRICULTURAL PRESERVE

Ms. Marilyn Churley (Toronto-Danforth): I have a question for the Chair of Management Board, who's waiting patiently for a question. Minister,

in 1999, five parties, including the province, the city of Pickering and the region of Durham, signed an agreement to preserve the Duffins-Rouge Agricultural Preserve. Last week, Durham region

announced its support of Pickering's decision to breach this agreement. Clearly, Minister, your letter-writing campaign has failed. Will you announce today that you're going to take court action to

uphold the Duffins-Rouge Agricultural Preserve agreement?

Hon. Gerry Phillips (Chair of the Management Board of Cabinet): I think the public's aware that we, the McGuinty government, have made it very

clear that we'll do everything we can to protect the agricultural preserve. It's called the Duffins-Rouge Agricultural Preserve. The member will know that we have our greenbelt legislation; we have

the minister's order on the agricultural preserve, which we believe will protect the agricultural preserve. So we're quite confident that we have the tools in place to ensure that that important

property stays as an agricultural preserve.

We are looking at whether we should take any additional steps, which might involve additional legal action. But I would just say to the member and to the

public that we are quite confident the tools we have in place -- the greenbelt legislation and the minister's order -- will provide adequate and sound protection for that preserve. So I hope the

member can rest relatively comfortably.

Ms. Churley: I don't think so, Minister, no. This situation demonstrates that developers recognize, contrary to government claims, that the

greenbelt plan can be amended at any time. Why else do you think they're doing this, Minister? Look, Ontario sold the Duffins-Rouge land at rock-bottom prices because of the development veto

provided by these easements. By his own admission, developer Silvio DeGasperis will make $240 million developing his lands within this preserve -- millions of dollars that rightfully belong to the

people of Ontario. Diplomatic attempts with Pickering and Durham region have failed.

Minister, you have no problem taking the parents of disabled children to court. I'm asking you again now -- this is important. The greenbelt is not permanent;

it's a floating greenbelt.

Interjection: Yes, it is.

Ms. Churley: No, it isn't, and the developers know it. I'm going to ask you again: Will you go to court to uphold the protection of the

Duffins-Rouge Agricultural Preserve?

Hon. Mr. Phillips: Perhaps I'm repeating. We will do whatever it takes to ensure that that is preserved as an agricultural preserve. We have

taken the greenbelt legislation step. We have the minister's zoning order on it. We are convinced that this will provide and does provide adequate protection to ensure it stays as an agricultural

preserve.

The member will know that we are looking at whether we should take any additional steps, if there are any other legal steps that we might take to provide even

further assurance. But I would just say to the public that we are determined to preserve that as an agricultural preserve. We have these two devices in place right now -- the greenbelt legislation

and the minister's zoning order -- that we believe protect the agricultural preserve. We're looking at whether we should or need to take any further additional legal steps, and we'll continue to

look at that, and not rule that out.

But I say again to the member, based on the advice that we've got, you should rest comfortable that we have the necessary steps in place to preserve it as an

agricultural preserve.

EDUCATION FUNDING

Mr. Kevin Daniel Flynn (Oakville): I have a question today for the Minister of Education.

Minister, we all know the importance of a well-funded public education system. We know that can't be overstated. We know by investing in children today, we're

securing a prosperous future for Ontario. I know your ministry has worked long and hard to try to resolve funding disparities left over from the previous government. I know that you've sat down in

consultations with representatives of the educational field, and today Ontario gets to reap the fruits of that process. However, we all know funding for our public education system needs to be both

fair and equitable for all students, wherever they live in Ontario. Minister, can you tell this House today what you have done to ensure that today's historic funding announcement will reach

students throughout the entire province of Ontario?

Hon. Gerard Kennedy (Minister of Education): I appreciate the opportunity the member is providing to be able to alert the parents and others

in the province that there is indeed a tremendous commitment made by this government. One expression of that is funding; another expression is simply finding the ways to help our schools to work

better. The funding coming forward today amounts to now $900 more per student that our government has provided overall. As important as that commitment is, it is being delivered in a way that

allows the funding formula to change according to the needs of students, rather than the other way around. In the past, rural students, students in urban areas, students who had extra challenges,

had to lose out, were being missed in terms of their potential in schools, and we have improved the learning opportunities grant with our announcement today. We are improving, in fact, support for

people with special needs; we are improving support for people who live in rural areas and have to use rural schools that have been desperately underfunded by the previous administration. In sum,

we believe the commitment of this government has to be that every student has the same chance to do well, and that is a much greater possibility because of the commitment this government has made

clear to school boards today.

Mr. Flynn: Thank you, Minister. I'm sure it's the hope of everyone in this House that record investments will result in record achievements.

Mordechai Rozanski issued a comprehensive report in 2002, and it analyzed the needs of Ontario's publicly funded education system. It was Rozanski's task force on education that issued a scathing

report on the state of education in Ontario after years of Tory mismanagement. It was clear in 2003 that Ontarians flat-out rejected the acrimonious style that the Conservatives took toward

education. We're working hard to clean up that mess, and it now looks to me like we've started to achieve that result. Children are now being given the opportunity to reach their full potential in

their schools.

Minister, do you intend to implement the full value of funding recommendations made in the Rozanski report and, if so, when do you expect to achieve these

results?

Hon. Mr. Kennedy: People in this House became aware that even the last government finally had to concede that it had been taking away from

students' futures in this province. It had been deducting, through their cutbacks, from the ability of students to progress. An independent review commissioned by that government identified that

this deduction, this taking away, had taken place because of the lack of priorities that previous governments were prepared to provide.

I am very glad to let you know that the amount of investment that's above the cost required to keep the system running will now, this year, exceed the amount

requested by Dr. Rozanski. In particular areas, we have been able to put forward dollars to help, for example, children living in rural areas, at double the amount: $100 million, not $50 million,

as requested by Dr. Rozanski.

We've been able to provide support for low-income families and students arising from that, from recent immigration and from single-parent families at a rate

that is almost two and a half times as much as what Dr. Rozanski put forward. We're doing that because each one of the investments is reaching specific students who need to be helped, because then

they can help themselves. And the education system is --

The Speaker (Hon. Alvin Curling): New question?

ADOPTION DISCLOSURE

Mr. Norman W. Sterling (Lanark-Carleton): My question is to the Premier. We know, because through happenstance we received the constitutional

opinion of the Attorney General on this piece of legislation, that there is jeopardy with regard to the Charter of Rights with regard to this particular bill. We also know there is constitutional

jeopardy with the status quo.

Mr. Premier, you are a lawyer. We also know that the bill in Alberta, which has a veto to the disclosure, is constitutional. Why would you not include in this

bill a veto disclosure, which would affect 3% to 5% of the records and would fall within our Charter of Rights?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty (Premier, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs): To the Attorney General, Speaker.

Hon. Michael Bryant (Attorney General, minister responsible for native affairs, minister responsible for democratic renewal): I want to assure

the member, and all members of this House, that the bill introduced to this Legislature is consistent with the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and I don't think the member is taking issue with

that. It is one of those issues where, in fact, there are rights and responsibilities on both sides, no matter what a government does, whether it be to withhold information or keep information

withheld or whether it be to provide information. I can assure all members of this House that this bill is consistent with the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and if you have further questions

about the specifics of that, I'm happy to answer them.

The particular document that the member is referring to was a December document, I'd remind the member, and this bill was introduced, of course, subsequent to

that time. I'll leave it at that.

Mr. Cameron Jackson (Burlington): Premier, your Attorney General is leading you to believe that he has legal opinions that say you are not

going to have problems with a charter challenge, when in fact the December document which he refers to is in my possession, and it clearly sets out there are risk factors associated with it.

Earlier in my question, Premier, I raised the question of victims and their rights in this province. The Victims' Bill of Rights clearly indicates that a

victim does not have to prove revictimization in any court or tribunal in this province, and yet your legislation clearly sets out that these individuals have to go in and prove that they suffered

emotional harm in order to protect their privacy rights if they're a victim of incest, rape or sexual assault.

So, Premier, I ask you once again: Will you not examine more clearly these amendments, which Cavoukian and the Conservative Party have indicated would not

offend the charter and would protect the rights of this unique class of victims in this province from your bill?

Hon. Mr. Bryant: I say to the member, I believe that the Premier and the minister have answered your question as to the substance of the bill.

I believe the Premier and the minister have responded to your questions with respect to the privacy commissioner's comments.

You're asking a question about the Constitution, and I'm giving you an answer. This is a bill that was reviewed closely by the constitutional law branch and

myself. I am saying to the member that you are debating the merits of it and this is the place to debate that, but if you're asking us for the constitutional status of this bill, this bill is

consistent with the Charter of Rights and Freedoms -- period.

REGIONAL CENTRES FOR THE

DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED

Mr. Michael Prue (Beaches-East York): My question is to the Minister of Community and Social Services. Randy Mogridge drowned last October

after wandering away from his home. He was the 10th resident of the Oaklands Regional Centre to die in the past four years. Ontario's chief coroner conducted a review. The findings, released last

week, point to a tragic history of provincial underfunding that compromised his care, and patient care in that facility. They also pointed to an uncertain future for the residents, families and

staff of that centre.

Madam Minister, the coroner released 11 recommendations on how to prevent these unwarranted deaths in the future. Are you prepared to implement these

recommendations immediately? Or do others, particularly vulnerable people, have to die?

Hon. Sandra Pupatello (Minister of Community and Social Services, minister responsible for women's issues): We were very happy to receive the

report the coroner tabled. He took an extra eight weeks or so, in fact, to do even further investigation on the historical deaths at Oaklands. I'm also very pleased to see that the recommendations

he tabled were very consistent with the internal reviews we had done as a ministry immediately last fall and, as well, by our third party which we sent into Oaklands. We still have a supervisor on

site there, as this member may know. We tabled a number of recommendations, most of which are completed, including the training and retraining of all the staff on site.

The member opposite knows that this is a serious issue when it's dealing with the safety and security of our most vulnerable citizens in Ontario. We are very

aware of the recommendations the coroner has tabled. We are looking at those now. This House is probably very aware that we will be moving forward to implement all of them.

Mr. Prue: Madam Minister, I am very aware, as you are, but the question is one of funding. Last week's coroner's review commends the Oaklands

staff as "a group of dedicated professionals who provide care for the residents." But it slams your ministry for underfunding and understaffing at that very facility. Among other things, the report

recommends full-time, on-site medical care for the vulnerable population. Currently, if you know, Madam Minister, you are doing just the opposite by closing down the three regional centres that

offer on-site medical care: Huronia, Rideau and Southwestern. Quite frankly, you need to make a decision. What is your plan for the Oaklands Regional Centre and what is your plan for the other

three regional centres? Will you implement the coroner's 11 recommendations, or do more vulnerable people need to die?

Hon. Ms. Pupatello: Number one, I hope this member might recall last week's announcement in this House where we announced a $41-million

investment in specialized services for people of especially high needs who are living in our communities. Number two, he is probably also aware that we have already announced our responses to our

third-party reviews at Oaklands, where we've invested an additional $1.5 million at this site. Much of that money went for ongoing staffing. Some of it was for one-time upgrades to a new security

system. We brought in a training expert on security. We're training right across the board. We have also done a safety audit across all our developmental residential services across the province so

that we can be certain of exactly the scenarios out there.

I'm happy to report that out of 211 residential facilities, 206 have protocols in place and we are working on the remaining five. We continue to work on this

area and we continue to invest in this --

The Speaker (Hon. Alvin Curling): Thank you.

STRATFORD FESTIVAL /

FESTIVAL DE STRATFORD

Mr. John Wilkinson (Perth-Middlesex): My question today is for the Minister of Tourism and Recreation. Yesterday I had the pleasure of

attending in my riding of Perth-Middlesex the opening night production of Stratford's 53rd season, along with you and the Minister of Cultural and francophone affairs.

Ce festival est très important pour la ville de Stratford et ses environs. Cet investissement de notre gouvernement aidera le festival à fleurir et

à fournir des bénéfices économiques à ma circonscription. Il est important de reconnaître la contribution du théâtre et des arts à la vie sociale et

économique des communautés de l'Ontario. Pouvez-vous nous dire ce que cet investissement de 200 000 $ représente pour ma communauté?

Hon. James J. Bradley (Minister of Tourism and Recreation): Merci pour votre question.

I'd like to thank the member for Perth-Middlesex for the question, for those who didn't understand my first statement. The member has really been a tireless

advocate for the Stratford Festival and has pointed out on many occasions the tremendous effect it has on not only his local economy but the provincial economy.

Last night's production of The Tempest was truly spectacular. To ensure that many more people get to see this performance and other wonderful Stratford

presentations, my ministry will be providing $200,000 to assist in marketing the festival's ticket sales campaign, aimed at increasing visitors from the United States and from other parts of

Canada. This investment is just another example of this government's commitment to our cultural tourism attractions and this wonderful province. I want to say that cultural tourism in this province

represents over $4 billion in economic activity.

I recommend to all the people who are watching today, Mr. Speaker, including you, that you visit Stratford and see all the wonderful productions that are going

to be on. This is top-notch, good for the economy and good for the culture of this province. I say, "Vive Stratford."

PETITIONS

RIGHT TO LIFE

Mr. Frank Klees (Oak Ridges): This petition is to the Legislature of Ontario.

"Whereas the right to life is guaranteed unless limits to it are prescribed by law (Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, sections 7 and 1);

"Whereas the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms applies to the government of Ontario, the Legislature of Ontario and all matters within the authority of

the Legislature of Ontario, (section 32.1), including law enforcement and policing;

"Whereas the right to live is limitless in that neither case law nor statute law prescribes limits to the right of life;

"Whereas on August 25, 2004, an emergency task force officer from the Toronto Police Service was authorized to shoot, shot and killed Mr. Brookes on Front

Street, in front of Union Station, in Toronto, Ontario;

"Whereas honouring the guarantee of the rights and freedoms of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms is in the public interest;

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

"To call on the government of Ontario to instruct police services in the province of Ontario not to authorize shoot-to-kill instructions until and unless

suitable limitations to the right to life are prescribed by law."

LANDFILL

Mr. Ernie Parsons (Prince Edward-Hastings): "To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas Waste Management of Canada Corp., formerly Canadian Waste Services, has proposed a 25-year, 18-million-tonne expansion of the existing Richmond

landfill site in the town of greater Napanee to receive waste from all Ontario service areas;

"Whereas the town of Greater Napanee has passed a resolution opposing the proposed expansion;

"Whereas the scoped environmental assessment (EA) being undertaken by the proponent does not examine whether there is a demonstrable need for the expansion,

does not consider reasonable alternatives to the expansion (e.g. reduce, reuse or recycle) and does not require the proponent to provide participant funding to local residents to facilitate their

involvement in the EA process;

"Whereas the Ontario government has recently proposed a provincial target of diverting 60% of waste from disposal by 2008;

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

"To immediately reform Ontario's EA process to ensure that:

"(

a) proposals to establish or expand landfills are subject to full and rigorous EA studies that examine need and alternatives;

"(

b) unwilling host communities are not forced to accept locally unwanted landfill proposals; and

"(

c) proponents are required to provide sufficient monetary resources to citizens to facilitate meaningful public participation in the EA process."

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

REGIONAL CENTRES FOR THE DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED

Mr. Garfield Dunlop (Simcoe North): "Whereas Dalton McGuinty and his Liberal government were elected based on their promise to rebuild public

services in Ontario; and

"Whereas the Minister of Community and Social Services has announced plans to close Huronia Regional Centre, home to people with developmental disabilities,

many of whom have multiple diagnoses and severe problems that cannot be met in the community; and

"Whereas closing HRC will have a devastating impact on residents with developmental disabilities, their families, the developmental services sector and the

economies of the local communities; and

"Whereas Ontario could use the professional staff and facilities of HRC to extend specialized services, support and professional training to many more clients

who live in the community, in partnership with families and community agencies;

"We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to direct the government to keep Huronia Regional Centre, home to people with developmental

disabilities, open, and to transform them into `centres of excellence' to provide specialized services and support to Ontarians with developmental needs, no matter where they live."

I'm pleased to sign this and present it to Paige to present to the table.

TEACHER QUALIFICATION

Mr. Rosario Marchese (Trinity-Spadina): "Whereas the 2005 graduates of publicly funded faculties of education in the province of Ontario will

have met all the requirements of the individual faculties; and

"Whereas these same publicly funded faculties of education in the province of Ontario have all met the stringent standards as outlined and controlled by the

Ontario College of Teachers; and

"Whereas the 2005 graduates of the publicly funded faculties of education in the province of Ontario will be placed at a severe disadvantage if they are given

a provisional certificate of qualification by the Ontario College of Teachers;

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

"To make the changes necessary to the Education Act and/or its regulations in order to grant the 2005 graduates of the publicly funded faculties of education

in the province of Ontario a permanent certificate of qualification, or

"To deem that the bachelor of education degree granted to the 2005 graduates of the publicly funded faculties of education in the province of Ontario deems

them to have completed the equivalent of the Ontario teacher qualification test, thus allowing the Ontario College of Teachers to grant these same graduates a permanent certificate of

qualification."

There are thousands of names on these petitions. I agree with them, and I will sign my name to them.

WEARING OF HELMETS

Mrs. Carol Mitchell (Huron-Bruce): I'm pleased to present a petition to swiftly pass Bill 129 to make it mandatory for all individuals to wear

a certified helmet when cycling, inline skating, skateboarding or using any other type of muscular-powered vehicle on Ontario roadways. I'm pleased to affix my signature to this petition.

RIGHT TO LIFE

Mr. Frank Klees (Oak Ridges): This petition is to the Legislature of Ontario:

"Whereas the right to life is guaranteed unless limits to it are prescribed by law (Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, sections 7 and 1);

"Whereas the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms applies to the government of Ontario, the Legislature of Ontario and all matters within the authority of

the Legislature of Ontario, (section 32.1), including public education;

"Whereas the right to live is limitless in that neither case law nor statute law prescribes limits to the right to life;

"Whereas school boards in Ontario present educational materials to their students that purposely advocate use of services that limit the right the life (e.g.

audiovisual material prompting abortion);

"Whereas honouring the guarantee of the rights and freedoms of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms is in the public interest;

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

"To call on the government of Ontario to require, in the public interest, the school boards in Ontario to present materials on the life issues which respect

the state of the law and to cease promoting practices that limit the right to life when no limits to the right to life are prescribed by law."

CREDIT VALLEY HOSPITAL

Mr. Bob Delaney (Mississauga West): I have a petition here from Eleanor Stoch of Pheasant Run in Erin Mills, Aurelia Chiru of Dalebrook

Crescent in the Middlebury area and the Straumers family on Williams Street in Streetsville in Mississauga. It pertains to the Credit Valley Hospital capital improvements campaign, and it reads as

follows:

"Whereas some 20,000 people each year choose to make their home in Mississauga, and a Halton-Peel District Health Council capacity study stated that the Credit

Valley Hospital should be operating 435 beds by now and 514 beds by 2016; and

"Whereas the Credit Valley Hospital bed count has remained constant at 365 beds since its opening in November 1985, even though some 4,800 babies are delivered

each year at the Credit Valley Hospital in a facility designed to handle 2,700 births annually; and

"Whereas donors in Mississauga and the regional municipalities served by the Credit Valley Hospital have contributed more than $41 million of a $50-million

fundraising objective, the most ambitious of any community hospital in the country, to support the construction of an expanded facility able to meet the needs of our community;

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

"That the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care undertake specific measures to ensure the allocation of capital funds for the construction of A and H block at

Credit Valley Hospital to ensure that the ongoing acute care needs of the patients and families served by the hospital are met in a timely and professional manner, to reduce wait times for patients

in the hospital emergency department, and to better serve patients and the community in Halton and Peel regions by reducing severe overcrowding in the labour and delivery suite."

This is my home hospital. I wholeheartedly support this petition. I affix my signature on it and I'll ask Alecia to carry it for me.

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" --

Interjection.

Mr. Wilson: No, it's Alliston, but thank you. That's the first Liberal to take any interest in this bloody issue, every time I raise it.

"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."

Obviously, I endorse that petition and I've signed it.

ANTI-SMOKING LEGISLATION

Mr. Dave Levac (Brant): I'm definitely interested in Sir Banting's house. It's good.

A petition to the Ontario Legislative Assembly regarding a ban on smoking in public places in Ontario:

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

"Whereas some 16,000 Ontarians each year die of tobacco-related causes; and

"Whereas the inhalation of direct and second-hand tobacco smoke both lead to health hazards that can and do cause preventable death; and

"Whereas more than four out of every five Ontarians do not smoke, and this large majority desires that enclosed public places in Ontario be smoke-free at all

times; and

"Whereas preventing the sale of tobacco products, especially to young people, and banning the use of tobacco products in public and gathering places of all

types will lower the incidence of smoking among Ontarians and decrease preventable deaths;

"Be it therefore resolved that the Ontario Legislative Assembly enact Bill 164, and that the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care aggressively

implement measures to restrict the sale and supply of tobacco to those under 25; that the display of tobacco products in retail settings be banned; that smoking be banned in enclosed public places

or in workplaces, and banned on or near the grounds of public and private schools, hospitals and day nurseries; that designated smoking areas or rooms in public places be banned, and that penalties

for violations of smoking laws be substantially increased."

I sign my name to this petition and hand it over to Sarah.

REGIONAL CENTRES FOR THE

DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED

Mr. Garfield Dunlop (Simcoe North): "To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas Dalton McGuinty and his Liberal government were elected based on their promise to rebuild public services in Ontario;

"Whereas the Minister of Community and Social Services has announced plans to close Huronia Regional Centre, home to people with developmental disabilities,

many of whom have multiple diagnoses and severe problems that cannot be met in the community;

"Whereas closing Huronia Regional Centre will have a devastating impact on residents with developmental disabilities, their families, the developmental

services sector and the economies of the local communities; and

"Whereas Ontario could use the professional staff and facilities of Huronia Regional Centre to extend specialized services, support and professional training

to many more clients who live in the community, in partnership with families and community agencies;

"We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to direct the government to keep Huronia Regional Centre, home to people with developmental

disabilities, open, and to transform them into `centres of excellence' to provide specialized services and support to Ontarians with developmental needs, no matter where they live."

I'm pleased to sign my name to this.

ANTI-SMOKING LEGISLATION

Mr. Bob Delaney (Mississauga West): I have a petition here from Kevin Marr of Miller's Grove in Meadowvale and Jan Gerrard of Ladyburn

Crescent in Lisgar. It's a petition to the Ontario Legislative Assembly to ban smoking in public places in Ontario, and it reads as follows:

"Whereas some 16,000 Ontarians each year die of tobacco-related causes; and

"Whereas the inhalation of direct and second-hand tobacco smoke both lead to health hazards that can and do cause preventable death; and

"Whereas more than four out of every five Ontarians do not smoke, and this large majority desires that enclosed public places in Ontario be smoke-free at all

times; and

"Whereas preventing the sale of tobacco products, especially to young people, and banning the use of tobacco products in public and gathering places of all

types will lower the incidence of smoking among Ontarians, and decrease preventable deaths;

"Be it therefore resolved that the Ontario Legislative Assembly enact Bill 164, and that the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care aggressively

implement measures to restrict the sale and supply of tobacco to those under 25; that the display of tobacco products in retail settings be banned; that smoking be banned in enclosed public places

or in workplaces, and banned on or near the grounds of public and private schools, hospitals and day nurseries; that designated smoking areas or rooms in public places be banned, and that penalties

for violations of smoking laws be substantially increased."

I wholeheartedly endorse this petition, and I'm going to ask page Paige to carry it for me.

REGIONAL CENTRES FOR THE

DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED

Ms. Laurie Scott (Haliburton-Victoria-Brock): "Save Huronia Regional Centre, Home to People with Developmental Disabilities!

"To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas Dalton McGuinty and his Liberal government were elected based on their promise to rebuild public services in Ontario;

"Whereas the Minister of Community and Social Services has announced plans to close Huronia Regional Centre, home to people with developmental disabilities,

many of whom have multiple diagnoses and severe problems that cannot be met in the community;

"Whereas closing Huronia Regional Centre will have a devastating impact on residents with developmental disabilities, their families, the developmental

services sector and the economies of the local communities; and

"Whereas Ontario could use the professional staff and facilities of Huronia Regional Centre to extend specialized services, support and professional training

to many more clients who live in the community, in partnership with families and community agencies;

"We, the undersigned, petition the Legisl