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June 19, 2006

38th Parliament, 2nd Session

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Hansard Transcripts

vol. A

Hansard Transcripts

vol. B

Votes and Proceedings

Orders and Notices

Hansard Transcripts 2006-Jun-19 (PDF)

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO

ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE DE L'ONTARIO

Monday 19 June 2006 Lundi 19 juin 2006

MEMBERS' STATEMENTS

PRIDE WEEK

DOROTHY DOAN

VILLAGE OF NEWCASTLE

LOGAN EARHART

HEALTH CARE

ORGAN DONATION

VOLUNTEERS

PRIDE WEEK

GROWTH PLANNING

VISITORS

INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

PEACE OFFICERS' MEMORIAL DAY

AND MEMORIAL ACT, 2006 /

LOI DE 2006 SUR LE JOUR DE COMMÉMORATION DES AGENTS

DE LA PAIX ET LE MONUMENT COMMÉMORATIF À LEUR MÉMOIRE

MOTIONS

CONSIDERATION OF BILL PR28

HOUSE SITTINGS

STATEMENTS BY THE MINISTRY

AND RESPONSES

TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE

GROWTH PLANNING

FRENCH-LANGUAGE EDUCATION

VISITORS

TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE

GROWTH PLANNING

FRENCH-LANGUAGE EDUCATION

GROWTH PLANNING

TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE

DEFERRED VOTES

TRANSPARENT DRUG SYSTEM

FOR PATIENTS ACT, 2006 /

LOI DE 2006 SUR UN RÉGIME

DE MÉDICAMENTS TRANSPARENT

POUR LES PATIENTS

VISITORS

ORAL QUESTIONS

NATIVE LAND DISPUTE

ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT

NATIVE LAND DISPUTE

ENERGY CONSERVATION

TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE

NATIVE LAND DISPUTE

EMPLOYMENT

GROWTH PLANNING

AIR QUALITY

ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT

SMOKE-FREE ONTARIO

ROAD SAFETY

PETITIONS

ONTARIO JOINT REPLACEMENT REGISTRY

CHILD PROTECTION

HOME CARE

SERVICES FOR THE DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED

HIGHWAY NOISE BARRIERS

SPEECH AND LANGUAGE SERVICES

SOCIAL ASSISTANCE

EMPLOYMENT SUPPORTS

SERVICES FOR THE DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED

TRADE DEVELOPMENT

SCHOOL CLOSURES

MINISTER'S COMMENTS

ORDERS OF THE DAY

GREATER TORONTO

TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY

ACT, 2006 /

LOI DE 2006 SUR LA RÉGIE

DES TRANSPORTS DU GRAND TORONTO

The House met at 1330.

Prayers.

MEMBERS' STATEMENTS

PRIDE WEEK

Mrs. Christine Elliott (Whitby-Ajax): I rise today on behalf of the PC caucus to recognize the beginning of the 26th annual celebration of pride

here in the city of Toronto. Fearless, the theme of this year's Pride Week festival, will focus on defeating prejudice both outside and within the queer community, with the goal of ensuring that

people from all walks of life can live without fear.

Every year the Pride Week festival attracts more and more tourists to Toronto. People travel from across the province and Canada, from all over the United States

and from countries around the world to celebrate here in Ontario's capital.

This year, there will be over 40 official events held throughout the course of the week, including the annual parade on Sunday, expected to draw more than a

million people to its sidelines. In all, media reports the Pride Week festival generates approximately $80 million annually in revenue for the local economy.

We would like to congratulate the organizers of the Pride Week festival on winning the award in 2005 for best festival in Canada, given by the Canadian Events

Industry Awards, the Star Awards, and wish everyone a warm welcome to Toronto. This week's festivities will provide countless opportunities for friends, family and many different organizations to

gather, and we wish all participants a safe and happy Pride.

DOROTHY DOAN

Mrs. Maria Van Bommel (Lambton-Kent-Middlesex): I rise today to express my condolences to the family and friends of Dorothy Doan, who passed

away on June 10 at the wonderful age of 90 years. I can't help but feel that I need to express my condolences to the entire community of Strathroy for their loss.

Dorothy took a path in life that was not an easy one for a woman in the traditional rural community of her day. After graduating from the Strathroy hospital

school of nursing in 1935, she enlisted in the army and served as a nursing sister in South Africa, Cairo, Egypt and Italy. Upon returning to Canada, she enrolled in the University of Toronto and

worked at Toronto Western Hospital. By 1956, she returned to Strathroy as the superintendent of the Strathroy hospital. Ms. Doan was one of the first Canadian women to become a fellow of the

American College of Hospital Administrators and a charter member of the Canadian college of hospital administrators.

Dorothy saw the building of a new replacement hospital and the addition of two new floors before retiring in 1981, but she remained involved with the hospital

for the rest of her life. Dorothy not only made an invaluable contribution to rural health care, but she continued to work for the betterment of her community long after her retirement.

Although she never married, she was treasured by three generations of nieces and nephews. Anyone and everyone who knew Dot loved her, and we were all rewarded by

her through her sense of humour and her determination.

Ms. Doan was a mentor to me during my days as chair of the Strathroy-Middlesex hospital board, and long after. She lived a life of service to mankind, and I, for

one, will always remember Dot Doan.

VILLAGE OF NEWCASTLE

Mr. John O'Toole (Durham): It's a pleasure to rise today to pay tribute to the village of Newcastle for the celebration of their 150th

anniversary in 2006. The Newcastle sesquicentennial steering committee has organized a year-long birthday party for the community in which everyone is invited to take part and enjoy. Newcastle's

anniversary celebration will culminate over the Canada Day weekend from June 29 to July 2, featuring a street parade, heritage show, gala dinner and many other events.

The village of Newcastle has a rich and storied history. In 1871, the population reached 1,109. Newcastle is the birthplace of many industry innovators,

including the Massey tractor factory, which produced world-class farm equipment sold in over 100 countries. The history of Massey-Ferguson dates back to 1847, when Daniel Massey first established a

workshop producing farm implements. The Massey family produced many philanthropists and distinguished Canadians such as Vincent Massey, amongst others, who worked hard and lent their talents and

skills to the benefit of Ontario citizens. The antique car and tractor show to be held on Sunday, July 2, will feature Massey antique farm equipment.

Newcastle has come a long way from its origins in 1856, and today enjoys unprecedented growth and prosperity. I'd like to congratulate the members of the

organizing sesquicentennial committee -- Charlie Trim, Valentine Lovekin, Myno Van Dyke, Ron Hope, Francis Jose, Joyce Kufta, Ron Locke, Marilyn Martin, Rod McArthur and Murray Paterson -- for a

job well done. Everyone's invited to the celebration of the sesquicentennial in Newcastle this coming weekend.

LOGAN EARHART

Mr. Brad Duguid (Scarborough Centre): All too often, when society speaks about our young people, we spend far too much time on the very few who

engage in anti-social behaviour and youth crime and violence rather than the thousands of young people throughout Ontario's communities who do great things.

Today, in the Ontario Legislature, I'd like to pay tribute to one of those great young people, Logan Earhart. Logan is an 11-year-old constituent who plays

hockey for the Toronto Aces AA minor peewee hockey club. In an effort to raise money for Sick Children's Hospital and his minor hockey team, Logan decided to ride his bicycle from Toronto to

Kingston.

Last Wednesday, Logan, riding alongside his father and Toronto Aces hockey coach, Barry Earhart, set out from Toronto's Hockey Hall of Fame to ride the 400 to

500 kilometres to Kingston along our bike trail. After four adventurous days, Logan arrived in Kingston approximately at noon on Saturday.

On behalf of your hockey teammates, on behalf of those receiving care at Sick Children's Hospital, on behalf of my colleagues here in the Ontario Legislature and

all Ontarians, I want to thank and commend Logan Earhart for his courage, his determination, his generosity and his leadership. I'm sure his father, Barry, his mother, Michelle, and his sister,

Arden, are all very proud of him.

There may come a time when we see Logan again, a big, gifted defenceman, perhaps even on TV taking that big slapshot, or maybe we'll see him leading his

community the same way this 11-year-old has demonstrated through this ride. I encourage everyone to support Logan's efforts by writing a cheque payable to Logan's Run and sending it to the TD Bank

at Lawrence and McCowan. Logan has earned our support.

HEALTH CARE

Mr. Ted Arnott (Waterloo-Wellington): In a few minutes, the House will vote on Bill 102 at third reading. Before the vote, I want to commend the

member for Kitchener-Waterloo for the excellent work she has done to shed light on the serious flaws in the McGuinty government's drug legislation. As our health critic, last Thursday she offered a

very interesting explanation of what happened with Bill 102: the unseemly rush to push it through, the draconian time allocation motion, the lack of consultation, the farce of a committee process

that the Minister of Health organized, the manner in which the minister bullied health stakeholders on this and other issues.

The member for Kitchener-Waterloo deserves enormous credit for her hard work on this bill: the way she listened, in contrast with the minister's lack of

consultation; the way she fought for Ontario's families, patients and pharmacies, especially those in small-town Ontario, in contrast with the way the minister initially ignored them. Credit also

goes to the Coalition of Ontario Pharmacy and my constituents Joe Walsh and Heidi Hanna, who made presentations at the standing committee.

I also want to commend this member for the months of dedicated effort she put forward in support of the victims of Fabry's disease, for last week the federal

government announced a $100-million agreement to help these patients, some 200 in Canada, with the cost of the medication they need to continue to live. She showed remarkable persistence and

compassion, raising the issue some 17 times, each time bringing forward new, relevant information to underline the need for the provincial government to help Fabry's victims and their families. She

did a fabulous job, and we're grateful that the federal government, the Honourable Tony Clement, has responded to help solve this pressing health care issue.

ORGAN DONATION

Mr. Peter Kormos (Niagara Centre): I'm grateful to Brock University for letting me join them last Thursday during their Wellness Conference,

where I had a chance to talk about the principle of presumed intent when it comes to organ donation. As I promised them I would, I brought greetings from Jim Bradley, the member from St.

Catharines. But more importantly, I was incredibly impressed, overwhelmed by the positive response to that modest proposal. It's time for us to change dramatically the attitude towards organ

donation. Simply calling upon people to sign an organ donor card, even the very agreeable proposal of mandatory election, is not going to change the culture, is not going to change the value

system.

I find it incredible that in the year 2006, as the capacity to transplant organs becomes increased by virtue of the new technology and medical science, the need

for organs grows higher and higher and higher: 4,000 people a year across Canada, almost 2,000 people a year in Ontario, dying on a daily basis because not enough organs are being donated. I say

that presumed intent would solve that problem.

I was so proud to receive a letter today from Howard Lacey on behalf of the Champlain Seniors' Service Club of Orillia -- he had given it to Garfield Dunlop as

well -- a petition from the membership of that service club calling upon this government to pass Bill 61, calling upon people in Ontario to acknowledge that the time has come for presumed intent.

Let's start saving some lives instead of burying and burning good organs on a daily basis.

VOLUNTEERS

Mr. Tony C. Wong (Markham): Recently I had the good fortune to attend Arya Samaj Markham, the Vedic Cultural Centre's annual seniors' day, and

bring warm greetings to the residents on behalf of our minister responsible for seniors, the Honourable Jim Bradley. Along with President Amar Chand Erry and the board of directors of Arya Samaj, I

was pleased to honour 17 volunteers who have contributed to their families, their communities and our province. All over the age of 75, these individuals set an excellent example of how giving back

to our community helps foster the prosperity that we all enjoy today.

Active Living: Healthy Living is the theme of this year's Seniors' Month, and Arya Samaj Markham puts this theme into action daily. General secretary Shailesh

Joshi has made sure the centre's programs and services help seniors in the community to meet new friends and stay active and involved.

I am proud to be part of a government that has invested $155 million in new funding this year for long-term-care homes so that our seniors can live with dignity

and independence in their communities.

Please join me in congratulating all of our senior volunteers, both at Markham's Arya Samaj and across Ontario, for their hard work and dedication to causes they

believe in and for helping make Ontario a great place to live.

PRIDE WEEK

Ms. Kathleen O. Wynne (Don Valley West): Today is the start of Toronto's 26th annual Pride Week. Earlier today I joined Mayor Miller, George

Smitherman, Councillor Kyle Rae and the Pride committee to raise the Pride flag at Toronto city hall to kick off the week of festivities. These events are the public manifestation of the gay,

lesbian and queer community's expression of their equal place in our society as mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, aunts, uncles, grandchildren and friends.

Pride in Toronto is a happy, safe celebration. Many gay, lesbian and queer people come to Toronto during this week because where they live it's not safe to be

who they are, or they fear it's not safe. For that reason, this year's Pride theme is Fearless in 2006.

I'm a lucky woman to be living in a city, in a province, in Canada, that allows me to live with my spouse, Jane, without fear of persecution. The fears are many:

the fear of rejection from circles of friends, from family, from the workplace and from community and exclusion from a birthday party if you're young.

At the extreme -- and this was the case for James Loney, the Christian Peacemaker, who will be honoured during this year's celebrations -- the fear is that being

gay will lead to death. Children learn very early that to be gay is bad. They hear the word "gay" as pejorative in the schoolyards long before the bully or the victim has any idea what those words

mean. Fear is sown early and deeply. Mothers fear ostracization for their children; children fear disappointing their fathers.

If you join us on Sunday for the parade, you'll hear the warmest cheer of all for the mothers, fathers and friends of lesbians and gays who march with the PFLAG

contingent. We all want to be accepted by our colleagues and our society, but the greatest pain of them all is to be rejected by family. Please join me today in wishing the Pride Toronto committee

and the queer community a happy, safe Pride.

GROWTH PLANNING

Mr. Dave Levac (Brant): Last Friday, this government launched a growth plan for the greater Golden Horseshoe that will continue to build

opportunities for economic prosperity and build opportunities for the people of Ontario by assisting our municipal partners to create better-planned communities. We are working to ensure that

communities are able to grow in a more complete way, which includes focusing on initiatives to stimulate the local economy, create greater access to shops and services through encouraging the

development of more compact communities, cutting down on car dependency through strengthening our public transit, preserving green spaces and agricultural areas, as well as promoting other

important community-building initiatives.

This is in stark contrast to what the previous Tory government did. Instead of investing in vital capital municipal infrastructure, the Tories demoralized

cash-strapped municipalities with years of downloading when they were told not to do so by their own experts and the municipal experts. The Tories also allowed development of sensitive

environmental areas and weakened regulations to allow continuous urban sprawl,

whereas this government is protecting our environment and actually combating urban sprawl.

In my own riding, we just announced an environmental assessment and planning process for Highway 24. We believe that it should be Highway 424. This will attract

more jobs in my riding of Brant, and enable my constituents and those of the Kitchener-Waterloo and Cambridge and Guelph areas to have access to jobs that are close to home. This is what long-range

planning is all about.

I invite the Tories to thank us and join us as we begin --

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

VISITORS

Mr. Toby Barrett (Haldimand-Norfolk-Brant): On a point of order, Mr. Speaker: I wish to recognize Linda Vandendriessche and John Dumanski of the

Tobacco Marketing Board. They're here today as all sides work together co-operatively for a fair settlement for our tobacco farmers.

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): I would like to welcome on behalf of members Peter Partington, who was a member in the 33rd Parliament,

representing Brock. Good afternoon, sir.

INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

PEACE OFFICERS' MEMORIAL DAY

AND MEMORIAL ACT, 2006 /

LOI DE 2006 SUR LE JOUR DE COMMÉMORATION DES AGENTS

DE LA PAIX ET LE MONUMENT COMMÉMORATIF À LEUR MÉMOIRE

Mr. Levac moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 131,

An Act to proclaim Peace Officers' Memorial Day and to honour peace officers who have died in the line of duty / Projet de loi 131, Loi

proclamant le Jour de commémoration des agents de la paix et rendant hommage aux agents de la paix décédés dans l'exercice de leurs fonctions.

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

The member may wish to make a brief statement.

Mr. Dave Levac (Brant): This bill, if passed, will established the last Sunday in September of each year as Peace Officers' Memorial Day. The

bill will also require that a memorial be established in or adjacent to the legislative precincts of the Legislative Assembly to honour the memory of peace officers who have died in the line of

duty.

Many people have come to me to encourage the creation of this memorial. I would like to especially thank Scott Roberts, who is in the east members' gallery

today, and Vince Murray, who couldn't be with us today, for providing us the research and information about peace officers' memorials in Canada and especially those in Ontario. Thank you very much

for joining us, Scott.

MOTIONS

CONSIDERATION OF BILL PR28

Hon. James J. Bradley (Minister of Tourism, minister responsible for seniors, Government House Leader): I believe we have unanimous consent to

move a motion without notice regarding Bill Pr28.

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): Mr. Bradley is asking for unanimous consent to move a motion without notice regarding Bill Pr28. Agreed?

Agreed.

Hon. Mr. Bradley: I move that standing order 87, concerning notice of committee hearings, be waived with respect to consideration of Bill Pr28,

An Act respecting Master's College and Seminary, by the standing committee on regulations and private bills on Wednesday, June 21, 2006.

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

HOUSE SITTINGS

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

9(c)(i), the House shall meet from 6:45 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Monday, June 19, 2006, for the purpose of considering government business.

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

All in favour will say "aye."

All opposed will say "nay."

In my opinion, the ayes have it.

This will be a five-minute bell.

The division bells rang from 1353 to 1358.

The Speaker: Mr. Bradley has moved government notice of motion number 175. All those in favour will please rise one at a time and be

recognized by the Clerk.

Ayes

Arnott, Ted

Arthurs, Wayne

Balkissoon, Bas

Barrett, Toby

Berardinetti, Lorenzo

Bountrogianni, Marie

Bradley, James J.

Bryant, Michael

Cansfield, Donna H.

Caplan, David

Chambers, Mary Anne V.

Chudleigh, Ted

Colle, Mike

Crozier, Bruce

Delaney, Bob

Dhillon, Vic

Di Cocco, Caroline

Dombrowsky, Leona

Duguid, Brad

Duncan, Dwight

Dunlop, Garfield

Elliott, Christine

Flynn, Kevin Daniel

Fonseca, Peter

Hoy, Pat

Klees, Frank

Kular, Kuldip

Kwinter, Monte

Lalonde, Jean-Marc

Levac, Dave

MacLeod, Lisa

Marsales, Judy

Martiniuk, Gerry

Mauro, Bill

McNeely, Phil

Meilleur, Madeleine

Miller, Norm

Mitchell, Carol

Mossop, Jennifer F.

Munro, Julia

O'Toole, John

Orazietti, David

Parsons, Ernie

Peters, Steve

Peterson, Tim

Phillips, Gerry

Pupatello, Sandra

Racco, Mario G.

Ramal, Khalil

Rinaldi, Lou

Runciman, Robert W.

Ruprecht, Tony

Sandals, Liz

Smith, Monique

Smitherman, George

Sterling, Norman W.

Van Bommel, Maria

Watson, Jim

Witmer, Elizabeth

Wong, Tony C.

Wynne, Kathleen O.

Yakabuski, John

Zimmer, David

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

Nays

Horwath, Andrea

Kormos, Peter

Marchese, Rosario

Prue, Michael

Tabuns, Peter

The Clerk of the Assembly (Mr. Claude L. DesRosiers): The ayes are 63; the nays are 5.

The Speaker: I declare the motion carried.

STATEMENTS BY THE MINISTRY

AND RESPONSES

TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE

Hon. Donna H. Cansfield (Minister of Transportation): I am proud to rise in the House today to highlight the announcement I made last Friday

to launch the southern Ontario highways program.

assets, our highway system. Ontario is the engine that drives the Canadian economy. We are the third-largest financial centre in North America, and our highways are the lifeblood of our economy.

Keeping our economy healthy is critical to our government because it supports the high quality of life that we've come to expect in Ontario. The long-range, proactive southern Ontario highways

program will create a highway system capable of addressing the economic and safety needs of the province's growing population.

I'd like to share with the House some astonishing statistics about how vital our highway system is to this province's success. Every year, $1.2 trillion worth

of goods are carried on Ontario's highways. Every day, $670 million worth of goods cross the Ontario-US border by road. More than 90% of all Ontarians live in southern Ontario: that's more than 11

million people. There are over 9.7 million registered vehicles in our province.

Our government is committed to keeping this traffic along Ontario's highways moving safely and efficiently, not only for today, but also in the future. We know

that without immediate improvements to the province's transportation infrastructure, Ontarians face highway congestion that could cripple the economy and lower the standard of living for future

generations. The southern Ontario highways program anticipates the province's booming growth and is designed to accommodate our burgeoning population.

This is what people can expect from this $3.4-billion investment in southern Ontario: Our government will expand Ontario's highway system by 130 kilometres, we

will replace 64 bridges, and we will repair almost 1,600 kilometres of highways and 200 bridges. This will mean smoother and safer pavement and bridge conditions, less congestion and easier passage

across our highways, less time spent in traffic and more time to spend with family and friends, and ultimately better air quality.

One of this government's top priorities is keeping people and goods moving safely and efficiently across our highways. The southern Ontario highways program is

evidence of the McGuinty government's commitment to high-performance highways. The program we announced complements the $1.8-billion northern Ontario highways strategy launched last year. In the

first year of this program alone, six kilometres of new highway were built, seven new bridges were built, 19 bridges were repaired, and 383 kilometres of highway were repaired.

Last Thursday, Premier McGuinty and Minister Bartolucci announced this year's plans for northern Ontario highway construction, including 36 new projects and 16

projects carried forward from previous years. The 2006 construction plan includes repairs to 43 bridges and 420 kilometres of highway.

Northern highways are literal economic lifelines for northern communities. Linking northern and southern Ontario is vital to the prosperity of the entire

province. The northern and southern Ontario highway programs are evidence of our government's commitment to leave a legacy of safe highways that will support Ontario's economy for generations to

come. The Ministry of Transportation has prepared a detailed report, appropriately called the Southern Ontario Highways Program -- 2006 to 2010, and it is available online.

When we took office, our government promised accountability and transparency in the way we managed taxpayers' dollars. The report shows exactly how money is

being spent to strengthen our province. Ontarians can expect improvements on highways in all regions across the province. Every year, my ministry will publish a report providing an update on the

five-year program.

These changes are in addition to the significant improvements my government has already made to Ontario's highways. Some of those changes already in progress

include:

-- Opening the first-ever high-occupancy vehicle, or HOV, lanes on provincial highways in Ontario. The new lanes on Highways 403 and 404 encourage carpooling,

which translates to fewer vehicles on the roads, cleaner air and a more enjoyable commuting experience.

-- We've also started extending Highway 410 from Bovaird Drive to Mayfield Road to improve traffic flow and to provide a link to growing communities in

Brampton; and

-- We are building new bridges at Bronte Creek and Sixteen Mile Creek to accommodate plans for HOV lanes on the QEW in the future. This is an important part

of our international trade route through Oakville and Burlington.

In 2006 alone, Ontarians can expect: 29 kilometres of new highway, 828 of kilometres of highway repairs, 77 bridge repairs, and preparations for 10 kilometres

of new HOV lanes in the northbound lanes of Highway 404. The end result of these improvements will be safer and more efficient highways and a stronger economic outlook for our province.

It's very important to note that our government is keenly aware of the effect all of the planned construction can have on the environment. We work hard to

protect wildlife, fish habitats and migratory and nesting birds.

Tackling congestion is also crucial to improving air quality. Our record investments in highway infrastructure and public transit will mean less time idling in

traffic, less fuel consumed and less pollution. We will do everything we can to preserve Ontario's ecosystems and air quality for future generations.

I'd like to conclude by saying that Ontario is already a great place to live and to do business, but it has the potential to be even greater. The McGuinty

government is committed to strengthening the province's infrastructure to maximize our competitive advantage on the world stage and to encourage further investment in our province.

The southern Ontario highways program and northern highways program are forward-thinking initiatives that will help to counteract growing congestion, take care

of our existing highway infrastructure and deliver prosperity to future generations. I know all honourable members will want to support these programs, for they are in all regions of our

province.

GROWTH PLANNING

Hon. David Caplan (Minister of Public Infrastructure Renewal, Deputy Government House Leader): I rise today to inform this House and the

people of Ontario of an exciting and historic event in the way we will stimulate economic prosperity, manage growth and protect the environment in the most rapidly growing region in our

country.

I'm referring, of course, to the growth plan for the greater Golden Horseshoe, which was released just this past Friday. I had the pleasure of announcing the

plan's release in Mississauga, at an event hosted by the Canadian Urban Institute.

I want to acknowledge that we have indeed been very fortunate in having some very strong supporters -- some of whom are in the gallery today, and I'd like to

introduce them to you. We have with us the Mayor of Mississauga, Hazel McCallion; Mayor Rob Hamilton of Barrie; Mayor John Gray from Oshawa; Mayor Mike Hancock from Brantford; Peter Partington,

regional chair of Niagara region; Chris Winter, Conservation Council of Ontario; Ken Seiling, regional chair of the region of Waterloo; Victor Fiume from the Ontario Home Builders' Association;

Neil Rodgers from the Urban Development Institute; and Bob Finnigan from the Greater Toronto Home Builders' Association.

The McGuinty government has an incredibly positive vision for the greater Golden Horseshoe as a great place to live, now and far into the future. It's a vision

that's based on a strong economy, a clean and healthy environment, and opportunity for everyone. That's why we've developed this plan: because it supports working families and businesses and

protects our environment.

The growth plan will build opportunities for the people of Ontario by creating better-planned communities, with more options for living, working, shopping and

playing. It will build opportunities for new investment and more jobs. It will revitalize downtowns to become vibrant and convenient centres. It will provide greater choices in housing types to

meet the needs of people at all stages of life. It will curb urban sprawl and protect farmlands and green spaces. It will reduce traffic gridlock by improving access to a greater range of

transportation choices.

This plan places Ontario amongst the leaders in promoting strong communities, not just in Canada but in North America and worldwide. We heard, for example,

from US organizations such as the Congress for New Urbanism, the Urban Land Institute and the Smart Growth Leadership Institute that what Ontario is doing is a model for North America -- a model

that puts us at the forefront internationally for building vibrant cities and communities. The world-renowned planning expert and the public policy chair at the Urban Land Institute, William

Hudnut, has said that Ontario's Place to Grow initiative represents "a better and smarter way: strategic government planning and investment that produces communities with the right mix of housing,

a good range of jobs, convenient transit, and easy access to stores and services to meet people's daily needs."

The honourable members will remember the discussion that led to the passage of the Places to Grow Act last June. That groundbreaking legislation, supported by

this Legislature, authorized the province to designate growth plan areas and develop growth plans. The greater Golden Horseshoe is the first designated growth plan area, and this growth plan is the

first to be developed under the act. It is first because the need here is urgent. The greater Golden Horseshoe is indeed the engine of Ontario's economy. It's our largest urban region by far. About

two thirds of Ontario's people live here now, and this region will grow by approximately 3.7 million additional people and almost two million additional jobs by 2031.

But without the growth plan, we could all expect more of what has happened in the recent past: urban sprawl and damage to the environment, longer commutes to

work, and excessive costs for infrastructure needed to support that kind of growth. Instead, we will create, with our partners, communities that will meet the needs of Ontarians, not only today but

for generations to come.

Transit is the plan's first investment priority. For instance, Move Ontario, an initiative announced by my colleague Dwight Duncan in the March 2006 budget,

provided more than $830 million to municipalities in the GTA, including Toronto, York region, Brampton and Mississauga, to use to expand public transit. The plan also addresses employment lands to

make sure that municipalities maintain enough lands to accommodate manufacturing and major office and institutional development as well as other employment uses.

Last year, our government established the greenbelt to protect natural and agricultural areas, demonstrating our commitment to our environmental heritage. The

growth plan confirms that commitment. In fact, it goes further by making sure that the region's growth happens in the areas that can best accommodate it while taking pressure off the areas we value

most.

Investments in public infrastructure are being used to support this plan. More than $7.5 billion will be invested to improve infrastructure right here in the

greater Golden Horseshoe over the course of the next five years. If passed, the legislation we've introduced will be creating the Greater Toronto Transportation Authority to promote the seamless

movement of people and goods right across the greater Toronto area.

This plan is the result of countless hours of public consultation, policy analysis and engagement with the stakeholders. I'd like to acknowledge the work of

assistant deputy minister Brad Graham, who leads the Ontario Growth Secretariat in that work.

The consultation doesn't end here. We will continue, as we have, to listen, to engage stakeholders and public bodies as we implement the plan. The time is so

very right for this initiative. People in the greater Golden Horseshoe are well aware of the rapid growth of this region. They want to avoid the potential negative effects of traffic gridlock, long

commutes, poor air quality and the loss of green space, and they want realistic goals and a clear plan to achieve them, and that's what the growth plan delivers. That's why I'm so optimistic that

it will promote economic prosperity and an improved quality of life in this region for decades to come.

FRENCH-LANGUAGE EDUCATION

L'hon. Sandra Pupatello (ministre de l'Éducation, ministre déléguée à la Condition féminine): C'est vraiment une

Ottawa, I did call them "show-offs."

qualité. Nous voulons aussi contrer l'assimilation. C'est pourquoi nous avons lancé la politique d'aménagement linguistique.

rencontre au début de juin.

La semaine dernière, j'ai eu le plaisir d'annoncer que le financement de tous les conseils scolaires en Ontario va augmenter de 600 $ millions l'an

scolaires -- the French boards in particular are reaching their cap of $1 billion.

représente une augmentation de 34 %.

prochain afin de reconnaître les coûts de prestation des programmes pour la petite enfance.

J'annonce également que le gouvernement va financer, sur quatre ans, 220 $ millions en nouvelles constructions d'écoles de langue

des élèves et augmenter la confiance du public dans la qualité de nos écoles.

J'aimerais aussi remercier la directrice de l'École secondaire catholique Béatrice-Desloges, M me Julie Matte, qui nous a accueillis ce

matin.

VISITORS

Mrs. Christine Elliott (Whitby-Ajax): On a point of order, Mr. Speaker: I'd be grateful if my colleagues would join me in welcoming the

students and teachers from the Wasdell Centre for Innovative Learning in Ajax. I'm happy to say that my son John is here as part of that class today.

TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE

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

Mr. John O'Toole (Durham): Often, I get quite nervous when the Liberals stand to make announcements and commitments to the people of Ontario.

I've become somewhat cynical over the last while of the number of broken promises, and here yet again today is what I consider to be another broken promise.

Quite frankly, in the very few short weeks since this minister has taken over, we've found that the amount of slippage here is about $1 billion that's been

taken out of the capital budget for that ministry under her watch.

During our term in government, we had committed $1 billion per year. The former Minister of Transportation was courteous enough to follow that template for a

10-year plan. Now we have $3.4 billion over a five-year plan. Do the numbers: It's actually a cut to the people of Ontario. In fact, I would say quite sincerely, it's another Liberal photo op.

There are no shovels in the ground. There's nothing actually happening. It's an additional photo op announcement. I think the evidence is before us.

In Durham region, the single biggest issue that I hear about is the east completion of the 407 highway. Building it -- and you talk to Mr. Caplan; your

minister's announcement as well on Places to Grow. There's nothing there for Durham region. You've ignored us. You've ignored Durham region, and despite that, you've ignored other parts of the

province.

What about the promise to complete 600 bridges? There are over 10,000 bridges in this province. With the Liberal government, you promise more and you get

less.

In conclusion, in the limited time we have to respond, the evidence is before us each day. What do I witness? I witness gridlock and I witness the poor

management of incidents on our highways. Have a happy summer motoring in Ontario.

GROWTH PLANNING

Mr. Robert W. Runciman (Leeds-Grenville): In response to the minister of infrastructure, there's a long way to go from announcement to

accomplishment on this one. First of all, it's unclear as to how the province will oversee the plan, which must coordinate local authorities and citizens in 25 urban growth centres, rural

communities, and stakeholders in new development in designated greenfield areas.

Many low-density sprawl developments have already been approved. It's easier and less expensive for developers to build single-family homes in the suburbs

rather than mixed-use communities where the minister hopes people will live, work and play.

It appears that these developments will be exempt from the new rule, putting off results too far in the future. There's a great deal of emphasis on reserving

enough space for commercial activity in the hopes that people might live and work in the same space, enabling them to walk or bike to work and spend less time in gridlocked traffic. However, it's

unclear as to how these new communities would be able to attract employers or how they would encourage employees to live nearby.

Municipal councils will have three years to bring their OPs in line with the province's vision, and only communities that co-operate and reach their density

targets will be eligible to share in the billions spent by the province each year on infrastructure projects. Rebellious cities and towns can be hauled before the OMB and forced to obey the plan,

and Queen's Park could refuse to grant permission for the expansion of municipal boundaries. This is just another example of the McGuinty Liberals announcing grandiose ideas without a specific

action plan.

FRENCH-LANGUAGE EDUCATION

Mr. Frank Klees (Oak Ridges): In response to the Minister of Education, I'm surprised that the minister wouldn't take the opportunity to

commend the former Progressive Conservative government for its vision and support for French-language education. The minister may not know that it was that former government that first created

French-language school boards and, through the investments of the former government, that French-language schools are funded at standard levels. I'm encouraged to see that the current government is

continuing to support these fine educational institutions, and we support every effort that the government may well make to ensure that that fine education continues in this province.

I would suggest to the minister that what she should be concentrating on, instead of making additional one-off announcements, is keeping her government's

promise that they would update the funding formula. Boards would be much better off if they kept that commitment to fund school boards to the level of the commitments that this government has made

on behalf of school boards across the province.

So I want to take the opportunity today to commend all of the teachers and all of the staff and the students who participate in French-language education. To

their credit, it is a place for us to stand proud as a government here in Ontario. We encourage the government to meet their commitment to other school boards across --

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

Mr. Rosario Marchese (Trinity-Spadina): To Minister Pupatello: She says they're investing $10 million to support early childhood education and

$16 million over four years to drive approximately $220 million in capital construction for French-language schools.

With respect to the $10 million, I'm assuming it's new money; it's hard to say. I'm assuming it's provincial dollars. That too is hard to say, but we can only

hope.

As to the $16 million over four years for capital construction, all I want to say to the minister is this: Minister Kennedy said that he was going to spend

$270 million that would generate $4 billion in capital projects. So far, in three years, this Liberal government has only spent $16 million, by the evidence provided to me by this government and

this minister. So when they say that they're going to spend another $16 million over four years, they've already spent $16 million over three years for all of the schools in Ontario. That's not a

lot.

By the way, if you want to reduce the assimilation of francophone students and help retain francophone students in French-language schools, the best way to do

it is to encourage bilingualism; the best way to do it is to encourage French immersion; the best way to do it for your government is to make sure that kids who are not studying French are studying

French, as a way of promoting French-language students to stay in their own schools.

GROWTH PLANNING

Mr. Peter Tabuns (Toronto-Danforth): I'm going to speak to the announcement by the Minister of Public Infrastructure Renewal and that of the

Minister of Transportation.

It's very clear from the documents presented to us that the Liberals' final plan to govern growth in the greater Golden Horseshoe area will not reach its

target: It will not curb sprawl and it will not stop gridlock on our highways. I say this to our guests in the gallery today: You will be dealing with worse gridlock in the years to come.

What this community, the greater Golden Horseshoe, needs is a strong plan to control urban sprawl, it needs a plan to control gridlock, to eliminate gridlock,

and it needs a plan that will deal with the social, economic and environmental impacts that sprawl imposes on communities. What we have had presented in this House is a growth plan that puts the

interests of communities, the interests of public transit and the interests of increased urban density behind the interests of developers.

The Liberals' final growth plan for the greater Golden Horseshoe states that 40% of all new residential development must be constructed within built-up areas

by 2015. The Neptis Foundation did research on this issue, often cited when we're talking about this area and the challenges to it. They say that at this rate of intensification, the amount of new

residential development to be shifted from farmland to genuine intensification is too little to do what has to be done to reduce gridlock and congestion.

TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE

Mr. Peter Tabuns (Toronto-Danforth): One of the factors that's going to impact on all of this is the highways plan that was announced by the

Minister of Transportation. The proposed extension of Highway 404 north to Ravenshoe Road is particularly problematic. It provides the essential infrastructure to further a series of low-density

developments proposed for York region, north of the Oak Ridges moraine. These are in the Queensville, Sharon and Holland Landing areas. This will not curb sprawl; this will facilitate it. So

everyone who's going to be sitting on the 401, the 407 and the QEW in the years to come is going to get to sit there a lot longer, they're going to get to listen to radio a lot longer, and they're

going to get to spend more time thinking about being with their families instead of being with them, because the plan before us will increase sprawl, not reduce it.

The economic corridor, the GTA east-west corridor: How is this going to affect the amount of transportation that we need, the sort of transit that we need? It

will facilitate more investment in cars and more sprawl.

The NDP is disappointed with the plans that have been brought forward. The key elements for reducing gridlock and sprawl are not there. In fact, this plan is

extraordinarily weak, and the very problems that this government decries, the very problems that politicians in the GTA and the suburban areas are working with, are facing with their constituents,

are going to get worse. There are going to be profound problems for this area.

DEFERRED VOTES

TRANSPARENT DRUG SYSTEM

FOR PATIENTS ACT, 2006 /

LOI DE 2006 SUR UN RÉGIME

DE MÉDICAMENTS TRANSPARENT

POUR LES PATIENTS

Deferred vote on the motion for third reading of Bill 102,

An Act to amend the Drug Interchangeability and Dispensing Fee Act and the Ontario Drug Benefit Act

/ Projet de loi 102, Loi modifiant la

Loi sur l'interchangeabilité des médicaments et les honoraires de préparation et la

Loi sur le régime de médicaments de l'Ontario.

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): Call in the members. This will be a 10-minute bell.

The division bells rang from 1430 to 1440.

The Speaker: Mr. Peterson has moved third reading of Bill 102,

An Act to amend the Drug Interchangeability and Dispensing Fee Act and the

Ontario Drug Benefit Act. All those in favour will please rise one at a time and be recognized by the Clerk.

Ayes

Arthurs, Wayne

Balkissoon, Bas

Berardinetti, Lorenzo

Bountrogianni, Marie

Bradley, James J.

Bryant, Michael

Cansfield, Donna H.

Caplan, David

Chambers, Mary Anne V.

Colle, Mike

Crozier, Bruce

Delaney, Bob

Dhillon, Vic

Di Cocco, Caroline

Dombrowsky, Leona

Duguid, Brad

Duncan, Dwight

Flynn, Kevin Daniel

Fonseca, Peter

Hoy, Pat

Kular, Kuldip

Kwinter, Monte

Lalonde, Jean-Marc

Leal, Jeff

Levac, Dave

Marsales, Judy

Mauro, Bill

McNeely, Phil

Meilleur, Madeleine

Milloy, John

Mitchell, Carol

Mossop, Jennifer F.

Orazietti, David

Parsons, Ernie

Peters, Steve

Peterson, Tim

Phillips, Gerry

Pupatello, Sandra

Qaadri, Shafiq

Racco, Mario G.

Ramal, Khalil

Rinaldi, Lou

Ruprecht, Tony

Sandals, Liz

Smith, Monique

Smitherman, George

Sorbara, Gregory S.

Takhar, Harinder S.

Van Bommel, Maria

Watson, Jim

Wong, Tony C.

Wynne, Kathleen O.

Zimmer, David

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

Nays

Arnott, Ted

Barrett, Toby

Chudleigh, Ted

Dunlop, Garfield

Elliott, Christine

Hampton, Howard

Horwath, Andrea

Jackson, Cameron

Klees, Frank

Kormos, Peter

MacLeod, Lisa

Marchese, Rosario

Martiniuk, Gerry

Miller, Norm

Munro, Julia

Murdoch, Bill

O'Toole, John

Prue, Michael

Runciman, Robert W.

Tabuns, Peter

Witmer, Elizabeth

Yakabuski, John

The Clerk of the Assembly (Mr. Claude L. DesRosiers): The ayes are 53; the nays are 22.

The Speaker: I declare the motion carried.

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

VISITORS

Mr. Tim Peterson (Mississauga South): On a point of order, Mr. Speaker: I rise today to recognize four people from my riding. They are Sandy

and Grant Jones and Bob Fasken, and they are escorting Mitch Fasken. Mitch Fasken will not be running for the leadership of the Liberal Party of Canada this year, but he will be in 2026. Thank you

for recognizing them.

ORAL QUESTIONS

NATIVE LAND DISPUTE

Mr. Robert W. Runciman (Leeds-Grenville): My question is to the Acting Premier. Acting Premier, last Friday your Liberal government announced

the purchase of land now under native occupation in Caledonia. At the time, the minister of aboriginal affairs indicated that the purchase price was confidential. We're now hearing that the price

paid will exceed 50 million taxpayer dollars.

Minister, why is the purchase price confidential, on what basis have you determined that it must be confidential and what is so confidential about using

taxpayer dollars to clean up a problem your government can't fix?

Hon. Leona Dombrowsky (Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs): I'm happy to have the opportunity to say to the honourable member

today that I'm not in a position to share that particular detail with him, but what I can say is that because our government has been able to reach an agreement with the local developer, that has

enabled those parties at the main table -- federal representatives, provincial representatives and representatives of the First Nations community -- to move these negotiations along, as is

appropriate. We're very pleased that achieving this agreement with the property owner has enabled those at the negotiating table -- the main table -- to focus on the issue and get this matter

resolved as soon as possible.

Mr. Runciman: I think some could fairly construe that response as contempt for the Legislature and contempt for the hard-working taxpayers of

this province.

John Tory and the Progressive Conservative Party believe the people of Ontario deserve to know just how much Dalton McGuinty's lack of leadership is costing

us. Last week in court, officials from the Ministry of the Attorney General indicated that the McGuinty government is handing over property at the former Burtch Correctional Centre to Six Nations.

Would the minister advise the House and hard-pressed Ontario taxpayers what the assessed value of that property is?

Hon. Mrs. Dombrowsky: I find it quite appalling that a member of this Legislature, who would formerly have been an Attorney General, would ask

a question of that kind, knowing that there are very serious and important negotiations underway at this time. You are asking for information that would be inappropriate and that I know you, as a

minister in this position, would not have provided either.

We have a very serious situation that the federal government, provincial representatives and First Nations representatives are dealing with. We encourage them.

With the property issue being resolved, we believe we have provided them with a situation that will enable them to achieve a resolution to this in a more expeditious way. That has been our

commitment from day one of this, and we are encouraged, now that there has been a property deal, that that will enable those parties at that table to get that deal done.

Mr. Runciman: That was an unbelievably feeble response. I mean, the Attorney General's officials already indicated they turned over property

at Burtch to Six Nations. This is not something that's part of negotiations; they've turned it over.

To date, the McGuinty government has committed probably in excess of 50 million taxpayer dollars for a property purchase, millions to disrupted businesses,

given away at least a hundred hectares of government property, dropped conditions for a return to the bargaining table, recognized a no-go zone for police, permitted criminal fugitives to remain at

large, shattered public confidence in the rule of law, turned a blind eye to the destruction of a hydro transformer, the blockade of highway and railway and on and on, and still no deal. Mr.

McGuinty's approach -- bargain from weakness and reward continued resistance -- is setting the table for many more Caledonia-type confrontations.

Minister, will you, as Acting Premier, tell the people of Caledonia and the people of Ontario if this is how Dalton McGuinty defines being up to the job?

Hon. Mrs. Dombrowsky: First of all, I would like to say, on behalf of the government -- certainly it has been stated many times by the

minister responsible for aboriginal affairs -- that we truly appreciate what the people and the community of Caledonia have had to endure, and we thank them for their continued support.

I know that the honourable member and the members of the opposition are not happy that we find ourselves today in a situation where, at the main table, federal

partners, provincial partners and First Nations partners are negotiating a resolution to this issue. That has been our goal from day one. We are there with all the challenges the member has

identified, that have happened and that have been dealt with. We feel that it's important for people in the community to know that we are committed to their safety, to their well-being and to

ensure that there is a peaceful resolution to this outstanding --

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

Mr. Runciman: To the Acting Premier, again on Caledonia: one of the explicit conditions Mr. McGuinty laid out last Monday for a return to the

bargaining table with the Caledonia occupiers was that the First Nations leadership co-operate with police. We know that isn't happening, and I believe it's quite appropriate for one to ask for

assurances that your government will not broker any deal with the occupiers until the six wanted individuals, including one charged with the attempted murder of an OPP officer, are turned over to

police. Will you give us that assurance?

Hon. Mrs. Dombrowsky: The Premier was very clear when he said that in order for negotiations to continue on this very serious issue, the

barricades had to come down and there had to be a demonstration that the First Nations people were co-operating --

Mr. Runciman: He said the leadership.

Hon. Mrs. Dombrowsky: Well, the leadership of the First Nations were co-operating with the police. We have heard from the Ontario Provincial

Police, who have confirmed that that is in fact has happened at Caledonia, and that is why we have returned to the negotiating table, along with our federal partners. Obviously, the federal

participants at this table believe it is appropriate to be there so that we can gain a resolution to this very serious issue.

Mr. Runciman: The regrettable truth is that Mr. McGuinty displayed incredible weakness last week when, on Tuesday, he backed down from

explicit conditions for a return to the bargaining table that he set just the day before. Talk about backing yourself into a corner.

You are negotiating with people who are openly obstructing justice by admittedly hiding, or assisting to flee, individuals wanted for very serious crimes,

including attempted murder of a police officer. Minister, why would you continue to negotiate with the Caledonia occupiers unless or until they co-operate and hand over the six wanted men?

Hon. Mrs. Dombrowsky: You asked this question of this government and this Premier. Are you asking the same questions of the Prime Minister of

Canada, who has seen fit to have representatives of the federal government at the same table we are at for the same reasons? We understand why it is so important that we achieve a settlement to

this very, very serious issue.

I remind the honourable member that the conditions that were placed by the Premier of Ontario have been met -- the barricades are down; the Ontario Provincial

Police have told us. And if I have to choose between taking their word or your word, I'm taking their word. That's why we're at the table.

The Speaker: Final supplementary.

Mr. Runciman: She's taking the word of the spinmeisters in the Premier's office; no one else.

Minister, you've attempted to put a happy face on your land purchase announcement, but the Caledonia occupiers are saying that's not good enough until the 50

million tax dollars and the land title are in their pocket, along with the Burtch property. And given the Premier's lack of intestinal fortitude to this point in time, who knows what else you're

offering?

We know that 15 OPP officers have been injured during the occupation, people have been assaulted, a highway and railway span blocked, thousands plunged into

darkness through the destruction of a hydro transformer, individuals facing serious criminal charges have been hidden, yet all we hear about are giveaways by the McGuinty Liberal government.

Minister, what are you looking for in return for your generous concessions? What are you bargaining for?

Hon. Mrs. Dombrowsky: I would offer the honourable member that the position that has been taken by our Premier has been strong and clear.

I would also offer to the honourable member -- maybe he hasn't read the papers lately -- a quote that has come from Karl Walsh, who is with the Ontario

Provincial Police Association. This is what Mr. Walsh has said in terms of how our government has conducted the affairs around this particular incident. He indicates that he appreciates the

government's hands-off approach to policing in Caledonia, and says that the opposition should stop playing politics with this standoff. I would suggest that the honourable member should heed the

advice of Karl Walsh and stop playing politics with this very important issue. We are working for a resolution.

ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT

Mr. Howard Hampton (Kenora-Rainy River): My question is for the Acting Premier. Last week, the environment minister secretly exempted the

McGuinty government's $40-billion nuclear mega scheme from a thorough, effective provincial environmental assessment, and thereby deprived Ontarians of the opportunity to examine greener and more

affordable energy alternatives. Today we learned that the secret backroom exemption you gave to your nuclear mega scheme also contravenes the requirements of Ontario's Environmental Bill of

Rights.

Acting Premier, it's bad enough that the McGuinty government has undermined Ontario's Environmental Assessment Act. Why has the McGuinty government also

ignored Ontario's Environmental Bill of Rights?

Hon. Leona Dombrowsky (Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs): I want to say to the honourable member that he is simply wrong. New

energy projects in the province of Ontario will require an environmental assessment. I think it is unfortunate when it is presented otherwise. I would also point the people of Ontario to the record

of this government when we have constructed new energy projects.

I would remind the honourable member that with respect to the Glen Miller hydroelectric facility, we have completed an EA; the EA is done. With respect to

Kingsbridge wind farm, phase 1, the EA is done. With respect to Erie Shores wind farm, the EA is done. Prince wind project, phase 1: EA done. Prince wind project, phase 2: EA done. Ripley wind

power: EA done. Portlands Energy: EA done. Our government --

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): Thank you, Minister. Supplementary?

Mr. Hampton: The question was about Ontario's Environmental Bill of Rights.

Section 16 of the Environmental Bill of Rights Act stipulates, "If

a minister considers that a proposal ... could, if implemented, have a significant effect on the environment, the minister shall ... give notice of the proposal to the public at least 30 days

before the proposal is implemented."

Any reasonable person in Ontario knows that a $40-billion nuclear mega scheme is going to have very significant effects on the environment now and for hundreds

of years. Ontario law says you have to give 30 days' notice before you try your secret backroom exemption. You gave zero notice; in fact, you tried to hide the exemption. My question is this: If

you think your nuclear mega scheme is so good, why are you trying so hard to hide it from the people of Ontario?

Hon. Mrs. Dombrowsky: To suggest that the government is trying to hide anything is absolutely ludicrous, given the fact that you found out

about it on the website. Where's the secret there? I would remind the honourable member, as was indicated by the Minister of the Environment, that it is the position of our government that with

broad government policy direction, there is not a need -- it is not subject to the requirements of the Ontario Environmental Assessment Act. That is what the minister has said.

With respect to individual energy projects that will be undertaken in the province of Ontario, for each and every new project there will be an environmental

assessment. The people of Ontario should be very confident that they will have every opportunity to participate in that process, which will ensure public participation.

Mr. Hampton: Here is the history: Dalton McGuinty exempts his nuclear mega scheme from a thorough provincial environmental assessment,

breaking Ontario's Environmental Bill of Rights in the process. Then he says there will be some sort of federal environmental assessment. But your energy minister on the weekend confessed, "I'm

told by people who are more expert than I at these things that the federal process is not as fulsome as the Ontario process." In other words, the federal process doesn't provide an independent,

expert-based review of the nuclear megaproject, nor does it consider alternatives.

So here you go: You undermine the Environmental Assessment Act and you try to get around the Environmental Bill of Rights. I say again, if your nuclear mega

scheme is as good as you claim it is, why are you trying so hard to hide it from the people of Ontario?

Hon. Mrs. Dombrowsky: Again, it's important that I correct the honourable member. The regulation that this government has brought forward is

on the website; it's not hidden anywhere. You found it there.

I say to the people of Ontario, we remain committed to ensure that there is a public process for new energy builds in the province of Ontario. The Minister of

the Environment has committed to that. Our government is committed to that.

With respect to the environmental assessment that's carried out at the federal level, I find it interesting that in the quote he shared with this Legislature,

he neglected to finish the comment that was made by the Minister of Energy, where he made it very clear that he believed it was time that the federal government would review their criteria for

environmental assessment to make it more rigid and more stringent. You forgot that; you left that out. We are committed to a very comprehensive environmental assessment process for new energy in

the province of Ontario.

The Speaker: New question?

Mr. Hampton: To the Acting Premier: I think I've heard it all. The McGuinty government does a secret backroom deal to hide your nuclear mega

scheme from a provincial environmental assessment, you toss it off to a weak federal environmental assessment, and then you suggest the federal government should toughen up their procedures. Why

not just do the right thing in the first place: subject your nuclear mega scheme to a thorough, effective Ontario environmental assessment instead of trying to hide from it?

Hon. Mrs. Dombrowsky: First of all, it's very important that I take every opportunity on behalf of this government to remind the people that

there is absolutely nothing hidden about the regulations that we brought forward. They are public and on the website.

I am also in a position today to say to the people of Ontario, with respect to new energy builds in the province of Ontario, that there will be an

environmental assessment. That has been the case with new builds to date under our government, and that will continue.

With respect to the building of new nuclear, again, I say to the people of Ontario that nuclear is federally regulated. They have the responsibility to ensure,

going forward, that the environmental assessments are carried out and that the communities have an opportunity to participate. Our own energy minister has encouraged them to review those to make

them even more responsive to what the community will expect from that process.

Mr. Hampton: Minister, you say the McGuinty government has been public and open in terms of the environmental assessment requirements for your

nuclear mega scheme, but we had to go looking for the exemption order. When the Minister of Energy was holding his press conferences, doing his one-on-ones and making his announcements, there was

not one whisper about your exemption from the Environmental Assessment Act process, not one hint of your exemption from the requirements for an environmental assessment under Ontario law.

And I'm not alone. I want to quote Ian Urquhart from the Toronto Star this weekend: "When it comes to the question of an environmental assessment of its

nuclear plan, McGuinty and his government have been anything but direct. Indeed, they have been downright misleading."

The Speaker: You know you can't say that, even if it is a quote. Withdraw.

Mr. Hampton: I withdraw the quote, Speaker.

Then Mr. Urquhart said, "This was Broten's first true test as a cabinet minister, and she flunked it...."

I say again, people are catching on to the McGuinty government's failure to provide openness, failure to provide environmental leadership. Why are you so

determined to hide your nuclear mega scheme from the people of Ontario, who will have to deal with the environmental risks and the $40-billion cost?

Hon. Mrs. Dombrowsky: It is absolutely inappropriate that the honourable member suggests there is anything being hidden, especially when it's

on a website -- when it's on a website. How more public in today's society can we get than to put something on a website? I would also remind the honourable member that if he was looking on the

website, he would also see that our government has passed regulation 424. This regulation actually strengthens the requirement of the Ontario Power Authority to consider environmental impacts. He

suggests our commitment to the environment is not what it should be. We have demonstrated that we want to ensure that the consideration of our environment is definitely a part of any process that

any energy facility would consider moving forward with -- a new bill. We are committed to ensure going forward, as we build a power supply for the people of Ontario that they need, that they expect

from this government, that we will do so in a responsible way.

Mr. Hampton: I must cite another example of the McGuinty government's failure to be straight with people and their attempt to hide the real

evidence. Last week, at the Minister of Energy's news conferences, technical briefings and the one-on-ones with the media, at no time did he fess up that the McGuinty government is breaking its

national commitments to reduce the level of mercury in air pollution. He had lots to say about everything, but at no time did he mention that the McGuinty government was going to break that

commitment too. But he did leak the information to Saskatchewan's Minister of the Environment. Tell me, Acting Premier, why didn't the McGuinty government fess up about that one? What are you

trying to hide from the public when you leak the information to a minister in Saskatchewan but nowhere last week did you admit that you were going to be allowing more mercury pollution in Ontario's

airshed?

Hon. Mrs. Dombrowsky: First of all, with respect to the supplementary, I'm not exactly sure what it has to do with the environmental

assessment and nuclear plants at this point in time, but I will gladly take this opportunity -- and maybe if you have another question come your way, you can ask me more particularly about that --

to say to the people of Ontario that our government is absolutely intent on ensuring that we have a stable energy source for the people of Ontario. We are committed to doubling our conservation in

the province of Ontario. We are committed to doubling renewable energy sources in the province of Ontario. We are committed to eliminating coal. We are committed to refurbishing and replacing

nuclear. But one thing we're not going to do: We're not going to buy rainforests in Costa Rica. We're not going to cancel conservation programs in the province of Ontario --

The Speaker: Thank you. New question.

NATIVE LAND DISPUTE

Mr. Toby Barrett (Haldimand-Norfolk-Brant): To the Acting Premier: On Friday, we knocked on doors in the Caledonia subdivision adjacent to the

occupied site. Acting Premier, you will know the turmoil and the tension within those families, within that subdivision. People are off work on stress leave; people have blood pressure out of

control. I'm reading e-mails from terrified children, children who sometimes can't even go outside during recess. In spite of your government's spin, the barricades are still up, and life is much

worse now than it was on February 28. Acting Premier, have any members of your government been to Caledonia to communicate with these forgotten families, or do you hope they will just quietly go

away?

Hon. Leona Dombrowsky (Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs): First of all, I can say to the honourable member that the Minister of

Economic Development and Trade is there as we speak. This also provides me with an opportunity to say to the people in the community that we certainly appreciate that there have been challenges in

the last weeks. To that end, our government has worked to establish the community liaison table. David Peterson had a hand in leading the establishment of that table. Now, at that table, are

municipal representatives, business representatives, as well as the local member, Dave Levac. It is their responsibility to be that finger on the pulse of the community, to determine what their

issues are, what their needs are, and bring recommendations forward on how they might be addressed.

Our government is very happy about the good work that is being undertaken by the community liaison committee, and we do look forward to hearing from them and

understanding what we might do to continue to support those in the community.

Mr. Barrett: Acting Premier, in addition to knocking on maybe 300 doors on Friday, I attended a large neighbourhood meeting in that

subdivision. As at the door, people are asking questions about renewing their mortgages, the value of their homes, and the title on their property.

We know that your government has tried to buy its way out by purchasing the Douglas Creek Estates from the land developers. You have set a precedent. Some

homeowners next door to the site are asking me, "Will you please purchase our homes as well?" A precedent has been set, Acting Premier. Is this now an option on the table, to purchase people's

homes?

Hon. Mrs. Dombrowsky: I think that it is important that we clarify for the record that our government has made investments in the community

that we believe will support the businesses and the homeowners in the area. We have committed $500,000 in emergency assistance for the local businesses. We have delivered $50,000 to the local

council to help them deal with the phone calls that have been coming into their offices and to assist them with staff for that. We've delivered $50,000 to help develop a marketing and economic

recovery plan. Last week we delivered a further $160,000 to the local council to implement that plan. We've provided interim relief to the developer and businesses, and we've also provided a

toll-free line.

I would say to the honourable member that the most significant contribution to date has been the establishment of the community liaison table, where there are

businesses, members of council and the local member. People of the community know who they are and should go there --

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

ENERGY CONSERVATION

Mr. Peter Tabuns (Toronto-Danforth): My question is for the Minister of Energy. Toronto Hydro has introduced two new programs that essentially

pay people and companies to reduce their demand on hot days. The problem that they have and that other utilities have is that they can't implement these programs on the scale required without

substantial new financial support from the province. Will you, Minister, order the OPA to make these kinds of programs mandatory throughout the province and provide local utilities with the

financial resources to allow them to implement these programs on the scale needed to make a real difference in this province?

Hon. Dwight Duncan (Minister of Energy): I will remind the member opposite that those programs he has referred to are the direct result of the

$160 million and the so-called third tranche money that this government made available two and a half years ago. You weren't here, but your colleagues -- Mr. Hampton, Mr. Kormos and the others --

voted against that. It's unfortunate they did that because that was the first step we made in terms of really creating a culture of conservation.

We're glad to hear that you support those programs now. We welcome your input into that debate. I wish you could convince your colleagues that they should have

supported us in those programs. Hopefully you'll support us as we move forward on conservation initiatives -- something that you and your colleagues never did when you had the chance.

Mr. Tabuns: I can only take from that indirect response -- that response taking us in a variety of different directions -- that the minister

would rather spend 40 billion bucks on this nuclear boondoggle than actually put the money into the conservation programs that Ontario needs.

Local utilities throughout this province want the support to deliver the programs that we all know will make a big difference here. We know that demand

response programs are a lot cheaper and safer than your nuclear power program. Again: Will you direct OPA to make demand response programs in this province mandatory and will you provide local

utilities with the resources to allow them to make it happen? Yes or no?

Hon. Mr. Duncan: The answer is yes. We've already done it, and unfortunately he and his colleagues voted against it every step of the way.

It's a shameful record. Let's talk about it. They're off in wonderland when they think you can't have an integrated system plan. You need one. You need conservation. That's why we've incented them

$160 million in the first two and a half years and $1.5 billion by 2010. That's the largest investment in conservation in the history of this country, and one of the largest in North America. It's

an excellent start. That's why we think it's important to double our efforts on conservation. Your leader suggested we can't make the goals we set. We're going to make them, and we trust the people

of Ontario to help us make them.

I am reminded that you and your party cut conservation. Every program was cancelled under your policy. The three Cs of the NDP energy policy: cut conservation,

cancel Conawapa and buy Costa Rican. That's a shameful legacy. This government's --

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

Interjection.

Mr. Bill Murdoch (Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound): On a point of order, Mr. Speaker: I'm a bit confused here. In the previous question, I heard the

Acting Premier --

The Speaker: What standing order are we talking about?

Mr. Murdoch: The number is -- I'll figure it --

The Speaker: New question.

TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE

Mr. David Orazietti (Sault Ste. Marie): My question is for the Minister of Transportation. I want to commend Minister Cansfield for her

support of the northern Ontario highway infrastructure program. It's a welcome change from past governments.

Minister, you said in your statement today that our highway network is literally an economic lifeline in northern Ontario. That statement couldn't be more

accurate. The state of our highways is vital to the economic success of northern businesses and to the personal safety of our region's motorists. Drivers in my riding of Sault Ste. Marie have

expressed concern about the state of disrepair that our roads have been in for much of the last decade. Can you tell members of this Legislature what the government's long-range plan is to ensure

that we'll be able to travel northern highways safely and efficiently for decades to come?

Hon. Donna H. Cansfield (Minister of Transportation): I'd like to thank the member for his continued commitment to northern Ontario. I've

heard from many members across the north about the issues that face them with their highways, and that's why we released the $1.8-billion plan in new funding this year: $1.16 billion for pavement

and bridge repairs and $700 million for highway expansion.

We were just in the Soo with the Premier and Minister Bartolucci, where we announced the first-year program. Six kilometres of new highway was built; seven new

bridges were built, one at a time; 19 bridges were repaired; and 383 kilometres of highway were repaired. There is no question that Ontario in the north is as important as Ontario in the south,

that altogether, we have an integrated plan on how we're going to proceed to ensure that we have sufficient highways in good shape to move not only goods but our people throughout this

province.

Mr. Orazietti: I want to thank the minister for providing that update on the status of the northern highways strategy. This document has been

a huge success throughout my riding and clearly demonstrates the McGuinty government's commitment to northern Ontario initiatives.

Minister, there are several highway projects currently under way in the Soo and area and throughout the north. My community is pleased to see that work has

started on upgrading our vital infrastructure, after years of neglect under the previous two governments. Can you please update me and members of my community on the initiatives that are taking

place in the Soo and area?

Hon. Mrs. Cansfield: Again, I'm delighted to be able to respond to the question. There is a significant amount of work under way in Sault Ste.

Marie, valued at well over $100 million, on Highway 17 east of the Soo, which is new, as well as seven kilometres of a new four-lane highway from Bar River Road to Garden River First Nation and 16

kilometres of a new four-lane highway through Garden River First Nation. That's in addition to a 1.2 kilometre trunk road access that was recently started.

Mr. Speaker, there's no question: In December 2005, we announced accelerated completion dates of three important projects, from the end of 2008 to be completed

instead by 2007. The completion of these three projects will provide a new, continuous four-lane highway between Sault Ste. Marie and Bar River Road. We look forward to putting additional resources

into the north to ensure, again, that our highways are not only the safest in North America, the most travelled in North America --

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

NATIVE LAND DISPUTE

Mr. Toby Barrett (Haldimand-Norfolk-Brant): To the Acting Premier: On Friday night, I attended a town hall meeting about the Burtch

Correctional Centre and the Six Nations land dispute. The Burtch lands, 385 acres, are south of Brantford. It was expropriated from area farmers by the federal government in 1941 to create a World

War II landing field by the Air Services Branch, an RCAF Wireless School flying squadron. My question: Is the Burtch property up for grabs at the land rights negotiating table?

Hon. Leona Dombrowsky (Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs): The honourable member would know that for any member of this House --

and by the way, it would be inappropriate to talk about what's up, what's being considered, at any negotiations. These are very, very serious negotiations. You and others on all sides of this House

have identified how sensitive they are.

What I am very comfortable saying to the honourable member is that we have federal representatives, provincial representatives and First Nations

representatives at the table. These negotiations are under way and moving in a positive direction, and it is our hope that very soon there will be a resolution to this issue in Caledonia.

Mr. Barrett: Acting Premier, there were 150 people at that meeting from area homes, area farmers, and they do want to know; they're in the

dark. They want to know, is it on the table or is it not? Did Mr. Petersen offer up Burtch or did he renege on the deal, as they've indicated in the Six Nations press?

Burtch is a very large area, two miles immediately west of the Six Nations territory. If it is handed over, homes and farms on that two-mile strip will be

sandwiched between two very large native areas. You've already caved in, I'm told, and allowed Six Nations people on the property to plant soy beans. There are 200 acres of beans that got in.

Acting Premier, how can you now negotiate Burtch -- if you are negotiating Burtch -- if you've already handed over its use?

Hon. Mrs. Dombrowsky: Again, the honourable member knows it would be totally inappropriate to talk in this Legislature about anything that's

being negotiated. I would also remind the honourable member that when it comes to land claims with First Nations people, the federal government has the lead for that. I would encourage him that the

point he's raising here should also be brought to the attention of the federal representative from the area.

I would also say to the honourable member that I am in receipt of the most recent media release from Haldimand county. What these people are saying is, with

respect to the announcements that had been made to date, that the expansion of financial assistance for businesses in Caledonia is very welcome. With respect to the financial relief for residents

who've been impacted by this situation, the municipality will be releasing details on this program very soon; this is from the municipality. I would encourage the people in your community to

continue to be in very close touch with municipal representatives --

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

EMPLOYMENT

Mr. Michael Prue (Beaches-East York): My question is to the Minister of Finance. A week ago, Statistics Canada reported that there has been a

one-month loss of another 13,000 -- and I underline -- manufacturing jobs, bringing the manufacturing job loss total in Ontario to over 100,000 since June 2004. Today we learn that another 300 jobs

will be lost at the closing of the century-old Nestlé plant in Chesterville in eastern Ontario. The Nestlé layoffs are on top of the 1,300 layoffs in nearby Domtar and the loss of jobs at

Consoltex in Alexandria and Gildan Activewear in Long Sault.

The McGuinty government has stood on the sidelines, and you have shown, I would suggest, no leadership in protecting these manufacturing jobs. We introduced a

bill called the Job Protection Commissioner Act. Will you show some leadership, pass that bill, and save the thousands of manufacturing jobs in this province?

Hon. Greg Sorbara (Minister of Finance, Chair of the Management Board of Cabinet): I have a great deal of affection and admiration for my

friend from Beaches-East York. I know, had he had more time, that he would want to acknowledge the leadership of my friend the Minister of Economic Development and Trade, Mr. Cordiano, who has,

with the assistance of a half-billion-dollar investment from the treasury, brought about a $7-billion investment in the auto industry. Ontario is now the lead jurisdiction in all of North America;

similarly, the work that we've done to ensure that we have a strong Stelco, the work that my friend the Minister of Natural Resources has done to ensure that we have a strong forest industry up

north and, as I speak, the Premier of this province is up to celebrate the opening of the first diamond mine in the northern part of the province, showing that mining also is very strong.

I want to tell him that I personally, as Minister of Finance, am proud of the fact that over the past two and a half years the businesses of this province have

generated more than 280,000 jobs. We should all be proud of that, including my friend from Beaches-East York.

Mr. Prue: Minister, I'm talking about manufacturing jobs. Ten per cent of all of the manufacturing jobs in this province have disappeared in

the last two years; in total, 101,700, to be exact. We have a manufacturing job crisis in this province and your government refuses to acknowledge it. Eastern Ontario's manufacturing base is being

devastated. The north is experiencing unprecedented mill closures and you have shown no leadership in protecting those manufacturing jobs.

A jobs commissioner could save many of these jobs. Will you show the kind of leadership I know you are capable of and pass the bill that will save those

thousands of jobs?

Hon. Mr. Sorbara: I want to tell my friend from Beaches-East York that, were there any evidence whatever that the proposal put forth by the

leader of the New Democratic Party, a proposal that was in British Columbia and abandoned holus-bolus -- they got rid of it. It did not help with the loss of manufacturing jobs. It's similar to a

proposal that the New Democratic Party brought about while they were in power for five very long years in this province, and it didn't do anything to help the economic crisis that they helped bring

about.

I want to tell him that the challenge in manufacturing is to make the kind of investments that Mr. Cordiano has made in the auto sector, to make the kind of

investments that my friend David Ramsay has made in forestry, to make the kind of investments in education that will give us a strong manufacturing base here for the next decade and beyond that.

I'm very proud of our record. I want to tell my friend that his proposal for a jobs commissioner will not work.

GROWTH PLANNING

Ms. Judy Marsales (Hamilton West): My question is for the Minister of Public Infrastructure Renewal. Minister Caplan, your statement today is

indeed a landmark growth plan for the greater Golden Horseshoe area, a historic initiative that will plan strategically for the population growth coming to this region. I understand that the

greater Golden Horseshoe -- which includes the great city of Hamilton, I might add -- is the fastest-growing urban region in Canada and the third-fastest in all of North America. Indeed, I

understand that growth projections anticipate an additional 3.7 million people moving to this area over the next generation.

However, growth of this magnitude offers many challenges, some potentially with negative impacts if not managed properly: issues such as more traffic

congestion, the provision of employment lands, air quality, and the potential loss of prime green space and agricultural lands. This requires great planning and vision. Minister, can you explain

how the growth plan will support our communities and prepare them for the growth we are anticipating in this region?

Hon. David Caplan (Minister of Public Infrastructure Renewal, Deputy Government House Leader): I really appreciate the question because,

without a growth management plan, communities, families and Ontarians would experience more of the consequences of unplanned development, some of which the member noted, such as traffic congestion,

poor air quality, and ongoing loss of valuable green space and prime agricultural lands. But the consequences of unplanned growth affect more than just the environment and human health. Ontario's

economy relies on the efficient movement of goods and the availability of employment lands, both of which are limited with unplanned growth. Our government sees growth planning as an important

aspect of Ontario's future economic prosperity and an exceptional quality of life.

That is why the growth plan for the greater Golden Horseshoe is so vital. It's a coordinated strategy that will help us to realize our vision of: (1) making

the best use of land and infrastructure; (2) creating livable, vibrant communities that support healthy lifestyles; (3) preserving valuable green space; and (4) strategically promoting economic

growth.

With the release of the growth plan for the greater Golden Horseshoe, we finally have the leadership --

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

Ms. Marsales: Earlier today you recognized a number of guests in the Legislature, and you noted that a diverse group of stakeholders are

supporting the growth plan for the greater Golden Horseshoe, including municipalities, environmentalists, developers, community groups and planners. Such broad-based support is both notable and

laudable, and indeed unprecedented when it comes to land use planning. Can you tell this House how this consensus was achieved?

Hon. Mr. Caplan: Achieving that degree of consensus was critical, but it was no easy task. It was based on two years of intensive consultation

and engagement with stakeholders and with the public, listening to their perspectives and incorporating their best ideas. It was a challenging process, but an extremely gratifying one -- one that

was accomplished in partnership, one that was based on a shared vision of how this region will grow and prosper over the next 25 years.

We collectively recognized very early on that the status quo was unacceptable, that ongoing, unplanned growth would only worsen air quality, traffic

congestion, car dependency and loss of green space. Together, we had to act; that much was clear. The province had the leadership role and the responsibility, and the reward for our efforts will be

a legacy of economic prosperity, clean air, more green space, agricultural lands and better planned communities for future generations.

AIR QUALITY

Ms. Laurie Scott (Haliburton-Victoria-Brock): My question is for the Acting Premier. Today, we are not alone in our frustration with the

McGuinty government, with their patchwork policies and their broken promises. We are in the good company of the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment.

Last year, the McGuinty government, together with provincial and territorial environment ministers, agreed to reduce highly toxic mercury emissions by 50% by

2010. Your government is now breaking that promise -- not a big surprise. But the Minister of the Environment, a champion for mercury and air issues, reminded us on May 18, 2006, right here in the

Legislature, that one of her very first announcements as Minister of the Environment was to improve our air emission standards. Clearly, the minister is not willing to support that statement with a

firm plan and commitment. On April 5, 2006, again in this very room, Minister Broten indicated that the McGuinty government is tackling the serious issue of air pollution head on. Breaking your

promise is certainly a phenomenal start on that.

My question to the Acting Premier is, why at this late stage is your government backing out of a Canada-wide agreement --

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): Acting Premier?

Hon. Leona Dombrowsky (Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs): I'm very happy to have the opportunity to educate the member

opposite, because I was at the federal-provincial-territorial meeting where Ontario, identified as the champion, agreed that we would move forward with a mercury initiative. I think it would be

important that you direct your research folks to do more than just read the paper.

In fact, I have with me the letter that the Minister of the Environment sent to the Minister of the Environment from Saskatchewan, where it indicates very

clearly, as champion for mercury and air issues within the CCME forum -- and that is Ontario's privilege -- Ontario strongly supports the work that's being done by CCME in developing Canada-wide

standards. I would say that's actually a very solid commitment and that our commitment is followed by results, in that we have reduced mercury emissions by 33% since we've come to government.

Ms. Scott: The bottom line is that the McGuinty government broke a key campaign promise in 2003 to shut the coal-fired plants by 2007. In your

usual patchwork approach to policy, you've just realized that this means you can't keep the promise to reduce mercury levels either. What we have here is a snowball effect of broken promises,

policy created in a vacuum and a definite lack of leadership.

The McGuinty government and the Minister of the Environment have paid lip service to reducing emissions, but you have done precious little to create a

comprehensive strategy or plan that works in conjunction with all of your last-minute policy flip-flops and broken promises. When can the people of Ontario finally see a comprehensive plan to

reduce harmful mercury emissions and meet the standards that the rest of the provinces in Canada are working hard to meet? What deadline date have you given to the OPA to respond to you with their

emission plan?

Hon. Mrs. Dombrowsky: This is really rich, coming from a member of a government that reduced emissions by 11%. We have tripled that. We have

reduced mercury emissions by 33%. Those are results. In addition to that, I would like to say to the honourable member that we have reduced our reliance on coal by 17%, we've reduced SO x

emissions by 28%, we've reduced NO x emissions by 34% and we've reduced CO 2 emissions by 15%. I would set that record aside the record of the previous government any day.

We are committed to cleaning up the air. Our minister is committed to establishing a Canada-wide standard for mercury. What she has indicated to the minister

from Saskatchewan is that she very much looks forward to doing that face to face with them in the very near future.

ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT

Mr. Howard Hampton (Kenora-Rainy River): My question is for the Acting Premier. I asked you earlier today why the McGuinty government is so

desperate to hide your $40-billion nuclear scheme from the people of Ontario. I asked you specifically how you could justify breaking Ontario's Environmental Bill of Rights. I've just been handed a

press release by Ontario's Environmental Commissioner, where he says, "The government made the decision to bypass Ontario's Environmental Bill of Rights. They escaped the process whereby the people

of Ontario should have been able to review and comment on the regulation to exempt the nuclear plans from an environmental assessment."

I ask you again: What is the McGuinty government trying to hide? Why have you not only undermined the Environmental Assessment Act of Ontario, but why are you

also breaking the requirements of Ontario's Environmental Bill of Rights?

Hon. Leona Dombrowsky (Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs): Our government is absolutely committed to environmental protection in

Ontario. I believe the record is very clear. Our government is the government that has recognized that the environmental assessment process has not worked well for many projects in Ontario, and

that is why we undertook a review. That is why we've had sector tables provide the government with recommendations going forward on how we might improve this very important tool. Just recently, the

Minister of the Environment has brought forward legislation that will amend the Environmental Assessment Act, that will in fact enable it to be a more effective tool for the people who use it. So I

would say that to suggest that our government is somehow looking for ways not to be consultative or inclusive, or is in some way ignoring our responsibility to ensure the environment is protected,

is not accurate at all.

Mr. Hampton: I want to quote the Environmental Commissioner again. By the way, Minister, the Environmental Commissioner reports to this

Legislature; he doesn't kowtow to the McGuinty government. That's probably why you have a problem with him. But this is what he says about the McGuinty government:

"This is the first regulation under the Environmental Assessment Act that has not been posted on the Environmental Registry for public review and comment in

the 12-year history of the Environmental Bill of Rights. This decision goes against the whole principle of government accountability and transparency enshrined in the act. Exempting the province's

long-term electricity plans from the environmental assessment process -- to consider the possible impacts of those plans -- is clearly environmentally significant and should have been posted on the

registry for public comment."

Tell me, Minister, why is the McGuinty government so determined --

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

Hon. Mrs. Dombrowsky: Again, I say to the honourable member and to the people of Ontario that it is because we are concerned for our

environment that we have embarked on what I believe is one of the most ambitious energy plans undertaken, not just in Ontario but in North America. It is our intention to double our conservation

efforts. It's our intention to double --

Mr. Hampton: Even Ernie Eves wouldn't have tried this.

The Speaker: The leader of the third party will come to order. Minister?

Hon. Mrs. Dombrowsky: The leader of the third party said that even Ernie Eves wouldn't try this. Of course not. He let this energy situation

get to the point where we have more demand and less supply than when he came to office. Our government is not prepared to let that happen. Our government is committed to ensure that we double

conservation and we double renewables. We are also committed to ensure that we have a safe, reliable process in place when we --

The Speaker: Thank you.

SMOKE-FREE ONTARIO

Mr. Mario G. Racco (Thornhill): My question is to the Minister of Health Promotion. Last Tuesday, Statistics Canada released this year's

Canadian Community Health Survey, which polled over 130,000 Canadians on various health issues, one of them being smoking. The good news from the survey is that smoking rates across the country are

decreasing. In fact, the number of people regularly exposed to second-hand smoke has fallen from 20% to 15% of the population. Although this is good news, 15% of Canadian non-smokers, or 4.8

million people, are still exposed to the dangers of second-hand smoke. Minister, how will our government's recently passed Smoke-Free Ontario Act work to further decrease this rate and ensure

better health conditions for my constituents in Thornhill and in Ontario?

Hon. Jim Watson (Minister of Health Promotion): I want to thank the honourable member from Thornhill and congratulate him for the good work he

did first as a city councillor in the city of Vaughan and now as a member of the McGuinty government on the smoke-free Ontario legislation.

Our approach to the smoking issue is the threefold: prevention, protection and cessation. The province-wide ban on May 31 fulfills the protection

component.

I want to give members three quotes from individuals on how this legislation is affecting people in a positive fashion. Sheri Burnett, a Casino Windsor

employee, said, "In talking with patrons at the casino over the past few days, the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, even to the point of some diehard smokers admitting that it is more

pleasant inside, the air is fresher etc.; already that is noticeable." In Pembroke, Glenda Croghan, manager of Bingo Country, also hasn't noticed a drop-off in customers, and the establishment is

getting a facelift. Finally, in Sudbury, bingo business is strong at the Valley Bingo gaming centre, where owner Don Lebreche "saw the smoking bylaw as a chance to renovate and take down some walls

that were like barriers."

Mr. Racco: As I have been out in my riding of Thornhill over the past two weeks enjoying the spring weather, I have noticed that most

establishments seem to be following the new law. However, I continue to read complaints from some Legions, which feel they should be exempt from the legislation and that their membership will

decline because of the Smoke-Free Ontario Act. Minister, how are Legions being affected by this law and what has been the experience in other jurisdictions?

Hon. Mr. Watson: I have the utmost respect and gratitude for members of the Legion and our veterans. My father served overseas in World War

II. But many Legionnaires have not been able to enjoy their Legion halls because of the haze of smoke, which also puts the staff in those facilities in danger. Many Legions and municipalities that

went smoke-free through municipal bylaws have seen increases in their membership ban. Ottawa public health tells me that in Ottawa, in the beautiful community of Richmond at the Richmond Legion,

the membership has increased since they went smoke-free and they've made more money on fundraising activities, coffee hour, exercise classes, the dart league, hall rentals and so on. "Jim and

Shirley Stewart from the Belleville Legion will appreciate the new smoking ban. Jim is a smoker who takes it outside at home. Thanks to the smoking ban, Shirley, who recently underwent a bypass

operation, can now join her husband at Legion functions." Says Shirley, "`After May 31, I'll be able to go.'"

ROAD SAFETY

Mr. Frank Klees (Oak Ridges): My question is to the Attorney General. I'm not sure who wants to respond in his place. Is he here? Is the

Attorney General here?

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): The Attorney General is coming down, if you'd just wait for a moment. Is the Attorney General here? If

not, you may place your question.

Mr. Klees: In that case, I'll direct the question to the Acting Premier. Acting Premier, last Thursday the Attorney General presided over a

dramatic photo-op in a desperate attempt to convince the people of Ontario that your government is doing something about street racing. Hours later, in this chamber, members of your cabinet and

your backbench refused to give unanimous consent to a bill that's before this Legislature to give quick passage to the street racing bill.

My question is, if your government is serious about dealing with street racing and putting a stop to it, why will you not support passage of this bill before

this House rises this coming Thursday?

Hon. Leona Dombrowsky (Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs): I appreciate the question. I want to remind the honourable member

that we do have very strict laws for racing in Ontario at the present time. I appreciate the perspective, however, that the honourable member represents at this time, and I would encourage you. As

you know, matters of this nature are regularly dealt with by House leaders of the Legislature. I would encourage you to work with your House leader. I will speak to the Attorney General and

indicate that this is the direction that I have offered to you, so that perhaps there can be a negotiated resolution to the issue that you've brought before us today.

PETITIONS

ONTARIO JOINT REPLACEMENT REGISTRY

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

"Whereas the government has identified the reduction of wait times for total hip and knee replacement surgeries as a priority; and

"Whereas the current government has cancelled the Ontario Joint Replacement Registry (OJRR); and

"Whereas the ability for Ontario to capture its own surgical and patient outcome data on total hip and knee replacement procedures will be lost; and

"Whereas the current government has declined to reverse its decision and continue to collect the necessary data required to provide the best possible surgical

outcomes for patients and reduce their need for revision surgeries; and

"Whereas improving patient outcomes after surgery and preventing costly revision surgeries will help reduce the wait times for all patients;

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

"That the government of Ontario reverse its decision to cancel the Ontario Joint Replacement Registry and continue to collect the surgical data and patient

outcome information that is necessary to ensure that total hip and knee replacement patients in Ontario are not waiting unnecessarily and are achieving the best possible results and the greatest

quality of life after their surgery."

I've also signed this.

CHILD PROTECTION

Ms. Andrea Horwath (Hamilton East): I am pleased to present a petition from numerous Ontarians concerned about the lack of independent

oversight of CAS decisions. The petition reads as follows:

"To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

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

"Whereas Ontario is one of the few provinces that does not have independent oversight of child welfare administration; and

"Whereas eight provinces now have independent oversight of child welfare issues, including child protection; and

"Whereas all provincial Ombudsmen first identified child protection as a priority issue in 1986 and still Ontario does not allow the Ombudsman to investigate

people's complaints about children's aid societies' decisions; and

"Whereas people wronged by CAS decisions concerning placement, access, custody or care are not allowed to appeal those decisions to the Ontario Ombudsman's

office;

"Therefore,

be it resolved that we support the Ombudsman having the power to probe decisions and investigate complaints concerning the province's children's

aid societies (CAS)."

I agree with this petition. I have affixed my signature to it and I'm sending it to the table by way of Hartford

HOME CARE

Mr. Tony Ruprecht (Davenport): This petition is addressed to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. It reads as follows:

"Whereas access to home care for seniors and persons with disabilities allows them greater independence within their own homes and the ability to limit the

amount of time that they are forced to stay in hospitals and/or long-term-care facilities; and

"Whereas doctors, nurses and health care workers need to be recognized and supported for the outstanding work they do within their communities, which must

translate into increased funding and resources for their efforts; and

"Whereas implementing the Caplan review will contribute to a more stringent set of guidelines for ensuring that home care and community support services are

more effective and far-reaching;

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

"That the Liberal government's commitment to contribute $117.8 million to improve home care and implement the Caplan review be supported by all members of"

this Legislature.

Since I agree, I am delighted to sign this petition.

SERVICES FOR THE DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED

Mrs. Julia Munro (York North): "To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

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

deprived of the benefits of society enjoyed by other citizens; and

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

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

government-operated services and other sectors;

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

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

live meaningful lives within their community."

As I am in agreement, I have affixed my signature and am giving it to Evan.

HIGHWAY NOISE BARRIERS

Mr. Jim Brownell (Stormont-Dundas-Charlottenburgh): I have a petition here from some of the residents from Eamer's Corners in the city of

Cornwall. It reads as follows:

"To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas the residents of Eamer's Corners, in the city of Cornwall, (including, but not limited to Patrick, Wellington, Ross and Edgar Streets), have, during

the past decade, been irritated and bothered by the increased noise created by the traffic along the Macdonald-Cartier Freeway (provincial Highway 401), in the vicinity of the above-mentioned

streets; and

"Whereas the Ministry of Transportation for Ontario has erected an incomplete and unsightly berm adjacent to Patrick Street, along the Macdonald-Cartier

Freeway (provincial Highway 401), in the city of Cornwall;

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

"(

a) Construct a noise barrier along the Macdonald-Cartier Freeway (provincial Highway 401) adjacent to Patrick and Wellington Streets in the city of

Cornwall;

"(

b) Incorporate and properly maintain the dirt berm, now only partially completed and landscaped, along the Macdonald-Cartier Freeway (provincial Highway 401)

adjacent to Patrick Street in the city of Cornwall."

I have affixed my signature to this petition as I firmly believe in what they have asked. I'll send this by page Luke.

SPEECH AND LANGUAGE SERVICES

Ms. Laurie Scott (Haliburton-Victoria-Brock): "To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas over one million Ontarians of all ages suffer from communication disorders relating to speech, language and/or hearing; and

"Whereas there is a growing need for awareness of the profound developmental, economic and social consequences that communication disorders have on people and

their families; and

"Whereas persons with communication problems require access to the professional services of audiologists and speech-language pathologists who provide

treatments to improve and enhance quality of life; and

"Whereas effective treatment of communication disorders benefits all of society by allowing otherwise disadvantaged persons to achieve their academic and

vocational potentials; and

"Whereas investments in treatments for communication disorders pay economic dividends in reduced reliance on other social services,

"We, the undersigned, in conjunction with the Ontario Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists, call on the Legislative Assembly of Ontario

to proclaim the month of May as Better Speech, Language and Hearing Month."

This was brought to me by Beth Ann Kenny, the executive director of the Ontario Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists. I'll hand it over

to page Juliet.

SOCIAL ASSISTANCE

Ms. Andrea Horwath (Hamilton East): I'm pleased to present a petition from numerous Hamiltonians urging the McGuinty government to raise

social assistance rates. The petition reads as follows:

"To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas people relying on assistance from Ontario Works (OW) and Ontario disability support program (ODSP) face increasingly severe hardship because the

McGuinty government failed to keep its promise of regular annual increases; and

"Whereas in 2003, McGuinty promised to tie OW and ODSP rates to the real cost of living but broke that promise once elected; and

"Whereas current OW and ODSP recipients often don't have enough money for food after paying the ever-rising cost of living for rent, utilities and

transportation costs; and

"Whereas the McGuinty government continues to cut back on necessary supports such as the special diet supplement and the national child tax benefit, taking

even more money away from Ontario's most vulnerable;

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

"That the McGuinty Liberal government raise OW and ODSP rates immediately by 3% annually; and

"That the McGuinty Liberal government close the 21.6% gap left by the Harris Conservatives; and

"That the McGuinty Liberal government immediately end the clawback on the national child tax benefit; and

"That the McGuinty Liberal government immediately reinstate the special diet supplement to Ontarians who have seen the benefit cut."

I agree with the petition. I've signed it and send it to the table by way of page Tyler.

EMPLOYMENT SUPPORTS

Mr. Tony Ruprecht (Davenport): This petition is to the Parliament of Ontario and it reads as follows:

"Whereas improving job retention rates has a positive effect on developing valuable work skills, confidence in one's abilities and creating a greater economic

foundation for the province; and

"Whereas JobsNow allows workers access to valuable resources such as job-matching services, pre-employment supports and up to 18 months of job retention and

follow-up services;

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

"That the JobsNow program continues to be supported by all members of the House; and that we work together to ensure that workers on social assistance find a

meaningful and long-term solution to meeting their employment goals."

Since this is a great petition, I'm delighted to sign this as well.

SERVICES FOR THE DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED

Mr. John O'Toole (Durham): I present a petition on behalf of my constituents in the riding of Durham. It reads as follows:

"To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

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

deprived of the benefits of society enjoyed by other citizens; and

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

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

government-operated services and other sectors;

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

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

order to live meaningful lives within their community."

I'm pleased to present this to Madeleine and sign it on behalf of my constituents.

TRADE DEVELOPMENT

Mr. Bob Delaney (Mississauga West): I'm pleased to present this petition. It's from a group of Canadian Auto Workers in Brampton and it deals

with fair auto trade with South Korea. It reads as follows:

"Whereas more than 260,000 Ontarians make their living and support their families through their careers in the auto industry in Ontario, which has become the

pre-eminent manufacturer of motor vehicles in North America; and

"Whereas Canada imports more than 130,000 vehicles annually from the Republic of Korea, which imports virtually no vehicles or parts from Canada and does none

of its manufacturing or assembly in Ontario or in any other Canadian jurisdiction, even though Canadian auto workers make the best-quality, most cost-effective vehicles in the world; and

imbalance in the auto sector, and includes no measures to require Korea to reduce tariff and non-tariff barriers to Canadian-made vehicles, auto parts and other value-added services or

components;

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

agreement contingent on fair and equal access by each country to the other's domestic markets in manufactured products such as motor vehicles and in value-added services, and ensure that Korea

commits to manufacturing vehicles in Canada if Korea proposes to continue to sell vehicles in Canada."

This makes perfect sense. I'm pleased to support it, to affix my signature, and to ask page Meghan to carry it for me.

SCHOOL CLOSURES

Mr. Toby Barrett (Haldimand-Norfolk-Brant): I continue to get petitions titled "Save Courtland School"; another one, "Our Lady of La Salette

School Should Remain Open."

"To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas the Brant-Haldimand-Norfolk Catholic District School Board along with all boards in Ontario was required to submit a long-term capital plan to the

Ministry of Education for the schools for which they are responsible; and

"Whereas this long-term accommodation strategy was to include an indication as to whether the boards would be considering consolidation of schools within their

jurisdiction; and

"Whereas a funding formula for boards to follow has not yet been determined; and

"Whereas the Ministry of Education has acknowledged that they support and acknowledge the extreme importance of our small schools in rural communities;

"We, the undersigned, would like to inform the Legislative Assembly of Ontario that we:

"(1) acknowledge and support the efforts currently underway to achieve small class sizes in primary grades, with built-in flexibility to ensure it does not

force the closure of any small rural school;

"(2) support you in your goal to provide a funding formula that does not negatively affect small rural schools."

I support Courtland and La Salette and hereby affix my signature to these petitions.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Bruce Crozier): It is now 4 o'clock and time for orders of the day.

MINISTER'S COMMENTS

Mr. Bill Murdoch (Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound): On a point of order, Mr. Speaker: I'm confused, and I hope you can help me out on this. When we were

in question period, a question on Caledonia was answered by the Acting Premier, who is the Minister of Agriculture and Food and the member from Tweed. It was twice -- not once, but twice --

mentioned that the local member sat on a committee that dealt with the local businessmen and the local people. I understood that the local member in Caledonia was Toby Barrett, who sits in front of

me, and he informs me that he doesn't sit on that committee. I was wondering if the minister, tomorrow maybe, or in a statement, could clarify that, that the local member doesn't sit on this

committee.

I was just confused and I wanted to ask that in question period. I didn't get a chance to. So I'm hoping you, as Speaker, can clarify who actually is the local

member in Caledonia, and hopefully that this government is working with them.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Bruce Crozier): I want to thank the member for his point of order. I don't know that the Chair can clarify who the

member is, the member the minister was speaking of. So I think you've perhaps answered your own point, that if you choose in question period to address that question to any minister whose

responsibility it is under, you are quite free to do so.

ORDERS OF THE DAY

GREATER TORONTO

TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY

ACT, 2006 /

LOI DE 2006 SUR LA RÉGIE

DES TRANSPORTS DU GRAND TORONTO

Mrs. Cansfield moved third reading of the following bill:

Bill 104,

An Act to establish the Greater Toronto Transportation Authority and to repeal the GO Transit Act, 2001 / Projet de loi 104, Loi visant à

créer la Régie des transports du grand Toronto et à abroger la Loi de 2001 sur le Réseau GO.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Bruce Crozier): The floor is yours, Minister.

Hon. Donna H. Cansfield (Minister of Transportation): Thank you very much,