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March 20, 2017

41st Parliament, 2nd Session

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Hansard Transcripts

Votes and Proceedings

Orders and Notices

Hansard Transcripts 2017-Mar-20 (PDF)

L054 - Mon 20 Mar 2017 / Lun 20 mar 2017

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO

ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE DE L’ONTARIO

Monday 20 March 2017 Lundi 20 mars 2017

Introduction of Visitors

Appointment of table officer

Government advertising

Oral Questions

Government advertising

Long-term care

Government advertising

Hydro rates

Hospital funding

Affordable housing

Affordable housing

Sexual assault training

Health care

Arts and cultural funding

Long-term care

Autism treatment

Home building industry

Hydro rates

Mental health services

Visitor

Government advertising

Introduction of Visitors

Members’ Statements

Kidney disease

Windsor Symphony Orchestra

Ontario 55+ Winter Games

Sexual assault

School closures

Community awards

Post-secondary education

First responders

Long-term care

Reports by Committees

Standing Committee on Estimates

Standing Committee on Justice Policy

Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs

Introduction of Bills

1476283 Ontario Limited Act, 2017

564539 Ontario Limited Act, 2017

Rent Protection for All Tenants Act, 2017 / Loi de 2017 sur l’encadrement des loyers pour tous les locataires

Ontario Craft Beer Week Act, 2017 / Loi de 2017 sur la Semaine de la bière artisanale en Ontario

No Flak for Carrying Racks Act (Highway Traffic Amendment), 2017 / Loi de 2017 interdisant les objections aux supports de transport (modification apportée au Code de la route)

Motions

Committee membership

Statements by the Ministry and Responses

La Francophonie

Correction of record

Visitors

Petitions

Hydro rates

Long-term care

GO Transit

Lung health

Privatisation des biens publics

Hydro rates

Medical assistance in dying

Prix de l’essence

Home inspection industry

Long-term care

Hospital funding

Curriculum

Orders of the Day

Safer School Zones Act, 2017 / Loi de 2017 sur la sécurité accrue des zones d’école

The House met at 1030.

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

Prayers.

Introduction of Visitors

Mr. Ernie Hardeman: I’m pleased to rise to welcome the Ontario Home Builders’ Association to Queen’s Park today. They will be arriving shortly. I want to remind everyone that they are holding an event in the dining room this evening, and I hope that people will take the time and go and talk with them.

Hon. Reza Moridi: Please join me in welcoming Anise Moinie from my riding of Richmond Hill. She’s visiting the House today.

Ms. Lisa M. Thompson: I’m very pleased to introduce to you today a great dairy farmer from Huron county, Ethan Wallace, who is involved with the federation of agriculture locally. Joining him is Brent Royce, provincial director of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, from Perth county, in Listowel.

Hon. Bob Chiarelli: Joining us today from my riding of Ottawa West–Nepean is Darcy DeMarsico, a former legislative page herself, who is here to cheer on her daughter Catherine on her first day as a page. Welcome back to Queen’s Park.

Mrs. Gila Martow: I’m so pleased to welcome page Jace Kramer, who attends French immersion at Louis-Honore Frechette Public School in my riding. Welcome to Queen’s Park. It’s going to be a fun three weeks.

Hon. Michael Chan: It’s really my pleasure to welcome a guest of page captain Eashvar Sukumar. His father, Sukumar Balasubramaniam, is in the public gallery this morning.

Mr. Monte McNaughton: I’m honoured to have friends from Lambton–Kent–Middlesex with us today: Tom and Linda Ford; and Lloyd Arnold. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Hon. Chris Ballard: I would like to welcome members of the Ontario Home Builders’ Association to Queen’s Park today. I look forward to meeting with them later this afternoon.

Mr. Monte McNaughton: I almost forgot, Mr. Speaker, I’d also like to welcome Kelly Harris, from FirstOntario Credit Union, to Queen’s Park. Welcome.

Ms. Ann Hoggarth: Joining us today from Simcoe County Home Builders’ Association in my riding of Barrie are Bob Schickendanz and Jennifer Lynch. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Hon. Kevin Daniel Flynn: We have a new page captain, Joshua Geddes, with us today. His mother is joining him on his first day: Irena Geddes. Please welcome her to Queen’s Park.

Mr. Granville Anderson: I would like to welcome Ken Russell, the president of Durham Region Home Builders Association, and executive officer Anita DeVries.

I would also like to give a warm welcome to Keira Hodgins from College Park Elementary School in Newcastle, who starts her first day today as a page. Welcome.

Ms. Sophie Kiwala: I’d like to welcome, from the Ontario Home Builders’ Association, Nicholas Harrington from the Kingston Home Builders Association, and John Henderson from Henderson Total Maintenance.

Hon. Charles Sousa: I’d like to welcome in the Legislative Assembly today a colleague, someone from across Canada, who has been very active in nation-building. The Minister of Finance for British Columbia, Mike de Jong, is here today. Welcome to Queen’s Park. And to his chief of staff, Brian Menzies, welcome as well.

Appointment of table officer

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): I am pleased to advise the House of the appointment of a permanent table officer to serve this assembly. Effective today, Ms. Valerie Quioc Lim assumes the duties of Senior Clerk, House Documents. Welcome, and thank you.

Applause.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): I have received two notices of intent to raise a point of privilege: one from the official opposition House leader, Mr. Wilson, and one from the member from Prince Edward–Hastings, Mr. Smith. I’m prepared to hear this morning from the opposition House leader, Mr. Wilson. I will deal with Mr. Smith’s point of privilege later, but not this morning.

Government advertising

Mr. Jim Wilson: On a point of privilege, Mr. Speaker, I rise today pursuant to standing order 21, as indicated this morning in my letter to you. I believe there is reason to find a prima facie case of contempt against the Minister of Energy concerning government advertising or announcements on a matter yet to be decided by this House. The advertisement in question is paid for by the government of Ontario, by the taxpayers of Ontario. It not only definitively states the result of legislation that is yet to be tabled by the Minister of Energy, which is “25% off your hydro bill,” but also presents an unqualified timeline: “starting this summer.”

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): I take this very seriously, and I need to hear every word.

Please.

Mr. Jim Wilson: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The advertising in question was brought to my attention during March break and pertains to the government’s planned legislation regarding electricity. The advertising in question explicitly envisions a timeline and outcome for legislation which has yet to be introduced in the Legislature.

As you are aware, Mr. Speaker, the most recent edition of Erskine May describes contempt as follows:

“Other acts, besides words spoken or writings published reflecting upon either House or its proceedings which, though they do not tend directly to obstruct or impede either House in the performance of its functions, yet have a tendency to produce this result indirectly by bringing such House into odium, contempt or ridicule or by lowering its authority, may constitute contempts.”

Indeed, Speaker Stockwell cited exactly those passages when ruling on the most relevant precedent faced by this Legislature as it pertained to government advertising in the case of municipal reforms to the city of Toronto in 1997. In that case, Speaker Stockwell laid out a very strict two-pronged test for whether government advertising which presumed

an act by the House could be deemed a breach of privilege and a prima facie case of contempt. To quote Speaker Stockwell:

“However, I am very concerned by the ministry pamphlet, which was worded more definitely than the commercial and the press release. To name but a few examples, the brochure claims that ‘new city wards will be created,’ that ‘work on building the new city will start in 1997,’ and that ‘the new city of Toronto will reduce the number of municipal politicians.’”

Speaker Stockwell goes on to say, “How is one to interpret such unqualified claims? In my opinion, they convey the impression that the passage of the requisite legislation was not necessary or was a foregone conclusion, or that the assembly and the Legislature had a pro forma, tangential, even inferior role in the legislative and law-making process, and in doing so, they appear to diminish the respect that is due to this House. I would not have come to this view had these claims or proposals—and that is all they are—been qualified by a statement that they would only become law if and when the Legislature gave its stamp of approval to them.”

The two prongs laid out by Speaker Stockwell are whether the claims are definitive and unqualified, and whether they presume

an act of the House before the House has had the ability to offer its approval to them, thus relegating the Legislature to a pro forma or inferior role in the legislative process.

On both tests, it appears the Ministry of Energy has committed a prima facie case of contempt.

The advertisement at question not only definitively states the result of legislation, “25% off your hydro bill,” but also presents an unqualified timeline, “starting this summer.”

By both committing the House to a result and a timeline, the minister has satisfied the first test of making definitive and unqualified claims.

With regard to Speaker Stockwell’s second test regarding whether the statements regulate the Legislature to a pro forma or inferior role in the legislative process, in the technical briefing provided recently to certain members of both the opposition and third party, a document from the ministry was provided which stated, “The government intends to introduce legislation that would, if passed, enable ... (IESO) and ... (OPG) to work together to refinance the GA over a longer period of time. The legislation would also outline the role of the ... (OEB), as it relates to the financing proposal.”

The government, under direction from the Ministry of Energy, therefore admits that legislation is necessary in order to enact the changes—so we’re not talking about regulations here—which changes what it has already begun to advertise as though they were already scheduled to be enacted. As of today, no such legislation has been introduced in this House, and the government has not reached out to members to even indicate when such legislation may be forthcoming.

Thus, the government has admitted that legislation is necessary to bring the changes into effect, but has assumed that such legislation has already passed in its advertising, thereby committing this Legislature not only to a result, but to a timeline and forcing it into that inferior position in the legislative process that Speaker Stockwell outlined in his ruling of January 22, 1997.

Mr. Speaker, I ask you to refer to my written submission of this morning that further details and supports a case, I believe, of prima facie contempt.

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

On this point of order, the government House leader.

Hon. Yasir Naqvi: Thank you very much, Speaker, for giving me the opportunity to respond to the motion raised by the opposition House leader.

The government respectfully submits that the advertising in question does not rise to a prima facie case of contempt against this House on two grounds. The first is with respect to the issue of members’ abilities to perform their duties, and the second is with respect to the government’s implementation of policy.

Firstly, it is of utmost importance that the definition of “privilege” in this case deals with interference with the proceedings of the Legislature as laid out in the October 17, 1980, ruling by the House of Commons Speaker Sauvé. There is no proceeding in this House upon which the member for Simcoe–Grey may state as being obstructed.

If there is to be a bill on this matter, that would be a different situation. The examples stated by the member are all cases in which there was already a bill before this House. We have no such bill before the House and, accordingly, there is no proceeding to obstruct.

The question is whether, should a bill be introduced, the members in this House would feel constricted in their abilities to duly debate the matter before the House. That is a question for the future and not privilege.

Given that there is no bill or proceeding before the House, the very premise of privilege does not exist.

I do believe, Speaker, that you yourself will find the

summary of the May 11, 1998, ruling of this House in which the Speaker said that such advertising does not amount to an “attempt by improper means to influence members in their parliamentary conduct....” They do not impede freedom of speech in this House, nor in fact do they relate to a particular proceeding currently before us.

Secondly, Speaker, the government reserves the right to implement its policies as it so chooses. Should a sudden change arise and the government can enact its measures without legislation, then the government is free to do so. The intention to table legislation is not the same as the requirement to table legislation.

As announced on March 2, the government is committed to a plan that will lower electricity bills by 25% on average for all residential customers across the province, and will also benefit half a million small businesses and farms, an initiative we had hoped the opposition would support.

As part of its function, the government has a responsibility to raise awareness and communicate information about programs and services that affect Ontarians. This includes informing Ontarians of changes to their electricity bills so that they can use this information to plan for the future as they manage their household budgets.

Thank you, Speaker.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): On the first issue, the member may submit, and the third party can submit if it desires to do so.

I thank the opposition House leader for his submission, and the government House leader for his submission as well.

I’ll refer this to myself and come back to it at a due date later on for a ruling.

Oral Questions

Government advertising

Mr. Speaker, will the Premier do the right thing, stop spending public dollars on these advertisements, and order that they be cancelled today? Yes or no?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: I’ve been travelling the province. I’ve been talking to people for months, including last week. People are very, very concerned about their hydro bills. The Leader of the Opposition knows that. He knows, as does the third party, that people are looking for relief, and that the work we have done up until now—that there’s more we need to do. That’s why the 25% reduction is very important.

We’re moving ahead with our plan. I would have thought, given the noise from the other side, that they understand that people are concerned about their electricity bills, and that they would be supportive of the changes we are bringing forward that will give real relief to people across the province.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Patrick Brown: Mr. Speaker, again to the Premier: As the Premier travels the province, no one is asking for more government vanity ads. The Liberal government has a bad track record—a long track record—of misusing taxpayer-funded ads for partisan purposes. We all remember the $8.1 million in self-congratulatory ads for the job-killing pension scheme that never came to fruition—$8.1 million, just to pat themselves on the back.

How many millions of dollars is this government going to waste on more self-congratulatory radio ads?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: The two issues that the Leader of the Opposition has raised—retirement security for people across the province, and lower electricity rates—I’m extremely proud of our record on delivering both of those.

The reality is that this Leader of the Opposition sat in a federal government for nine years—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Stop the clock.

Premier?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: He sat in a federal government for nine years that wouldn’t even talk to the province about retirement security, wouldn’t even talk about Canada Pension Plan enhancement.

We’ve moved on that. We now have a national agreement on pension enhancement, Mr. Speaker. We have an enhanced Canada Pension Plan because of the work that we did on the ORPP.

In addition, we’re going to deliver lower electricity rates.

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

Interjection.

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

Final supplementary.

Mr. Patrick Brown: Mr. Speaker, again to the Premier: It really is unbelievable. When people can’t afford their hydro bill, this government is spending millions on vanity ads self-promoting their own agenda.

I want to read a quote from the Auditor General: “The ads likely wouldn’t have been approved under the old government advertising rules.” That’s Auditor General Bonnie Lysyk. The changes the Liberals enacted in 2015 reduced her office to a rubber stamp. I’ll continue the quote from the Auditor General: “‘Under the previous legislation it would likely not have passed because it does convey a positive impression of the current government and it’s more like a pat-on-the-back type of advertisement,’ she said.”

Those rules were put into place to prevent Liberals wasting taxpayer dollars on vanity ads. They changed the rules so that they could use taxpayer dollars to promote themselves.

The government can dance; the government can point the finger; the government can avoid answering the question. For years they complained about these types of ads when they were in opposition. They come into government and change the rules to not allow this to happen, and now they’re doing the same thing.

To the Premier: Are you going to continue with these vanity ads?

Interjections.

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

Premier?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Mr. Speaker, this is a very important issue. The reality is that, when this government came into office under my predecessor, there were virtually no rules around partisan advertising. In fact, I can remember sitting in this gallery and listening to the Liberal opposition—

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member from Dufferin–Caledon, come to order.

Premier?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: I can remember sitting in this gallery, Mr. Speaker, when the Liberal opposition was asking the then Tory government about advertising that had the Premier’s face in it and that was all over. There were kids out of school because there were strikes. There were hospitals being closed. Amalgamations were being imposed. Chaos was reigning, and the Premier of the day had his face all over advertising. We changed those rules, Mr. Speaker.

Long-term care

Mr. Patrick Brown: Mr. Speaker, to the Premier: Since I can’t get an answer on the government vanity ads, I’m going to try a new approach. A recent big, bold headline read, “Ontario Nursing Homes Feed Seniors on $8.33 a Day.” Does the Premier believe that is enough to nutritiously feed Ontario’s vulnerable senior citizens?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Mr. Speaker, I know that the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care is going to want to speak to this. We have been working very closely with the long-term-care association and with long-term-care homes around the province. There have been thousands more beds built, and upgrades to beds across the province.

We know that there is more work to be done. We also know that, given the aging demographic, this is—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member from Bruce–Grey–Owen Sound, second time. I’ve got two others in my sight. Because of that, I might move to warnings, and I will do so if necessary.

Please finish.

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Mr. Speaker, 10,000 new long-term-care beds have been built and another 13,500 have been redeveloped. We know that there is more work to be done, and we will work very closely with the long-term-care association as we move forward.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary.

Mr. Patrick Brown: Back to the Premier: The $8.33 wasn’t even the most shocking stat in that article. Mr. Speaker, do you know what shocked me more? I’ll tell you: It was the fact that Ontario spends over a dollar more a day on prisoners’ food than it does on seniors’ long-term care—more on prisoners than seniors.

I know that when it comes to a choice of who we are going to support, seniors or prisoners, I’m with seniors. It is unbelievable that this government has made this allocation. Why do prisoners eat better than seniors in Premier Wynne’s Ontario? I would like the Premier to answer this, please.

Interjections.

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

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member from Stormont–Dundas–South Glengarry, come to order.

Premier?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: The Minister of Health and Long-Term Care.

Hon. Eric Hoskins: . Of course, the number that the Leader of the Opposition is referring to is our provincially mandated minimum that is required by long-term-care homes to spend on raw food. Raw food doesn’t include the costs which we fund separately for food preparation. It doesn’t include the costs for serving the food. The menus that the long-term-care homes prepare have to be approved on site by a dietitian and, in fact, we provide tremendous flexibility within the budget that we provide long-term-care homes: $142 per day per resident, with flexibility within that to allow for additional expenditures in raw food.

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

Mr. Patrick Brown: Again to the Premier: When it comes to government ads, there are millions of dollars to spend on self-promotion. When it comes to seniors, there’s nothing.

The Ontario Association of Non-Profit Homes and Services for Seniors is only asking for 33 cents a day. Prisoners would still be getting more than seniors. How is this fair? The lack of respect that we’re seeing for seniors is unbelievable. They deserve so much better. No matter how the Minister of Health spins it or how the Premier spins it, the reality is under their rules, under their allocations, we are taking better care of prisoners than we are of seniors. These are people’s fathers and mothers. These are our grandparents.

Premier, is this how you want to treat our seniors? Mr. Speaker, will the Premier stand up and say this is unacceptable?

Interjections.

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

Premier.

Hon. Eric Hoskins: Last year in our budget, which they voted against, we increased the budget for raw food in the diet for residents of long-term-care homes. We increased that by 3.7%, well above the cost of food inflation, Mr. Speaker.

But we are listening to our stakeholders, our partners in long-term-care homes as they bring forward suggestions and proposals in advance of the budget in terms of the quantum that’s required for raw food. I should mention that we have a line item in the budget called “Other Accommodation,” which is $54.52 per resident per day. All long-term-care homes have the opportunity to draw on that $54, in addition to that which we have put aside for raw food, to provide—as they are mandated to—a nutritional diet for the residents.

Government advertising

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Speaker, my question is for the Premier. The Premier and her Liberal government ads touting their phantom hydro plan have been condemned by the Auditor General as “a pat on the back,” a partisan exercise that would never have been allowed before the Liberals changed the rules on advertising.

Can the Premier tell Ontarians what the price tag is for these self-serving ads?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: I will just remind the leader of the third party that we were the province in this country that actually introduced rules around partisan advertising, Mr. Speaker. Before this government came into office under my predecessor, those rules didn’t exist. We put in place rules that said partisan advertising is unacceptable, in reaction to—

Interjections.

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: In reaction, Mr. Speaker, to the really egregious advertising that had been done by the Conservatives that was so blatantly partisan that it was obvious there needed to be restrictions put in place. Those restrictions are in place—

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Member from Dufferin–Caledon, second time.

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: —and we adhere to them.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Speaker, I feel like it’s comedy hour in the Legislature. This government changed the rules and then changed them back so that they could use public money to advertise and promote themselves when they get into political trouble. Not one dime has come off the skyrocketing hydro bills, and this Premier has not tabled a plan yet or even any legislation yet to show Ontarians what their money is going to be spent on or if they are even going to save any money in the future. But she is still spending more money on advertising, claiming that the problem has been solved.

How much is this attempt to buy some political relief on hydro bills going to cost Ontarians?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Let me just remind the leader of the third party that we have a plan that actually will reduce people’s electricity bills and will reduce those bills by the summer. Substantial relief: 25% on average off all bills across the province for residents who pay for electricity in their homes, further relief for people who are paying disproportionately high distribution costs in remote and rural areas, and an enhancement to the Ontario Electricity Support Program that will help people on low income. It’s a substantial program that will deliver relief and will deliver it in a timely manner.

I am so pleased that the leader of the third party is eager to get going on that plan, and I look forward to her support as we move forward.

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

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Instead of partisan ads, how about we actually see the plan? We hear a lot of talk, we see a lot of press releases, but we have not yet seen a plan. These ads are obviously much more about the Premier and her Liberal Party instead of making life more affordable for the people of Ontario.

How much public money—

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member from Durham, come to order.

Ms. Andrea Horwath: —is this Premier spending on advertising for the—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Stop the clock. In case you didn’t hear it, the member from Durham, come to order.

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, come to order.

Please.

Ms. Andrea Horwath: How much public money are this Premier and her Liberal Party spending on advertisements for the billion-dollar hydro borrowing scheme that she has still not made public?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: I am so pleased that we are talking about our plan, the plan that we’ve brought forward that is going to reduce people’s electricity bills across the province, because it is a substantial plan and it actually will work.

I was at a business this past week, called J’adore, in Newmarket—no, Barrie. I was in Barrie at a great chocolate and cheese shop. They are going to see a substantial reduction in their electricity bill, which is going to allow them to expand their business. They are building a patio on the back of their store, J’adore, and it is going to be a real anchor on the main street in Barrie.

That’s the kind of business we want to see thrive, and that’s why it’s so important that the real plan that we are bringing forward is going to give them real relief.

Hydro rates

Ms. Andrea Horwath: My next question is also for the Premier. The Premier has shown Ontarians where her priorities are: self-serving, partisan radio ads first; actual legislation or a tangible plan, sometime later I guess.

Ontario families, businesses and public institutions like hospitals have a right to know what will happen to their hydro bills and who will pay the price for the $40 billion going to line the pockets of bankers.

When will the Premier finally table her proposed hydro plan so that people know when and by how much their bills are going to end up going up?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Minister of Energy.

Hon. Glenn Thibeault: I’m very pleased to rise and talk about when we’re going to be bringing forward the legislation this spring to reduce everyone’s bills by 25%, in time so they can have this relief before summer. I know there will be time for proper debate and public hearings.

I now know that the opposition critics have received a technical briefing on our plan, and they’ve also received comprehensive briefing documents including technical decks, background, our speeches and sample bills demonstrating the reductions that are going to be happening. I know our plan is going to offer real relief for all of our families, small businesses and farms right across the province.

I know the opposition parties are putting forward nothing but platitudes. Our plan is going to make sure that we bring forward real relief for families, for small businesses and for farms right across the province. We’re going to make sure it happens before summer.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Ms. Andrea Horwath: From 2011 to 2015, the hospital in Sault Ste. Marie saw their hydro bill rise by $2.7 million, an increase of 45% in just four short years, while their hydro consumption during that time frame remained exactly the same.

Since the Premier refuses to release her plan, will she be running an ad soon to let hospitals like the one in the Soo know if they’re going to see relief on their hydro bills any time soon?

Hon. Glenn Thibeault: I know the third party needs to stop misleading Ontarians about the health care—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Stop the clock. The member will withdraw.

Hon. Glenn Thibeault: I will withdraw—confusing Ontarians about our health care system.

Since coming into office, we’ve increased hospital funding by 54%, allowing us to treat more patients, provide better care and reduce wait times to some of the shortest in the country.

Now I know both opposition parties are furiously trying to muddy the record by—not necessarily confusing the impact of energy costs. The reality is that hospitals spend 1.6%, on average, of their total operating budgets on electricity. That means well over 95% of hospital budgets go towards the rest: hiring nurses and doctors, keeping wait times low and ensuring that patients have access to the high-quality services that they need.

Hospitals are also eligible for the saveONenergy program. I’ll talk more about that in the supplementary.

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

Ms. Andrea Horwath: It’s not just families at home, businesses or hospitals that are suffering either. Municipalities are also worried about whether the Premier’s $40-billion borrowing deal will actually help them keep community facilities open.

When I met with leaders from Echo Bay, Desbarats, Bruce Mines, Hilton Beach, St. Joseph, and Batchewana First Nation not long ago, they all told me that skyrocketing hydro rates are on the verge of closing their local arenas or community centres.

Since this Premier refuses to release the details of her $40-billion borrowing plan, will she run an ad soon to let local municipal leaders know if they’re going to get some real relief from soaring hydro bills and be able to keep community centres, like arenas, open?

Hon. Glenn Thibeault: I want to begin by saying that, since forming government, we’ve increased municipal support to nearly four times what it was in 2003. So, unlike the previous Conservative government which downloaded billions of dollars of costs onto the backs of municipalities and residential property taxpayers, we are alleviating the financial burden off of our municipal partners. Residents in every single one of Ontario’s 444 municipalities will benefit from the fair hydro plan.

Talking about municipalities, I know that the mayor in Hamilton was in the news recently, talking about our fair hydro plan. He says that a 25% reduction “is a very positive step for the city’s hydro customers.” He credited our government with listening to Ontarians and implementing what he calls “dramatic” reductions.

Mr. Speaker, this is the mayor of the leader of the third party’s own city. So it begs the question: When this legislation is brought forward, will they support this, and will they follow the advice of the mayor of Hamilton and make sure that they support us in supporting this 25% reduction—

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

New question.

Hospital funding

Mr. Victor Fedeli: Good morning, Speaker. My question is for the Premier. Over the last five years, 350 front-line health care workers have been cut from the North Bay Regional Health Centre—that includes 100 nurses—and 60 beds have been closed in this new hospital. This week, between 30 and 40 more health care workers will be sent home.

We can’t take much more of this in North Bay. Their jobs are being lost as a direct result of Liberal waste, mismanagement and scandals.

To add to their troubles, the hospital has seen a hydro increase of 65% over the last six years. The hospital CEO says that with these latest cuts, he’s starting to be very worried about patient care.

My question to the Premier is this: Do you care enough about the patients in North Bay to do something?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Minister of Health and Long-Term Care.

Hon. Eric Hoskins: We’re proud—and I think the member opposite, if asked, would admit as well—of that brand new facility in North Bay, the hospital that’s providing excellent and the highest quality of care. That has never been a question and has never been in doubt.

Last year in the budget—in the budget that they of course voted down—where we allocated 345 million new dollars to hospitals, that included a 2% increase in the funding that we provided to North Bay Regional Health Centre. We have funded it and increased the funding year over year over year, so that they can address those pressures that they naturally do face, but continue to provide the highest quality of care to the community that they serve.

They have approached the ministry, Mr. Speaker, in this current fiscal year, and I’m happy to address that in the supplementary.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Victor Fedeli: Back to the Premier: With the $107 million cut from the OLG funding to hospitals, virtually the same dollars are being reallocated every year, and most of the funds get distributed to the high-growth areas. But even though our communities in the north are not growing, our seniors are aging. We also have a higher incidence of many chronic diseases in the north.

Because of these extra costs and increased hydro bills, the hospital didn’t quite balance their budget this year. That makes them ineligible for the $7 million in working capital relief. They’re in a no-win downward spiral.

My question to the Premier is simple: Will she readmit North Bay Regional Health Centre into the relief program, allowing them to hit their targets and stop this downward cycle?

Hon. Eric Hoskins: As I mentioned, we have received a request from the hospital. We’re working closely with them and with the LHIN in strong collaboration and partnership—which I should point out, Mr. Speaker, is something that that party, when they were in government, in North Bay absolutely did not do.

In 2001, North Bay hospital faced a $6.5-million deficit. At the time, Mike Harris said, “North Bay, and Sturgeon Falls and Mattawa that” have “deficits are not going to be able to be funded in future years,” making it clear that the PC government would not work with hospitals to maintain services.

We don’t work that way. We’re working closely with the hospital today.

Affordable housing

Ms. Andrea Horwath: My question is for the Premier. Today, the NDP will introduce a rent protection for all tenants act. This act will close the loophole that allows landlords in buildings built later than 1991 to hike rents as much as they want, whenever they want. We hear from families that say these increases are chasing them from their homes, the place they’re raising their kids.

Will the Premier close this unfair loophole to protect renters in Ontario?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Minister of Housing.

Hon. Chris Ballard: It’s a very good question. It’s really unacceptable that so many Ontarians are faced with housing costs that are rising so dramatically. Families on tight budgets really are feeling the pinch of a rental market that is struggling to keep up with demand.

We’ve already been working on a number of areas. Since last June, we’ve been consulting with tenants, landlords and others right across the province looking at the Residential Tenancies Act and what we’ll be able to do to tweak that to make things better. We’ve passed the inclusionary zoning, another tool for municipalities to use to construct affordable housing. There’s a whole number of things, a whole host of things. I’d love to go down this list, and I’ll do that in the supplementary.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Let’s hope it doesn’t take them as long as it took for inclusionary zoning to fix the 1991 rule. The fact is that many Ontario households are at a tipping point right now. Some people are seeing rent increases of hundreds of dollars if not $1,000. More and more working people are being forced to couch-surf or even return to their parents’ homes.

Premier Wynne has had a number of years already to fix this problem but instead is leaving millions of Ontario’s residents, Ontario’s renters, in the lurch. My question is, why has she failed to take action thus far?

Hon. Chris Ballard: Well, thank you again for that follow-up question. This government has done a number of very important things, on top of talking with landlords and tenants right across the province about issues they face every day, especially around the Residential Tenancies Act. I mentioned inclusionary zoning. I can talk about how we have frozen the municipal property tax on apartment buildings to provide relief to renters. We’ve doubled the maximum refund for first-time homebuyers. Right now, we’re collecting data to better understand Ontario’s housing market.

But when it comes to the 1991 exemption, we have said that we will be expanding on that. We will bring legislation that deals with that along with the RTA. We are listening, Speaker. We know the problem that people face not only in Toronto but right across Ontario, and we’re taking action.

Affordable housing

Ms. Ann Hoggarth: My question is to the Minister of Finance. Minister, increases in home prices and rents have made housing affordability a concern for a growing number of people. In fact, it’s an issue that I’ve heard about from my constituents time and time again. A year ago in my riding, my office was unable to find even a single room to rent for a constituent with a budget of $500 a month. Prices have only skyrocketed since then. I frequently hear from young families looking to buy their first home who are having a challenging time getting into the market in the greater Toronto area.

Could the minister please explain what steps our government has taken to improve housing affordability?

Hon. Charles Sousa: Our government does understand that housing affordability has become a significant issue not just for those families living in the greater Toronto area but in many communities across the province. It’s why our government doubled the maximum refund for the land transfer tax rebate to $4,000. We doubled that refund. More than half of first-time homebuyers now in Ontario will pay no LTT on the purchase of their first home.

We also know that renters are struggling to find affordable places to live, which is why we are freezing municipal property taxes on apartment buildings to give relief to renters. We’re also participating very closely alongside the BC government as well as the cities of Toronto and Vancouver in a federal working group on the housing market.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Ms. Ann Hoggarth: Back to the Minister of Finance: I’m pleased to hear that the government is taking steps to address this issue. That extra money could be put towards closing costs, a larger down payment or new appliances for a first-time buyer’s home. I’m also happy to hear that the government is continuing to work on further ways to make it more affordable for Ontarians to buy a home.

I know that our government has been participating alongside the BC government and the cities of Toronto and Vancouver in a federal housing market working group to look at further ways to improve affordability. Could the minister please provide an update as to how he is working with other levels of government to help make housing more affordable for the people in Ontario?

Hon. Charles Sousa: Again, thank you to the member from Barrie. Mr. Speaker, uncertainty in the housing market has been partially driven by speculation. In fact, just today, TD Economics released a special report on the housing market, arguing that the heightened uncertainty in the market can be largely attributed to speculation.

There are a number of options to reduce speculative investment in the housing market that could raise revenue to support other housing affordability measures. That’s why I’ve sent a letter to the federal Minister of Finance to request that the federal government consider increasing the capital gains inclusion rate for non-principal residences. Under the current rule, when you sell a home that is not your principal residence for a profit, only 50% of the capital gain is included in taxable income.

This change will be an important step toward keeping our country’s housing market stable and curbing price acceleration. I look forward to continuing to work collaboratively with the federal government to make housing more affordable for Ontario families.

Sexual assault training

Ms. Laurie Scott: My question is to the Premier. We all know that sexual assault is a big problem in our communities, and that our public institutions haven’t always shown the proper sensitivity in responding to this crime. Two weeks ago, the federal House of Commons gave unanimous support to a bill that would require would-be judges to receive sexual assault training. But last week, victim services organizations were disappointed to hear that the government of Ontario has no plans to follow suit in making sexual assault training mandatory for its judicial appointees.

Why won’t the government take the issue of sexual assault seriously and require potential judges to receive the training they need to properly handle sensitive sexual assault cases?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Attorney General.

Hon. Yasir Naqvi: I thank the member opposite for this question. It’s a very important issue and I know it’s an issue that all members of this Legislature, and Ontarians in general, are always concerned about.

We know that sexual assault is a serious issue that demands attention from all levels of government. That’s why I’m very proud that our government introduced the It’s Never Okay strategy. It’s a $41-million action plan to stop sexual violence and harassment. It’s our Premier who has taken a leadership role in ensuring that we have robust programs to ensure that we put an end to sexual violence and harassment in our province.

As a result of that plan, we have launched a free, independent legal advice pilot program for survivors of sexual assault. Hundreds of people so far have accessed the program.

We have increased funding to the 42 sexual assault centres across Ontario by $1.75 million, for a total of $14.8 million, and we have passed legislation removing barriers for survivors—

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

Ms. Laurie Scott: Requiring judges to be trained to handle sexual assault cases is the right thing to be doing. Alluding to the fact that judges can be trained through ads is quite an incredible answer from the Minister of the Attorney General. In fact, training judges would actually strengthen Ontario’s trust in the judicial system. If Ontarians knew that judges were trained to handle sexual assault cases with the proper sensitivity, maybe more victims would be willing to come forward.

Again to the Premier: Will she accept the common-sense proposal to require our judges to be trained to handle sexual assault cases since the Minister of the Attorney General is not saying yes?

Hon. Yasir Naqvi: This is a very serious issue. This is an issue that is not partisan in nature whatsoever. I’m very proud of our Premier for taking a leadership role when it comes to a very definitive action plan on putting an end to sexual violence and harassment in our province.

What we also have to be mindful of is that we have an independent judiciary. We have to respect the independence of the judiciary. When it comes to the training and education of our judiciary, that is an independent matter that is decided upon by the chief justices of the Superior Court of Justice and the Ontario Court of Justice.

In Ontario, judges function separately and independently of the government, and training and education are within their exclusive—

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member from Dufferin–Caledon is warned.

You have a wrap-up sentence, please.

Hon. Yasir Naqvi: However, Speaker, we’re always open to talking about more training around sexual violence and harassment. Thank you.

Health care

M me France Gélinas: Ma question est pour la première ministre. Access to health care should be based on needs, not on ability to pay, but under this Liberal government, a growing number of private clinics are running a second tier of health services in our province. These elite private clinics can charge up to $4,000 a year for members to get faster access to physicians, faster access to MRIs or both. It’s called queue-jumping.

Does the Premier think that it is right to force most people to wait longer for the health care they need while rich people can buy their way to the front of the line? If not, then why is the Premier letting private clinics undermine our public health care here in Ontario?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Minister of Health and Long-Term Care.

Hon. Eric Hoskins: I know, like myself, the member opposite is absolutely committed to medicare, to the Canada Health Act and the principles behind that. She has been watching my performance as health minister for almost three years now. I hope that she also sees those principles in action—the importance to me personally and professionally as a health care provider, as she is, of health equity, of ensuring that those vulnerable individuals, those who truly and most need access to health services, that that’s where we focus our attention. On that incredibly important issue of access as well, that it is fair and equal and equitable access, Mr. Speaker.

We are closely monitoring some activities that are taking place, including what she has just referenced. We’re looking to ensure that those principles are upheld.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

M me France Gélinas: Speaker, I’ve been bringing up this issue of the private clinics growing in Ontario for the last five years. This is a long time to monitor what’s going on.

Ask any mom in Ontario how long it takes to get an appointment with their family physician for her sick child. It can take weeks. But under the Liberals, people can pay a private clinic for 24/7 access to a doctor. Ask any senior how long it takes to get an MRI. I went on the website today; the average wait time is 106 days. But at a private clinic, people can pay to get an MRI within one or two days, forcing everybody else to wait longer.

When you need access to high-quality health care in Ontario, you should be asked for your health card, not your credit card. Does the Premier think that patients in Ontario should pay up or wait longer for the health care that they need?

Hon. Eric Hoskins: Well, I guess my memory must be failing me, because in the three years that I’ve been health minister, the member opposite has not raised this issue with me, by my recollection, at all. But now that it is in the Toronto Star, I know that she has seen it as an important issue, as do we. That’s why in 2004, we introduced legislation that made it illegal for any person or entity to charge or accept any benefit for an insured service in addition to the amount that is paid by OHIP. We also made it illegal for any person to pay, charge or receive payment or other benefits to receive special or expedited access to the medicare system.

However, this is important to this government, as demonstrated by the legislation in 2004. We are continuing to watch this very, very closely to ensure that it does not violate that act or the Canada Health Act.

Arts and cultural funding

Mr. Arthur Potts: My question is to the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport. We know that Ontario festivals and the events we have here attract tourists, support tens of thousands of jobs and generate millions in economic growth. I’m very proud to be part of a government that supports these events so people can be drawn to visit and celebrate in our communities.

In my own riding of Beaches–East York, I’m very pleased to know that we’re assisting with the Canadian Food Truck Festivals; the Toronto Vocal Arts Festival, called Sing, which celebrates a cappella music; Woofstock; the iconic Beaches International Jazz Festival; and of course, Caribana, which has had a long history in the city of Toronto. We have been seeing these festivals and we know that these events play a fundamental role in our cultural and economic vitality.

I’m pleased to ask the minister today about an announcement she made last Monday at Mills Hardware in Hamilton. Mr. Speaker, will the minister tell the members of this House more about what was announced on Monday and how Celebrate Ontario is improving our communities?

Hon. Eleanor McMahon: I want to thank the member from Beaches–East York for the question and for his championing of events in the arts community in his riding.

Earlier this month I was with Sonic Unyon, the creators of Supercrawl in Hamilton, an annual festival that transforms James Street into a weekend-long celebration of the arts. Here, visitors can see great musical acts and unique art installations and experience amazing local food and craft beer, right in the heart of downtown Hamilton. Supercrawl has been around for almost a decade now, and it has grown into a must-see for music and art lovers.

Speaker, we’re proud to be supporting Supercrawl with over half a million dollars over two years, along with five other initiatives in Hamilton.

In participating in events like Supercrawl, visitors might make a stop at the fabulous Art Gallery of Hamilton or Theatre Aquarius, two pillars of the local arts and culture scene.

We know that these events draw tourists, but we’re also investing in a growing cultural scene. I’m proud of our contributions to such a culture scene and looking forward to talking about the impact Celebrate Ontario is making right across Ontario in my supplementary.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Arthur Potts: Thank you to the minister for her answer and for her incredible championing of events all across Ontario. So many festivals and events, like Supercrawl, as she mentioned, and North by Northeast, which also receives significant money, and up in Thunder Bay the World Junior Baseball Championship, are having a very positive impact on the music and the culture scenes of Ontario.

Across the province, Celebrate Ontario 2017 means that organizers can now enhance their programming, their activities and their services. They now offer new and enhanced experiences that attract even more tourists and increase visitor spending.

I know that Celebrate Ontario will have a very positive economic impact in every corner of the province in 2017, our 150th celebratory year. From food festivals and music festivals to events that teach us about our heritage and cultural diversity, our communities will benefit from increased tourism and visitor spending right across the province.

Speaker, through you to the minister: Will she update the members of this House on the economic impacts expected from Celebrate Ontario investments this summer?

Hon. Eleanor McMahon: Thank you again to the member for the question. Our government understands the important role that festivals and events play in bringing communities together and in supporting local businesses. In this respect, Celebrate Ontario has been enormously successful.

Later this afternoon I’ll be in Markham, along with Minister Chan, to highlight the multicultural aspects of Celebrate Ontario. In fact, every dollar of Celebrate Ontario funding triggers almost $20 of visitor expenditures, supporting thousands of jobs and generating millions of dollars in revenue.

These festivals enhance the quality of life, and they attract investment too. Knowing the strength of this program and the important opportunity we have, especially in our sesquicentennial year, our government is investing more than $19 million across Ontario. We’re supporting over 300 festivals and events—a record number in the history of Ontario.

This commitment will have a province-wide impact, and we’re proud of it, Speaker. We’re also proud that we’re doing a tremendous amount in local and northern communities.

Long-term care

Mr. Bill Walker: My question is to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care. Today we heard from the Ontario Long Term Care Association how this government has abdicated its responsibility to properly fund long-term care, leaving hundreds of thousands of seniors to go without the care that they need and deserve. Some 11,000 people—myself included—signed a petition to call on you to stand up for seniors by ensuring that funding for fundamentals like food and hydro in nursing homes never again falls below inflation.

On behalf of all of them, I ask: Will the minister commit to providing stable and predictable funding to support the needs of those most vulnerable seniors entrusted in his care?

Hon. Eric Hoskins: Of course this government is committed to providing that ongoing and stable funding to seniors and others who reside in long-term-care homes across this province. That’s partly why we made—and I just referenced it—the 3.7% increase in the raw food diet in last year’s budget. That’s why we have committed by 2025 to redeveloping 30,000 new long-term-care beds. That’s why since coming into office in 2003 we have built more than 10,000 new beds in long-term care. I have a list here if the member opposite wants to see precisely where those beds have been built—more than 10,000 since coming into office.

We are committed. We are providing those resources in a sustainable fashion.

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member from Prince Edward–Hastings will come to order.

Supplementary question.

Mr. Bill Walker: I would like to see lists because I’ve been asking for two years in estimates and I’ve got nothing from you. You spend more money on prisoners than you do on seniors.

Mr. Speaker, the minister’s chronic underfunding has resulted in a lack of staff, a lack of behavioural supports, increased attacks, 30,000 outdated beds and a record-high wait-list of 26,500 seniors. It’s shameful, and that list is going to go to 50,000 in the next six years.

The message is clear: Anything less than the rate of inflation is setting up our valued seniors needing long-term-care support for a big disaster. So again I ask, will the minister ensure that our seniors’ homes have the means to provide better care by committing to funding them, especially for food and hydro, at a minimum, for inflationary increases each and every year?

Hon. Eric Hoskins: I value the partnership that we have with those who are in that important position of providing long-term care to the residents of this province, and I greatly appreciate the pre-budget submission that they have made, where they speak to the importance of the quantum that’s provided, the dollar amount that’s provided for residents. We provide roughly $52,000 a year per resident per home in a number of categories.

But also, I particularly appreciated when they were talking about the aspect of “predictable and sustainable.” I’ve been working with them, and it’s important for us to see if we can find a way that we cannot only meet that sustainable requirement, but that we can do it in a way which gives them predictability into the future with regard to what they can expect, so they can plan for that increase.

Autism treatment

Ms. Jennifer K. French: My question is to the Premier. Hidden deep within last year’s budget was this government’s inexplicable decision to cancel autism therapies for children over the age of five. After blindsiding families that had spent years waiting for services, the decision was finally reversed—

Mr. James J. Bradley: Half a million dollars more this year.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The chief government whip is warned.

Ms. Jennifer K. French: —under enormous pressure from across the province, or so they claimed. Now, almost a year later, evidence is emerging that many children over the age of five are still being denied services, therapies and hope.

What does the Premier have to say to the families of children with autism who have had the rug pulled out from under them a second time?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Minister of Children and Youth Services.

Hon. Michael Coteau: I thank the member for the question. As the member knows, this is an important issue. As a government, we see this as one of our top priorities when it comes to working with families here in the province of Ontario. That’s why we invested half a billion dollars of new money into this program. By doing this, what we’re doing is creating 16,000 new spaces across the province of Ontario. We’re looking at providing diagnostics and testing early, and creating more spots for that so young people get the type of services they need.

The member opposite knows that we’ve committed to launching a new program in June that will address many of the issues that this province has taken on, not only through this government’s tenure but for many, many years—decades, Mr. Speaker—so I’m quite proud of the direction we’re going in. If the member opposite really wants to be briefed on where we are and our progress she can sit down with me any time and get that type of information it detail.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Ms. Jennifer K. French: Back to the Premier: Ontarians are tired of being fooled. In an open letter to the Minister of Children and Youth Services, concerned parents of children with autism noted that wait-lists are still growing. Services are still being reduced and families have been left in the dark about how this will affect their children’s lives.

Every child in Ontario deserves the right to reach their full potential on their terms, not on your terms. Will the Premier do what she promised for families and commit to actually reinstating the services for these children?

Hon. Michael Coteau: I’ve been across this province and I’ve talked to parents. I’ve met with parents in many jurisdictions. In fact, I’ve met with parents that are from the member opposite’s jurisdiction, parents from Oshawa, in Durham region. I’ve met parents and they’re very thankful for the direction we’re taking. I get phone calls, I get emails, I speak to parents directly, and they’re happy about the direction we’re going in.

I just want to give you some of the latest direct funding numbers that we have here, Mr. Speaker. We’ve had almost 2,300 families sign up for the $8,000 initial payment, we’ve got 775 families that opted in to receiving the $10,000, and these numbers continue. As you know, Mr. Speaker, the families that were on the wait-list can apply for the $8,000 and then $10,000 and then $10,000, and it continues until their services are unnecessary.

So I would hope the member opposite would wait until June to see what the new program is like and then, from there, we can have a conversation about how we go forward.

Home building industry

Mrs. Cristina Martins: My question is to the Minister of Municipal Affairs. Minister, the building industry plays a key role in the lives of Ontarians. They build the places where we live, work and spend our free time, and they help shape our communities, including my own community of Davenport.

Today, the Ontario Home Builders’ Association is here at Queen’s Park. The Ontario Home Builders’ Association was formed in 1962 to give residential builders a voice in the provincial government and to facilitate changes in the industry. Their members build the homes that shape our communities, and they have been an important voice in the province. I understand that they have been engaged on a number of government priorities over the years, including updates to the province’s building code.

Would the Minister of Municipal Affairs speak about how the Ontario Home Builders’ Association has contributed to the discussion of government priorities?

Hon. Bill Mauro: I want to thank the member for the question, and I want to begin by ensuring that all members of the Legislature are aware that tonight there is a reception with the Ontario home builders, starting around 5 o’clock this evening in the legislative dining room downstairs. We hope to see everybody there.

Speaker, in my first go-round in this ministry back in 2014, it was a pleasure for me to meet, through that experience, the Ontario home builders for the first time and have an opportunity to announce our six-storey wood frame construction in the province of Ontario. It was intended to help the forestry sector but also led, I would say, from my perspective, to an unintended consequence at the time I tabled my private member’s bill, to see an ability to increase the amount of affordable housing in the province of Ontario that came forward as a result of that.

Through that process, we were able to have significant consultations with the Ontario Home Builders’ Association as one of our key stakeholders. It’s helped to forge that relationship with our government, and I look forward to talking more about that stakeholder consultation in the supplementary.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary.

Mrs. Cristina Martins: I want to thank the minister for his answer. Our government is currently conducting a coordinated review of the growth plan, the Greenbelt Plan, the Oak Ridges moraine plan and the Niagara Escarpment plan. These plans work together to protect our natural resources like prime farmland, to make efficient use of existing infrastructure, and to prevent sprawl by directing growth to already built-up areas. The coordinated review is the legislated 10-year review of these plans.

I understand that our government will introduce updated plans in the coming months and that these plans will be the result of extensive consultation dating back to 2015, which includes a report from an advisory committee and a nearly six-month public consultation period in 2016.

I also understand that the Ontario Home Builders’ Association has been involved in the process throughout. Would the minister elaborate on how the Ontario Home Builders’ Association has contributed its expertise during the consultation process?

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Minister?

Hon. Bill Mauro: I again thank the member for the question. She’s right: The OHBA has been a significant stakeholder for us through this particular review. It’s a good chance for me to give a shout-out, again, to that panel that was chaired by David Crombie and included Leith Moore, the past president of the OHBA. I also want to recognize Neil Rodgers, recently elected as the OHBA’s 50th president, and give a shout-out to the CEO, Joe Vaccaro, as well.

As the member has mentioned, they are a significant stakeholder for us in this process. We’re aware that the OHBA has some 4,000 members. They have built more than 700,000 homes in Ontario in the last 10 years, and they are a significant contributor to the economy of Ontario: somewhere in the range of $45 billion to our economy every year.

So, yes, they have played a significant role in our work on the coordinated land use review. We look forward to coming forward with those plans in the near future, and we want to thank them and all stakeholders for their input into this process.

Hydro rates

Mr. Ernie Hardeman: My question is for the Premier. Vuteq, one of the largest employers in my riding, said that on a single hydro bill, the charge for electricity used was $38,000, but when they add on the government global adjustment and other charges, the final monthly bill was—listen to this, Premier—$385,000. They run 24 hours a day to deliver “just in time” to car plants, so they can’t shift production to use the ICI program.

Can the Premier explain why this major employer is paying more than $350,000, or 90% of their hydro bill, for the government’s extra billing charges?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Minister of Energy.

Hon. Glenn Thibeault: I’m very pleased to rise and talk about the programs that are out there that are actually helping businesses, and I do hope that this one business will utilize many of the programs that are out there to help them save dollars. There is the the IEP program, there is the Industrial Accelerator Program—there are many other programs out there to actually help small businesses and help our medium-sized manufacturing businesses ensure that they can reduce their rates, because we recognize the importance of actually helping our businesses reduce those rates.

We’ve seen many of those businesses right across the province use many of these programs, and that will help them reduce their bills.

When it comes to Ontario’s Fair Hydro Plan, we’re going to see all of our small businesses—they’re going to see that 25% reduction coming right off, and that’s something that will help them and farms right across the province.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Ernie Hardeman: The minister obviously missed the comment. I said these programs do not work for Vuteq in Woodstock.

Back to the Premier: In the past few months, it’s been announced that Oxford is losing 1,000 jobs, and the government’s hydro rates for businesses are putting more of these jobs at risk. Yet the government’s hydro announcement does nothing to help the major businesses we have left, which of course would be Vuteq.

Premier, people can’t pay their hydro bills if they lose their job. What does the Premier have to say to all the people of Oxford who are worried that their job will be the next to disappear because of her government’s policies?

Hon. Glenn Thibeault: Minister of Economic Development and Growth.

Hon. Brad Duguid: Mr. Speaker, here’s what I say to the folks in Oxford and here’s what I say to folks right across this province: We have taken a number of measures to make this province more competitive. In fact, we have the lowest effective corporate tax rates, very generous R&D tax credits. We’ve invested with businesses to the tune of $3.1 billion—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Stop the clock. The member from Niagara West–Glanbrook will come to order.

Mr. Randy Hillier: Lower the humidity in here.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): I’m not amused with that comment.

Finish, please.

Hon. Brad Duguid: Our investments with businesses right across this province of $3.1 billion since 2004 have accrued over $31 billion in private sector investments, 175,000 jobs created and retained.

Where are we, Mr. Speaker? We have not had a lower unemployment rate in a decade—not in a decade. We’re leading the G7 in growth. We’ve created 700,000 jobs, and for the first time in 13 years, we’ve seen seven consecutive—

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

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Stop the clock. The member for Prince Edward–Hastings is warned.

New question.

Mental health services

Ms. Peggy Sattler: My question is to the Premier.

There is an ongoing crisis in mental health services in London that shows no sign of improving. The London Health Sciences Centre psychiatric ER regularly operates at 130% capacity. Before the March break, LHSC reported that there were 22 mental health patients waiting for beds—some for more than seven days—on hallway stretchers or in overflow rooms. Last week, my constituent Angela Jolly waited five days in the hallway before she was even assigned a doctor.

LHSC psychiatrist Dr. Ganjavi tells me that it all comes down to funding—funding that is needed for more beds, for more nurses, for more community services. London’s mental health crisis has been raised numerous times in this Legislature and in the London media, so why does this government refuse to act?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Minister of Health and Long-Term Care.

Hon. Eric Hoskins: We absolutely are acting. In fact, we’ve made unprecedented investments in mental health right across this province. Just a number of weeks ago, there was an important announcement for 1,150 new supportive housing units to add to the 1,000 that were announced last year, where we’ve announced that for the first time, by any jurisdiction in Canada, we’re providing government-funded, publicly funded cognitive behavioural therapy.

In London itself, not only do they benefit and are benefitting from this supportive housing, but also we opened up a crisis centre which provides that critically important alternative to hospitalization or visits to ERs, where there are strong community supports and experts in place who can provide that resource that individuals in crisis so definitely need.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Ms. Peggy Sattler: Londoners must wait six months or more to see an outpatient psychiatrist, and the 24/7 crisis centre that the minister mentioned was at capacity almost from the moment it opened its doors. About one third of the people who access the crisis centre are diverted from ERs, but fully two thirds are first-time users of the mental health system. And the $10 million that was promised more than a year ago for additional stabilization beds has yet to appear.

Will the Premier commit today to releasing that funding for those stabilization beds to the crisis centre now? More importantly, will she come to London and meet with the nurses, the physicians and the patients who are struggling to deal with this desperate situation?

Hon. Eric Hoskins: That $1.2 million that we invested in the London crisis centre is obviously making an important difference to individuals in that community.

But we’re also working with the hospital. We’ve provided them with significant new funding, including in mental health, and we have committed and are in the middle of a $140-million new investment in mental health over a three-year period, and $50 million annualized after that.

Our funding to the London Health Sciences Centre has increased not only by 73% since we came into office, but also a significant new investment in funds last year, which will help them deal with that, to improve their capacity, on this critically important issue.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member from Oxford, on a point of order.

Mr. Ernie Hardeman: I rise on a point of order. Under the Adjudicative Tribunals Accountability, Governance and Appointments Act of 2009, the social justice tribunals of Ontario are required to submit an annual report to the responsible minister within 90 days of the end of the fiscal year. Within 60 days after the responsible minister receives the report, he or she is required to table it in this assembly.

Mr. Speaker, I’d like to draw your attention to the fact that the annual report for the social justice tribunals of Ontario for the year 2015-16 is outstanding, and I’m not aware that the appropriate minister has provided this House with any explanation for the delay.

I request that you convey to the minister my concerns, and those of the House, that this particular report, which is required to have been filed, has not in fact been filed.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): To be clear to the member, that is not the duty of the Speaker. Therefore, it’s actually not a point of order. But I’m sure that the appropriate ministers should be on notice that all of their duties must be fulfilled in the timely pattern that has been outlined in the regulations and the rules. I leave it at that, for the member to make his point.

Visitor

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member from Northumberland–Quinte West on a point of order.

Mr. Lou Rinaldi: Thank you, Speaker. I’d just like to welcome Mr. Steve Tobey, from Tobey Developments, in Brighton. Welcome, Steve.

Government advertising

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member from Simcoe–Grey on a point of order.

Mr. Jim Wilson: In regard to my earlier submission, I would like to refer you to the Minister of Energy’s comments today during question period, where he said, “We will be tabling legislation to reduce hydro bills by 25%.”

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member has the right to submit in writing another addendum to his report, as I have given the government and the third party the opportunity to do so.

There are no deferred votes. This House stands recessed until 1 p.m. this afternoon.

The House recessed from 1154 to 1300.

Introduction of Visitors

Mr. Norm Miller: I want to welcome representatives of two breweries from Parry Sound–Muskoka who will be here for your beer-tasting event this afternoon: Darren Smith and Chris Simpson will be here from Lake of Bays Brewing Co. in Baysville; and Daniel Pattison, Tim Charters, Bob MacDonald and Todd Lewin will be here from Muskoka Brewery in Bracebridge. I hope all members will visit your Speaker’s beer event this afternoon and, of course, vote for these beers.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): It’s everyone’s tasting, it’s everyone’s tasting.

Members’ Statements

Kidney disease

Mr. Jeff Yurek: March is National Kidney Month. During National Kidney Month, all Ontarians are encouraged to give their kidneys a second thought and a well-deserved checkup.

Kidneys are some of the most versatile organs in our bodies. Located in the lower back, they are in charge of filtering waste out of upwards of 200 litres of blood a day. They also release hormones that help regulate blood pressure, control the production of red blood cells and regulate the body’s salt, potassium and acid content, while balancing the body’s fluids. They remove drugs from the body and produce an active form of vitamin D that promotes strong and healthy bones.

Unfortunately, there are usually no symptoms to alert one of kidney disease before the disease progresses a great deal. Those most susceptible to kidney disease are those with diabetes, high blood pressure or a family history of kidney failure.

During National Kidney Month it’s important to note that one in 10 Canadians has kidney disease. Each day 15 people are told that their kidneys are failing. The leading cause of kidney failure is diabetes, which is 38%. There’s no cure for kidney disease. In 2012, kidney disease was the 10th leading cause of death in Canada. Some 76% of Canadians are waiting for a kidney transplant and 47% of all transplants are made possible by living donors.

Later this month, I’ll be attending the fifth annual No Kidneying Around Fundraiser in St. Thomas. I’d like to thank Doug and Candice Van Diepen for raising over $24,000 with these events for the Kidney Foundation of Canada, southwestern Ontario chapter.

I’d also like to thank the Kidney Foundation of Canada for all they do, from promoting kidney disease awareness during the month to fundraising to find a cure.

During National Kidney Month please remember to take care of your hard-working kidneys and consider being a donor with the Trillium Gift of Life program.

Windsor Symphony Orchestra

Mr. Percy Hatfield: I’d like the take the opportunity to tell this Legislature about one of the brightest of the crown jewels within the artistic community of Windsor and Essex county. The Windsor Symphony Orchestra has been putting on concerts for the past 76 years. It was formed initially to raise funds for local servicemen serving overseas. Those early concerts were broadcast live every Sunday evening on CKLW radio. The Windsor Symphony was awarded the Ontario Lieutenant Governor’s arts award in 2001 and again in 2004. They have been nominated for a Gemini Award.

The symphony goes into our local schools. They work with Ontario’s curriculum and create educational programming that touches the lives of those eager to learn more as well as those who have yet to experience the power and energy of live orchestral music for the first time. They also have a youth orchestra and do an amazing job on their Peanut Butter n’ Jam music series for toddlers and their parents.

Speaker, just so you know, astronaut Chris Hadfield performed his first concert on earth with the Windsor Symphony.

Of course, no orchestra would be complete without a team of volunteers, and the symphony guild puts on a number of fundraising events every year. They have a fashion show coming up that will celebrate not only the creativity of the orchestra, but also that of our top Canadian designers, all in celebration of Canada’s 150th anniversary.

We have a great team of professional musicians in Windsor and Essex county led by Maestro Robert Franz, and they have an amazing team of volunteers and supporters behind them. So a tip of the hat to the Windsor Symphony Orchestra from all of us here at the Ontario Legislature.

Ontario 55+ Winter Games

Mr. Lou Rinaldi: On February 21, 2017, I had the distinct pleasure to represent the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport, along with the Minister of Seniors Affairs, in the town of Cobourg at the opening of the Ontario 55+ Winter Games.

The three-day, multi-sport event is the only one of its kind in the province for the over-55 age demographic. Participants from across Ontario gathered together at the opening ceremonies to celebrate and kick off the games and events such as skiing, curling, duplicate bridge, ice hockey, skating, bowling and volleyball that were hosted at facilities in Cobourg, Brighton, Port Hope, Orono and Peterborough. It really was community that came together to put on this incredible event.

Speaker, it was my honour to welcome the over 800 participants and over 200 volunteers to the Northumberland area.

The first-, second- and third-place medals were created and produced by Hoselton studios, in Colborne.

Every participant received a hand-knitted scarf sporting the official green, blue and white colours of the games. The call went out last fall from local volunteer Marg Allison to knitters everywhere, and the response from the community was overwhelming. Help came from as far as away as Calgary to get these memorable keepsakes finished.

I want to thank committee co-chairs Paul Allen and Eugene Todd and their team for their dedication and the hard work they put forth to make these games such a success.

Thanks also to the town of Cobourg and neighbouring municipalities for their contributions and resources, and to our government for continued support for sports.

Sexual assault

Mr. Norm Miller: Earlier this year, the Globe and Mail concluded a special report that revealed that one in five sexual assault claims in Canada are dismissed by police as “unfounded,” meaning the investigator does not believe a criminal offence occurred or was attempted.

It was heartbreaking to learn that two communities in my riding of Parry Sound–Muskoka are ranked the third- and fifth-highest in Canada for dismissing sexual assault claims. In both Bracebridge and Huntsville, over half of the allegations made by sexual assault victims are turned away by police. Sadly, many of these victims are often not provided with connection to meaningful community supports that could assist them when the legal system cannot.

The high rate of dismissal does nothing to deter potential assailants and may discourage even more victims from reporting to police.

While the statistics are difficult to hear, they offer an unprecedented opportunity for change at the level of police investigations of sexual assault. At least 32 police departments across the country have committed to reviewing their data, with the OPP reviewing 4,000 sexual assault investigations. These are positive steps, but more needs to be done.

It is my hope that police services will understand and appreciate the role of other community services to assist victims and support them in the rebuilding of their lives in the face of such extreme trauma.

In light of the Globe and Mail report and other various headlines related to sexual assault across the country, we need to ensure that our discussions do not rely on harmful stereotypes and that they are always structured respectfully.

Sexual assault survivors must be taken seriously. Anything less is simply unacceptable.

School closures

Ms. Catherine Fife: Recently I had the opportunity to reconnect with some former colleagues and parents who are active in the education world. It didn’t take long for the issue of school closures to come up. Speaking as a former trustee, school closure meetings are a special kind of emotional labour for all board members and the community. And the process has not gotten any easier, because this provincial government has never fully reviewed the education funding model nor made any significant financial commitment to the much-talked-about concept of community hubs.

Within this context, the Ottawa board, like many boards, faced an impossible decision to close an under-capacity Rideau High School. By all accounts, Rideau is a true community school, particularly for new immigrants, refugees, those living in poverty, and indigenous people. In fact, several First Nations community organizations looked to partner with the board and lease space.

One of the courageous students at the board meeting asked, “Why are you going to take away our school during this fragile period of reconciliation?”

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission was clear that education plays a crucial role on the road to equality and success for indigenous peoples.

Senator Kim Pate wrote that “quality education is not a one-size-fits-all recipe and must be adapted to meet different needs.” But school boards across this province are penalized for trying to find creative options, and they are rewarded financially for closing schools by this government.

The promise of larger schools for everyone is not the answer.

This government needs to wake up to the fact that, incredibly, 227 schools have closed just since 2011.

Speaker, we must get this right. Public education is the great equalizer, and we all need to be part of the solution going forward.

Community awards

Ms. Ann Hoggarth: On Saturday, March 11, I had the privilege of recognizing the contributions of 16 outstanding Barrie residents by presenting them with the Leading Women/Leading Girls, Building Communities Award. These ladies exemplify community leadership, volunteerism and advocacy and have become mentors to many through their dedication to improving the lives of women and girls.

Among them was Eileen Bethune, who has volunteered almost 1,700 hours to Big Brothers Big Sisters over nine years while also donating her time to Gilda’s Club, Out of the Cold, her church and local library.

Giselle Bodkin has raised over $400,000 through the Women’s inTuition fundraising campaign for a scholarship that goes to young women with financial needs studying at Georgian College.

Diane Kyd, Laura Wilson and Elizabeth Campbell were all recognized for their many years of contribution to the Camphill Communities for the developmentally disabled, including the establishment of a retail store which showcases artwork and other products created by the residents of their community.

Meagan Reid of West Bayfield Elementary School was honoured for her many contributions to her school community and for the work she has done with the local hunters and anglers conservation club’s youth program.

Arlene McKenzie was recognized as a founding member of the Barrie Native Friendship Centre, as well as for her tireless efforts to improve services for the native community. Through her efforts, the native community now has an emergency food bank, they have access to free clothing, and there is now an aboriginal health care professional that the community can access.

These are just a few of the honorees who received this award in my community. It was a privilege to recognize the outstanding contributions that all of these women have made. Thank you, and congratulations.

Post-secondary education

Mr. Ted Arnott: As members will recall, on October 26, the government announced plans to establish a new university campus in Halton region. I’m pleased to inform the House that, according to published reports, it appears that Wilfrid Laurier University, in partnership with Conestoga College, was the only applicant to respond to the government’s recent call for formal expressions of interest to construct a new Halton post-secondary campus.

According to the Milton Champion, the government will now consider the Laurier-Conestoga submission and work with them to continue to develop their plan before an invitational call for proposals in July. The successful proposal is expected to be formally announced in the fall. The new campus is projected to accommodate 1,000 students within two to five years of opening.

As one of the four MPPs who are privileged to represent parts of Halton region, I welcome this news. Working together with Wilfrid Laurier University, our local municipal officials, including Halton regional chair Gary Carr and other partners, we have pushed for a new campus in Halton region for some time. I want to thank them all for their outstanding efforts, which now have us one step closer to achieving our goal.

Halton region is one of the fastest-growing areas in Ontario. Our young people will benefit from having another post-secretary option close to home as they reach out to the promise of the future. We urge the government to keep this project moving forward.

First responders

Ms. Sophie Kiwala: Last Tuesday, first responders were called to the scene of two separate accidents that took place on the 401 eastbound highway. The icy roads and blowing snow resulted in a crash involving more than 30 vehicles and a chemical spill of hydrofluoric acid. The tragedy resulted in injuries sustained by 28 people, and, sadly, one man passed away from his injuries.

In my community, it never takes long for everyone to swing in to help. The first responders, like the Ontario Provincial Police and Frontenac paramedics, rushed to the scene, and my understanding is that many of the victims were decontaminated at the Leeds-Grenville fire station before they were sent to Kingston General Hospital. A decontamination tent was set up in a very short period of time, and many workers at KGH stayed late, worked through their breaks and even came in on their day off to care for those who needed it.

This tragedy saw our community come together as other local hospitals, like the Hotel Dieu and Providence Care, extended their hours and offered beds to support KGH in dealing with this tragedy. The McMaster emergency room even responded by offering to send pizza to the workers as they cared for the patients.

The men and women who worked tirelessly during this emergency and worked to support front-line staff are some of the finest. In fact, each one is a hero in my community. It is my honour to rise in the House today to acknowledge them and thank them for their services.

Thank you all for your seamless, compassionate and heartwarming response to what could have been a much worse tragedy.

Long-term care

Mr. Bill Walker: Over the past months, I’ve been speaking with constituents and attending meetings in my riding of Bruce–Grey–Owen Sound about the state of our seniors care in long-term care, namely about the future of Rockwood Terrace in Durham and Grey Gables in Markdale, which are home to 160 seniors. I received great feedback and promised to bring their concerns to the floor of the Legislature. As such, I rise today to urge the government to make seniors’ access to long-term care a priority.

This morning I also joined the Ontario Long Term Care Association as they announced that 11,000 concerned Ontarians had signed their petition to call on the government to commit to better seniors care. This is evidence of the fact that this government has seriously abdicated its responsibility to properly fund long-term care, leaving hundreds of thousands of seniors to go without the care they need and deserve.

The fact of the matter is that the wait-list just hit a new record high, with 26,500 seniors across Ontario going without a long-term-care bed, a number that will double to 50,000 in several years. Yet this government refuses to commit to adding new beds to accommodate this growing need.

The fact is that one in five seniors in long-term care are malnourished because of chronic underfunding by this government. I don’t know how this government can sit back and watch the grey tsunami coming at it and not address it.

My constituents, as well as every one of the 11,000 Ontarians who signed the petition, believe that long-term care is going to only get worse unless the government takes action now. I believe our seniors deserve better: They deserve better care, better services and better standards, especially in food and hydro.

I take this opportunity to thank everyone who signed the petition and for doing their best to support our seniors, and I call on the government to do the same by taking action on those needs in long-term care.

Reports by Committees

Standing Committee on Estimates

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Standing order 63(

a) provides that “the Standing Committee on Estimates shall present one report with respect to all of the estimates and supplementary estimates considered pursuant to standing orders 60 and 62 no later than the third Thursday in November of each calendar year.”

The House not having received a report from the Standing Committee on Estimates for certain offices on Thursday, November 17, 2016, as required by the standing orders of this House. Pursuant to standing order 63(b), the estimates before the committee of the Office of the Assembly, Office of the Auditor General, Office of the Chief Electoral Officer and the Ombudsman of Ontario are deemed to be passed by the committee and are deemed to be reported to and received by the House.

Report deemed received.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Pursuant to standing order 61(b), the estimates for 2016-17 of these offices, not having been selected for consideration, are deemed to be received and concurred in.

Standing Committee on Justice Policy

M. Shafiq Qaadri: Je demande la permission de déposer un rapport du Comité permanent de la justice, et je propose son adoption.

Speaker, I beg leave to present a report from the Standing Committee on Justice Policy and move its adoption. I send it to you by way of page Keira.

The Clerk-at-the-Table (Mr. William Short): Your committee begs to report the following bill, as amended:

Bill 39,

An Act to amend the Aggregate Resources Act and the Mining Act / Projet de loi 39, Loi modifiant la

Loi sur les ressources en agrégats et la

Loi sur les mines.

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

Report adopted.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The bill is therefore ordered for third reading.

Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs

Mr. Peter Z. Milczyn: I beg leave to present a report on the pre-budget consultation 2017 from the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs and move the adoption of its recommendations.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Mr. Milczyn presents the committee’s report and moves the adoption of its recommendations. Does the member wish to make a brief statement?

Mr. Peter Z. Milczyn: The Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs conducted its pre-budget consultations throughout December and January. Public hearings were held in Toronto, Dryden, Sudbury, Ottawa, Windsor, Brampton and London. The committee heard 157 presentations and received some 90 additional written submissions from agencies, associations, community groups, municipalities, organizations, unions and individuals. On behalf of the committee, I would like to thank each and every one of them for taking the time to share their views with the committee.

I also want to take this opportunity to thank the members of the committee and especially the members of staff for their commitment, hard work and co-operation.

With that, I move adjournment of the debate.

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

Debate adjourned.

Introduction of Bills

1476283 Ontario Limited Act, 2017

Mr. Bailey moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill Pr60,

An Act to revive 1476283 Ontario Limited.

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

First reading agreed to.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Pursuant to standing order 86, this bill stands referred to the Standing Committee on Regulations and Private Bills.

564539 Ontario Limited Act, 2017

Mr. Smith moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill Pr59,

An Act to revive 564539 Ontario Limited.

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

First reading agreed to.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Pursuant to standing order 86, this bill stands referred to the Standing Committee on Regulations and Private Bills.

Rent Protection for All Tenants Act, 2017 / Loi de 2017 sur l’encadrement des loyers pour tous les locataires

Mr. Tabuns moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 106,

An Act to amend the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 to extend rules governing rent increases to certain types of rental units / Projet de loi 106, Loi modifiant la Loi de 2006 sur la location à usage d’habitation afin d’étendre les règles régissant les augmentations de loyer à certains types de logements locatifs.

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

First reading agreed to.

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

Mr. Peter Tabuns: This bill will ensure that buildings built after 1991 are covered by rent control, and thus protect tenants.

Ontario Craft Beer Week Act, 2017 / Loi de 2017 sur la Semaine de la bière artisanale en Ontario

Mr. Rinaldi moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 107,

An Act to proclaim Ontario Craft Beer Week / Projet de loi 107, Loi proclamant la Semaine de la bière artisanale en Ontario.

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

First reading agreed to.

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

Mr. Lou Rinaldi: The bill proclaims the week commencing the second Sunday of June in each year as Ontario Craft Beer Week.

No Flak for Carrying Racks Act (Highway Traffic Amendment), 2017 / Loi de 2017 interdisant les objections aux supports de transport (modification apportée au Code de la route)

Mr. Norm Miller moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 108,

An Act to amend the Highway Traffic Act to end flak for carrying racks / Projet de loi 108, Loi modifiant le Code de la route pour mettre fin aux objections aux supports de transport.

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

First reading agreed to.

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

Mr. Norm Miller: I’d like to thank my legislative intern, Hannah Forsyth, for her work on this bill. It’s the No Flak for Carrying Racks Act (Highway Traffic Amendment), 2017. The bill amends the Highway Traffic Act: If a carrying rack, such as a bicycle rack, is mounted on the rear of a motor vehicle in accordance with the regulations made under the act, a person may drive the vehicle on a highway even if the rack obscures the number plate for the vehicle that is required to be attached to the rear of the vehicle.

Motions

Committee membership

Hon. Liz Sandals: I believe we have unanimous consent to put forward a motion without notice regarding changes to the membership of standing committees.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The President of the Treasury Board is seeking unanimous consent to put forward a motion without notice. Do we agree? Agreed.

Minister?

Hon. Liz Sandals: I move that the following changes be made to the membership of the following committees:

That on the Standing Committee on Justice Policy, Mr. Potts replaces Mr. Delaney; and

That on the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, Mr. Delaney replaces Mr. Potts.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The President of the Treasury Board moves that the following changes be made to the membership of the following committees:

That on the Standing Committee on Justice Policy, Mr. Potts replaces Mr. Delaney; and

That on the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, Mr. Delaney replaces Mr. Potts.

Do we agree? Carried.

Motion agreed to.

Statements by the Ministry and Responses

La Francophonie

L’hon. Marie-France Lalonde: Avant de commencer, j’aimerais prendre le temps de souligner la présence ici d’Eric Minoli, Laurent Guérin et Carole Nkoa, qui sont ici pour démontrer leur engagement à la francophonie. Je vous remercie de votre présence, mais aussi de votre engagement au sein de notre francophonie ontarienne.

Monsieur le Président, nous célébrons aujourd’hui avec fierté le 20 mars, la Journée internationale de la Francophonie. Cette célébration revêt cette année une signification particulière pour la francophonie ontarienne, puisque l’Ontario est maintenant un membre observateur de l’Organisation internationale de la Francophonie.

Cet élan de solidarité envers cette francophonie aux visages multiples d’ici et d’ailleurs cadre parfaitement avec le thème central de l’édition 2017 de la Journée internationale de la Francophonie, soit : « J’aime, je partage ».

L’entrée officielle de l’Ontario dans la Francophonie internationale signifie qu’il nous appartient de partager l’histoire, les couleurs et les accents de notre francophonie avec le monde entier.

Ici, en Ontario, il faut donc prendre acte du chemin que nous avons parcouru depuis plus de quatre siècles de francophonie. C’est pour cette raison que nous profitons du 150 e anniversaire de l’Ontario pour ériger, à quelques mètres d’ici, un monument provincial. Ce monument va être situé sur la pelouse ouest de l’entrée principale des terrains de Queen’s Park, à une des intersections les plus visibles et prestigieuses de la ville de Toronto.

Ce monument sera un trait d’union entre le passé et l’avenir. Il rendra hommage aux femmes et aux hommes qui ont contribué à construire une francophonie résiliente et qui ont activement participé au développement et à la croissance de la province. Il témoignera aussi du monde qui s’ouvre devant nous et du chemin que rêveront les Franco-Ontariens et les Franco-Ontariennes de demain.

En cette Journée internationale de la Francophonie, ce « grand rendez-vous du donner et du recevoir » dont parle M me Jean passe aussi par l’apport des nouveaux arrivants à la vitalité de la communauté franco-ontarienne.

Monsieur le Président, nous gardons fermement le cap sur notre cible de 5 % d’immigration francophone en Ontario. Nous y tenons. Et le gouvernement continue de prendre des mesures en ce sens, tout en continuant d’alimenter le dialogue avec les chefs de file de la francophonie ontarienne.

D’ailleurs, à la fin de ce mois, ma collègue la ministre des Affaires civiques et de l’Immigration, Laura Albanese, et moi-même participerons au forum sur l’immigration francophone qui se tiendra à Moncton, au Nouveau-Brunswick. Ce sera là une première rencontre officielle entre le forum fédéral, provincial et territorial des ministres de l’Immigration et celui des ministres de la francophonie canadienne. L’Ontario entend déployer les efforts nécessaires de concertation et de collaboration pour faciliter l’atteinte de notre objectif de 5 % d’immigration francophone.

J’aimerais également reconnaître le Groupe média TFO qui, depuis 30 ans, joue un rôle important dans la préservation et le développement de la francophonie ontarienne, et même au-delà de nos frontières.

Avant de conclure cette brève allocution, monsieur le Président, j’aimerais vous rappeler le grand moment d’émotion que nous avons vécu récemment dans cette Assemblée législative lorsque la chanson « Notre Place » du regretté Paul Demers et du compositeur François Dubé fut reconnue comme hymne des Franco-Ontariennes et des Franco-Ontariens. Cette belle chanson nous rappelle notre sens d’appartenance profond à l’Ontario et l’espace à part entière que la communauté franco-ontarienne y occupe dans le présent et dans l’avenir.

« Notre Place », cette chanson emblématique, nous rappelle que l’Ontario est notre place et que l’avenir nous appartient. Aujourd’hui, je tiens à vous remercier, chers collègues de l’Assemblée législative de l’Ontario, de votre appui indéfectible envers la communauté francophone de la province.

J’invite donc tous les francophones et tous les francophiles à partager leur fierté et leur solidarité envers la Francophonie mondiale en utilisant sur Twitter le mot­clic #mon20mars.

Bonne Journée internationale de la Francophonie à vous tous. Merci, monsieur le Président.

Le Président (L’hon. Dave Levac): Merci beaucoup.

It’s now time for members’ responses.

M me Gila Martow: Chers collègues, et à tous nos visiteurs qui sont ici aujourd’hui, je suis très fière de parler aujourd’hui au sujet de la Journée internationale de la Francophonie. Je vous adresse, en ce jour, comme la porte-parole du groupe conservateur pour la francophonie en Ontario.

Avec ma collègue la représentante de Nickel Belt, j’ai eu l’honneur d’assister à la réunion de l’Association parlementaire Francophone, tenue à Québec la semaine dernière. Je suis la représentante pour les affaires des femmes pour les trois partis de l’Ontario, alors ça veut dire pour toutes les Franco-Ontariennes ici en Ontario. Ça m’a donné une occasion de pratiquer un peu mon vocabulaire au Québec.

Je veux dire que mercredi passé était, comme on dit en anglais, le « kickoff » pour la Semaine de la Francophonie à Daniels Spectrum sur la rue Dundas à Toronto. C’était une célébration non seulement pour la journée et la semaine de la francophonie, mais on a aussi célébré le 150 e anniversaire du pays du Canada. Les « hashtag » pour cette journée étaient #JeSuisFranco et #JeSuisToronto.

Monsieur le Président, en tant que représentante du groupe conservateur pour la francophonie en Ontario et en tant que francophone, j’ai déjà eu le plaisir de prendre part à plusieurs de ces évènements excitants pendant cette Semaine de la Francophonie. On a plusieurs évènements originaux et créatifs qui sont planifiés dans les jours qui viennent dans un nombre varié d’endroits dans notre province.

Ces évènements couvrent une variété de goûts : cinéma, musique, humour, conférences et théâtre—et pour tous les âges, on a tous ces évènements. Pour avoir tous les renseignements, on peut visiter le site Web semainefrancophonietoronto.com.

Je veux dire aussi que cette année, les festivités souligneront également, comme je l’ai dit, le 150 e anniversaire de la confédération, avec des programmes historiques. Non moins de 20 évènements au total ont été présentés par plus d’une demi-douzaine d’organismes et associations culturelles de la ville de Toronto : des spectacles jeunesse, de la magie, des projections de films, du théâtre, des séances de réseautage, des concours et des conférences, qui sauront plaire aux petits et aux grands.

Cette semaine exceptionnelle sera clôturée par le concert de Mehdi Cayenne et Yann Perreau, des artistes francophones qui ont beaucoup de talent.

En conclusion, monsieur le Président, je suis heureuse et honorée de pouvoir rapporter que la Francophonie est une communauté vibrante dans le monde, et plus particulièrement, ici en Ontario. Ceci est illustré par le fait que notre Parlement l’a réaffirmé récemment en passant une motion pour instituer « Notre Place », dont la ministre a déjà parlé, comme l’hymne officiel de la francophonie en Ontario.

M me France Gélinas: Je commence par souhaiter une bonne Journée internationale de la Francophonie à tous mes collègues, à nos visiteurs qui sont venus ici à Queen’s Park et à tous ceux qui nous écoutent. Bonne journée de la Francophonie.

J’aimerais également commencer en vous remerciant, monsieur le Président, ainsi que tous les travailleurs de la table des Greffiers, de nous avoir donné—on a un plan de l’Assemblée législative et il est maintenant complètement bilingue, autant les comtés que les ministères, etc., et c’est la première fois aujourd’hui. Donc, je voulais dire merci. C’était une demande que j’avais faite, et vous avez répondu à mes attentes à 100 %. Je vous remercie beaucoup, monsieur le Président.

C’est sûr que lorsqu’on parle de la Journée internationale de la Francophonie, on aimerait ça pouvoir célébrer notre fierté. Moi, je vais commencer par passer un peu au travers des dossiers prioritaires pour le gouvernement provincial. Le plus gros dossier, au provincial, bien entendu, c’est la santé : c’est 50 milliards de dollars. En santé, on se souvient tous de SOS Montfort, où il y a eu un ralliement et un cri de coeur de la communauté franco-ontarienne pour sauver notre hôpital universitaire francophone.

Ça a été un succès et maintenant on peut tous être fiers de ce que Montfort est devenu, autant pour la région d’Ottawa, mais vraiment pour tout l’Ontario, avec son mandat universitaire, son mandat d’enseignement, ainsi que les renvois en service qui se font à Montfort.

Le rapport final intitulé « Examen des services de soins primaires destinés aux francophones de Timmins », qui a été présenté par la firme de consultants PGF et déposé en août 2016—ils veulent la mise en oeuvre. Qu’est-ce qu’ils veulent, vraiment? Ils veulent un centre de santé communautaire francophone. Ça fait plus de 10 ans qu’ils le demandent, eux et plusieurs autres communautés à la grandeur de notre province. Quelle belle opportunité de fierté et de célébration, si on pouvait avoir ça.

Si on continue avec les soins de longue durée, vous savez, monsieur le Président, qu’il y a 78 000 lits de soins de longue durée. Si tu dis qu’on est à peu près 5 % en Ontario, on devrait avoir au moins 3 900 lits désignés francophones. Oublions ça. On en a 0,0005 % qui sont réservés pour les francophones. Il y a place à l’amélioration. J’aimerais pouvoir célébrer ça et en être fière, mais à part quelques lits à Toronto et quelques lits sur un étage désigné à Hamilton, il n’y a pas grand-chose. Pourtant, on sait que c’est dans la population aînée que l’on retrouve le plus gros pourcentage de francophones unilingues, mais ça, ça ne dérange pas.

Le deuxième plus gros dossier, bien entendu, c’est l’éducation. On est fier de nos écoles francophones, de nos conseils francophones, tant au niveau primaire qu’au secondaire, mais on n’est pas fier de ce qu’on a : une formule de financement qui nous désavantage, nous, les francophones, et surtout l’enfance en difficulté. Pourquoi est-ce que nos petits francophones n’ont pas droit aux mêmes services que les anglophones pour avoir un avenir meilleur?

On est fier de nos collèges, autant Boréal que La Cité collégiale, mais encore là, les collèges francophones doivent compétitionner l’un contre l’autre. Un collège, c’est fait pour répondre aux besoins d’enseignement de sa communauté. Si les besoins sont les mêmes dans La Cité qu’à Boréal, ils devraient avoir le droit d’offrir le même programme, comme les collèges anglophones le font.

Ça m’amène, bien entendu, à l’université franco. Partout en Ontario, apprenez-la, la chanson, parce qu’on veut passer de la chanson à l’action. On n’a rien contre l’augmentation des programmes post-secondaires dans le centre-sud-ouest, mais ça ne devrait pas nous empêcher de faire le premier pas, de mettre en place un conseil des gouverneurs pour une université franco-ontarienne.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Merci.

Before we move on, I’d like to respond to the member from Nickel Belt. I’d like to give some credit to the Clerk, the Deputy Clerk and the Clerks’ table for the translation. I appreciate their efforts to help us do that. Thank you.

Correction of record

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member from London West on a point of order.

Ms. Peggy Sattler: I’d like to correct my record from this morning. I referred to $10 million and I should have referred to $1.2 million.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Thank you. All members have an opportunity to correct the record.

Visitors

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member from Huron–Bruce on a point of order.

Ms. Lisa M. Thompson: Very quickly, I’d like to welcome Brooklyn Lampi and her mother, Mariah. They were here earlier. Brooklyn received an Ontario Junior Citizen Award earlier today.

Petitions

Hydro rates

Mr. Ted Arnott: I have a petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario and it reads as follows:

“Whereas the price of electricity has skyrocketed under the Ontario Liberal government;

“Whereas ever-higher hydro bills are a huge concern for everyone in the province, especially seniors and others on fixed incomes, who can’t afford to pay more;

“Whereas Ontario’s businesses say high electricity costs are making them uncompetitive, and have contributed to the loss of hundreds of thousands of manufacturing jobs;

“Whereas the recent Auditor General’s report found Ontarians overpaid for electricity by $37 billion over the past eight years and estimates that we will overpay by an additional $133 billion over the next 18 years if nothing changes;

“Whereas the cancellation of the Oakville and Mississauga gas plants costing $1.1 billion, feed-in tariff (FIT) contracts with wind and solar companies, the sale of surplus energy to neighbouring jurisdictions at a loss, the debt retirement charge, the global adjustment and smart meters that haven’t met their conservation targets have all put upward pressure on hydro bills;

“Whereas the sale of 60% of Hydro One is opposed by a majority of Ontarians and will likely only lead to even higher hydro bills;

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

“To listen to Ontarians, reverse course on the Liberal government’s current hydro policies and take immediate steps to stabilize hydro bills.”

Mr. Speaker, I have affixed my signature to this as well.

Long-term care

M me France Gélinas: I have this petition that comes from all over Ontario, but I would like to thank Stephanie and Denis Meilleur from Capreol and Cochrane for sending me the petition. It reads as follows:

“Whereas frail elderly patients needing long-term-care placement in homes within the North East Local Health Integration Network ... have been pressured to move out of the hospital to await placement, or stay and pay hospital rates of approximately $1,000 per day; and

“Whereas frail elderly patients needing long-term-care placement in Sudbury and Sault Ste. Marie have been pressured to move to homes not of their choosing, or to ‘interim’ beds in facilities that don’t meet legislated standards for permanent long-term-care homes; and

“Whereas the practice of making patients remain in ‘interim’ beds is contrary to Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care ... policy which identifies ‘interim’ beds as intended to ‘ensure a continuous flow-through so that interim beds are constantly freed up for new applicants from hospitals’;”

They petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to:

“—Ensure health system officials are using ‘interim’ beds as ‘flow-through,’ in accordance with fairness and as outlined in” Ministry of Health “policy;

“—Ensure patients aren’t pressured with hospital rates and fulfill promises made to hundreds of nursing home residents who agreed to move temporarily with the promise that they would be relocated as soon as a bed in a home of their choosing became available.”

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

GO Transit

Mr. Peter Z. Milczyn: I have a petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

“Whereas Cambridge, Ontario, is a municipality of over 125,000 people, many of whom commute into the greater Toronto area daily;

“Whereas the current commuting options available for travel between the Waterloo region and the GTA are inefficient and time-consuming, as well as environmentally damaging;

“Whereas the residents of Cambridge and the Waterloo region believe that they would be well-served by commuter rail transit that connects the region to the Milton line, and that this infrastructure would have positive, tangible economic benefits to the province of Ontario;

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

“Direct crown agency Metrolinx to commission a feasibility study into building a rail line that connects the city of Cambridge to the GO train station in Milton, and to complete this study in a timely manner and communicate the results to the municipal government of Cambridge.”

I fully support this petition, affix my signature to it and hand it to page Max.

Lung health

Mr. Sam Oosterhoff: This is a petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

“Whereas lung disease affects more than 2.8 million people in the province of Ontario, more than 390,700 of whom are children and youth between the ages of 0-14 living with asthma;

“Of the four chronic diseases responsible for 79% of deaths (cancers, cardiovascular diseases, lung disease and diabetes) lung disease is the only one without a dedicated province-wide strategy;

“In the Ontario Lung Association report, Your Lungs, Your Life, it is estimated that lung disease currently costs the Ontario taxpayers more than $4 billion a year in direct and indirect health care costs, and that this figure is estimated to rise to more than $80 billion seven short years from now;

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

“To allow for deputations on MPP Ted McMeekin, MPP Jeff Yurek and MPP France Gélinas’ private member’s bill, Bill 71, Lung Health Act, 2016, which establishes a Lung Health Advisory Council to make recommendations to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care on lung health issues and requires the minister to develop and implement an Ontario Lung Health Action Plan with respect to research, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of lung disease; and

“As the bill had already been debated at committee in the bill’s original form, Bill 41, Lung Health Act, 2014, to expedite through the committee stage and back to the Legislature for third and final reading; and to immediately call for a vote on Bill 71 and to seek royal assent immediately upon its passage.”

I support this petition, I affix my signature to it and I will give it to page Ethan.

Privatisation des biens publics

M. Taras Natyshak: C’est mon plaisir d’introduire cette pétition :

« Privatiser Hydro One : une autre mauvaise décision.

« À l’Assemblée législative de l’Ontario :

« Attendu que la privatisation d’Hydro One est un aller sans retour; et

« Attendu que nous allons perdre des centaines de millions de revenus fiables d’Hydro One pour nos écoles et nos hôpitaux; et

« Attendu que nous allons perdre le plus gros atout économique provincial et le contrôle de notre avenir dans le secteur de l’énergie; et

« Attendu que nous allons payer de plus en plus pour l’électricité, tout comme ce qui est arrivé ailleurs;

« Nous, soussignés, pétitionnons l’Assemblée législative de l’Ontario comme suit :

« D’arrêter la vente d’Hydro One et de faire en sorte que les familles de l’Ontario, comme propriétaires d’Hydro One, en bénéficient, maintenant et pour les générations à venir. »

J’appuie cette pétition, je vais la signer et l’envoyer avec le page Matthew.

Hydro rates

Ms. Daiene Vernile: This is a petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

“Whereas electricity prices have increased and in too many cases become unaffordable for Ontarians;

“Whereas Ontario is a prosperous province and people should never have to choose between hydro and other daily necessities;

“Whereas people want to know that hydro rate relief is on the way; that relief will go to everyone; and that relief will be lasting because it is built on significant change;

“Whereas the Ontario fair hydro plan would reduce hydro bills for residential consumers, small businesses and farms by an average of 25% as part of a significant system restructuring, with increases held to the rate of inflation for the next four years;

“Whereas the Ontario fair hydro plan would provide people with low incomes and those living in rural communities with even greater reductions to their electricity bills;

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

“Support the Ontario fair hydro plan and provide relief for Ontario electricity consumers as quickly as possible;

“Continue working to ensure clean, reliable and affordable electricity is available for all Ontarians.”

I agree with this petition, Mr. Speaker. I’ll put my signature to it and give it to page Keira.

Medical assistance in dying

Mr. Monte McNaughton: I have an important petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

“Whereas Bill C-14, the federal legislation which legalized medical assistance in dying (MAID) in Canada explicitly affirms it is not intended to compel anyone to act against their deeply held beliefs; and

“Whereas the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario has adopted the effective-referral protocol for MAID, which may compel health care professionals to act contrary to their deeply held beliefs; and

“Whereas the effective-referral protocol for MAID is globally unprecedented; and

“Whereas there are viable alternatives for the provision of effective access to MAID that would allow all health care professionals to continue to practise