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October 23, 2017

41st Parliament, 2nd Session

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Hansard Transcripts

Votes and Proceedings

Orders and Notices

Hansard Transcripts 2017-Oct-23 (PDF)

L108 - Mon 23 Oct 2017 / Lun 23 oct 2017

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO

ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE DE L’ONTARIO

Monday 23 October 2017 Lundi 23 octobre 2017

Introduction of Visitors

Resignation of member for Bramalea–Gore–Malton

Oral Questions

Indigenous affairs

Government accountability

Fiscal accountability

Hydro rates

Government accountability

Energy policies

Employment supports

Opioid abuse

Labour dispute

Nuclear power facilities

Agri-food industry

Hospital funding

Economic development

Visitors

Introduction of Visitors

Members’ Statements

Shabbat Project Toronto

Events in Windsor–Tecumseh

Doug Whitty

Small business

World Polio Day

Rohingya Muslims

Wind turbines

Somali community

Public consultation

Motions

Private members’ public business

Committee membership

Petitions

Primary health care

Long-term care

Workplace insurance

Long-term care

Student loans

Rohingya Muslims

Markdale hospital

Prévention du tabagisme chez les jeunes

Employment standards

Long-term care

Pharmacare

Elevator maintenance

Orders of the Day

Representation Statute Law Amendment Act, 2017 / Loi de 2017 modifiant des lois en ce qui concerne la représentation électorale

House sittings

Strengthening Protection for Ontario Consumers Act, 2017 / Loi de 2017 sur le renforcement de la protection des consommateurs ontariens

The House met at 1030.

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

Prayers.

Introduction of Visitors

M me France Gélinas: J’ai de la grande visite. Today the page captain is Rochelle Lariviere. Elle est ici avec ses parents, Carolyn et Roc Lariviere, et son frère, Remy Lariviere. Her grandmother Anita Devies and her grandfather Charlie Booth are here, ainsi que sa tante Margaux Booth. Bienvenue à Queen’s Park. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Ms. Sophie Kiwala: Recipients from Kingston, who are receiving the Governor General’s emergency medical services exemplary service award: Terry Baker and Barry McGrath.

I also have, for the Turkish Republic Day proclamation, Mr. Alakuşu from the consulate of Turkey in Toronto; Mr. Bora Celikel, the co-president of the Federation of Canadian Turkish Associations; Mr. Celal Uçar, president of the Turkish Culture and Folklore Society of Canada; Mrs. Yildiz Ünsal, VP of the Turkish Federation Community Foundation; Mr. Ismail Vataner, president of the Balkan Turks association; and Mr. Hasan Yabas, director of the FCTA.

Visitors from the Rohingya petition: I’ve got Zermaan Khan from my riding of Kingston and the Islands with his family, Anwer Khan, Abida Khan, Rayaan Khan, Maazin Khan, Fatimah Khan, Mariam Baig, Mr. Mudassar Butt and Momin Baig.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Just a reminder: People are introducing people.

Thank you.

Mr. Ross Romano: I have a few special guests today in the lower gallery I want to introduce. Firstly, my father-in-law, Alvaro Mendes from Markham, and my mother-in-law, Doreen Mendes, also from Markham; and my two-year-old son, Jarrett Romano, who I’m sure will be heckling me later on.

Miss Monique Taylor: It gives me great pleasure to welcome Willy Noiles to the Legislature. Willy is president of the Ontario Network of Injured Workers Groups. Welcome to Queen’s Park, Willy.

Mr. Victor Fedeli: It certainly is family day in the Legislature today. I have with me my mother, Lena Fedeli, my 12-year-old niece, Maggie Fedeli, my Aunt Emelia, my in-laws, Erma and Chuck Kelly, as well as my constituency assistant from North Bay, Julie Kingsbury.

Ms. Andrea Horwath: It’s my pleasure to welcome back into this House Jagmeet Singh, the former MPP for the riding of Bramalea–Gore–Malton and the national leader of the New Democratic Party.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): I’m not going to give the leader of the third party a hard time—it’s only when they’re a member they introduce them. Now he’s not a member. He’s a member somewhere else.

So, welcome, Jagmeet. We’re glad you’re here with us.

Further introductions?

Mr. Jeff Yurek: I’d like to welcome the family of page captain Jacob Will: parents, Melanie and Steve Will, sisters, Virginia and Selena Will, uncle Larry Will, grandmother June Will, and grandparents Gail and Roy Rader. Welcome to the Legislature today. Enjoy your time.

Mr. Rick Nicholls: It’s my privilege to introduce in the members’ gallery this morning a good friend of mine, Tim Schindel and also Murray Wright. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Further introductions?

We have in the Speaker’s gallery a couple of groups. Today, we have teachers from across Ontario participating in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario Teacher’s Forum. I want to thank the staff for putting this program together. In its third year, it has grown immensely and we love the fact that teachers are here from all over Ontario to learn about this place and to take it back and tell them we’re not so bad. So, I want to welcome all of the teachers who have joined us today from Ontario. Welcome.

We also have with us a very important delegation from the Parliament of the Federation Wallonia-Brussels in Belgium. They are led here by the assembly president, M. Philippe Courard. Welcome to our assembly.

Resignation of member for Bramalea–Gore–Malton

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Also, I beg to inform the House that a vacancy has occurred in the membership of the House by reason of the resignation of Jagmeet Singh as member from the electoral district of Bramalea–Gore–Malton, effective October 20, 2017.

Accordingly, I have issued my warrant to the Chief Electoral Officer in the issue of a writ for a by-election. Thank you, Jagmeet, for your service.

Applause.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): It is therefore time for question period.

Oral Questions

Indigenous affairs

Mr. Ross Romano: To the Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation: Recently I travelled to the Matawa First Nations of Nibinamik, Webequie, Neskantaga and Eabametoong to see the living conditions there.

Nibinamik fears a community evacuation because their power system may not survive the winter. They, along with Neskantaga, have been on a boil-water advisory for decades. Imagine an entire generation of youth not knowing something as simple as turning on the tap for a glass of water.

These and many other poor conditions are causing an even greater tragedy: There is a suicide epidemic that is claiming the lives of too many young children. Can you even fathom the state of hopelessness when kids as young as 12 are taking their own lives? These conditions exist in Ontario, Mr. Speaker, and they are unacceptable.

To the minister: What will you do to bring immediate relief to these First Nations? Will you end the power and the water crisis now? Will you take action to end the tragic suicide epidemic that is killing Ontario’s youth?

Hon. David Zimmer: Thank you for that important question. The water issue, the clean water issue, is of utmost paramountcy to this government; indeed, to First Nations; and, I should add, to the federal government. That’s why this government is working closely with the federal government to resolve this clean water issue. The federal government has responsibility for on-reserve matters—clean drinking water—but the provincial government plays an important role in working with the federal government, in working with First Nations, in providing provincial expertise in water treatment.

Speaker, I have been to 119 or 120 First Nations, especially in the remote northern communities. Part of my visit always includes a trip to the water treatment facility, if there is one. In some First Nations, there is not a water treatment facility.

I can tell you, when you see the difficulties with the water treatment facilities and then you go to other First Nations and you see that they don’t even have a water—

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

Supplementary?

Mr. Ross Romano: Again to the minister: The socio-economic and infrastructure challenges within these communities are similar to those we would see in Third World countries.

Following the discovery of the Ring of Fire, the Liberal government signed a regional framework agreement, the RFA, with all the Matawa First Nations communities so that these living conditions could be addressed in the consultation process. The Liberals then hired high-priced consultants to negotiate the Ring of Fire road development. It has been 11 years now and there has been no progress on the road beyond Liberal announcements filled with empty election promises.

To date, these failed negotiations have wasted taxpayers in excess of $30 million.

After all this wasted money, these communities continue to live in Third World conditions and are in desperate need of help.

To the minister: Wouldn’t you think that all this money would have been better spent on solutions to the living conditions in these communities as opposed to padding the pockets of high-priced Liberal consultants?

Hon. David Zimmer: Thank you for the question. Necessary components to relieving the difficult conditions we find in the Far North are economic development, resource development and finding a way for First Nations to share responsibly and fairly in the benefits of resource development.

I know the member opposite was on a tour of the Ring of Fire recently. I, too, about two weeks ago, was at the Ring of Fire with Minister Mauro and Minister Gravelle, executives from Noront and chiefs from the Matawa tribal council. We had an on-site meeting. We sat in a ring in the outdoors, at the Ring of Fire. We received a thorough briefing from the chiefs, from Noront and from the political people that attended that meeting.

I can tell you that there is a willingness from the First Nations, from Noront and from government to develop the Ring of Fire so that we can provide the economic opportunity, which will go a long, long way to improving conditions—

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Thank you. I remind the minister and all members: When I stand, you sit.

Final supplementary.

Mr. Ross Romano: Again to the minister: The road that was initially proposed to unlock the economic opportunity in the Ring of Fire runs through Matawa First Nations lands and, as such, requires their consent. To obtain that consent, the Liberal government signed an RFA with these communities, promising to negotiate in good faith.

Eabametoong and Neskantaga have not agreed to this development, fearing the road alone will not address or improve their community living conditions.

The Premier’s answer to this roadblock was to change the rules of the RFA. Now she plans to reroute the road to avoid their lands so that they won’t have a say. However, Eabametoong and Neskantaga hold historical land claims in the Ring of Fire.

This is a slap in the face to those negotiations. To the minister: Is this your government’s idea of good-faith negotiations?

Hon. Bill Mauro: You’ve got to pick a lane. You can’t drive in both lanes at the same time.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The Minister of Municipal Affairs will come to order.

Hon. David Zimmer: The reason that Minister Gravelle and I, Minister Mauro, Noront executives and the Ring of Fire chiefs went to the Ring of Fire about two weeks ago—we spent the day there in extensive briefings, extensive consultations, to find out how best to deal with the transportation corridor issue. Obviously, if we’re going to extract minerals with the involvement and the participation of First Nations, there has to be a transportation corridor to remove those minerals, those assets, to smelters and other places. That was the purpose of the meeting. That’s why this government has set aside a billion dollars for a transportation corridor.

We are presently in negotiations with our federal counterparts. We are in negotiations with the private sector to execute a plan that is satisfactory to the nine Matawa chiefs. The meeting—

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

Government accountability

Mr. Victor Fedeli: Good morning, Speaker. My question is for the Acting Premier. Under the Fiscal Transparency and Accountability Act, the finance minister is required to provide a fall economic statement. Over the last 30 days, we’ve all heard the warnings made about this government’s documents. The Legislature’s Financial Accountability Office says the budget will not balance because the numbers are based on “unlikely assumptions.” Last month, the Auditor General said this government has “significantly misstated” the numbers for two years running. Last week, the AG said the government “is making up its own accounting rules.”

To the Acting Premier: Is there even a remote chance we’re going to see any numbers we can believe?

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Acting Premier and Minister of Finance.

Hon. Charles Sousa: I reject the premise of this question and the notion which the individual is trying to also reflect. The fact is that Ontario, by all accounts, is leading Canada. We have the lowest unemployment in 17 years, almost 800,000 net new jobs from the depths of the recession. We’ve been very open and transparent and we’ve beaten our targets consistently, year over year, as attested by public accounts, which the Auditor General does confirm.

The member opposite may talk about expectations and exaggerations. We deal with the facts here, and we are exceeding and delivering for the people of Ontario.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Victor Fedeli: Back to the Acting Premier. Well, that’s certainly not what the Auditor General told us last week.

The transparency act also requires the finance minister to release August and February reports every year, but, sadly, this minister has missed issuing almost all of them since his appointment. Considering the lack of trust in this government’s numbers, we can see why they choose to snub their nose at our laws.

The minister is also required to publish a pre-election finance report, to be reviewed by the Auditor General. The government must provide detailed accounts, the very numbers that the Financial Accountability Officer says would “not be achieved,” the very numbers the Auditor General says we “cannot rely on.”

Will the government produce a pre-election report? Will there be any numbers in it we can actually believe?

Hon. Charles Sousa: Mr. Speaker, this is a good question, and I’ll tell you why. That party, when they were in power, gave us a bogus budget that contained a $5.5-billion—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Come to order.

Hon. Charles Sousa: Because of their practices in the past, we passed a law requiring that all governments, going forward, must be open and transparent and deliver those very opportunities for the entire province to see before the next election. We are doing that. The fall economic statement is going to be delivered very shortly as will the future reports that are being questioned here.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Before I turn to the member, I would ask him to listen.

Final supplementary?

Mr. Victor Fedeli: Again to the Acting Premier: The two reports aren’t the only documents the members of the House are waiting for, Speaker. The government has withheld thousands of emails from the Auditor General and spent $500,000 on hired lawyers to stall their release. The Auditor General and this Legislature are entitled to those documents—not some of them, Speaker; all of them—and we want them now. Not only that, but the media were told in a response to a freedom of information request that no documents on consultants exist, when clearly they do.

Speaker, to the Acting Premier: The last Liberals that said there were no documents are now in a courtroom down the street. Is that where this one is heading too?

Hon. Charles Sousa: Minister of Energy.

Hon. Glenn Thibeault: Our government remains committed to being open and transparent and continues to co-operate—

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member from Leeds–Grenville will withdraw.

Mr. Steve Clark: Withdraw.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Carry on.

Hon. Glenn Thibeault: We continue to co-operate with the Office of the Auditor General. For example, the Independent Electricity System Operator has so far provided 1,200 records to the Auditor General. OPG has provided hundreds of records. The Ontario Financing Authority has provided 3,242. The Treasury Board has provided thousands of records. We’ve provided 13,212. In this process, Mr. Speaker, and throughout everyday operations, we’re adhering to all document retention standards.

Additionally, the ministry has informed me that we’re continuing to release additional information to the Auditor General, and we’re doing this because we understand the importance of providing the auditor with everything that she has asked for. The ministry has been regularly providing the Auditor General with additional responsive documents each week, and we’ll continue to adhere to this process.

Fiscal accountability

Ms. Andrea Horwath: My question is for the Acting Premier. Thanks to the Auditor General, we now know that the Premier and her Liberal government are forcing Ontario families to pay $4 billion just to hide the damage that her hydro borrowing scheme will do in the long run. We know that she was warned about the cost, we know she was given other options and we know she went ahead anyway.

Can the Acting Premier tell us who made the decision to ignore staff warnings and push ahead with a $4-billion scheme?

Hon. Charles Sousa: Again, the premise of the question is erroneous. The estimation by the Financial Accountability Officer made reference to what he felt were estimated numbers based on estimated borrowings, which we’re reminding everyone that that is not actually what has taken place. So the premise of the question is erroneous.

There is a plan before us which reduces hydro rates, electricity rates, for Ontarians across the province by 25%, enabling us to do so in a responsible manner, which the opposition have now declined.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Speaker, I would trust the estimations of the FAO and the Auditor General much more than I would expect to trust the estimations of the government. If you recall, this government estimated a $40-million cost of the gas plants scandal, and that was $1.1 billion, so I’m not going to take their estimations; definitely not.

In addition to the $4 billion that this Premier spent to hide the real cost of her $40-billion borrowing scheme, they also forked over another $2 million to consultants to help design said scheme. Since they won’t tell us about the $4 billion, will the Liberal government at least make these consultants’ contracts public so Ontarians know who exactly it is that’s advising the Premier and what direction she was given?

Hon. Charles Sousa: President of the Treasury Board.

Hon. Liz Sandals: First of all, I think it’s important to understand that the numbers that the leader of the third party is throwing around were estimates of something or other—projections that came from the FAO. They were not documents that were ever presented to cabinet on which to base a decision. They were projections that came after the fact. They were not cabinet decision-making documents.

The decision that cabinet did make was an important policy decision to say that things that actually have to do with electricity production belong on the rate base, from an accounting and from a real perspective—a financial, fiscal plan perspective. Things which have social policy impacts belong on the tax base. That’s exactly what the accounting is based on, that policy decision to put electricity on the rate base.

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

Ms. Andrea Horwath: I have not been gobsmacked in this place for a long time, but for a minister to get up and talk about estimations of “something or other” is pretty worrisome. For a governing party to do that is pretty worrisome.

We know that the Liberal government knew how much it was going to cost to hide the disastrous effect of their borrowing scheme from the public. We know that they knew it was going to cost Ontario families $4 billion to do, and clearly they just didn’t care that they were going to spend $4 billion to cook up this scheme. We also know that the people of this province paid an additional $2 million for consultants to tell them how to pull it off.

Why is the Liberal government putting themselves and their party ahead of families once again? They’re looking after their political interests, the interests of the Liberals and this Premier, instead of the interests of the families in this province, who are struggling just to make ends meet and pay their skyrocketing hydro bills.

Hon. Liz Sandals: Minister of Energy.

Hon. Glenn Thibeault: When it comes to our policy decision, we actually made a decision that helps every single family in this province by reducing their electricity bills by 25%. Then we went even further: We brought forward our social programs, the OESP program and the RRRP program, for those folks who live in rural or northern parts of our province. They’re going to see a 40% to 50% reduction on their bill. That’s the policy decision that we made as a government. We made sure that we kept electricity generating assets on the electricity side, and those social programs that I talked about, we pulled those off of the rate base to lower the rates even more and we put that on the tax base.

When it comes to putting families first, it’s this government that does so. It’s this government that brought forward the reduction, and it’s this government that continues to bring forward plans and policies that will—

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The Member from Renfrew–Nipissing–Pembroke, second time.

Wrap up, please—one sentence.

Hon. Glenn Thibeault: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is this government, not the opposition, that is making a difference in the lives of families in this province each and every day.

Hydro rates

Ms. Andrea Horwath: My next question is also for the Acting Premier. Hydro bills in Ontario have gone up 300% under this Liberal government. They’ve gone up 50% just under the Premier’s reign alone, but instead of reversing her wrong-headed decision to sell off Hydro One, the Premier paid consultants $2 million to design a $4-billion financial scheme designed to hide the fact that she’s costing Ontario families $40 billion more than necessary.

Instead of remortgaging the cost of hydro on the backs of Ontarians, why didn’t this Liberal government come up with a real solution to address the skyrocketing hydro prices in this province?

Hon. Charles Sousa: Minister of Energy.

Hon. Glenn Thibeault: The solution that we brought forward is a 25% reduction for all homes in this province, for all families, and for 500,000 small businesses and farms. Their plan doesn’t do anything to even address taking one cent off of anyone’s bills. They didn’t even include First Nations or even contemplate what we can do for low-income individuals, where we did. We brought forward the Ontario Electricity Support Program. We have an on-reserve First Nations delivery credit, and we’ve also created the RRRP.

We’ve made sure that we’ve looked after the individuals in our province, and we know we’ve got more work to do. We’ll continue to have consultations to talk about small businesses. We’ll continue to work with our large industries, unlike the opposition party which has no plan, and one which has a plan that won’t work. This plan on this side of the House is saving all families in this province money.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): New question.

Ms. Andrea Horwath: This is my second, Speaker.

Sadly, sadly, sadly, the people from Ontario have seen all too closely the Liberal plan. That’s why the hydro rates are going up in this province: because of Liberal plans, because of what the Liberals have done to our electricity system over 14 years.

The Premier has taken responsibility already for the high cost of hydro in Ontario. She actually said that it was her own fault. When will the Liberal government take responsibility for using billions of public dollars to try to deceive Ontario families into believing that she actually fixed the problem that she caused?

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): I’m going to ask the member to withdraw.

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Withdraw, Speaker.

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

Minister?

Hon. Glenn Thibeault: When it comes to helping families in this province, a 25% reduction means that rates are going down. They’re going down for every single household, they’re going down for 500,000 small businesses and farms, and we’re continuing to work to reduce our rates even more.

But do you know what, Mr. Speaker? We did have to make sure that we invested $70 billion in the system, to make sure that we can have a clean system and a reliable system. I know that today, that system that we have is over 90% GHG-free. We’re making sure that there is no coal in our electricity supply mix. We are the tip of the spear when it comes to North America.

I know the opposition parties will talk about it, but this is action that we’ve done. We’ve lowered our emissions. We’ve made sure we’re helping the health care system, because this is saving dollars on our health care side. These were the right things to do. At the end of the day, we’ll continue to—

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

Ms. Andrea Horwath: The running tab for the cost of the Premier’s hydro borrowing scheme is this: $40 billion for the plan itself; $4 billion to hide the long-term cost of the plan; $2 million on consultants to design the $4-billion financial scheme; and $500,000 for a lawyer to screen emails going to the Auditor General as she attempts to tell the people of Ontario just how bad this hydro scheme is for them.

Does the government plan to spend any more public money on a desperate attempt to convince voters that their hydro bills haven’t gone up over 300% on the government’s watch?

Hon. Glenn Thibeault: Once again, a 25% reduction for all households in this province: That means rates are going down in this province.

But let’s talk about the savings that this government has made by investing in a clean, green, reliable electricity system. When it comes to the health care system, there is $4.3 billion in health care cost savings thanks to this government closing coal plants. That’s $70 billion that we’re going to see by 2055. That is something we need to ensure that we keep doing, unlike the opposition parties, who have no plan or no idea on how to do this.

A 41% reduction in health care costs and 23% in health care deaths, thanks to the investments that we have made in this system: We’re going to continue to be leaders in this country and in North America when it comes to our electricity grid, and making sure that it’s clean, green, reliable and affordable.

Government accountability

Mr. Todd Smith: My question this morning is for the Acting Premier. We learned last week in court that former cabinet secretary Peter Wallace told the Premier’s chief of staff, “The only organization that didn’t keep any records was a criminal organization.” So I’m sure that it’s only a coincidence that the government lawyered up this time when the Auditor General asked for what turned out to be two million emails from the energy ministry.

Speaker, why has the government only turned over 1%—actually, less than 1%—of the documents that the Auditor General has asked for from the government?

Hon. Charles Sousa: Minister of Energy.

Hon. Glenn Thibeault: When it comes to the documents asked for by the Auditor General, we are in full compliance. Since October 13, we’ve provided over 13,000 documents.

How did we get to that number? On top of all the other documents that all the other associations are getting to, we actually took the phrases that the Auditor General had asked for and recognized that there were 80 custodians of those phrases. That was 40 phrases. That produced two million documents. Those two million documents were then reviewed to make sure which ones applied specifically to this ask and what was close. That provided 145,000 documents.

The Ministry of Energy is working hard to go through all of those documents to provide all of them that relate to the fair hydro plan to the Auditor General. I know the opposition member knows this, and that’s something we’re going to continue to talk about, Mr. Speaker, because at the end of the day we are doing everything that we’re supposed to do as a government to provide these documents to the Auditor General.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Todd Smith: Speaker, the minister just talked about a lot of numbers. One thing we learned last week in the Auditor General’s report is we can’t believe a single number that this government brings forward any longer. All of their numbers are in a cloud of controversy.

The last time the government stalled and stalled and stalled on handing over the documents, do you remember how much that cost the taxpayers of Ontario? Over $1 billion. We also got to learn about all kinds of neat things, like the secret code names they were using, like Project Vapour and Project Fruit Salad, and Pete’s Project that was going on, and the infamous double-delete. How many secret codes are we going to find out about this time?

We know that the lawyers are in there deciding which documents they’re going to turn over to the Auditor General. This latest electricity scheme is going to cost electricity customers in Ontario $4 billion. Speaker, this time the government lawyered up first. What are they trying to hide from Ontario now?

Interjections.

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

Minister.

Hon. Glenn Thibeault: It begs the question as to what they are trying to hide, when it comes to the fact that they keep talking about an idea that they may have had somewhere close to maybe a year ago that they might launch, and talk about a plan that they might have. I know the only number that we know is that we’re getting closer and closer to 365 days before they would even talk about doing something for the people of Ontario.

This government, on the other hand, has provided another number that everyone knows: a 25% reduction on everyone’s bills, from one side of our province to the other. Those who live in rural or northern parts of the province will see even more. At the end of the day, we’re making sure that we’re acting. We’re acting for the people of Ontario with a clean system, an affordable system and a reliable system. That’s a plan that you can count on, not like the opposition.

Energy policies

Mr. Peter Tabuns: Speaker, my question to the Acting Premier: Two years ago the Premier insisted that a privatized Hydro One would not drive up hydro rates, because the Ontario Energy Board would keep it in check. We now know that Hydro One refuses to be regulated by the OEB. Even after the OEB gave it nearly everything it asked for, including 71% of a $2.6-billion tax gift from that government, Hydro One is taking the OEB to court to demand 100% of that gift.

According to OEB precedent, this tax benefit should be going to ratepayers, not to shareholders. Why does the Premier think it’s acceptable for Hydro One to demand 100% of this $2.6-billion gift on behalf of investors while leaving nothing for ratepayers?

Hon. Charles Sousa: To the birthday boy, the Minister of Energy.

Hon. Glenn Thibeault: I thank the honourable member for the question, and I know we had this discussion last week as well. Really, when you’re looking at Hydro One’s draft rate order, what we’re talking about now is an estimated bill impact for 2017 that would be an increase of 0.1%, and 0.2% for 2018

That being said, our fair hydro plan has lowered bills by 25% on average for households and as many as half a million small businesses and farms this summer. I know our rural customers have seen an even greater decrease from this, somewhere between 40% and 50%. These are truly substantial savings.

We’re going to continue to monitor this, but at the end of the day, we’ll continue to work with all of our utilities to ensure that we continue to provide real, immediate relief for the families and businesses in our province.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Peter Tabuns: Again to the Acting Premier: Last week, the government said that the system was working just fine because the OEB had told Hydro One to reduce its revenue demands. It turns out Hydro One basically ignored the OEB decision. The privatized Hydro One came back with a new revenue demand that was nearly as high as the first demand—and then it took the OEB to court.

Will the Acting Premier finally admit that Hydro One will not accept regulation by the Ontario Energy Board, and that the only way to stop private profits from driving up hydro bills is to return Hydro One to public hands?

Interjections.

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

Minister.

Hon. Glenn Thibeault: Mr. Speaker, the OEB’s decision is a great example of the strong record they have of denying hydro companies all that they ask for in reviewing rate applications, with the consumer in mind first and foremost.

Over the past 10 years, the OEB has denied or reduced the outcome of rate applications many times: in 2010, in 2012, in 2011 and in 2014—and in 2011, even, for example, with Toronto Hydro. They made a request to the OEB and received a 10.8% less-than-requested reduction. The OEB’s mandate is to protect the interests of ratepayers and to set just and reasonable rates.

When it comes to the tax deferral piece, as the independent arm’s-length regulator of the province, the OEB continues to balance the interests of consumers with those of the utilities. Part of the OEB’s decision and order included the deferral tax issue. The OEB has indicated that some of the value of that tax asset should be given to ratepayers.

Employment supports

Despite this, studies show that workers with disabilities are more loyal, have better attendance and in fact perform better than average on the job. As well, most workers with disabilities only require minor accommodations to work. A more diverse workforce including people with disabilities helps Ontario businesses with productivity, innovation and exports.

Hon. Tracy MacCharles: I want to thank the member from Etobicoke North for this very important question.

This summer, I was very pleased to launch Access Talent: Ontario’s Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities, and I was joined by many of my colleague ministers on this very important initiative.

Access Talent outlines our vision for the future: a province where everyone has a chance to reach their full potential and make a meaningful contribution to our economic prosperity and social growth. We’re calling on employers to join us to take action and hire at least one more person with a disability and give people the opportunity to help further build their businesses and grow our economy. Our plan involves drawing from the knowledge and lived experiences from people across all sectors, including francophone communities, First Nations and indigenous people to reflect the diversity of people with disabilities.

I’ll be pleased to answer more in the supplementary.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Shafiq Qaadri: Thank you, Minister. I think all of us appreciate your engagement on this portfolio.

One of the frustrations that I hear about as an MPP is how particular constituents are yet unable to find work because of the barriers they may face because of their own personal disabilities. The employment rate for people with disabilities is less than 50%, and a quarter of those employed feel they are working a role that does not really reflect the breadth of their qualifications. When we limit people’s abilities as individuals, we limit our strength as a province.

Speaker, would the minister please explain to the House how the new employers’ table is going to advance employment for people with disabilities in the province of Ontario?

Hon. Tracy MacCharles: Our Employers’ Partnership Table is a major step forward for Ontario’s ground-breaking strategy to increase jobs for persons with disabilities. As business leaders and entrepreneurs, our partners know the importance of expanding their customer base to include persons with disabilities, while creating a workforce that reflects the diverse nature of their customers.

I want to thank the members who joined this partnership table. I was just telling my colleague to the left of me: These folks are not only meeting at scheduled times; they’re exchanging emails. They really want to move the yardstick forward on this. They’re going to advocate for hiring people with disabilities within their business circles and communities, influencing businesses and dispelling myths and misconceptions about employing people with disabilities. They have lots of professional expertise that they’re bringing to the table—best practices.

It’s initiatives like this, Speaker, that show that our government is creating meaningful and positive change, both socially and economically, in Ontario.

Opioid abuse

Mr. Jeff Yurek: My question is to the Minister of Health. Speaker, every day we read about the opioid crisis in Ontario and the many deaths resulting from overdoses. Police officers, who are often first to find those who have overdosed, run the risk of inadvertently ingesting illicit drugs during their duty, which places their lives at risk.

Back in October, the government announced the expansion of the supply of naloxone. Unfortunately, these first responders were ignored in the announcement. This has left many police services struggling to find the money to equip their officers with this life-saving treatment. It has created a two-tiered system in the province, where some officers have access to naloxone and others do not.

The opioid crisis has overtaken Ontario. We need leadership and support for our police officers throughout the province. Will the minister ensure that a portion of the funds his government committed to the crisis helps police services purchase naloxone for their officers?

Hon. Eric Hoskins: I know that the Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services will want to speak to this issue in the supplementary, but I wanted to take the opportunity—since the member referenced appropriately the opioid crisis and the public health emergency that we’re facing in this province, as well as across the country.

I was at, last Thursday and Friday, the federal, provincial and territorial health ministers’ meeting, where we had opportunity on both days to work together on the crisis and what more we could do collectively and nationally, looking particularly to the federal leadership at ways that they could work with us to make sure that those supports that are so badly needed by our harm reduction workers and at the front line, including safe injection services and including providing support to those, quite frankly, who are dying in incredible numbers and are extremely vulnerable and marginalized, so that we can provide the support that is needed.

It includes the provisions of naloxone. I think we’re distributing in the order of 8,000 kits every single month through a whole myriad of opportunities.

Again, the Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services will want to address this specifically in the supplementary.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Jeff Yurek: Back to the minister: Police services have informed me that they have had to shift money in their budgets to try to provide naloxone to their officers. Unfortunately, this comes at a cost of other police services that keep our public safe.

This government has been too slow to act on this crisis, which has placed a heavy burden on police service budgets. Due to their lack of support, some regions of the province may not have access to naloxone for their police officers, putting the safety of both the public and the officers at risk.

Speaker, will the minister commit to expanding the availability of naloxone to include our front-line police officers throughout this province?

Hon. Eric Hoskins: To the Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services.

Hon. Marie-France Lalonde: I want to say thanks to the member opposite for the questions. I know that he, and I would say everyone in this House, is committed to ending the opioid crisis.

Several police services have outfitted their front-line officers with naloxone kits, and that includes a few in the member opposite’s own riding, such as the Aylmer Police Service and the OPP, who have equipped all their front-line officers with life-saving naloxone.

Municipalities are, in the end, responsible for ensuring effective police services that meet their needs. As part of our strategy for a safer Ontario, we are moving forward towards an outcome-based funding model. Moving forward with this modernization, police services will have more funding for local priorities, like naloxone for police.

When the bill is introduced, I strongly encourage the member to support it with—

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

Labour dispute

Ms. Peggy Sattler: My question is to the Acting Premier. On Friday, October 20, student leaders at eight Ontario colleges urged the government to get college administrators and striking faculty back to the bargaining table so that a negotiated settlement can be reached and 500,000 college students can return to their classrooms. My colleague Cindy Forster, the member for Welland, and I reinforced their call in an open letter to the Premier.

Students feel they are caught in the middle. They worry whether they will be able to complete their program requirements. Many are paying both tuition and rent and are understandably anxious about the financial burden they are carrying when their semester might be lost.

What is this Liberal government going to do to bring the parties back to the table so that a fair resolution can be achieved?

Hon. Charles Sousa: Minister of Economic Development and Growth.

Hon. Brad Duguid: Mr. Speaker, we share the member’s concern, obviously, about the length of time that this strike has been ongoing. I perhaps have an interest here—maybe I have a conflict of interest. I have two sons, one at George Brown taking construction engineering and another at Centennial College taking HVAC. Both graduate this spring, so they too are anxious about what potential impacts this may have on their year.

There’s no monopoly here on caring about the interests of these students. I think we all care equally. The best thing we can do at this stage is to urge both sides to stay at that bargaining table and get to a deal as soon as possible because there’s no question that the time being taken impacts our students.

Mr. Speaker, maybe in the supplementary question the member can tell me: Is her party suggesting that now is the time for us to legislate them back? Is that what they’re suggesting?

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

Hon. Brad Duguid: Because that’s the only tool we have—

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary.

Ms. Peggy Sattler: Again to the Acting Premier: Provincial underfunding of Ontario colleges has resulted in tuition fees increased to the maximum, ballooning class sizes and an explosion in the use of temporary, contract and part-time instructors, all of which puts quality of education at risk.

College student enrolment is at record highs, but full-time faculty have all but disappeared. Eighty per cent of faculty are precarious part-time workers with no job security and no benefits who must reapply for their jobs every four months. This is not fair to students and it is not fair to faculty.

What is this Liberal government prepared to do to ensure a fair negotiated agreement that includes the resources necessary to implement equal pay for equal work in the college sector?

Interjections.

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

Minister?

Hon. Brad Duguid: Actually, the NDP has been asking questions on a daily basis on this, and I understand the concern we all have for our students, but what are they suggesting we do? The alternative is—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Minister.

Hon. Brad Duguid: We’re strongly urging both sides to get to an agreement as soon as possible. That’s in the interests of our students. But is the member suggesting that now’s the time for us to legislate them back? If that’s what you’re suggesting, then come out and say it and stop hiding behind the rhetoric. There has been no government that has done more for the college system than ours.

Nuclear power facilities

Mr. Granville Anderson: My question is for the Minister of Energy. In my riding, I often hear from constituents on the work of this government on the energy file. The constituents of Durham know how critical a clean, reliable energy system is to Ontario being a great place to live and work. That’s why the refurbishment of our nuclear fleet is so important to them. But recently—

Interjections.

Mr. Steve Clark: When he stands, you sit.

Just helping out, boss.

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

Finish, please.

Mr. Granville Anderson: Thank you, Speaker—a news story that focused on the refurbishment’s sub-projects cited cost overruns as a concern. Now my constituents are worried that the project might go over the set budget or will be delayed. They are worried because they know that the nuclear industry is not only a source of clean and safe energy, but that it also brings in substantial economic benefit to the region of Durham.

Mr. Speaker, could the minister please update the House and my constituents on how the refurbished plant project is going?

Hon. Glenn Thibeault: I want to thank the member for that question and for all of the hard work he puts in every day for all of his constituents.

As I have said before, the refurbishment of the Darlington generating station remains on time and on budget. The news story mentioned by the member from Durham focuses on only one of about 500 small subprojects that make up the entire Darlington refurbishment program. There is adequate contingency within the overall refurbishment project to fund any risks related to this subproject. As Ontario Power Generation states in their Q2 refurbishment update, which you can now find on their website, they are now at the quarter-way point and remain on time and on budget.

The Darlington refurbishment project is a made-in-Canada initiative with 96% of related expenditures happening in Ontario. This means more investment into our already-booming economy. I want to assure the member from Durham and this House that the Darlington refurbishment remains on time and on budget.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Granville Anderson: Thank you, Minister, for your answer. Since the Darlington Nuclear Generating Station is in the great riding of Durham, the economic and job creation benefits are well celebrated by my constituents. We are also very proud of the work that is being done at the Darlington generating station, which provides about 20% of the province’s electricity needs, enough to serve a city of over two million people.

After six years of detailed planning and preparations, Ontario Power Generation has safely shut down the Unit 2 reactor at the Darlington nuclear station on October 15, 2016, initiating the refurbishment of the first of four units at the power plant. The refurbishment of Darlington will ensure we have safe, reliable, emission-free energy where it is needed.

Minister, it’s my understanding that you are releasing the government’s long-term energy plan later this week. Can you provide us with an update, specifically regarding the nuclear plant?

Hon. Glenn Thibeault: The member is correct in pointing out that refurbishment of Darlington and other nuclear generating stations in our province will generate economic benefits, Mr. Speaker. Refurbishing Ontario’s nuclear capacity will create almost 25,000 jobs and generate annual economic activity of $5 billion. Some 60 companies from across Ontario are contributing to the project. All told, it is estimated that the 10-year project, together with Darlington’s—an additional 30 years of operation—will boost Ontario’s GDP by almost $90 billion and create an average of 14,200 new jobs each and every year over that same period.

This week, Mr. Speaker, our government will release the 2017 long-term energy plan, and I am pleased to say that it will take major steps towards delivering on the mandate letter objective by the Premier to me, namely, refurbishing the 10 nuclear units in Ontario both at Darlington and at Bruce.

Agri-food industry

Ms. Lisa M. Thompson: My question is for the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. On September 7, the Ontario Agricultural College at the University of Guelph published their Planning for Tomorrow 2.0 report. This report found that the labour gap in the agri-food sector has grown from three jobs for every graduate to four in just two short years. In fact, financial institutions have estimated that that gap is even higher in their sector.

Clearly, Speaker, under this minister’s watch, this situation has eroded and is only getting worse. Does the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs not know about this report? But if he does, then why has he not taken action on my motion on growing agri-food careers?

Hon. Jeff Leal: I want to thank the member for her question this morning. I think what it reflects is that the agriculture and agri-food sector of Ontario’s economy is one of the fastest-growing sectors in Ontario today: $37 billion, 800,000 people employed there and, of course, the Premier’s target of 120,000 new jobs by the year 2020. We’re on track to make that happen, with 59,000 new jobs created to date, which is putting demands, of course, on our labour supply.

We continue to work with all educational institutions across the province of Ontario to make sure that we have adequate human resources to drive this sector forward.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Ms. Lisa M. Thompson: Back to the minister: Unfortunately, I do not agree with what he just said. When the Premier was Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, yes, she challenged the industry to create 120,000 new jobs. They are nowhere near close to matching that number. They’re not even close.

My growing agri-food careers motion is a good step in helping this sector meet that challenge, but over the last couple of years, we have not seen any action taken on this motion, which I might add received support from all parties. I’ve been meeting with a wide number of people including industry representatives, AgScape, OAC alumni, and they all share my concern that this motion has yet to be implemented.

Speaker, on behalf of our young people and the industry stakeholders and AgScape and OAC and their alumni: Will the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs do the right thing and get this motion implemented immediately?

Hon. Jeff Leal: I want to thank the member for her supplementary question. I just wanted to provide this House with some information: Our government is partnering with the University of Guelph, investing more than $7.5 million in graduate scholarships over the past decade through our Highly Qualified Personnel Scholarship Program and, again, working with my colleague the Minister of Education, we’re now embarked upon a curriculum review. I know the minister wants to enshrine agriculture education into the curriculum to make sure we have adequate people for the fastest-growing sector in Ontario’s economy today.

Hospital funding

Mr. Gilles Bisson: My question is for the Minister of Health. Minister, last week in Timmins, a 16-year-old boy with mental health needs had to be treated in the emergency ward because there were no beds in that hospital to be able to treat him. This morning, we hear that there are eight new beds being announced in the city of Timmins, but that’s cold comfort to patients who are continually having to be treated in the same way: getting hallway medicine rather than getting the bed that they need to be treated.

Minister, talk of how much money your government claims to have spent is cold comfort to patients and their families across Ontario who still don’t have access to the health care they need, despite your claims to the contrary. No one, especially not a 16-year-old with so much life ahead of them, should suffer in today’s Ontario because of the lack of access to proper health care.

When will this government admit that they’re not doing enough to deal with this problem?

Hon. Eric Hoskins: I appreciate the question. I’m not sure whether the member is appreciating the fact that eight new beds are being opened probably within the next two to four weeks in the Timmins hospital. I’m not sure if he’s supportive of that or if he’s not supportive of that.

I made an important announcement just over an hour ago, where we announced $140 million available immediately to open up over 2,000 new hospital beds and spaces across this province—if there’s anything that’s going to deal with the challenge that the member opposite has expressed, it’s that. So 1,200 new hospital beds opening, many, if not most, in the next two to four weeks; approximately 600 transitional care spaces for specialized care, including the Humber River Finch site of 150 beds—which that party appears to be opposed to; and 200 new supportive housing units specifically for seniors.

If that’s not good news, I don’t understand the nature of the context—

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

Supplementary?

Mr. Gilles Bisson: Minister, I will tell you what is not good news: when a government refuses to do something and only reacts when there’s a crisis. Only when our leader lands in this House and asks question after question, members of this caucus, people across Ontario, hospital CEOs and others who have been saying for years, “You have underfunded the hospital system.” You froze the budget for how many years?

So now because there’s an election coming this spring, you’re finally doing something and announcing beds in Timmins? Of course we’re going to take them—

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): To the Chair, please.

Mr. Gilles Bisson: —but, Minister, you know it falls short of what needs to be done. Will you please now admit that there is a problem in our health care—

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): I’ll let the question stand. Address your questions and your answers to the Chair, please.

Minister?

Hon. Eric Hoskins: Mr. Speaker, with this announcement we are opening the equivalent of six new medium-sized hospitals in this province in this calendar year. I wonder if the member from Windsor—where we’re opening 20 beds at Windsor Regional Hospital; or London Health Sciences, where we’re opening 24 new acute beds and 24 acute mental health beds effective immediately; or Hamilton Health Sciences, where we’re opening 30 new beds; or in Niagara at the Welland site, for the Welland member, 26 new beds; or at St. Joe’s in downtown Hamilton, 24 new beds; or at Lakeridge in Oshawa—I wonder if the member from Oshawa is opposed to the 22 new beds there.

I know the member from Peterborough, on our side, is very happy that we’re opening 20 new beds in Peterborough; and the member from Quinte, the fact that we’re opening 15 beds there; or the 45 new beds in Ottawa; or the 36 new beds in Barrie at the Royal Vic.

I know it’s good news on this side. I don’t know why—

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

Interjections.

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

New question.

Economic development

Ms. Ann Hoggarth: My question is to the Minister of Economic Development and Growth. On this side of the House we know how important it is to have a plan for the future, one that ensures Ontario can grow in this fast-changing, fiercely competitive global economy.

Mr. Speaker, the minister has been telling us for some time now about how important the information and communication technology sector is to Ontario. If you look at the numbers, Ontario truly has become a global leading innovation hub. Ontario is now the first in Canada and second in North America in the number of ICT establishments, behind only California. Ontario is now home to two of the largest start-up ecosystems in the world: Toronto and Waterloo.

We know that we’ve seen investment in the past from major companies like Google, Apple, IBM and Thomson Reuters. Can the minister please tell us about some of the more recent and exciting developments for Ontario’s ICT sector?

Hon. Brad Duguid: The member is absolutely right: This government recognized quite early that the global economy was shifting, and we needed to be at the forefront of that change. We entirely restructured our Ministry of Economic Development and our economic development strategy. We needed to focus on investments that allow our start-ups to become scale-ups and our scale-ups to become globally competitive.

Just this week, we’ve seen two new exciting investments in Ontario’s booming ICT sector. One example of that growth is Shopify, a homegrown e-commerce giant located in Ottawa and a company changing the face of retail. Last week, they announced a further expansion here in Ontario of 500 new jobs in Waterloo.

Another example is Sidewalk Labs, subsidiary of Google’s parent company. After a global search, they decided the best place in the world for them to locate was here in Ontario. I’m very proud of that, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Ms. Ann Hoggarth: Thank you to the minister for answering my question. We know that Ontario’s information and communication technology sector already directly employs about 280,000 people all across this province. Most of that employment is the result of our highly skilled talent that has been created right here in Ontario, and in Barrie at Georgian College. The sector relies on Ontario’s 44 leading universities, which graduate thousands of STEM students per year. These are great numbers and allow us to compete right now.

But we know things are changing rapidly across the world, and in this competitive global environment, jurisdictions across the world are pulling out all stops to attract investment and lure talent. Can the minister please tell us about how we plan to ensure Ontario continues to be a leader in job creation and grow a strong, diverse economy?

Hon. Brad Duguid: No question, the member is absolutely right: Ontario is in a position of strength. We’ve added 800,000 net new jobs since the global recession. Our unemployment rate is at the lowest level we’ve seen in 17 years. Being in that position of strength gives us the ability to focus our attention on growing an innovative economy.

Last week we took another step in that direction. The member is also right: Our talent is the key to our future. So last week we announced that we’re going to expand that talent pipeline. We’re going to grow the number of STEM students in this province from 40,000 to 50,000 graduates every year, and over the next five years we’re going to increase the annual graduations to 1,000 applied master’s students in AI. That’s going to make us stronger. We’re going to keep growing, and we’re very proud of those investments.

Visitors

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

Mr. Victor Fedeli: Point of order, Speaker: In addition to my mother, my aunt, my niece and my in-laws being here, I’ve got 40 family members and friends from North Bay here today.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Welcome.

The member from Essex on a point of order.

Mr. Taras Natyshak: I’d be remiss not to welcome part of my constituency team. It’s his first visit to Queen’s Park and first question period. Nolan Hennin is here today, visiting for question period.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The Minister of Health and Long-Term Care on a point of order.

Hon. Eric Hoskins: I would also be remiss if I didn’t welcome Neal Roberts, who is here with us. He’s the executive director of the Ontario Association of Paramedic Chiefs.

This evening is the Emergency Medical Services Exemplary Service Medal ceremony, where the Lieutenant Governor will be presenting awards to 39 Ontario paramedics who have provided distinguished pre-hospital care to Ontarians for 30 years and for 40 years.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Point of order: The Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services.

Hon. Marie-France Lalonde: I want to say that today my seatmate is celebrating a very important day. It’s his birthday, and I would like us to say “happy birthday” to Glenn Thibeault, who is doing a fantastic job for the people of Sudbury.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): There being no deferred votes, this House stands recessed until 1 p.m. this afternoon.

The House recessed from 1142 to 1300.

Introduction of Visitors

Mr. Arthur Potts: Some are here and more will be filing in, but I’d like to introduce Ken Gangasingh, Sotirios Hadjicosta, Myra Strzalka-Bernat, Heidi MacFarland, Behzad Malekzadeh, Alicia Micallef, Heather Cherron Von Atzingen, Totarie Correia, Laura Lunansky, Orlando Buonastella, Willy Noiles, Gary Randy McKibbon and Jeanette McKibbon. They’re all here as part of an alliance of injured workers for a petition, because workers’ compensation is a right. Welcome.

Members’ Statements

Shabbat Project Toronto

Mrs. Gila Martow: I’m very pleased to rise to tell everybody that this Thursday, October 26, the women of Toronto will join together and kick off yet again the Shabbat Project with the fourth annual community challah bake. Challah is that sweet bread that we eat on Sabbath and special holidays, and the rest of the year as well.

The Shabbat Project is just to get Jews together to observe a little bit of Shabbat. This year they’re honouring Judy Feld Carr, who’s a very celebrated, powerful woman in the community. Of course, she’s a mother and a wife and a teacher, but what she’s really known for is secretly saving over 3,000 Syrian Jews.

The evening will feature a hands-on workshop of braiding techniques, as well as allowing participants the experience of preparing two oven-ready challah loaves from scratch.

I’m inviting everybody to join hundreds of women and girls under one roof for an amazing evening of Jewish pride, creating unity and inspiration in the community with the poignancy of joint prayers and blessings. It will be Toronto’s biggest challah bake. Everybody wants to see lots of people there, so go to shabbatprojecttoronto.com for more information. I actually went to a couple of these, Mr. Speaker, and I want you to imagine a room with about 1,000 women at tables making challah bread, hearing from some speakers and listening to Israeli music in a huge banquet hall—lots of fun.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): It sounds fun.

Further members’ statements?

Events in Windsor–Tecumseh

Mr. Percy Hatfield: “Love for all, hatred for none.” That’s the motto of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at. They’ve been practising their religion in Canada for 50 years, and last week they celebrated that anniversary in Windsor. I took

part in a wonderful ceremony on the banks of the Detroit River. The Ahmadiyyan community donated a beautiful sculpture. Picture this, Speaker: four arms reaching to the sky, all different colours, and the hands are holding a huge globe on which is written, “Love for all, hatred for none.” I wish to thank the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at for their excellent donation to our community.

I’d like, as well, to send anniversary greetings to some of our Unifor locals in the Windsor area. I joined members and retirees of Local 200 yesterday as they marked 75 years of working in our Ford plants, and I’ll celebrate with Unifor Local 240 on Friday night at the Beach Grove Golf and Country Club. And Local 1498 just celebrated their 50th anniversary. Congratulations to all of our Unifor locals.

Finally, let me say how I’m hoping we’ll soon see an end to the strike by faculty members at our community colleges. I spent some time last Friday on the picket lines in Windsor. This strike isn’t about wages; it hinges on job security. Members of OPSEU want to see fewer part-time instructors. Another big issue is academic freedom. Instructors want to have a say in course development and how they teach the courses they design. Let’s hope both sides return to the table in the next day or so.

Doug Whitty

Mr. James J. Bradley: Each year since 1956, during the annual grape and wine festival, an individual is chosen to serve as a national ambassador for Ontario’s grape and wine producers, representing the industry at events across Canada. That person is known as the Grape King.

Doug Whitty, owner of Whitty Farms and the 13th Street Winery, was chosen as the 2017 Grape King. He was honoured with this title on September 13 of this year and appropriately crowned at the 13th Street Winery, greeted by enthusiastic applause by all attendees.

Doug and his family are excellent farmers and operators of the 13th Street Winery. The Whitty family farm was started by his grandfather in 1908 and is now producing 55 acres of vinifera wine grapes. Doug is second in the family to wear the crown.

His Fourth Avenue farm is the site of many community activities, including the Grapes of Wrath mud run supporting the Canadian Cancer Society’s Wheels of Hope program.

As Farm Credit Canada’s Trish Botter said, Doug Whitty’s 13th Street operation helps elevate the entire Ontario grape and wine industry. His farm displays “exceptional quality, expertise and leadership in this industry.”

To Doug and to Doug’s family—of many years back and his present family—congratulations. A most appropriate choice.

Small business

Mr. Norm Miller: I rise to share a positive story with my colleagues and to caution the government about policies that hurt small business.

Last month, I was pleased to visit Phoenix Building Components in Sundridge. Like their namesake, this business rose from the ashes of Kent Trusses, which shut down in August 2016 after 40 years. At its peak, Kent Trusses employed 100 people and was the largest employer in the village of Sundridge. When it closed, it threw 80 people out of work.

Phoenix, which is based in Barrie, Ontario, started building trusses in Sundridge again in April of this year, and once again employs 50 people. That may not sound like a big deal to some of my colleagues from city ridings, but in a community of less than 1,000 people, 50 jobs makes a huge difference to the whole community. I want to thank Grant Gibbons, president and CEO of Phoenix, for his company’s investments in Sundridge.

When I visited Phoenix in September, it was great to see people at work and trucks delivering lumber and picking up trusses. But Andy Forsayeth, operations manager, told me that between hydro rates and other government policies, it is a struggle to restart a business in Ontario right now. Communities like Sundridge need businesses like Phoenix, so I ask this government to find policies that will help businesses and small communities succeed.

I’ve recently heard from small employers around Parry Sound–Muskoka about proposed labour changes in Bill 148. I hope that this government will do another round of real consultation on Bill 148 and actually listen to the small employers around Ontario.

World Polio Day

Ms. Jennifer K. French: October 24 is World Polio Day, and I want to highlight the vital work of Rotarians across our communities as they work to eradicate polio from the face of the earth.

Polio is a crippling childhood disease that is terribly infectious and leads to paralysis, and sometimes death. During the first half of the 20th century, polio crippled over half a million people every year. There is no cure, but there is a preventive vaccine. For as little as 60 cents’ worth of vaccine, a child can be protected against this disease for life.

In 1985, Rotary International and its partners launched the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, and the incidence of polio has plummeted from about 350,000 children paralyzed every year to fewer than a dozen confirmed cases so far by September of this year.

Thanks in large part to Rotary International and to the 1.2 million Rotary members worldwide, including the 10 Durham region Rotary Clubs and our two in Oshawa, polio will soon be just a memory.

The world is 99.9% polio-free, but the fight to end polio is not over.

This World Polio Day, the CN Tower in Toronto will be lit red and yellow, and across communities, Rotarians will be recognized with proclamations and events.

Polio could be the first human disease of the 21st century to be eradicated, because of the successful engagement of over 200 countries and 20 million volunteers. Go online to www.endpolio.org to support.

Thank you to the Oshawa Rotary Club and the Oshawa-Parkwood Rotary Club for their work across our city.

This World Polio Day, we thank Rotary Clubs across all communities for their ongoing service and commitment to end polio in our world.

Rohingya Muslims

Ms. Sophie Kiwala: I rise today to talk about the Rohingya Muslims who are fleeing violence and persecution in Myanmar.

Since August, more than half a million men, women and children have had to flee their homes to make the punishing journey for refuge in Bangladesh. These numbers will rise. The United Nations confirms the Rohingya are facing ethnic cleansing. Hundreds have already been murdered, and those who have been spared, including young children, have watched their villages burn to the ground. The New York Times recently described soldiers tearing babies from their mothers’ arms and throwing them into the fire, boys being beheaded and girls being gang-raped, among many other horrors.

I am proud that Canada so often calls out transgressions against humanity. That’s why I believe that we must recognize and condemn this violence.

Shortly, I will be presenting a petition that calls for us to acknowledge the violence in Myanmar. I am so proud of those members of my riding of Kingston and the Islands and the effort spearheaded by Zermaan Khan, who is here with us along with his family today in the gallery—for putting this petition together.

In closing, we’ve heard these crimes be described as “unimaginable,” but they are imaginable and we do know they’re going on. The cries of those experiencing this depraved persecution in Myanmar must not be ignored.

Wind turbines

Mr. Monte McNaughton: It is widely acknowledged that industrial wind turbine projects are an expensive and environmentally damaging way to generate electricity. I’ve long called for a moratorium on turbines and an end to the disastrous Green Energy Act. Yet a new project is under way less than one kilometre from the suburban streets of Wallaceburg, along the banks of Otter Creek. This project threatens some of the best agricultural land in our country—land which, after the construction of industrial turbines, will never grow food again. I’m surprised that the Minister of Agriculture raises no questions.

This is an environmentally sensitive area, home to 24 species at risk and within a major flight path for migratory birds. I’m amazed that the Minister of Natural Resources raises no objections.

The Otter Creek development will require the foundations of its enormous towers to be supported by steel pilings driven into bedrock. This bedrock includes a band of Kettle Point black shale which carries water of the aquifer and fills the wells of my constituents. With 14 wells already rendered undrinkable in north Kent, there are legitimate concerns about this project’s impact on water quality. I’m astounded that the Minister of the Environment won’t take these concerns seriously.

On Thursday, October 26, the newly formed Wallaceburg Area Wind Concerns group will host a public meeting at 7 p.m. in the UAW Hall in Wallaceburg. I will be there. I invite any concerned minister of this government to join me.

Somali community

Mr. John Fraser: It’s been about a week since we heard of the horrible attack in Mogadishu where over 300 people died and 300 or more were injured. I know that we had an opportunity earlier this last week to observe a moment of silence here in the Legislature, and I know that all members of the Legislature stand with Ontario’s and Canada’s Somali community in grieving and mourning and condemning this horrendous attack.

I want to say a few words about the Somali community in my riding of Ottawa South and in Ottawa. Over the last week, it’s been incredible to see how everyone has come together. Last Thursday, they held a vigil on Parliament Hill. Just recently, I was honoured and privileged to attend an event, Stand With Mogadishu. The theme of the event was solidarity. It is really quite incredible—the generosity, the thoughtfulness and the solidarity of the community around this really horrible incident. There are families who have family members who died or who were injured. Yesterday, they were able to raise, beyond their goal—this is in the community of Ottawa—$100,000. That’s really quite incredible.

I want to thank all the organizers, all the people who were involved, the volunteers, all the donors who came together in a little bit more than a week to put this together for their commitment, not only to the broader global community but to their own community of Ottawa South.

Public consultation

Mr. Jeff Yurek: Last week, this government chose once again to use strong-arm tactics and cancelled two days of scheduled public hearings for Bill 139, the Building Better Communities and Conserving Watersheds Act. After promising to keep those with concerns informed, the government went ahead and cancelled two days of hearings, effectively silencing citizens and organizations.

The Lake Erie North Shore Landowners Association from my riding is just one of those many organizations that did not get a chance to voice their concerns. LENSLA, the Lake Erie North Shore Landowners Association, was founded in January 2016, and it represents landowners from Elgin county’s northern Lake Erie shoreline, and boasts local agriculture producers, professionals, academics and retirees among its membership, and has a combined property valuation of over $34 million.

LENSLA has been effective in compelling local conservation authorities, municipalities and diverse stakeholders to examine their governance, public policy approaches, and duty to adhere to the principles of public accountability.

It’s also unfortunate that the water resources

section of the natural resources conservation policy branch was not interested in engaging this group in further serious dialogue.

The Lake Erie North Shore Landowners Association wishes to underscore that the Conservation Authorities Act must be grounded on the guiding principle of affording citizens the right of due process at all levels: within governance, financing, stakeholder relations, authorities’ enforcement powers with respect to provincial offences, permit processes, and the rights to administrative review and procedural fairness.

Mr. Speaker, I hope this government will change its mind and reach out to these local organizations and make Bill 139 the best it can be for the province.

Motions

Private members’ public business

Hon. Laura Albanese: I believe we have unanimous consent to put forward a motion without notice regarding private members’ public business.

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

Minister.

Hon. Laura Albanese: I move that, notwithstanding standing order 98(b), Mr. Rinaldi and Madame Des Rosiers exchange places such that Mr. Rinaldi assumes ballot item number 4 and Madame Des Rosiers assumes ballot item number 5; and that the requirement for notice be waived for ballot item number 4.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The minister moves that, notwithstanding standing order—

Mr. Gilles Bisson: Dispense.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Dispense? Dispense.

Agreed? Carried.

Motion agreed to.

Committee membership

Hon. Laura Albanese: Mr. Speaker, I believe we have unanimous consent to put forward a motion without notice regarding changes to the memberships of standing committees.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The minister is seeking to put forward a motion without notice. Do we agree? Agreed.

Minister.

Hon. Laura Albanese: I move that the following change be made to the membership of the following committee: that on the Standing Committee on Social Policy, Miss Monique Taylor replaces Mr. Jagmeet Singh.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The minister moves that the following change be made to the—

Interjection: Dispense.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Dispense? Dispense.

Do we agree? Carried.

Motion agreed to.

Petitions

Primary health care

Mr. Bill Walker: “To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas the Ontario government needs to strengthen primary care as the foundation of the health care system to achieve health system transformation goals of Patients First; and

“Whereas research shows that interprofessional primary health care delivers better outcomes for people and better value for money; and

“Whereas an investment in primary care will help address recruitment and retention challenges, build strong interprofessional primary care teams and ensure high-quality people-centred primary health care delivery in Ontario; and

“Whereas over 7,500 staff in over 400 community health centres, family health teams, aboriginal health access centres and nurse practitioner-led clinics are being paid below rates recommended in 2012 and as a result are facing challenges recruiting and retaining health providers, including chiropodists, nurse practitioners, dietitians, registered nurses, registered practical nurses, health promoters, occupational therapists, psychologists, pharmacists, respiratory therapists, chiropractors, physiotherapists, mental health and social workers, physician assistants, managers and administration;

“We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to invest in interprofessional primary health care teams with a commitment of $130 million annualized, with an implementation plan over two years, to ensure interprofessional primary health care teams can effectively retain and recruit staff.”

I support it, affix my name and send it up with page Swetlana.

Long-term care

M me France Gélinas: I have this petition that has been signed by 16,000 people, and it comes from all over Ontario. It reads as follows:

“Whereas quality care for the 77,000 residents of long-term-care (LTC) homes is a priority for many Ontario families;

“Whereas over the last 10 years 50% of Ontario’s hospital-based complex continuing care beds have been closed by the provincial government; and, there has been a 29.7% increase in the acuity level of LTC residents and 73% of LTC residents in Ontario suffer from some form of Alzheimer’s or dementia;

“Whereas the provincial government does not provide adequate funding to ensure care and staffing levels in long-term-care homes keeps pace with residents’ increasing acuity and a growing number of residents with complex behaviours such as dementia and Alzheimer’s;

“Whereas there is extensive evidence that a care standard can result in increased staff levels, which translates into improved quality of care for residents;

“Whereas for over a decade several Ontario coroner’s inquests into nursing deaths have recommended an increase in direct hands-on care for residents and increase in staffing levels;

“Whereas the Ontario Liberal government first promised a legislated care standard for residents in the province’s long-term-care homes in 2003 but in” 2017 “they have yet to make good on their promise;

“Whereas the Long-Term Care Homes Act (2007) empowers the provincial government to create a minimum standard—but falls short of actually creating one;...”

They petition the Legislative Assembly as follows:

“

(1) An amendment must be made to the Long-Term Care Homes Act (2007) for a legislated care standard of a minimum four hours per resident each day...;

“

(2) The province must increase funding in order for long-term-care homes to achieve a staffing and care standard...;

“

(3) To ensure accountability the province must make public reporting of staffing levels at each Ontario LTC home mandatory;

“

(4) The province must immediately provide funding for specialized facilities for persons with cognitive impairment who have been assessed as potentially aggressive, and staff them with sufficient numbers of appropriately trained workers;

“

(5) The province must stop closing complex continuing care beds and alternative-level-of-care beds to end the downloading of hospital patients with complex medical conditions to long-term-care homes.”

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

Workplace insurance

Mr. Arthur Potts: I’m delighted to have a petition here put together by the Injured Workers’ Consultants.

“Workers’ Comp Is a Right....”

“Whereas about 200,000 to 300,000 people in Ontario are injured on the job every year;

“Whereas, over a century ago, workers in Ontario who were injured on the job gave up the right to sue their employers, in exchange for a system that would provide them with just compensation;

“Whereas decades of cost-cutting have pushed injured workers into poverty and onto publicly funded social assistance programs, and have gradually curtailed the rights of injured workers;

“Whereas injured workers have the right to quality and timely medical care, compensation for lost wages, and protection from discrimination;

“We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to change the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act to accomplish the following for injured workers in Ontario:

“—Eliminate the practice of ‘deeming’ or ‘determining,’ which bases compensation on phantom jobs that injured workers do not actually have;

“—Ensure that the WSIB prioritizes and respects the medical opinions of the health care providers who treat the injured worker directly;

“—Prevent compensation from being reduced or denied based on ‘pre-existing conditions’ that never affected the worker’s ability to function prior to the work injury.”

I fully agree with this petition and leave it with Alexander to take to the table.

Long-term care

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): Petitions? The member for Bruce–Grey–Owen Sound.

Mr. Bill Walker: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker—

Interruption.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): I’d just like to say to all our guests, we’re delighted to have you here, but you can’t applaud the members who are making speeches in the Legislature.

I apologize. The member for Bruce–Grey–Owen Sound.

Mr. Bill Walker: “To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas Ontario’s 627 long-term-care homes play a critical role in the support and care for more than 100,000 elderly Ontarians each and every year;

“Whereas nine out of 10 residents in long-term care today have some form of cognitive impairment, along with other complex medical needs, and require specialized, in-home supports to manage their complex needs;

“Whereas each and every year, 20,000 Ontarians remain on the waiting list for long-term-care services and yet, despite this, no new beds are being added to the system;

“Whereas over 40% of Ontario’s long-term-care beds require significant renovations or to be rebuilt and the current program put forward to renew them has had limited success;

“Whereas long-term-care homes require stable and predictable funding each year to support the needs of residents entrusted in their care;

“We, the undersigned, citizens of Ontario, call on the government to support the Ontario Long Term Care Association’s Building Better Long-Term Care pre-budget submission and ensure better seniors’ care through a commitment to improve long-term care.”

I fully support it, affix my name, and send it with page Max.

Student loans

Ms. Jennifer K. French: I have a petition to eliminate interest from Ontario student loans.

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario ...

“Whereas the Liberal government should not be profiting from student loans in Ontario;

“Whereas Ontario is the most expensive province in which to access post-secondary education;

“Whereas the average debt load for university students after four years is $28,000 and the average debt load for anyone with post-graduate experience is $35,000;

“Whereas the Ontario government made more than $25 million in profit from interest on student loans last year alone;

“Whereas seemingly insurmountable student debt delays important life milestones for young people, placing a burden on both graduates with debt and on the provincial economy as a whole;

“We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario” to “immediately eliminate interest from student loans.”

Speaker, I support this. I’ll sign my name and send it with page Colin to the table.

Rohingya Muslims

Ms. Sophie Kiwala: “To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas the current state of despair experienced by the Muslims in Rohingya is such that they remain stateless without any citizenship, and are left to face continued persecution;

“The United Nations has stated that these Muslims are ‘facing ethnic cleansing’ and since late August of 2017, the attacks on their villages have forced more than 400,000 residents to now be displaced, with thousands more stuck with nowhere to go and hundreds upon hundreds that are now dead;

“Canada has always been recognized as a nation that is at the forefront of calling out any transgression against humanity and has remained steadfast with this belief, hence the cries of Muslims experiencing persecution in Rohingya cannot go unanswered and must be heard loud and clear to ensure that peace is brought to Rohingya;

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

“To recognize and bring forward to our federal government a formal request to lead the charge with opening formal dialogue in Myanmar, also known as Burma, to finally resolve this gross miscarriage of justice for the people of Rohingya who have been in flux since the Second World War.”

I agree with this petition. I sign it and I give it to page Ryan.

Markdale hospital

Mr. Bill Walker: “To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas Grey Bruce Health Services’ Markdale hospital is the only health care facility between Owen Sound and Orangeville on the Highway 10 corridor;

“Whereas the community of Markdale rallied to raise $13 million on the promise they would get a new state-of-the-art hospital in Markdale;

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

“That the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care announce as soon as possible its intended construction date for the new Markdale hospital and ensure that the care needs of the patients and families of our community are met in a timely manner.”

I’ll send it with page Abigail.

Prévention du tabagisme chez les jeunes

M me France Gélinas: J’ai reçu cette pétition de M me Francine Pinard de Garson dans le Nickel Belt.

« Au cours des 10 dernières années en Ontario, 86 % de tous les films montrant des fumeurs étaient accessibles aux jeunes.

« Le fait que l’industrie du tabac se sert depuis longtemps du grand écran pour promouvoir l’usage du tabac est bien documenté.

« Selon un rapport scientifique rendu public par l’Unité de recherche sur le tabac de l’Ontario, environ 185 000 enfants de l’Ontario commenceront à fumer après avoir vu des personnages fumer dans des films.

« Plus de 59 000 fumeurs ainsi recrutés finiront par mourir d’un cancer, d’un AVC, d’une maladie du coeur ou d’emphysème liés à l’usage du tabac, lesquels entraîneront des coûts de soins de santé de l’ordre d’au moins 1,1 milliard de dollars. Et attendu que le fait de classer dans la catégorie 18A (adultes) les films qui font la promotion de l’usage du tabac en Ontario permettrait de sauver au moins 30 000 vies...

« Le gouvernement de l’Ontario s’est fixé comme objectif d’atteindre le taux de tabagisme le plus faible au Canada.

« 79 % ... des Ontariens et Ontariennes appuient l’interdiction de l’usage du tabac dans les films classés dans les catégories G, PG, 14A...»

Ils demandent à l’Assemblée législative :

« Que le Comité permanent des organismes gouvernementaux examine les façons dont on pourrait modifier la

Loi sur le classement des films pour réduire l’usage du tabac dans les films classés dans les catégories qui conviennent aux enfants et aux adolescents et diffusés en Ontario;

« Que le comité donne un compte rendu de ses constatations à l’Assemblée législative de l’Ontario et que la ministre des Services gouvernementaux et des Services aux consommateurs prépare une réponse. »

J’appuie cette pétition. Je vais la signer, et je demande à Max de l’amener à la table des greffiers.

Employment standards

Mrs. Cristina Martins: I have a petition here that’s addressed to the Legislature of Ontario.

“Whereas podiatrists treat foot pain and deformities in women twice as often as foot disabilities in men, often due to having to wear high heels in their workplaces;

“Whereas Ontario podiatrists see far too many patients with injuries in the workplace that are entirely avoidable and are caused by wearing footwear that is inappropriate or outright unsafe;

“Whereas clinical evidence demonstrates that wearing high-heeled shoes causes a much higher incidence of bunions, musculoskeletal pain and injury than those who do not wear high heels;

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

“To put their best foot forward, and take swift action to amend the Occupational Health and Safety Act to protect workers from dress codes that mandate unsafe footwear in the workplace.”

I agree with this petition, will affix my name and send it to the table with page Rochelle.

Long-term care

Mr. Randy Pettapiece: “To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas Ontario’s 627 long-term-care homes play a critical role in the support and care for more than 100,000 elderly Ontarians each and every year;

“Whereas nine out of 10 residents in long-term care today have some form of cognitive impairment, along with other complex medical needs, and require specialized, in-home supports to manage their complex needs;

“Whereas each and every year, 20,000 Ontarians remain on the waiting list for long-term-care services and yet, despite this, no new beds are being added to the system;

“Whereas over 40% of Ontario’s long-term-care beds require significant renovations or to be rebuilt and the current program put forward to renew them has had limited success;

“Whereas long-term-care homes require stable and predictable funding each year to support the needs of residents entrusted in their care;

“We, the undersigned, citizens of Ontario, call on the government to support the Ontario Long Term Care Association’s Building Better Long-Term Care pre-budget submission and ensure better seniors’ care through a commitment to improve long-term care.”

I agree with this petition. I will send it down with page Alexander.

Pharmacare

Ms. Jennifer K. French: I have a petition entitled “Universal Pharmacare for All Ontarians.”

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas prescription medications are a part of health care, and people shouldn’t have to empty their wallets or rack up credit card bills to get the medicines they need;

“Whereas over 2.2 million Ontarians don’t have any prescription drug coverage and one in four Ontarians don’t take their medications as prescribed because they cannot afford the cost;

“Whereas taking medications as prescribed can save lives and help people live better; and

“Whereas Canada urgently needs universal and comprehensive national pharmacare;

“We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to support a universal provincial pharmacare plan for all Ontarians.”

Mr. Speaker, I wholeheartedly support this and I send it to the table with page Colin.

Elevator maintenance

Mr. Arthur Potts: I’m delighted to read this petition in support of Bill 109.

“Whereas we’ve seen rapid growth of vertical communities across Ontario; and

“Whereas elevators are an important amenity for a resident of a high-rise ... building; and

“Whereas ensuring basic mobility and standards of living for residents remain top priority; and

“Whereas the unreasonable delay of repairs for elevator services across Ontario is a concern for residents of high-rise buildings resulting in constant breakdowns, mechanical failures and ‘out of service’ notices for unspecified amounts of time;

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

“Urge the Ontario Legislature to support Bill 109, the Reliable Elevators Act, 2017, that requires the repairs of elevators to be completed within a reasonable and prescribed time frame. We urge the Legislature to address these concerns that are shared by residents of Trinity–Spadina and across Ontario.”

I agree with this petition and leave it with Jebreel.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): That concludes the time we have available for petitions this afternoon.

Orders of the Day

Representation Statute Law Amendment Act, 2017 / Loi de 2017 modifiant des lois en ce qui concerne la représentation électorale

Mr. Naqvi moved third reading of the following bill:

Bill 152,

An Act to amend the Representation Act, 2015 and certain other Acts / Projet de loi 152, Loi modifiant la Loi de 2015 sur la représentation électorale et d’autres lois.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): I look to the Attorney General to lead off the debate.

Hon. Yasir Naqvi: Thank you very much, Speaker. Boozhoo. Shekoli. Bonzhoor. Tawnshi. Tunngasugitsi.

Speaker, I wish to begin by acknowledging the land on which we are gathered here today. Indigenous people are migratory people. At the time of contact with European people, the Anishnawbe and the Haudenosaunee people called this part of Ontario, around what is now known as Lake Ontario, their home. I would like to honour and recognize the treaty land of this area to have cultural and historical significance to both the Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation as well as the Haudenosaunee.

I very much look forward to hearing other members speak on this very important bill, and of course, members from our caucus will be speaking as well.

I rise today to begin third reading of the proposed Representation Statute Law Amendment Act. This is an important piece of legislation that would, if passed, help to ensure a strong voice for northern Ontarians in the provincial Legislature.

The north is a vital part of our province, as the Minister of Municipal Affairs will go into detail later on, both in terms of its distinctive culture and as an important driver of our province’s economy. It has made Ontario a global leader in the resource and mining sector which supports tens of thousands of jobs. But effective representation in our government remains a real and persistent issue for northern residents and their representatives alike. We often hear from people in remote northern communities who feel they just don’t have a voice here at Queen’s Park.

We all know that northern communities bring important, cultural, economic and historical perspectives to key issues, whether we are talking about where schools and hospitals should be built, or what opportunities we should pursue to create jobs and make investments in the future. These voices need to be heard in our provincial Legislature.

As the members here can certainly appreciate, every riding, and in fact every community, has its own set of unique needs. And of course, northern Ontario is no exception. Over the past few weeks, we have discussed at length these unique challenges in debates and in committee meetings, a major one being the enormous size of the two current ridings in the Far North. The ridings I’m referring to are Kenora–Rainy River and Timmins–James Bay. They are the largest, geographically speaking, in the province, and are larger, in fact, than many European countries.

We have heard from the members who represent those ridings. While they do an incredible job of staying in touch with their constituents, I know that it is not easy. In my own riding of Ottawa Centre, if one of my constituents wants to chat, it won’t take them too long to find me. It’s easy to sort of zip around in my riding and in a day I can be pretty much in all the four corners of my community—

Mr. Gilles Bisson: So will I.

Hon. Yasir Naqvi: But up north, it’s not that easy, and I’ve heard the member from Timmins–James Bay on some of those challenges.

As I mentioned, Speaker, it can take a full day just to travel from one part of these ridings to another. And I’m sure my colleagues would agree that for people living in Sandy Lake or Peawanuck, Queen’s Park must seem like an incredibly distant, out-of-reach place. In addition to the expansive size, these regions contain a true multitude of people, cultures and traditions. That includes many distinct and important communities, including indigenous peoples and people belonging to the francophone community.

We appreciate that the priorities and concerns of these communities may be different from other ridings in the province. These challenges are what make effective representation in the Far North even more difficult and important. These communities deserve to have representatives that advocate for their specific needs.

Our government is, and has always been, committed to representation across the province. Back in 2004, if you recall, Speaker, the federal government reduced the number of federal seats in northern Ontario from 11 to 10. We disagreed with that decision, and Ontario responded by preserving 11 northern ridings.

First of all, as I have already said, I don’t believe that fair and effective representation can be calculated through a simple population count. There is a multitude of factors that must be considered, and the only sure way to account for those is to give the people a voice in the process.

As I mentioned, it is important to think about the diversity of the communities in northern Ontario and how, despite population considerations, there are issues that can complicate representation for certain communities. With this in mind, we continued to think about how we could further improve representation in the north.

Last year, Speaker, as you know, as we prepared to introduce a range of measures to modernize and improve our electoral processes, we saw another opportunity to address the important and long-standing issue of representation in the Far North. We recognized that it would be no easy task. Changes would have to be made carefully, and independently of any political party.

That is why we created the Far North Electoral Boundaries Commission, an independent commission with the mandate to research, consult with communities and make recommendations on the creation of at least one and no more than two new ridings in Ontario’s Far North. An independent, non-partisan commission was absolutely the best way to go. It ensured that the process was fair, impartial and focused on local needs.

Before I continue, I would like to highlight a distinctive feature of the commission, and that is that the majority of its members come from indigenous backgrounds. This was a perspective that I am glad played a prominent role in their research and discussions.

I would like to, again, thank and acknowledge the members, including the Honourable Justice Joyce Pelletier, of the Ontario Court of Justice, who chaired the commission. In addition to her professional qualifications, she provided an important perspective, as she is of Ojibway heritage, from Fort William First Nation.

Greg Essensa, who is the Chief Electoral Officer of Ontario, was part of the commission, as was Michael Pal, an assistant professor at the University of Ottawa, who specializes in the areas of electoral and constitutional law.

In addition, we had Theresa Hall, who is not only a former justice of the peace but also a former chief of Attawapiskat First Nation—Theresa is of Mushkegowuk heritage, from the Attawapiskat First Nation—and Eric Fisher, who is also a former chief and was a council member of Wabaseemoong Whitedog Independent Nations. He is of Ojibway heritage.

The commission was tasked specifically with looking at electoral boundaries in Ontario’s two northernmost districts, Kenora–Rainy River and Timmins–James Bay, and to make sure that any changes would directly reflect the priorities and needs of the people living in the affected areas.

As you will recall, in May, the independent Far North Electoral Boundaries Commission took on the challenge of reaching out to people far and wide across the north. Throughout the spring, the commissioners travelled to remote and urban areas across the Far North to hear what people had to say about their representation at Queen’s Park. The overwhelming consensus the commissioners heard was to create two additional ridings in the Far North, for a total of four where previously there were only two. As I mentioned earlier, the needs of communities in the Far North vary across such a vast geography.

The commissioners heard this in their consultations as well. After careful consideration, they recommended this approach in their final report.

Each commissioner provided a depth of experience and understanding that was invaluable to this review and the discussions they held with people across the Far North. I’m confident in the work and the advice they have provided to this Legislature.

In view of this good work, as well as the obligation of the government to introduce legislation to implement the commission’s recommendations, this bill, if passed, would make the recommendations in their final report a reality.

I believe that all parties in the House should be proud of the work they have done to bring the bill to where it is today. The input of members, including those from the north, has been invaluable, and I would like to thank them for their insight.

As you know, the legislative committee recently travelled to Moose Factory, where it heard from community members and indigenous leaders on the proposed changes. During the legislative process, we heard some concerns that I would like to take a moment to address.

At the recent public hearing in Moose Factory, a number of indigenous leaders voiced concerns regarding the name of one of the proposed ridings. In particular, indigenous leaders raised some concerns regarding the use of the name “Mushkegowuk” for the new northeastern riding. In response, we are proposing to consult further with affected communities and report any recommendations regarding the new riding name to the Legislature. This is to ensure that the name of this riding best represents the people who live there.

Pending this consultation, the legislation refers to this riding as Mushkegowuk–James Bay. This is an interim measure. Again, we will be conducting a review of the name in consultation with the communities and reporting back to this House.

Splitting the Far North into four smaller, separate ridings would go a long way to representing the unique interests of Ontario’s Far North. The new ridings of Kiiwetinoong and Mushkegowuk–James Bay would have a majority indigenous and a majority francophone population, respectively. The new riding of Kiiwetinoong would have a 68% indigenous population. Muskegowuk–James Bay’s population would also include significant portions of both indigenous and francophone populations, as it would be comprised of about 27% indigenous people and about 60% francophone communities.

As such, the representatives of these new ridings could advocate on behalf of those interests and bring these important perspectives to Queen’s Park. These new ridings will help ensure that the Far North has a stronger, more distinct voice in the Legislature.

As I mentioned earlier, there will also be a new riding of Kenora–Rainy River. The boundaries of the former Kenora–Rainy River riding would be adjusted to include places such as Dryden, Fort Frances, Kenora and Rainy River. The more northerly parts of the former riding will be included in Kiiwetinoong.

The city of Timmins will become its own separate riding. As we all know, urban interests are very different from those of more remote communities. As a stand-alone riding, the urban interests of the city of Timmins would be represented independently from other, more remote communities in the Far North, such as those included in Muskegowuk–James Bay. These smaller, more manageable ridings will make it possible for northern MPPs to more effectively reach and represent their constituents at Queen’s Park.

Speaker, I would also like to take a few moments to speak to some of the other measures we are proposing in this bill, which clarify previous changes to the rules and processes around our elections.

As you will recall, last year we transformed the province’s election financing rules to make Ontario’s system among the strongest and most transparent in Canada. The legislation we passed included new rules about who can make contributions and how much they can donate, as well as created new restrictions on attendance at fundraisers for prescribed political actors.

The bill before you seeks to further refine the rules restricting political actors from attending fundraising events. We are looking to provide clarity on what activities the rules are seeking to restrict and to whom they apply.

We are making three changes. First, under the current rules, prescribed political actors are restricted from attending ticketed fundraising events. The intent of these restrictions is to prevent cash-for-access arrangements.

Through the advice of the Chief Electoral Officer, we recognize that there are some meetings that are unintentionally captured by the current attendance restrictions because they include a contribution portion in the ticket price but are not primarily fundraisers. These are meetings like policy conferences that are held by political parties and their constituency associations, and help to contribute to healthy democratic participation.

If passed, this bill would allow these prescribed political actors to attend these specific meetings. These meetings are important opportunities for politicians to meet with and to be held accountable by the people they represent, or would like to represent, in the Legislative Assembly, and they give political actors the chance to engage in policy discussions that impact their communities.

Under the proposed rules, prescribed political actors would be permitted to attend these annual general meetings and policy conferences only if the meeting is a cost-recovery event and has been advertised as such. All funds raised in excess of cost recovery must go to the Chief Electoral Officer.

We are also making a second change that would permit prescribed political actors to attend ticketed cost-recovery events only if those events have been advertised as cost-recovery events. This is a tidying of the rules to ensure that cost-recovery events are advertised in advance as such. Otherwise, prescribed political actors would not be allowed to attend.

Finally, this bill would make one additional change to the new fundraising rules by closing a small loophole. As the members will recall, under the rules that were passed last year, both nomination contestants and registered candidates are restricted from attending fundraising events. It seemed simple enough, but there is a complication. As it turns out, the bill did not account for the gap period that sometimes exists between the time that a nomination has been won and the time a person becomes an official candidate when the writ is issued.

By closing this gap, we would ensure that the policy goal of banning cash-for-access is applied to people through all stages of seeking office, which, of course, was the goal of our legislation in the first place.

I would like to highlight that since this bill was introduced, we have refined the original time period that was proposed to capture contestants nominated or appointed before nomination contestant rules first applied on July 1, 2017.

In his written submission to the standing committee last month, the Chief Electoral Officer suggested that the proposed time period, which began on January 1, 2017, was too narrow. For example, it did not capture contestants who could have been nominated in 2016 for the upcoming 2018 election. So we put forward a motion so that it applies to, and captures, anybody nominated or appointed between March 1, 2016, and July 1, 2017.

Speaker, you ask: Why March 1? This is because March 1, 2016, was the first day that new constituency associations could be created for the electoral map that will be used for the 2018 scheduled election.

As the members here can certainly appreciate, running a nomination campaign can be costly. Under the current legislation, nomination contestants have until the day of the nomination vote to receive contributions. This does not always allow them enough time to pay off debts from the nomination contest. So we are proposing to extend the period during which nomination contestants can fundraise to pay off outstanding campaign debt. This change treats nomination contestants similarly to candidates by permitting them to receive contributions for three months after the vote.

Finally, I would like to speak about the amendment we are proposing to allow the Chief Electoral Officer to share information with the Municipal Property Assessment Corp., or MPAC for short. As the members know, MPAC is responsible for assembling the voters lists that are used in Ontario’s municipal elections. If passed, this bill would modernize our election processes by allowing data from the permanent register of electors to be shared with MPAC for electoral purposes.

This is a quick and effective way to provide MPAC with more accurate voters lists in time for the 2018 municipal elections, making it easier for voters to get the information they need to participate in municipal elections. It would also ensure that we maximize the benefits from all the great work that Elections Ontario does to keep current and accurate voter rolls.

Speaker, the bill before you today is an important step forward for representation in northern Ontario and for our elections system. We know that the needs and the interests of northern Ontario communities are complex, and with this bill, we are making no claim to having solved everything. But should this legislation pass, it will bring us one step closer to strengthening the faith northerners have in their representation right here at Queen’s Park.

Taken together with other recent reforms we have made, like, for example, increasing ridings in southern Ontario to improve representation; encouraging more young people to participate in elections by allowing 16- and 17-year-olds to pre-register to vote; making it easier for voters to get to polling stations by moving the scheduled election date from the fall to the spring, to take advantage of the longer daylight hours and warm weather; and allowing for the use of electronic vote tabulators at voting stations, so that votes can be counted more quickly and accurately, these changes will help to build a more modern and more representative election system.

When we get to election day, I know that voters across the Far North will experience first-hand the positive changes that we are proposing through this legislation.

Speaker, I sincerely hope that all members will support this important bill. Thank you. Meegwetch. Yaw^ko. Marsee. Nakurmiik.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): Further debate?

Mr. Victor Fedeli: I look forward to this next hour, to talk to you a little bit about our findings, first of all from the tour that we took of Moosonee and Moose Factory, as well as from the general government committee, that came back and met; to talk a little bit about what we learned from the committee in the time we were in Moose Factory; and then to talk about our amendments that were made, and what we did or didn’t do throughout those amendments.

In my personal opinion and, I think, the opinion of our party, we’re rather disappointed, and I think that would be putting it lightly.

We heard just a moment ago what the minister said. He said that “voices need to be heard.” That’s how he started this: Voices need to be heard. We went there, and we heard the voices, but the government didn’t listen. What they asked for, what they were so explicit about in terms of the presentations that we had—it was as if they were talking to somebody else, not the government, because the government returned to Toronto and developed some amendments that made absolutely no sense, compared to what we heard in the hearings.

I can tell you, Speaker, that we agree with the concept that there are two new ridings that are to be created. We understand why they’re being created. We believe in that process of the creation of these ridings.

But we wanted to hear from the people in the Mushkegowuk riding. We wanted to hear from them, and hopefully get a better understanding of what it is that they wanted us to do on their behalf. And boy, Speaker, we got it with both barrels.

The Kiiwetinoong riding, which will be in northwestern Ontario, is going to be 68% indigenous. The Mushkegowuk riding, on the James Bay coast, will include Hearst, Kapuskasing and others, and will be 60% francophone and 20% indigenous.

In fact, because they’re going to name the riding Mushkegowuk—one of the grand chiefs said they’re flattered at the name being used, but they’re very surprised, because they were not asked if it could be used, and it doesn’t actually represent that area. It represents the area outside of Timmins, as well, Hearst and Kapuskasing, and as I said, it is 60% francophone and 27% indigenous.

During the hearings, we heard very loudly and very clearly from two grand chiefs and a chief, as well as private citizens who said that using the name is “misleading.” This is what the grand chiefs told our committee: using the name “Mushkegowuk” for the new riding is misleading. I don’t want to paraphrase, but certainly throughout all the documentation we received from the grand chiefs, the chiefs and the private citizens—I can read one example from Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler and Grand Chief Jonathon Solomon:

“The name ‘Mushkegowuk’ must not be used for one of the proposed new ridings in the James Bay region.” This is from the grand chiefs, both of them. They go on to say, “The Mushkegowuk Council and NAN must be allowed to submit suggestions for an alternative and more appropriate name.” This is what they’re asking us. They have gone out of their way to ask us that.

We sat for hours in front of the grand chiefs. They had about half an hour to speak and answer some of our questions, each. There was one underlying theme throughout the entire day, which to me was the purpose of going to Moose Factory: to listen to them. In this case we listened to the grand chiefs especially, who were very, very clear, over and over, that they were not consulted. They told us that—not in so many words; they told us in those exact words. They were not consulted on the name, and they certainly found offence—again, their words—in the fact that the name was being used without their prior knowledge or their approval. They termed it “misleading.” This is what we heard from them.

They didn’t like what they saw, they didn’t like what they read, and they certainly didn’t like what they heard. Again, they said they were certainly flattered by the name. I’m reading from the notes that I wrote. They told us that there was no consultation. They did not see a draft. They only saw the final report.

Of course, the commissioners had a tight schedule. Well, the chiefs, too, were busy at the time. They talked to us about a trust issue. They said they found a lack of trust. They told us that they questioned the validity—I’m shocked, by the way, Speaker; these are some pretty harsh words that we heard—of the commission’s report. Again, I’m not disagreeing with anything they had to say. We went there to hear what they had to say. It’s what we did with this information that is most surprising, Speaker. So I’m going to continue for a bit, talking about what we heard from them.

We absorbed all these notes from them, the mistrust; in their words, the “misleading.” They said, “This sounds as if” that you’re saying to them, “we know what’s best for you.” This is what they found to be offensive.

So we brought an amendment that I believe and that our party believes respects what we heard from the Mushkegowuk Council. I believe and we believe that this motion, the amendment that we brought, respects the wishes of the Mushkegowuk Council and others, NAN included. I’ll talk about our amendment in a minute.

But what I’m so shocked at is the amendment that the government brought. I’ll read you that amendment because it’s so surprising that they brought this amendment. The government, in the first government motion—“The Attorney General shall undertake a review of the name ... Mushkegowuk–James Bay electoral district....” This is what the government came away with.

They’re telling you as plainly as can be that they don’t want you to use the name “Mushkegowuk” in a riding that has nothing to do with Mushkegowuk. They told us that, over and over and over. For hours, we heard that. And what does the government do? I’m expecting they’re going to come back with an amendment that says, as the Attorney General said, “Voices need to be heard.” Well, we heard them, but they didn’t do anything about it. In fact, they’ve added insult to injury here, Speaker. They just expanded the name to Mushkegowuk–James Bay. This is their bright idea.

It’s as if they were in a different room than the rest of us were in, for them to bring this—I’ll compare that with what our amendment was, which I fully expected the government would have (

a) brought and (

b) passed. Ours is:

“Mushkegowuk electoral district

“

(4) Despite the provisions of this or any other act, the name of the northern electoral district identified in the

schedule as ‘Mushkegowuk’ shall instead have a different name to be prescribed in a regulation made under this act by the Chief Electoral Officer....

“(5) Subsection (4) does not apply if the Mushkegowuk Council provides t