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November 30, 2015

41st Parliament, 1st Session

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Hansard Transcripts

vol. A

Hansard Transcripts

vol. B

Votes and Proceedings

Orders and Notices

Hansard Transcripts 2015-Nov-30 (PDF)

L127A - Mon 30 Nov 2015 / Lun 30 nov 2015

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO

ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE DE L’ONTARIO

Monday 30 November 2015 Lundi 30 novembre 2015

Introduction of Visitors

Oral Questions

Ontario economy

Ontario economy

Privatization of public assets

Privatization of public assets

Privatization of public assets

Privatization of public assets

Forest management

Winter highway maintenance

Long-term care

Hydro generation

Hospital funding

Hospital funding

First Nations

Family doctors

Poverty

Introduction of Visitors

Members’ Statements

Highway improvement

Climate change

Lung health

Janice Bye

RenewABILITY Energy Inc.

Shoebox Project

Rural Ontario

Blessed Cardinal Newman Catholic High School

Sports halls of fame

Visitors

Reports by Committees

Standing Committee on Estimates

Standing Committee on Social Policy

Motions

House sittings

House sittings

Statements by the Ministry and Responses

Lung health

Private members’ public business

Petitions

Hydro rates

Newborn health

Lung health

Health care

Health care funding

Lung health

Health care funding

Privatization of public assets

Employment practices

Newborn health

Privatization of public assets

Water fluoridation

Orders of the Day

Budget Measures Act, 2015 / Loi de 2015 sur les mesures budgétaires

Police Record Checks Reform Act, 2015 / Loi de 2015 sur la réforme des vérifications de dossiers de police

Strengthening Consumer Protection and Electricity System Oversight Act, 2015 / Loi de 2015 pour renforcer la protection des consommateurs et la surveillance du réseau d’électricité

Energy Statute Law Amendment Act, 2015 / Loi de 2015 modifiant des lois sur l’énergie

The House met at 1030.

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

Prayers.

Introduction of Visitors

Ms. Cheri DiNovo: Most folks know that the Ontario Lung Association is in the House. What they may not also know is that at tonight’s reception, Tom Paterson of Junction Brewery is going to be hosting a beer-tasting. Please come out and say yay to Junction Brewery.

Hon. James J. Bradley: I’d like to introduce today, in the legislative gallery, Bev Black of St. Catharines, who is here with the lung association.

Mr. Percy Hatfield: It’s my pleasure to welcome the president of ACORN Canada, Marva Burnett, and the ACORN representatives who will be joining us here today. As you know, Speaker, ACORN is the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Hon. Reza Moridi: It’s my distinct pleasure to welcome my friends Mr. and Mrs. Zamani, who are visiting the House today. Please join me in welcoming them.

Mr. Percy Hatfield: On behalf of my colleague the MPP for Windsor West, I’d like to welcome and point out that legislative page Prasanna Mohile is our page captain today, and I’d like to introduce his proud family members who will be joining us: his dad, Sanjay Mohile; his mom, Arundhati; sister Prachi; aunt Rupa Haldavnekar; and grandma Madhuri Mohile. Welcome to you all. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Hon. Dipika Damerla: Today marks the end of Lung Month, a month when we celebrate everything to do with breathing. To close off Lung Month, the Ontario Lung Association is here and I’d also like to welcome them. They are hosting a reception tonight, and you’re all invited to come celebrate in rooms 228/230. They’re also here meeting with MPPs and staff about how we can better protect Ontarians’ lung health. Please join me, once again, in welcoming the Ontario Lung Association, their lung ambassadors and volunteers from across Ontario.

Mr. John Vanthof: On behalf of the member from Bramalea–Gore–Malton, I would like to congratulate our page captain today, Keana Cavero. We welcome her mother, Yanet Cavero, her father, Larry Cavero, her sister Naliani Cavero, cousin Lianna Lopez and her godmother Vanessa Lopez. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Hon. Helena Jaczek: We’re going to be joined, very shortly, by the grade 5 class from St. Marguerite d’Youville public school, from my great riding of Oak Ridges–Markham. They will be joined by Zoe Vacilotto, a student, who is the daughter of Maria Papadopoulos, who worked here at Queen’s Park for many years.

M me France Gélinas: We have some visitors from the Association of Ontario Midwives with us today. This is Liza and Steve van de Hoef, as well as Heather Harding. They are here for the campaign to end mandatory newborn eye prophylaxis. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Mrs. Cristina Martins: I wish to introduce two members of Parliament from the regional assembly of the Azores visiting us from Portugal today: Duarte Freitas and José Andrade, accompanied by Paula Medeiros from the Portuguese consulate in Toronto. I want to wish them a warm welcome here to Queen’s Park. Bem-vindos.

Ms. Harinder Malhi: I’d like to introduce Scott Hickey, vice-president of corporate communications and public affairs for Dynacare. It’s nice to see you here.

Mr. Arthur Potts: I want to welcome Michael Vorobej, who has come in today to give support to my tipping bill, which is having hearings this afternoons. Thanks, and welcome.

Hon. Eric Hoskins: I’d like to take this opportunity as well to welcome the Ontario Lung Association and, specifically, Kati Wallace, who is a constituent of mine from St. Paul’s.

Of course, I’d also like to welcome the delegation here from the Association of Ontario Midwives.

Mr. Patrick Brown: I just wanted to congratulate Rob Jamieson, the new president of the Ontario Provincial Police Association—actually from Barrie. He’s not here today, but I know he’s with us in spirit. Congratulations on that new endeavour.

Ms. Lisa MacLeod: It’s my pleasure today to congratulate the Ottawa Redblacks on a formidable season. They have only been a CFL team for the past two years and they made it all the way to the Grey Cup last night, in a heartbreaking loss in the last five minutes. We were that close, not only to being the greatest province in football, but definitely Ottawa, we can say, is the greatest city for football in this entire province. I know that I join members of all parties from across Ontario in saying thank you to the Redblacks for an excellent season.

Oral Questions

Ontario economy

Mr. Patrick Brown: My question is for the Acting Premier. Last Thursday’s fall economic statement just goes to show that there is no reason that Ontarians should trust this government’s numbers.

The government took a billion dollars from the reserves and another $1.1 billion from the sale of Hydro One. The deficit is actually $2.1 billion higher than this government is willing to admit.

As the Toronto Star’s Martin Regg Cohn said, the government under-promises and tries to claim they over-perform. He said that Ontario “is a chronic underperformer, and the government is an ongoing overspender.”

Mr. Speaker, will the government finally admit that they have no plan, and no realistic expectation to balance their budget in 2018?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: Well, Speaker, our plan is fundamentally different from their plan, although I must say that I’m not even sure that there is a plan.

Year after year, we have beaten our deficit—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): I’ll be looking to both sides to start quiet.

Finish, please.

Hon. Deborah Matthews: We have beaten our deficit targets year over year. We will continue to do so.

We have been very clear that net revenues from asset sales like the Hydro One IPO are being placed in the Trillium Trust. In fact, last spring, we proposed an amendment to the 2015 budget, in committee, that would formalize that all net proceeds would be contributed to the Trillium Trust. Do you know what happened? Both the PCs and the NDP voted against it, which is why it’s in this fall—

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

Supplementary?

Mr. Patrick Brown: I’ve got some unfortunate news for the Acting Premier: You can’t spend the same money twice.

The fall economic statement confirmed what the opposition has been saying all along: The sale of Hydro One was not for infrastructure. We’ve known all along that the Liberals used this money to simply pay for their own scandal, waste and mismanagement. Some $1.1 billion from the sale of Hydro One went straight into general revenue. Oddly enough, that’s exactly the same amount the Liberals wasted on the gas plant scandal.

Mr. Speaker, why won’t the government just come clean? The only reason they sold Hydro One was to make up for their own incompetence and waste. Come clean and admit that’s what you did.

Interjections.

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

Hon. Deborah Matthews: I think it’s really important to also point out that the contingency fund remains what it was. This notion that we somehow used the contingency fund to bring down the deficit is simply untrue. I would love to see the evidence you have that would demonstrate that that has been a change.

We are committed to spending more on infrastructure. This is a clear direction this government is going in. We have a plan to get there. The plan does include asset sales; it includes broadening the ownership of Hydro One, because that’s what the people of this province elected us to do. We are moving forward on our mandate to build Ontario up.

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

Mr. Patrick Brown: The government’s numbers just don’t make sense. The Acting Premier, everyone understands this is a shell game.

Over the next three years, the government is predicting $8 billion more in revenue than the Financial Accountability Officer has forecasted. I know who I trust. I trust the independent officer, not the government spin machine. The gap is real, and the fall economic statement clearly says that the Hydro One revenue will be used to fill the gap, an $8-billion gap. They expect to get $9 billion from the sale of Hydro One. I hardly think this is a coincidence. We all know what’s happening here.

Will the government admit that they are using the next portion of the Hydro One sale to plug their $8-billion gap? Tell us the answer, please.

Hon. Deborah Matthews: To the Minister of Finance.

Hon. Charles Sousa: Mr. Speaker, we have—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Finish, please.

Hon. Charles Sousa: We have non-tax revenue from capital gains, on assets and otherwise. That’s reflected as such, and we made it very clear that we’re dedicating every dollar that is the net result of these assets to the Trillium Trust.

Furthermore, we have over $120 billion in revenue. We are not relying on assets to manage the deficit; we’re relying on economic growth. That’s why we’re reinvesting the money: to create even more wealth for the people of Ontario.

The member opposite is actually double-counting when he talks about reserves, Mr. Speaker. I think they need to get their act together, in terms of the principles of accounting, on this very issue.

Ontario economy

Ms. Lisa MacLeod: My question is for the Treasury Board president. Last week, the finance minister robbed the sale of Hydro One, intended for infrastructure monies, to pay down the deficit. Unfortunately, that type of creative financing is unsustainable and, I dare say, dishonest. Don’t just take my word for it; take the—

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

Ms. Lisa MacLeod: Certainly. Withdrawn, Speaker.

Don’t just take my word for it; take the Financial Accountability Officer’s. It means that the Treasury Board president should be following the mandate letter assigned to her to reduce the size and cost of government, but that’s barely mentioned in the fall economic statement. Why? Is it because the President of the Treasury Board has failed to hold the line on government spending?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: In fact, earlier this month, the Financial Accountability Officer affirmed our lowered 2015-16 deficit target of $8.5 billion without factoring the Hydro One IPO into his figures. We at the Treasury Board are working very hard to keep program spending low. We have to make sure that we’re getting the best value for every dollar we are spending.

What’s fascinating to me is that what we are hearing from the opposition over and over again is, “Spend more.” You want us to increase compensation to physicians, you want us to—every day we hear about expenditures you want us to make. Yet, now we’re hearing that we’re spending too much.

The fact is that the Treasury Board is going through a line-by-line review of every ministry—every program in every ministry—to ensure that we’re getting the best value for those dollars.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Ms. Lisa MacLeod: The Financial Accountability Officer actually said we were going through short-term gain for long-term pain. That’s what he said. I remember seeing it. You yourself said on W5, “We’re out of money.”

Now, Ontarians can’t afford any new taxes, so the only hope, in order for this government to balance the budget and ensure sustainable health care and education, is through a more efficient government and for you to actually do your job. But that’s impossible when the government takes its so-called net zeros in contract negotiations and applies that money to higher salaries rather than to the deficit. There is no discipline on that side of the House.

Will the Treasury Board president explain why her department has lost control of government spending and is not doing its job?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: The member opposite is simply wrong. In fact, we are looking at an average 0.9% increase in spending. That is significantly below the rate of inflation. I don’t know where the member opposite would want to cut more. As I’ve said, every day we hear that they want us to spend more on their particular projects.

We have a very clear path to balance. We are on that path. We are making difficult decisions, but we are determined to achieve balance by 2017-18. It will take a variety of approaches to get us there, but we are committed to doing exactly that, while we protect the services that matter to the people of this province.

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

Ms. Lisa MacLeod: They’re clearly not protecting the services that matter the most to Ontarians. Look at the illegal strikes in education; look at the health care cuts that my caucus has been raising in this assembly.

If you want to talk about who is wrong, I want to know if you were right or if you were misquoted on W5 when you said, “We’re out of money.” You can’t have it both ways. Your inaction and your lack of discipline speak for themselves. It is not leadership; it is reckless. This government has specialized in mediocrity. You have compromised the province’s credit rating and made life unaffordable for Ontarians, and you have only yourself to blame. The budget will not balance itself.

Will the Treasury Board president admit here today in this place that lack of discipline in her department and across government is what really is in store for Ontarians in the next number of years?

Interjections.

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

President of the Treasury Board.

Hon. Deborah Matthews: I think this is a question that maybe should go down in history as taking two paths in one question. You’ve got to choose a lane. On one hand, you’re saying, “You’re spending too much,” and on the other—the very same question—you’re saying, “You’re not spending enough.”

I really do think that the party opposite needs to get their act together. There was a time when we knew exactly where they stood, and that was slash and burn, fire 100,000 people. We’re hearing about a kinder, gentler party, Speaker, but at the core, there is nothing that has changed over there.

Privatization of public assets

Ms. Andrea Horwath: My question is for the Acting Premier. Page 100 of the fall economic statement shows that the money from the Hydro One sell-off is going toward government revenue, but the Premier promised that selling off Hydro One would build transit and infrastructure.

Of course, we know that the selling of Hydro One was never about building anything. The Liberals have counted the money once for transit in the Trillium Trust, and a second time against the deficit. Speaker, ask any Ontarian and they’ll tell you that you can’t spend the same dollar twice. You can only spend a dollar once.

Can the Acting Premier explain how the Liberals are taking a dollar and counting it twice?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: Minister of Finance.

Hon. Charles Sousa: Let me explain that we have capital gains on assets and we have a number of initiatives that happen throughout the budget cycle. Over $124 billion in revenue occurs. In this particular case, you have an asset that creates a gain. We have to reflect it as non-taxable revenue. We have also put in place a dedicated Trillium Trust that ensures that the value—the net gain—is invested into that trust to be reinvested into new assets, Mr. Speaker.

We are not relying on assets in order to manage our deficit. What we are doing is growing our economy and enabling us to add more revenue, more activity, and we are controlling our spending. We are the leanest government in all of Canada because of the efforts that we are taking and that the president of this Treasury Board has been enacting all this time.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Ms. Andrea Horwath: The government’s own fiscal update says the increase in revenue “largely reflects the ... recent Hydro One IPO.” The money from the sell-off of Hydro One isn’t going toward building transit and infrastructure. It’s going to actually balance the books for one year. The sell-off of Hydro One isn’t raising the money the Liberals promised. It’s not building infrastructure that they promised to the people of Ontario.

Will the Acting Premier and her government be breaking the promise they made to Ontarians to build transit just so they can balance the budget, Speaker?

Hon. Charles Sousa: We’ve just enacted further regulation around the Trillium Trust in order to ensure that the lands from Seaton and Lakeview, and head office buildings that are also not as productive—that we look at initiating those gains to be invested into the Trillium Trust. We stipulated it very clearly into the act. That is exactly what’s happening. Mr. Speaker.

The member opposite may want to talk about the fact that she doesn’t like the notion of us taking an agency or a company that is underperforming, making it better, creating greater value, netting tremendous gains for the province of Ontario and dedicating its gain into the Trillium Trust for reinvestment into our economy. That is her choice, but we are going to continue to invest in our economy, to grow our economy, and enable us to have greater revenues overall and greater productivity and prosperity for all people of Ontario.

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

Ms. Andrea Horwath: The Liberals promised that the Hydro One money would go into the Trillium Trust to pay for infrastructure. Instead, it’s going into general revenue so that the Liberals can show a one-time smaller deficit in this year.

Will this Acting Premier finally admit that selling Hydro One was never about infrastructure? And can she tell us which of the transit projects that the Liberals list off continually in this House she will be cancelling in order to balance the budget?

Hon. Charles Sousa: Mr. Speaker, we have stipulated that we’re going to be spending over $134 billion in infrastructure. We have identified in the fall economic statement a number of projects that are well under way. Over 200 more projects have occurred. This transaction also enabled us to pay down debt by $1 billion.

So, Mr. Speaker, we are acting prudently, we are taking assets, making certain that we’re able to achieve greater value of those assets, and reinvesting. Of course, you have to recognize that gain as a non-taxable revenue. It’s exactly what we’ve done in this budget. We’ve been very upfront throughout and going forward.

We are going to continue doing everything that’s necessary to invest in our economy, to create even more value. That is what we are doing.

Mr. Speaker, let me say it again: We’re not relying on assets to control our deficit. We are relying on the $124 billion of other revenue that is generating wealth for the province of Ontario.

Privatization of public assets

Ms. Andrea Horwath: My next question is also for the Acting Premier. On the very first page of the fall economic update, it says that if revenue growth is slower than expected, “the government will need to consider other tools.” Does “other tools” included further sales of revenue-generating assets and even deeper cuts to health care and education?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: Minister of Finance.

Hon. Charles Sousa: Mr. Speaker, it’s prudent, of course, for us to take consideration of all the tools that are available to the province and to a government, and frankly, Ontario has a lot of flexibility. We have more arrows in our quiver than other provinces, because they have already taken some of those tools into action.

We are relying only on going after those who don’t pay appropriately. We’re going after tax avoidance measures in the economy. We’re going after the underground economy, which, by the way, has netted an additional $224 million more as a result of those initiatives.

We’re also controlling our debt. We now are paying $140 million less than we had anticipated because we’re borrowing $25 billion less as a result of the actions that we’re taking.

Those are the initiatives that we’re taking, those are the tools that we’re looking forward to enacting and ensuring that everybody pays their fair share.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Ms. Andrea Horwath: If there are so many arrows in the quiver, they should have skipped over the sell-off of Hydro One because virtually nobody in Ontario wanted them to use that arrow.

Thursday’s fall economic statement shows job creation projections are down by 70,000 jobs over the next four years. That’s like the entire city of Sarnia not being able to find a job. With a competitive dollar, we should have actually seen some job growth by now, not less growth and fewer jobs. Selling Hydro One is not going to create jobs here in the province of Ontario. Privatizing other assets will not create more growth.

Will the Acting Premier rule out selling more revenue-generating assets?

Hon. Charles Sousa: Let’s be clear: Ontario and Ontarians have been doing a tremendous job of promoting our economy. In fact, Ontario now leads Canada in economic growth, and our unemployment rate is down to 6.8%—below the national average. Furthermore, we have over 560,000 new jobs since the depths of the recession because of the diversified economy that we have been employing and initiating.

Furthermore, I said very clearly that when we look at our assets, we look at those that are underperforming and not creating greater value. That is why LCBO and OPG and some other assets are not being used: because they provide greater value. Hydro One had an opportunity to make more value for the province of Ontario, and it did, well beyond every expectation that most have had. The market bore a strong valuation. We still own 84% of that operation, which is now greater in value than it was even three weeks ago. We’ll continue to do that to promote more value for all Ontarians.

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

Ms. Andrea Horwath: The value went to their friends; it didn’t go to the people of Ontario. That’s what this finance minister is not telling the public.

Selling Hydro One will slow revenue growth. That is a fact.

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Minister of Economic Development, second time.

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Ontario’s independent FAO shows that starting next year, the sale of Hydro One will start costing us money. That’s going to slow revenue growth for this province. The fall economic update says that’s exactly what’s going to open the door to the necessity of new revenue tools or more revenue tools to be undertaken by this government.

So why is the Liberal government setting up Ontario families for more sell-offs and deeper cuts in the future?

Hon. Charles Sousa: The majority of Hydro One is still owned by Ontarians. The government of Ontario owns 84% of this company still today. As we proceed forward, 40% of this last IPO went to Ontarians, broader, in the retail sector. And pension companies, which the member opposite, staff and others are reliant upon, also are owners of some of these shares.

Going forward, the people of Ontario indirectly or directly still own a great part of this company, which has now been improved because of the actions we’ve taken. That’s exactly what we’re talking about. More importantly, it’s about reinvesting into our economy, reinvesting in new assets, reinvesting in transit in Hamilton, where the member opposite is from. She would probably cut those very initiatives if she did not find sources of revenue and capital to make it so.

That’s exactly what we’ve done. We’ve stipulated that, and we’ve actually rolled out a whole list of projects under way. That’s what this is about.

Privatization of public assets

Mr. Todd Smith: My question this morning is for the Acting Premier. For months now, the government has climbed onto its high horse and said that the Hydro One sale was going to pay for infrastructure—right up until last Thursday, though, when they couldn’t hide the truth any longer. A background document the government handed out for the fall economic statement said, “The improvement in the deficit projection for 2015-16 is mainly the result of the government’s progress on the asset optimization strategy outlined in the 2015 budget related to the recent Hydro One initial public offering....” The only thing they’ve sold is Hydro One.

The Premier, the Minister of Energy and the Deputy Premier have all just been contradicted by the finance minister. My question is: Would they like to correct their record, or are they saying the finance minister wouldn’t tell them what he was using the Hydro One money for?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: Minister of Finance.

Hon. Charles Sousa: Mr. Speaker, we have assets. We have ongoing operations of government. We’re trying to maximize value. We’ve very clearly stipulated that the asset gain from Hydro One, which is greater than even anticipated, is being reflected as a non-tax revenue, as it must. These are basic accounting principles.

We also went further and said we’re dedicating all of that gain into the Trillium Trust, to dedicate those revenues to create even more by reinvesting in new infrastructure projects, that being public transit, including those opportunities—

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Member from Bruce–Grey–Owen Sound, second time.

Hon. Charles Sousa: —communities. It talks about roads and bridges and expansions to various communities that will benefit from the redeployment of these assets to create new value for Ontarians. That’s what we’ve done, and we’ve been very clear that that has been the case.

Furthermore, it also talks about the fact that we’re paying less interest. It talks about the fact that we are collecting more revenues in other areas. That is ultimately how we’re getting to balance.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Todd Smith: Mr. Speaker, the flakes of snow haven’t really even started to fly here in Toronto yet, but there has been a snow job going on for months over on that side of the House.

Finance tells us one thing, but we get another thing here in the House. Even the finance minister couldn’t quite explain how money could be going to the deficit when ministers of the crown repeatedly told the House it would be spent on infrastructure. Maybe he’s just sick of playing Pinocchio to Ed Clark’s Geppetto.

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

Mr. Todd Smith: Withdrawn, Mr. Speaker.

All the government has done here is temporarily plugged a $1.1-billion hole. It’s going to reappear again next year, just in time for them to sell more Hydro One shares.

Will the Acting Premier just admit that the money was never going to go to infrastructure, or is she just waiting for Ed Clark’s latest memo too?

Hon. Charles Sousa: Mr. Speaker, the only people who are double-counting here are members of the opposition when they claim that the reserve is being used twice, when in fact that’s not the case.

Furthermore, we’ve been clear that non-tax revenue has to be reflected as revenue. That’s exactly what we’ve done. And we’ve said that we’re going to invest it, and we are.

Listen, on pages 27 and 28, we offer just a small amount of those projects that are under way for the benefit of communities like the member’s own, so that we can greatly appreciate the value for our economy and for our families in our communities.

By the way, let’s be clear that Ontarians and Ontario still hold a substantive amount of Hydro One, which is more valuable than it was before. And we’ve made it very clear that no one person or company can own more than 10% of Hydro One. We will still retain a greater degree of ownership, greater opportunities for revenue that’s being sourced from a better company, and we’re generating further revenue from reinvesting in our economy. We’ve stipulated that very clearly in our FES in that regard.

Privatization of public assets

Ms. Catherine Fife: My question is to the Acting Premier. In the last fiscal year, the government forced Ontario’s electricity consumers to pay $956 million in debt retirement charges on their electricity bills. These charges were supposed to pay down the residual stranded debt left over from the old Ontario Hydro. Instead, last week we found that these charges paid down only $400 million of the residual stranded debt. What did the government do with the remaining $556 million?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: Minister of Finance.

Hon. Charles Sousa: Mr. Speaker, as the member opposite may know, there is stranded debt. That’s the legacy debt that was left over from the dismantling of the old Ontario Hydro. That Conservative legacy left $20 billion in stranded debt. We’ve been paying that down regularly over time, and it will continue even still. Notwithstanding that, we’ve taken an amount from the IPO that’s being applied to the residual stranded debt. The other components of it go to actually pay direct debt from the OEFC, and we will continue to do that, as we must and as we will.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Ms. Catherine Fife: Again to the Acting Premier: Mr. Peter Kormos would have said “horse feathers” to that.

Rather than be upfront with Ontarians, this government is rewriting the laws just so they can play accounting games. First, they changed the law so that they can give IOUs instead of cash to the Ontario Electricity Financial Corp. to pay the Hydro debt. Then they rewrote the law so that they can put $2.2 billion in non-cash benefits into the Trillium Trust, so-called benefits that don’t provide a single penny in actual spendable cash for infrastructure.

Finally, they rewrote the law so that they can continue collecting $600 million a year in debt retirement charges without putting it towards debt.

Instead of rewriting laws and playing accounting games, why won’t the government just admit that the Hydro One sell-off has nothing to do with infrastructure or debt repayment? Why is the Liberal government taking money from the electricity ratepayers to play accounting games with its books for political purposes?

Hon. Charles Sousa: It’s interesting; the member opposite now does not cite the FAO and his explanation of residual stranded debt, and the stranded debt—he very clearly outlines that the government of Ontario has been paying it down, that there is a great degree of uncertainty as to what will happen next. We have applied all of those debt retirement charges directly to residual stranded debt, and that’s how it’s happening. It has been going down. As a result of what we’ve done more recently, we’ve been able to garner even more opportunity to pay down debt. We’ve paid down debt by another billion dollars.

We will continue to apply debt to the OEFC and the component of stranded debt, as required, will continue to go down from the sources that we are applying. But we are very, very clear that the debt retirement charge for residential will be eliminated by the end of this year, and we’re eliminating it for all industrial and businesses as well by April 2018, nine months ahead of schedule, so that they have certainty and further reductions in their cost overall.

Forest management

Ms. Daiene Vernile: My question is for the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry. This ministry has to balance the priorities of communities, industry and our natural heritage, which includes the important role of environmental stewardship.

The forests in this province are important in the fight against global warming. We know that forests capture, convert and retain carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas that significantly contributes to climate change. Ontario’s forests have an important role to play when it comes to our fight against climate change, as nearly 70%, or 93 million hectares, of our province are covered in forest.

Could the minister please tell us what steps Ontario is taking to preserve our forests while balancing the need for wood products?

Hon. Bill Mauro: I want to thank the member from Kitchener Centre for the question. The stewardship of Ontario’s forest is a core component of my ministry’s responsibilities. Through legislation like the Crown Forest Sustainability Act, we require that forests are managed to meet the economic, social and environmental needs of present and future generations.

Our province works with the forestry industry to ensure responsible harvesting of the province’s forests. We do so by setting annual limits on how much industry is allowed to harvest, as well as ensuring that forestry on crown lands takes place within areas designated for managed forestry. Even within the managed forests, six million hectares are protected areas where forestry cannot occur. Beyond the managed forests, we’ve protected an additional 225,000 square kilometres of northern Ontario through the Far North Act.

We also protect Ontario’s forest biodiversity, increasing the forests’ capacity to sequester greenhouse gases.

The renewal of forests is a priority. Between 2003 and 2013, licence holders have planted more than one billion trees.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Ms. Daiene Vernile: I’d like to thank the minister for showing us how Ontario is working to preserve this very important resource while supporting an industry that directly and indirectly employs nearly 170,000 people in this province.

While it is important to maintain the forests Ontario already has, I think most Ontarians would agree that meeting the challenges of climate change requires great leadership. Our newly announced climate change strategy sets a long-term vision for this province that calls for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions to 80% below 1990 levels by the year 2050.

There are few initiatives that match that kind of ambition, both in long-term thinking and capacity to address greenhouse gases—as trees do. Could the minister please share with the House his ministry’s strategy to expand forest coverage in Ontario and explain our global contribution in capturing carbon dioxide?

Hon. Bill Mauro: Again, thanks to the member from Kitchener Centre.

Our ministry is doing its part to contribute to the global efforts on climate change by working in partnership with Forests Ontario and over 65 conservation agency partners across Ontario to deliver our government’s 50 Million Tree program.

This program will see the planting of 50 million trees and the establishment of new forests on suitable private rural and urban lands across Ontario by 2025. By doing so, we anticipate being able to remove 6.6 million tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere by 2050. To support healthy forest environments in a variety of settings across the province, our goal is to plant one million trees in urban areas, working with municipalities and other partners. We’ve planted nearly 20 million trees since we started this program.

With the continued support of our partners and Ontarians at large, we’re on target to meet our goals. On a final note, I encourage Ontarians to look into helping us through one of those partners. The program offers subsidies. It’s a program that we’re very proud of and look forward to continuing in the years ahead.

Winter highway maintenance

Mr. Michael Harris: To the Minister of Transportation: Last week we learned that since the scathing auditor’s report into the Liberal government’s substandard winter road maintenance contracts that risk the safety of Ontario motorists, four of those contracts have now failed. Since I asked earlier this month about the two contracts that had failed in Kenora and Sudbury, there are now two more: one in the Ottawa area, and now we hear whispers that they’ve walked away from the Niagara contract as well.

Will the minister now admit that the performance-based substandard winter road contracting they saddled us with in 2009 is a complete and utter failure, and restore the pre-2009 former Progressive Conservative system of winter maintenance that ensured motorist safety?

Hon. Steven Del Duca: I thank the member from Kitchener–Conestoga for his question. I know that he referenced the auditor’s report from earlier this year on the winter maintenance file. As every member of the House knows, including that MPP, we accepted all eight of the recommendations that flowed from her report.

He referenced the new contract that we have in the Kenora area. That is a contract that was actually awarded to a company from British Columbia that has a long-standing and strong track record of delivering winter maintenance—year-round maintenance in fact—in British Columbia.

We continue to work with all of our area maintenance contractors. I’ve had the chance to speak with all of them between last winter season and this winter season. People in this Legislature have heard me say that we’ve added more equipment, both in the north and the south; that we’ve added more opportunities for anti-icing liquid. We’ll continue to work on this file. I said this just a few weeks ago: We expect that this winter season our contractors will perform according to their contractual obligations.

I look forward to the supplementary question.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Michael Harris: Back to the minister: I’m glad he brought that additional equipment up in his answer. I’ll remind him, in fact, of the auditor’s finding that in one case the Liberal government incurred an annual cost of $1.7 million for additional equipment—equipment that should have been there in the first place.

The minister has said himself that taxpayers have purchased over 100 new pieces of equipment for highways both in the north and the south—just like you heard. The minister has now walked away from four contracts in the north and in the south. Will the minister tell us how much of that equipment was bought to support these four failed contracts? How much?

Hon. Steven Del Duca: Speaker, I’m not quite sure exactly what the member opposite is getting at with his supplementary question. He suggests on the one hand that we have a challenge in the winter maintenance program and he cites the auditor’s report. Then he criticizes us—I think, if I understood it correctly—for moving forward aggressively to make sure that we address both northern communities and southern Ontario communities and bring more resources to bear.

Everybody in this chamber has heard me say this before: Our winter highway maintenance action plan, which is deployed and has been over the last number of months, has a number of initiatives including increasing the amount of equipment and material that we have on the highways right across the province, both in the north and in the south.

In addition, we have improved the Ontario 511 website. We have launched a Track My Plow program both in the Owen Sound and Simcoe areas, and we anticipate further expansion of that program. We are increasing the use of anti-icing liquids before winter storms, and we continue to work with all of our area maintenance contractors to make sure that they are fulfilling their contractual obligations to the people of Ontario.

Long-term care

Ms. Teresa J. Armstrong: My question is to the Acting Premier. Each and every resident of long-term care deserves to live in safety and dignity. But, today, for too many seniors and vulnerable Ontarians, that’s just not the case. We know that the government has failed to provide the behavioural supports that seniors with dementia need.

As New Democrats revealed earlier this month, there is an urgent and pressing need to tackle violence in long-term-care homes. When the rights of patients are violated, like the Thompsons, like the Cuthberts and like the Karrers, families are left in the dark.

Seniors, their families and front-line staff want to see action now. When will this Liberal government actually step up and implement the coroner’s recommendations to improve care for all Ontarian long-term-care residents?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: Associate Minister of Health.

Hon. Dipika Damerla: I thank the member opposite for her question. I also thank the coroner and his team for his report. There are many valuable recommendations in that report.

What I have committed to is that I have asked my ministry to look at the recommendations that the coroner has come forward with, in particular the recommendation around striking a committee or a task force to look at resident-on-resident abuse in long-term-care homes, in the context that we already have a province-wide dementia strategy. I’ve asked them to report back to me and let me know whether the existing dementia strategy is enough and will address the concerns raised by the coroner, or if we need to strike another task force. I look forward to their recommendations.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Ms. Teresa J. Armstrong: Again to the Acting Premier: The minister gives us the same old answer, but the families want to see action. The coroner’s report on long-term care confirms what Ontarians have seen for years: There are simply not enough staff and not enough dedicated supports to ensure that every resident receives the care they need.

This Liberal government needs to take responsibility and fix the problems in long-term care, not by cutting services, but by investing in our public health care system. Will the Acting Premier commit today to tell Ontarians before the end of the year how this Liberal government will respond to each and every recommendation from the coroner’s report to improve long-term care? And if not, why not?

Hon. Dipika Damerla: Again, I appreciate the question.

Here are the facts. We have been investing in long-term care. We have increased the operating funding by almost $2 billion since coming to office, and made a 2% increase in 2015-16 for resident care needs. We’ve opened 10,000 new long-term-care beds since taking office, and 30,000 beds are being redeveloped, on top of 13,000 which have already been redeveloped.

And we continue to invest in long-term-care homes. Some more examples: We have hired 900 new nurses and personal support workers. The first 30 of 75 new nurse practitioners are being brought online. Our government has made it mandatory for a home to notify the ministry immediately and contact the police when there’s a suspected or witnessed incident of abuse or neglect of a resident.

We are committed to safety, and we look forward to working with all of our partners on this.

Hydro generation

Mr. Bas Balkissoon: My question is for the Minister of Energy. Last Monday, the government unanimously passed the Ending Coal for Cleaner Air Act, 2015. With this important piece of legislation now in place, we can now ensure that Ontario never returns to the days of using dirty coal-fired plants to generate electricity for the province.

This is a significant milestone for the province. I know that when Ontario phased out coal-fired generation, it was not only the single largest climate change initiative undertaken in North America, but also provided significant health benefits to Ontarians.

Mr. Speaker, through you to the minister: Could you please update the House on the benefits of eliminating coal from our electricity mix?

Hon. Bob Chiarelli: I thank the member from Scarborough–Rouge River for the question.

We’re proud that our government has passed the Ending Coal for Cleaner Air Act, ensuring that Ontario never uses dirty coal generation again. Getting off coal was the single largest climate change initiative in North America, saving approximately $4.4 billion a year in avoided health and environmental costs.

Ontario has made significant progress in reducing emissions from the energy sector through the phasing-out of coal-fired generation and shifting to non-emitting energy sources.

I would like to recognize that the Ontario Lung Association is here with us today, and they have been great advocates for the health benefits of Ontario’s coal phase-out.

Getting off dirty coal allows for a better quality of life for people with asthma and less children suffering from air-quality-related illnesses.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Bas Balkissoon: Thank you, Minister. The Ending Coal for Cleaner Air Act, 2015, clearly demonstrates Ontario’s leadership in the fight against climate change. My constituents will be pleased to hear about our government’s foresight and leadership in reducing electricity system emissions in Ontario.

Climate change is an issue that is not going to disappear, and Ontario needs to remain a global leader going forward, because if nobody takes action, it will be impossible to avoid its catastrophic consequences.

With the elimination of coal, I understand that Ontario has become a leader in the generation of clean energy. Mr. Speaker, through you, to the minister: Could you please provide the House with some examples of Ontario’s clean energy generation?

Hon. Bob Chiarelli: Our government is committed, and in fact remains committed, to investing in a clean, modern and reliable electricity system that reduces greenhouse gas emissions and provides cleaner air for today and into the future.

Ninety per cent of the power generated in Ontario during 2014 came from clean sources of energy, such as water, nuclear and non-hydro renewables, including solar, wind and biomass. Ontario has approximately 15,200 megawatts of wind, solar, bioenergy and hydroelectricity energy online.

Ontario has firmly established itself as a North American leader in the development, use and manufacturing of clean energy, and now has the fastest-growing clean tech sector in Canada, with firms that employ 65,000 people, creating $8 billion of annual revenue. Today, Ontario has one of the cleanest and most modern electricity systems, creating a healthier population.

Hospital funding

Mr. Victor Fedeli: Good morning, Speaker. My question is for the Deputy Premier. While I’m standing here in the Legislature, hundreds of people are standing out in the cold on Memorial Drive in North Bay. They are rallying today to protest the cuts of 350 front-line health care workers at the North Bay Regional Health Centre over the past three years, including 100 nurses who were fired.

Health care professionals and patients in my riding are concerned that the quality of care we’re getting in Nipissing is in jeopardy, and it’s creating turmoil in my community.

Recently, the Ontario Council of Hospital Unions stated that North Bay’s hospital needs an additional $23 million in funding per year just to meet the Canadian average for a similar facility. My question is, will the Deputy Premier commit to restoring proper ongoing funding to the North Bay hospital?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: Minister of Health.

Hon. Eric Hoskins: I appreciate the question. I want to start out by saying how proud I am of the health workers at that hospital, a relatively new hospital, built just a few days ago, because with our investments—

Hon. Deborah Matthews: A few years ago.

Hon. Eric Hoskins: Did I say “a few days ago”? It was built a few years ago. We’re not that quick, Mr. Speaker.

I want to say that, as a result of our funding increases, which for North Bay hospital are almost unprecedented—in fact, a $100-million increase since 2003. That’s an increase in funding to that hospital of 128%. As a result of those investments, we’re seeing the quality of care go up. We’re seeing wait times go down dramatically. In fact, nine out of 10 patients have seen wait times go down at that hospital, including, for example, cataract surgery, where the wait time has gone down by a dramatic 81%.

We know there’s more work to do. We know this hospital and the administration are working closely with their LHIN to address any financial pressures, but we’re working closely to make sure they continue to maintain those great accomplishments.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Victor Fedeli: Back to the Deputy Premier: Yes, it is a new hospital. How do you explain closing 60 beds in this brand new hospital? The hospital cuts come at the same time the government has locked out 200 workers at Ontario Northland for more than two weeks now. They are still hoping the Premier will act on their request to send the dispute to mediation or arbitration.

As I have stated many times in this Legislature, North Bay is a community in disarray. The situation at our hospital could get even worse. Without the immediate, one-time funding the hospital is seeking, another 50 jobs will be lost in North Bay. That would be devastating, especially as the holidays approach.

What message from the government do you have this morning for the hundreds of people standing on Memorial Drive in North Bay looking for an answer?

Hon. Eric Hoskins: Well, my message would be, thank God that party isn’t in government, after claiming that they would fire 100,000 people, many of them health workers.

What we’re doing is we’re working closely with the LHIN and with the hospital. I have to say that when the member opposite talks about closing beds, he should get his facts right, because in fact many of those beds, about 30 of them, are actually beds for mental health patients. It has been determined, through evidence, good science and outcomes, that those individuals, those vulnerable people, can actually be cared for better in the community.

Those residential, supportive opportunities actually have been and are being created in the community, so those beds and that support are actually being transferred out to where they can get better outcomes. I would hope the member opposite would support that kind of good evidence.

Hospital funding

Ms. Andrea Horwath: My question is for the Acting Premier. Last week, families in Whitby and Oshawa learned that yet another 21 workers will be laid off because of this government’s cuts to health care.

Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences says it is “increasingly challenging” to grapple with the Liberals’ five-year freeze on hospital funding. The Liberals’ decision to squeeze Ontario’s hospitals means that less care for patients is taking place, with more worry for families, and lost paycheques and layoffs for dedicated workers.

Today, families in Whitby have a straightforward question and they deserve a straightforward answer: Will this Liberal government step up and stop the layoffs of 21 hospital workers in Whitby? Yes or no?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: To the Minister of Health.

Hon. Eric Hoskins: Again, I’m proud of the hard work that those health care workers at Ontario Shores and in other facilities in that area of Whitby—the good work, the important and essential work that they do every day.

We’re making changes to our health care system. I have to admit that we’re transforming it. We’re reforming it. We’re making those bold decisions, including investing more money, $250 million this year, next year and the year after; new money in home and community care, because we know that that’s where people want to be. That’s where we can care for them and provide the supports that they need to be cared for appropriately. The outcomes are better.

So I do admit that sometimes that requires shifting resources around if we want to invest more in mental health services in the community. Those funds—we do continue to increase the health care budget year after year. But we need to be prudent and we need to make responsible decisions that reflect science, evidence and good outcomes.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Well, I would suspect they would rather this government save their jobs than be proud of the work that they’re now pulling out from underneath them.

The 21 layoffs at the hospital in Whitby are just the latest cuts to hospitals on a long, long list. The Liberals are forcing 84 jobs to be eliminated at hospitals in Belleville and Trenton. At noon today, families in North Bay, as has already been mentioned, will rally against the staggering 150 job cuts at their local hospital.

Every one of those workers in our hospitals plays an important role. They help provide care to patients in their most vulnerable moments, but that doesn’t seem to be a priority for this Liberal government. When will the Liberals start listening to people in Whitby, Oshawa, North Bay, Toronto and right across the province and stop cutting the hospital supports, the hospital care that families rely on?

Hon. Eric Hoskins: I know the opposition parties like to talk about the gross numbers. They like to talk about what is being proposed as part of a plan to reduce a number of jobs in a particular health facility. But often those jobs are empty to begin with; they’re unfilled positions or they’re jobs that may be transferring to another part of the hospital, to another program, or maybe that a different type of health care professional, of which we have almost 30 different types—it may be that it’s a job that’s better held by a different kind of health care professional. You need to release the first job in order to create the second.

But we’re also making those important investments that Ontarians are asking for. We are listening, and they’re telling us that they want more home and community care. We are hiring people, nurses, health care workers and PSWs in the home and community care system. In fact, 24,000 more nurses in Ontario—all those nurses may not be in our hospitals, but they’re in our communities.

First Nations

Mr. Chris Ballard: My question is for the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs. Last week, the Premier, the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and many ministers met with First Nation leaders here in the Legislature. I was privileged to be present in one of those meetings. This annual gathering of aboriginal leaders is an important part of our government’s efforts to ensure our relationship is a modern and mutually beneficial one. I’m proud to be part of a government that’s committed to building and maintaining good relationships with First Nation partners.

Can the minister please tell us more about last week’s meeting with First Nations leadership?

Hon. David Zimmer: I’d like to thank the member for Newmarket–Aurora for that question.

Earlier this year, our government signed a historical political accord with the Chiefs of Ontario. It provides a platform for First Nations and the province to work together on common priorities. Our government is committed to continuing to build positive relationships with First Nations, allowing us to work with them in a spirit of mutual respect and collaboration to improve the quality of life in First Nation communities.

Regular meetings with First Nation leadership are an important step toward achieving this progress. We will develop policies and initiatives that will lead to improved outcomes for First Nations.

Last week’s meetings extended over three days here at the Legislature and at various off-site locations. They considered a whole host of topics of particular interest to First Nations and to this government.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Chris Ballard: Thank you, Minister. I’m proud that our government is building such close ties between Ontario and First Nation leadership. I understand that having the chiefs at the Legislature provided an opportunity for them to meet with a record number of ministers—19 in total—to discuss a wide range of issues such as remote infrastructure, justice, poverty reduction and aboriginal education. These are important issues that profoundly impact First Nation communities and communities right across the province.

Can the minister explain some of the key issues discussed during last week’s events?

Hon. David Zimmer: Meetings like this play an important

part in maintaining the ongoing dialogue with First Nations. I’d like to thank my cabinet colleagues for taking the time to meet with First Nation leadership and to be a part of that dialogue.

One of the major themes discussed last week was the environment. With the Premier in Paris this week to discuss climate change, it is important to acknowledge that it could have a very real impact on many First Nation communities who depend on our ecosystem for food supply and economic opportunities.

Let me say this, Speaker: First Nations have an important role in the advice that they offer on climate change issues. That’s why these dialogues are so important. Through co-operation and consultation with First Nations, we can work to find solutions to these problems that benefit Ontario, Canada and First Nations.

Family doctors

Mr. Randy Pettapiece: My question is for the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care. It concerns this government’s lack of consultation before cutting family doctors—and specifically the New Graduate Entry Program or NGEP. I’ve given the minister a copy of the letter he received from the chair of the department of family medicine at Stratford General Hospital and the president and CEO of the Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance. Here’s what they had to say about the government’s changes: “They will almost certainly spell the end of the involvement of family physicians at Stratford General Hospital.”

So I have to ask the minister, can he see how seriously this would damage health care in communities like ours and how does he respond to the HPHA’s concerns?

Hon. Eric Hoskins: I really appreciate this question. I need to, first of all, stress that earlier this year, we made some changes to incent our family doctors to join family health teams in the high-needs parts of this province. I think all of us would support that laudable goal.

However, we also saw that there are family doctors who have done their training in a family health team environment and maybe don’t have the opportunity, for a variety of reasons, to practise in a high-needs area. We created this program as an opportunity, but I want to stress that it’s 100% voluntary. It doesn’t force any physician to do anything. In fact, it’s just specific to those areas which aren’t high needs.

But it does point out a very important challenge that we face. Many, many, many months ago—and repeatedly—we shared our ideas with the OMA, the Ontario Medical Association, in great detail in terms of what we were thinking. Throughout those many, many months and repeated efforts, we did not get a single response, a single piece of advice—any advice—from the OMA whatsoever.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Randy Pettapiece: The HPHA is very clear: Policies designed for large urban centres very often have unintended consequences in small- and medium-sized communities. We’re told that in our local hospitals family physicians may no longer be able to care for in-patients because of this government’s changes. We’re told this could add millions of dollars to our hospitals’ budgets, budgets that haven’t seen an increase for four years.

We need to know this minister is listening. When it comes to the NGEP, doctors and hospitals in small communities do not want it and did not ask for it. Will the minister fix this?

Hon. Eric Hoskins: We created this program for new grads because we were listening. We were listening to medical students, new grads and family doctors.

I want to emphasize that we repeatedly and for many, many months, since late last spring, shared our proposal—it was simply a proposal at that stage—with the Ontario Medical Association. They obviously didn’t share it with their membership. Actually, we created a program after significant stakeholder consultation but without any input or advice whatsoever from the OMA. Fortunately, the Ontario council of family practitioners were not going to be part of that silence. They came forward with a number of recommendations, including specific recommendations that I am confident are going to address the specific concerns from the Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance.

Poverty

Ms. Cheri DiNovo: My question is to the Acting Premier. A recently released report on food bank usage in Ontario shows that, since 2008, food bank usage has risen nearly 15%. The numbers speak for themselves: 90% of food bank users are rental or social housing tenants; 12% are senior citizens living in poverty; and 27% of single seniors are now living in poverty in Ontario.

Will the Acting Premier admit that her government is absolutely failing vulnerable and impoverished Ontarians?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: Our work on poverty reduction is strong, thoughtful, and it is getting results. We acknowledge there is more to be done, but we have started along a path that is showing real results for people.

Take the example of a single mom with two little kids working full-time at a minimum wage job. When we took office, her income was less than $20,000 a year. She was better off on social assistance than she was working full-time at a minimum wage job. Fast-forward to where we are today. That same individual has an income of close to $30,000, a remarkable increase in the well-being of that family.

We are focused on a number of measures. We are measuring our progress, and we have recently announced in the new Poverty Reduction Strategy that we’re focused on eliminating chronic homelessness in 10 years.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Ms. Cheri DiNovo: We recently learned that 48.6% of food banks in Ontario are reporting an increase in use; 34% of food bank users are children and a third of the people living in poverty are senior citizens. Those numbers are nothing to be proud of. This government has had 12 years to act on poverty. Vulnerable Ontarians are falling further and further behind.

Will this government finally make fighting poverty a priority—not in 10 more years—now?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: That is exactly what is happening. I know that the member opposite has read that report from the Ontario Association of Food Banks, as have I and many others on this side. We were very, very pleased to see that this year there was a drop of about 4% in visits to food banks. That is not the only way to measure progress, but that is a very encouraging statistic.

As I say, we have taken several steps. We now have a willing federal partner, something we have not had for the past decade. We have a federal partner who is making a commitment through the Canada child benefit that will exceed our target of reducing child poverty by 25%. We always knew that we couldn’t do it alone. We always knew that we needed support across governments. Finally, we have that support, and I’m excited about that.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The time for question period has ended. There are no deferred votes. This House stands recessed until 1 p.m.

The House recessed from 1140 to 1300.

Introduction of Visitors

Ms. Ann Hoggarth: I’d like to introduce Shannon Murree. Shannon has come to hear my statement today about the Shoebox campaign. Welcome, Shannon.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Welcome.

Hon. Steven Del Duca: I know that my colleague the Minister of Community and Social Services earlier today, before question period, acknowledged that a group from her riding will be coming into the chamber. I gather that they’ll be coming in shortly. They are a grade 5 class from a school in Richmond Hill, St. Marguerite d’Youville. I mention it specifically, as well as my colleague, because somebody who used to work for us on this side of the House, Maria Papadopoulos, is travelling with the group because her daughter, Zoe Vacilotto, is in that class. I just wanted to acknowledge them again.

I’m gathering that they’re going to be in the chamber very shortly. In fact, that could be them coming in right now.

Members’ Statements

Highway improvement

Mr. Ted Arnott: As members of this House know, for years we’ve been advocating for a bypass on Highway 6 around the community of Morriston in the township of Puslinch.

I’ve been in Puslinch township the past two weekends to attend public events. People there understand the Highway 6 Morriston bypass is urgently needed. The traffic bottleneck in Morriston directly impacts the safety of local residents. However, it extends beyond that. Because Highway 6 is such a key economic corridor, connecting the 401 to the Hamilton-Niagara region, as well as to the US border, the traffic jams, which often stretch for kilometres, are costing our provincial economy millions of dollars each and every year. This was demonstrated in a University of Waterloo study conducted two years ago.

Mayor Dennis Lever and township council have pushed strongly for the Highway 6 Morriston bypass project. The county of Wellington, the city of Guelph and the city of Hamilton all support the Morriston bypass. So do the Guelph and Hamilton chambers of commerce, as well as Tim Hortons, Maple Leaf Foods, Nestlé Waters, Canada Bread and Cargill.

I appreciate the interest the Minister of Transportation has shown in our project. We’re taking him at his word that he’s pushing for it. And we know the Premier has also publicly acknowledged the importance of the Morriston bypass in this very House.

Based on my experience in the Legislature, I’m aware that the Ministry of Transportation will be preparing its pre-budget submissions right now. I urge the minister to continue to push hard. We’ve been waiting for this project for a generation. Let’s work together to get it done.

Climate change

Ms. Cheri DiNovo: Yesterday I was part of a joyous and yet serious assembly out on the front lawns of Queen’s Park. About 1,000 activists came together on very short notice to speak about climate change. I got to sing, which is always a pleasure, with the Raging Grannies. That was fun.

They wanted me to come here today with a message. I’m just going to quote from our friend from the Toronto Star, Thomas Walkom, who said, “The longer we postpone these actions ... the more likely it is that we will face mass flooding, drought, civil unrest and other crises resulting from extreme weather,” not to mention other things.

He also went on to say, “Much has been made of Ontario’s decision to join Quebec and California in a so-called cap-and-trade scheme to limit carbon emissions.” But as his colleague Martin Regg Cohn pointed out, “Ontario has been unconscionably slow in attacking climate change and won’t join the Quebec-California scheme until 2017.”

We need action, Mr. Speaker, and we need action now. We have a federal government that is going to Paris without any clear cap on their emissions, without any willingness to have firm guidelines or legislation in place. The time for greenwashing is over. The time for green action is now.

Lung health

Mrs. Kathryn McGarry: Across Canada, November marks Lung Health Month. Lung disease affects one in five Canadians. Sadly, lung cancer kills more Canadians than breast, colon, ovarian and prostate cancers combined. In Ontario, 2.4 million people are living with asthma, COPD and lung cancer, and this number is expected to grow to 3.6 million in the next 30 years. With these alarming figures and significant associated health care costs, we must do more to combat this terrible disease.

I have first-hand knowledge of the toll it takes on patients and their families as my oldest son suffers from lung disease. Health care professionals are calling on our government to initiate a lung health strategy. To that end, I presented Bill 41 last November entitled the Lung Health Act, and I encourage all members in the House to support it.

One initiative that brings hope is the Ontario Lung Association’s Breathing As One campaign. It calls for improved collaboration to move beyond traditional lung research and the battle against the disease. Lung health is important to all, and I know that all members join me in thanking the health care professionals and their providers for their work in supporting those living with lung disease.

Thank you also to the members who support the all-party lung health caucus, and to my fellow co-chairs, the member for Elgin–Middlesex–London and the member for Nickel Belt. As Ontario Lung Association President George Habib reminds us, “When you can’t breathe, nothing else matters.”

Janice Bye

Mr. Bill Walker: I rise today to recognize the late Janice Bye. Ms. Bye, a native of Holstein, Ontario, was known in the Bruce–Grey–Owen Sound community as a great advocate for children. Over the two decades that Janice worked as a pediatric physiotherapist, she endeavoured to make a difference in the lives of thousands of young people. Many of them are society’s most vulnerable children.

Ms. Bye worked as a caregiver with Closing the Gap Healthcare Group, serving all schools in the Bluewater District School Board and its almost 20,000 students. Her work involved developing physiotherapy programs for special needs children, ensuring they were accommodated with proper seating and mobility devices. She assisted children recovering from medical procedures and those who were dealing with a loss of mobility, strength and endurance due to illness or injury.

I’m told Ms. Bye was always brave, loving and energetic, embracing disability and diversity. Most people remember her for the overwhelming contribution of care, encouragement and compassion that she provided local children and their families.

After she died suddenly and tragically in a car crash last June, I heard from educational assistants, teachers and families whose children she supported through her work. They said, “Janice was infallible in her work and devotion to special-needs children” and “truly gifted in her work and who will be deeply missed.”

Christina Schnell McDonald, whose daughter Natalie was in Ms. Bye’s care, personally reached out to me immediately to see if a special acknowledgement could be awarded to recognize Janice for her “above the call of duty” personal care and commitment. She said, “Janice was an amazing person and provided such wonderful care. We need people to know just how much of a difference she made in the” life of Natalie and many, many others.

Ms. Bye was posthumously recognized for her amazing life’s work and bestowed the Heroes in the Home award by the South West CCAC on October 20 in a ceremony at Stone Tree Golf and Fitness Club.

Ms. Bye will be remembered in the hearts of all she touched as a caring and dedicated children’s physiotherapist. Most of all, she will be remembered for being the one who always went above and beyond her call of duty.

RenewABILITY Energy Inc.

Ms. Catherine Fife: I’d like to recognize a green manufacturing company in Waterloo region that I had the pleasure of visiting on November 20. RenewABILITY Energy Inc. is the global leader in drain water heat recovery technology with their patented Power-Pipe heat exchanger system. This year they’re celebrating their 15th anniversary. This technology reduces energy consumption by using outgoing drain water to preheat incoming cold fresh water.

In Ontario, over 50,000 homes currently have this technology. The Power-Pipe is easily retrofitted into homes and easily installed in new buildings. In fact, it requires no maintenance, lasts up to 100 years and is about 10 times more cost-effective than solar water heating systems.

Energy code credits for this technology are now available in Ontario, many states, the UK and Europe. In fact, Manitoba has recently made drain water heat recovery mandatory in all new residential construction, a change that’s worth considering.

However, this industry has been having problems in Ontario. Right now, drain water heat recovery has been excluded from the 2017 prescriptive compliance options for single-family and multi-family residential buildings. It’s costing green manufacturing jobs in this province, something the government has suggested is a priority.

It is my hope that the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing will recognize and fix the problem. Drain water heat recovery technology should be included in any potential energy retrofit program that will help Ontarians effectively and affordably reduce their carbon emissions.

Shoebox Project

Ms. Ann Hoggarth: Last Saturday in the great riding of Barrie, a local restaurant called Big Chris BBQ hosted the fourth annual Shoebox Project.

The Shoebox Project is a charity that asks people to fill a shoebox with small luxury items for women at local shelters. Each shoebox contains items valued at $50 or more that a woman would enjoy but not splurge on for herself in difficult times. Luxury items such as fancy socks, gift cards, lipsticks and a variety of toiletries are welcomed by these women. These articles brighten the holiday season and let the women know that they are special and not forgotten.

Putting together a shoebox is easy, and this small gesture of kindness is very much appreciated. The Shoebox Project has helped such organizations as the Women and Children’s Shelter of Barrie and the Elizabeth Fry Society of Simcoe County.

Although this event in Barrie is over, I encourage everyone in this House to fill a box and deliver it in your community by visiting www.shoeboxproject.com. Also, the women’s caucus of this Legislature is collecting boxes to distribute to shelters and to Syrian refugees. Good news: You can still take

part if you deliver filled shoeboxes to room 340 by noon on Monday December 7.

Thanks to Shannon Murree, the local coordinator for this Simcoe county project, and to all the volunteers and contributors involved in this project for the work that they do to help these women have their own special parcel on Christmas morning.

Rural Ontario

Mr. Randy Pettapiece: Last week the Premier came to Perth–Wellington to attend the Mitchell Rotary club’s rural-urban night. I’m glad she was able to visit one of the communities that I have the privilege to represent.

The Premier spoke about the illusion of a rural-urban gap, but, unfortunately, it is not entirely an illusion. In fact, my first resolution as an MPP dealt with this issue: I called on the government to re-evaluate policies that negatively affect residents of rural and small-town Ontario. It’s now four years later, and the government is nowhere close to bridging the rural-urban gap.

There are many examples: Our municipalities still bear the brunt of provincial funding cuts. The provincial government slashed the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund. Three years ago, the government abruptly cancelled the Connecting Links program, even though it was working. They recently revived the program, but at a fraction of its previous funding. Now, it appears that the municipalities will have to compete for funds they need to maintain provincial infrastructure.

In Mitchell, the Premier joked about the municipality of West Perth applying 11 times for the same project under Connecting Links. The people I represent aren’t laughing. If the Premier is aware of the need for a new bridge, why should the municipality have to apply 11 times and counting?

Whether it’s health care policies, energy policies or infrastructure funding programs, this government has turned its back on rural Ontario. It’s time they changed course.

Blessed Cardinal Newman Catholic High School

Mr. Lorenzo Berardinetti: As part of our government’s ongoing support of student achievement and well-being, I’m pleased to rise today and speak on an important funding announcement that took place in my riding earlier this month.

I was delighted to announce that Blessed Cardinal Newman, a local Catholic high school, has been approved for $30 million for a new replacement facility. This project is part of Ontario’s ambitious capital priority plan which includes the construction of new facilities and a strong commitment for significant improvements to existing schools. The new state-of-the-art complex will provide 1,110 local students with an engaging and modern educational environment.

Blessed Cardinal Newman school has been serving the community of Scarborough Southwest for over 40 years and has, deservedly, earned a strong reputation for excellence in academics, the arts and athletics. It offers Specialist High Skills Major programs, advanced placement courses, extended French and a gifted enrichment program. This funding will allow Blessed Cardinal Newman to continue serving the local community and will create immeasurable benefits for students and local residents.

Supporting education is one of the most effective ways we have to ensure a successful and prosperous future for everyone in Ontario. I’m proud that Ontario continues to emphasize the value of a world-class education system. I look forward to more announcements in the future as we continue to support and invest in students and their families.

Sports halls of fame

Mr. Chris Ballard: November 21 was national sports day in Canada. Sport is part of our nation’s identity. It teaches us a healthy lifestyle and leadership; it builds bridges between people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities.

In Newmarket–Aurora, the community understands the importance of sport: It brings people together. Mr. Speaker, I’m proud to stand here today to acknowledge both the Newmarket and Aurora sports halls of fame inductees for 2015. Both of these organizations are dedicated to recognizing sports excellence in the community.

The 2015 inductees for the Aurora Sports Hall of Fame include Alan Dean, who, despite losing his leg, is actively involved in the Aurora Youth Soccer Club, both as a competitor and a coach; Mark Heese, a three-time Olympian who won a bronze medal in beach volleyball in the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta; Kenneth Sinclair, who founded and built the Timberlane Tennis and Country Club in 1987; and Lowell McClenny, who anchored the best cable TV sports show going, called Sports Beat Aurora, which filled the airwaves with local sports events unique to Aurora.

I’d also like to recognize the inductees to the Newmarket Sports Hall of Fame: Jimmy Brennan, the former captain of Toronto FC; Joe Murphy, a former first overall selection in the NHL who went on to win the Stanley Cup in 1990 with the Oilers; runner Andrew Coates; the 1909 Talagoo lacrosse team; and Margaret Davis and Sally Brice, who founded the Newmarket Figure Skating Club in the 1950s.

Congratulations to all.

Visitors

Hon. Steven Del Duca: Point of order, Speaker.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Point of order, the Minister of Transportation.

Hon. Steven Del Duca: They were not in the chamber when I did the introduction, and they were not in the chamber when the member from Oak Ridges–Markham, the Minister of Community and Social Services, introduced them earlier today before question period, but they are in the chamber now. The grade 5 students from St. Marguerite d’Youville are here today. I know this is now their third introduction today, but specifically Zoe Vacilotto and her mother, Maria Papadopoulos, who at one point worked here, and all of the other students, parents and teachers who are here from the school: Welcome to Ontario’s Legislature.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Let’s make it four: Welcome.

Reports by Committees

Standing Committee on Estimates

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

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

The House not having received a report from the Standing Committee on Estimates for certain ministries and offices on Thursday, November 26, 2015, as required by the standing orders of this House and by order of the House dated Monday, September 14, 2015, pursuant to standing order 63(

b) the estimates before the committee of the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Education and Office of Francophone Affairs are deemed to be passed by the committee and are deemed to be reported to and received by the House.

Accordingly, the estimates 2015-16, of these ministries and offices are deemed to be passed by the Standing Committee on Estimates and are deemed to be reported to and received by the House.

Report deemed received.

Standing Committee on Social Policy

Mr. Peter Tabuns: I beg leave to present a report from the Standing Committee on Social Policy and move its adoption.

The Clerk-at-the-Table (Ms. Tonia Grannum): Your committee begs to report the following bill without amendment:

Bill 115,

An Act to enact the Representation Act, 2015, repeal the Representation Act, 2005 and amend the Election Act, the Election Finances Act and the Legislative Assembly Act / Projet de loi 115, Loi édictant la Loi de 2015 sur la représentation électorale, abrogeant la Loi de 2005 sur la représentation électorale et modifiant la Loi électorale, la

Loi sur le financement des élections et la

Loi sur l’Assemblée législative.

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

Report adopted.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Pursuant to the order of the House dated November 3, 2015, the bill is ordered for third reading.

Motions

House sittings

Hon. James J. Bradley: Mr. Speaker, I believe we have unanimous consent to put forward a motion without notice regarding the parliamentary calendar.

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

Hon. James J. Bradley: I move that notwithstanding standing order 6(a), when the House adjourns on Thursday, April 21, 2016, it shall stand adjourned until Monday, May 2, 2016; and

That the House shall continue to meet in the spring meeting period until Thursday, June 9, 2016.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Mr. Bradley moves that, notwithstanding order 6(a), when the House adjourns on Thursday, April 21, 2015, it shall stand adjourned until Monday, May 2, 2016; and in the spring meeting period meet until Thursday, June 9, 2016. Do we agree? Carried.

Motion agreed to.

House sittings

Hon. James J. Bradley: I move that, pursuant to standing order 6(c)(i), the House shall meet from 6:45 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Monday, November 30, 2015; Tuesday, December 1, 2015; Monday, December 7, 2015; and Tuesday, December 8, 2015, for the purpose of considering government business.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Mr. Bradley moves that, pursuant to standing order 6(c)(i), the House shall meet from 6:45 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Monday, November 30—

Mr. Gilles Bisson: Dispense.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Dispense? Dispense. Do we agree? I heard a no.

All those in favour, please say “aye.”

All those opposed, say “nay.”

In my opinion, the ayes have it. Carried.

Motion agreed to.

Statements by the Ministry and Responses

Lung health

Hon. Dipika Damerla: I rise today, the final day of Lung Month, to welcome members of the Ontario Lung Association to the Legislature, who are here to meet with MPPs at their annual lobby day at Queen’s Park.

I commend the Lung Association and all of their partners for their hard work in preventing lung disease and promoting better lung health. Today provides us with an excellent opportunity to connect and discuss our shared goal of realizing a healthier Ontario.

I would also like to thank them once again for all their support in helping us to pass the Making Healthier Choices Act, 2015, an important piece of legislation that we know will help to reduce lung disease for generations to come.

The passage of the act marked the next step forward in our government’s efforts to move even closer to a truly smoke-free Ontario. I’m proud to say that we have already made much progress on reducing smoking in Ontario. Between 2000 and 2014, Ontario’s smoking rate dropped from 24.5% to 17.4%, which equals approximately 408,000 fewer smokers in Ontario.

But we know that we need to continue to take active steps to protect young people from the health risks and impacts of smoking. The Making Healthier Choices Act does exactly that. It provides for an increase in the maximum fines for those who sell tobacco to youth, making Ontario’s maximum fines among the highest in Canada.

It bans the sale of flavoured tobacco products, which come in a wide variety of flavours that appeal to young people, and it takes steps to regulate the fast-growing market for e-cigarettes here in Ontario. There are still a lot of questions about whether e-cigarettes are less harmful than traditional cigarettes, and there still is not sufficient evidence to determine for certain one way or another. But we do know that e-cigarettes are appealing to young people. That is why our government has taken a precautionary approach in regulating e-cigarettes. We’re protecting our young people from the potential risks until we know more.

It also makes tobacco products less tempting by banning the sale of flavoured tobacco, including menthol, and permits the government to further limit exposure to second-hand smoke in public areas.

The Making Healthier Choices Act also bans the sale and supply of e-cigarettes to anyone under the age of 19. It bans the sale of e-cigarettes in certain places, such as hospitals or pharmacies. It prohibits the use of e-cigarettes in certain places, such as enclosed workshops and enclosed public spaces. Taken together, these changes make it harder for youth to obtain e-cigarettes.

Our government has been working alongside partners like the Ontario Lung Association, who have been instrumental in helping us to advance our goal of making Ontario the lowest-smoking jurisdiction in Canada. For that, they have my sincere thanks.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): It’s now time for responses.

Mr. Jeff Yurek: I too would like to welcome and thank the Ontario Lung Association for their hard work in our province and also working to promote lung health. It’s the end of Lung Month and there have been many events throughout Ontario promoting lung health and the importance of breathing. We know that more than 2.4 million people in Ontario, or one in five, have chronic lung disease, be it lung cancer, asthma or COPD.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths for both men and women. Lung cancer alone kills more than breast, ovarian, colon and prostate cancer combined, and the primary cause of lung cancer is smoking, although 16% of people with lung cancer never smoked a day in their lives. I think that’s quite important to highlight. You wouldn’t think that would be the matter, but it’s important to remove that stigma from people who are diagnosed with lung cancer; they have not necessarily smoked during their lifetime. It is estimated that a smoker’s risk for developing lung cancer can be lowered to almost normal just 10 years after they stop smoking.

Mr. Speaker, I’d like to mention asthma, which is one of the most common chronic diseases that make life difficult for everyone to breathe. In fact, one in five children suffer from this disease, and it’s very important that we ensure, as legislators here, that we do provide safe environments for our children in the school system.

I want to congratulate and thank every member of this Legislature for this past May, when we passed Ryan’s Law, which provided safe schools for our students. It not only allowed them to carry inhalers on them at all times with their parents’ permission, but it also created an educational awareness program for all staff—teachers, janitors, bus drivers—and ensured that the principal has a document on file ensuring that anybody coming in to teach that child has specific information and reference to knowing that that child has asthma, and they know what to do in case of an emergency.

So I really do want to thank each and every one of the MPPs here who supported my bill, Ryan’s Law, and got that into effect.

This fall, with the help of the Ontario Lung Association, they’ve been working hard to disseminate the information and create the tools needed in our educational system in order to ensure this bill is a success. Again, thank you very much to the Lung Association for having done that.

I also do want to make mention of another bill that’s been sitting in the wings, waiting to come forward through the Legislature, and that is a bill by Kathryn McGarry: Bill 41, the Lung Health Act. We as a party have been standing behind that act. We are in no way creating any barriers to bringing that through committee. We want to hear it come through committee so we can further enhance the lives of people with lung disease in our province. I’m sure the Lung Association is 100% behind it.

We will take forward any great idea that this government has to offer and support it, and this is one of those ideas we would like to see come forward. We hope the member from Cambridge’s bill is seen shortly so we can institute another lung-positive bill in this Legislature through working together, ensuring that we have consulted with one another and bringing out the best bill possible.

Mr. Speaker, I do have to point out this government at this time—I’m thankful for what they have done with regard to helping improve the lives of people with lung health, but I do have to make mention that this government has to take the time and do the proper consultations and stop making changes behind closed doors.

We saw a reference of that last week when the government made a regulation change allowing the vaping of medical marijuana without really dealing and concentrating and consulting with the various stakeholders. They realized their mistake. They realized they shouldn’t be making decisions behind closed doors. They realized that they need to start consulting, and they pulled that regulation back. I hope they have learned their lesson and, going forward, as we bring forward the Lung Health Act down the road, that there’s consultation with all stakeholders before we make the necessary changes so that we can have an Ontario that we are proud of, and an Ontario that breathes easier.

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

M me France Gélinas: It is always a pleasure to welcome members of the Lung Association to Queen’s Park. They are a breath of fresh air, if you would excuse the pun. They are always very interesting to listen to.

This morning, I had the pleasure to meet with Carole Madeley, who is a registered respiratory therapist. Her dad is a well-known businessman in my riding, so it was nice to connect with her. She works for the Lung Association. I also met with Sherry Zarins. Sherry is the director, health promotion and public education, also with the Lung Association. I welcome them to Queen’s Park.

They came, they were prepared, and they were well-informed. They had five “asks,” Speaker, and I will go through all five of them.

The first one is an ask that I think the provincial government, the Liberal government, should be quite open to: It would be to pass a bill by one of their members. The bill is quite simple. It asks for a lung health working group to be established. But it is the goal of that working group that is most important. The group would be there to develop an Ontario lung health action plan respecting research, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of lung disease—something that we do not have right now. And it would make sure that the group submits an annual report card with respect to the minister’s performance on the different undertakings.

We all know that if we want things to get better, we have to be ready to set goals, to do the work, and then measure ourselves against those goals. This is what their number one ask is, and this is what the private member’s bill is all about. I can assure you that the NDP supports this bill, but it is up to the government to decide what bill is actually talked about in committee. Right now, this committee sits idle. It could do the work quite easily. I hope they will listen to the Lung Association and move ahead with that.

Their number two ask was to have additional certified respiratory educators, a bit based on the model of the diabetes network that we have in Ontario. If you ask any primary care providers—it doesn’t matter if they’re solo fee-for-service, if they work in community health centres, family health teams, a nurse-practitioner-led clinic, an aboriginal health access centre—they all have people with COPD, they all have people with asthma, and they all treat people, unfortunately, with lung cancer.

What the respiratory therapist could do is set up a program with those people to help them self-manage these diseases. The more you empower patients with chronic diseases, the better the outcome will be for that person, for their family and for the health care system. Every time a COPD patient gets into a problem and gets admitted through emergency, thousands of dollars are spent trying to get them better. It is a whole lot easier to educate them so they can take charge of their own health and make sure that they manage their disease, and this is what they would like to do.

It is a small ask—it is in the millions of dollars—but the ratio is that for every $2 that you invest, you get $100 back, so 50 to 1. It’s the kind of investment that everybody would dream of, if you could get those kind of returns.

The third ask is a pulmonary rehabilitation service. Once you know you have the disease, there is still secondary prevention that can be done so that you get as healthy as possible, you get your respiratory system as healthy as possible and you maintain an exercise routine within your capabilities. Everybody can progress. If you give them the right support, if you give them the right rehab program, they do get better, and then have the maintenance in place so that they keep this.

I see that time is running away.

Ensure that spirometry is done within primary health care settings. It’s a very, very cheap little test that people could do and it tells you an awful lot about how your lung health is doing. As well, provide access to what are called valved holding chambers. You know those little puffers? We’ve all seen them. Ventolin is a very common one that kids with asthma use. There’s a little chamber so that you don’t have to coordinate pushing and taking a breath at the same time. Make those more available. They’re $50 apiece; some families just can’t afford them.

Well put together—thank you for coming to Queen’s Park. It was a pleasure to talk to you.

Private members’ public business

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): I beg to inform the House that, pursuant to standing order 98(c), a change has been made in the order of precedence on the ballot list draw of October 5, 2015, for private members’ public business such that Ms. Scott assumes ballot item number 15 and Mr. Pettapiece assumes ballot item number 56.

Petitions

Hydro rates

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

“Whereas household electricity bills have skyrocketed by 56% and electricity rates have tripled as a result of the Liberal government’s mismanagement of the energy sector;

“Whereas the billion-dollar gas plants cancellation, wasteful and unaccountable spending at Ontario Power Generation and the unaffordable subsidies in the Green Energy Act will result in electricity bills climbing by another 35% by 2017 and 45% by 2020; and

“Whereas the Liberal government wasted $2 billion on the flawed smart meter program; and

“Whereas the recent announcement to implement the Ontario Electricity Support Program will see average household hydro bills increase an additional $137 per year starting in 2016; and

“Whereas the soaring cost of electricity is straining family budgets, and hurting the ability of manufacturers and small businesses in the province to compete and create new jobs; and

“Whereas home heating and electricity are a necessity for families in Ontario who cannot afford to continue footing the bill for the government’s mismanagement of the energy sector;

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

“To immediately implement policies ensuring Ontario’s power consumers, including families, farmers and employers, have affordable and reliable electricity.”

I fully support, will sign my name and send it to the desk with page Noam.

Newborn health

M me France Gélinas: Midwives held a press conference this morning. They also wanted to table over 1,400 names on a petition that reads as follows:

“Whereas the Health Protection and Promotion Act … calls for the mandatory administration of erythromycin ointment as a prophylactic agent into the eyes of all newborns and specifies that the Health Care Consent Act … does not apply to the prevention or treatment of communicable diseases of the eyes of the newborn;

“Whereas research evidence shows that the administration of erythromycin is ineffective at preventing infection;

“Whereas the Canadian Paediatric Society and the Association of Ontario Midwives call for the rescinding of the mandatory ocular prophylaxis laws;

They ask the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, “That the Health Protection and Promotion Act be amended to remove the forced administration of ophthalmic ointment.”

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

Lung health

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

“Whereas lung disease affects more than 2.4 million people in the province of Ontario, more than 570,000 of whom are children;

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

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

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

“To allow for deputations on MPP Kathryn McGarry’s private member’s bill, Bill 41, Lung Health Act, 2014, which establishes a Lung Health Advisory Council to make recommendations to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care on lung health issues and requires the minister to develop and implement an Ontario Lung Health Action Plan with respect to research, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of lung disease; and

“Once debated at committee, to expedite Bill 41, Lung Health Act, 2014, through the committee stage and back to the Legislature for third and final reading; and to immediately call for a vote on Bill 41 and to seek royal assent immediately upon its passage.”

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

Health care

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

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

“

(1) Reverse the cuts to health care;

“

(2) Return to the bargaining table with the OMA (Ontario Medical Association) to resume negotiations for a fair physician services agreement;

“

(3) Work with all front-line health care provider groups to develop plans to create a sustainable health care system for the people of Ontario.”

It’s signed by a number of constituents, and I agree with it as well.

Health care funding

Ms. Peggy Sattler: I have a petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario that is signed by a number of physicians who live in my riding of London West. It reads as follows:

“Whereas Ontario’s growing and aging population is putting an increasing strain on our publicly funded health care system; and

“Whereas since February 2015, the Ontario government has made an almost 7% unilateral cut to physician services expenditures which cover all the care doctors provide to patients; and

“Whereas the decisions Ontario makes today will impact patients’ access to quality care in the years to come and these cuts will threaten access to the quality, patient-focused care Ontarians need and expect;

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

“The Minister of Health and Long-Term Care return to the table with Ontario’s doctors and work together through mediation-arbitration to reach a fair deal that protects the quality, patient-focused care Ontario’s families deserve.”

I support this petition, affix my name to it and will give it to the page Prasanna to take to the table.

Lung health

Mr. Lorenzo Berardinetti: I’m reading a petition that’s addressed to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

“Whereas lung disease affects more than 2.4 million people in the province of Ontario, more than 570,000 of whom are children;

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

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

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

“To allow for deputations on MPP Kathryn McGarry’s private member’s bill, Bill 41, Lung Health Act, 2014, which establishes a Lung Health Advisory Council to make recommendations to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care on lung health issues and requires the minister to develop and implement an Ontario Lung Health Action Plan with respect to research, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of lung disease; and

“Once debated at committee, to expedite Bill 41, Lung Health Act, 2014, through the committee stage and back to the Legislature for third and final reading; and to immediately call for a vote on Bill 41 and to seek royal assent immediately upon its passage.”

I agree with this petition, Mr. Speaker, and affix my signature to it.

Health care funding

Mr. Norm Miller: I have a petition to do with health care, signed by people from South River, Huntsville and Gravenhurst. It reads:

“Whereas Ontario’s growing and aging population is putting an increasing strain on our publicly funded health care system; and

“Whereas since February 2015, the Ontario government has made an almost 7% unilateral cut to physician services expenditures which cover all the care doctors provide to patients; and

“Whereas the decisions Ontario makes today will impact patients’ access to quality care in the years to come and these cuts will threaten access to the quality, patient-focused care Ontarians need and expect;

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

“The Minister of Health and Long-Term Care return to the table with Ontario’s doctors and work together through mediation-arbitration to reach a fair deal that protects the quality, patient-focused care Ontario’s families deserve.”

I sign this petition and hand it to Brooke.

Privatization of public assets

M me France Gélinas: I have a petition that came from the people of the northeast and Mrs. Bonnie Houle, from Hanmer, in my riding. It reads as follows:

“Whereas once you privatize Hydro One, there’s no return; and

“Whereas we’ll lose billions in reliable annual revenues for schools and hospitals; and

“Whereas we’ll lose our biggest economic asset and control over our energy future; and

“Whereas we’ll pay higher and higher hydro bills just like what’s happened elsewhere;

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

“To stop the sale of Hydro One and make sure Ontario families benefit from owning Hydro One now and for generations to come.”

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

Employment practices

Mr. Lou Rinaldi: I have a petition addressed to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

“Whereas some establishments have instituted unfair tipping practices in which a portion of tips and gratuities are being deducted and kept by owners;

“Whereas employees in establishments where tipping is a standard practice, such as restaurants, bars and hair salons, supplement their income with tips and gratuities and depend on those to maintain an adequate standard of living;

“Whereas customers expect that when they leave a tip or gratuity that the benefit will be going to the employees who directly contributed to their positive experience;

“Whereas most establishments do respect their employees and do not collect their tips and gratuities unfairly and thus are left at a disadvantage compared to those owners who use tips and gratuities to pad their margins;

“Whereas other jurisdictions in North America such as Quebec, New Brunswick and New York City have passed legislation to protect employees’ tips;

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

“That all members of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario support Bill 12, the Protecting Employees’ Tips Act, 2014, and help shield Ontario employees and businesses from operators with improper tipping practices while protecting accepted and standard practices such as tip pooling among employees.”

I support it, will sign it and send it to the desk with Jack.

Newborn health

Mr. Todd Smith: I’d like to present this petition with over 1,400 names gathered by the Ontario Midwives. I’d like to give special credit to Liza van de Hoef, a Quinte midwife, for spearheading this effort.

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas the Health Protection and Promotion Act … calls for the mandatory administration of erythromycin ointment as a prophylactic agent into the eyes of all newborns and specifies that the Health Care Consent Act … does not apply to the prevention or treatment of communicable diseases of the eyes of the newborn;

“Whereas research evidence shows that the administration of erythromycin is ineffective at preventing infection;

“Whereas the Canadian Paediatric Society and the Association of Ontario Midwives call for the rescinding of the mandatory ocular prophylaxis laws;

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

“That the Health Protection and Promotion Act be amended to remove the forced administration of opthalmic ointment.”

I will sign this and send it to the table with page Aaran.

Privatization of public assets

Ms. Peggy Sattler: I have a petition addressed to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario called “Hydro One Not for Sale! Say No to Privatization.” It reads as follows:

“Whereas the provincial government is creating a privatization scheme that will lead to higher hydro rates, lower reliability, and hundreds of millions less for our schools, roads, and hospitals; and

“Whereas the privatization scheme will be particularly harmful to northern and First Nations communities; and

“Whereas the provincial government is creating this privatization scheme under a veil of secrecy that means Ontarians don’t have a say on a change that will affect their lives dramatically; and

“Whereas it is not too late to cancel the scheme;

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

“That the province of Ontario immediately cancel its scheme to privatize Ontario’s Hydro One.”

I couldn’t agree more with this petition, affix my name to it and will give it to page Lauren to take to the table.

Water fluoridation

Mr. Bob Delaney: I have a petition addressed to the Ontario Legislative Assembly. It’s entitled “Fluoridate All Ontario Drinking Water.” I especially thank dentist Dr. Lisa Bentley of Mississauga for having sent that and many, many others like it along.

It reads as follows:

“Whereas fluoride is a mineral that exists naturally in virtually all water supplies, even the ocean; and

“Whereas scientific studies conducted during the past 70 years have consistently shown that the fluoridation of community water supplies is a safe and effective means of preventing dental decay, and is a public health measure endorsed by more than 90 national and international health organizations; and

“Whereas dental decay is the second-most frequent condition suffered by children, and is one of the leading causes of absences from school; and

“Whereas Health Canada has determined that the optimal concentration of fluoride in municipal drinking water for dental health is 0.7 mg/L, providing optimal dental health benefits, and well below the maximum acceptable concentrations; and

“Whereas the decision to add fluoride to municipal drinking water is a patchwork of individual choices across Ontario, with municipal councils often vulnerable to the influence of misinformation, and studies of questionable or no scientific merit;

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

“That the ministries of the government of Ontario adopt the number one recommendation made by the Ontario Chief Medical Officer of Health in a 2012 report on oral health in Ontario, and amend all applicable legislation and regulations to make the fluoridation of municipal drinking water mandatory in all municipal water systems across the province of Ontario.”

I’m pleased to sign and support this petition, and send it down with page Ross.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): I regret to inform the House that the time for petitions today has expired.

Orders of the Day

Budget Measures Act, 2015 / Loi de 2015 sur les mesures budgétaires

Resuming the debate adjourned on November 25, 2015, on the motion for second reading of the following bill:

Bill 144,

An Act to implement Budget measures and to enact or amend certain other statutes / Projet de loi 144, Loi visant à mettre en oeuvre les mesures budgétaires et à édicter ou à modifier d’autres lois.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): Pursuant to the order of the House dated November 26, 2015, I’m now required to put the question.

Mr. Sousa has moved second reading of Bill 144,

An Act to implement Budget measures and to enact or amend certain other statutes. Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry?

All those in favour of the motion will please say “aye.”

All those opposed will please say “nay.”

In my opinion, the ayes have it.

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

I wish to inform the House that I’ve received a request from the chief government whip asking that the vote be deferred until tomorrow during the time of deferred votes, pursuant to standing order 28(h).

Second reading vote deferred.

Police Record Checks Reform Act, 2015 / Loi de 2015 sur la réforme des vérifications de dossiers de police

Mr. Balkissoon, on behalf of Mr. Naqvi, moved third reading of the following bill:

Bill 113,

An Act respecting police record checks / Projet de loi 113, Loi concernant les vérifications de dossiers de police.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): Further debate? I recognize the member for Scarborough–Rouge River.

Mr. Bas Balkissoon: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am pleased to rise and speak on the third reading debate of Bill 113, the Police Record Checks Reform Act, 2015.

At its core, this legislation is about two things. It’s about protecting people’s civil liberties and it’s about keeping our communities safe. The Police Record Checks Reform Act, 2015, if passed, will create clear, consistent and comprehensive rules on how police record checks are requested, conducted and disclosed for the first time in our province’s history.

I want to repeat that because that point is really important: This proposed legislation will be the first set of clear, comprehensive and consistent rules around the disclosure of police record checks.

These reforms will address and remove unnecessary barriers to employment, volunteering, education and other community opportunities while protecting community safety and vulnerable persons by ensuring that employers have all necessary information.

This legislation covers a lot of ground, but at its heart it does three things.

The first would standardize the three types of record checks that could be requested in Ontario. They are (1) a criminal record check; (2) a criminal record and judicial matters check; and (3) a vulnerable sector check.

The second is that it will ensure that individuals receive a copy of their record and have an opportunity to review it prior to its release. It will also give individuals the opportunity to request that a decision to disclose certain types of records be reconsidered.

Third, it will ensure that those who have a record check for non-criminal reasons, such as an interaction under the Mental Health Act, will no longer be disclosed.

This legislation is the result of a broad collaboration with our policing, civil liberty, business, non-profit and mental health partners, who provided valuable input to help us develop a fair and effective framework and many of whom came to speak in favour of the legislation during public hearings. These groups knew that reforms were needed.

I’m pleased that our government is taking leadership and bringing forward meaningful change with respect to police record checks. This legislation is based upon the 2014 Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police and Law Enforcement and Records (Managers) Network—LEARN—guideline. The guideline was developed in consultation with and has been endorsed by key partners, including the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario, the Ontario Human Rights Commission, Canadian Civil Liberties Association, Canadian Mental Health Association Ontario, the John Howard Society of Ontario and many others.

During public hearings and debate, we’ve heard about many Ontarians who have faced unnecessary barriers because of inappropriate disclosure of non-conviction and non-criminal information in their police record checks. Through reports from organizations, such as the Canadian Civil Liberties Association and the John Howard Society of Ontario, we’ve heard about people who learned, during routine record checks, that their records included non-criminal conduct they had with police.

In some cases, the record resulted from the individual experiencing a mental health crisis; in others, they were victims or simply witnesses to a crime. In many cases, individuals were denied employment, had their education placed in jeopardy, were denied access to their chosen vocations or lost out on other important opportunities. Minister Naqvi stressed that point in his presentation to the Legislature during second reading. He stated that this legislation, if passed, will respond to the clear concerns raised by a large number of key stakeholders, and that it will do so in a manner that reflects the recommendations and best advice that we received from these stakeholders.

These unnecessary barriers could not continue. In July 2014, the Premier gave clear direction to Minister Naqvi in his mandate letter to address the privacy issues surrounding police record checks and indicated that background checks must be conducted in a fair and consistent manner across the province. Moreover, for individual Ontarians, it would mean that the protection of their civil liberties and privacy by limiting the disclosure of certain non-conviction information and prohibiting the release of non-criminal information.

I want to take this opportunity to sincerely thank the members of the public and partner organizations who participated in the process of moving this bill forward through second reading and their thoughtful presentations at the standing committee, and my fellow committee members. I must also say a special word of thanks to my colleagues in the House for their constructive and helpful participation in the debate as the legislation has moved forward.

The proposed legislation, if passed, would begin to address systemic barriers to economic opportunities for individuals, such as education and employment, created by the inappropriate disclosure of non-conviction and non-criminal information in police record checks. It will also minimize the incidence of police record check information being released to a third party without the consent of the individual. It will standardize the way police record checks are conducted, resulting in faster screening decisions and fewer opportunities lost.

The proposed legislation has the strong support of a range of stakeholders, including the police sector, civil liberties groups, the private sector, the non-profit sector, labour groups, the justice sector and the health sector. Mr. Speaker, we’ve consulted widely. We have listened and we incorporated the input and advice of our multiple stakeholders into the proposed Police Record Checks Reform Act, 2015. I am honoured to support its adoption in this House and I recommend to my colleagues that they also do the same.

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

Mr. Norm Miller: I’m pleased to have an opportunity this afternoon to speak in third reading to Bill 113,

An Act respecting police record checks. I note that the bill has been to committee and that there were people who came before it.

We did have some amendments that were put forward that weren’t adopted. In particular, I know that our member for Dufferin—Ms. Jones’s riding—had put forward Bill 79,

An Act respecting criminal record checks for volunteers, and there was an amendment to incorporate that private member’s bill into this bill. Unfortunately, that w