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November 15, 1994

35th Parliament, 3rd Session

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Hansard Transcripts

ANNUAL REPORT, PROVINCIAL AUDITOR

4-H DAIRY SHOW

HYDRO RATES

CHINESE COMMUNITY

ANTI-DRUG STRATEGY

MUNICIPAL LEGISLATION

SAULT STE MARIE BUSINESS

LONG-TERM-CARE REFORM

MACCULLOCH DANCERS

MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT

MEMBER'S PRIVILEGE

FINANCIAL PROCEDURES

WATER QUALITY

JOBS ONTARIO

SOCIAL ASSISTANCE

SUPPORT AND CUSTODY ORDERS ENFORCEMENT

LONG-TERM-CARE REFORM

JOBS ONTARIO

OLDER WORKERS

FARM TAX REBATE PROGRAM

DRIVERS' LICENCES

GASOLINE PRICES

LONG-TERM-CARE REFORM

CHILD SAFETY

MOTORCYCLE AND SNOWMOBILE INSURANCE

ANIMALS FOR RESEARCH

TAX INCREASES

CITY OF STONEY CREEK

FIREARMS SAFETY

DANGEROUS OFFENDERS

LONG-TERM-CARE REFORM

ANIMALS FOR RESEARCH

LONG-TERM-CARE REFORM

MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES

LONG-TERM-CARE REFORM

SERVICES DE SANTÉ

STANDING COMMITTEE ON ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE

MISSISSAUGA SYNCHRONIZED SWIMMING ASSOCIATION ACT, 1994

ONTARIO ASSOCIATION OF HOME INSPECTORS ACT, 1994

PUBLICLY FUNDED HOUSING RENT CONTROL ACT, 1994 / LOI DE 1994 SUR LE CONTRÔLE DES LOYERS DES LOGEMENTS DONT LE FINANCEMENT EST PUBLIC

BUSINESS REGULATION REFORM ACT, 1994 / LOI DE 1994 PORTANT RÉFORME DE LA RÉGLEMENTATION DES ENTREPRISES

The House met at 1331.

Prayers.

ANNUAL REPORT, PROVINCIAL AUDITOR

The Speaker (Hon David Warner): I beg to inform the House I have today laid upon the table the annual report of the Provincial Auditor of Ontario covering audits completed through 1994 and invite all members to welcome to our chamber, and seated in the gallery, the Provincial Auditor, Mr Erik Peters.

MEMBERS' STATEMENTS

4-H DAIRY SHOW

Mrs Barbara Sullivan (Halton Centre): Yesterday the Scotiabank Hays Classic, which is the penultimate 4-H dairy show in Canada, was concluded at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair. It was indeed an extremely fine show, with close to 300 young people from eight of Canada's 10 provinces competing.

Each had concentrated time and effort over many months on selecting, feeding, maintaining records, grooming and training their cattle, and each competitor was selected from his or her own county or region on the basis of their success and accomplishment at local and regional fairs.

The competitors worked as a team with others from their areas and cooperated in ensuring that their county exhibits were the best they could be.

Caden Chalack from Calgary exhibited the grand champion heifer at the show, a deep and leggy summer yearling bred by Acme Holsteins of Carstairs, Alberta. The champion showman was Barclay Phoenix of Durham West county, with Connie Bennett of Halton being reserve champion.

The team exhibit of best of three animals in the show went to exhibitors from the Waterloo county 4-H club. The herdsmen exhibit was won by 4-H'ers from Lambton county, whose hard work on a continuing basis at the Royal won them the judges' nod.

I'm very proud that my own 4-H'ers from Halton county were presented with the overall championship club award for the calibre of their animals, their showmanship, their prowess as herdsmen and their teamwork. For us in Halton, it was once again a very proud day.

For young people from across Canada, the show is an extremely fine effort, and I hope that all members of the House will join me in honouring 4-H'ers from across Canada.

HYDRO RATES

Mr Leo Jordan (Lanark-Renfrew): I direct this statement to the Minister of Environment and Energy. I would like to draw his attention to an energy policy that is being considered by the Oshawa Public Utilities Commission. In keeping with our plan to freeze Ontario Hydro rates for five years, I think their plan is also a commonsense approach that could actually reduce the power rates of every customer in Ontario.

I am referring to a dual metering system which would measure power consumption during peak and off-peak periods. This type of meter would allow the utility to charge cheaper rates during off-peak periods. Much like the method used by the telephone companies, rates would be dropped in the evening and be further reduced during the night.

For a cost of $300 spread over two years on the customer's hydro bill, each customer could purchase a meter that would record off-peak usage. Instead of just providing a rate reduction to large industrial customers, this system would boost small business and give individuals much-needed relief on their energy bills. We can do this at no cost to Ontario Hydro.

CHINESE COMMUNITY

Mr Rosario Marchese (Fort York): I rise today as the member of provincial Parliament for Fort York to honour some outstanding Chinese Canadians who have contributed greatly in helping to make Ontario a better place in which to live.

As legislators, it is important that we recognize special individuals who so willingly give their time and effort to community service, for without them our neighbourhoods would suffer from a lack of community, social and economic development.

I would like to take this opportunity to welcome the following distinguished guests to the House: Afonso Chan, vice-president of the Toronto Macau Club; Wan To Cheng, chair of the Toronto Hong Kong Macau Fellowship Association; Willy Cheng, president, Shing Wah News; Yik Hon Cheung, vice-president, Hong Kong Association; Ken Chong, president, Ship Thoy Yuen Benevolent; Linda Fang, president, Chinese Women's Association; Hung Chow Fung, president, Hung Chow Fung Fine Arts Studio; Lee Shu Ham, director, Chinese Canadian Intercultural Association; Kenneth Keng, president, Chinese Community Centre of Ontario; Chan Yiu-Kuen, chair, Chinese Canadian Intercultural Association; Stephen Lee, director, Toronto Hong Kong Macau Fellowship Association; Philip Leung, president, Toronto Hong Kong Macau Fellowship Association; Wan Qoi Lim, president, World Kwantung Association; Jeffrey Lo, president, Chinese Artist Association; Moon Lum, honourable chair, Chinese Community Centre of Ontario; On Po Sze, president, Chinese Canadian Intercultural Association; Hin Cheung Tam, president, World Chu Lun Association; Peter Wong, director, Toronto Chinese Business Association and Bank of China.

It gives me great pleasure to rise in the House today to recognize these individuals and others like them who work so tirelessly in our community.

ANTI-DRUG STRATEGY

Mr Tony Ruprecht (Parkdale): We find it very strange that the minister responsible for the provincial anti-drug strategy is not acknowledging the importance of National Drug Awareness Week, November 13 to 19.

The Ontario Multifaith Alliance Against Drug Abuse and the Ontario Drug Awareness Partnership have kicked off National Drug Awareness Week this week. Normally, the minister responsible would address and encourage Ontarians to maintain and develop a strategy so that the human misery which is continuing in terms of drug abuse is somewhat reduced.

But we should not be surprised that there is no strategy and that there is no announcement. Where, we'd like to ask, are most of the recommendations? Were they shoved under the carpet? We all know the recommendations that were made by three reports to Ontario in order to (1) increase treatment centres -- where is the funding? (2) get tough with drug pushers -- where are the new proposals and the new laws? (3) educate our children against drugs -- where are the policies?

It seems to us that this government is bankrupt of ideas, and this is only one announcement of many that is not forthcoming. I hope that it will very quickly.

MUNICIPAL LEGISLATION

Mr Allan K. McLean (Simcoe East): My statement is for the Minister of Municipal Affairs and concerns the seriously flawed attempt at revamping Ontario's planning and municipal statute laws. I spoke and voted against this legislation on second reading because the impact of Bill 163 is difficult to measure, due to the sheer complexity of the reforms.

Minister, you simply cannot deny that most of those appearing before the standing committee on administration of justice reflected the views presented by the Association of Municipalities of Ontario. That organization initially welcomed reforms to Ontario's Planning Act, Local Government Disclosure of Interest Act and the Municipal Act.

AMO representatives told us Bill 163 contains some fundamental flaws and will not lead to any significant improvements. AMO also indicates that while the legislative amendments contained in Bill 163 are a step in the right direction, they fall significantly short of fulfilling the principles of reform.

You even agreed that Bill 163 is seriously flawed -- so flawed, in fact, that you brought forward more than one half of the more than 200 amendments introduced at the justice committee hearings.

I regret that the minister's urgency in rushing Bill 163 through this Legislature clearly shows he has little regard for the views or the concerns of Ontario. Can't you take the hint that more than 200 amendments prove your legislation is beyond comprehension?

The indications are it could cost up to $9 billion over the next five years to implement the plans in Bill 163.

SAULT STE MARIE BUSINESS

Mr Tony Martin (Sault Ste Marie): I would like to personally congratulate all those individuals in my constituency of Sault Ste Marie who were elected to office yesterday, and I would also like to thank all those who participated by seeking office but were not successful.

Today, I would like to recognize all the small businesses in the Sault that have struggled and stayed viable through a very difficult economy. The Sault Ste Marie Chamber of Commerce has shown great leadership in our community by supporting, servicing and organizing events so that these enterprises might thrive and prosper.

On October 27, the chamber presented its annual awards honouring local entrepreneurs. I would like to extend my personal congratulations for their achievements to Tony Ruscio of the Ramada Inn and Convention Centre, David Cook of M&M Meat Shops, Brian Irwin of the Business Development Centre, Suzanne Thompson, Herbert Lash of H.R. Lash, Debbie MacDonald of Algoma Furniture, Linda Kulmala of Healthwares Medical Canada, Udo Rauk of the Queenstown Association and Rod Goodall of Aladdin Carpet Cleaning.

Thank you on behalf of Sault Ste Marie and the province for your efforts towards making our community stronger.

Tomorrow evening, the chamber of commerce, in partnership with the Jobs Ontario broker, as part of their business after 5 program, will hold an appreciation night in recognition of those businesses and workplaces in our local Jobs Ontario Training program. We want to thank everyone involved in Jobs Ontario Training in the Sault and Algoma for making it one of the most successful programs in the province.

LONG-TERM-CARE REFORM

Mrs Yvonne O'Neill (Ottawa-Rideau): I rise today to express my deep concern with the NDP government's disregard for the value of service provided by non-unionized and volunteer workers in this province.

Yesterday, the government introduced an amendment to

section 15 of Bill 173 which would mandate multiservice agencies, the cornerstone of the long-term-care reform presented by this NDP government, to choose unionized workers before considering any or all other classes of workers in this province when filling jobs in the future.

While we in the Liberal caucus recognize that excellent service is provided day after day and year after year by unionized workers, we cannot condone discrimination against any worker presently providing service in long-term care.

Amendments to

section 15, as proposed late yesterday by the NDP government, will perhaps eliminate, will certainly place last in line, thousands of qualified, experienced workers who are today providing services in their communities.

With this latest amendment, the government is saying to volunteers and experienced, qualified, non-unionized workers, "You're not welcome in long-term-care reform." They are saying that regardless of the quality of care the workers are presently providing: "Quality of care be damned. The recipients of long-term care will no longer need your services or desire them."

MACCULLOCH DANCERS

Mr Noble Villeneuve (S-D-G & East Grenville): Today, I am most pleased to give tribute to the MacCulloch Dancers based in Glengarry county. The MacCulloch Dancers recently represented Canada at the China International Folk Art Festival in Beijing and at other folk festivals across China. This group of 20 dancers aged 15 to 19 and one piper from eastern Ontario was invited by the China Federation of Literary and Arts Circles after Cornwall's Worldfest/Festimonde in July 1993. Canada was one of 16 countries present from four continents. With a total of 19 performances, the MacCulloch Dancers had a combined live audience of over 360,000, as well as television coverage across all of China.

Under the direction of the group's founder in 1955, Mrs Rae MacCulloch, and her daughters, Helen Forbes and Deborah Wheeler, the dancers spent a year in preparation and fund-raising for this three-week tour.

It is only proper that we recognize their achievements here today. The dancers, musicians and directors are Tara Barton, Margaret Bush, Alana Cameron, Melanie Codie, Donna Downing, Heather Forbes, James Forbes, Kendra Forbes, Cindy Gillette, Shawna Hamilton, Laura Hill, Rae MacCulloch, Leigh Ann MacEwen, Melinda Main, Erin McIntosh, Kimberly McKay, Patricia McKay, Joy Nichol, Colleen O'Brien, Jennifer Ogilvie, Allison Stewart, Elisabeth Tauvette, Amy Wood and Jenny Wood.

Congratulations on a very successful tour as our ambassadors.

MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT

Mr Anthony Perruzza (Downsview): I would like to congratulate all of the winners and challengers in yesterday's municipal and school board elections. In looking through the newspapers today, you readily see that local government in Metro Toronto and the surrounding areas is at a level that can no longer be supported. By my count, there are 11 mayors, 142 councillors, 164 trustees -- in total, 317 local representatives, many of them part-time positions with full-time pay. This includes only a fraction of the surrounding municipalities and does not include Hydro commissioners.

As a former councillor and trustee in the Metro area, I can tell you that this many representatives makes local government inefficient and costly, not to mention the massive amount of duplication.

I call on the Minister of Municipal Affairs and the Minister of Education to initiate a process whereby we review local governance in the Metro and greater Toronto area, with a view to streamlining the number of representatives and to making government more efficient, less costly and more representative. This is a debate that can no longer wait. It must begin now.

MEMBER'S PRIVILEGE

Mrs Barbara Sullivan (Halton Centre): I rise on a point of privilege, Mr Speaker: I believe that the privileges of myself and other members of the standing committee on social development have been breached in connection with information that is being put before the committee which now appears is incorrect.

Some time ago in the debate, through the intervention of the Senior Citizens' Consumer Alliance for Long-Term Care Reform, a document was placed before the committee, prepared by Price Waterhouse, entitled A Comparison of the Administrative Component of the Current and Proposed Home Care Systems in Ontario. That was placed before the committee on August 31.

The government has based its arguments on the cost-efficiencies identified in the report and has continued to rely on the report and quote from it, in the absence of its own studies. Today, we have received a copy of a letter written to Mr Ted Ball of the Senior Citizens' Consumer Alliance which reads as follows:

"Several concerns have been raised about the approach followed in our report for the Senior Citizens' Consumer Alliance titled" -- and I have given you the title. "Our firm is withdrawing the report. We will review these concerns and reissue the report with appropriate changes to the cost-impact methodology."

The report was so significant in the deliberations of that committee that in my view the committee members have in fact been misled by the original report, and I would urge you to take into consideration how the effect of incorrect information which was included in that report would affect the deliberations of the committee, which of course is now deeply into clause-by-clause consideration of that bill.

The Speaker (Hon David Warner): To the member for Halton Centre, while I appreciate very much the point which she has brought to my attention, she will know that this is, as she has correctly identified, a matter that is currently before a committee, and indeed the committee has a responsibility to deal with concerns that are raised by members of the committee. There is no particular role for the Speaker in this matter, but the member may wish to raise this at her first opportunity when the committee meets next.

ORAL QUESTIONS

FINANCIAL PROCEDURES

Mr Gerry Phillips (Scarborough-Agincourt): Today, as I think members know, we have what can only be described as a damning report by the Provincial Auditor raising serious questions about the NDP's finances.

The auditor's report says that the government is using improper and incorrect numbers to report the 1994-95 deficit. The auditor has also said the NDP government is not giving the actual financial performance to the people of Ontario for 1994-95. The auditor says that if you used proper and correct numbers, the 1994-95 deficit would be $2 billion higher. The auditor is saying the numbers you are using are unrealistic. All damning comments, specific comments, by the auditor.

My question to the Minister of Finance is this: Will you commit today to provide the Legislature with a revised 1994-95 statement of the finances of the province, as requested by the Provincial Auditor?

Hon Floyd Laughren (Minister of Finance): I guess that when the Provincial Auditor has a lot of good things to say about the government, all the opposition can do is exaggerate their own concerns, because I can tell you that I have read a lot of provincial auditors' reports over many years and I would rank this one up there at the top with any list that you'd care to draw up.

Let me remind the member for Scarborough-Agincourt exactly what the Provincial Auditor had to say about the audited financial statements of this government for the year ended 1993-94:

"In my opinion, these financial statements present fairly in all material respects the financial position of the province as of March 31, 1994, and the results of its operations and the changes in its financial position for the year then ended, in accordance with the stated accounting policies as set out in the 'Summary of Significant Accounting Policies' which forms an integrated part of these financial statements.

"These financial statements have been prepared, as urged by me last year, on an accounting and reporting basis which is in accordance with standards for good practice in accounting and financial reporting by Canadian governments."

So you can say all you want about the way in which this government prepares its financial statements. We are doing exactly -- exactly -- what the Provincial Auditor has requested us to do, and we will continue to do that.

Mr Phillips: The auditor couldn't have been clearer. This province has two sets of books: one the auditor will sign, one the auditor won't sign. The books that you're keeping, the auditor will never, ever, ever sign. He says in his report that it is $2 billion higher than you're reporting. We have two sets of books. It is crazy. I guarantee you that if this were a private company, there is not an auditor in this province who would sign the books, the company would be delisted from the Toronto Stock Exchange, and the directors would be, at the very least, fired. We have two sets of books. It is ridiculous.

The auditor says you are incorrectly reporting about $1.9 billion worth of what you call loans receivable, but which are really grants. The auditor says that you are out by $2 billion. The auditor was very specific. The 1994-95 budget is out, according to the auditor, by at least $2 billion. You have a set of books, Treasurer, that the auditor will not sign.

The Speaker (Hon David Warner): Could the member pose a question, please.

Mr Phillips: My question is this: Will the government commit today to stop this charade? You're losing your credibility. It is a charade to have two sets of books. Will the Treasurer today commit to having one set of books, the set of books that the auditor will sign?

Hon Mr Laughren: The member for Scarborough-Agincourt is becoming silly, if I might say. I have here in my hand --

Mrs Barbara Sullivan (Halton Centre): There is nothing silly about those books.

Hon Mr Laughren: I have in my hand the Office of the Provincial Auditor 1994 Annual Report, which is what we're dealing with. The Provincial Auditor says, "For the year ended March 31, 1994," which is the year in which he's auditing the financial statements of this government, "this opinion" -- the auditor's opinion -- "which was expressed without reservation, is reproduced as follows...."

I just quoted from that in response to the first part of the member's question, and it's signed by Erik Peters, FCA, Provincial Auditor. The Provincial Auditor has signed off completely, without reservation, the books of this province. The sooner the member for Scarborough-Agincourt understands that, we'll all be better off, because I can tell you, there is only one set of books in this province. This is it.

The financial statements that we tabled last month are the financial statements for the Ontario government for the year ended 1993-94. We could hardly have a set of financial statements for the year 1994-95. That fiscal year isn't over yet. So what is the member for Scarborough-Agincourt raving about?

Mr Phillips: I'm sure the people in the province will understand that the 1994-95 books are cooked. The only reason the auditor signed the books was that he forced the government to change its reporting and increase the deficit by $1.6 billion. That was the only way the auditor would sign the books. He forced the government to do it. Now we see that this year the finances are being reported in a way that the auditor clearly will not sign.

I don't use this language very often, and I use it cautiously, but the set of books that you are presenting are cooked. The auditor can't sign them. The auditor won't sign them. The auditor says right here that the deficit exceeds the 1994 budget by $2 billion. The auditor says the 1994 budget that the Minister of Finance has presented is out by $2 billion. The auditor is saying, when he signs the books, the deficit will be $2 billion higher than the Minister of Finance is reporting right now for 1994-95.

I say it as strongly as I can: Your credibility, your trust as a government is at stake here. You are misreporting by $2 billion the deficit of the province.

Interjections.

The Speaker: Order.

Mr Phillips: Will you acknowledge today that your books are wrong, the Provincial Auditor is right and the 1994-95 deficit is, as the Provincial Auditor says, $2 billion higher than you are reporting right now?

Hon Mr Laughren: I don't know how many times I have to say it: The Provincial Auditor has completely signed off, without reservation, on the last set of financial statements that were presented by this government; completely, without reservation, on the only set of books that this government has. You can try and sow some kind of seeds of confusion out there but it's not going to work. Knowledgeable people know that the Provincial Auditor has signed off, and you can spread this nonsense all you like. It doesn't make it real.

At the request of the Provincial Auditor, we're moving to what's called an accrual and consolidation system of accounting. That's never been done before in the province of Ontario. I went back and I looked at what the deficit would have been when the Liberals were in office under this way of reporting. Instead of a $90-million surplus, which the previous government said it was going to report, there would have been a $1-billion deficit. Now I ask you, would you get your facts right for once?

Secondly, that was the last full year they were in government. When we took over for the year 1990-91, when the deficit was $3 billion -- and we took office well into the year -- under the new system of reporting, the deficit would have been not $3 billion but $5 billion. So I think the member for Scarborough-Agincourt better think twice before he starts throwing these silly accusations across the chamber when the auditor has completely signed off on the set of books.

WATER QUALITY

Mr Sean G. Conway (Renfrew North): My question is to the Minister of Environment and Energy and it concerns water. Minister, I can't think of a more important responsibility which the Ontario government has than to ensure the provision of safe and reliable water to the people of Ontario. Today's auditor's report indicates that in 1992 a million Ontarians were receiving water from water treatment plants that had, according to the auditor's report, significant problems.

Will the Minister of Environment, responsible for water quality, tell this House today where those troubled water treatment plants were and which million Ontarians were at risk because of these problems, and will he also indicate what the nature of the risk was?

Hon Bud Wildman (Minister of Environment and Energy): I agree with my friend from Renfrew North that it is one of the most important responsibilities of the government to provide safe, reliable water for its citizens. That's why this government in the last three years has made an investment of three quarters of a billion dollars in funding through Jobs Ontario and the municipal assistance program to promote water conservation programs and capital expansions and upgrades of sewage treatment plants in the province, and water treatment plants.

The details of the report as provided by the Provincial Auditor we are currently studying, and we will be able to give the kinds of details that the member is requesting in future. I would say, though, that we are not certain from the auditor's report that all of the plants for these million residents to whom he refers were out of compliance on a continual basis. These might have been incidents. Some of them were, some of them weren't.

It's important to recognize that while this is a very serious matter, one that we take very seriously and we will act on, it's important not to give the impression necessarily that people were put at significant risk in all cases.

Mr Conway: The Minister of Finance properly asked the opposition to focus on the report, this auditor's report. Today's auditor's report makes plain that in 1992 nearly a million Ontarians were getting water from water treatment plants that were having significant problems. The auditor's report indicates that their follow-up audit done recently suggests that many of those plants were continuing to have those problems and that the follow-up inspection report showed that.

My question to the minister responsible for water treatment in this province is this: Which plants specifically are having those problems, which million Ontarians are at potential risk because of these ongoing problems, and what, sir, have you done to inform those people and their municipalities that there may be a problem? What action have you taken specifically to inform the million Ontarians who apparently are at some considerable risk?

Hon Mr Wildman: The member will know that the ministry regularly informs the municipalities, and as a result of the inspections that have been done, we have allocated significant amounts of provincial funding to assist the municipalities to upgrade plants.

The member will also know that with provincial assistance, three sewage treatment plants in eastern Ontario have been extensively renovated. These plants had been continually out of compliance but now exceed provincial treatment quality requirements.

Mr Conway: I ask for a final time, this report raises a very real concern that upwards of a million Ontarians, as recently as 1992, are getting water from seriously troubled water treatment plants that are not up to standard. You know who those people are. Will you undertake today to tell those million Ontarians what plants are causing the problem, what specifically is the nature and the extent of the health risk and what specifically you and your government are doing to put those million people at less or no risk?

Hon Mr Wildman: I described what we are doing to put them at less or no risk, as the member requested. As he will know, the auditor himself in his report pointed out that the provincial government and municipalities are working together to deal with this problem, and specifically cited one municipality that, because of water conservation programs, has been able to improve its situation and particularly save taxpayers' money.

I will make a commitment to the member that I will review the auditor's report and will be able to come back and indicate what areas were in continual out of compliance and which ones were not, and which ones we have been able to respond to since the problems were discovered.

The Speaker (Hon David Warner): New question, the leader of the third party.

Mr Michael D. Harris (Nipissing): I too want to follow up to the Minister of Environment. I think that the public of Ontario are entitled to know the million Ontarians, the 10% of this population that have been at risk. When asked today, the auditor said there could very well be. We didn't know; they didn't know. So what the auditor is saying is that you didn't know at a certain point in time.

What I would like to know now, Minister, is since this is not news to you, your ministry will have known full well --

Interjection.

The Speaker: The member for Guelph is out of order.

Mr Harris: -- that the auditor was making these investigations. I want to hear from you, since it is your responsibility to notify the public when there is a problem or a potential problem, when did you know that a million Ontarians were at risk with their drinking water, and why when you found out did you not notify those million Ontarians?

Hon Mr Wildman: The member knows full well that this government has made a commitment of three quarters of a billion dollars to upgrade water and sewer plants across the province for the very reason that we are meeting our responsibilities to provide clean water for the residents of Ontario. We don't do that on an ad hoc basis. We do it on the basis of inspections of plants and determining which ones have to be upgraded.

Mr Harris: Let me ask you this very short specific question: Do you know of any single solitary one of 10 million Ontarians that the auditor identified who may have been at risk? Do you know of one, any one, as a result of the auditor's investigations?

Hon Mr Wildman: We know which plants were not in compliance prior to 1992, and it is because of those studies that we know which ones had to be invested in in order to upgrade. It is a fact that as of 1992 we made decisions on investment of taxpayers' dollars on the basis of the need to provide clean water to residents in the province.

The member knows also that the ministry would approach municipalities, the representatives of the electors, to indicate which plants were not in compliance and which needed to be upgraded. That was not secret information, it was public information, and the province and the municipalities made investment decisions on that public information.

Mr Harris: When the Provincial Auditor was asked today to identify what communities are at risk, the auditor said it was the minister's responsibility. We too in this Legislature think it is the minister's responsibility to notify the public when they are at risk or potentially at risk. According to the auditor, once a problem has been identified at a water treatment plant, it takes on average 17 months to follow up -- 17 months while somebody could be drinking water that is potentially not up to standards.

Can you explain why for up to 17 months, and even longer in some cases, you have kept up to one million Ontarians in the dark? Second, will you not today notify publicly every single Ontarian who may be at risk as a result of drinking contaminated water?

Hon Mr Wildman: The member is fully aware that if there is a serious health problem, the ministry notifies the residents, and on certain occasions, in certain municipalities in this province, we've on an emergency basis transported water and provided bottled water. Also, we put restrictions --

Mr Chris Stockwell (Etobicoke West): When we were in control, you used to flip if we let them swim in it, and now you are making them drink it.

The Speaker: Order. The member for Etobicoke West, come to order.

Hon Mr Wildman: We put restrictions on swimming where necessary, as the member knows, on a temporary basis until we can upgrade the plants and bring them into compliance.

The member across the way says that it would take 17 months, according to the auditor, in order to respond. If he carries out the kinds of cutbacks that he's proposing in the Ministry of Environment and Energy, it'll take three years before they'll be able to respond.

The Speaker: New question, leader of the third party.

Mr Harris: Never have I heard a more holier-than-thou attitude. You're the minister. They're entitled to know.

The Chair: Order. Would the honourable leader of the third party place a second question, please.

JOBS ONTARIO

Mr Michael D. Harris (Nipissing): My second question is to the Minister of Education and Training, responsible for Bob's Ontario Training. The Provincial Auditor today, Mr Minister, confirmed what we've been telling you for months, that this program is not about creating jobs; this is about creating headlines for the NDP.

According to the auditor, you have no idea whether an employee under Bob's Ontario is eligible. You have no idea whether the people you claim to help are truly the ones who need the help. You don't even know if the people you claim to help have jobs. Minister, of the 60,000 people your propaganda blitz claims to have helped, exactly how many can you categorically account for and table with this Legislature who are actually being helped by this program?

Hon David S. Cooke (Minister of Education and Training): All the people who have qualified for this program and have been placed in work are on welfare or have run out of unemployment insurance. That's a fact. Those are the eligibility criteria. If the member wants to ask that question, obviously the answer to the question is, there are 63,000 jobs that have been created and people are being placed in those jobs. Those are the tens of thousands of people who are being helped in this province.

Even the Provincial Auditor indicates in his report, "Savings previously estimated were based on reasonable assumptions," and he's referring to the social assistance saving. The numbers we've been using, the facts we've been stating, have been confirmed by the auditor's report. Read the entire report. Read the praise in the report. Don't just make up your negative comments. Read the entire report, where there's a lot of praise for the responsiveness of our ministry when there were any criticisms that the auditor had levelled. All those criticisms had been responded to, and the auditor, I think, makes that perfectly clear.

Mr Harris: The auditor says you have no idea; he says you have no idea.

Clearly, one of the components of Bob's Ontario that requires attention is brokers. For example, can you explain why a broker -- this isn't the employer, this isn't the employee, this is the broker -- would have been given as much as $32 million as a cash advance, or nearly one 10th of the total program dollars spent to date? Why would you be shoving that amount of money into brokers' hands?

Hon Mr Cooke: I think the auditor made it clear that this was a problem at the beginning of the program. At the beginning of the program we were working with brokers, the program was being set up. The period of time this audit took place was at the beginning of the program and the implementation of the program. This was a legitimate criticism that the auditor has put into the report. He also indicated that we have responded to the criticism, so that doesn't happen any longer. It shouldn't have happened back when it did, and it doesn't happen any longer.

Mr Harris: According to the auditor's findings, this is not the case. On page 67, it says, "Only one broker visited had developed a formal strategy for acquiring and using its pre-employment funds in the most cost-effective manner." The auditor is clearly saying that not only was it a startup problem, it is an ongoing problem. According to the auditor's findings we might as well call this Brokers Ontario. Twenty per cent of the money you've spent to date has gone to pay for administration, $55 million to brokers, nearly twice the original projection, yet in many cases, brokers are not providing audits or their auditor refused to provide an opinion.

I would ask you again, given the inherent problems with brokers in your program, can you tell us what criteria were used for contracting with these brokers? Who are they? What did they have to provide? Did they have to account for how they would have the money? What systems were in place? According to the auditor, none, and none still. Can you explain that?

Hon Mr Cooke: There are two points on this. First, it wasn't that long ago that your Education critic asked in the House why the administrative costs were 35%. Now the auditor comes in and says the administrative costs are 20%, administrative costs that include client intake and assessment, employer outreach and job development, training plan development, job matching, contract administration, monitoring. He's lumped in not only administrative costs but other client services that have to be provided to get individuals ready to get into the workplace. That is a fact. The 20% is not all administrative costs.

Finally, and again I know the leader of the third party hasn't read the entire auditor's report yet, but when he does, I'd like him to read page 64 where the auditor says, "We noted several good management practices in place to assess broker performance and to share best practices among brokers." It was not all negative, by any stretch.

SOCIAL ASSISTANCE

Mrs Yvonne O'Neill (Ottawa-Rideau): My question is to the Minister of Community and Social Services. Minister, today the auditor released a scathing report on the administration of Ontario's welfare system. The auditor's report is clear: Welfare fraud is not the problem; your government's incompetence and mismanagement is. The auditor found that inadequate controls exist to prevent overpayment from going out. As a result, more than $90 million was overpaid in the welfare system. More than 150,000 people received overpayments and more than 40% of these have done nothing to repay them.

When my leader raised this question with you months ago, you suggested you had it under control. Today the auditor says you do not have it under control. Minister, will you admit today that the issues of fraud that plague us are there but that the issues of mismanagement and incompetence are greater? What have you done to prevent overpayment in the first place, and in the second place to recover those that have been overpaid?

Hon Tony Silipo (Minister of Community and Social Services): If there is one question a Liberal member should not be asking an NDP cabinet minister, it's on the issue of overpayments, and I'll tell you why. In 1989, we were keeping track of information centrally on the overpayments across the system. The Liberal government of the day removed the centralization measures from the system. Until recently, until we reintroduced those measures and put those measures in each of the area offices of the ministry, there was no way to keep track of overpayments across the province -- as a result of actions taken by the Liberal government of the day, so that's the last issue they ought to be raising.

We have put in place controls across the system that tell us now that there are 104,000 cases where people are making repayments to the system. The case file investigation process that I reported on a couple of weeks ago reports very clearly on the results of the overpayment situation and many other controls we've put into the system to make sure the system is protected for those who most need it. That is an indication of the kind of importance we place on both maintaining good controls and the importance of the benefits we need to provide to the people who need them.

Mrs O'Neill: The minister is talking about a long time ago. In five years, all we've got in answer in the ministerial response in this auditor's report are verbs that are in the future: "We will... We will... We will...." What have you done?

We have confirmed with the auditors that the fraud is 2% to 3%, yet $90 million is being misplaced, and that is verified in today's report. The auditor found that the average time between case file reviews in your term is 17 months in several municipalities. On the case files in four municipalities in this province, with 40% of the outlay for social assistance, $1 billion in social assistance, the review has not taken place in over seven years. You've been there for five of those years, Mr Minister. It's unbelievable and unacceptable that you are blaming others for something you have not done.

Each year, you announce more and more plans for fraud squads, fraud squads and fraud squads.

The Speaker (Hon David Warner): Could the member place a question, please.

Mrs O'Neill: I say to you that this is not enough and ask you: When are you going to put in real standardized training for front-line workers? When are you going to put in real standard program and evaluation reviews? When are you going to start preserving the integrity of the social assistance system in this province?

Hon Mr Silipo: The honourable member hasn't been listening. We've been doing these things. The case file investigation report, the results from the first five months which I released a few weeks ago, talks about actual results. It doesn't talk about things that are going to happen in the future, it talks about things we've done. It talks about the $66 million in additional savings that we found in a five-month period alone, which we expect will be $180 million over the course of the balance of the fiscal year. That's real money. That's real money we are saving the taxpayers of Ontario and we are saving for the benefit of those people who are entitled to receive social assistance.

The training the honourable member talks about is going on as we speak. We have put additional dollars this year, last year and next year into better training for our staff, again because the measures that were there from the previous Liberal government just weren't adequate. We've increased all of those things.

We know that the fraud squad the member talks about is the addition of people in the system whose job it is, yes, to deal with issues of fraud and abuse, but whose job it also is to make sure people are getting entitlements to benefits from Canada pension, from workers' compensation benefits and through the family support plan, from all other sources. Those things are working and those things are resulting in less money having to be spent from social assistance.

We're not talking about what we're going to do in the future. We're talking about what we've actually done.

SUPPORT AND CUSTODY ORDERS ENFORCEMENT

Mr Michael D. Harris (Nipissing): My question is to the Attorney General on the family support plan. Attorney General, despite spending $25 million on the bureaucracy, more than half of all the cases in the plan have no money flowing.

When you brought forward your legislation to attempt to track down parents who owed support, you voted against our amendments to streamline the plan and increase the amount of money flowing to children in this province. We have consistently proposed that families who are not in arrears should be able to opt out of the bureaucracy of this plan in order to free up resources to track down deadbeat parents.

Minister, given that the auditor has confirmed that there is a need for changes to the system, will you today support our proposal?

Hon Marion Boyd (Attorney General): No, I will not, and I won't because the member is wrong in his assumption, as usual. In fact, we have increased the dollars per month collected by the family support plan since we put the measures into place from $14 million a month to over $30 million a month, and that is primarily because there is an automatic deduction for every single order filed with the court. Even those who initially opposed that kind of situation have since come to see that this is an effective and painless way of doing it.

Because it's deducted at source, it does not depend upon the bounty of the payor or the begging of the payee in order for the payment to be made; it becomes an automatic deduction. So no, we would not support those amendments any more today than we did when the act was passed in 1992.

Mr Harris: I'm sorry to hear that, because what it means is fewer resources for those children who are not getting the money they should be getting. This is exactly what your stand is saying.

The minister says I am using the wrong assumptions. I am using the assumptions of the Provincial Auditor. They're not my assumptions.

As of March this year, over $700 million were owing to children in this province through arrears in the family support plan. These are the areas we want to get at, not the ones where we have willing compliances.

In the Common Sense Revolution, we propose a system of mandatory mediation that would move many families of divorce out of the courts and into a more conciliatory setting. This proposal would free up the courts and, more importantly, lead to much more amicable arrangements that would benefit children of divorce. I thought that's what we're after: benefiting children of divorce. It benefits them financially and it benefits them emotionally.

Attorney General, given the auditor's condemnation of the current plan, will you then support mandatory mediation to assist children of divorce in Ontario?

Hon Mrs Boyd: First of all, the auditor did not in any way condemn the plan. There are issues around our information technology that he raises and that we acknowledge. He indeed talked about the need for quicker assignment from MCSS to our ministry. We agreed with that and we have set those things into process.

The leader of the third party seems to be suggesting that the government is responsible for enforcing this, that it isn't the payors who refuse to pay. The issue is that those hundreds of millions of dollars are owed by individuals who are refusing to pay. If the member thinks those people who now refuse to pay are going to enter into voluntary mediation and suddenly voluntarily support their children when they refuse to do it now under court order, he is dreaming in Technicolor.

LONG-TERM-CARE REFORM

Ms Jenny Carter (Peterborough): My question is for the Minister of Health, but first I would like to welcome the many members of the Senior Citizens' Consumer Alliance for Long-Term Care Reform, the United Senior Citizens of Ontario and other associated organizations who are visiting us today.

Many of these citizens have expressed frustration, saying that as consumers they have been relegated to the sidelines while other interests dominate the district health councils in developing local multiservice agencies. Minister, what guarantees of consumer involvement are you prepared to give? What recourse do consumers have if they have not been invited to the table?

Hon Ruth Grier (Minister of Health): I'm delighted to have an opportunity to recognize how many people have come today to discuss the issue of long-term care and I'm glad my colleague raised the question.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon David Warner): Order.

Hon Mrs Grier: I'm surprised, given the interest of the opposition, that they didn't raise it today.

Mr Jim Wilson (Simcoe West): You said there were 60 or 70.

The Speaker: The member for Simcoe West, order.

Hon Mrs Grier: The consumers are very clearly invited to the table.

Interjections.

The Speaker: Would the Minister of Health take her seat. Would the member for Simcoe West please come to order.

Hon Mrs Grier: The response of the opposition I think is symptomatic of their response to consumers. They don't believe that consumers ought to be on the boards of the agencies that are delivering long-term care. We do. We believe that consumers should be planning for the future of long-term care.

That's why we've asked district health councils to do that and why in many communities seniors are there. If they're not invited to the table, I'm today saying to them, "Knock on the door, come to the table," because long-term-care committees, district health councils, all represent consumers. We're committed to local planning and to local governance.

One of the amendments that we have made to Bill 173 is to require that a third of the members of the board of every multiservice agency would be consumers. That is very different from either of the other two parties opposite. That is our commitment to consumers managing, running and planning their own long-term-care system.

Ms Carter: Still in respect to long-term care, and in particular the orderly transition and continuation of current levels of service, there is scaremongering about the development of multiservice agencies going on in my community and elsewhere. Could you please elaborate on the time frame for integration of services and the process by which it will occur?

Hon Mrs Grier: Because the nature of the change that we are planning in consultation with district health councils is a fairly major change in the reorganization of long-term care is precisely the reason that we have built into the legislation a four-year transition period.

I agree with the member that there is a lot of misinformation. There is a misrepresentation of what we are doing. I think we heard that today in the response from the member of the Liberal party to our amendments to the labour side of the legislation, amendments that are designed to make sure that during the transition period both the clients and the people who work in the system have some guarantee that their level of services as well as their employment will be protected.

We have to remember what this legislation is all about. It's about consumers, it's about seniors, it's about the disabled and it's about the people who are here with us in the gallery today.

Making these changes has taken a long time.

The Speaker: Would the minister conclude her response, please.

Hon Mrs Grier: Previous governments talked about it. Our government has not only acted, we have put money behind our actions. We have increased the spending on long-term care by $400 million a year. No other government in this country is prepared to do that.

JOBS ONTARIO

Mr David Ramsay (Timiskaming): I have a question for the Minister of Education and Training. Thank goodness there's an auditor in the province of Ontario, because for years we have been trying to get the administrative costs of the Jobs Ontario program and today the auditor has stated that the cost of the program administratively is $70 million. That's 20% of the cost of that program, and that comes down to $2,000 a head. That's $2,000 for everybody you've placed in a job, and of course that doesn't count the money that was paid to employers to hire the employees in the first place.

It's no matter that the administration costs were so much, because of course the advanced money -- you had to borrow money at 9%; you gave it to the brokers who you charged 3%, and they in turn reinvested the money at 6%. So the brokers made a profit from the money. You advanced it not just in sums of 2 months' advance money, as your regulations had stated, but you advanced it in the sums of millions of dollars.

I'd like to ask the minister: Are you satisfied, administering a program that costs 20% of the total value, that costs the taxpayers of Ontario $70 million?

Hon David S. Cooke (Minister of Education and Training): I already responded to this question when the leader of the third party asked it, but I'll remind the member that in our view these are not all administrative costs. I indicated when I answered this question a few minutes ago that the brokers provide services other than just administrative costs. They're not just agencies that provide cheques.

These are our colleges of the province, these are some of the school boards in the province that deliver this program at the local level, and they deliver a lot of client supports in addition to the administrative costs. Client intake and assessment, employer outreach and job development, training plans that need to be developed, job matching, contract administration, monitoring and evaluation, systems and program support: Those are all part of the program that they deliver at the local level. Part of what they do is administration, but the 20% includes both, so I don't think it's fair to lump it all in one.

Maybe you still advocate the program your leader advocates, and that's the program they have in New Brunswick that costs $60,000 per person when they're on social assistance to try to get them back into the workplace and has a 60% dropout rate. That's not the type of program we're advocating. That doesn't work and costs a fortune. This is a program that works. People get back into the workplace.

Mr Ramsay: In March we talked about the high failure rate of this program and in April we questioned your decision to extend it. In October we talked about the high cost of the advertising budget that you put towards this, which is part of administration. Also, we were criticizing the fact that you've got now 90,000 people on a waiting list who have not been able to find jobs, and we look at that as being a 60% failure rate. Also, more seriously, most recently we said that we have raised concerns about consultants who are paid with Jobs Ontario money to secure grants for employers. This now is under police investigation and involves several companies.

I'd like to ask the minister if he really is satisfied with a program that costs so much to administer in the first place, has a high failure rate and now involves more police investigations?

Hon Mr Cooke: I don't agree with the assessment that because there are 90,000 people who have applied to get into the program, that indicates the program is a failure. We've created 60,000 jobs; 55,000 people are placed in those jobs. Your answer to the program is to kill it and throw 55,000 people out of work. If you think 90,000 people on a waiting list is a sign of a failure, what kind of failure would it be to throw 55,000 people out of work, as your party is suggesting?

OLDER WORKERS

Mrs Elizabeth Witmer (Waterloo North): My question is for the Minister of Labour. In December 1992, the Uniroyal plant in my community was closed. Prior to this closure, in March 1992, the manager of the program for older worker adjustment made a presentation to the workers who were about to be laid off and indicated that they could expect some financial assistance from the program.

Two years have passed since this plant closed and I have been contacted by the workers because for two years these workers have been waiting for an answer as to whether or not they are going to receive any help from your ministry. These people today are desperate. Their resources are almost used up. Minister, will you tell us why the Uniroyal workers are still waiting for the help they were promised more than two years ago?

Hon Shirley Coppen (Minister of Labour): The information you've provided me with I find very disheartening, just the same as you do, that these workers would have waited so long.

You and I are both aware of the limited amount of money in the fund and that it is funded by the federal government to the tune of 70%. I don't know why that representative from the ministry made that commitment, but if you would provide me with the information that you have just brought to the attention of the House and myself, I would be very pleased to get back to you.

Mrs Margaret Marland (Mississauga South): Some of them have died. It's been two years.

The Speaker (Hon David Warner): Order.

Hon Mrs Coppen: I find this problem very serious, and I can understand why you are so interested in it.

Mr Bill Murdoch (Grey-Owen Sound): It's happening all over.

The Speaker: The member for Grey-Owen Sound, come to order. Had the minister concluded her reply?

Hon Mrs Coppen: Only, Mr Speaker, that I do take this very seriously, and if the member would provide me with the information that she has brought to my attention, I would be very pleased to get back to her as soon as possible, and also for the name of the person who made that commitment. Again -- I'm repeating myself -- I take this very seriously, because those workers have gone without the money.

Mrs Witmer: Minister, these people, these workers, have been trying to communicate with your ministry for two years. Out of desperation they came to me. In a call, one woman said: "We feel we have been lied to. We do not have our calls returned to us." This is not an isolated incident in Kitchener-Waterloo. This is happening across the province.

Do you not realize these workers have exhausted their personal savings? They are desperate. They expected an honest, straightforward and prompt response from your ministry and they have not received it. Tell them yes or no. They want to get on with the business of planning their lives.

Minister, will you commit today to communicate with your officials regarding the Uniroyal program, and will you make a commitment that they will receive assistance before the end of 1994?

Mrs Marland: The answer's from Bob.

Hon Mrs Coppen: Excuse me, please. I am answering for myself as the Minister of Labour, again repeating that I can appreciate all the anxiety, all the desperation those folks are going through. I will be contacting ministry staff later this afternoon. I will get back to the member. Also, if those members have contacted my office, I am unaware of it. I would be very pleased to talk to the group, because there should be no one in this province who has to go through such a problem. Yes, I will deal with this as soon as possible.

FARM TAX REBATE PROGRAM

Mr Pat Hayes (Essex-Kent): My question is to the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. As usual, the opposition parties, the Liberals and the Conservatives, have tried to spread fear among the rural community in regard to the farm property tax rebate. They're going around as much as saying that it's going to be eliminated or drastically reduced. Will the minister today assure this House that the farm property tax rebate is not going to be eliminated?

Hon Elmer Buchanan (Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs): I appreciate the question, because both of the opposition parties have made this issue one of their planks in terms of their policy on rural Ontario. The Liberals have talked about protecting the farm property tax program and the Conservatives -- at least the Michael Harris party has talked about retaining the farm property tax program.

We have in fact retained the dollars that were committed to that program. We understand, as a government, the importance of this to farmers in rural Ontario. We've recently moved back to 75%, because there was enough money in that particular portfolio to put 75% of the property tax back to farmers. We have retained it. We are committed to maintaining that program until there is property tax reform and we intend to deliver on that commitment.

Mr Noble Villeneuve (S-D-G & East Grenville): Ask him what Bob Nixon did.

Mr Hayes: The opposition would like to know what Bob Nixon did. Maybe you can relate to that when you get up, Mr Minister.

One of the issues, of course, when you're dealing with agriculture -- it's like any other ministry -- is that there's always a concern about the budget. I know that when we first came into government we looked at long-term programs, and that's when the minister had me do the agricultural review task force or study. What I'd like to ask the minister is, how many of those recommendations out of that task force on agricultural finance, the review task force, have actually been implemented as of today?

Hon Mr Buchanan: I think it's important, as we work towards the end of our first term as a government, to realize that early on in the term we sent a task force around the province asking farmers and rural Ontarians what they wanted this government to deliver on. There were a series of recommendations that came forward which talked about putting in place long-term programs for farmers and not looking at Band-Aid, short-term programs that lasted for two years and then ran out.

The task force came back with, I believe, nine recommendations and we've implemented every last one of them. We have an egg commodity corporation; we have a FarmPlus plan, which is a rural loan pool which was suggested; we've put in place safety net programs; we've arranged for private mortgage guarantees.

These were all recommendations brought forward and delivered on, and we're very pleased now to see that the Liberal Party has endorsed the things we're doing despite the fact that a former Treasurer, I believe it was Bob Nixon, tinkered and played with the farm tax program that was in place at the time. We have no intention of doing that. We believe in long-term programs to support people in rural Ontario.

DRIVERS' LICENCES

Mr Bruce Crozier (Essex South): My question is for the Minister of Transportation. Statistics indicate that driver error is the primary cause of accidents in Ontario, and of course more accidents mean more claims, and under your flawed Bill 164 more claims mean larger premium increases.

The Provincial Auditor, in his report today, recognizes that there are problems with regard to driver's licence controls. "...we noted that controls to prevent individuals from obtaining more than one driver's licence were weak." The auditor goes on to say, "This could allow an individual who has a poor driving record or whose driver's licence has been suspended to obtain another licence."

Your ministry has known that the system has been broken for five years, and year after year the ministry has said that it is trying to fix it. The Provincial Auditor has made suggestions how to correct these problems now. Minister, will you tell the House and the citizens of Ontario who are law-abiding and good drivers how you will act to prevent the duplication of licensing poor drivers, which contributes to high insurance costs?

Hon Mike Farnan (Minister of Transportation): I thank the member for the question and for giving me the opportunity to present to the House and to the people of Ontario the extraordinary achievement of this government in terms of driver safety and our safety program.

As you know, it is our intention to have the safest roads in North America. Indeed, I am proud to tell this House that we have fewer fatalities in Ontario than in 40 years. That is a fact and it's something we must be very proud of.

Not only have we got this record, but we are working to improve the record. We are working with graduated licences. We are working with safety measures on our roads. We're building those medians that provide safety.

The member is quite correct to bring to the attention of the people of Ontario that we indeed not only have safe roads, but we are continuing to implement those kinds of programs which will ensure that the roads of Ontario are the safest roads in all of Canada.

Mr Crozier: My point is that the Provincial Auditor has also pointed out that in addition to saving lives, the ministry estimates that a 1% reduction in accidents would save $69 million in health care, property damage and other costs. Mr Minister, you didn't answer the question. Poor drivers can get duplicate licences and be out on the road again. How are you going to prevent that?

Hon Mr Farnan: We are constantly monitoring compliance and, indeed, within our ministry we are taking those steps which will ensure that the kind of duplication the member speaks of will not be acceptable and will not happen. I say to the member it is absolutely clear that when you reduce accidents, when you reduce fatalities, clearly you reduce the costs of hospital bills, you save dollars for the taxpayers. So not only have we safe roads, we are reducing the cost for the taxpayers in this province. I know this member of the House would want to join me in commending the government on an outstanding achievement.

PETITIONS

GASOLINE PRICES

Mr Frank Miclash (Kenora): Unlike the member for Cochrane South, I wish to read the entire petition today, not just the portion that he presented yesterday.

This is a petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario and it reads:

"Whereas the difference in gasoline prices between" --

Interjections.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr Gilles E. Morin): Order, please. We will just wait until the House quietens down, then we'll be able to continue with our procedures. We'll stop the clock and start again. Just wait for a minute.

Interjections.

The Deputy Speaker: Order, please.

Mr Miclash: As I was saying, unlike the NDP member for Cochrane South who yesterday only read a portion of this petition, I wish to read the entire petition into the record. It's a petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario which reads:

"Whereas the difference in gasoline prices between northern and southern Ontario has long represented a serious inequity between the two regions; and

"Whereas the difference in gasoline prices between northern and southern Ontario is often between 10 and 20 cents a litre; and

"Whereas residents of most northern Ontario communities have no access to public transportation options and are therefore dependent on private automobiles; and

"Whereas 1990 NDP election promises to 'equalize' the price of gasoline across the province have not been kept; and

"Whereas" I, as the member for the Kenora riding, have "called upon the NDP government to keep their 1990 election promises; and

"Whereas the elimination of the motor vehicle registration fees for northern Ontario residents does not compensate for the excessively high gas prices in northern Ontario;

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

"That the NDP government of Ontario fulfil its election promises to the people of northern Ontario by equalizing the price of gas across the province."

That's signed by many constituents from across the riding. I too attach my name to that petition.

LONG-TERM-CARE REFORM

Mr Bill Murdoch (Grey-Owen Sound): I have a petition to the Legislative Assembly which has been signed by about 1,000 residents from my area, from Hanover, Meaford, Thornbury, Durham and Owen Sound.

"We, the undersigned, are very concerned that Bill 173, if not amended, will mean less service, more costly services, loss of volunteers and will prevent local communities from ensuring the system meets their long-term-care needs."

I have affixed my signature.

CHILD SAFETY

Ms Sharon Murdock (Sudbury): Two children, David Lee Bushey and Tammy Lynn Lavallee, were killed in a school bus accident. As a consequence, David Lee's aunt Janet Bushey collected in six weeks 11,361 names stating:

"In loving memory of David Lee Bushey and Tammy Lynn Lavallee, we, the undersigned, do agree it should be mandatory to have seatbelts on every school bus to ensure the safety of our children."

I hereto affix my signature.

MOTORCYCLE AND SNOWMOBILE INSURANCE

Mr John C. Cleary (Cornwall): I have a petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

"Whereas we, the undersigned, are of the opinion that private insurance companies are exploiting Ontario motorcyclists and snowmobile operators by charging excessive rates for coverage or by outright refusing to provide coverage;

"Whereas we understand that those insurance companies that do specialize in motorcycle insurance will only insure riders with four or five years of riding experience and are outright refusing to insure riders who drive certain models of 'supersport' bikes; and

"Whereas we believe the situation will cost hundreds of jobs at dealerships and in the motorcycle industry and is contrary to the rights of motorcyclists and snowmobile operators;

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

"That the government of Ontario should study the feasibility of launching public motorcycle and snowmobile insurance."

This petition is signed by more than 240 of the residents in my riding in eastern Ontario.

ANIMALS FOR RESEARCH

Mr David Winninger (London South): I have a petition addressed to the Legislative Assembly sent to me by Florine Robinson and containing at least 1,000 names which reads as follows:

"Whereas every year in North America animals are used in cruel, outdated tests for cosmetics and household products; and

"Whereas these tests are not required by either provincial or federal law; and

"Whereas many non-animal alternative tests are available and already in use by many companies;

"We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to bring forward the proposed regulatory amendments to the Animals for Research Act to NDP caucus for discussion and passage, so the amendments can be made law as quickly as possible."

TAX INCREASES

Mr James J. Bradley (St Catharines): I have a petition signed by several people. It reads as follows:

"Whereas the government of Ontario has consistently mismanaged its finances and failed to support the economy of the province;

"Whereas the government's new tax agenda has hurt many businesses across the province and killed tens of thousands of jobs;

"Whereas the government has lost over $2 billion in revenue even after imposing over $3 billion in new taxes;

"Whereas the government is raising non-tax revenue through raising fees on everything it can think of including toll roads, photo-radar, snowmobile fees, ferry fees, health service fees and children's service fees without consultation, without studying the impact of these fees on local communities;

"Whereas the government is camouflaging its deficit crisis by phantom sales of government buildings;

"Whereas the government is hiding its spending by setting up crown corporations to take on new debts;

"Whereas the government even after these questionable measures has still been unable to control its $10-billion deficit"

Interjections.

Ms Christel Haeck (St Catharines-Brock): He has a smile on his face. Look at him; we got him.

Mr Bradley: I'm being heckled by the opposition. I'm trying to get this petition out.

"Whereas the government is planning to introduce even more taxes which will only lead to further job losses across the province, reduce business confidence and prolong the recession;

"Whereas the government continues to waste money through tens of thousands of dollars in unjustified expenses on meals and hotels by senior political and ministerial staff;

"We, the undersigned, call upon the government to take action to halt any new tax increases, cut its own wasteful spending, take real action to support business and job creation and get the province working again."

This is signed by a large number of people right across Ontario.

CITY OF STONEY CREEK

Mr Mark Morrow (Wentworth East): "We, the undersigned, beg leave to petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as follows:

"Whereas we, the undersigned, are of the opinion that the corporation of the city of Stoney Creek has improperly denied firefighters access to council and committee meetings and access to crucial reports;

"Whereas we, the undersigned, believe the corporation of the city of Stoney Creek has bargained in bad faith with the Stoney Creek Professional Firefighters Association, Local 2654; and

"Whereas we, the undersigned, object to the staffing and training decisions of Stoney Creek council that have threatened the safety of firefighters and the public;

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

"That the government of Ontario establish a commission of inquiry pursuant to

section 178 of the Municipal Act to investigate these complaints against the corporation of the city of Stoney Creek."

FIREARMS SAFETY

Mr Ron Eddy (Brant-Haldimand): A petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas we, the undersigned, strenuously object to the Ministry of the Solicitor General's decision on the firearms acquisition certificate course and examination;

"Whereas we believe that the Solicitor General should have followed the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters' advice and grandfathered those of us who have already taken safety courses and/or hunted for years;

"Whereas we believe that we should not have to take the time nor pay the costs of another course or examination and we should not have to learn about classes of firearms that we have no desire to own;

"We petition the Legislative Assembly as follows:

"To amend your plans, grandfather responsible firearms owners and hunters and only require future first-time gun purchasers to take the new federal firearms safety course or examination."

It is signed by several people, and I affix my signature.

DANGEROUS OFFENDERS

Mr Larry O'Connor (Durham-York): I have a petition here to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

"Whereas the Ontario government recognizes the importance of protecting women and children from violent situations in the home; and

"Whereas the Attorney General has made this possible through court orders that protect women and children from violent perpetrators; and

"Whereas according to statistics, in 1990, 38% of all Ontario homicide victims were women; 98% of these women were killed by their male partners. Approximately once every week, somewhere in Ontario, another woman dies at the hands of her partner; and

"Whereas the Solicitor General, through the resources of the Ontario Provincial Police and other municipal police services, has the power to monitor the compliance of pre-trial conditions for violent perpetrators but may not have the financial resources to do so;

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

"To improve the monitoring of pre-trial releases and prevent the needless deaths of women and children. We demand that the Solicitor General place appropriate resources into police services and monitor the pre-trial release conditions."

I affix my signature to this in full support and it has been sent to me from women from Pefferlaw, Keswick, Richmond Hill, Sutton, Uxbridge, Maple, Thornhill, Aurora and right across the whole south Lake Simcoe basin.

LONG-TERM-CARE REFORM

Mrs Joan M. Fawcett (Northumberland): I have a petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

"We, the undersigned, are concerned that Bill 173, if unamended, will result in less service, more costly service, a decrease in volunteers, less flexibility for communities to develop a model that works for them."

I have signed the petition.

ANIMALS FOR RESEARCH

Mr Pat Hayes (Essex-Kent): I have a petition here:

"Whereas every year in North America animals are used in cruel, outdated tests for cosmetics and household products; and

"Whereas these tests are not required by either provincial or federal law; and

"Whereas many non-animal alternative tests are available and already in use by many companies;

"We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to bring forward the proposed regulatory amendments to the Animals for Research Act for discussion and passage so the amendments can be made law as quickly as possible."

LONG-TERM-CARE REFORM

Mrs Barbara Sullivan (Halton Centre): I have a petition addressed to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, which reads as follows:

"Whereas the Ontario government has given second reading to Bill 173,

An Act respecting Long-Term Care, and clause-by-clause consideration of the bill;

"Whereas seniors and the disabled are entitled to accessible community-based care;

"Whereas we do not believe that Bill 173 will provide more cost-effective and accessible care;

"Whereas we, the undersigned, believe the government of Ontario must recognize and value the work of volunteers in this province;

"We, the undersigned, petition the Legislature of Ontario to ensure that amendments are made to Bill 173 to allow for provision of community care based on the needs of the local communities in Ontario and to acknowledge the role of volunteers in the delivery of care."

This petition comes from hundreds of people in Oakville, Burlington and Milton in Halton county, my area, and I concur with it and have affixed my signature to it.

MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES

Mr Gary Wilson (Kingston and The Islands): My petition is to Bob Rae about the funding of mental health services.

"Dear Premier Rae:

"We, the undersigned, are citizens of Ontario who have personal experience in the mental health services of Ontario as consumers, family of consumers and/or service provider.

"In the name of health for people who have serious mental illnesses, we call upon your government to reinvest any money taken from provincial psychiatric hospitals and community mental health services and to not close hospital psychiatric beds until adequate community support services are in place."

That's signed by over 60 people in my area.

LONG-TERM-CARE REFORM

Mr Daniel Waters (Muskoka-Georgian Bay): I have a petition today that states:

"We, the undersigned, are concerned that Bill 173, if unamended, will mean less service, more costly service, a decrease in volunteers and less flexibility for communities to develop a model that works for them."

It's signed by about 40 members of my riding.

SERVICES DE SANTÉ

M. Gilles Bisson (Cochrane-Sud) : J'ai ici une pétition de la part de différentes personnes du nord de l'Ontario qui dit :

«Sachant que l'Hôpital Memorial de Sudbury a une longue histoire de budgets opérationnels équilibrés avec administration responsable ; et

«Sachant que l'Hôpital Memorial est le centre régional des soins cardiovasculaires du nord-est de l'Ontario,

«Nous, soussignés, donnons notre appui au maintien de l'Hôpital Memorial comme centre de soins aigus à Sudbury.»

REPORTS BY COMMITTEES

STANDING COMMITTEE ON ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE

Mr Marchese from the standing committee on administration of justice presented the committee's report and moved its adoption.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr Gilles E. Morin): Shall the report be received and adopted? Agreed.

Pursuant to the order of the House dated November 2, 1994, this bill is ordered for third reading.

INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

MISSISSAUGA SYNCHRONIZED SWIMMING ASSOCIATION ACT, 1994

Mr Mahoney moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill Pr150,

An Act to revive Mississauga Synchronized Swimming Association.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr Gilles E. Morin): Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

ONTARIO ASSOCIATION OF HOME INSPECTORS ACT, 1994

Mr Mills moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill Pr158,

An Act respecting the Ontario Association of Home Inspectors.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr Gilles E. Morin): Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

PUBLICLY FUNDED HOUSING RENT CONTROL ACT, 1994 / LOI DE 1994 SUR LE CONTRÔLE DES LOYERS DES LOGEMENTS DONT LE FINANCEMENT EST PUBLIC

Mr Crozier, on behalf of Mr Henderson, moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 189,

An Act to protect certain rent-geared-to-income Tenants in publicly funded rental units / Projet de loi 189, Loi visant à protéger des locataires de logements locatifs dont le financement est public qui paient un loyer indexé sur le revenu.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr Gilles E. Morin): Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

Mr Bruce Crozier (Essex South): The purpose of the bill is to ensure that the rate of rent and utility increases for tenants 65 years of age and over who pay rent for units that are publicly funded is not greater than the rate at which their income increases.

ORDERS OF THE DAY

Hon Brian A. Charlton (Government House Leader): Mr Speaker, just before I call the first order, the House leaders have had some discussion. I'll be calling the 35th order, and the Conservatives have requested that their critic be able to stand down his opening statement until the next time we debate this bill. So what we would have this afternoon is the opening statement from the minister and the critic's from the Liberal caucus, and then just a regular half-hour rotation from the Conservative caucus, and we would return to their opening statement on the next day.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr Gilles E. Morin): Is this agreed? Agreed.

BUSINESS REGULATION REFORM ACT, 1994 / LOI DE 1994 PORTANT RÉFORME DE LA RÉGLEMENTATION DES ENTREPRISES

Mr Duignan, on behalf of Ms Churley, moved second reading of Bill 187,

An Act to reform the Law regulating Businesses / Projet de loi 187, Loi portant réforme du droit réglementant les entreprises.

Mr Noel Duignan (Halton North): It's indeed a great pleasure for me to move second reading of the Business Regulation Reform Act. As members of the House will recall, my honourable colleague the Minister of Consumer and Commercial Relations introduced this bill earlier this month; I believe it was November 3. I'm indeed very pleased to be able to carry this bill forward, as I believe it reflects our government's commitment to cutting red tape for businesses in this province.

This bill also acknowledges the vital role played by small businesses in revitalizing the provincial economy. As you know, business confidence is coming back, investment is up and businesses are making investments in capital spending. In fact, some economic professors are now predicting that Ontario will be one of the leading industrial sectors in economic growth in the next few years.

If you look at the Treasurer's statement earlier this month, it's interesting to note that Ontario has led the country in economic growth in the second quarter of this year and is turning in its best performance since 1988, at a growth rate of some 8.4%.

It's also interesting to note that our Jobs Ontario Training program has now provided some 63,565 jobs, with over 20,000 employers taking

part in this particular program. What this means for the taxpayers of this province is hundreds of millions of dollars saved in social service payments.

We have made it easier for our very important small and medium-sized businesses and firms in Ontario to get the funds they need to grow and to hire more people. Small business is a big reason behind the recent upswing in the province's economy, businesses that help spur the economy and indeed create jobs. However, as regulations and standards have changed and increased, businesses have found themselves forced to spend more and more time filling out forms and responding to inquiries from various levels of government.

So what have we done? We have listened to the small business community in this province, which identified government paper burden as one of the major hurdles to establishing new enterprises. We've heard this concern from small businesses; we've heard it from large businesses and entrepreneurs; we've heard it from the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, as well as from groups of small business owners.

We've also heard about the excessive costs of paper burden to businesses. As you know, it can take a long time to launch or expand a business in this province. An entrepreneur may have to deal with between seven and 10 different government ministries simply to get off the ground and get going, and I don't need to remind people in business that indeed time is money.

This government understands the importance of small business and entrepreneurship throughout the province. Since 1987, small business has generated some 75% of all the new jobs in Ontario. A full 34% of the province's labour force is employed with firms of less than 100 employees. The fact is that small and medium-sized businesses play a vital economic role.

It was awareness of this important sector that led our government to introduce the Business Regulation Reform Act, which is designed to streamline and simplify the business regulation and reporting process, thereby lessening the paper burden for businesses.

This act will overcome hurdles in specific program legislation. It will allow the government to change the old requirements for paper forms and signatures, thus paving the way for electronic registration. It will also provide the authority for registration and reporting service expansion.

The regulatory burden placed on small businesses in Ontario has grown over a very long period and has been created by many governments of all stripes. However, this government has shown initiative by introducing legislation and streamlining the numerous processes involved in starting a small business. Our government takes its regulatory responsibilities very, very seriously. This bill will ensure the regulations necessary to maintain a fair and safe and informed marketplace that supports a very competitive economy and which will be administered in the most efficient and effective manner that causes the least amount of paperwork for businesses.

What have we done to date? As a first and initial step, the government has launched the government-wide initiative called Clearing the Path for Business Success. As many of my colleagues already know, our government improved the registration process in September with the Ontario business registration access, part of the Clearing the Path initiative.

Beginning this fall, in fact September, self-help computer workstations, the foundation of the improved registration service, are being introduced in 16 business self-help and land registry offices. To date, the workstations are located in Timmins, Smiths Falls, Windsor, Barrie, St Catharines, Belleville, Huntsville, in the Timiskaming district, that is, in Haileybury, and also in North Bay and Sault Ste Marie.

It's interesting to note that the self-help office in Timiskaming, which opened on November 2, is unique by virtue of its nature: It is a portable workstation. The portability of this workstation allows for the more northern communities to have access to this registration process. In other words, business owners in select communities such as Kirkland Lake, Englehart etc are currently being identified in order for them to have access not only to the workstation but to a business consultant as well.

The next four sites to be installed will be London, one in the Halton region in Vaughan, and two in Ottawa. Of the two in Ottawa, one will be in the self-help office and the other will be in the land registry office. The 16th workstation will be installed in Toronto in January of next year.

It's also interesting to note that the technology used in this workstation is the very latest in computer technology and has very user-friendly software. I encourage all members of the House to visit one of the workstations to see how easy it is for people to get access to this workstation and fill out the necessary forms to start a business; to see how successful it has been.

These workstations allow entrepreneurs across the province to electronically complete up to four application forms most commonly required to start non-incorporated small businesses. They are the business name registration, the retail sales tax vendor permit, the employer health tax, and the Workers' Compensation Board application forms.

The application forms can be printed and reviewed, the on-line searches will also be available at that office, and all the applicable fees can be paid at that office, and then the completed forms will be couriered to Ontario business registration access in Toronto for processing -- we call it the clearinghouse -- for which they will be given priority processing.

If you don't live pretty close to one of those workstations or self-help offices, entrepreneurs unable to visit those workstations can still save time and travel costs by calling a toll-free help line. This help line provides businesses with general information about business startup registrations, and the status of any registration application submitted at a computer workstation or indeed mailed to the Ontario business registration access.

The help line will eventually be able to supply information regarding other necessary federal, provincial and municipal licences and permits. Entrepreneurs calling the help line will be provided with general business information and mailed a customized registration kit to be returned to the single-address clearinghouse.

We are also continuing to develop improvements to the business registration access program. Thirty-five additional workstations will be introduced to Ontario communities throughout the province between April and July of next year. Also in April of next year, through the OBRA, businesses will be able to make payment by credit card for name search and business name.

People have said to us, "Why this legislation?" As you know, we were able to introduce these initial improvements without legislation because we are basically an overlay on existing processes. However, we cannot reach an optimum level of service to our business clients without clear legislative authority to do a number of things. This legislation, for example, will provide clear authority for such things as combined registration forms; overcome roadblocks and consolidate requirements in individual program areas; provide authority for anticipated service expansion such as links with the federal government.

The legislation will provide specific immediate solutions to small business concerns and issues, including combined business form registration, electronic filing of business names, retail sales tax permits, employer health tax and Workers' Compensation Board application forms. Completed registrations at workstations will take place electronically, eliminating the need for paper forms and applicant signatures. There will be the sharing of basic information; for example, business name and addresses required by all business-related programs.

There will be unified reporting to make it possible for businesses to receive consolidated monthly account statements and remit taxes in a single payment. This service will be introduced in September 1995 for businesses making retail sales tax and employer health tax payments. In January 1996, businesses paying the retail sales tax and the employer health tax and corporation tax can start paying in a unified manner. Also, unified reporting will be extended over time to include other filing frequencies such as, for example, quarterly and annual programs.

Systems will also be linked to permit the issuance of the federal business number through provincial and federal outlets. This number is designed to replace the multiple numbers that businesses once needed to deal with both the federal and provincial governments.

We are also looking ahead to what we want to do with the anticipated service expansion of this particular initiative. We will be giving businesses the support they need, and indeed this is what the Business Regulation Reform Act is all about; that is, to create a single-window, one-stop service that will integrate the registration and reporting requirements of all three levels of government, municipal, provincial and federal.

Just imagine being able to walk into one government office where a businessperson can electronically complete all the forms necessary and required by all three levels of government, and just think of the advantages of being able to remit business taxes with just one single payment.

Our government is committed to providing equal access to services across Ontario. Businesses throughout the province will have access to the level of service that up to now has been available only to those living in, or prepared to go to, Toronto.

I recently had the pleasure of visiting the workstation at Smiths Falls and seeing this particular program in action. The very first client of that particular workstation the first day it opened -- I think it was on September 23 of this year -- was going to spend two days in Toronto visiting the necessary government departments to fill out the forms required. In 22 minutes she did the necessary work, and the whole process was complete in a couple of weeks, and indeed her business is now up and running in the Smiths Falls area.

Also recently in Smiths Falls, a client came in on Monday and had all the necessary forms back by the end of that week. So the service is there; it's good news for the small businesses of this community.

The government, as I said, is committed to providing equal access to services across Ontario. We are also committed to reducing the regulatory overlap and duplication that currently exists among Ontario, Canadian and other jurisdictions, thereby providing taxpayers with more cost-efficient and cost-effective government, informing the government only once about any change in information instead of going to many different ministries to advise them of the same change.

It's very interesting to get client feedback right now, and that client feedback is indeed very encouraging and very positive. I'm sure we all agree in this House that small businesses are one of the foundations of this province's economy, and I'm delighted to say today that the response has been extremely positive. Now they will have to spend less time, considerably less time and effort, registering their enterprises in Ontario. By our helping them reduce time they spend on paperwork, they can do what they do best: expand and create jobs to help put our people back to work in this province.

In our meetings with small business people, one of the things we heard over and over again is the frustration they face with government red tape. When we looked at the registration process for new businesses, for example, we found that setting up a small business, as I said earlier, required an entrepreneur to deal with an average of seven to 10 different ministries, and that's just at the provincial level. The Business Regulation Reform Act will lessen this burden by eventually permitting businesses to consolidate many of their requirements into one single process.

We are also working with the federal government. I just noted that to establish their businesses, entrepreneurs have to visit between seven and 10 Ontario ministries. Then they have to complete the federal registrations, and that includes the GST, UIC and CPP applications, and much of this has to be done by mail to Ottawa. They also have to visit their local municipal office to obtain other licences and permits, depending on the nature of their business.

To the taxpayers, it's all government regardless of what level it comes from, and they cannot and do not distinguish between the three levels of government. The longer goal of Clearing the Path is to merge registration and recording requirements of all levels, starting with the federal government. This legislation is required to permit sharing of core information applicable to all government programs -- for example, business name, business address -- and we have to do that at all levels. I must point out that business information is already public information, but ministries need the authority to share and consolidate this information for efficient processing.

The MCCR has developed the Clearing the Path initiative with a working committee made up of other government ministries: the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Labour, and the Workers' Compensation Board. The advisory committee, comprised of our private sector partners, including new entrepreneurs, representatives from business associations and indeed the academic community, was established to provide us with feedback on our policy and program concepts.

The minister and the ministry have also held a number of focus groups to test our vision for Clearing the Path and to suggest some priorities for future enhancements. The bottom line on this consultation was indeed twofold: (1) to improve the services to business and (2) to simplify the ongoing reporting relationship between government and business. An earlier pilot program in Kingston and London confirmed the demand for a consolidated registration process.

In 1994, business self-help offices across the province were invited to participate in the Ontario business registration access service and were asked to submit a proposal if they were indeed interested. The selection criteria reflected a wide variety of issues, including geographic location, community size and the ability to rapidly implement the workstation concept. As a result, the 16 workstations I talked about earlier are being delivered in a partnership with municipal business self-help offices as well as land registry offices and the retail sales tax office.

What we're talking about right now basically affects those unincorporated businesses. For those businesses that need incorporation indeed it's a very, very different process from registering basically a sole proprietorship or indeed a general partnership.

Currently, entrepreneurs setting up a business under the Ontario Corporations Act or the Business Corporations Act will have to use existing procedures to register. However, the foundation being built under the umbrella of this particular legislation will act as a stepping stone for the future.

Incorporated businesses will benefit from the introduction of a unified reporting system in September of next year. Businesses can then elect to make retail sales tax and employer health tax payments with a single cheque each month. The incorporations tax payments will be added in January 1996, and large businesses which are required to make payments at different times during the month will be able to receive consolidated statements and again make single payments. We believe this will simplify and streamline the reporting process for all businesses.

In closing, I believe the adoption of this bill is a very, very important first step towards re-engineering business regulation and reporting in Ontario. I believe it's also an example of our government's commitment to streamline all of its operations and procedures.

It is crucial that we continue to improve the overall business-government relationship. The Business Regulation Reform Act will allow us to continue to improve the registration and reporting processes and ensure more efficient government services to the businesses in Ontario, and that's what this act is all about.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr Gilles E. Morin): Any questions or comments? Are there any other members who wish to participate in this debate?

Mr Carman McClelland (Brampton North): I say to the parliamentary assistant, thank you for that introduction of the legislation we're discussing today, Bill 187,

An Act to reform the Law regulating Businesses. Indeed, I say with sincerity that often in this place it's difficult to cross over the partisan chasms that are sometimes built, and I want to, at the outset, congratulate the government for taking this initiative. I will qualify that somewhat. I want to simply say that I think it's a good measure, albeit slow in coming, and quite frankly not taking a large enough step at this present time.

Let me touch base on some of those matters as we talk about this for a while. This particular legislation is the product of the work of the Clearing the Path project under the direction of Mr Evans from the Ministry of Consumer and Commercial Relations, who was charged with the responsibility, together with a very able group of individuals in the ministry, to look at the climate in which business operates in the province of Ontario.

The parliamentary assistant for the Ministry of Consumer and Commercial Relations, Mr Duignan, has indicated and quite ably put on the record the importance of small business for the province of Ontario and indeed our country. It is no secret that emerging businesses in the small to medium-size sector are the lifeblood of the economy in the 1990s and doubtless into the next decade.

As we move with almost blinding rapidity into the era of electronic communications and the electronic highway, the nature of business and the way that business is done will change at a pace that perhaps only some people whom I would describe as visionaries can actually contemplate at the present time.

By way of a bit of an aside, I had the opportunity of hearing Mr Ted Rogers a few weeks ago. His prediction -- he has been reasonably accurate in terms of his business predictions of late -- indicated that by the turn of the century over 70% of the households in the province of Ontario will have interactive abilities in terms of electronic communication. In point of fact, many businesses are already at that place. Businesses operate on virtual instant transmission of information and databases, unlike, I say, government.

It is no secret that governments, generally speaking, have been slow to respond to the marketplace. I think in part that's the nature of the parliamentary government that we know, and in point of fact in some US jurisdictions under a different system. Governments tend to do business as usual. It has often been said that if governments were in business, they would have been broke a long time ago because they just don't adapt and they don't change quickly enough.

It's no secret that ministry to ministry can't communicate effectively electronically. There's really only one jurisdiction that does that adequately, that has been, so to speak, wired for communication, that being the jurisdiction of New Brunswick, albeit the province of Quebec certainly has advanced in terms of communication, department by department and ministry to ministry.

What does that tell us? It tells us, on the one hand, that business has moved very, very quickly to embracing and utilizing electronic communication. In point of fact, most businesses would not survive. In point of fact, in most new businesses, a virtual requirement of an entrepreneur is that she or he be literate or certainly functionally able in terms of using electronic information processing systems. I hasten to add my own personal deficiency in that respect. I recognize that younger people, young women and men in our educational institutions today, are being equipped to deal with the reality of communication in the 1990s, in the year 2000 and beyond.

What this initiative is trying to do is to mesh the reality of the business place with the reality of business trying to do business, if you will, with government. I hope I explained that well. Business to business seems to interact quite well electronically; business to government has some difficulty and, as I think would be admitted by members of all three parties, government, within its various jurisdictions and bureaucracy, is not yet up to speed with respect to electronic communication.

We know the importance of small business to the economy. That's been touched on. We know the impact it has on job creation. Certainly those who are entering the workforce for the first time have the best prospect of job opportunity in the small business sector. Indeed, many of the jobs will be from the entrepreneurial spirit that has been engendered in young women and men across this province and this country to build an economy for the future and for the next generation in the next decade.

There lies within the business community a general frustration, a frustration that has been expressed by small business, some reference being made to it by the parliamentary assistant, a frustration that government doesn't understand the plight they are in, a frustration that government is slow to react and slow to respond to their needs, a frustration that is indicated by chambers of commerce and boards of trade which say that this current government doesn't understand that when it increases taxes by $4 billion, it is hurting job creation; that when they have tax hikes of an unprecedented order, it slows down the economy and makes it hard for them to do work; that when they have a paperwork burden that has increased dramatically over the past four years, it makes it more difficult to start business and indeed to sustain business.

Incidentally, I had an opportunity to meet with a young woman today at noon, a friend of mine who was trying to establish a small business. She indicated that she went through the process of beginning to look at filing papers, went to a government office at the Ministry of Consumer and Commercial Relations to do so and ended up having to return another day when she noticed that her day was being used up waiting in line. There were still 10 people ahead of her and she wanted to get on with filing her business so that she could begin.

I'll give you another example anecdotally that represents the difficulty that businesses have. A number of months ago I was in Ottawa with my colleague Mr Phillips, the member for Scarborough-Agincourt, and we did an open-line phone-in show for a couple of hours on an Ottawa radio station.

A gentleman called and recounted the following story. He said: "I have" -- what to him seemed a relatively modest amount of money to me seemed like a great deal of money -- "$300,000 and I want to start a business. I'm ready to go. I have my product, I have my personnel, I have everything in place, but the problem is that I can't get the appropriate documentation from the government of Ontario."

He went on to indicate that he had in fact sent in documents and they had been returned because he had failed to complete an appropriate box of information. They were returned to him by mail a number of days, perhaps weeks, later, I forget exactly, but it was a frustrating time period for him in any event. He subsequently completed the appropriate box and sent in the information, but by now it was dated and because it was dated it had to be sent back again and reprocessed entirely.

He had begun that in late November, I believe, of 1993 and we were speaking with him in early March 1994. So a number of months had passed by where he had begun the process of filing the paper to get a business going and he wasn't able to get that business under way because the paper transactions hadn't been done correctly.

Very clearly, a solution for that situation would have been what's being envisaged with electronic filing. He would have sat down at a computer terminal at an appropriate location, he would have punched up the information and somebody or the program in the computer itself would have flagged the fact that the information wasn't complete and would have identified the problem.

He would have remedied the problem, pushed a button effectively, had the business filed and would have been ready to go a number of months earlier, injecting money into the economy, employing people and doing what he wanted to do, to get on and make a profit, which is understandably the appropriate motivation for being in business, and make a gainful contribution to the community in which he lived and indeed the province and our country. That wasn't what he was able to do. He went through the process of some delay, as I described. The concept that's being envisaged by this legislation would deal with that.

I hasten to add that the legislation that is being brought forward today does virtually nothing in the immediate. I think we've heard that. I'm sure the parliamentary assistant may want to comment on that. What this legislation does is effectively set the table for some initiatives that are going to take place about a year down the road, perhaps September or so of 1995. Less than a year, 10 months or so from now, we'll begin to see the product of what is possible to come out of the legislation that's being put forward today.

What has been done in the short term has been done administratively. It's a function of policy deciding that the kiosks that you spoke of, the travelling filing system in Timiskaming -- it moves around -- can be done immediately. It's really an issue of the government will to get on with the task of making it easier to do business. What this piece of legislation does is set up the next step where we will be able to move into, effectively, the electronic age for doing business and hopefully provide the opportunity to bring other levels of government on stream.

We know that small business is important to our economy. We know that there are countless frustrations. We have seen evidence of that with the billboards that have appeared in downtown Toronto that have given the leader of this government the dubious distinction of being Buffalo's businessperson of the year, the current billboard that indicates very graphically this government's policies in terms of their tax-hungry initiatives, the fact that they have paid lip-service to some extent to businesses but, on the other hand, go and do things that are counterproductive.

Whether it be in the hard and heavy-handed way that they've implemented some of their policies contrary to the interest of business, they none the less come now as we are approaching what I think is the perhaps early preparatory time for an election and say, "Hey, now we want to start to listen to business." A project that has been in place for some four and a half years is now being pulled off the shelf and being brought forward and they're saying, "We're going to move with it."

Hon Frances Lankin (Minister of Economic Development and Trade): Excuse me?

Mr McClelland: The Minister of Economic Development and Trade looks at me kind of quizzically. In point of fact, the director of the project team would indicate that this initiative had its genesis a number of years ago, began and was effectively detoured around a number of roadblocks and has only been given the freedom to move and be brought forward, with the initiative that we're discussing today, in recent months.

Hon Ms Lankin: I am going to go apoplectic in a minute if you continue this. Holy mackerel.

Mr McClelland: Minister, you'll have an opportunity to respond and you can do your "Holy mackerels" or whatever else you want. In point of fact, you know very well, and I think that the reality in the business community across this province will speak very, very plainly and abundantly clear whenever we have the next election, that the sentiment that is being expressed by business everywhere any one of us goes in this province lately is that the best thing that can happen for clearing the path for business in the province of Ontario is to have a change in government.

There is no question that we need to move electronically in some of the initiatives that we have here, but at the same time there is also no question that there has been a sense that the government of the day is anti-business and is not interested in the realities of business in the workplace.

Hon Ms Lankin: Oh, come on, look at all the statistics.

Mr McClelland: I suggest to my friend opposite that maybe one of the reasons business confidence is up is they're looking at it and saying, "My God, we only have about six months left." That's probably one of the reasons that there is a sense of business opportunity, that maybe there will be some fresh air at the end of the tunnel and that there is some light and that there will be an opportunity to breathe again and to flourish in this province.

The particular initiatives of this bill I'll make some brief comments on, particularly with respect to

section 4. I note in

section 4 of the act that there is effectively a veto power for other ministries that would be brought on board. I suppose one could read a lot into this, and I can only speculate.

It seems to me that what we would have wanted was an opportunity where an initiative was being taken forward with a sense of unfettered direction. I suspect what happened was something to the effect that the project team and the Minister of Consumer and Commercial Relations would have said that we want to be able to move in a direction across ministries and departments of government and bring this initiative to fruition as quickly and as cleanly as able. Doubtless what would happen in a discussion like that, it seems to me, is that there would be people who would say: "Wait a minute.

Would that mean I would be giving up part of my turf?" I understand that dynamic takes place in government. I understand that's the reality of human nature.

What we have is a situation where, certainly hypothetically, a minister of the crown could override this initiative in his or her respective area of responsibility. I think that's probably one of those issues that is not to be made a great deal of, save and except to say that I think in an ideal situation it would have the, if you will, full endorsation of the government of the day to be able to move and say: "This is the direction we're going in. We have confidence in the direction we're going in and we don't need that ministerial override ministry by ministry."

On the other hand, I recognize the reality that some ministers would want to have that indeed in terms of their responsibility. I throw that out for consideration, not to be abundantly critical in that respect but simply to say that I recognize that dynamic and that tension.

I hope there would be, over the implementation of this, a full-hearted endorsation and acceptance of the initiatives that are being undertaken and that this particular section,

section 4, would not be utilized to override what ultimately I think would be the harmonization and the integration of systems that will benefit everybody in the long run.

As I mentioned, I would just make some quick reference that much of what is being brought forward in Bill 187 will establish a framework and a foundation to bring on stream in September 1995 implementation of many of the initiatives that we're contemplating. I think you can safely say that what's being done immediately does not in point of fact require this legislation.

I understand the need for planning. I understand the need to set up the systems and to have some long-term lead-up times. I think it's also safe to say that when all is said and done, there's a sense -- whether you want to debate this issue, and I'm sure there'll be some comment -- but there is a sense that the government is really tinkering at the edges of what needs to be done. I think of the countless examples of bureaucratic red tape that has grown over so many years that really needs to be cut, that impedes business in so many ways.

This summer the Niagara wine growers, by way of example, wanted to have a special wine-tasting festival. They required some 44 separate approvals, thousands upon thousands of dollars, for a very vital, dynamic industry in our province just to go ahead and do something as simple as a wine-tasting festival. That is illustrative of the way in which governments, not just this government but all governments, must begin to think more businesslike and get rid of the impediments to doing good things.

While we're bringing in Bill 187 on the one hand and saying we want to make it easier to do business, at the very same time we have the government with Bill 178, the Unclaimed Intangible Property Act, leading to costly compliance for the private sector, really leading to what is simply another $50-million monetary grab.

It's necessary for us to define very quickly in government -- and we have said that we are prepared to do that in the opposition -- and define very clearly a list, a menu, if you will, of regulatory burden that needs to be cut. My leader has made a commitment to address and really take on with absolute commitment the goal of cutting the regulatory burden on small business by 50% over the term, should we form another government. It seems to me that's the kind of goal we need to do.

It is not sufficient to say we are going to move a little bit in one direction with electronic filing, when on the other hand we continue to pile regulation upon regulation, paperwork upon paperwork, filings, and tax hit after tax hit. We in government need to get out of the way of business in many respects and allow them to do what they need to do. We need to look at some fundamental reforms in the area of workers' compensation. We recognize this, it seems to me, by paying lip-service to those issues, but we fail to take the initiative.

I would suggest that when we look at this legislation, to say we would be opposed to it would send a very, very bad message to business. It would say that the opposition is not prepared to work cooperatively with government to move in step. I hasten to add that it is only one small step and that much, much more needs to be done.

I would hope this would be the beginning of a move in the province of Ontario that will clear the path in a very real way, not to come up with some slick slogan that says we are going to throw some legislation on the table that will tee things up for late 1995, but to move definitively with some initiatives that can be done now that will ease the burden financially and from a regulatory point of view for businesses to operate in the province of Ontario. I would hope that as we engage in this debate the government will do more than say, "We're clearing the path," that it would, in point of fact, do what it says it wants to do. Paying lip-service is, quite frankly, not good enough.

I know this initiative has been the product of the hard work of many people. I know there are discussions taking place with the federal government, and I know there is built into the legislation the opportunity for integrating electronic filing with municipal governments as well. That yet needs to be negotiated and is indeed a significant task for any government, to sit down with all the various levels of government bureaucracy and pull together all those pieces to make it clean and efficient.

I think the parliamentary assistant was the one who said, quite rightly, that in some cases a dozen or more pieces of paper need to be filed for an individual to operate a business or to begin a business in Ontario. This is a step, a small step -- I don't want to take anything away from that -- but I hasten to add that we need to do an awful lot more.

I say again to my friends, if you really want to clear