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May 8, 2017

41st Parliament, 2nd Session

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Hansard Transcripts

Votes and Proceedings

Orders and Notices

Hansard Transcripts 2017-May-08 (PDF)

L078 - Mon 8 May 2017 / Lun 8 mai 2017

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO

ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE DE L’ONTARIO

Monday 8 May 2017 Lundi 8 mai 2017

Introduction of Visitors

Wearing of ribbons

Visitors

Oral Questions

Government spending

Road safety

Energy policies

Pharmacare

Consumer protection

Health care funding

Economic development

Mining industry

Long-term care

Indigenous education

School closures

Student assistance

School closures

Affordable housing

Notice of dissatisfaction

Visitor

Correction of record

Introduction of Visitors

Members’ Statements

World Ovarian Cancer Day

Fran Stanutz

World Ovarian Cancer Day

Canadian Merchant Navy

Mike Farwell

B.R. Ambedkar

Beth Donovan Hospice

Civics education

Agri-food industry

Petitions

Hydro rates

Mental health and addiction services

Elevator maintenance

School closures

Privatization of public assets

Government anti-racism programs

School closures

Hospital funding

Dental care

School closures

Disaster relief

Water fluoridation

Energy contracts

Orders of the Day

Stronger, Healthier Ontario Act (Budget Measures), 2017 / Loi de 2017 pour un Ontario plus fort et en meilleure santé (mesures budgétaires)

Board of Internal Economy

2017 Ontario budget / Budget de l’Ontario de 2017

The House met at 1030.

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

Prayers.

Introduction of Visitors

Ms. Ann Hoggarth: I would like to welcome, from my riding of Barrie, the family of Gabriel Kotch, our page captain today. Here with us are his parents, Jeff and Deborah Kotch; his brother, Gil; his sister, Greta; and his grandparents Bev and Tom Widdes. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Mr. Taras Natyshak: I have guests of page captain Maddison Rose here today: Maddison’s mother, Mandy Knight; her father, Matthew Rose; her stepmother, Tammy Rose; her aunt Meghan Rose; and her uncle Peter Pender. I want to give them a warm welcome to Queen’s Park here today.

Mr. Lou Rinaldi: I’d like to welcome Rhianna Johnson from the great riding of Northumberland–Quinte West—I think.

Hon. Indira Naidoo-Harris: I would like to welcome to Queen’s Park today guests from Ovarian Cancer Canada who are joining us for World Ovarian Cancer Day. Here with us is Gabe De Roche. Also here today is Robin Hanson, who is a constituent of mine in Halton. Thank you very much, and welcome to Queen’s Park.

Hon. Laura Albanese: I too would like to welcome a constituent who is here with the group from Ovarian Cancer Canada. Her name is Shannon Corbett. As just mentioned, this is in recognition of World Ovarian Cancer Day. Welcome.

Wearing of ribbons

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The government House leader on a point of order.

Hon. Yasir Naqvi: Thank you, Speaker. I believe you will find that we have unanimous consent that all members be permitted to wear ribbons in recognition of World Ovarian Cancer Day.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The government House leader is seeking unanimous consent to wear the ribbons. Do we agree? Agreed. My understanding is that both lobbies have the ribbons to distribute. Do so as you will.

Visitors

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Last call for introduction of guests? I will call for introduction of guests. The Minister of Research, Innovation and Science.

Hon. Reza Moridi: It’s my great pleasure to welcome Dr. Feng Yuan Bao, who is the founder of a health and wisdom study in China and a leading doctor and researcher in traditional Chinese medicine, accompanied by Dr. Hui Zhao, Dr. Xiang Wu, Dr. Chen Wang and Richard Zhou. Please join me in welcoming them.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Welcome. Further introductions? The member from—no? Okay. Thank you.

We do have guests with us in the Speaker’s gallery today. It’s a delegation from the State Great Khural, Parliament of Mongolia. Ms. Batsukh Saranchimeg is the member of Parliament leading the delegation. Welcome to our Mongolian friends. Welcome to all of our guests.

Oral Questions

Government spending

Ms. Sylvia Jones: My question is to the President of the Treasury Board. Friday your government was forced to defend the indefensible: spending almost $54,000 to purchase luxury Canada Goose jackets for Ministry of Children and Youth Services staff at the same time the ministry is cutting funding to treatment for children with autism. Speaker, does this government still support the purchase of thousand-dollar luxury winter jackets?

Hon. Liz Sandals: Minister of Children and Youth Services.

Hon. Michael Coteau: First, I want to talk a little bit about the statement that the member opposite made in regard to autism funding. Number one, the member knows clearly that this is the largest single investment into autism in the history of this country: half a billion dollars. So when she goes around making comments that we’ve actually made cuts, that’s not factual—number one.

Number two, the member opposite knows that we run youth correctional facilities right across this province and we have youth facilities in northern Ontario, and it gets cold up there.

Interjections.

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

Hon. Michael Coteau: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I was saying, it gets cold in northern Ontario, as the members opposite would understand—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member from Renfrew–Nipissing–Pembroke is warned.

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Nothing is changing.

Time is up. Supplementary.

Ms. Sylvia Jones: Back to the President of the Treasury Board, because the minister is just digging himself a bigger hole: Children with autism are looking to your government for help. Children in child protection look to the government to protect them from predators. Some of our province’s most vulnerable needed our government to step up, and what did you do instead? They learned that you’re buying high-end luxury Canada Goose jackets while they sit on waiting lists.

Speaker, will the President of the Treasury Board put a stop to the purchasing of high-end luxury goods for their staff, yes or no?

Hon. Michael Coteau: As I was saying, in northern Ontario, it sometimes dips below 40 degrees. Mr. Speaker, there are uniforms that are required for our staff in these facilities.

We have a simple procurement process here in the province of Ontario that not only this government has used but other governments have used. What we do, if the members don’t know how the process works, is that we put out a request, we ask for supplies, and the quotes come in. We have a process that is arm’s length that allows for non-political interference, and we take the best offer made. In this case, it happened to be the best offer made.

These are coats that have a 10-year guarantee. As members and staff work within those facilities, they’re transferred from staff to staff. The government of Ontario owns these—

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

Ms. Sylvia Jones: If you’re so proud of this purchase, why did it take almost six months and a freedom-of-information request which, by the way, you blocked? If you’re so willing to defend this, then why did it take six months?

You were suggesting that the only vendor who had any ability to provide these coats was Canada Goose.

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

Ms. Sylvia Jones: Through the Speaker—then table the tendering documents and prove to the families in Ontario that the money was well spent, because at this point, nobody believes you, Minister.

Hon. Michael Coteau: Mr. Speaker, first of all, we get the best possible price based on the process we have in place. In this case, these coats were heavily discounted, the coats that we received.

It’s interesting that the leadoff question by the Progressive Conservative Party is around coats that are keeping staff warm, while we’re focusing on issues—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Stop the clock, please. Besides the first one, we’re very close to warnings.

Finish, please.

Hon. Michael Coteau: Mr. Speaker, we put in place processes in government to ensure that there is no political interference when it comes to purchasing products. This process is a government process that’s put in place where bids come in. There was a substantial discount.

The member opposite knows clearly that if you release all the tendering prices in any type of competitive process, then it puts a supplier at a disadvantage in the future. And you claim to be the party that knows business well? If you can’t figure out a procurement process, how could you figure out what’s best for this province?

Road safety

Mr. Michael Harris: My question is to the Minister of Transportation. Last week, this government had an opportunity to make Bill 65 truly about school safety. The Liberals had the opportunity to work with us and protect our children from school bus blow-bys, a vital initiative put forward by my colleague from Chatham–Kent–Essex. They chose instead to say no and to place partisan politics over the safety of our children.

Speaker, will the minister explain why the Liberal government believes the safety of our children on school buses should wait?

Hon. Steven Del Duca: I will repeat this morning what I said last week regarding this, both in this chamber and to media outside: We want to make sure at the Ministry of Transportation, as we move forward and continue to bring in enhancements or improvements to help all users of our roads, including our most vulnerable, including students themselves, that fundamentally, particularly as it relates to technology, we’re going to find a way to get it right.

But again, what I said last week in this chamber in response to Bill 65 is that that member and the Conservative caucus know that they’ve had multiple opportunities at committee and, frankly, during debate here at first and second readings, to be supportive, generally speaking, of the thrust of Bill 65. Repeatedly, both here in the chamber and at committee, Speaker, they have chosen instead to use administrative techniques to filibuster the legislation and to delay its implementation. That’s unfortunate, but I certainly look forward to the follow-up and the third question here this morning.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Michael Harris: This is so disappointing: disappointing to students, disappointing to parents, disappointing for Ontario. Instead of choosing to take action against school bus blow-bys, this Liberal government chose partisan roadblocks and delay and the typical Liberal call for study and review. Speaker, every day there are more than two blow-bys per bus in Mississauga alone.

Will the minister tell us why this isn’t a priority for his government?

Hon. Steven Del Duca: That member knows full well that currently there is nothing in any law that prevents the use of this particular technology on a school bus. In fact, there are multiple municipalities that have spoken to us about launching pilots, and I believe some have, Speaker. But again, fundamentally what this is, and we saw this start last week with this member and his leader, Patrick Brown, is a tactical manoeuvre—sorry.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): I’m just going to ask you to refer to the Leader of the Opposition—title or riding, please.

Hon. Steven Del Duca: Thanks very much, Speaker. As I was saying, this member and his leader, Mr. Brown—at the end of the day, this is a tactical manoeuvre because they are embarrassed, and rightly so. Fundamentally, at committee last week we saw that this particular member and the Conservative caucus introduced hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of administrative amendments to the legislation designed specifically to block its passage. They’re trying to make themselves look good, Speaker. It’s not going to work.

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

Mr. Michael Harris: His answer was fake news, Speaker. While last week’s opportunity has passed, we’re going to give the minister and his Liberal members one more chance to do what’s best for students’ school bus safety today. Our leader, Patrick Brown, wrote all three House leaders today, reaffirming that there is no monopoly on a good idea, and with that, we want to acknowledge the NDP for supporting us on this important safety initiative.

Will the minister direct his Liberal members to right this wrong at committee today and vote to protect our children from school bus blow-bys today?

Hon. Steven Del Duca: As I have said repeatedly, the safety of schoolchildren, the safety of all of our vulnerable road users, is a top priority for the ministry. In fact, that’s why we introduced Bill 65, and literally at every turn, in debate and at committee, that member and his leader, Mr. Brown, the leader of the official opposition, have repeatedly sought ways to actually slow down the passage of the legislation.

They realized that it would be an embarrassing situation for them for this to become public, as it did last week: that they literally had 300-plus amendments—only one of which dealt with this specific issue, but literally over 300, street by street by street, including Avenue Road just outside of Allenby public school, where representatives from that school came to committee to let that member and his leader know that it was important to move forward with Bill 65.

It was reprehensible behaviour, Speaker. The public is not fooled. We’ll continue to get the job done right, but they should help us pass Bill 65.

Energy policies

Mr. Peter Tabuns: My question is to the Acting Premier. It has been 68 days since the Liberals announced they would refinance an increasingly privatized hydro system, adding billions of dollars in new debts for customers and leaving fat profits for already profitable multinational energy companies.

New Democrats said it then and we’ll say it now: The government can’t expect to table legislation that will make massive changes to the hydro system that are bad for people and businesses and expect to ram it through this Legislature with little or no opportunity for public input.

With just 12 sitting days left, why haven’t we seen a bill?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: I will pass the supplementary on to the Minister of Energy, but I do want to take this opportunity to acknowledge that, on Friday, the Speaker announced he will not be seeking re-election in 2018. I want to just say to you, Speaker, thank you for the work you have done in this Legislature and in your community. You’ve been a real inspiration for all of us.

Applause.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): I’ll still give warnings.

Supplementary?

Mr. Peter Tabuns: Again to the Acting Premier: “People deserve to see it in black and white so they can debate it.... Don’t hide the details. Don’t delay. Don’t come to the Legislature just before it rises this summer with a last-minute bill, ultimatums and no time for committees, experts and the people of Ontario to take the time they need to examine the bill.” That was NDP leader Andrea Horwath almost two months ago.

There is still no plan, no legislation, and the House is scheduled to rise in 12 sitting days. This is exactly what we warned about. Is the government going to try to ram through a hydro bill and shut out the public with no time to hear from the people of Ontario?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: To the Minister of Energy.

Hon. Glenn Thibeault: I’m pleased to rise and talk about the fair hydro plan that we’ve been talking about for the last two months and letting people know that they’re going to be saving up to, on average, 25% on their bills; some will be higher, especially for those who live in the rural or remote parts of our province, northern Ontario. They can see up to 40% and 50% coming off their bills.

The OEB, the Ontario Energy Board, in anticipation of us bringing forward this legislation, brought forward on May 1 an additional 9% reduction, meaning we’re seeing a 17% reduction on our bills compared to last year right now. I know that’s hard for the opposition to understand, because one of them has no plan and the other plan that they have doesn’t make sense. This is something that’s acting and working.

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

Mr. Peter Tabuns: The Liberal plan will add $40 billion in debt. It will double down on private contracts. This is a big deal. Ontarians want their voices to be heard. This bill should be debated. It should have committee hearings. The committee should travel and the people should get their say.

Is the government getting ready to ram through their hydro bill without real debate, real examination and real public input?

Hon. Glenn Thibeault: Let’s talk about real. A 25% reduction is real relief for families across the province. A 40% to 50% reduction on rural or remote rate protection plans—that’s real relief coming to families in the rural parts of our province. And 500,000 businesses—that’s 500,000 real, small businesses and farms—will also see the 25% reduction.

But let’s talk about unreal, not realistic. That’s their plan, which they don’t even talk about anymore. They forgot that they brought forward a plan, probably because it’s not a plan that will bring any real relief to families across this province. Our Ontario fair hydro plan will bring real relief for families.

Pharmacare

M me France Gélinas: My question is to the Acting Premier. I would like to start by wishing all of the nurses out there a happy Nursing Week.

My question is quite simple: Does the Premier believe that our hospitals should only be available to people under the age of 25 and over the age of 65?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: To the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care.

Hon. Eric Hoskins: I also want to recognize and congratulate and appreciate all of the well over 100,000 nurses who work throughout our health care system, in our hospitals, in our long-term-care homes, in homes, in community organizations, throughout the public health system and in our 25 nurse practitioner-led clinics. They are the bedrock of our health care system, and I’m so appreciative of the hard work that they do every day.

When it comes to the issue, I think the member opposite is alluding to our proposal that four million children and youth up to their 25th birthday will receive access absolutely free of charge to more than 4,000 medications—the entire drug formulary of this province. If that’s what she’s referring to, then yes, in fact, it will be implemented January 1, 2018.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

M me France Gélinas: The seventh Ontario drug plan, I would say hastily outlined in the budget, leaves working people unable to afford the medications they need. We don’t leave working people out of our hospitals. We don’t leave working people out of getting an MRI. We don’t leave working people out of getting surgery. We don’t leave working people out of seeing a family physician. Why won’t the Premier bring in a universal pharmacare program?

Hon. Eric Hoskins: Our pharmacare plan will cover roughly 30 times as many medicines as their proposal, or 4,275 more medicines to their 125.

Steve Morgan, who stood up with the leader of the third party when she made her proposal, had this to say in a TVO

article last week: “I’m sure when we write the histories of pharmacare in Canada this”—our proposal, he was referring to—“will be seen as the time when a clear principle was laid down by a provincial government.” I’m proud of the courage and the leadership that this Premier has demonstrated to deliver the beginnings—an important—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): You’ll have a wrap-up.

I want to remind members that if you move from one seat to another, it doesn’t change the fact that you’re not supposed to heckle. Just to let you know.

You have one wrap-up sentence.

Hon. Eric Hoskins: Natalie Mehra of the Ontario Health Coalition—they know well—said, “This is an amazing announcement that will provide national leadership.... This is a great first step in the right direction.” I agree with her, Mr. Speaker.

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

M me France Gélinas: Well, the minister would know that essential medicines are just that: They are the medications that are essential. We have a plan, supported by the World Health Organization, that ensures that every single Ontarian has access to essential medicine, no matter how old you are, no matter where you live and no matter how much money you make.

Why is the minister and why is the Premier refusing to support universal drug coverage for all Ontarians?

Hon. Eric Hoskins: I was at SickKids with the member from Trinity–Spadina on Friday making an announcement of an additional $500 million for operating costs to hospitals.

We had a chance to talk about pharmacare, and there was a pediatric oncologist, a child’s cancer doctor, who spoke of just how critically important this pharmacare program is. He talked about their inability to discharge patients home because they knew they couldn’t afford the cancer medications for their child. He had a phone call from a parent who said, “This is remarkable news.” They were going out—the husband and wife, as a result of this decision, were going to plan a dinner together, the two of them, to celebrate how many thousands of dollars this will save them.

Consumer protection

Mr. Victor Fedeli: Good morning, Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Finance. All last week, we asked this government what they knew about troubled mortgage lender Home Capital. We asked what the government’s involvement was, what their intentions were, and, quite frankly, who was asleep at the switch. The government provided no answers, choosing instead to ramble on all about the federal regulator.

Well, it seems the government did know more than they admitted. In fact, they have inserted one of their own, Alan Hibben, into Home Capital. Last week, we asked the government if Home Capital passed the smell test. What’s the Liberal solution? Put another Liberal insider in there and stir the pot. I ask the minister, does this pass his party’s standards for accountability and ethics?

Hon. Charles Sousa: I find the line of questioning rather insulting given the fact that we have taken great pains to be transparent. These are operations and activities of independent agencies of government. They are not reporting to the government in any way possible.

Mr. Hibben, to his credit, has sought advice from the Integrity Commissioner on a conflict of interest to ensure that he acts appropriately, given the fact he did advise our government in other matters. It’s appropriate that this individual took that step. Furthermore, he’s a man of great integrity and excellent credentials. I can appreciate now why an independent, private organization is seeking his input as well.

It is not a decision made by government, and the member opposite knows that full well. I frankly suggest, again, that he’s being totally inappropriate in his questioning.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Victor Fedeli: Back to the minister—who I also think is very inappropriate in his answers, Speaker, because we’re not getting any answers. We’ve got a very troubling situation in Ontario, with Home Capital under siege. While the government denied any connection last week, we now learn that they’ve placed their own Liberal insider into this deal. Alan Hibben, a key player in the Premier’s Hydro One sell-off scheme, has been put on Home Capital’s board. He is also one of the Premier’s five appointees on OPTrust, which is the Ontario public service employee pension plan.

With this insider now in there, does the government plan on joining this game of “I’ll scratch your back if you scratch mine”? Why is the Premier’s inside guy now inside Home Capital?

Hon. Charles Sousa: It’s very troubling indeed that this individual, this member from the Progressive Conservative Party, suggests that the government should intervene in the practices of private businesses. The member opposite believes that private businesses should prevail and government should not interfere. That’s exactly what’s happening.

But we are protecting the interests of investors and consumers. That is why the role of FSCO—the financial regulatory authority of Ontario—has intervened and provided enforcement. That is why the Ontario Securities Commission has acted accordingly. It’s also why OSFI, which is regulating this federally run company, is involved.

The member opposite is making accusations, and he’s also presuming some form of conflict. Alan Hibben has taken the appropriate steps to ensure that he’s not doing so.

Health care funding

Ms. Jennifer K. French: My question is to the Acting Premier. Steve Borders is a constituent of mine in Oshawa, and he is a victim of the damage this Liberal government has done to our health care system. Steve tore his rotator cuff in December 2016 and has been waiting for care ever since. He waited for an MRI, he waited to see a specialist, and he’s still waiting, five months later, to even confirm a date for his shoulder surgery. Steve has spent the past five months in relentless pain, unable to work and wondering when our health care system will be there to help him. Steve wrecked his shoulder five months ago and still doesn’t even have a date for surgery.

Is the Premier okay with this being the reality of our health care system in Ontario?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: To the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care.

Hon. Eric Hoskins: Well, Mr. Speaker, regrettably, real-life stories like this do occur. But it certainly isn’t the case in the province, where, whether it’s for access to MRIs or ultrasounds, we are at the top or near the top in the country; or access from a family doctor to a specialist, where we are leading the country; or access from the specialist to the procedure that may or may not be required, we are leading the country again. The wait times in this province are the best or near the very best of all the provinces and territories across Canada.

But, Mr. Speaker, it’s these particular instances which drive us, despite being the best or near the best in the country—it inspires us to continue making the right investments, and I’m happy to speak to those in the supplementary.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Ms. Jennifer K. French: To talk about the “best” wait times—I’m sure that Steve would have different words to describe those wait times.

But back to the Acting Premier: Hospitals are at capacity. Patients are being treated in hallways. Wait times are out of control. Our health care system is, frankly, in shambles, and the Premier is offering us a Band-Aid. I’ll tell you, Speaker, Band-Aids won’t fix Steve’s shoulder.

Steve’s wife, Donna, told me, “Steve has not been able to pick up his granddaughter and play with her, which is he all he wishes to do.... He has been unable to do his everyday stuff like shovel the driveway and sidewalk, put deodorant on, or pull a T-shirt over his head.” This shouldn’t be possible in Ontario, but it is happening all over the province. What do you have to say to Steve and anyone else in Ontario whose health care system has stopped supporting them?

Hon. Eric Hoskins: I’m proud—which will be relevant to the member’s own riding—that we increased the operating budget, the base budget, of Lakeridge Health by almost $7 million this year. We are, as per my announcement that I made on Friday, investing more than half a billion dollars in our hospitals.

We’re also investing, over the next three years, importantly—which speaks to this question—$1.3 billion specifically aimed to further reduce those wait times. Those wait times, as I referenced, are the best in the country already. That doesn’t mean that they shouldn’t be even shorter, but that’s why we’re making these kinds of investments, including $1.3 billion over the next three years specifically for wait times.

Economic development

M me Nathalie Des Rosiers: Ma question est pour le ministre du Développement économique et de la Croissance.

Minister, last week this government took a great step and announced a balanced budget for 2017. My riding of Ottawa–Vanier will benefit a lot from our investment in universal pharmacare for youth under 25 and the investment in our health care and hospitals.

This budget was good news, but what are the additional benefits for Ontarians and for our economy? Minister, could you please enlighten this House about the state of our economy and what is going on with the balanced budget?

Hon. Brad Duguid: There’s no question that eliminating the deficit is going to help our economy, and there’s no question that our strong economy made it possible for us to eliminate the deficit. We’ve created close to 700,000 net new jobs since the recession. That’s 100,000 jobs in the last few months alone. We led the country in growth. In fact, we’ve been leading the entire G7 in growth over the last three years.

Last week, our unemployment rate reached a 16-year low. We have not had a lower unemployment rate since 2001. To put that in perspective, we haven’t had a lower unemployment rate since Auston Matthews was in junior kindergarten; Tiger Woods was a good golfer; Wikipedia and iTunes were something that was just coming online; Mr. Speaker, you were in year two of an illustrious 18-year career here at Queen’s Park—congratulations; and the member for Niagara West, I believe, was just turning three years old.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

M me Nathalie Des Rosiers: Merci, monsieur le Ministre. Thank you a lot for your great leadership in protecting jobs in Ontario. It’s great to hear that we’ve been creating all the necessary jobs for our economy to thrive, but the world is changing and so is our economy.

The region of Ottawa is part of this change. We’re making huge strides in the digital economy, including 5G networks, cyber security and e-commerce, where we have companies like Shopify that are doing so well.

Today I think it’s crucially important that we take steps to lead the economy of the future. Many people are feeling a bit anxious about what this means for them. They certainly want a digital transformation, they know it’s happening on a global scale, but they want to know how Ontario is preparing for this. Minister, can you please tell us what the government is doing to ensure that we remain competitive?

Hon. Brad Duguid: While it’s nice to have the lowest unemployment rate in 16 years, and while it’s nice to see the job growth happening in our economy, just because we’re doing well today is no guarantee, in this fast-changing competitive global economy, that we’re going to be doing well tomorrow.

That’s why I’m really proud that we’re making significant investments in our Business Growth Initiative. We’re investing $50 million in the Vector Institute for Artificial Intelligence; $130 million is going toward 5G next-generation technologies, much of it in the member’s area of Ottawa; and $80 million is going toward the autonomous vehicle innovation network, again much of it coming in Ottawa. Another $75 million will be going toward our initiative to advance supercomputing in this province in such areas as genomics and neuroscience, and $20 million for quantum computing.

The fact is that making Ontario a leader in today’s economy requires these investments. We’re very proud that we’re building that economy for the next generation.

Mining industry

Mr. Norm Miller: My question is to the Minister of Northern Development and Mines. Minister, Great Lakes Graphite in Matheson has announced it is moving to Pennsylvania. Speaker, can the minister tell us why the company feels that it is better to do business in Pennsylvania than in Ontario?

Hon. Bill Mauro: Thank you to the member for the question. I’m not familiar with the decision by the company. I don’t believe our ministry has been contacted by the particular company and given any reasons for their move. It could be in a variety of areas; I don’t know.

What I can tell you, Speaker, is that for a very long time we have put programs in place that I would suggest are very supportive of the mining sector in the province of Ontario. The most obvious example would be the New Gold mine that just opened four hours west of my home community of Thunder Bay. There are obviously policies, programs and support mechanisms in place that are incenting mining investment in exploration and extraction, or else a company as large as New Gold would not have just recently opened their mine, with 650 or so people on a construction site and about 450 who will be in place when the mine is open and operating.

Clearly something is going on. Perhaps the member will, in his supplementary, explain some of the detail about why this particular company decided to move.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Norm Miller: I’m surprised by the minister’s response to that question. Just last July, the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund announced an investment of $412,000 in Great Lakes Graphite of Matheson, so this announced move to leave town comes less than 10 months after the government gave this company $400,000.

Speaker, did the government not attach any requirements to the funding that the company remain in Ontario for a number of years? Why was this company able to accept $400,000 of taxpayers’ money and then leave town?

Hon. Bill Mauro: Speaker, I’m happy to circle back on the NOHFC piece and find out if there were any terms or conditions attached to the grant that was provided—grant and/or loan; I’m not sure which, or both. Sometimes, through NOHFC it’s a combination of both. I’m happy to circle back and find out what the terms and/or conditions may have been associated with that loan.

I would go back to simply make the point that in Ontario the mining sector is doing well. In fact, as I’ve had the opportunity to say in this Legislature on more than a couple of occasions, investment in exploration activity in the province right now has seen an increase last year, saw an increase this year and, by the end of the year, is expected to reach a very robust number.

In fact, the mining sector is strong in the province. We’re doing well. Investment is here. In fact, on exploration alone, Ontario represents 25% of total exploration activity in the entire country. So something is going well. People are investing in the province, and we look forward to more positive announcements in the weeks and months ahead.

Long-term care

Ms. Catherine Fife: My question is to the Acting Premier. My office has been working with Jim Brown and his family since March to reunite him with his wife. They were separated when Colleen Brown was admitted to Sunnyside long-term care in February due to an Alzheimer’s diagnosis. Jim remains on a waiting list, separated from his partner of 40 years.

The waiting list for long-term-care beds in Waterloo region alone is 2,600 people. In order to get on the crisis list, Jim and his family have been told that they have to apply to many care facilities. If Jim was placed in a different home, it might take even longer to reunite the couple.

Speaker, the family says that “to live with your loved one is to live with dignity.” Why doesn’t this government believe that seniors in Ontario should be able to live in dignity?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: To the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care.

Hon. Eric Hoskins: Mr. Speaker, I’d be happy to speak with the member opposite about this specific individual—this couple—because I think if she were to look behind her and to the left, there’s an example in her caucus of a very collaborative relationship, where a couple was faced with a similar challenge of reunification with regard to long-term-care homes, and we were successful in resolving that.

It is regrettable and unfortunate and often unnecessary that the couple should be split up when one of them requires long-term care, and there’s an effort being made to reunify. I’d be happy to work with the member opposite to resolve this, as I have on several other occasions.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Ms. Catherine Fife: I think a minister just said that I have to bring a question to the Legislature in order to ensure that senior couples can actually spend time in a long-term-care facility—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Order.

Finish, please.

Ms. Catherine Fife: Jim’s family have tried contacting the Minister of Health, but they haven’t received a response. The CCAC response was downright confusing.

Over the last 14 years of this Liberal government, the waiting list for long-term beds in Ontario has grown to 25,000 people—and nothing in your budget will get those people into the care that they need.

Today, Jim is on a crisis waiting list in the Waterloo-Wellington region, but he and Colleen remain separated and their family remains worried. They describe the situation as cruel.

Can the Premier explain why this Liberal government doesn’t have a plan to ensure that Ontario seniors get the long-term care that they need and that they deserve?

Hon. Eric Hoskins: Just to clarify: I wasn’t suggesting that the member opposite, to get action, needed to come to this Legislature and talk about a situation. In fact, it was her decision to avoid speaking with me and to bring it here to the Legislature and politicize it.

Many other people in this Legislature—probably the majority—know that I work extremely hard in a collaborative way, with no partisanship involved, to try to solve problems. In this case, I want to try to solve this problem. But if she chooses to come here and make it political, that’s her decision. But it doesn’t detract from my efforts to try to resolve it.

By the way, in the long-term-care budget in the budget that was delivered two weeks ago—we’re increasing the long-term-care budget by 2% for the investment in that. We’ve created more than 10,000 more beds since coming into office, and we’re redeveloping 30,000.

I’m happy to work with her, whether she wants to work with me or not.

Indigenous education

Ms. Ann Hoggarth: My question is to the Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation. Our government is committed to improving the quality of life, developing partnerships and expanding opportunities in indigenous communities. That’s why we continue to work with the indigenous leadership in a spirit of collaboration and mutual respect to create prosperous, healthy and strong communities.

Ontario’s balanced 2017 budget is a reflection of this commitment. We want to improve outcomes by achieving real progress in developing strategic, integrated investments and initiatives across government for the First Nations, Métis, Inuit and urban indigenous peoples.

Can the minister please elaborate how the provincial 2017 budget supports indigenous communities in Ontario?

Hon. David Zimmer: We remain committed to a strong relationship with indigenous communities in Ontario, and this is supported by the strategic funding we make as a government.

In the budget announcement last week, we announced that we are enhancing indigenous education in Ontario. Specifically, we plan to spend over $200 million over three years for more First Nation, Métis and Inuit learners to access high-quality post-secondary education and training opportunities.

Speaker, the indigenous community knows that education often guarantees the future. This government is committed to improving indigenous education in the province and to closing the achievement gap between indigenous and non-indigenous students. That’s why we will continue to invest in indigenous higher education and learning opportunities.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Ms. Ann Hoggarth: I’m glad to hear that our government is investing in indigenous students and their futures. Through working in partnership, we can see that real progress is beginning to happen.

Although there is much work left to do, I’m encouraged to know that this government is taking the necessary steps to close the achievement gap. This is an accordance with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission calls to action in regard to indigenous education.

Mr. Speaker, can the minister please elaborate on the details of how and where this funding will be used?

Hon. David Zimmer: Speaker, specifically $26 million of this funding will be to enhance the capacity and sustainability of Ontario’s nine publicly funded aboriginal institutes. For instance, the aboriginal institute at Six Nations, Six Nations Polytechnic, has its own programs, but it also has bridging programs that enable the students to move from the polytechnic to community colleges and to universities.

We will remain committed until the education achievement gap between indigenous and non-indigenous students is no longer a reality. From the Weeneebayko health authority to Fort William First Nation, to Sudbury, to Sioux Lookout, Thunder Bay and North Bay, we remain committed to funding to help indigenous communities in the educational opportunities in Ontario.

This budget goes beyond education to invest in the health and well-being of Ontarians. It is proving an excellent opportunity.

School closures

Mr. Jim McDonell: To the Minister of Education: I want to thank the minister for coming out to Merrickville with her educational review panel on Friday night, but participants from my riding left disappointed, with their warden stating it was simply too little, too late.

Here is just one of the quotes from a student who was affected by the closure. “I will now have to go to a school where I know nobody and have to travel an extra 30 minutes by bus. I will lose most of my friends due to them changing school boards and I will lose the great connections I had with my teachers.”

Speaker, in Alexandria we have five schools, all less than 50% capacity. Elementary and kindergarten students in my riding will spend over an hour on the bus and drive by all those five schools to get to theirs, another 20 minutes away. Is the answer to close them all and bus all the students out of the community, or is it to impose a moratorium on school closures until a full, comprehensive study on education is complete?

Hon. Mitzie Hunter: I want to thank the member opposite for the question and I want to thank all of those who came out to the first set of consultations that were held on Friday. This is an engagement process that is designed so that we can listen to rural and remote Ontario. The question we’re asking is: How do we support our students and make education even better?

This is not about a moratorium. We know that school boards have the opportunity, that they can make decisions at the local level in the best interest of their students. If they feel that they need to take a pause on a particular project, they can do that. That’s exactly what happened in Markdale, where they brought the community together to talk about how to design a community hub. They’re having those conversations. There’s nothing stopping school boards and their communities from doing that.

What this engagement process is about is, how do we improve education outcomes for students in rural Ontario? We heard some fantastic ideas, Mr. Speaker, and we’re going to continue with these consultations.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary? The member from Bruce–Grey–Owen Sound.

Mr. Bill Walker: Mr. Speaker, my question is also to the education minister. Two reports, from People for Education and the Ontario Alliance Against School Closures, show your government is hollowing out schools across rural Ontario, like Chesley District Community School, which has rock-solid academic showings and strong roots in the community.

It’s sad how you have no money to keep schools open, but were quick to find money to cancel two gas plants for $1.1 billion and waste $8 billion on eHealth consultants with nothing to show for it.

Minister, you and the Premier told Ontarians in no uncertain terms to trust you with their education and their schools. But after they put your party back in power, you and your Premier turned your back on them, presiding over the largest wave of school closings in Ontario’s history. Ontarians have never felt more cheated. On their behalf, I ask you, Minister: Are you and your Premier ideologues or are you actually ready to change your mind about an issue when it’s the right thing to do, which is to stop school closures across rural Ontario?

Hon. Mitzie Hunter: Mr. Speaker, in the member’s own riding, there is a good example of a school board that has taken a pause, Markdale, and is working with the local community to design a community hub. I’m sure he wants that initiative to go forward.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member from Bruce–Grey–Owen Sound, the member from Elgin–Middlesex–London, and the member from Niagara West–Glanbrook will come to order.

Hon. Mitzie Hunter: We understand that these are difficult decisions. I have spoken to students at Chesley because their school is moving the high school students out to three available high schools that are within 15 minutes around that local school and turning that particular school into a K-to-8 school for elementary students. These are the local decisions that boards have to make. They are doing them very mindfully of the outcomes that are beneficial for—

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

Student assistance

Ms. Peggy Sattler: My question is to the Acting Premier. Maria van Burgsteden and her daughter Julia live in London. They are excited that Julia, a straight-A student, will be starting university in the fall. But they are also worried about the almost $9,000 in fees and tuition that Julia will have to pay.

Like many Ontarians, Maria is a single mother who works contract to contract, with an annual average income of less than $45,000. This past year, Maria secured a contract that offered pay in lieu of benefits, pushing her income to just over $50,000. When Maria and Julia applied for the Liberal version of free tuition, they were shocked to learn that Julia was only eligible for a $3,000 grant; in other words, $6,000 less than Julia’s actual tuition costs.

Speaker, can the Acting Premier explain why her Liberal government is telling Maria and Julia and other Ontarians that tuition is free when in fact it is anything but?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: Speaker, I’m very grateful for this question. I can’t speak to that particular case, but would be very happy to look into it. What I can tell you, though, is that over 200,000 students will be receiving grants that are greater than their tuition. Any way you look at it, Speaker, that is free tuition.

I urge people to look at the calculator online. We’ve made it very easy for people to estimate how much they will be able to get at ontario.ca/osap. You answer a few questions and you learn how much aid there is to get. I look forward to the supplementary because this is a very progressive, transformative initiative and people need to know about it.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Ms. Peggy Sattler: Speaker, young people like Julia shouldn’t have to take on a huge debt in order to get an education and build their future. Even though Julia will be living at home while she is at university, money is tight, making it difficult to cover tuition, mandatory student fees and textbooks. OSAP has offered a $9,000 loan, but Julia is worried about having to repay a debt that could amount to $36,000 after four years. Does the Premier think it is okay to saddle young people like Julia with such massive student loans?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: Let me repeat: People can go online. Students in grade 7, grade 8, and grade 12 can go online and see how much aid there is available. I’m not sure what the NDP policy is, Speaker, but I can tell you what ours is. Ours is that we have removed financial barriers for students across this province. It doesn’t matter how old you are, it doesn’t matter how many years out of high school you’ve been; we are there to help.

The new deal for students is you do the work, you get the marks, you get accepted and we will make sure that finances never stand in the way of your success.

Despite being willing and able to work, people with disabilities continue to face multiple barriers to employment. The employment rate for people with disabilities is less than 50%, and a quarter of those employed feel they are working in a role that does not reflect the breadth of their qualifications.

By removing barriers in Ontario, we foster a culture of inclusion, increasing participation in our communities and workforce and creating a society where everyone has the opportunity to reach their full potential. Speaker, could the minister explain what our government is doing to remove barriers to employment for people with disabilities?

We know that improving employment opportunities and outcomes for people with disabilities will help build Ontario up for everyone, and we remain committed to our goal of making Ontario accessible by 2025. That’s why we created the AODA employment standard. I was actually on that standard committee years before I became a politician. It’s a very important standard to help organizations meet their obligations and to proactively remove barriers.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Lou Rinaldi: I want to thank the minister for her incredible work towards making an accessible Ontario. People of all abilities deserve to reach their social and economic potential by contributing their diverse skills and talents in the workplace. Unfortunately, many Ontario employers are reluctant to hire people with disabilities, and yet nearly a third of Ontario’s small and medium-sized businesses report having difficulty filling job vacancies.

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

Our employment strategy will establish a cohesive made-in-Ontario vision to ensure Ontarians have access to a continuum of employment and transition and training services. It will streamline employment services to recognize the unique needs and employment goals of each individual—we’re working very closely with a number of partner ministries on this—and it will engage employers to be active partners in breaking down barriers and promoting an inclusive workforce by shifting attitudes and dispelling misconceptions.

School closures

Mr. Steve Clark: My question is for the Minister of Education. I want to thank the minister for coming to Merrickville in Leeds–Grenville on Friday.

Parents, municipal leaders in my riding and the member for Stormont–Dundas–South Glengarry told her clearly why the school closure process they’ve just gone through is a disgrace. But they want to fix it. They have one request, that all the school closures be put on hold until an all-party review develops a new process. One parent stated that the only way we can have faith the minister is listening is if she agrees to a moratorium.

Speaker, will the minister put a moratorium in place that includes schools under the threat of closure? Yes or no?

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The Minister of Infrastructure, come to order, please.

Minister of Education.

Hon. Mitzie Hunter: I, too, want to thank the member opposite for the question and also for attending the consultation that was held in Merrickville on Friday evening.

The consultations and engagement processes that have begun in rural Ontario and remote communities in Ontario are designed to ask the question: How do we improve education for rural and remote communities? Are there creative ideas and solutions that we need to consider to make those types of enhancements? That’s exactly the conversation that we’re engaged in.

It does not mean that we can’t move forward with decisions that school boards are making locally, because they are doing that with the framework that they want to ensure the best outcomes for students in their communities. That is happening. We know that those are very difficult conversations and difficult decisions, but they’re all being made with the view to improving education outcomes for students in rural communities.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Steve Clark: Back to the minister: Unfortunately, what we just heard sounded a lot like the minister’s words on Friday night. She said a lot but ignored the real issue that matters: the 12 Upper Canada schools that this government wants to close starting next month. For these schools and these communities, there is no tomorrow. As one parent told the minister, “We can’t do better next time; we have to do better now.”

Doing better means giving these schools and communities a second chance to show why rural and small schools matter. Again, parents and municipal leaders deserve an honest yes-or-no answer to the question that they asked repeatedly on Friday night: Will the minister agree to a moratorium, and will she do it today?

Hon. Mitzie Hunter: Of course our schools matter, and every student deserves the best education possible in Ontario. That’s why we’re engaged in these conversations so we can talk about the creative solutions that can improve education for rural and remote communities. For instance, having the opportunity for two school boards to come together and to talk about joint use: We’re seeing where that’s creating enormous benefits, improving facilities, broadening the programming options for students, and having more extracurricular activities.

It is this coming together and the utilization of shared space that has that possibility for better programming. We’re seeing that right across, as boards come together, as communities and boards come together, and ensuring that the conversation that we’re having is one about the best possible outcomes for students. I would absolutely encourage that member opposite to continue to have that dialogue with local school board trustees because that’s the question we’re focused on here on this side of the House.

Affordable housing

Mr. Percy Hatfield: My question is to the Deputy Premier. About 400 homes for low- to moderate-income families will close this year because Toronto Community Housing doesn’t have enough money to fix them. About 1,000 homes will have to be closed by next year. The city of Toronto has a plan to save these homes, and the money to pay a third of the cost. Ottawa will put up another third. Toronto’s mayor has asked the Premier to pay the remaining third but the Premier said no. Why won’t the Wynne Liberals give the city of Toronto what it needs to help save these homes?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: To the Minister of Housing.

Hon. Chris Ballard: I just want to go on the record and say that over the next three years, Ontario will be investing $2 billion in affordable and sustainable housing across Ontario—$2 billion. Having the federal government at the table is very important—

Interjections.

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

Hon. Chris Ballard: Having the federal government at the table is very important. We certainly welcome their commitment of $11 billion over 11 years divided among the 13 provinces and territories. Our government has increased funding year over year, showing our commitment to building a fair society where everyone benefits.

In the supplementary, I’ll be delighted to talk about that more.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Percy Hatfield: Social housing used to be a provincial responsibility. Mike Harris and the Conservatives downloaded it onto the municipal tax base. The Liberals have been in power for 14 years. In 2013, the Premier cut $129 million in annual funding to Toronto’s social housing program.

It’s cheaper to repair existing homes than build new ones. That’s why we in the NDP have pledged to pay the one third provincial share when we form government. Why won’t the Liberals undo the damage that their cuts to social housing have done to Toronto’s struggling families?

Hon. Chris Ballard: I’m very happy to highlight all of the amazing funding that this province has put into Toronto. I can tell you that we’ve made these investments: $340 million into Toronto for homelessness prevention to help Toronto’s most vulnerable residents; $130 million to expand affordable housing so that every Ontarian has an affordable place to call home; and, as announced in the budget, provincial land in Toronto alone worth up to $100 million to build new affordable rental units. The list goes on.

This year alone, Ontario contributed $43 million to the city of Toronto for repairs and retrofits to social housing. That expansion included an increase in funding for Toronto, reaching over $117 million annual by 2019. As I said at the beginning—

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

Notice of dissatisfaction

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Pursuant to standing order 38(a), the member from Dufferin–Caledon has given notice of her dissatisfaction with the answer to her question given by the Minister of Children and Youth Services concerning purchase of coats for staff. This matter will be debated on Tuesday at 6 p.m.

Visitor

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member from Stormont–Dundas–South Glengarry on a point of order.

Mr. Jim McDonell: I know that the member from Elgin–Middlesex–London must not have noticed, but his wife, Jenn, is here in the gallery.

Correction of record

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation.

Hon. David Zimmer: On a point of order, Speaker: I’d like to correct my record. In my answer on the supplementary question, I said that $26 million was being invested in nine aboriginal institutes. I misspoke. The correct amount is $56 million.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): I want to offer the member from Elgin–Middlesex–London good luck this afternoon. That’s all I have to say.

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

The House recessed from 1142 to 1300.

Introduction of Visitors

Ms. Ann Hoggarth: I would like to welcome representatives of Ovarian Cancer Canada, here with us today in recognition of World Ovarian Cancer Day. We are joined by survivors Robin Hanson, Rhianna Johnson, Donna Pepin, Shannon Corbett and Heather Heaps, and OCC staff members Cailey Crawford, Kelly Grover and Vanessa Low.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Welcome.

Members’ Statements

World Ovarian Cancer Day

Mr. Michael Harris: Today marks World Ovarian Cancer Day—a day recognized here and across the planet to acknowledge the impacts of, and educate communities about, ovarian cancer and its symptoms.

Just last month in my riding, I met with Adele and Linda, residents who shared the impact this disease has had on their lives and the lives of their families. I was moved by their passion to raise awareness about ovarian cancer and advocacy for the urgent need for improved treatment—a passion that I’m certain is shared by the many volunteers and staff of Ovarian Cancer Canada that we have in attendance today. I welcome you.

Every day, five women die from ovarian cancer, making it the most fatal women’s cancer in Canada. For far too long, sufferers have felt overlooked as they are told that better treatment options simply aren’t available.

This disease touches all of our communities, and we all have women in our lives who are at risk of this terrible illness, of course.

Ovarian Cancer Canada has launched a campaign to recognize the need for action on ovarian cancer, for the women living with the disease and for those at risk of developing it.

Please join me and Ovarian Cancer Canada by showing your support in recognition of World Ovarian Cancer Day.

I thank you, Speaker. I welcome the guests here today—all the moms, sisters, friends and family. We’re thinking of you today.

Fran Stanutz

Mr. Taras Natyshak: In honour of Nursing Week, I’d like to recognize an exceptional nurse from our region of Windsor and Essex county. Our

chapter of the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario has presented is annual Lois Fairley award. It goes to an exceptional nurse, Fran Stanutz.

Fran is the palliative care coordinator at the Hospice of Windsor and Essex County. She’s had a remarkable career. She graduated from the Hotel Dieu school of nursing in 1968. She started working at the old IODE hospital in the intensive care ward.

Fran then, like so many other nurses in Windsor and Essex county, accepted a job in Detroit, at Lakeside. From there, it was on to the Detroit Osteopathic Hospital, as head nurse on the oncology floor. From there, it was off to the Detroit Medical Center in the area of radiation oncology. She later transferred to the bone marrow transplant floor.

After 18 years of nursing in Michigan, her husband took a job in Barrie. At first, Fran worked here in Toronto, at Princess Margaret, but the commute got to be too much, so she accepted a position at Bayshore Home Health. She spent 20 years with them as a nursing manager, and along the way was certified for hospice palliative care. That’s when she was lured back to Windsor.

Fran says she can feel an angel on her shoulder when she’s caring for hospice patients. She’s great with volunteers, and her entire team is involved in mentoring and coaching young nursing students.

The award is named after the late local nurse, mentor and advocate for the nursing profession. Lois Fairley led by example, and Fran Stanutz exemplifies the true meaning and spirit of Lois Fairley by her leadership, advocacy, professionalism and compassion for nursing.

Congratulations, Fran, on this great honour.

World Ovarian Cancer Day

Ms. Ann Hoggarth: Several weeks ago, I had the chance to meet with a Barrie constituent, Laura Zawadiuk, an advocate with Ovarian Cancer Canada, to discuss their new #ladyballs campaign, so named to draw attention to the courage it takes to face this disease, discuss it openly and stand up against it.

Unfortunately, the symptoms of this disease are easy to mistake for something else, and there is no singular, definitive diagnostic test. Because of this, it often goes undetected, and many women, including Laura, need to be their own advocates and insist that certain tests are performed. Unfortunately, for too many, it means it’s found too late.

As a cancer survivor myself, I know the importance of organizations like Ovarian Cancer Canada. They raise awareness about the signs and risk factors, fundraise for research for desperately needed new treatments, and provide resources and community support for families experiencing this terrible disease.

Every September since 2002, they have held the Walk of Hope, an event that now takes place in 40 communities across the country and that has raised over $23 million to date.

Speaker, on World Ovarian Cancer Day, I would like to thank the survivors and the advocates here with us today, and those holding community events across Ontario, for their hard work and devotion to their cause.

I would also like to let everyone know that we will be distributing postcards to members on the #ladyballs campaign to help them advocate to the federal Minister of Health to further support research for a cure.

Canadian Merchant Navy

Mr. Jim Wilson: I rise today on the anniversary of victory in Europe to pay tribute to those who fought and died in the defence of our liberty during World War II. Each year on this day, we gather throughout the province and worldwide to commit ourselves to never losing sight of the huge number of men and women who served both abroad and at home during such difficult times and the sacrifices they made on our behalf.

Today, I want to talk about a lesser-known group of veterans: those in the Canadian Merchant Navy. Mr. Speaker, merchant mariners played an important role in the war. They sailed transport ships carrying vital cargo and personnel to our allies on the front line. They sailed hazardous ocean passage routes, often in terrible weather and with the full knowledge that German “wolf packs”—submarines—lurked beneath the water to blow up their ships.

A total of 12,000 men and women served in Canada’s merchant navy. Of those, over 1,700 lost their lives. In fact, the merchant navy suffered the most casualties of any Canadian fighting service.

The merchant navy was not an official entity of the military. In fact, the mariners were a volunteer organization. They held no military standing and had no formal training. They didn’t receive government benefits or have uniforms that would identify them on land. As a result, their efforts did not garner the same recognition as other veterans after the war.

Last Thursday, in recognition of the sacrifice made by merchant mariners and their families, I introduced legislation proclaiming September 3 of each year as Merchant Navy Veterans Day. This legislation echoes federal legislation that was passed in 2003 and proclamations made by other provinces, including British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Nova Scotia. I hope that all members of this House will support this legislation and vote in favour of its swift passage.

Mike Farwell

Ms. Catherine Fife: May is Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month, and in Kitchener–Waterloo, you can find Mike Farwell in the community raising funds for Cystic Fibrosis Canada. Through his third annual #Farwell4Hire campaign, Mike hires himself out for odd jobs in exchange for a donation.

Mike is a local radio host and a dedicated community servant, always eager to emcee an event.

Mike has lost two sisters to cystic fibrosis and still thinks of them over 20 years later. In a recent interview, Mike said, “My older sister [was] 24 years old. Nine months later, losing my little sister at the age of 18 was excruciating....

“[My sisters] got robbed of the last 20 years that I’ve had to try to do something. So that’s why I do it.”

In 20 years, cystic fibrosis research has come a long way. Today, the average life expectancy of someone living with cystic fibrosis has nearly doubled, and medical advances have improved the standard of care for patients.

Mike’s advocacy efforts on behalf of Cystic Fibrosis Canada and the cystic fibrosis community are tireless. Last year, he raised over $40,000. This year, he hopes to raise $50,000. Mike has said he is the luckiest man on earth, but I’d say that we are pretty lucky to have him as a community leader in Kitchener–Waterloo.

To Mike, we say, “Thank you,” and hopefully, “You’re hired.”

If you are interested in learning more about cystic fibrosis and supporting Mike’s campaign, I would encourage to you check out #Farwell4Hire online.

Thank you, Mike.

B.R. Ambedkar

Mrs. Amrit Mangat: Recently, I had the pleasure of attending the 126th birthday celebration of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar in my great riding of Mississauga–Brampton South. Dr. Ambedkar was the architect of the Indian constitution.

Born in a Mahar family, considered an untouchable caste, he became a victim of India’s evil caste system. Dr. Ambedkar’s life proves that birth in a so-called untouchable caste doesn’t define success. It was his education and valiant fighting spirit against evil, coupled with the lofty goal of building a society without discrimination based upon colour, caste, creed and gender that defined his life’s success.

He was the first Indian who earned a PhD abroad, in 1917. In fact, he earned four PhDs, including one from the London School of Economics—and his education at Columbia University.

Dr. Ambedkar’s life is a portrait of a true revolutionary spirit and of an intellectual of great depths. He was a jurist, economist, politician and social reformer. He dedicated his entire life to fighting against caste discrimination and gender inequality and for the upliftment of the economically marginalized.

I congratulate the celebration committee for organizing such an important and successful event.

Beth Donovan Hospice

Mr. Steve Clark: On Friday, I attended the grand opening of the Beth Donovan Hospice’s new “forever home” in Kemptville. It’s a beautiful space that will bring the invaluable services they provide in North Grenville and Merrickville-Wolford under one roof. I’m so proud of the staff, the amazing volunteers and the community for their tremendous support since the hospice began 25 years ago.

But there’s one essential piece missing. As in so many rural communities in Ontario, there is no funding from the local LHIN to operate residential hospice beds. It’s cruel to force rural families to take a loved one from the community they’ve called home for years to spend their final days. A rural resident from Oxford Mills or Eastons Corners has as much right to die in a residential hospice setting near home as someone in the city of Ottawa.

I’ve had many conversations with the minister and his parliamentary assistant about this funding; however, the time for conversations is over. These communities have been patient, but now they want action and a fair share of rural hospice funding. The member for Ottawa South visited the Beth Donovan Hospice with me, so he knows how much this means to our community. I ask him and the minister to join me in demanding the Champlain LHIN immediately approve these residential hospice beds and the funding to operate them.

Civics education

Mrs. Cristina Martins: I rise today to inform the House about the fantastic visit that I had with students from Ms. Barclay’s grade 10 civics class from Bloor Collegiate Institute in my riding of Davenport.

This past Friday, I had the pleasure of welcoming this fantastic group of grade 10 students to my constituency office for an hour and a half to talk about how the Legislature works, how we come to decide on what is in the best interests of the public, and what life is like as an MPP. Having the opportunity to field questions and educate students on the work we do here is important, and I couldn’t have been more honoured to have had the opportunity.

We also had the opportunity to debate in the style of our Legislature. While the discourse was heated, I must say that this House could take a cue from the level of respect and decorum that these young adults showed each other.

I’m glad that one thing I didn’t have the opportunity to talk to them about was members’ statements and their purpose. So, for the students who are following along at home or online, members’ statements are for informing the House about the great work, the important work, that is going on in our constituencies, whether it’s by an organization, individuals—or, in this particular case, all the great learning and civics education being taught by Ms. Barclay to her grade 10 civics class at BCI.

I encourage all members of the House to carve out some time in their very busy schedules to speak to the civics classes in their constituencies. It’s important that we teach about the work of this Legislature, and I must confess that it is some of the most rewarding work that I do.

Agri-food industry

Mr. Jim McDonell: In March, I attended the Ottawa Valley Farm Show, where agricultural businesses from across eastern Ontario and the province showcased the innovation and progress our agri-food industry can be so proud of.

A local business from Stormont–Dundas–South Glengarry, Homestead Organics, takes a leadership role in promoting sound, efficient organic farming across the country. At the farm show, they partnered with Canadian Organic Growers to launch the third edition of the Canadian Organic Field Crop Handbook, a comprehensive guide to starting a new organic business, transitioning to organic production and improving farm practices in the organic sector.

The challenges facing organic farming are not different from those facing all other agricultural enterprises. Producers must strive to achieve maximum yields, use resources, money and equipment efficiently, and ensure good practices are followed at every step of the production cycle.

The process of setting up a business or transitioning to organic farming can appear daunting. The handbook provides the information that prospective organic farmers need in order to set themselves up for success.

Businesses deserve their chance to succeed in Ontario. I am proud see local organic producers taking a leadership role in building a stronger and better organic industry in our province. They make us proud.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): I thank all members for their statements.

Petitions

Hydro rates

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mental health and addiction services

Mr. John Vanthof: I have a petition initiated by Lianne Paillé from Dymond township.

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas many families are forced to deal with mental health and addiction issues in rural areas of northeastern Ontario without access to trained mental health care workers; and

“Whereas both medical and physiological treatment is difficult to access in smaller communities and many patients fall through the cracks in the system; and

“Whereas rehab centres and support networks for families and individuals are limited to larger centres such as Sudbury or North Bay;

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

“To provide immediate and appropriate mental health care and addiction treatment to individuals and their families in the rural and remote areas of northeastern Ontario.”

I fully agree, affix my signature and give it to page Rishi.

Elevator maintenance

Ms. Soo Wong: I have a petition addressed to the Legislative Assembly.

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

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

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

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

“Urge the Ontario government to require repairs to elevators be completed within a reasonable and prescribed time frame. We urge this government to address these concerns that are shared by residents of Trinity–Spadina and across Ontario.”

I support the petition and give my petition to page Maddison.

School closures

Mr. Jim McDonell: I have a petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

“Whereas a staff report has recommended Upper Canada District School Board close numerous schools across eastern Ontario; and

“Whereas access to quality local education is essential for rural communities to thrive; and

“Whereas the Ministry of Education removed community impact considerations from pupil accommodation review guidelines in 2015 and has cut essential rural school funding; and

“Whereas local communities treasure their public schools and have been active participants in their continued operation, maintenance and success; and

“Whereas the Ontario government should focus on delivering quality, local education services to all communities, including rural Ontario; and

“Whereas the current PAR process forces bad behaviour by school boards to justify the replacement of high-maintenance outdated schools;

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

“(1) to support MPP Jim McDonell’s motion to suspend all current PAR reviews until a strategic rural education plan is completed, engaging all rural school boards, school communities and municipalities;

“(2) to reinstate considerations of value to the local community and value to the local economy in pupil accommodation review guidelines; and

“(3) to engage all rural school boards, including the Upper Canada District School Board, school communities and municipalities in the development of the strategic rural education plan; and

“(4) consider rural education opportunities, student busing times, accessible extracurricular and inter-school activities, the schools’ role as a community hub and its value to the local economy.”

I agree with this and pass it off to page Matthew.

Privatization of public assets

M me France Gélinas: I would like to thank Mr. Guy Sivret from Chelmsford, in my riding, for this petition. It reads as follows:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Government anti-racism programs

Ms. Daiene Vernile: I have a petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

“Whereas Ontarians are concerned that individual, systemic and cultural racism continues to create unfair outcomes for racial minorities in Ontario;

“Whereas the time has come to remove the social and economic barriers that prevent our province from achieving true equality;

“Whereas in order to accomplish that objective and to tackle racism in all its forms, our government has created the new Anti-Racism Directorate;

“We, the undersigned, acknowledge both our support for the concept behind the Anti-Racism Directorate, and recognize that there is still work to be done to build an inclusive Ontario where everyone, regardless of their race, ethnicity, or cultural background, has an equal opportunity to succeed.

“Therefore, we petition the government to work with key partners, such as businesses, community organizations, educational institutions and the Ontario Human Rights Commission in an effort to create a scope for the Anti-Racism Directorate....”

Speaker, I agree with this, will put my name to it and give it to page Peter to bring down to you.

School closures

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

“Whereas under the current Pupil Accommodation Review Guideline (PARG), one in eight Ontario schools is at risk of closure; and

“Whereas the value of a school to the local economy and community has been removed from the PARG; and

“Whereas the PARG outlines consultation requirements that are insufficient to allow for meaningful community involvement, including the establishment of community hubs; and

“Whereas school closures have a significant negative impact on families and their children, resulting in inequitable access to extracurricular activities and other essential school involvement, and after-school work opportunities; and

“Whereas school closures have devastating impacts on the growth and overall viability of communities across Ontario, in particular self-sustaining agricultural communities;

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

“To place a moratorium on all school closures across Ontario and to suspend all pupil accommodation reviews until the PARG has been subject to a substantive review by an all-party committee that will examine the effects of extensive school closures on the health of our communities and children.”

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

Hospital funding

Ms. Jennifer K. French: I have a petition here at the beginning of Nursing Week to share.

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas providing high-quality, universal, public health care is crucial for a fair and thriving Ontario; and

“Whereas years of underfunding have resulted in cuts to registered nurses (RNs) and hurt patient care; and

“Whereas, in 2015 alone, Ontario lost more than 1.5 million hours of RN care due to cuts; and

“Whereas procedures are being off-loaded into private clinics not subject to hospital legislation; and

“Whereas funded services are being cut from hospitals and are not being provided in the community; and

“Whereas cutting skilled care means patients suffer more complications, readmissions and death;

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

“Implement a moratorium on RN cuts;

“Commit to restoring hospital base operating funding to at least cover the costs of inflation and population growth;

“Create a fully-funded multi-year health human resources plan to bring Ontario’s ratio of registered nurses to population up to the national average;

“Ensure hospitals have enough resources to continue providing safe, quality and integrated care for clinical procedures and stop plans for moving such procedures into private, unaccountable clinics.”

I wholeheartedly support this, will affix my name and send it with Sofia to the Clerk.

Dental care

Mr. Arthur Potts: I have a petition here to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from my community of Crescent Town. It’s a fantastic community, and I want to read their petition here.

“Whereas lack of access to dental care affects overall health and well-being, and poor oral health is linked to diabetes, cardiovascular, respiratory disease, and Alzheimer’s disease; and

“Whereas it is estimated that two to three million people in Ontario have not seen a dentist in the past year, mainly due to the cost of private dental services; and

“Whereas approximately every nine minutes a person in Ontario arrives at a hospital emergency room with a dental problem but can only get painkillers and antibiotics, and this costs the health care system at least $31 million annually with no treatment of the problem;

“Therefore we, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to invest in public oral health programs for low-income adults and seniors by:

“—ensuring that plans to reform the health care system include oral health so that vulnerable people in our communities have equitable access to the dental care they need to be healthy;

“—extending public dental programs for low-income children and youth within the next two years to include low-income adults and seniors; and

“—delivering public dental services in a cost-efficient way through publicly funded dental clinics such as public health units, community health centres and aboriginal health access centres to ensure primary oral health services are accessible to vulnerable people in Ontario.”

I agree with this petition, sign it and leave it with page Charlene.

School closures

Mr. Jeff Yurek: “To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas under the current Pupil Accommodation Review Guideline (PARG), one in eight Ontario schools is at risk of closure; and

“Whereas the value of a school to the local economy and community has been removed from the PARG; and

“Whereas the PARG outlines consultation requirements that are insufficient to allow for meaningful community involvement, including the establishment of community hubs; and

“Whereas school closures have a significant negative impact on families and their children, resulting in inequitable access to extracurricular activities and other essential school involvement, and after-school work opportunities; and

“Whereas school closures have devastating impacts on the growth and overall viability of communities across Ontario, in particular self-sustaining agricultural communities;

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

“To place a moratorium on all school closures across Ontario and to suspend all pupil accommodation reviews until the PARG has been subject to a substantive review by an all-party committee that will examine the effects of extensive school closures on the health of our communities and children.”

I agree with this petition and affix my signature.

Disaster relief

M me France Gélinas: I would like to thank Dinah Timmermans from Gogama for signing the petition, which reads as follows:

“Whereas at 2 a.m. on March 7, 2015, a Canadian National train derailed in Gogama;

“Whereas this derailment caused numerous tank cars carrying crude oil to explode, catch fire and spill over one million litres of oil into the Makami River; and

“Whereas residents continue to plainly observe oil and find dead fish in the Makami River as well as Lake Minisinakwa, despite the fact that the Ministry of the Environment has declared the cleanup complete”;

They petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario “that the Ministry of the Environment require CN to continue the cleanup of Gogama’s soil and waterways until the residents are assured of clean and safe water for themselves, the environment and the wildlife.”

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

Water fluoridation

Mr. Peter Z. Milczyn: A petition to the Legislative Assembly:

“Whereas community water fluoridation is a safe, effective and scientifically proven means of preventing dental decay, and is a public health measure endorsed by more than 90 national and international health organizations...; and

“Whereas the continued use of fluoride in community drinking water is at risk in Ontario cities representing more than 10% of Ontario’s population, including the region of Peel; and

“Whereas the Ontario Legislature has twice voted unanimously in favour of the benefits of community water fluoridation, and the Ontario Ministries of Health and Long-Term Care and Municipal Affairs and Housing urge support for amending the Health Protection and Promotion Act and other applicable legislation to ensure community water fluoridation is mandatory and to remove provisions allowing Ontario municipalities to cease drinking water fluoridation, or fail to start drinking water fluoridation, from the Ontario Municipal Act;

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

“That the Premier of Ontario direct the Ministries of Municipal Affairs and Housing and Health and Long-Term Care to introduce legislation amending the Health Protection and Promotion Act and make changes to other applicable legislation and regulations to make the fluoridation of municipal drinking water mandatory in all municipal water systems across the province of Ontario.”

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

Energy contracts

Mr. Jim McDonell: I have a petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

“Whereas the Premier recently stated that it has been a mistake that government policies have caused electricity bills to rise so dramatically, resulting in hardship for thousands of Ontarians; and

“Whereas on September 27, 2016, Minister Thibeault announced that because Ontario has a sufficient supply of all forms of energy to meet demands over the next decade, he was suspending the LRP-II process; and

“Whereas according to the IESO and the government, the trend has been toward declining energy consumption in the province, decreasing the need for new generation; and

“Whereas overpayment for unneeded wind and solar energy in Ontario is causing Ontarians’ electricity bills to rise to increasingly unaffordable levels; and

“Whereas over half of Ontarians’ power bills are regulatory, delivery charges and the global adjustment; and

“Whereas the global adjustment is a tangible measure of how much Ontario must overpay for unneeded wind and solar power, and the cost of offloading excess power to our neighbours to the south at a significant loss; and

“Whereas many LRP I projects are approved by the IESO without community support or agreement, without abutting landowner agreements, and without prior local First Nations support, although these priorities were well-advertised in the process; and

“Whereas the ‘Notice to Proceed’ stage which triggers most of the IESO commercial commitments has not happened; and

“Whereas the IESO’s payment of pre-NTP costs would be a tiny fraction of the projects’ avoided capital investments:

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

“To immediately cancel all LRP-I contracts, such as Nation Rise Wind project in North Stormont.”

I agree with this and will pass it off to page Gabriel.

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

Orders of the day.

Orders of the Day

Stronger, Healthier Ontario Act (Budget Measures), 2017 / Loi de 2017 pour un Ontario plus fort et en meilleure santé (mesures budgétaires)

Resuming the debate adjourned on May 4, 2017, on the motion for second reading of the following bill:

Bill 127,

An Act to implement Budget measures and to enact, amend and repeal various statutes / Projet de loi 127, Loi visant à mettre en oeuvre les mesures budgétaires et à édicter, à modifier ou à abroger diverses lois.

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

Hon. Liz Sandals: I’m very pleased to be able to rise and speak in support of the 2017 budget this afternoon. Of course, as I think everyone knows now—oh, and I am going to share my time with the member for Beaches–East York and the member for Etobicoke–Lakeshore.

As everyone knows, I think, by now, we have a balanced budget for 2017-18. In fact, we will also have a balanced budget in 2018 and 2019. So this is very good news for Ontario.

It’s also been hard work because, quite frankly, we have had to be very careful about our spending. We’ve reined in spending in a lot of areas, found savings and reformatted programs. OSAP is a great example of a program where we have reformed the program and made it more effective so that we can help more students have free tuition with approximately the same amount of money.

But the thing that we’ve done is, we’ve been careful not to cut and slash while we have been doing restraint. That means that the economy has continued to grow. In fact, if you look at the growth in all of the G7 countries, including Canada as a whole, Ontario has outpaced economic growth in every single one of the members of the G7, including Canada as a whole, and because the Ontario economy has continued to grow, that means that we’re able to make some very exciting investments in this year’s 2017 budget.

So it isn’t just a case of having come to balance; it’s a case of being able to invest in those services like health care and education and continuing to build infrastructure that Ontarians rely on.

I think the really exciting signature piece in this year’s budget is the—

Interjections.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): Sorry to interrupt.

There’s an incessant din coming from the left side of the House. I would ask the members to quiet down so I can hear the President of the Treasury Board, who has the floor.

Hon. Liz Sandals: Thank you very much.

The thing that we are very, very proud of in this year’s budget is a universal pharmacare program for Ontario’s children, youth and young adults. In fact, it’s a universal pharmacare program for everyone under the age of 25. What do we mean by “universal”? We mean that every individual who is under 25 years of age will qualify for this program. It doesn’t matter what the family income is; every person in Ontario who has an OHIP card will qualify for this program. There isn’t any copayment; there isn’t any deductible. It means that if you’ve got a prescription from your doctor and your OHIP card, you can go to any pharmacy in Ontario come January 1, 2018, and you can get the drug you need.

The other thing that we’ve done with this program is that all 4,400 drugs that are on the Ontario drug formulary will be available through this program. The reason that that is so very, very important: Obviously, this program is going to be really important to families who are low income and have no drug benefit program, because they struggle to pay for even the simplest of prescriptions—the antibiotics for a child’s ear infection. For many families who are middle income, those occasional prescriptions for antibiotics or something to deal with those occasional childhood diseases aren’t a big deal.

What’s a big deal is if the child has a chronic disease, if the child has a rare disease or if, God help us, the child has cancer or some really life-threatening incident. Because all 4,400 drugs are on the formulary, that means that no matter what sort of disease the child or young person has, they’ll be able to get those drugs covered.

It isn’t just pharmacare. We’re investing in hospitals. I was really pleased on Friday to be able to announce, in Guelph and Wellington—for those of you who don’t know, I’m talking to one of our Acting Speakers, who happens to share the geography of Ontario with me. He represents most of Wellington, and I represent Guelph. I was able to announce funding increases for all the hospitals in Guelph and Wellington. When we put them all together, we get a $4.2-million increase just in Guelph and Wellington.

On top of that, the money is in the budget for construction to continue at Groves Memorial Community Hospital in Fergus, in the Speaker’s riding.

So we’re doing not just pharmacare but a lot of other great things in health care.

Now I’m going to turn it over to my colleague from Beaches–East York, I believe.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): I recognize the member for Beaches–East York.

Mr. Arthur Potts: The minister is quite right: She is turning the debate over to me at this time. I too, of course, am delighted to be able to announce and be here to participate in debate on a balanced budget, the first in over 10 years.

What’s particularly of interest in this for me is that it was a fundamental campaign promise when we were elected three years ago, one that I ran on in my community. This budget fulfills a promise that was made at the time. What is extremely important about it is that it demonstrates it is a truly balanced budget, because it is going to be projecting out for the next three years to continue to be balanced. At the same time as the economy is growing, it will allow us additional opportunities to invest new expenditures in the province of Ontario to help build Ontario up.

So there’s so much more in this budget than the signature piece and the pharmacare.

One of the things we didn’t talk about yet today, certainly, is in pharmacare—how this is a nation-leading program, Speaker. This is a program where we’re coming forward and starting to send the signal that, yes, as part of all health care in the province of Ontario, pharmacare should be there universally. Although our plan doesn’t get to universality, it does provide a very significant segment of our population with access to 4,400 drugs. That needs to be done. We sent that signal in a very fiscally responsible way.

We certainly have no disagreement with the members of the third party that this should be a program. We have been advocating for years at the federal level, through our Minister of Health, through our Premier and at Premier meetings across the country, that we would like to do a universal plan. It’s now up to the federal government to step up and to send the signal, and to other provinces to step up.

We took the initiative in Ontario, under the leadership of our Premier, to say we needed to boost people’s retirement income. That, too, was a significant promise that we made in the 2014 election: that we would address opportunities to enhance people’s retirement incomes. Because we did not have the co-operation of the feds, we went out on our own. In my own riding, I took some heat for the additional bureaucracy, for the additional costs, because people thought, “Why don’t you just get together with the federal government and do a national program?” They wouldn’t do it.

But once the government changed, and once we had a receptive ear in the federal government, then they did take this notion, because it was important that we improve people’s retirement income.

So the parallel here, Speaker, is that we’re doing the same thing now with pharmacare. I’m very excited that we’re proceeding in that direction.

There is, again, so much more in this budget of tremendous interest—in health care, particularly.

Another one of the campaign promises that I made in my community—because it was the calling of the election in 2014, because the members of the third party over there wouldn’t support one of the most progressive budgets, if not the most progressive budget in decades. They wouldn’t support it. As a result, funding for our local hospital, the Toronto East General Hospital, was put at risk. They were in the midst of a rebuild. They had designs and planning in the works.

Had we not come forward and made government in 2014—they knew those investments in health care in our community were gravely at risk, because they heard the messages from the official opposition about slashing jobs, getting to balance by cutting programs and cutting services. That was going to be unpalatable. So in my community, the Toronto East General Hospital was able to continue its planning.

I’m so delighted to announce that in this budget, we are providing an extra $11.5 billion into the health care system. As part of our $190-billion plan over the next 13 years, there is sufficient funding in that program that Toronto East General Hospital—now renamed the Michael Garron Hospital, I would add, as a result of a very generous gift from the Garron family, after their son Michael—that program continues.

They are now evaluating the request for proposals, they are looking for that builder, and I’m hearing estimates that this could be upwards of a $400-million booster shot in my own community to help create the most efficient, well-run health care of a very difficult population, which is lower-income, new Canadians, with complex needs, complex disorders.

This additional funding will allow us to build a new patient care wing, which is being named after the Thomson family because of their generous gift, and we will be able to get rid of ward rooms in my hospital where we have four, five or six people in the same room in a ward. In this day of infectious disease, Speaker, it’s so important that we get our hospital rooms where you’re managing one person at a time so as not to transfer anything. Our new patient care wing is going to accommodate a whole raft of new rooms to provide better health care services in the community.

I’m also pleased to say that we have additional funding in education, again part of that $190-billion program in education. We’re building new schools. We’re rebuilding George Webster school, which is in the north part of my riding, and I’m just delighted about that, because the school was old, falling down, single-storey and wasn’t meeting the needs of the community. In fact, there were so many kids there that the Toronto District School Board had to lease space from another school, a Catholic school nearby, in order to accommodate the influx of new students.

We’ve also got, in transportation, the Eglinton LRT. When that came forward with David Miller and Adam Giambrone, it was a program for which the province of Ontario stepped up with 100% of the funding. We’re now going to continue to move forward with new funding for new projects in Ontario, including right through my riding of Beaches–East York, where at the corner of Main and Danforth, where the GO rail is, we’re going to get regional express rail coming from Stouffville, coming from the Lakeshore East line. We’ll have downtown service every seven to eight minutes at Main and Danforth, to get people downtown in 10 minutes.

This is what our budget has done, what it has done extraordinarily well. I, for one, am very proud to support it. I certainly hope other members in the Legislature will.

I’ll turn it over to the member from Etobicoke–Lakeshore.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): The member for Etobicoke–Lakeshore.

Mr. Peter Z. Milczyn: I rise with great pride to speak to budget 2017-18.

I was first elected to municipal office some 23 years ago. I’ve prided myself throughout my career on keeping the commitments that I’ve made to my constituents.

Back in 2014 when I ran in Etobicoke–Lakeshore, I committed to my constituents that this government would bring about a balanced budget during the term and that we would continue investing in transit and other key infrastructure for my community and communities across this province—a promise made; a promise kept. I’m very proud of that, Mr. Speaker.

In this budget, we’re enhancing our historic commitment to infrastructure spending by going from $160 billion over 12 years to $190 billion over 13 years. To compare that to the very important and very welcome announcement in the federal budget, the national government will be spending just over $180 billion during that time frame across the whole country. We’re spending more than that just in our beautiful province.

In the city of Toronto, where I served on councils where we struggled to secure funding from other orders of government and where we saw plans being created that could never be funded—that’s where I spent my formative years as a municipal councillor. Now, as an elected member of provincial Parliament, I’m proud to see historic investments in the city of Toronto—a government that is the single biggest contributor of transit funding to the city of Toronto in our history. Mr. Speaker, this is great news.

Last year—I know it rolls over into this budget—we provided $150 million towards the planning of the downtown relief line, a key additional element of the transit solutions for the city of Toronto and for the GTHA. That is our down payment and our ongoing commitment to building infrastructure in the city.

But this budget is about more than just bricks and mortar and rails. It’s about people. My wife and I are part of the sandwich generation. We have a beautiful, soon-to-be-eight-year-old daughter, and we also have aging parents. This budget contains so much for my family and for my neighbours and my friends. This budget includes a historic commitment to pharmacare so that young people 24 and under in this province will never again have to worry about the medications that they need; that family doctors will never again, when you go and see them with a sick child, ask you, “Do you have a health plan?

Do you have prescription coverage?” because they know that many families struggle with that. They’ll know now that if a child needs prescription medication, that prescription will be filled and it will continue to be filled until it’s no longer needed. This is so incredibly important to our families.

On the other end of the spectrum, Mr. Speaker, with our older Ontarians, there is much in this budget to help them and to help those who care for them: historic investments in support for caregivers; caregivers’ tax credit; opportunities for more respite programs in our communities so that, for those dedicated sons and daughters who look after their parents and other family members, there’s something there to help them ease their burden, give them some respite, give them some additional supports.

There are additional funds in this budget to help our hospitals which are straining with the load that is placed on them: an across-the-board increase in hospital budgets across the province which will help alleviate waiting times in emergency wards and make sure they can continue to provide excellent service; investments in a number of elective surgeries that will reduce those wait-lists, across the board. That’s so incredibly important.

In my community of Etobicoke–Lakeshore, I remember a time when another party was in government, where our local hospital, the Queensway hospital, was going to be closed—not reduced, but closed. In this budget, there is a historic investment in hospital expansions across the province, but my community hospital, part of the Trillium Health Partners, the Queensway site, will see significant investment.

The sister site in Mississauga will see over 500 new acute-care beds, and our Etobicoke–Lakeshore site will see over 100 post-acute-care beds put there which will provide support to those people as they transition out of the hospital and hopefully back to their homes soon. These are very important investments in my community, and they’re mirrored in communities across the province.

As I said at the beginning, I pride myself on keeping the commitments that I make to my constituents. We’ve balanced the budget, we’re investing in our infrastructure, and we’re investing in our health care and education systems to help Ontarians, and people in my community as well.

Mr. Speaker, this is not just a good budget; it is a great budget. The calls I hear from across the floor are perhaps pangs of a guilty conscience, because when you claimed that you had a balanced budget, it was actually a $5-billion deficit. That’s your guilt. We’re proud of what we’re doing.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): Questions and comments?

Mr. Randy Hillier: It’s interesting that, for a group that is so proud of their budget, not one of them could find enough to say about it to take up their 20-minute rotation. They had to actually divide it up amongst three members to find something enough to say about this budget. But, Speaker, the problem with the government’s budget is not so much the document as the authors of it. This government has no credibility when it comes to financial management or any fiscal responsibility.

I don’t need to talk about all the scandals and whatnot. We can talk about their day-to-day incompetence of the management of the province’s budget. Last week in public accounts, the ministry of training, colleges and universities was there with Employment Ontario. Employment Ontario creates employment opportunities or jobs programs for the unemployed. Their budget last year was $1.3 billion. Out of that $1.3 billion that they spent to help people get jobs, only 10% of the people who went through those employment programs actually got a job they were trained for—one in 10.

They did do a little bit better. One third of people actually got some work after doing the employment programs, but fully two thirds were still unemployed after the employment programs—$1.3 billion, and they’ve been doing this for a long time. The Second Career program has been going on for eight years, and they can only get one in 10 people trained effectively and have a job. Fiscal mismanagement is their stock in trade.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): Questions and comments?

M me France Gélinas: It was interesting to listen to 20 minutes divided amongst three MPPs on the Liberal side. Same thing—there’s a 294-page document that we’re talking about, and they cannot find 20 minutes of good things to say about it. Right there, I am worried, but I am even more worried that we have a new, seventh drug plan. Ontario has six drug plans; we will have a seventh one. It is great that youth and children and babies will have their drugs covered, but I’m worried that it will be a hard cliff to look at once you turn 25.

Let’s be clear. The number of prescriptions filled for that age group is about one in 100. The money that we spent on covering four million youth is one tenth of the money we spend to cover the elderly population at 65. It’s fine to cover children, but I’m worried about the cliff. What happens at 25? As much as it is important to cover children, it is important to cover their parents too. When you look at 2.2 million workers in Ontario who get up every day to go to work and don’t have a drug plan—they are still left with nothing.

When the NDP, or anybody else, talks about a universal plan, “universal” means whoever you are, no matter how old you are, but we still don’t have that. To start with a universal plan would have been better.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): Questions and comments.

Mr. Yvan Baker: It’s an honour to join the debate. There were comments made by the members opposite that we were sharing our 20 minutes. The reason we’re sharing our 20 minutes is because we have more members than the members of the opposition do. I was speaking with the government House leader’s office. Our members were actually fighting to get a chance to speak to this budget, so we had to share the time.

With regard to financial management, I am not going to take lessons from that member or that party on fiscal management. First of all, we took a thoughtful approach to balancing the budget under the leadership of the previous Treasury Board president, who’s here, and the current one, and the Minister of Finance. We’ve taken a thoughtful, measured approach and gone through every program in government to look at how we can get better value for money and how we can better results for taxpayers.

That’s exactly how we went about balancing the budget—not the way that member and that party did, by slashing and burning the public services that underpin the quality of life that we enjoy here in Ontario; by closing hospitals and putting teachers out on the street. The NDP would appreciate that. The kinds of things the PCs did when they were in office to balance the budget are unacceptable in this the province, and we didn’t go down that path. For them to lecture us now on how to balance the budget I think is laughable.

I also think it’s laughable because, in the best of economic times—they were in office when Ontario had record economic growth. What did they do? They slashed taxes and had trouble balancing the budget, so they had to resort, in an election year, to selling off the 407 to balance the budget in the final year on a one-time basis. Now the PCs have the gall to lecture us. As someone who has two business degrees and who studied economics and finance and advised companies on how to manage their money, I’m not going to take lessons from that member on fiscal management.

Lastly, I’m just going to add quickly, on the issue of pharmacare: I’m really proud of this pharmacare plan, the OHIP+ plan. I have to remind the NDP member who talked about how adults won’t benefit from this: There are four million children out there, all of whom have parents who will benefit from this because they’re the ones, the vast majority of the time, who are absorbing the costs.

I’m really proud of this budget, and I’m proud of the way we’re moving ahead, both in terms of funding services and in terms of our fiscal plan.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): Questions and comments?

Mr. Jeff Yurek: We’ve heard a lot from the other side of the House in regard to this budget. Not one of them is talking about the $5-billion hole that is in their balanced budget. Utilizing the sale of Hydro One in order to balance the budget, claiming the assets of the teachers’ pension to balance the budget, and using their cap-and-trade to balance the budget are one-offs. What’s going to happen next year? What are they going to sell off next year in order to balance the budget?

It’s quite unfortunate; this government was jumping up and down during Stephen Harper’s years about the health transfer, but accepted the same deal from Prime Minister Trudeau, simply because he’s a Liberal. They stopped caring about the people of Ontario and took partisan lines with regard to how—they should still be jumping up and down about how the federal government has changed and drastically cut the health transfers.

Mr. Speaker, this budget offers little for my riding. Five schools are still going to close due to this government’s incompetence. The Dutton wind farm is still going to be built. Some 84% of the constituents of the municipality of Dutton Dunwich voted, “No, we don’t want these wind turbines built in our riding.” They want their municipality to have autonomy again. This government failed those people. They’re failing the people of Elgin county.

This government has ignored children’s mental health. If you look at the stats, it’s trending in the wrong direction. When they could have had funds in order to fill capacity into the communities—instead, our ER visits are skyrocketing, our hospitalizations are skyrocketing, and children are going years without access to services because of this government’s incompetence and lack of fiscal management.

It’s about time they start listening to both opposition parties and start to get the books balanced and follow the people of Ontario and deliver the health care services that we deserve and need.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): That concludes our questions and comments.

The member for Etobicoke–Lakeshore can reply.

Mr. Peter Z. Milczyn: I want to thank the members for Lanark–Frontenac–Lennox and Addington, Nickel Belt, Etobicoke Centre and Elgin–Middlesex–London for their comments.

Indeed, Mr. Speaker, we have been listening. We’ve been listening to our friends across the chamber, and we’ve been listening to Ontarians. We’ve balanced the budget. We’re making investments in our health care and education systems. We’re making investments in critical infrastructure across the province, in small towns and communities across the north and rural Ontario, in our medium and big cities, and in the city of Toronto.

As I said earlier, I rise with great pride on this budget. It’s not a budget like every other one. It is a budget that is balanced. It was balanced through economic growth—because Ontario is exceeding the performance of most other jurisdictions in the western world—but it was also done through the very hard work by members of the Treasury Board and the Ministry of Finance to control our spending, to make it more efficient, to extract as much value as they could for our taxpayers, and by doing that, finding funds to invest in the services that matter to Ontarians.

This budget does include increases in funding for hospitals to reduce wait times for surgeries, more support for seniors in their homes, more support for special programs for our youth and children, more support for mental health services. It builds more schools. It builds more hospital capacity. It builds transit and invests in affordable housing.

This budget is not just balanced fiscally, but it’s balanced in terms of priorities and imperatives of the residents of Ontario. This is a good budget. I call on the opposition to support it.

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

I want to begin with a bit of good news in this budget before getting into the reality of what it really is going to mean for Ontarians. They are suggesting that it’s a balanced budget. We’ve been pushing for that, but, at the end of the day, there is a $5-billion hole. Everyone else out there is questioning it; they’re challenging it. They have one-time revenue sources that they’re not going to have next year. They’re using the sell-off of Hydro One—which, by the way, they didn’t have in their election platform, and 85% of people say, “Don’t do it.”

One of the members—Etobicoke–Lakeshore, I believe—just said that they’re listening to Ontarians. I’m not certain what that means when 85% of the people tell you they don’t want you to do something and you steamroll ahead anyway.

They sold that so they could feed their election narrative, which is to say they balanced the budget. Hydro One was the price Ontarians paid and will continue to pay to keep the Liberal Party, in their minds, in power, but I think Ontarians are wise to it. I think they know this is a shell game they are playing, and they’ve had enough. Life is harder under these Liberals.

The fire sale of public assets: They sold the LCBO, they sold head office for OPG, which again are one-time sales. They have $500 million from the teachers’ pension plan. Again, the Auditor General has said those are not assets that you can liquidate, that you can dispose of. At the end of the day, there’s another asset where they are claiming half a billion dollars’ worth in there.

They have a one-time transfer from the federal government. As my colleague from Elgin–Middlesex–London just said, they were making huge cries in regard to the federal government when Mr. Harper was Prime Minister, and yet with Mr. Trudeau it’s all rosy and they accepted the exact same deal that they totally went crazy and ballistic on Mr. Harper for. It’s interesting, that $1.5-billion trust fund: Have they got an agreement from the Prime Minister every year to get that? Let’s not forget, we’re still a have-not province. We’re still accepting money from the federal government.

We used to be the leader of Confederation, Mr. Speaker, and we have had the hand out for many years under this Liberal government, and it’s the same thing.

You can almost hear the backroom dealings going on now. “Somehow we’ll make this work, even if it doesn’t add up,” because we’ve continued to play the shell game with numbers. In the six years I’ve been here, you can’t almost trust a number they come out with. At the end of the day, they told us that the gas plants were going to cost the taxpayer of Ontario $40 million. It was $1.1 billion, Mr. Speaker. I’ll repeat that: $1.1 billion from $40 million. Even the Liberals should be able to admit that was a little bit of a miscalculation. At some point, the people of Ontario have to start asking questions: What can we truly believe with those numbers? They were supposed to have eHealth up and