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May 12, 2010

39th Parliament, 2nd Session

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Hansard Transcripts

Votes and Proceedings

Orders and Notices

Hansard Transcripts 2010-May-12 (PDF)

L031 - Wed 12 May 2010 / Mer 12 mai 2010

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO

ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE DE L’ONTARIO

Wednesday 12 May 2010 Mercredi 12 mai 2010

ORDERS OF THE DAY

EXCELLENT CARE FOR ALL ACT, 2010 /

LOI DE 2010 SUR L’EXCELLENCE

DES SOINS POUR TOUS

WEARING OF CARNATIONS

INTRODUCTION OF VISITORS

ORAL QUESTIONS

TAXATION

TAXATION

TAXATION

NURSES

ANIMAL PROTECTION

LABOUR DISPUTE

GRADUATION RATES

TAXATION

BREASTFEEDING

PUBLIC TRANSIT

TAXATION

SOCIAL ASSISTANCE

ELECTRICITY SUPPLY

ABORIGINAL AFFAIRS

ANSWERS TO WRITTEN QUESTIONS

DEFERRED VOTES

EXCELLENT CARE FOR ALL ACT, 2010 /

LOI DE 2010 SUR L’EXCELLENCE

DES SOINS POUR TOUS

NOTICES OF DISSATISFACTION

INTRODUCTION OF VISITORS

MEMBERS’ STATEMENTS

TAMMY EPP

EVENTS IN

HAMILTON EAST–STONEY CREEK

DISEASE AWARENESS

MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS

JOUR DES FRANCO-ONTARIENS

ET DES FRANCO-ONTARIENNES

ENERGY RATES

RENEWABLE ENERGY

POLICE WEEK

EVENTS IN ESSEX

INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

NOT-FOR-PROFIT

CORPORATIONS ACT, 2010 /

LOI DE 2010 SUR LES ORGANISATIONS

SANS BUT LUCRATIF

EDUCATION STATUTE LAW

AMENDMENT ACT (ELECTRONIC SEXUAL MATERIAL), 2010 /

LOI DE 2010 MODIFIANT DES LOIS

EN CE QUI A TRAIT À L’ÉDUCATION

(DOCUMENTS ÉLECTRONIQUES

À CARACTÈRE SEXUEL)

ARTHUR MEEN

STATEMENTS BY THE MINISTRY

AND RESPONSES

NOT-FOR-PROFIT CORPORATIONS

INTERNATIONAL NURSES DAY

NOT-FOR-PROFIT CORPORATIONS

INTERNATIONAL NURSES DAY

NOT-FOR-PROFIT CORPORATIONS

INTERNATIONAL NURSES DAY

PETITIONS

ONTARIO PHARMACISTS

CLIMATE CHANGE

ONTARIO PHARMACISTS

REPLACEMENT WORKERS

MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS

TAXATION

DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES

ONTARIO PHARMACISTS

TAXATION

POWER PLANT

HOSPITAL FUNDING

TAXATION

ONTARIO PHARMACISTS

ONTARIO PHARMACISTS

ORDERS OF THE DAY

ACCOUNTING PROFESSIONS ACT, 2010 /

LOI DE 2010

SUR LES PROFESSIONS COMPTABLES

The House met at 0900.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Good morning. Please remain standing for the Lord’s Prayer, followed by a moment of silence for personal thought and inner reflection.

Prayers.

ORDERS OF THE DAY

EXCELLENT CARE FOR ALL ACT, 2010 /

LOI DE 2010 SUR L’EXCELLENCE

DES SOINS POUR TOUS

Resuming the debate adjourned on May 11, 2010, on the motion for second reading of Bill 46,

An Act respecting the care provided by health care organizations / Projet de loi 46, Loi relative aux soins fournis par les organismes de soins de santé.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Further debate?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: I’m very pleased to speak to second reading of the government’s proposed bill, the Excellent Care for All Act. I strongly believe that this piece of legislation is essential in moving the health system forward to deliver the kind of quality care that Ontarians need and deserve.

We talk a lot about “quality care,” but what do those words really mean? They mean being able to count on getting the highest standard of care no matter where in the province you live or get care. They mean being assured that the care you receive is based on the best and most up-to-date evidence that is shown to improve outcomes for patients. And for taxpayers—and we’re all taxpayers—they mean having confidence that every dollar spent on health care actually improves outcomes for patients.

We have to examine everything that is being done in health care through this lens of quality. That’s my job as health minister. For example, why are the majority of bone mineral density tests, used to detect and diagnose osteoporosis, being performed on low-risk women between the ages of 45 and 64, while at the same time only a minority of Ontarians with osteoporosis who are at high risk have their bone mineral density tested? Does this represent quality? Does this represent value?

Another example: There are patients receiving preoperative testing before some elective surgeries, tests where there is no evidence that shows a clinical benefit. But at the same time, many Ontarians with diabetes and other chronic diseases are still not receiving all the care that is recommended by clinical guidelines. When chronic diseases are not managed, people often get sicker and may end up in a hospital emergency room.

Failing to provide the best quality and a consistent level of care across the board ends up being more costly to the patient and to the health care system. We have an obligation to the people of Ontario to ensure that we are building a quality and sustainable health care system that will continue to deliver that care for decades to come. I believe the Excellent Care for All Act, if passed, will do just that.

The proposed legislation, along with complementary initiatives, will help develop a culture of quality where everyone working in the health care system, from the CEO to the front lines, is focused on quality improvement: getting better at what they do, getting better at how they deliver care, getting better at improving patient outcomes and getting better at creating quality and value within the health system.

I want to make it clear that hospitals are just a starting point, although they’re a very important starting point. Our government’s vision is much broader. Ultimately, quality improvement has to be applied to all aspects of the health care system. Ontarians should be able to expect high quality and value whether they’re receiving care in a hospital, in the community or within their own home. Quality must cut across the entire continuum of care. But as I said, hospitals are the important starting point.

Today, I’m asking my honourable colleagues to support this bill. This bill is based on the following four principles: that care must be organized around the patient to support his or her health; that continuous quality improvement is a critical goal; that payment, policy and planning must support both quality and the efficient use of resources; and finally, that quality care must be supported by the very best evidence and standards of care.

Health care organizations, beginning with hospitals, would all have interprofessional quality committees that would report directly to the board of directors on quality-related issues. These quality committees would create a focal point in hospitals around improvements that support better patient care.

Every organization would have quality improvement plans publicly posted. This will support hospitals in consciously pointing out ways that they’re going to get better at what they do. It would also inform patients, families and the community about what hospitals are doing to improve the quality of care.

Executive compensation would be linked to the achievement of outcomes identified in those plans. This will bring about a top-down focus on quality that would permeate the organization and also drive better patient care. It’s not just about developing a quality improvement plan; it’s about holding hospital leadership accountable for delivering on the plan.

There would be a patient relations process to address complaints and concerns, and regular patient, client and caregiver surveys with publicly posted results. The results of these surveys would be used to inform the annual quality improvement plans. It would give patients and their families, as well as hospital employees, greater input into shaping quality improvements in hospitals. Patients will be very much a part of this quality improvement dialogue, because for our government it all begins and ends with the patient, and there are many, many committed health professionals in Ontario who feel the same way.

I want to share with you an example of health care organizations focusing on specific quality improvement initiatives to make things better for their patients. The Humber River Regional Hospital and North York General Hospital partnered with a number of long-term-care homes to create a nurse-led outreach team that provides support, education and primary care services to those participating long-term-care homes. This has prevented many unnecessary transfers to an emergency room. Fifty per cent of the people assessed by the team would typically have been sent to the hospital in the past.

I could go on; the examples abound. But what has been lacking is across-the-board consistency, a health care culture where quality and value are absolutely integral parts of everyone’s job. As a way to expand consistent quality throughout the system, the proposed bill also expands the mandate of the Ontario Health Quality Council. It would enable the council to provide recommendations on clinical practice guidelines for services delivered by health care providers. The council would also make recommendations on possible changes to the way health care is covered and paid for. This would help ensure that future investments in health care get results and improve patient health.

We must act, Speaker. The health care numbers tell a vivid story. I know you’ve heard them in the House before, but I think they bear repeating. They underscore the challenge that is at hand and the imperative of acting now. Just 20 years ago, 32 cents—about a third—of every government program dollar was spent on health care. Today it’s 46 cents, or closing in on half. If we continue to do what we are doing and don’t make the changes that are necessary, we could be at 70% of our overall government budget in just 12 years.

The health care system is very important to Ontarians and, I know, to every member of this House. It touches all of us and everyone who is most dear to us. But we cannot continue to increase funding at a rate that will crowd out other government priorities. We still need to pay for education for our kids. We still need to build a strong social safety net. We need to protect our environment, and we need to build our infrastructure. We need to face this health care challenge head-on.

When some people hear the word “affordability,” they think “restraint” and “cutbacks.” But quality doesn’t mean “more expensive.” In fact, it is waste and inefficiency and poor quality that are expensive. Quality and sustainability go hand in hand. This legislation is about focusing on patients, focusing on quality, focusing on best practices, focusing on delivering value for every dollar we spend on health care.

I believe that the Excellent Care for All Act is a necessary first step in achieving all these imperatives. I urge my colleagues from all parties to support this legislation. The future quality and sustainability of health care in Ontario depend upon it.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Bruce Crozier): Questions and comments?

Ms. Lisa MacLeod: Obviously health care is a very important issue for all members of this Legislature. But I’d like to point out that although we are in support of openness, transparency and accountability in the health care system, and have been from day one, we find it quite odd that a few instances have occurred where the government is actually not in line with our thinking on openness, transparency and accountability.

I think back to just last Thursday, when the government had the opportunity to vote for the truth-in-government bill that I put forward. The Truth in Government Act would have allowed freedom of information requests to go to hospitals, which the Ontario Hospital Association itself had supported.

I think back to the $1-billion eHealth boondoggle. We have been calling, in fact as late as yesterday in committee, for a public inquiry into that lost-health-care dollar disaster presided over by this government.

Finally, we think of the health tax, where Ontarians are now paying as much as $900 per year that goes into general revenue, the sewer fund, rather than directly into our hospitals. There needs to be some accountability there.

But that’s not it. Right now we have a major issue in Ontario with drug pricing, drug wars and the combative attitude from the government with our local neighbourhood pharmacists. I must say that I’m very impressed with Kim Craitor, the Liberal MPP who has taken the side of the Progressive Conservative Party and called on the McGuinty Liberals to go back to the table with the pharmacists, as we have been saying. Don’t demonize them. And he’s done this today when they protested his office. This was in the Welland Tribune.

Again, he has come out in support of the PC position, that they need to go back to the drawing board because they have been unaccountable to not only our local pharmacists but to our seniors, to our young families, to the people who require our pharmacists.

They have a lot to answer for. Why did they vote down truth in government? Why aren’t they disclosing the health tax? Why aren’t they doing any health—

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Bruce Crozier): Thank you. The member for Welland.

Mr. Peter Kormos: I’m here with my colleague from the riding of Toronto–Danforth, and both of us listened carefully to the minister. We find it remarkable that the Minister of Health, in brief but eloquent comments, would not have addressed this morning the closure of the emergency rooms in Fort Erie and Port Colborne. We know what the member for Niagara Falls has to say about those, a member of the minister’s backbench. We know that the member for Niagara Falls, Mr. Craitor, bemoans and indeed objects vigorously and rejects the cruel and deadly closure of emergency rooms in Fort Erie and Port Colborne.

We find it remarkable that the minister, in her brief but eloquent address this morning, could have omitted the dissension in her own ranks around their ill-conceived and vicious attack on small-town pharmacists. Oh, the big-box pharmacies will do quite well, thank you, at the end of the day. Mr. Peterson’s stock values will be restored. He knows that and so does the minister. Nobody has to shed any tears for the board of directors of Shoppers Drug Mart or Pharma Plus.

But I’m worried about the Donnie Edwardses of Port Colborne, small-town pharmacists who are under pressure from the big-box stores and for whom this most recent attack by this government could be, and probably will be, the final blow.

You see, once again the member from Niagara Falls knows that his government is wrong. He said so in the press. I came to the Legislature this morning with copies of the Welland Tribune article. It was also published in the Niagara Falls Review. “Kim Craitor Gives His Support” to pharmacy students and condemns his government’s attack on small-town pharmacies—strange, Mr. Speaker.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Bruce Crozier): Questions and comments?

Mr. Bas Balkissoon: I am very happy to provide a couple of comments on the bill and on the input by the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care. The minister has quite clearly stated that this bill is trying to give the taxpayer value for their investments in our health care system, and we’re moving towards what we call best practices. In the bill itself, it will provide that future services will depend on clinical practice guidelines that are much improved.

Many of us will remember, prior to this government getting elected, that the previous government went on a cost-cutting measure to improve health care and reduce costs. It didn’t work. Our government, since it has been elected, has invested significantly in the health care system. What we’re doing now is, after we have provided all the resources and the investments in the system, we’re looking for value, and this is what this bill is all about. Now that we’ve got the system to where it is, we can ask those that are involved in the system to ensure that all future investments are dependent on improved health care for the taxpayers of Ontario.

If you look at the bill carefully, you will see that on the patient relations side there are improvements, there are key indicators that the public will be aware of, there is a patient-value system that has to be made public and the performance of the hospital has to be made public. All of us will remember the wait-time strategies of this government. When it was made public and posted on websites, hospitals improved, and this bill will do exactly the same in terms of the improvements in clinical practices and patient care.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Bruce Crozier): Questions and comments?

Mr. John O’Toole: I commend the Minister of Health for doing the best she can with what she’s got, and I suspect during Ontario—this is Nursing Week in Ontario. I know I’ll be at two hospitals this week; I’ll be at the mental health facility Ontario Shores as well as at Uxbridge hospital, which is, like many hospitals, being challenged in terms of not enough money. Of course, the government blames the LHINs and the LHINs say, “Well, we have a mandate to rationalize,” which means cut, basically.

Here’s the deal, though. I look across the room here and I see Lou Rinaldi from Northumberland Hills. You should speak up for your hospital. They’re laying nurses off there. And Jeff Leal here, from Peterborough Regional Health Centre. There are two Liberal members sitting here, their hospitals—they’re closing half of the Peterborough hospital, closing it. He should be standing in his place outraged. And the member Lou Rinaldi from Northumberland Hills, I can’t believe it. You should work with your constituents, Lou. All politics is local. Get on the game.

Mr. Lou Rinaldi: You closed hospitals.

Mr. John O’Toole: Look, we opened that hospital when we were government, and Port Hope and Port Colborne. I am so shocked, disappointed and saddened by this process.

I often think of the presentation made to the finance committee by a young pharmacist who my wife taught in grade 1, and now he owns a pharmacy in Minden, Peter Meraw. He made an impassioned, non-partisan—politics has nothing to do with it. He’s providing care to elderly, frail seniors. He’s giving them advice that arguably could be life-saving. What are they doing? They’re strangling them. They’re putting them out of business. They’re actually silencing them by cutting out any of the possibilities of small hospitals in rural Ontario. Under this government it’s dark days.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Bruce Crozier): The minister has up to two minutes to respond.

Hon. Deborah Matthews: I’m delighted to have the opportunity to respond. I have to say that it was odd for me to hear three members of the two parties opposite speak but not speak to this bill. I can only assume, because they have nothing to say about this bill, that they are in fact supportive of the initiatives that we are prepared to take to improve the quality of our health care system and improve the value for money that people get in the health care system.

I’m very proud of what our health care system has accomplished, the people who work every day in our health care system, but we need to do even better. This legislation will put in place the structure that will focus the attention of people across this province on getting better-quality care. What that means is that people will be able to access the same excellent quality no matter where they go in this province. It means that Ontario’s health care system will continue to get better, year over year. We’ve made some remarkable improvements in our health care system. We’ve addressed safety issues.

We have been able to significantly lower rates of infection and increase rates of compliance on hand hygiene. Our hospitals and our health care organizations are safer and better now, today, than they probably have ever been, but we know we can do better.

What this legislation does, and I can only assume it’s being supported by all parties in this Legislature, is continue to focus our health care system on getting better and on getting stronger. That’s what we need to do in order to have a health care system that will be there not just for us, but for generations to come.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Bruce Crozier): Further debate? Do any members wish to speak? If not, Ms. Smith has moved second reading of Bill 46. Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry?

All those in favour, say “aye.”

All those opposed, say “nay.”

In my opinion, the ayes have it.

This vote will be taken after question period this morning.

Second reading vote deferred.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Bruce Crozier): Orders of the day?

Hon. John Wilkinson: No further business.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Bruce Crozier): There being no further business, this House will be in recess until 10:30 of the clock.

The House recessed from 0924 to 1030.

Interruption.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): We’ll stop the clock. Would you like to take that call right now? We’ll gladly let you take the call. That must be a very important call, and we’ll allow it to be used.

WEARING OF CARNATIONS

Mr. John O’Toole: On a point of order, Mr. Speaker: I would seek unanimous consent today for people to wear the boutonniere carnation in recognition of the Multiple Sclerosis Society, who are with us today.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Agreed? Agreed.

I want to note, for the information of the House, that while we do have the capability to install ramps in the chamber which facilitate access to the front tier of member seating, they are intended for longer-term requirements of a disabled member, which we have done in the past. For today, the ramps have not been installed, and the participating members will take their seats as usual.

INTRODUCTION OF VISITORS

Mr. John O’Toole: In recognition of the MS Society I would like to introduce, in the visitors’ gallery, Kim Steele and Natasha Mistry from the MS Society, seated in our gallery here this morning. Welcome.

Mr. Yasir Naqvi: I would like to introduce to the House today guests from the Canadian Paraplegic Association of Ontario, who are here for their Chair-Leaders initiative, as the Speaker mentioned. Chair-Leaders is an awareness-raising event that highlights the need for an accessible Ontario for all. With us today, sitting in the Speaker’s gallery, are executive director Bill Adair, Pamela Quirk, Linda Staples, Gillian Lynne-Davies, Radka Poliakova and Andrea Ronan.

I also remind the members that there is a lunch reception today after question period in room 228.

Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Mr. Frank Klees: I want to extend a special welcome to the Legislature today to Mr. Richard Rowe, Mrs. Linda Rowe and their children Raymond and Lindsay, who are here to observe question period, to have lunch with an MPP and to observe how effective this place really can be.

Hon. Leona Dombrowsky: It is my pleasure to introduce today some 60 students who are part of the minister’s student advisory council. This is a new crop of students on the council who are here today for a session. They’re observing the Legislative Assembly this morning as part of their agenda today. It’s good to have them here.

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: I apologize for a slightly longer introduction, and they’re long medical terms.

I’d like to welcome my constituents Maureen MacQuarrie, Eleanor Johnston and Alison Rae who are here today with the Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Association of Ontario and the Environmental Health Association of Ontario for International Awareness Day for myalgic encephalomyelitis chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia and multiple chemical sensitivities.

I’d also like to welcome representatives from nine different groups who provide support for those living with these conditions. The groups here today are: the Waterloo-Wellington ME Association; the Scarborough ME, FM and MCS support group; the Toronto, north Toronto, Mississauga and Brampton fibromyalgia support groups; the ME/FM Association of Peterborough and District; and the Vaughan and the York region Fibromyalgia/CFS Wellness Support Group. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Mr. John O’Toole: I’d like to acknowledge three of my constituents: Judy Derrett, who is from my riding of Durham. She’s here with the chronic fatigue syndrome group, as well as Chrissy from Whitby and Lynn from Pickering.

Hon. Margarett R. Best: Over the past 40 years, Special Olympics has grown from a modest program serving local athletes to become the world’s largest movement dedicated to promoting respect, acceptance, inclusion and human dignity for people with intellectual disabilities through sports. Special Olympics Ontario operates over 1,600 club programs in 17 official sports for children and adults. Today we welcome athletes and volunteers from Special Olympics Ontario to the Legislature. Welcome.

Hon. Laurel C. Broten: I would like to extend a warm welcome to two of my constituents: Karen and Fabio Rossetti, who are seated in the members’ gallery. It’s a very special day for them today as they watch their son, page Joshua Rossetti, fulfill his duties as page captain in the Legislature today. Welcome to you, and good luck to Joshua in his duties today.

Mr. Bill Mauro: Here today from my riding of Thunder Bay–Atikokan, as part of the minister’s student advisory council, is Madison Alexandra Dyck from the Ecole Gron Morgan Public School.

Mr. John O’Toole: Again, I’d like to welcome to Queen’s Park today the members of the Community Living Durham North group led by their treasurer, Jamie Ross; their president, Larry Leonard; and executive director, Glenn Taylor. Welcome to Queen’s Park on Community Living Day that isn’t being celebrated this year.

Hon. Dwight Duncan: I’d like to welcome, in the members’ east gallery, Councillor Drew Dilkens from ward 1 in the city of Windsor.

Mr. Mike Colle: I’d like to welcome the family of legislative page Nicole Pal from Ledbury school in my riding. She is also a page captain today. Her family is here: her mom, Liz Pal; her sister Danielle Pal, who’s also the president of the student council at Ledbury school; and dad, Robert Pal. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Hon. Linda Jeffrey: I’d like to welcome a member of the fibromyalgia association of Brampton visiting the Legislature today. Her name is Joanne Saraiva.

I’d also like to welcome high school students from Central Peel Secondary School who are on a tour today.

Mr. David Zimmer: I’d like to welcome Bill Greenhalgh, who is the chief executive officer, and other representatives from the Human Resources Professionals Association to Queen’s Park today. It’s the largest human resources professional organization in Canada, with 20,000 members. They’re celebrating the 75th anniversary, and they’re hosting a lovely reception today in room 228 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. All members are invited. I encourage you to attend. It’s going to be a fabulous reception.

Mr. Steve Clark: I would like to introduce in the House today two municipal councillors from my riding from the township of Leeds and the Thousand Islands, Mayor Frank Kinsella and Councillor Tom Lawler.

Hon. Madeleine Meilleur: I would like to introduce this morning two Special Olympic athletes whom I met this morning: Alison Lang and Chris Innes.

Mrs. Donna H. Cansfield: I rise in the House to introduce to you James Noronah from the Special Olympics, and guests from my church, St. George’s Church On-The-Hill. Thank you.

Mr. Dave Levac: I would like to introduce to the House anyone who hasn’t been introduced.

M me France Gélinas: It is a pleasure for me to introduce Lori Levere, who is a public health nurse with Peel Public Health; Edith Kernerman, from the Newman Breastfeeding Clinic and also an international board-certified lactation consultant; Olga Jovkovic, who is manager of Healthy Families at Toronto Public Health; and Janet and Stan Zablocki. We also have Courtney Fairbrother-Davies and her seven-month-old cute little baby Molly; Camila Valente and her 12-month-old, Pedro, and grandma Christina Leal; and Gertrudes Chavez.

Welcome to Queen’s Park.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Further introductions?

I’d like to take this opportunity, on behalf of the member for Bruce–Grey–Owen Sound and page Emma Allen to welcome her mother, Lana Duncan, her sister Georgia Allen and her friend Alia Riza to the public galleries today.

I’d also like to introduce some guests here today from the Special Olympics, two special athletes that I had the opportunity to meet with this morning: Vincenzia Stalk and Ryan Colpitts. They were accompanied by Peter Seto and Norm King.

Welcome to Queen’s Park.

ORAL QUESTIONS

TAXATION

Mrs. Christine Elliott: My question is for the Premier. In a May 2009 report, KPMG Canada warned that the HST will add 8% to rents and leases, power bills, heat, temporary staff and medical supplies of doctors and other front-line health professionals. But doctors are insured with OHIP, so it will be Ontario patients who end up bearing the burden of your new tax on health care. So my question is, how will you do it? Through higher OHIP premiums, a hike in the so-called health care tax or more cuts to front-line health care?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: I know that KPMG in fact supports the package of tax reforms that we put forward, including the HST. My honourable colleague knows that a report from the Conference Board of Canada was just released which specifically referenced our tax reforms and said that they were instrumental in ensuring that Ontario will be the fastest-growing economy in the country this coming year.

There was also another report, put out on May 3 by TD Economics—it’s called Innovate or Perish—that says, “The good news is that an extremely favourable environment for business investment and innovation is upon us once again.... This has been facilitated by lower corporate income tax rates, the elimination of capital taxes, and the harmonization of sales taxes in some provinces.” Again, support from thoughtful groups is overwhelming when it comes to the tax reforms that we’re putting forward to create more jobs for Ontario families.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Supplementary?

Mrs. Christine Elliott: The bad news is that this has clearly not been thought through with respect to health care professionals, because they’re ineligible to claim input tax credits for their business purchases. And because the services they provide are exempt from HST, health professionals and care facilities cannot claim the 8% they pay for hydro, office expenses and medical supplies on their tax returns. That means either they or the taxpayers have to eat the cost of the HST. How many millions of dollars will doctors and hospitals pay for HST on overhead rather than the money going to front-line health care?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: I’m a little bit confused, but it appears to be this is an argument in favour of the HST. Apparently there is a group, according to my honourable colleague, that is not going to benefit from the HST. She’s arguing they ought to be allowed to benefit from the HST. Perhaps it’s not unusual because as members of the Conservative Party have said, they’re confused by the position adopted by their leader, who says that he’s adamantly opposed to the HST, but on the other hand, should he earn the privilege of serving Ontarians in government, he’s firmly committed to keeping the HST in place.

So again, on behalf of Ontarians, I say to my honourable colleague, and through her to her party, where do they stand on the HST? Are they for it? Are they against it? If they’re against it, will they rescind it?

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Final supplementary?

Mrs. Christine Elliott: There’s absolutely no confusion on this side of the House. It’s clear that it hasn’t been thought out over there with respect to health care professionals. In fact, I’ve spoken to physicians who’ve told me that they’re going to have to close their doors as of July 1 because of your HST rules as far as health care is concerned.

But British Columbia has figured it out if Ontario hasn’t. They discovered that hospitals would have to pay millions in HST just to hire temporary staff for computer support and consulting services before they enacted a fix. In Ontario, doctors and hospitals will pay HST not only for temporary staff, but for accounting, legal and cleaning services, power and medical supplies.

Will the next dollar you add to the health care budget be to cover the impact of the HST? Or are you expecting doctors and hospitals to stop buying bandages?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: To the Minister of Revenue.

Hon. John Wilkinson: I would encourage—I actually have had an opportunity to read the report that the member is referencing from KPMG in regard to how that impacts people who belong to the Ontario Medical Association, our doctors.

Our doctors understand that to have high-quality public services we need to have people working and paying taxes, which is what this reform is about. What KPMG says is that the net impact to doctors, who as we know are exempt, is going to be very, very small. What they’re saying to the doctors is as business people they have to make sure that they negotiate the very best price in the new regime that we have where we just have one sales tax in this province instead of two sales taxes. That’s why I was so delighted to read the conclusions of the KPMG report.

I know that when it comes to our hospitals we have one of the most generous rebates in the country in regard—

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Thank you. New question.

TAXATION

Mrs. Christine Elliott: My question is again to the Premier. The financial impact of the HST on health care in the hiring of temporary staff is only the tip of the iceberg. KPMG Canada says that “the greatest financial impact of the HST on physician practices will relate to practice expense components such as lease/rent costs and professional services....” Not every doctor has a margin big enough to afford the 8% increase.

Premier, how will you protect patients from the HST taking money away from front-line health care?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: To the Minister of Revenue.

Hon. John Wilkinson: I say to the member, one would have to read the entire report.

What does KPMG say to our medical community? There is going to be a change, a change that will ensure that there is a sufficient tax base to pay for our doctors, nurses and hospitals. But what it concludes is that the impact on our physicians is not 8%, as you say; that, all told, when you add in the reductions in income taxes for doctors, when you add in the reductions in corporate taxes for their corporations that provide those services, when you add in the fact that doctors will negotiate the very best price for their practice, the impact on this overall is somewhere in the neighbourhood of 1.6%.

If you’re saying to me, “Can doctors actually manage that under the new system, knowing they have a government that is committed to having sufficient money to pay for our universal health care?” they will tell you that is the right thing to do.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Supplementary?

Mrs. Christine Elliott: Well, the warning signs have been clear for some time and KPMG Canada is not the only one who warned you that the HST will make Ontario patients pay more to get less from health care.

In a December 19, 2009, report, Deloitte looked at medical supplies and said that the HST “represents a significant increase to the price ... and it is recommended that the tax status of these items be reviewed in detail....”

You had six months to act on KPMG’s warning before Deloitte asked you to reconsider what you chose to exempt. Why did you do nothing to protect against Ontario patients paying more, again, to get less health care?

Hon. John Wilkinson: I find it passing strange that the member is talking about a report that is somewhat dated, but we have not heard from the Ontario Medical Association, which represents the doctors, who have not come to me to say that this is a problem.

What the doctors have told me is what we need to do is have sufficient economic growth, enough people in the province paying taxes because they have a job, enough corporations that are making a profit because they are finding economic success that they can contribute by the way of taxes so that we can have the very best health care system in the world. That is our common goal with our doctors and our nurses and those in health care. They understand that we can’t have high unemployment and have high-quality public services.

So I want to thank the OMA and the doctors for understanding that this change is necessary so that we can afford the very best universal health care of any jurisdiction in the world. Thank you to the doctors.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Final supplementary.

Mrs. Christine Elliott: In fact, the news keeps getting worse and worse for Ontario families who keep paying more and getting less, especially in health care. The Premier is taking resources that municipalities, universities, schools, daycares, camps and charities all use for operating, and making them pay the HST. Similar to doctors and hospitals, others in the so-called MUSH sector are ineligible for full input tax credits and cannot claim their HST costs on their tax returns.

The question is, what programs will the Premier cut or make families pay more for through user fees, new taxes or deficit spending? Which one is it?

Hon. John Wilkinson: I find it interesting that the member is talking about maintaining the status quo, where that PST cost is imbedded in our health care; it’s embedded in the cost of our universities, in our schools and in our charities.

Now, for the first time, we have as a province the most generous rebates of any province in this country. I want to thank the federal Minister of Finance, a chap by the name of Jim Flaherty, who decided that it was important that we work together. It’s a leading Conservative like Jim Flaherty who—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Order. That’s not helpful, the member from Halton.

Minister?

Hon. John Wilkinson: Again, we have leading Conservatives in this country at the federal level understanding that to have a strong Canada, we need to have a strong Ontario. I would say that we may have some division in this House, and I suppose there are other houses in Ontario where there’s a division on this issue.

TAXATION

Ms. Andrea Horwath: My question is to the Premier. The Premier refuses to say how much Ontario families will pay when his unfair HST kicks in on July 1. If the Premier is like other Ontarians, he maybe has sat down with his wife and discussed the impact of the HST on his own family’s budget.

My question is this: Does the Premier know how much the HST is going to cost his family?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: Again, I think the best thing we can do in the circumstances is make reference to the multitude of independent, arm’s-length, third party, dispassionate, objective studies that have reviewed the impact of our progressive package of tax reforms on the economy, on businesses and on our families. Overwhelmingly, they come to a couple of really important conclusions.

Number one, we’re going to create 600,000 more jobs over the course of the next 10 years, which I think is really important not just to our families today but to our families tomorrow.

Secondly, they say that there will be a net gain to low-income families, it’s about a wash for middle-income families, and it costs a little bit more for upper-income families.

It’s an important step. It’s a necessary step. It will help strengthen our economy. It will help create more jobs.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Supplementary?

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Here’s the bottom line for the Premier and his family: They are going to pay more to keep their home warm in the winter. They’re going to pay more to put gas in the car, to visit the hair salon, and to take Mickey the dog to the vet.

Does the Premier really know how much he spends on any of these items and how much an 8% tax hike will cost his family?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: Mickey will be delighted to know that she has been referenced in this House. I want you to know I canvassed her a great deal on this particular initiative. She’s very supportive.

To try to be serious, my colleague, of course, is doing what she needs to do, but I think it’s really important that we look, again, to the objective reports that have been filed and prepared. As well, keep in mind what we have done as we’ve introduced the HST. It has not been introduced on its own; it has been accompanied by not only business tax reductions but by transition payments, new tax credits, property tax credits, those kinds of things, which have been recognized by the Conference Board of Canada as having an overall positive impact on consumer spending in Ontario.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Final supplementary.

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Given the Premier’s income, he can probably afford the HST, but the vast majority of Ontario families don’t make more than $200,000 a year. In seven weeks, these same families are going to pay 8% more on everything from utilities to gasoline and a whole lot more. It will be an extra $800 a year for the average Ontario family, an added burden for families that already scramble to pay the bills every month. Every day, I hear from them through emails and through letters.

Does the Premier really understand their plight? Does he have any idea how much this unfair tax is going to hurt them?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: We’ve been particularly diligent when it comes to ensuring that low-income Ontarians are not affected adversely. In fact, all the reports we’ve had show us that those folks are going to come out ahead.

I’d ask my honourable colleague to ask herself, why is it that poverty groups and food banks are in support of our tax reforms? I think that’s important for them to take into account.

The sales tax credit, for example, is something that we have introduced. It’s now a permanent feature. It is $120 for every member of the family. It is permanent. This is what the representative from the Daily Bread Food Bank said about it: “The sales tax credit is a sensible, forward-looking way” to deal with the single sales tax, “and could become an important long-term piece of the economic security puzzle for poor people” in Ontario.

NURSES

Ms. Andrea Horwath: My next question is for the Premier as well. This morning, we’re joined in the members’ gallery by Erin Dykstra. Ms. Dykstra is a recent nursing graduate with specialty training in labour and delivery, and she has been working at the Toronto East General Hospital for the past two years. In March, she received a layoff notice from the hospital.

The Premier insists that Ontario is not losing nurses. Is he denying that Ms. Dykstra has lost her job?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: It’s Nursing Week in Ontario, and I just want to take the opportunity on behalf of all Ontarians to thank our nurses for the work that they do for us every single day.

I’m proud of our policies, even though they’ve been opposed by the opposition parties, that have resulted in hiring over 10,000 new nurses in the province, and I’m proud that we have in place our nursing—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): It’s getting a little warm in here.

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): I can assure the honourable member from Oxford it’s coming from both sides of the House.

Premier?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: I want to welcome this particular nurse to the Legislature and let her and her colleagues throughout the province know that the work they do on behalf of all of us is very important to all of us.

We also have a nursing graduate guarantee program in place. I think we’ve hired some 8,300 new nurses through that.

There will be, from time to time, some movement of nurses within the sector. That is inevitable. What we will continue to do is to find ways to invest in health care and ensure that we can continue to hire our nurses.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Supplementary?

Ms. Andrea Horwath: You don’t thank nurses by giving them layoff notices. Ms. Dykstra is here, and she’s like a lot of other nurses across this province. She completed a nursing degree and specialty training and was looking forward to a long career in this province. But because of this government’s careless decision-making, Ms. Dykstra is leaving Ontario to work as a nurse in Nova Scotia. Despite this government’s spin, the reality is that nurses are being laid off and patients are suffering.

When will the Premier finally admit that cuts are happening and commit to fixing the situation before more young, dedicated nurses like Erin Dykstra are forced to leave Ontario?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: Again, I’m always concerned about any nurses who feel that they might have to leave Ontario to find employment elsewhere. In fact, what we’ve demonstrated is that, more and more, we keep drawing in nurses from other parts of the country and other parts of the US, who are returning to Ontario. There are almost 11,000 new nursing positions in Ontario. There are 1,200 more nursing positions today than there were this time last year.

We are also increasing spots—200—for our new nurse practitioners: 200. We’re creating the first nurse-practitioner-led clinics in all of North America here in Ontario. We have provided nurses with everything from extra support when it comes to bed lifts to additional training opportunities, creating more opportunities for students to become nurses in an accelerated period of time—

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Thank you, Premier. Final supplementary.

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Once again, the Premier is showing exactly how out of touch he is. He rhymes off statistics and numbers, but the reality is that patients are facing reductions in care. That’s the reality, and those realities speak for themselves.

Nurses like Erin Dykstra are leaving the province to find work because there is no work for them here. Doctors are concerned about cuts to front-line care and are actually now being told to sign gag orders so they don’t talk about those cuts. Patients are being flown out of the country because doctors can’t be found to perform surgeries for them.

How long will this Premier continue to deny the crisis that has been created by his government’s poor health care decisions?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: I want to remind my honourable colleague that she belongs to a party which reduced medical school spaces in the province of Ontario. I want to remind her as well that it was the Conservative government that shut down hospitals and laid off nurses in the province of Ontario.

In addition to the 11,000 new nursing positions that are in Ontario today, I want to remind my honourable colleague that this week there are 381 full-time nursing positions being advertised. There are 28 nursing positions available at the Hamilton Health Sciences centre, six available at the University Health Network, 25 at the Ottawa Hospital and seven at the Peterborough Regional Health Centre: jobs available right now in nursing.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): I can understand an occasional interjection, but monotonous, relentless interjections cause our guests who are here today challenges in hearing, so I would encourage all members to try and tone it down a little bit, please.

New question.

ANIMAL PROTECTION

Mr. Frank Klees: The killing off of some 350 animals at the York region SPCA continues as we speak. Yesterday, I called on the Minister of Community Safety to put a stay on that plan.

Interjection: To whom?

Mr. Frank Klees: The Minister of Community Safety. Yesterday, I called on the minister to put a stay on that plan, pending the community being able to put in place an alternative solution to this problem. The minister stated to me that he has no authority and that he trusts the experts who have made this call. I disagree with the minister. I don’t trust the SPCA and its decisions. There is not one veterinarian throughout York region, and we have not found one in this province, who agrees that it is either necessary or the right thing to do.

Cam Woolley of CP24 just told me that the spokespeople at the site are deliberately vague and evasive and are refusing to provide any factual information.

I ask the minister this: Why, if in fact there are alternative options available, does he stand by and wash his hands and allow this euthanasia to take place?

Hon. Rick Bartolucci: First of all, I want to thank the member for the letter he sent to me and the Minister of Agriculture. I want to thank him for the discussion that we had.

Truly, we have no authority to put a stay in place. He knows that and I know that. The Ontario SPCA is an independent body. They are governed—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Order. This is a very important issue. The honourable member would like to hear the answer.

Minister?

Hon. Rick Bartolucci: They have a board of directors. If anyone has a concern, they should go to that board of directors. In fact, the member has already contacted the chair of the board of directors. We understand that. There is a differing of opinion between the Ontario SPCA and the member, but at the end of the day, this entity had to make a very, very difficult decision.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Supplementary?

Mr. Frank Klees: This entity has made the wrong decision, and this minister and this government continue to wash their hands.

I don’t trust the SPCA. I don’t trust the board. It’s the wrong decision. Veterinarians, animal rescue organizations and ordinary citizens across this province are saying, “Let us be part of an alternative solution that will save the lives of these animals.”

Why will the minister, if he doesn’t feel that he has the legal authority, not use his persuasive powers, pick up the phone, call them and say, “Look, it’s wrong what you’re doing. Stop it. Let’s give at least 24 hours to put an alternative solution in place”? Why will he not do that?

Hon. Rick Bartolucci: To the member’s question in particular: I have contacted the executive director. I asked, “Were all options explored?” She said yes. I said, “How was the decision made?” She said that it was made by veterinarians in consultation with other veterinarians and other animal welfare experts.

We have to trust that, at the end of the day, this group has acted in the best interests that we have within the framework of the very serious situation that was, is and will be in place for the next little while.

LABOUR DISPUTE

M me France Gélinas: Ma question est pour le premier ministre. In today’s Ontario, Vale Inco is allowed by Ontario’s law to start up their full operation using replacement workers during a labour dispute. This has galvanized parties on both sides. All of Vale Inco’s energy is spent restarting their operation and all the Steelworkers’ efforts are spent trying to stop them. This is pushing both sides further apart. There’s very little energy left for sitting down and settling the labour dispute.

Vale Inco can do this legally in Ontario. Under this government’s law, they have the right to bring replacement workers: replacement workers who will tear my community apart, rip the social fabric of Sudbury and inflict wounds that will stay for generations to come. Is the Premier proud of these laws and the horrible consequences to my community?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: I want to thank the member for her question, and I want to express to her that I fully appreciate the real concerns that people in Sudbury have regarding this protracted labour dispute.

Minister Bartolucci has kept me apprised of events there as they have unfolded. To be perfectly clear, we strongly urge and encourage the employer not to hire replacement workers. It is not the kind of thing that we, in our government, would do. In fact, we specifically adopted that as a policy on our part, just so my honourable colleague knows where we stand on this. The employer also knows—

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Thank you. Supplementary?

M me France Gélinas: The Premier has the power to change this. The Premier has the power to change the situation that is tearing apart my community’s social fabric. The Premier knows that tensions are very high in Sudbury as we await a court decision at noon today. Some of the wounds that will be inflicted on Sudbury’s families today won’t heal for generations to come. We will live with them for the rest of our lives.

You have it in your power, Mr. Premier, to change all this, to bring back the focus on negotiating a fair settlement, to bring the energy back to the negotiation table. You’ve talked about anti-scab legislation. I ask you today: Will you commit to bringing in anti-scab legislation for Ontario so nobody has to live through what I’m living through in my community today?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: We are, as I know my honourable colleague is, very much committed to a negotiated resolution of the differences. There is a hearing, as I understand it, before the Ontario Labour Relations Board this Friday. That will be an important opportunity for the sides to address specific issues and have that resolved by an objective party.

But beyond that, anything at all that our government can do to put in place the necessary mediation and conciliation services, we are more than prepared to do. In fact, we have done some of that in the past. Again, I call upon both sides to do everything they possibly can to resolve this at the earliest possible opportunity.

GRADUATION RATES

Mr. Pat Hoy: My question is for the Minister of Education. Minister, Ontario’s secondary school graduation rates have been steadily climbing since the McGuinty government took office, from 68% in 2002-03 to the announced 2008-09 rate of 79%. The past year alone has seen a graduation rate increase of 2%.

The figure speaks volumes to the work our teachers and support staff are doing to ensure that students are successful in their studies. However, the opposition members are of the opinion, recently voiced by the leader of the NDP, that our graduation rate numbers are fudged.

Minister, are these numbers accurate? Or do they misrepresent high school graduation rates in Ontario, as members of the opposition would contest?

Hon. Leona Dombrowsky: I thank the honourable member for the question because I think that it is very important that members of this assembly, certainly, but the public in general, are aware of the success of the students in our secondary schools.

As a result of working with our partners in education, particularly at the secondary level, we as a government have looked for ways and made investments in secondary schools that have enabled our students to be more successful. As a result, the graduation rate of students in Ontario has increased by 11% since we came to government.

That is good news, obviously, for the students and for their families, but it’s also good news for those employers—

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Thank you. Supplementary?

Mr. Pat Hoy: Last week, you announced expansion of the government’s specialist high skills major program. Members of the opposition have said that this program is simply a watering-down of the Ontario secondary school curriculum designed to increase our graduation rates.

I understand that SHSMs allows high school students to bundle courses in order to pursue a specific academic stream or career path. In the 2010-11 year, more students are expected to participate in these programs in more schools across the province. After announcing the sports and non-profit SHSMs last week, some members of the opposition felt that the programs are intended to make the curriculum easier and increase grad rate numbers.

Minister, are the specialist high skills majors simply an easy way out for students seeking their Ontario secondary school diploma?

Hon. Leona Dombrowsky: I think it’s an important opportunity, particularly to clarify for the members of the opposition who fail to see the importance and the significance of this innovative program in our secondary schools, the specialist high skills major.

These courses provide students with a first-hand opportunity and experience in various regimens, whether it’s in agriculture, aeronautics, sports or not-for-profit. They come to understand first-hand the experiences that they can have following high school if they get a graduation diploma. They understand the kinds of careers they can pursue if they get a graduation diploma. We believe that this has contributed significantly to having Ontario youth understand that.

TAXATION

Mr. John Yakabuski: My question is to the Premier. There are just 50 days left until your greedy HST starts grabbing 8% out of the pockets of Ontario families who fuel their cars to get—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Minister of Municipal Affairs. Minister of the Environment. The member from Eglinton–Lawrence.

Please continue.

Mr. John Yakabuski: —before the HST starts grabbing 8% out of the pockets of Ontario families who fuel their cars to get to work, take their kids to sports or music lessons, or take a driving vacation in the province. You’ve known all along that families will pay more because of the HST, so you must know how much the HST on gas will cost them.

How much more will Dalton McGuinty take out of the pockets of the average Ontario family to pay the HST on gas this year?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: I know, once again, that my honourable colleague will appreciate that without the support of his party—the continuing support of his party—we simply would not have been able to move ahead with this important initiative.

I want to refer him to remarks offered by his former leader, a man who I know he strongly supported. He said the following: “I think” that Mr. Hudak “has not acknowledged something that pretty well everybody else has.... A lot of people call and say it is going to help with productivity and job creation and investment and the cost of capital.” He went on to say, “I’m not trying to second-guess Mr. Hudak, but I would have taken a different position because I would have felt dishonest doing otherwise.”

I just want to welcome once again yet another member of the Conservative Party for their support of this important public policy initiative.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Supplementary?

Mr. John Yakabuski: I think the Premier is failing to answer the question for Ontario families. The Premier knows the answer, but he isn’t saying. The annual HST for fuelling a mid-sized car will be over $300, and it will cost more for trucks and minivans.

Glen Bonham of Minden is worried about what the Premier knows but isn’t telling about the HST on gas. I quote him as he says, “One of the biggest impacts here in Haliburton will be the rise in the price of gasoline.”

The member for Haliburton–Kawartha Lakes–Brock isn’t asking Glen Bonham’s question, so I will. Why won’t Premier McGuinty come clean with what he knows about how much the HST will cost families who have to drive their cars?

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Order. Stop the clock. Start the clock.

Premier?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: I would encourage my honourable colleague to sit down with his counterpart member of Parliament for Renfrew–Nipissing–Pembroke. I encourage him to sit down and speak with him at length about this matter.

Interjection: Her.

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: Her—sorry. Ms. Gallant—to speak with her at length about this matter. I’m sure that she would advise him as to all the reasons that have led to the support of Mr. Flaherty, Ms. Ecker, Mr. Baird, Mr. Clement, Mr. Tory, Mr. Harris, Senator Runciman, Prime Minister Harper and so many others.

I think it’s time for the few remaining members of the Conservative Party who are opposed to this to get on board with the overwhelming consensus that has developed among Conservatives both in Ottawa and here at Queen’s Park—and in Ontario itself—in support of our package of tax reforms, because it’s all about more jobs for Ontario families.

BREASTFEEDING

M me France Gélinas: Ma question est pour la ministre de la Promotion de la santé.

Today will be the eighth time in this Legislature that I have raised the issue of breastfeeding. Each time, I have urged the minister to look at the statistics, to listen to mothers and health experts—many of them are in the gallery here today—and create a province-wide standard and program that will support breastfeeding. Well, I have great news: The minister has the opportunity to adopt a well-researched and collaborative strategy that will bring a long-awaited provincial breastfeeding strategy to Ontario.

My question is simple: Will the minister adopt this report?

Hon. Margarett R. Best: I want to say, first of all, welcome to all the breastfeeding supporters who are in the House today. I want to make it clear, unequivocally, that I am a supporter of breastfeeding, as a mother who breastfed all my children and also as the Minister of Health Promotion.

I want to take this opportunity to tell the House about Ontario’s 36 public health units and the government’s work in providing funding for breastfeeding supports and services, including parent information support phone lines, breastfeeding resource materials and website postings, prenatal classes, breastfeeding clinics, and the Healthy Babies, Healthy Children program. We understand the importance of breastfeeding to healthy children and healthy moms.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Supplementary?

M me France Gélinas: If the minister wants me to say thank you for a patchwork of services that sometimes works and sometimes doesn’t, I’m not going to. What we need is an Ontario-wide provincial strategy that makes sure that no moms and no babies are left behind.

The report is there. It costs next to nothing. It would bring a strategy that would help. In Ontario, 97% of moms initiate breastfeeding and 15% of them succeed to six months. There’s a big gap there. Some of the patchwork is helping some of the women, but we have here a province-wide strategy. Why won’t the minister agree to a province-wide breastfeeding strategy for all of Ontario?

Hon. Margarett R. Best: I want to take this opportunity as well to thank the many organizations and individuals who have proposed recommendations for the provincial breastfeeding strategy. We will review the documentation that has been provided to us.

We understand the importance of developing further supportive environments for breastfeeding support. We understand that breastfeeding is very important to the health of infants, and I would urge all mothers who have infants to breastfeed. It’s a very important thing for their kids.

We, in this government, continue to look at other strategies to address this very important issue. It’s a very important issue for our government, and we understand the importance of developing supportive environments for breastfeeding infants.

PUBLIC TRANSIT

Mr. Kevin Daniel Flynn: My question today is for the Minister of Transportation. Earlier this week, I was at the Oakville GO station for the launch of the second phase of the Presto smart card. Many of my constituents commute into downtown Toronto on the GO train, and they’re looking forward to the convenience of using one card to travel along multiple transit systems.

When my constituents, and I think all Ontarians, travel abroad and they go to places like London, Hong Kong, San Francisco, Seattle and Holland, they experience first-hand how easy and convenient electronic fare systems are to travel across transit systems. It seems like here in Ontario we’re using best experiences from other world-class cities and regions.

Can you please tell this House what the plans are for expanding Presto across the greater Toronto and Hamilton area?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: I’d like to thank the member from Oakville for his support for this great initiative.

Presto’s the first-ever regional fare card for public transit riders in Ontario, and it really is a key part of our regional approach to transit in the greater Toronto and Hamilton area. It’s about connecting transit systems in the region to make it easier and more seamless for people to take transit.

We have to be honest here: We are lagging behind other jurisdictions when it comes to fare cards. The member from Oakville has noted that other jurisdictions have this technology and to great success. We’re partnering with GO Transit and nine municipal transit systems on this initiative. The people at Presto are doing a great job integrating the business practices of these 10 authorities.

Presto’s being rolled out to commuters in stages, starting with Oakville and Burlington transit systems, Oakville and Union GO stations and seven downtown TTC stations this month. Then we’ll be moving on to Mississauga Transit, Brampton Transit, Durham region—

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Thank you. Supplementary?

Mr. Kevin Daniel Flynn: Thanks for the response, Minister. That’s obviously great news for my constituents and I think for all constituents around the greater Toronto and Hamilton area.

It sounds like we have made some good progress in getting GO Transit and local transit providers in places like Brampton, for example, and my own community of Oakville onboard with the Presto system. Hopefully, the Presto card is going to encourage more people to use transit and leave their cars at home.

Minister, I understand also that the Presto smart card is a very sophisticated piece of technology. Can you please tell the House a little bit more about how the Presto system works and how it actually benefits transit users?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: The member from Oakville is right. We’re hoping that the Presto card will act as an incentive to get people out of their cars and to take public transit. We know that the Presto card offers a lot of benefits and conveniences to its users.

The card just needs to be loaded with a dollar value. People can do this in person or over the phone. They can do it online or register to have it loaded automatically, and it’s ready to tap on to a fare card reader at the subway station, on a bus or on a train. People tapping on the bus or the train means they’re not fumbling for change, tickets or tokens, and this will help reduce lineups. It’ll mean fewer delays for getting on to buses or trains and help make our transit network more efficient.

The other great thing about Presto is that it offers transit agencies a powerful tool for managing their routes. They can gather data and make better decisions about route allocation.

TAXATION

Ms. Sylvia Jones: My question is for the Minister of Children and Youth Services. You know that many families are privately paying for intensive behavioural intervention because the wait-list is ridiculously long for provincially funded therapy. As you know, IBI therapy can cost families up to $60,000 per year. Now these same families are concerned that they will be forced to pay the HST on IBI therapy purchased after July 1.

Will the minister confirm today that all families paying for IBI therapies out of their own pocket will not have to pay the hated HST?

Hon. Laurel C. Broten: I’m pleased to have a chance to speak about the expansion of services that we’ve been able to provide across the province for those families who are able to use our government service.

The HST will not apply to any IBI services that are government-funded. For many families in Ontario, the fact that we have quadrupled the funding for government-funded IBI service is critically important. I know that the families who are able to use that service are very pleased about that initiative. If a parent chooses to purchase private IBI services from a registered psychologist, those services will also continue to be exempt.

I give clarity to the member opposite that the services by a private IBI service, by a registered psychologist, will continue to be exempt.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Supplementary? The member from Thornhill.

Mr. Peter Shurman: That is not a clear answer, Minister. Minister, I have heard from parents and the professionals who provide IBI therapy to the autistic children in my riding. One such professional, Stacey Sugar, tells me that families are already limiting the number of hours of IBI therapy for their children by what they can currently afford to pay. Making them pay another 8% in HST will only force them to cut back those hours even further. In the words of one parent, “Taxing autistic children is immoral.”

Minister, will you accept responsibility for the impact that HST on IBI therapy is going to have on autistic children in Ontario across the board?

Hon. Laurel C. Broten: Perhaps I didn’t speak loudly enough, so I’ll speak more loudly. We have quadrupled autism spending from $44 million to $165 million since 2003-04. More families are getting government-funded services, and those families will not pay any tax on the delivery of that service because we are providing that service.

For families who purchase private IBI services from a registered psychologist, those services will continue to be exempt in the same way that they are currently exempt from the GST. If they pay GST on the autism services that they provide, those services will be part of the new tax system. I wish the federal government did not apply the GST to these services, but that is up to them.

SOCIAL ASSISTANCE

Ms. Andrea Horwath: My question is to the Premier. On April 30, Hamilton’s mayor wrote to the Premier with very specific requests regarding poverty reduction. Hamilton has been hit hard by job losses and has a growing number of residents who are forced to rely on social assistance. Given the situation in Hamilton and elsewhere in this province, this government’s social assistance program review really does need to be expanded.

The question that the mayor asked and I’m repeating here is: Will the review consider an emergency increase to social assistance through a healthy food or housing allowance that could be made available quickly to people who are in need?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: To the Minister of Community and Social Services.

Hon. Madeleine Meilleur: I’m very proud that this government moved forward with this poverty reduction strategy. Part of it is a review of social assistance.

We will be receiving recommendations pretty soon from the advisory committee that I put forward, and they will advise me on the scope of the review of social assistance. When we have this, then we will proceed to appoint people to do the review of social assistance. It’s much needed, and we’re very proud of what we have proposed so far.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Supplementary?

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Hamilton’s mayor and council, along with all of those working to alleviate poverty in Hamilton, are united in our call for some real action. We see the McGuinty government clawing back the Ontario child benefit by reducing the basic needs allowance. We see social assistance rates that keep families stuck living below subsistence levels. We see people on Ontario Works and ODSP scraping by on rates that aren’t indexed and that fail to actually reach the real cost of living. Will the Premier finally address the inadequate social assistance rates in the province, or will people continue to live in desperate, desperate poverty?

Hon. Madeleine Meilleur: The Minister of Children and Youth Services.

Hon. Laurel C. Broten: I want to thank the community of Hamilton for the exceptional work that they have done, bringing together a Hamilton round table to talk about the complicated and complex issues that face families who live in poverty, and working with our government. I can tell you that I work closely with leaders in the Hamilton community like Mark Chamberlain, and I’ve attended many meetings with him and with our MPP from Hamilton, Ms. Aggelonitis, to talk about these critical issues.

I know the people of Hamilton really respect and support the fact that our government has stepped in and provided $63.5 million per year for child care, and that child care will help the very families whom the member opposite is talking about. Full-day early learning for four- and five-year-olds: That too will help those families who are struggling in poverty in Hamilton. These are critical—

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Thank you. New question.

M. Jean-Marc Lalonde: Ma question s’adresse à la ministre déléguée aux Affaires francophones.

L’hon. Madeleine Meilleur: Je voudrais d’abord remercier le député de Glengarry–Prescott–Russell pour son intérêt dans les affaires francophones.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Supplementary?

M. Jean-Marc Lalonde: Merci, Madame la Ministre. Je suis heureux de voir que le gouvernement écoute les recommandations du commissaire.

Hon. Madeleine Meilleur: I’ll refer the question to the—

M. Jean-Marc Lalonde: Madame la Ministre, je sais que lors de la sortie de ce rapport, vous aviez dit à cette—

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Thank you. Minister?

Hon. Madeleine Meilleur: I’ll refer the question to the Attorney General, please.

L’hon. Christopher Bentley: Merci pour la question.

On a aussi commencé à travailler sur le projet de la traduction des règlements. La première réunion d’un groupe de travail interministériel est prévue au cours du mois de mai. Les membres du groupe de travail vont adopter une approche cohérente dans l’établissement de l’ordre de priorité des règlements à traduire avec les autres—

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Thank you. New question.

ELECTRICITY SUPPLY

Mr. Randy Hillier: My question is to the Minister of Energy and Infrastructure. Last week, the Liberal member for Timiskaming–Cochrane admitted something that we already knew, that there’s at least 5,000 megawatts of untapped and unused hydroelectric capacity in northern Ontario. This energy, if realized, would boost our capacity, provide northern Ontario with cheap electricity for industry and residents, and provide valuable construction jobs to the people of the north.

Your members in the north know that you’re squandering these opportunities to generate the cheapest, greenest, and most reliable power that we all know. You’re wasting these opportunities to create jobs here instead of Korea. How do you justify wasting $7 billion on foreign companies when you could spend it here in Ontario?

Hon. Brad Duguid: These guys just cannot stop making their policies based on division, based on conflict. We have to work with all countries around the world; we have to work with all people. That’s part of being an open economy; that’s part of being an open Ontario.

When it comes to opening up opportunities in the north, nobody, no government is investing in transmission like we’re investing in it. We’ve got over $2.3 billion of transmission being built across this province. Much of that will be opening up the north. When you look at our throne speech, when we look at the Ring of Fire and the work we’re doing to open up opportunities and economic opportunities in the north, a lot of that will require transmission built, and we’re looking carefully at doing that. We’re committed to opening up the north. We’re committed to tapping into those energy sources—

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Thank you. Supplementary?

Mr. Randy Hillier: My office has received a feasibility study done by the Independent Electricity System Operator which states that there’s 2,500 megawatts of power available in the Moose and the Albany River basins. That’s 2,500 megawatts in this one project alone. The study states that not only is it possible to generate this power, but it’s also possible and feasible to transmit that power to southern Ontario.

Minister, do you not read these reports that come into your office, reports about projects that generate power here in Ontario by local companies that would build our northern economy? Or do you prefer only to take your advice directly from Samsung and those who enrich the Liberal Party?

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): I ask the member to withdraw that last comment, please.

Mr. Randy Hillier: I’ll withdraw.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Minister?

Hon. Brad Duguid: After eight years of absolutely hardly any build happening under that government, we’re aggressively working at creating new generation in the province, and when it comes to hydro, we’re in the process right now in partnership with Moose Cree First Nation and moving forward with the largest hydro build in 40 years in Ontario. No government has been more committed to renewables than—

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Order. I just remind the honourable member from Lanark that he did ask the question. He should listen to the answer, and as he knows, within the standing orders, if he is not satisfied with the answer he can file a late show.

Minister.

Hon. Brad Duguid: No government has been more committed to building more renewables than this government. In fact, we’re world and global leaders when it comes to this. I ask the member where he has been when we brought in our Green Energy Act? What articles has he been reading when it comes to the good news that’s happening across this province: the 50,000 jobs being created because of the investments we’re making in development projects; the $9 billion that recently has been announced that will be going into our economy of private sector investments?

And yes, we welcome investments from abroad in Ontario, because this is a great place to invest. It’s a great place to create jobs. It’s a great place—

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Thank you. New question.

ABORIGINAL AFFAIRS

Mr. Gilles Bisson: My question is to the Premier. Premier, your government announced with great fanfare and repeated numerous times that you have a new relationship with First Nations. My question simply is this: You know that Nishnawbe Aski Nation and Treaty 5, those affected by the Far North planning act, are opposed to the continued process that your government has to enact that legislation. Why are you moving forward with this legislation when clearly they’re telling you not to?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: To the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs.

Hon. Christopher Bentley: The member is absolutely right: We do have a very different and a better relationship with First Nations. It’s a relationship based on discussion, based on negotiation, based on recognizing our shared futures, particularly in the north but throughout the province of Ontario.

My colleague the Minister of Natural Resources, my colleague the Minister of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry, our ministry and others are working very closely, and will continue to, with NAN, with Treaty 5, with all affected areas in making sure that the planning process for the north for the future can accommodate all of our wishes and will be a better economic future for the province of Ontario and for First Nations.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Supplementary?

Mr. Gilles Bisson: Well, I’m afraid, from where the First Nations sit, the relationship is no different. It is more colonialism when it comes to the approach of how we deal with the issues that affect First Nations.

Nishnawbe Aski Nation is being very clear in the resolution that they put forward this spring. They said that Bill 191 must be deferred until NAN First Nations and Ontario agree on a consultation, accommodation and consent process. So, clearly they don’t want you to go forward. Why are you doing so when they’re telling you not to?

Hon. Christopher Bentley: The only thing that’s stuck in the past is the question.

When we approached the issue of the Mining Act and the reforms to the Mining Act, there was a completely different approach than that which was followed many years ago, including by his government. When we approached the issue of training, of post-secondary opportunities, there was a completely different approach—as evidenced through the budget with the $45 million for training directed to the north around the Ring of Fire—than was evidenced in the past. When we approached the issue of Far North land use planning, there was a consultative approach from the beginning.

When we approached the issue of the HST, we stood together with First Nations. We need the federal government to come onside. And when we—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Order.

Minister, you can wrap up.

Hon. Christopher Bentley: That’s the old approach. Those who laugh at a working, co-operative, consultative relationship—they’re stuck in the past. We’re for the future. We’re working with First Nations, side by side.

ANSWERS TO WRITTEN QUESTIONS

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): I would like to remind the Minister of Children and Youth Services that you’re required, under standing order 99(d), to file answers to written questions within 24 sitting days. Your responses to five questions from the member from Dufferin–Caledon are now overdue, and I would ask that you give the House some indication as to when the responses will be forthcoming.

Hon. Laurel C. Broten: They will be forthcoming very, very shortly.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Thank you.

Mr. John Yakabuski: On a point of order, Mr. Speaker: Earlier today, in a response to the question from the member from Whitby–Oshawa, the Minister of Revenue cited a report from KPMG in which he said that the report states that the HST will have a very small net effect on doctors and their costs. There is absolutely nothing in the report that says that. He further said that the net effect would be a 1.6% increase. There is nothing in the report that says that. I have a copy of the report here and I’d be glad to share that with the table—

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Thank you. It’s not a point of order. I trust that all members, when they are quoting from reports, will be providing the best information to the House.

DEFERRED VOTES

EXCELLENT CARE FOR ALL ACT, 2010 /

LOI DE 2010 SUR L’EXCELLENCE

DES SOINS POUR TOUS

Deferred vote on the motion for second reading of Bill 46,

An Act respecting the care provided by health care organizations / Projet de loi 46, Loi relative aux soins fournis par les organismes de soins de santé.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Call in the members. This will be a five-minute bell.

The division bells rang from 1144 to 1149.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Ms. Smith has moved second reading of Bill 46,

An Act respecting the care provided by health care organizations. All those in favour will rise one at a time to be recorded by the Clerk.

Ayes

Aggelonitis, Sophia

Albanese, Laura

Arthurs, Wayne

Balkissoon, Bas

Barrett, Toby

Bartolucci, Rick

Bentley, Christopher

Best, Margarett

Bisson, Gilles

Bradley, James J.

Broten, Laurel C.

Brownell, Jim

Cansfield, Donna H.

Carroll, Aileen

Chan, Michael

Chudleigh, Ted

Clark, Steve

Colle, Mike

Crozier, Bruce

Dickson, Joe

Dombrowsky, Leona

Duguid, Brad

Duncan, Dwight

Flynn, Kevin Daniel

Fonseca, Peter

Gerretsen, John

Gélinas, France

Gravelle, Michael

Hampton, Howard

Hardeman, Ernie

Hoskins, Eric

Hoy, Pat

Jaczek, Helena

Jeffrey, Linda

Johnson, Rick

Jones, Sylvia

Kormos, Peter

Lalonde, Jean-Marc

Leal, Jeff

Levac, Dave

MacLeod, Lisa

Marchese, Rosario

Matthews, Deborah

Mauro, Bill

McGuinty, Dalton

McNeely, Phil

Meilleur, Madeleine

Miller, Norm

Miller, Paul

Milloy, John

Mitchell, Carol

Munro, Julia

Naqvi, Yasir

O’Toole, John

Orazietti, David

Ouellette, Jerry J.

Phillips, Gerry

Prue, Michael

Pupatello, Sandra

Ramal, Khalil

Ramsay, David

Rinaldi, Lou

Ruprecht, Tony

Sandals, Liz

Sergio, Mario

Shurman, Peter

Smith, Monique

Sousa, Charles

Sterling, Norman W.

Tabuns, Peter

Takhar, Harinder S.

Van Bommel, Maria

Wilkinson, John

Wilson, Jim

Wynne, Kathleen O.

Yakabuski, John

Zimmer, David

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Those opposed?

The Clerk of the Assembly (Ms. Deborah Deller): The ayes are 77; the nays are 0.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): I declare the motion carried.

Second reading agreed to.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Shall the bill be ordered for third reading?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: I would ask that the bill be referred to the Standing Committee on Justice Policy.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): So ordered.

NOTICES OF DISSATISFACTION

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Pursuant to standing order 38(a), the member for Nickel Belt has given notice of her dissatisfaction with the answer to her question given by the Minister of Health Promotion concerning breastfeeding. This matter will be debated today at 6 p.m.

Pursuant to standing order 38(a), the member for Nickel Belt has given notice of her dissatisfaction with the answer to her question given by the Premier concerning replacement workers. This matter will be debated at 6 p.m. today.

There being no further business, this House stands recessed until 3 p.m. this afternoon.

The House recessed from 1153 to 1500.

INTRODUCTION OF VISITORS

Mr. John O’Toole: I would like members to join me in welcoming a very distinguished member from my riding, Mr. Mike Roche. I’ll be making in my statement a more appropriate introduction, but he’s involved with the MS Society of Durham, as well as the MS Society of Ontario. He’s here today and has a very worthy message that I will make later on. Thank you for joining us today, Mike.

Hon. Sophia Aggelonitis: I just want to introduce some of the members from our ministry staff, as well as some people from not-for-profit organizations who are here to listen to the bill this afternoon. I would like to introduce Deputy Minister George Ross, Richard Frank, Lynn Butler, Eunha Kim, Kiran Persaud, Julie Grant, Yen Tung, Larissa Hretchka, Michelle Canale, Allen Doppelt, Jennifer Lee and Michael Coe, as well as Wayne Gray, Lynn Eakin, Clifford Goldfarb, Margaret Emin and Fred Enzel.

Mr. Joe Dickson: Please join me in welcoming Jeanne Samonas, president of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Association of Ontario, and volunteers from a number of support groups from across Ontario who are here with her today. Welcome.

Hon. Deborah Matthews: I would like to invite all members of the House to welcome some extraordinary nurses here today. These are nurses with the Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario, better known as POGO: Bruna DiMonte is the POGO nursing committee and database administrator; Karen Drybrough is the Interlink nurse team leader from Toronto; Dianne Dekkers is the Interlink nurse from Barrie-Muskoka; Marilyn Cassidy is the Interlink nurse from Ottawa; Margaret Warden is the Interlink nurse from London; Dr. Corin Greenberg, POGO executive director; Vanessa Yakobson, POGO director of fundraising; and Jacqui DeBique, POGO communications and knowledge transfer manager.

Mr. John O’Toole: I’m anxiously awaiting additional citizens from my riding of Durham. From Community Living Durham North, they’re: Jamie Ross, who is the treasurer; Larry Leonard, who’s the president; and Glenn Taylor, who’s the executive director of Community Living Durham North. They’re here to make a statement about the status of their budget, and I will leave that for other members to talk about.

MEMBERS’ STATEMENTS

TAMMY EPP

Ms. Lisa MacLeod: Benjamin Franklin once said, “Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.” Earlier this year, a kindergarten teacher at Manordale Public School, Mrs. Tammy Epp, was nominated by her peers, her superiors and parents for the Ontario teaching awards, which I consider remarkable.

But to know Tammy Epp is to know that she is remarkable and one who deserves the honour of having been nominated for this prestigious award. We all remember that one teacher in school who made the difference. That teacher could connect on a personal level, could teach any subject and make it fun, and most of all inspired us to believe what we could achieve, not what we couldn’t. Tammy Epp is that kind of teacher. She is that teacher Benjamin Franklin spoke of: “Involve me and I learn.” This is because it’s not only the students that she teaches she involves, it’s also the parents.

Tammy Epp has a winning way, and it’s because she takes the time to know her students and their parents and make learning fun by involving everyone. Cathy Babyak, who nominated Tammy Epp for the Ontario teacher awards, wrote to me, “Tammy Epp is a very special person who I feel very fortunate to know.... I am happy to have had Tammy help set the foundation for my parental involvement in my kids’ education, as well as help my children, Alyssa and Nate, directly as their teacher in junior kindergarten.”

That sentiment is not one that is alone. In fact, it is shared by many parents and students throughout Manordale Public School. Mrs. Epp’s many admirers can often be heard at school functions, on the playground and at community association events, where you are regarded as a lucky parent to have had the opportunity that your child is given the gift of Tammy Epp’s kindergarten experience.

To her students and their parents, Tammy Epp is teacher of the year, and on behalf of them I want to say, thank you, Tammy, for making a difference and thank you for involving us.

EVENTS IN

HAMILTON EAST–STONEY CREEK

Mr. Paul Miller: I would like to talk about two important events that will take place in Hamilton East–Stoney Creek. Glendale Secondary School, which the Speaker has visited with me, a prominent school of over 1,000 students, is celebrating its 50th anniversary on the last weekend in May. Former teachers, students and staff will be visiting from far and near to relive fond memories and renew lost friendships. A portal of east Hamilton’s community spirit, Glendale Secondary School is staging plays, concerts and sporting and social events to celebrate this anniversary.

I congratulate the many staff and community volunteers who have taken so much of their own time to organize this event and I look forward to celebrating it with them.

Over the weekend of May 21 to 23, the Croatian National Home will be hosting the 36th annual Canadian-Croatian Folklore Festival in Hamilton East. For 80 years, the Croatian National Home has been promoting Croatian culture in Canada through traditional tambura music and dances. I encourage everyone who will be in Hamilton East over the Victoria Day weekend to join me and an anticipated audience of 2,000 people to enjoy over 500 performers. It’s wonderful that we can celebrate Croatian heritage here in Ontario, and I look forward to joining in the festivities, although I may not be taking

part in the dancing. I’m not an expert.

DISEASE AWARENESS

Mr. Joe Dickson: Prior to my statement, I would appreciate requesting unanimous consent, Mr. Speaker. Today is International Awareness Day for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia and Multiple Chemical Sensitivities. The ribbons being distributed to all members have three colours and represent awareness of each illness: blue for myalgic encephalomyelitis, purple for fibromyalgia and green for multiple chemical sensitivities. I would like to ask for unanimous consent that all members be allowed to wear the ribbons that represent these conditions.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Agreed? Agreed.

Mr. Joe Dickson: Today is May 12, the International Awareness Day for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia and Multiple Chemical Sensitivities. These illnesses have many overlapping symptoms, including neurological and cognitive problems, muscle and joint pain, and overwhelming fatigue. These illnesses are all debilitating, multi-system physical illnesses that affect individuals of all ages, youth and children included.

According to the Canadian Community Health Survey, over a million Canadians have been diagnosed with one or more of these conditions, and 440,000 of these people live in Ontario. These are real people with real illnesses, and they need our help and support. More research is needed into the causes and treatments. No treatment or research centre exists yet in Ontario.

The Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Association of Ontario is hosting an awareness event outside Queen’s Park today to put a real face on those people who live with these life-changing illnesses. It takes courage every day to live knowing that there is no cure and no ongoing funding for treatment, research and education of our Ontario health care practitioners. Let’s look at educating Ontario and making all Ontarians aware.

Please join me in applauding the efforts of many dedicated volunteers who do their best to provide education, information and support. We in this province can make a difference.

MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS

Mr. John O’Toole: Earlier today, I sought unanimous consent to wear the red carnation in support of the MS Society. My statement is that I thank the Speaker for the honour of supporting MS Awareness Month and the MS carnation campaign. I thank all members of the Legislature who have shown their dedication to the people affected by MS by wearing the carnation today.

It is known that women are diagnosed with MS three times as often as men. Many Canadians living with multiple sclerosis are mothers, and many more adults and children are affected by this disease. That’s why every year the MS carnation campaign takes place around the time of Mother’s Day weekend.

For over 60 years, the MS Society of Canada has provided hope and help for people with MS across Canada—hope through their extension of national research programs, and help through services which make life better for people suffering with MS and their families.

I’m pleased today to have been joined by four members and representatives of the MS Society: Natasha Mistry and Kim Steele, who I introduced earlier, from the Ontario division office—and Mike Roche from the Durham regional

chapter and a constituent of mine.

Mike was diagnosed with MS in 2001 and joined the MS Society in 2002. In October 2003, he became the social action director of the Durham regional

chapter of the MS Society, a position he holds to this day. I must commend Mike; he has been very helpful in informing and educating me in my awareness of MS. Mike is involved in efforts to increase research funding for MS as well as to improve income security and access to age-appropriate long-term care, supportive housing and MS treatments. As a testament to Mike’s tireless advocacy, he recently received the Citation of Merit last year. This is one of the MS Society’s most distinguished awards.

I’d like to thank the MS Society and volunteers like Mike for making every day better for people living with MS and for working toward the day when we will find the end to this devastating disease.

I would like to urge Premier McGuinty to implement Bill 23, which would support people with MS and disabilities, from the member from Haldimand–Norfolk.

JOUR DES FRANCO-ONTARIENS

ET DES FRANCO-ONTARIENNES

M. Phil McNeely: J’étais fier de l’adoption du projet de loi 24 en troisième lecture le 26 avril. Cette loi confirme officiellement que les Franco-Ontariens et les Franco-Ontariennes peuvent se donner rendez-vous pour célébrer leur culture de façon particulière ce jour-là.

Le 25 septembre coïncide avec l’anniversaire du drapeau franco-ontarien, hissé pour la première fois il y a 35 ans. Cette fête doit être partagée par tous et toutes en Ontario. Ce fut un rassemblement d’anglophones et de francophones qui a donné la vie à notre province et à notre pays. La francophonie vibre depuis 400 ans et a grandement contribué au façonnement de notre province.

Cette loi témoigne de l’appui et de l’encouragement que notre gouvernement accorde à nos vibrantes communautés. Cet appui va bien au-delà du rassemblement des anglophones et des francophones. Nous avons accueilli des millions de gens de partout dans le monde. Ce fut toutefois ce rassemblement qui a lancé un si beau et si grand projet. Voilà pourquoi je suis fier de voir une telle journée rendant hommage aux contributions des Franco-Ontariens et des Franco-Ontariennes. L’Ontario serait très différent et appauvri en l’absence du riche héritage franco-ontarien. J’ai hâte de célébrer, le 25 septembre, avec les anglophones et les francophones de ma circonscription.

ENERGY RATES

Mrs. Julia Munro: Families throughout my riding will be facing much higher hydro prices over the next year thanks to the Dalton McGuinty government. Energy experts are telling us that by the end of 2011, the average residential hydro bill is going to go up 26% per year. This works out to a minimum of $304 per year for the average homeowner.

Eight per cent of the increase is due to the harmonized sales tax that the Liberal government will impose on everyone on July 1. This will cost $98 per year for the average household. Generation cost increases will mean more than a $150-per-year increase; smart meters, $50 more per year—and these are just the estimated costs by the end of 2011.

My constituents cannot afford these increases, increases that come without a plan to ensure a secure supply of energy. The McGuinty Liberals have cancelled new nuclear power plants, they are planning to close coal plants, and they have no idea how they will make up the power we need. Everyone will need to pay more for hydro, and the supply will not even be secure.

RENEWABLE ENERGY

Mr. David Orazietti: Sault Ste. Marie is moving forward with another exciting investment in the renewable energy sector. Last Friday, I had the privilege of being part of a groundbreaking for a new $6-million solar manufacturing plant. This means that right here in Ontario and in my riding of Sault Ste. Marie, with our government’s investments in the green energy sector through our Green Energy Act, we will not only have one of the largest solar farms in Canada, but we will now be creating jobs and manufacturing those solar panels in my community.

The $2.5 million in provincial funding for this manufacturing plant was provided through what has been a very instrumental program for northern Ontario’s economy, and is something our government has embraced and continued to improve and increase since 2003. It’s called the enterprise north job creation program of the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corp. This program helps to build strong and prosperous northern communities that foster opportunity, job creation and economic prosperity.

This is a great program, as it has helped to build and accelerate numerous projects in our community in partnership with our renewable energy strategy and our standard offer program, projects like the $400-million Brookfield wind farm project, the largest in Ontario; the $135-million cogeneration plant at Essar Steel; and the $100-million Starwood solar energy farm, which is the first phase of the 60-megawatt project.

We are growing green energy jobs through our government’s leading-edge renewable energy strategy, and this is good news for all Ontarians.

POLICE WEEK

Mr. Khalil Ramal: I rise in the House today to acknowledge the start of a very special week in London, Police Week, where each day police officers engage in community outreach.

To kick off Police Week, two students were selected to play chief of police for the day. Scott Mitchell and Valerie Nyhout are secondary students who are also Special Olympics athletes. They were exposed to the dynamic and challenging role of heading the London police force, and they learned quite a bit in the process. Not only did they tour police headquarters, but they visited the Ontario Police College in Aylmer and the CSI lab as well.

The week continues with the London police holding a free barbecue for senior citizens at the Kiwanis senior citizens’ centre. There will also be a series of fun and educational activities throughout the week.

I commend the London police for their activities in order to engage the community. I also want to say thanks for the work of our law enforcement officials that makes London a thriving and diverse society and a wonderful place to live.

EVENTS IN ESSEX

Mr. Bruce Crozier: I’d like to just take a minute or two of your time to tell you about the great things that are happening in the riding of Essex. Of course, we’re coming into the growing season, so just before we get out of here in June, I hope to have even better things to say.

Today I want to talk about health care, and I want to say what great things our government has done on my behalf and on behalf of my constituents in the riding of Essex in that we have a great family health team that has been up and running in Harrow, a hamlet in the town of Essex, where they are attracting doctors and taking care of patients who needed the kind of holistic health care that we well deserve.

As well, there’s a family health team functioning in the town of Amherstburg. They, too, have been a great asset to their community. I frequently get letters and calls thanking us for putting a health team in the municipality of Amherstburg.

Then, more recently, we have had two nurse practitioner clinics approved for the riding of Essex, and I thank Minister of Health Deb Matthews for that. We have one that’s only weeks away from opening in the town of Belle River, which is part of Lakeshore, and we have one that’s well under way and, by fall, will be opening in the town of Essex.

The folks in my part of the country appreciate the health care they’re being given.

INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

NOT-FOR-PROFIT

CORPORATIONS ACT, 2010 /

LOI DE 2010 SUR LES ORGANISATIONS

SANS BUT LUCRATIF

Ms. Aggelonitis moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 65,

An Act to revise the law in respect of not-for-profit corporations / Projet de loi 65, Loi modifiant des lois en ce qui concerne les organisations sans but lucratif.

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

First reading agreed to.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): The minister for a short statement.

Hon. Sophia Aggelonitis: I will make my statement during ministerial statements.

EDUCATION STATUTE LAW

AMENDMENT ACT (ELECTRONIC SEXUAL MATERIAL), 2010 /

LOI DE 2010 MODIFIANT DES LOIS

EN CE QUI A TRAIT À L’ÉDUCATION

(DOCUMENTS ÉLECTRONIQUES

À CARACTÈRE SEXUEL)

Mr. Martiniuk moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 66,

An Act to protect our children from pornography / Projet de loi 66, Loi visant à protéger nos enfants contre la pornographie.

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

First reading agreed to.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): The member for a short statement.

Mr. Gerry Martiniuk: I would like to thank my constituent Rob Nickel, a former retired police officer, who brought to my attention that there are hundreds of libraries and schools in Ontario that do not use filtering equipment to block pornography for our children.

If I may use the précis of the explanatory note, which is rather long and I’ll shorten it, the bill amends the Education Act and the Libraries Act to require every school board and library to ensure that they have in place technological measures on all of the computers to which a person under the age of 18 has access to block any material, including written material, pictures and recordings, that is obscene or sexually explicit or that constitutes child pornography.

ARTHUR MEEN

Hon. Monique M. Smith: I believe we have unanimous consent that up to five minutes be allotted to each party to speak in remembrance of the late Arthur Meen.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Agreed? Agreed.

The member from Beaches–East York.

Mr. Michael Prue: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I hadn’t realized I was supposed to go first.

It is an honour for me to rise and talk about Arthur Meen, who in fact was one of my predecessors. He came from the riding of York East and he represented that riding very well. York East—of course, the majority of that riding in those days was in the municipality or borough of East York.

He has quite a colourful history in our place, but I think most of it can be summed up best in his incredible election successes. He ran, he won, he was successful. He won with big majorities.

I think the biggest surprise to East Yorkers overall was the time that he was challenged by the beloved reeve and mayor of East York, True Davidson. Anybody who knows anything about politics in the Toronto area will remember True. She was East York’s first mayor and she was sort of an icon in the community. She was invincible. Every time she ran for politics, she won with bigger and bigger majorities. She decided to take on Arthur Meen, she running as a Liberal, he as a Conservative. On election night—it surprised many people—Arthur Meen whomped her. He beat her by a huge majority. People looked upon him on that day as the giant and the giant-killer, all rolled into one.

He was beloved by the people of East York, and he took his job very seriously. He was a parliamentarian who rose through the ranks in this House, starting first of all as a backbencher. He went on to become a parliamentary assistant and ended up as Minister of Revenue. I want to talk mostly about when he was Minister of Revenue, because I think that’s when he made his finest contribution, not only to the people of York East but to literally all the people who lived in Ontario, particularly our seniors.

He was the one, as Minister of Revenue, who brought forward two really important laws. The first one was the Ontario homebuyers grant program. The second one, and I think probably the one that best survives him and all of this House, is the guaranteed annual income system for seniors, also known as Gains. He was the one who shepherded that bill through this House and made it law, and it’s still there today.

I know many MPPs in this room hold tax clinics every year. We do that in the month of March for many of our seniors, and they come in. When the CGAs and other people who are expert at doing taxes get to the Gains portion, literally every single senior gets a rebate. Literally every single senior to this day gets helped with their income tax and has their taxes lowered. Literally almost every single one of them gets a rebate, and it’s all thanks to the work of Arthur Meen all those years ago in shepherding Gains through.

He understood the need to ensure that Ontario’s senior citizens were provided with an adequate level of financial support to provide for that life of dignity, and he made sure that it happened. His legacy is such that it continues to happen, and I hope will continue to happen for many years.

The government of the day acknowledged that Ontario’s higher cost of living placed additional challenges on our seniors receiving old age security from the federal government. Meen observed, and I quote him: “Our senior citizens in Ontario were receiving inadequate support under the federal system, which is geared to the cost of living across Canada as a whole.” He knew that Ontarians needed more, and he was the one to make sure it happened. This was a proactive step in the fight against poverty, and it provides an example to all of us of what this government and future governments can do when faced with the need for a solution to a national challenge.

Arthur Meen was also a man who loved his constituents and loved life around East York. He was a very proud member of the Todmorden branch of the Royal Canadian Legion. I don’t know whether I followed in his footsteps, but I too am a very proud member of that branch. The members of the branch speak fondly of his association over the years with the branch and his love of the Royal Canadian Legion and the people who attend.

To the family: I thank you for the time that you allowed him to afford to come here and work in this Legislature. I thank you for his many contributions, and I thank you for the legacy he left for all Ontarians.

Mr. Mario Sergio: It is with pleasure that I rise to bring a tribute to the House today to an extremely popular parliamentarian, the Honourable Arthur Kenneth Meen, QC.

Arthur was a resident of the riding of Willowdale. He was first elected to the Legislature in 1967 as MPP for York East and faithfully served for some 10 years.

I have a bit of an anecdote. In 1967 I was part of an organization of some 40 to 45 agents, and in the morning we were told to be at this big meeting. Everybody had to be there that particular evening, and there would be lots of food, lots of drinks. So at 7 o’clock I show up on Dufferin, north of Rogers Road, and there was a little table there and a couple of ladies taking names, addresses and my signature, of course. Some four days later I got a letter in the mail and I opened it up and there was the PC membership for Ontario.

I have to say that the candidate who was chosen that particular evening was running against another wonderful former parliamentarian, David Lewis, and of course he didn’t win.

But getting back to Arthur, he was a lawyer and an engineer by trade and he started his political life in municipal politics in the old borough of North York, the former city of North York. He was a devoted husband to his wife, Shirley, and father to three daughters. Arthur was a keen outdoorsman who often voiced his enjoyment of waterskiing, boating, snowmobiling, camping and fishing. When it came to fishing, he always would say that the big one got away. He jokingly would admit that it was because of his lack of proficiency in sports.

Arthur served on many committees and was appointed parliamentary assistant to the Treasurer of Ontario in 1972, Minister of Revenue in 1974 and Minister of Correctional Services as well. As the Minister of Revenue, he was responsible for initiating and instituting many important tax reforms; for example, the Gains program, the non-resident land transfer tax and the land speculation tax, to name but a few.

A man of principle who stood up for human rights, especially when it came to pro-life, he was not afraid to voice his beliefs.

A highly distinguished, respected politician, when Arthur declared he would no longer seek re-election, then-Premier Davis expressed deep regrets and encouraged Arthur to retain his cabinet responsibilities for as long as he could. In 1980, Attorney General Roy McMurtry appointed Arthur judge of the criminal division in the provincial court of York county.

Arthur passed away peacefully in 2008. On behalf of all of us in the House, I would express our sincere feelings to the family members. Let me say that as proud and privileged members of this House, we serve the people of Ontario and it is good to remember, to know and to appreciate those who came before us and the immense, positive, everlasting contribution they have made to the people of Ontario. I have to say that Arthur Meen was one of them.

Mr. John Yakabuski: I am honoured to stand on behalf of the PC caucus and participate in this tribute to Arthur Meen, who served in this Legislature between 1967 and 1977. He was re-elected in 1971 and 1975. My friend Michael Prue talked about his electability. He was elected by a large margin in 1967 and re-elected in 1971 and 1975 by large margins. Even in 1975, when the government of the day was reduced to a minority, Arthur Meen was one of those members who held his position and still had a very strong majority as well.

It’s been said he was an engineer and a lawyer. It is interesting because I only know of one other member in this Legislature who has been an engineer and a lawyer, and that is a current member, my friend Norm Sterling from Carleton–Mississippi Mills. He holds that distinction along with Arthur Meen.

Arthur was married; his wife was Shirley, and she has also passed on. They had three daughters: Elizabeth, Jennifer and Marilyn.

Before he was elected to the Legislature, he had a distinguished career with Gulf Oil, and he also served on the municipal council of North York between 1961 and 1969. Of course, no one in the House today served with Arthur Meen, but he did serve at a time when my father served in this House. It was certainly a different time in this Legislature, as any of those who have had parents or relatives that have served in that time will know.

I did have the opportunity to speak to Premier William Davis to ask him some questions about Arthur Meen, because obviously he was a member of Premier Davis’s government. As Premier Davis put it, he was a man of obvious competence—unassuming competence—a very humble and modest man, but visibly capable. He possessed a quiet sense of humour. As I said, he was very modest when it came to matters involving himself.

His positive qualities were readily identified and apparent to Premier Davis, who appointed him to cabinet as Minister of Revenue in 1974 and, in 1977, as Minister of Correctional Services. Working with the then treasurer, Darcy McKeough, he brought in the first homebuyers grant, designed to stimulate the housing market at a time when it was weak and to offer first-time homebuyers a bit of a leg-up when it came to purchasing their first home.

At the same time, he played a role in introducing the land transfer tax that sought to put a stop to the speculation that was going on in the market and thereby driving up prices unnecessarily. Arthur Meen was the Minister of Revenue when that happened.

As my friend from Beaches–East York said, he was instrumental in the Gains program. I noticed in an interview he gave after he retired that he talked about the Gains program. He remembered that the Honourable John White was the chairman of the select committee on taxation in 1968, when they first talked about it, and he said, “I remember turning to him and saying, ‘What in the world is negative income tax?’ And he said, ‘Well, it’s flow in the opposite direction, based on that person’s lack of income.’ Now you see, we’ve come a long way.

It was interesting that by the time we got Gains got enacted, he was the Treasurer and I was the Minister of Revenue.” He was proud of that particular program.

He was very well loved by his constituents, as Mr. Davis told me. Also, Jan Wescott, who was Arthur’s EA for years, described him as the “most honest person” he ever knew—and not just from the point of view that he didn’t steal or lie. He was so intellectually honest in everything that he did and in every way that he carried out his duties.

He embraced technology and believed in it. He was a lifetime ham radio operator, and while on council in North York, he pushed for hydro lines to be embedded in the ground as opposed to on poles. He led that charge, and North York was one of the first communities to enact that.

He cherished his time with his family on Georgian Bay, and considered those moments as moments of peace and serenity. When he retired, he went back to practising law, and as Mr. Sergio alluded to, he was then appointed a provincial court judge.

I’m thankful for the opportunity to pay tribute to Arthur Meen and to men like him who came before us and made a tremendous sacrifice of their personal life and their family life to serve in this Legislature, to serve their constituents and to serve all of us in the province of Ontario. So I say to all relatives of Arthur today, thank you for his contribution. We’re proud of him and we are proud to offer this tribute today.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): I’d like to thank all members for participating in the tribute to Arthur Meen. On behalf of the Ontario Legislature, I will ensure that copies of the Hansard and a DVD of today’s proceedings are sent to the family.

STATEMENTS BY THE MINISTRY

AND RESPONSES

NOT-FOR-PROFIT CORPORATIONS

Hon. Sophia Aggelonitis: I’m honoured to rise in the House today to introduce significant new legislation that would modernize and strengthen Ontario’s not-for-profit sector. Today, our government is introducing the new Not-for-Profit Corporations Act, 2010, which, if passed, would provide a modern legal framework for not-for-profit corporations.

Not-for-profit corporations make a remarkable contribution to building a stronger Ontario. The not-for-profit sector comprises approximately 16% of all employed Ontarians. The work of not-for-profit corporations and volunteers generates approximately $50 billion in annual revenues. So the work of Ontario’s not-for-profit sector is vital, innovative and critical to Ontario’s present and future well-being.

The current Corporations Act governs the incorporation, governance and dissolution of not-for-profit corporations. It was first enacted in 1907 and has not been substantially updated since 1953. Our partners in the sector have told us that it is cumbersome, antiquated and does not adequately meet the needs of Ontario’s not-for-profit sector. Reform is necessary to bring the legislation up to date and create a modern legal framework that supports today’s vast, varied and rapidly growing not-for-profit sector.

There are approximately 46,000 not-for-profit corporations incorporated under the current act. Examples of not-for-profit corporations include: daycare centres, environmental groups, religious organizations, social service organizations, social clubs, sports clubs, business and professional associations, arts organizations and health organizations. That is why our government is moving to modernize and strengthen the not-for-profit sector as part of our Open Ontario plan to create new opportunities for jobs and growth.

The new Not-for-Profit Corporations Act, if passed, would be easier to use and would strengthen corporate governance. Here are some of the reforms we are proposing:

First, our proposed new act would simplify the incorporation process. The process is currently complex and lengthy. It normally takes six to eight weeks to incorporate. The new act would provide a simpler, more streamlined process and would allow not-for-profit corporations to incorporate in approximately seven working days or less. It would also provide flexibility to phase in electronic registration options, including online incorporation.

Second, our new act would enhance corporate governance and accountability. Directors would have a statutory duty of care and a maximum term of office of three years without being re-elected.

Third, our proposed changes would enhance member democracy. It would expand member rights by providing greater transparency for financial statements and access to records and would require notice to be given to a member when disciplinary action is contemplated against that member.

Fourth, our proposed changes would provide directors and officers better protection from personal liability. This would help to attract qualified people to serve on not-for-profit boards.

Fifth, in specified circumstances, the act would provide a simpler financial review process in place of an audit.

Sixth, our new act would allow not-for-profit corporations to engage in commercial activities when the revenues are reinvested in the corporation in support of its not-for-profit purposes.

Seventh, our proposed changes would become consistent with other Canadian jurisdictions with modern legislation, such as the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act and Saskatchewan’s Non-profit Corporations Act, 1995.

Our new act would substantially modernize the not-for-profit sector and make doing business easier in today’s marketplace. Our ministry consulted extensively with the not-for-profit sector, the legal sector and affected ministries. Three consultation papers were developed to gather opinions. We lis