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April 30, 2018

41st Parliament, 3rd Session

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Hansard Transcripts

Votes and Proceedings

Orders and Notices

Hansard Transcripts 2018-Apr-30 (PDF)

L021 - Mon 30 Apr 2018 / Lun 30 avr 2018

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO

ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE DE L’ONTARIO

Monday 30 April 2018 Lundi 30 avril 2018

Introduction of Visitors

Oral Questions

Government accountability

Government accountability

Cancer treatment

Cancer treatment

Government accountability

Cardiac care

Pay equity

Government spending

Water quality

Government investments

Accès aux soins de santé / Access to health care

Long-term care

Rabies

French-language education

International trade

Hospital funding

Tabling of sessional papers

Introduction of Visitors

Members’ Statements

Wind turbines

Workplace safety

Rankin Cancer Run

Vision Health Month

Great Lakes protection

Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan

Phragmites

Carnation Revolution

Access to health care

Reports by Committees

Standing Committee on Justice Policy

Introduction of Bills

Registered Professional Planners Act, 2018 / Loi de 2018 sur les urbanistes certifiés

No Flak for Carrying Racks Act (Highway Traffic Amendment), 2018 / Loi de 2018 interdisant les objections aux supports de transport (modification apportée au Code de la route)

Asbestos Use Prohibition Act, 2018 / Loi de 2018 interdisant l’utilisation de l’amiante

Petitions

Employment standards

Energy policies

Voting age

Wind turbines

Injured workers

Sexual violence and harassment

Wind turbines

Provincial truth and reconciliation day

Government anti-racism programs

Wind turbines

Celiac disease

Orders of the Day

Government Contract Wages Act, 2018 / Loi de 2018 sur les salaires pour les marchés publics

Correctional Services Transformation Act, 2018 / Loi de 2018 sur la transformation des services correctionnels

The House met at 1030.

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

Prayers.

Introduction of Visitors

Ms. Lisa M. Thompson: On behalf of the great member from Elgin–Middlesex–London, I’d like to welcome these amazing community champions: Mary Durham, Bonnie Rowe, Mike Rowe, Dianne Beattie, Jim Ford, Councillor Mike Hentz, Yvonne Brooks, Marg Hulls and Elaine Brown.

Hon. Nathalie Des Rosiers: I’m very happy to welcome to Queen’s Park Bette Jean Crews from the Species at Risk Program Advisory Committee and Bert Miles from British Columbia. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Mr. Monte McNaughton: I’m pleased to welcome to Queen’s Park today, on behalf of Wallaceburg Area Wind Concerns, Mary Rosseel and Denise Shephard. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Hon. Kathryn McGarry: In the members’ east gallery this morning, I’d like to welcome two of my constituents, Barbara and James Kavanagh. Welcome to Queen’s Park today.

Mr. Jim McDonell: I wanted to welcome Margaret Benke from my riding of Stormont–Dundas–South Glengarry. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

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

Hon. Tracy MacCharles: It’s a special day for me because Marian Redford from Chatham is here today, and Brock Redford, her son, who goes to McMaster with my daughter. She’s a great friend of mine. It has taken seven years to organize this visit.

May I say one more thing, Speaker? She is the daughter of the late Lorne Henderson, who was an MPP and cabinet minister for over 20 years in the Bill Davis government and held the portfolio I currently hold. Welcome to Queen’s Park. Her cousin is here too.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Welcome.

Hon. Glenn Thibeault: I’d like to introduce the mother of one of my staff today, Bernadine Van Santen, to the Legislature. Welcome to the Legislature.

I have another, Mr. Speaker. I would like to introduce to the Legislature today’s page captain from my riding of Sudbury, William MacDonald. I also want to extend a warm welcome to his mother, sitting in the members’ gallery, Samantha Baulch. Welcome to the Legislature.

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

Hon. Mitzie Hunter: I am delighted to make this introduction on behalf of my colleague the member from London—

Mr. Percy Hatfield: North Centre.

Hon. Mitzie Hunter: —London North Centre. I’d like to welcome to the House today a young woman from London, Riley Jones. Riley has just completed her first year at Fanshawe College in London and is at the Legislature today for the first time, along with her mother, Kate. I am so very pleased to see young people, and especially young women, taking an active interest in our political process. I want to welcome Riley and Kate here on behalf of the member from London North Centre.

Hon. Laura Albanese: I would like to welcome to Queen’s Park Brookhaven Public School, which is here visiting Queen’s Park today together with their teacher. Welcome.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Welcome. Glad you’re with us.

Oral Questions

Government accountability

Mr. Victor Fedeli: My question is for the Acting Premier. For seven years, the government has been battling yet another business, Trillium Power, in court. Due to suspicious circumstances with the government files yet again, the OPP were called in to investigate. Yes, Speaker, this is the fifth OPP investigation of this Liberal government.

Today, we’ve learned that new evidence shows that the Liberal government destroyed documents relevant to the case. Mr. Speaker, was the destruction of the Trillium documents intentional, or did it happen when the Liberals wiped the gas plant evidence from their computers?

Hon. Yasir Naqvi: I thank the member opposite for the question. I think the member very much knows that we can’t comment specifically on the lawsuit from Trillium Power as the matter is before the courts—or any matter, for that matter, that is before the courts.

With respect to record-keeping, we are committed to being an open, accountable and transparent government. We have taken action to strengthen the laws related to record-keeping and we have ensured that there are good policies in place for document retention and staff training. We have worked closely with the Information and Privacy Commissioner and the Chief Privacy Officer and Archivist of Ontario to ensure that our policies are appropriate.

The decision to place a moratorium on offshore wind is one that our government still believes is correct. It’s a decision that we will continue to make based on science and evidence. Ontario will take a cautious approach to offshore wind.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Victor Fedeli: Back to the Acting Premier: With so many investigations and scandals going on that they can’t talk about, it doesn’t leave very much for the Liberals to actually be able to talk—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Stop the clock, please. I’ve heard from both sides, and I will not waver from my resolve to have us complete a decorum-filled question period. I’m listening carefully.

Please finish your question.

Mr. Victor Fedeli: Thank you. As I said, there’s very little left for the government to be able to comment on, but we’ll try delving deeper into this.

A freedom-of-information request to the Premier’s office and Cabinet Office turned up no results. All records pertaining to “Trillium” and key offshore wind contracts between January 2010 and December 2011 were requested. The requests turned up zero relevant documents—zero, as in none, no documents. It’s inconceivable that no one in the Premier’s office or Cabinet Office wouldn’t have used those words.

This is exactly what happened in the gas plant scandal hearings. The government said they had no files because they had destroyed them all.

Speaker, which Liberal ordered the documents related to this case to be deleted?

Hon. Yasir Naqvi: Speaker, I want to remind the member opposite that we take our obligations in terms of transparency, accountability and openness of government very, very seriously. We promised the people of Ontario to open up the government completely, and we have done so to an unprecedented degree. In the report that was delivered by the then Information and Privacy Commissioner, she credited our government for improving record-keeping across the government.

We have sent a directive to all political staff. We have developed mandatory training programs. We have appointed chiefs of staff accountable for record-keeping. We have improved archiving requirements. We also brought in an accountability act that would prohibit the wilful deletion of records and in fact has created a penalty to do so. And the Premier’s office has worked very closely with the Integrity Commissioner and the Information and Privacy Commissioner to deal with these types of issues.

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

Mr. Victor Fedeli: Back to the Acting Premier: The Liberals say one thing when the exact opposite is true.

Trillium Power submitted another freedom-of-information request to the Minister of Energy. It was for a period from October 6, 2006, to January 31, 2014. They requested documents with the keywords, “Trillium Power wind” and “TPW1 project in eastern Ontario.” The response only included documents after March 2013. There were no documents for the FOI. It would appear that the Liberals have deleted every document that pertains to Trillium before March 2013.

We know emails exist because Trillium themselves had sent emails to the Premier’s office and to the government’s office, and yet they say none exist.

Mr. Speaker, where are all the documents?

Hon. Yasir Naqvi: I want to remind the member again that this Legislature is not the place to litigate matters that are before the courts. I know the members opposite would love to do that, and they’ve tried it many times. That does not make it right. Speaker, there’s a very clear rule in this House, the rule around sub judice, as you know, which says that, as legislators, we must respect the independence of our judiciary and we must respect the process that is ongoing.

However, I can speak to the very strong action that our government has taken in order to ensure that we have an open government, that we have a government that really has bolstered and strengthened transparency and accountability. In my previous answers, I spoke of very specific measures that we have taken to do so—not only making sure that we have strengthened the law and put penalties in place for such actions; we also have gone beyond in putting the right set of policies and training that goes along with it for our staff so that government remains open and accountable to the people of Ontario.

Government accountability

Mr. Victor Fedeli: My question is for the Acting Premier.

Speaker, Trillium can’t get the evidence from the Liberals. It has been destroyed. But on this side, we’ve proven that we know how to get that evidence.

According to reports, Trillium says emails provided show that the Premier’s office and “several other ministries” are involved. “The ministries of energy, environment and natural resources” collaborated behind the scenes to develop a policy specifically targeting Trillium. They say they intentionally favoured Trillium’s competitor.

Did the Liberals delete all the documents because the evidence supported Trillium’s allegations?

Hon. Yasir Naqvi: To the Minister of Energy.

Hon. Glenn Thibeault: Like the Attorney General said, we can’t comment specifically on the lawsuit from Trillium Power. As you know, Mr. Speaker, and this House knows, the matter is before the courts.

With respect to record-keeping, we’re committed to making sure that we are transparent, accountable, and an open government, Mr. Speaker. As was said, we’ve taken action to strengthen the laws related to record-keeping and have ensured there are good policies in place for document retention and staff training. That’s an important piece in that. We’ve worked closely with the Information and Privacy Commissioner and with the Chief Privacy Officer and Archivist of Ontario to ensure that our policies are appropriate.

When it comes to placing a moratorium on offshore wind, it’s one that our government still believes is correct, Mr. Speaker, and I’ll have more on that in the supplementary.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Victor Fedeli: Back to the Acting Premier: Well, this is exactly how the gas plant scandal played out, and it ended with a Liberal conviction. The government denies that the deleted document claims are related to the gas plant deletions. They say that “any investigation into the destruction of evidence in the gas plant scandal is irrelevant to Trillium’s case.”

If it is irrelevant to Trillium’s case, that means a separate order was given to destroy documents. So, Mr. Speaker, if it is irrelevant to the gas plant scandal, who ordered these documents to be destroyed?

Hon. Glenn Thibeault: Again, Mr. Speaker, the member opposite knows well that we can’t comment specifically on the lawsuit from Trillium Power. The matter is before the courts. That’s where it should be and that’s why, again, we all know that we can’t comment specifically on this lawsuit.

Mr. Speaker, we’ve talked about the actions that we’ve taken when it comes to ensuring record retention and document retention. One of the things that we’ve done is, when we’ve worked with the Information and Privacy Commissioner—she has credited our government for improving record-keeping across government.

Some of the things that we’ve done as a government since we’ve worked with the Information and Privacy Commissioner are that we sent a directive to all political staff outlining and developing mandatory training programs, and we also appointed chiefs of staff accountable for record-keeping and improving archiving requirements. Those are just a few of the many things that we did to improve our retention of documents.

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

Mr. Victor Fedeli: Back to the Acting Premier: Speaker, I can say that all of this sounds hauntingly familiar to the process that ended in a Liberal conviction. The deletion of documents was done a year after the Trillium lawsuit began. The government was being sued. They say that there are no emails, even though Trillium themselves sent emails to the government. Those at least should have come back in the documentation. But the Premier and the Premier’s office and Cabinet Office were busy deleting documents. No wonder there have been five OPP investigations into this government.

Mr. Speaker, thanks to the Liberal government, the OPP have tremendous experience recovering deleted documents. What will they find this time?

Hon. Glenn Thibeault: The Attorney General.

Hon. Yasir Naqvi: I want to repeat to the member opposite that he and his party knows very well that you cannot talk about litigation that is before the courts. That is inappropriate. The rules are very clear on that.

Speaker, as you know, in our parlance we call these pivot questions. They are pivoting away from talking about the kinds of cuts that they will bring under their party’s agenda. We know that the Conservatives and their leader, Doug Ford, believe in nothing but cuts, cuts and cuts. They want to cut the minimum wage for hard-working people. They want to cut corporate taxes for large, wealthy businesses. But what they don’t want to talk about is the cuts they will bring to our health care and our education services. How many jobs of teachers and nurses and personal support workers are they going to cut?

That is the real issue. That’s what they should be talking about, but they choose to pivot to something that is before the courts which they know very well cannot be spoken about in this House.

Cancer treatment

M me France Gélinas: Ma question est pour la première ministre. A cancer diagnosis can be the scariest thing a family has to face. But there’s good news: cancer treatments are improving all the time. There are treatments that once required going to the hospital that don’t any longer, because of take-home cancer drugs. But in Ontario, these life-saving drugs often come with a huge out-of-pocket expense.

Why does the Premier think it is okay to force cancer patients to reach deep into their pockets to pay thousands of dollars for these life-saving drugs?

Hon. Yasir Naqvi: Minister of Health and Long-Term Care.

Hon. Helena Jaczek: Certainly, I’m pleased that our government and the third party seem to be very much on the same page when it comes to advocating for a universal, pan-Canadian pharmacare plan. My predecessor is heading up a Canada-wide committee looking at the issue of all drugs, including cancer drugs, and I’m pleased to see that the third party has recently—I think just this morning—had an initiative as it comes to take-home cancer drugs.

We are also, of course, very aware that this is an important area. That’s why we in fact do provide free oral cancer drugs to take-home patients in a number of different ways.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

M me France Gélinas: Speaker, those different ways that the minister talks about: Most of them go through the Trillium Drug Program, but most of the time it takes weeks to get an approval

Just imagine, Speaker: Waiting weeks for the government to decide, all the while knowing that your cancer is not being treated. Isn’t that the last thing a family needs after a cancer diagnosis?

Hon. Helena Jaczek: There are many different ways, as I said, for low-income families to be able to access these drugs.

The Ontario Drug Benefit Program funds oral cancer drugs, including oral chemotherapy for ODB-eligible recipients. We have a new drug funding program administered by Cancer Care Ontario that funds intravenous cancer drugs that are provided in an outpatient setting. CCO also administers the Evidence Building Program and the case-by-case review program.

We currently spend some $479 million on oral cancer drugs, and we increased our funding by 25% last year. I understand that the leader of the third party is now proposing an increase of some 9%. In her estimation, she has offered to spend some $43 million annually on this program.

I’ll have more in the supplementary.

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

M me France Gélinas: Speaker, the minister has to read this off a piece of paper because the system is so complicated.

The system is so demeaning to people that it puts people who are already at a very high level of stress through more stress. She doesn’t have to force families to reach into their pockets for these drugs. The minister has a choice. She doesn’t have to force them to wait for weeks for treatment. She doesn’t have to force them to go through this demeaning process that she’s laying out for us. She can provide true universal coverage for these life-saving cancer drugs. Why doesn’t she?

Hon. Helena Jaczek: According to our estimates, the platform just released by the NDP would actually cost some $300 million annually; they are only offering $43 million. In other words, it’s just like their long-term-care commitment: There’s not nearly enough funding in their platform. Frankly, I don’t know who could possibly trust them. I think it’s particularly disappointing that they are so ready to make these empty promises to Ontario’s cancer patients and their families.

We believe in real numbers. We analyze very, very carefully. And yes, we read them off a piece of paper to—

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

Cancer treatment

M me France Gélinas: Ma question est pour la première ministre. The Liberal government has had 15 years to give Ontario families facing cancer the universal drug coverage they need: 15 years, 15 budgets; 15 times that cancer patients have been disappointed by this Liberal government.

Why would the Premier force cancer patients to wait even 15 more minutes for the cancer treatments that they need now?

Hon. Yasir Naqvi: Minister of Health and Long-Term Care.

Hon. Helena Jaczek: Certainly we do recognize that the cost of certain drugs can be challenging. That’s why, in the last five years, we have added funding for an additional 68 cancer drugs. Just this last year alone, the ministry spent $467 million on oral cancer drugs for Ontarians. I reiterate: a 25% increase from the previous year. This is what we’ve been doing consistently.

We work closely with Cancer Care Ontario and rely on their advice as to which particular drugs should be funded. We rely on the Cancer Drug Implementation Advisory Committee to ensure that there is a high-quality cancer care system for Ontarians.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

M me France Gélinas: I’m asking about covering cancer drugs so that people don’t have to reach into their pockets. Cancer touches so many families. So many families know what it’s like to receive a cancer diagnosis. So many families know how scary this can be. But the government can help. We can make sure that life-saving drugs are covered so that these families can focus on treatment and recovery and not have to worry about how to pay for take-home cancer drugs.

Why won’t the minister offer these families at least one comfort and make life-saving cancer drugs available to everyone?

Hon. Helena Jaczek: Of course, this is why we’ve taken such massive strides towards our goal of national pharmacare through the creation and expansion of OHIP+. We have also recently, in the 2018 budget, suggested that we wish to invest $800 million to create the Ontario drug and dental program to support those without an extended health plan. This will help low-income individuals with an opportunity for some funding that they can put towards cancer drugs.

In terms of the Trillium drug program, we have also made sure that we’ve streamlined the application process so that more people can access that type of help through that program.

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

M me France Gélinas: If the Liberal government wanted to provide universal drug coverage, it had 15 years to do so. It hasn’t. If the Premier wanted to provide universal drug coverage, she could have done so five years ago. She did not.

Why should cancer patients wait any longer for this Premier and for this minister to provide true universal coverage for take-home cancer drugs?

Interjections.

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

Hon. Helena Jaczek: On this side of the House, we’re very conscious of affordability issues—obviously, those of our constituents, but also in terms of what is responsible in terms of budgetary increases in this important area. That’s why we’re working so hard with the federal government. We’ve been playing a pivotal role in the recent initiative between the pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance and the Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association. We are creating savings through these bulk-purchasing arrangements, and we have actually saved some $3 billion for public drug plans through this initiative.

These types of savings will continue to be reinvested into funding new, innovative and life-saving drug therapies. We will continue to work with our provincial, territorial and federal partners to provide equitable and affordable drug coverage for all Canadians.

Government accountability

Mr. Todd Smith: My question is for the Acting Premier. Ontarians were shocked to learn of new allegations of the Liberal government illegally destroying documents, this time relating to the Trillium power scandal. The OPP has been called in again. This is the fifth time that an investigation has been carried out into the actions of this government. The trial is set to begin on June 11, just four days after the upcoming election. It would seem the Liberals were maybe hoping that this story would stay out of the news until after Ontario votes.

Does the Acting Premier know when the Premier was made aware of allegations that the Liberal government again committed illegal document destruction?

Hon. Yasir Naqvi: Speaker, I see a bit of consternation on his face, and I just warn the member to be very careful in making the kinds of allegations he’s trying to make. This is not the place—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Ahem.

Hon. Yasir Naqvi: It’s our collective responsibility to ensure that we abide by the rules and we respect the independence of the judiciary. This is not the place to litigate a matter that has been before the courts for some time. It’s a complex piece of litigation that is working through; there is a date for the hearings to take place.

We, on this side of the House, respect that. I think the member opposite should do the same. I know he is a law-abiding citizen, Speaker, and I think we should be very careful and mindful around trying to insinuate the kind of allegations he was trying to do in his question.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Todd Smith: Our job in the official opposition is to hold this government to account, and that’s what we do on a daily basis here. Yet this Liberal government continues to dodge and deny all they want. I think the first three things they learn when they come to office are control-alt-delete, because we have seen that time and time again over the last number of years.

It’s the same Liberal government that once claimed the gas plants scandal was only going to cost $40 million and that no crimes were committed there. We now know that the gas plants scandal cost $1.1 billion, and a senior Liberal is going to jail as a result of that scandal.

Mr. Speaker, when it comes to allegations of illegal document destruction, why should we believe the Liberals this time?

Hon. Yasir Naqvi: I fully recognize and appreciate that the role of the opposition is to hold government to account, and they should do so on policy issues. But that does not give you carte blanche to talk and start litigating a matter that is before the courts.

If you want to talk policy, let’s talk about policies. Let’s talk about why the Conservatives, under the leadership of Doug Ford, want to cut the minimum wage for hard-working people. Speaker, let’s talk about why they just want to give a big tax break for large, wealthy businesses and then lose all that important revenue that we get as government to provide essential services. Why? Because they’re going to cut those services as well. They’re going to undermine our education system.

They’re going to undermine our health care system, which is going to result in at least—one of the estimates around—a loss of 40,000 jobs. These are teachers we rely on, these are education workers we rely on and these are nurses and personal support workers we rely on.

So if they want to talk policy, let’s talk about those important policies that are going to harm the province if they’re in power.

Cardiac care

Mr. Percy Hatfield: My question this morning is for the Minister of Health. Good morning, Minister.

More than 1,000 people in the Windsor area suffer a heart attack or have a cardiac event each year, but the Liberals only fund rehab programs for half that number. Instead of weeks, patients have to wait anywhere from three to six months to get into rehab.

Seeing the need, a new private cardiac rehab centre just opened up last week. They will take you right away, but you have to pay for it.

Why has this Liberal government paved the way for private health care by underfunding our health care system in the Windsor area?

Hon. Helena Jaczek: We know how critical it is to have access to high-quality cardiovascular services in Ontario, including rehab services. Of course, we have been increasing our investment in this regard over the last several years. In fact, just this year, we are investing an additional $25 million that will result in more than 3,000 new cardiac procedures. We know that rehab for a number of these individuals is extremely important.

We have, of course, increased our funding for in-hospital rehab across the board for all hospital funding to $822 million, representing a major increase to the sector over the last year. We wish to deliver high-quality and specialized services, including rehab services, across the province, and I’ll have more to say in the supplementary.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Percy Hatfield: The Canadian Health Coalition says private rehab clinics can prey on vulnerable patients who may not always know their rights. This American style of health care should have no place in Ontario.

Windsor’s Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare gets 1,300 referrals a year for its Cardiac Wellness Program and is only funded for 500. How can the public have any faith in the Liberals at all when it comes to properly funding our public health care system in Ontario?

Hon. Helena Jaczek: Since 2015, some six cross-provider teams have been piloting integrated, innovative models across the province for patients who require short-term care at home after leaving hospital for a variety of conditions. We’re using these lessons learned from these pilots to inform the future of what the best practice in cardiac care is in Ontario.

Of course, for cardiac patients, rehab services are provided to hospital in-patients or outpatients, when they are needed, at no cost to the patient. We will continue to expand services in Windsor and across the province. Any medically necessary physician services to assess patients and treat cardiac risk factors are ensured services.

Pay equity

Ms. Ann Hoggarth: My question is for the Minister of Labour. I’m proud to represent so many amazing women from my riding of Barrie. The women I represent work in all industries and sectors. They work hard for our community, and we are stronger because of their dedication.

However, there remain barriers that prevent their full participation in the workforce. Most notably, women continue to earn 30% less on average than men; that gap is larger for racialized women and even larger for women with disabilities. This is unacceptable. It is time to close the gender wage gap.

We know that increasing women’s economic participation is the right thing to do for the sake of equality and for the good of our economy. Minister, what have you done to close the gender wage gap?

Hon. Kevin Daniel Flynn: Thank you to the member for Barrie, which is just north of the greenbelt from us here.

We’ve made investments in child care. We’ve made investments in health care. We’ve raised the minimum wage. We’ve brought in measures such as equal pay for work of equal value. But we know there’s more to be done.

That’s why we brought forward pay transparency legislation. We’re the first province in all of Canada, Speaker, to introduce a comprehensive package of measures that’s going to increase pay transparency. The legislation is a new tool in our tool kit. It’s going to promote workplace equity. It’s going to shine a light on pay inequity and on biases, and it’s going to help employers to eliminate them.

In my mind, Speaker, this is one piece of legislation that should have passed in this House unanimously, so let me thank the NDP for their support on this historic legislation, but I’ll tell you how deeply disappointed I am that Doug Ford and his Conservative Party turned his back on the women of this province.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary.

Ms. Ann Hoggarth: Thank you, Minister. I too was disappointed about Doug Ford’s Conservatives voting against the Pay Transparency Act, and so were the women in my community. The Conservatives chose to ignore the fact that a woman in Canada takes home only 70 cents for every dollar a man makes. They chose to put their business buddies ahead of the hard-working women in this province. This comes also after they voted against raising the minimum wage and increasing protections for vulnerable workers. It is not fair.

I’m proud that our government is working hard to create a better, fairer Ontario for all women and girls. I’m proud to support our upcoming budget that includes measures to improve women’s economic stability, measures like restoring funding to the Pay Equity Commission after the Harris government slashed it in half.

Minister, can you tell us how our government is increasing women’s economic participation?

Hon. Kevin Daniel Flynn: Thank you again to the member, whose riding is, as I said, just north of the great greenbelt that we have here in the province of Ontario.

Thanks to our leadership, Speaker, we have robust pay equity legislation, better Human Rights Code requirements to ensure employers can have differences in pay—

Hon. Jeff Leal: The greenbelt’s gone. Sam, you’d better stand up for those croppers in Niagara.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Stop the clock. I would like to hear the minister’s response, from the government side.

Finish, please.

Hon. Kevin Daniel Flynn: Speaker, we’ve improved our workplace laws. We’ve increased the minimum wage. I know that the opposition party wants to roll that back; we’re increasing it to $15 an hour—free prescriptions, free tuition for young people, and investing in women’s equality.

Last week’s vote was a tremendous opportunity for people to throw their weight behind these measures. Doug Ford’s Conservatives made it very clear: Women’s equality is not a priority for them.

Government spending

Ms. Sylvia Jones: My question is to the Acting Premier. We already know that the Liberals have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on campaign-style announcements. Now the Toronto Star—Sun, I’m sorry; is reporting that the Premier’s—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Stop the clock. Order.

Start the clock, please.

Ms. Sylvia Jones: Now the Toronto Sun is reporting that the Premier’s seven town halls cost taxpayers $209,000. Campaigning on the taxpayer’s dime has to stop. When will the Liberal Party pay back the taxpayer?

Hon. Yasir Naqvi: I think the member should be applauding the Premier for doing town halls across the province and listening to the people of Ontario. That’s exactly what those town halls were.

It’s not a very easy thing, as all members know, because we all have held town hall meetings in our communities where you invite your constituents, where you invite—

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): I would ask the member to listen to the response, please.

Finish, please.

Hon. Yasir Naqvi: Speaker, the Premier held seven different town halls in all corners of the province to hear directly from voters about their concerns, their anxieties and their hopes for the future. This was all part of her effort to be open and transparent and to hear directly from voters in the lead-up to the budget—something that Premiers and leaders should do. Of course, there are costs associated with it, but it was open to all Ontarians.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Ms. Sylvia Jones: You are defending the indefensible. The government spending of tax dollars for partisan purposes is not limited to campaign-style announcements and town halls. For the Premier, it also includes over $17.4 million that the government spent last year on partisan advertising. When Doug Ford campaigns, he doesn’t send the bill to the taxpayers. When will the Liberals reimburse the taxpayers?

Hon. Yasir Naqvi: I am defending the Premier’s right, as the leader of this province and of this government, to listen and talk to Ontarians. That is exactly what she is doing. Her job is to be out and about in communities and talking to Ontarians.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): I’m trying. And I know you are.

Carry on.

Hon. Yasir Naqvi: I don’t know why they’re so worked up that the Premier was hosting town halls that were open to all Ontarians, where questions—

Ms. Lisa MacLeod: They were empty. Nobody went to them.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member from Nepean–Carleton will come to order.

Carry on.

Hon. Yasir Naqvi: Speaker, as the MPP from Hastings himself said, this is how an MPP, for example, gets the pulse on what the community is thinking on a number of different issues: by hosting town halls. I think it’s a good idea that politicians should be finding out the pulse of our local communities, and that’s exactly what the Premier was doing.

Water quality

Mr. Taras Natyshak: My question is to the Acting Premier. For months, farmers and residents in north Kent have complained about black well water, which started appearing after Samsung began pile-driving construction for its new private, for-profit wind farm. The Premier won’t listen to these farmers and residents. She prefers to listen to Samsung, which insists that pile-driving cannot cause black well water. But earlier this month the Ministry of the Environment banned pile-driving construction for a new private wind farm in Chatham-Kent.

The ministry staff have acknowledged that pile-driving is a risk to groundwater in Chatham-Kent; why hasn’t the Premier?

Hon. Yasir Naqvi: To the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the minister responsible for small business on behalf of the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change.

Hon. Jeff Leal: I appreciate the question from the member from Essex. Our government takes concerns regarding groundwater quality very seriously and has prioritized environmental protection as part of renewable project construction. That’s why we’ve put strict requirements and processes in place on projects like this. It’s our government that has created these requirements, with strict measures of oversight, in order to provide the highest level of protection for our environment.

If the developer does not follow these requirements or processes adequately, the project may not proceed. This is an issue that I know my colleague the Minister of Climate Change has been dealing with extensively.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary.

Mr. Taras Natyshak: Ministry staff have confirmed what farmers and residents of Chatham-Kent have known ever since their well water turned black: Pile-driving is putting their groundwater at risk.

The ministry has now banned pile-driving at a private wind farm in Chatham-Kent, but this ban comes too late for farmers and residents in north Kent, where independent testing has shown a 14,000% increase in Kettle Point black shale particles, which are known to carry heavy metals such as mercury, arsenic and lead.

Will this government listen to north Kent farmers and residents, do the right thing and conduct a health hazard investigation today?

Hon. Jeff Leal: I want to thank my colleague from Essex for the supplementary question. I know the Minister of Climate Change has responded to this issue. I know he continues to have his ministry officials engaged in this particular issue. We all know, whether you’re in Wawa or Windsor, Cobourg or Coboconk, we want to make sure the quality of water is the purest water we can for every resident in the province of Ontario.

Government investments

Mr. Monte McNaughton: My question this morning is to the Acting Premier. This government has spent almost $23 billion of taxpayers’ money on business support programs over the last five years. We already know that most of the grants go to the oldest, wealthiest corporations, with 80% of the money being handed out by invitation only.

This morning, a new report was released by the Financial Accountability Office which examined 12 of these programs. Shockingly, the FAO found no evidence to show that any of these programs produce actual results.

Mr. Speaker, how can the Liberal government spend billions and billions of dollars with no evidence that taxpayers are getting value for money?

Hon. Yasir Naqvi: To the Minister of Economic Development and Growth.

Hon. Steven Del Duca: I want to thank the member for his question, and I want to go beyond that to thank the FAO for the report that came out a little bit earlier today.

The member asking the question talks about the evidence that demonstrates that the plan that our government has embarked on over the last number of years with respect to strategic supports for business—what’s the evidence that it’s actually working?

I would simply point to the fact that Ontario’s economy is stronger today than it has been at any time in recent memory. We know, and the members in the Conservative Party know, that since the depths of the economic recession we’ve created more than 800,000 jobs. We know, for example, that our unemployment rate is lower today than at any other time in the last 17 years. We know we’ve been below the national average as it relates to unemployment now for almost three consecutive years, and we know that the province of Ontario’s GDP is outpacing not only the rest of the country but the entire G7.

I would suggest to the member asking the question that we thank the FAO for his report. The evidence is in how lives across Ontario have improved because of our investments.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary.

Mr. Monte McNaughton: Back to the minister: In 2012, the Drummond report identified approximately 50 business support programs in Ontario. Today, there are over 100 such programs on the books. Of the 12 the FAO examined, only three collected performance measures and only five had any targets or benchmarks.

Minister, you’re handing out $5 billion every single year. This government doesn’t seem to know what programs are running or what, if anything, they’re actually accomplishing. Minister, is this just another Liberal slush fund?

Hon. Steven Del Duca: I don’t want to repeat what I said in the opening answer to the first question, but again, every single economic indicator, whether we’re talking about unemployment, whether we’re talking about GDP, whether we’re talking about how consistently the statistics point to the fact that lives have improved and that our economy has gotten stronger—all of that evidence is clearly there.

The member opposite has heard me answer multiple questions on this topic in my time in this particular portfolio, Speaker, but I would also point out that when we talk about how strong the economy is, it also means that the lives of people across the province of Ontario are getting better because of the economic prosperity. The jobs that we’re creating via our strategic investments are helping to improve lives in every corner of Ontario.

Specifically—because I know this member has talked about some of our regional investments—I want to point out that the Southwestern Ontario Development Fund invested, in Lambton–Kent–Middlesex, $3.5 million to help create and—

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

Accès aux soins de santé / Access to health care

M. Gilles Bisson: Ma question est pour la ministre de la Santé. Madame la Ministre, comme vous le savez, la communauté francophone travaille très fort avec vous, avec moi, votre ministère, le RLISS et autres pour finalement mettre en place un centre de santé communautaire à Timmins. Ça fait 28 ans qu’on essaie de mettre ce centre-là en place. C’est la plus grande communauté francophone qui n’a pas un centre de santé communautaire.

On sait qu’on a votre appui. On sait que vous avez travaillé étroitement avec la communauté, avec l’agence et avec moi-même. On attend la nouvelle. On s’est fait dire que la lettre était signée, mais la lettre n’était pas envoyée ou n’était pas reçue : lequel? On va avoir cette nouvelle-là tantôt?

Hon. Helena Jaczek: I think the member knows that we have been working very, very hard on this particular initiative. Our government truly values the work of community health centres, when you have interprofessional teams working together.

On this specific initiative for the francophone community in Timmins, we’re well aware of the need for that particular community health centre to be appropriately funded. I would just ask the member opposite to stay tuned. I believe that he will hear some news in this regard in the very near future.

We do understand how important it is to access primary care where you have the ability to speak in, obviously, one of our two official languages. This is why we are committed to community health centres across the province. The member will be hearing very, very soon as it relates to Timmins.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Gilles Bisson: This completes the journey that Timmins has gone through in being able to serve people when it comes to health centres. We first funded the Misiway health centre that serves our First Nations brothers and sisters in the community. We then got two family health teams, one in South Porcupine, one in Timmins. But what has always been missing is the francophone component so that we’re able to better serve the community.

We’ve been working on this hard, and we are awaiting the final letter to be delivered. Can you please give me the letter, and then I will deliver it myself?

Hon. Helena Jaczek: Our government is absolutely committed to improving access to high-quality French-language health services across the province. The passage of the Patients First Act in 2016 did provide a solid framework for renewed partnership and brings increased focus on enhancing equity, and in fact, the Minister of Francophone Affairs is constantly reminding me of the particular importance when it comes to health care.

Just to speak a little bit about the interprofessional care teams that we currently have in the province: We have some 294 of these serving some four million people. Obviously, we want to expand this type of care. It’s extremely valuable to ensure that people not only have access to the language that they’re comfortable in, but also to the excellent health care that they truly deserve.

Long-term care

Mr. James J. Bradley: Mr. Speaker, I have a question for the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care. We all have a collective responsibility to support our seniors and to ensure the best quality of life. That is why our government has almost doubled funding for long-term care since 2003. We know that we have a growing and aging population in Ontario and across Canada, which is why our government is making critical investments in elder care.

Our 2018 budget proposes an additional $650 million in home care over the next three years and the expansion of OHIP+, which will provide free prescription drugs to seniors over 65. In the fall, we also introduced Aging with Confidence: Ontario’s Action Plan for Seniors.

Can the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care please inform this House of the investments that our government is making to support the needs of seniors in our communities and of caregivers who often work with those seniors?

Hon. Helena Jaczek: Thank you to the member from St. Catharines, who is obviously a great advocate for seniors in his community, for giving me the opportunity to discuss our government’s plan.

Last fall, our government committed to 5,000 new long-term-care beds by 2022 and more than 30,000 new beds over the next decade. We accepted numerous proposals from communities across the province. We consulted with the LHINs in each of the 14 areas across the province, and we’re now allocating 5,000 beds. These include nearly 500 new beds for indigenous communities and over 1,500 new beds for specific cultures, including—and I know the member from Timmins–James Bay will be interested in this—francophone communities.

These investments will keep people out of hospital and help more people get the care they need at or close to home and in the community.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. James J. Bradley: I know the constituents in the city of St. Catharines will greatly benefit from these new beds. I was pleased, by the way, to have 96 new beds announced in my riding, to make that announcement in the city of St. Catharines—13 new beds for regional municipality of Niagara homes, 81 at Pleasant Manor in Virgil and 66 new beds in Welland.

All of our constituents will benefit from these investments in care. Our home care investment includes $180 million this year alone to provide 2.8 million more hours of personal support, including caregiver respite, as well as 284,000 more nursing visits and 58,000 more therapy visits.

Our budget will provide $300 million over three years to increase staffing in long-term-care homes. That means every long-term-care home in the province will benefit.

Speaker, can the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care please share more of the details about the supports for seniors?

Hon. Helena Jaczek: Thank you again to the member for that question. Not only are we building 30,000 additional new long-term-care beds, but we’re also redeveloping every older long-term-care home by 2025. We’ve already redeveloped some 13,500 beds, and we know how critical this is to the sector.

We’re glad that both parties have endorsed our plan to create 30,000 new long-term-care beds. We have yet to see any costing to accompany the PCs’ commitment and how this would fit into Doug Ford’s promise to make billions of dollars’ worth of cuts—unexplained—cuts that would have to come directly from front-line services in our health care system.

Mr. Speaker, on this side of the House, we’re continuing to choose care over cuts.

Rabies

Ms. Lisa M. Thompson: My question is for the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care. This Liberal government has outdone itself yet again. As reported in last week’s Ontario Farmer, a Ministry of Health-amended rabies regulation is going to affect generations of tradition and the celebration of the best of the best when it comes to exhibiting animals at local fairs, petting zoos and riding stables.

For goodness’ sake, there are already federal rules that have banned the exhibition of contaminated animals, which I will send over to the minister for her information.

Speaker, I have to ask: Why did this minister not insist on proper consultation with all of the players impacted by this amended regulation?

Hon. Helena Jaczek: I’d be happy to obviously learn a little bit more about this particular initiative. I’m surprised that the member opposite didn’t approach me, or through our MPP liaison, which is the usual protocol in these cases.

I will certainly look into the matter and consult with the appropriate officials just to find out a little bit more about the member’s concerns and what exactly she is concerned about.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Ms. Lisa M. Thompson: Well, here’s some information. Huron county 4-H leader Darrell Bergsma said that this heavy-handed approach will have a huge negative impact on local fairs. Keith Currie of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture commented, saying that the 14-day consultation period was “not sufficient to allow for a proper investigation.”

In this question period, I have to ask the minister to do the honourable thing and suspend this amended regulation until proper consultation has been facilitated.

Hon. Helena Jaczek: Having a little bit more information now is helpful. I’ll certainly take the issue under advisement and look into it very, very thoroughly. Thank you.

French-language education

Since 2003, we have actually provided $208 million in capital funding to CS Viamonde. In this time, CS Viamonde has completed 25 projects, including eight new schools and 17 additions.

We recently announced that this year we are providing $80 million to support nine capital projects for French-language boards, more than $16 million to be invested in the Viamonde school board to support the creation of a new French high school in Toronto. This school will become the fourth public French-language school in Toronto. Locally elected trustees are responsible for deciding the most appropriate pupil accommodation arrangements for schools of the board, including the location of the new French high school in Toronto’s east end.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

What steps will the minister take to ensure that the francophone community in the east end of Toronto has access to a quality sports field for a French high school?

Hon. Indira Naidoo-Harris: Mr. Speaker, I just want to be clear that we are absolutely making investments when it comes to French-language schools in the province. In fact, that’s what I was trying to point out.

One of the things I also want to point out is that enrolment is absolutely increasing. In 2016-17, over 105,000 students were attending French-language schools—an increase of 13% since 1998. Test scores are rising in French-language schools. For grade 6 tests, over 81% of students have consistently met or surpassed the provincial standard in reading, writing and math. Over the past five years, 80% of students in French-language schools have consistently met or surpassed the provincial standard in EQAO. They are consistently achieving high results in the grade 10 literacy test.

All this to say, Mr. Speaker, that really enrolment is increasing, the achievement is there and our investments are increasing, so I don’t really understand what the member opposite is asking about.

International trade

Ms. Sophie Kiwala: My question is for the Minister of Economic Development and Growth. Our government has put a priority on building a strong relationship with our American partners. That’s because we know that free trade creates good jobs for workers in both Ontario and the United States.

Ontario is a top customer of 28 states. In 2017, two-way trade between Ontario and the US totalled nearly $400 billion. Premier Wynne and our entire government has been actively engaging with American decision-makers, and the Premier has met with nearly 40 state governors. Last week, the Premier was in Detroit to meet with the governor of Michigan, Rick Snyder, and signed a memorandum of understanding between Ontario and Michigan.

Minister, can you please share more details about this agreement with one of our most important trading partners?

Hon. Steven Del Duca: I want to thank the member from Kingston and the Islands for her very important question. I am delighted to have the opportunity to speak about how our government has consistently stood up for Ontario workers and for Ontario businesses. I also want to comment on the mature and thoughtful partnerships that we’ve built up over time with our US state leaders.

Together, Ontario and, specifically, Michigan account for nearly a quarter of North American vehicle production. Our collaboration through two previous MOUs has led to the first cross-border automated vehicle test in North America.

Ontario and Michigan are vital trading partners. Quite simply, we build great things together. Through this latest MOU, we look forward to continuing to work closely to grow our bilateral trade and identify shared export opportunities. We are also committed to working together to expand on trade opportunities, improve our transportation corridors, and protect and restore the vital Great Lakes ecosystem.

I want to thank the Premier and the entire team for their hard work, because we’re seeing—I’ll tell you more in the second answer, Speaker.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): I’m glad you will.

Supplementary.

Ms. Sophie Kiwala: Thank you, Minister, for your answer.

Our Premier has a track record of meeting with state governors and advocating for Ontario’s interests—over 40 governors in all. That’s impressive. This MOU with Michigan is only the latest of many achievements in this regard. A month ago, Ontario signed a memorandum of understanding with Indiana to continue building on our strong partnership with them.

But leadership and co-operation sometimes mean knowing when to forcefully and respectfully disagree. When push comes to shove, our Premier will always stand up for Ontario workers and businesses. Our government introduced the Fairness in Procurement Act to respond to Buy American legislation in New York state. Our Premier stood side by side with the steel industry and its workers when the US administration threatened to impose tariffs on our exports. Minister, can you reassure this House that our government will continue to stand up for Ontario workers and businesses?

Hon. Steven Del Duca: I thank the member for her follow-up question.

Mr. Speaker, our government has always and will always stand up for our workers and our businesses here in Ontario. We believe that free trade benefits our economy on both sides of the border, but free trade must also be fair trade. When that’s threatened, our Premier and our government have stood up and will continue to stand up and fight for our workers.

Let me remind this House that when US states introduced protectionist Buy American legislation and when the US administration threatened to harm our steelworkers, the silence from the opposition, particularly the Conservatives, was deafening. When we stood up, they said, “Stand down,” and that’s absurd. Workers know they cannot depend on Doug Ford and Ontario’s Conservatives to fight for their interests. They know that only one party has shown that it’s willing to stand up for Ontario, stand up for our workers, stand up for our companies and stand up for our greenbelt, Speaker, and that’s Ontario’s Liberals.

Hospital funding

Mr. Jim Wilson: My question is for the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care. Minister, as you know, for a great number of years, since the Liberals have been in office, my riding has been fighting for the redevelopment of two hospitals, the Collingwood General and Marine Hospital and Stevenson Memorial Hospital in Alliston. Your predecessor quite nicely gave us a bit of money for the planning process just about a month ago—$500,000 for each hospital—but as you know, each hospital has spent well over $1 million of their own money, front-line patient money, to go through the planning process.

We don’t have approval yet. I was just wondering if over the last month there has been a change of heart at the ministry and you might see your way to approving these projects before the writ is dropped.

Hon. Helena Jaczek: Of course, it is our goal to ensure that Ontarians have the health care that they need where they need it, and we have been working very, very hard in this regard over the last number of years.

Of course, as the member knows, we are always consulting with our LHINs to find out exactly where the need is greatest and proceed with the planning process in an orderly fashion. Obviously, due process is extremely important to ensure that all the i’s are dotted and the t’s are crossed, so we are working in that regard.

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): I’m just waiting for the member from Chatham–Kent–Essex to finish. Thank you.

Supplementary.

Mr. Jim Wilson: Back to the minister: Minister, we’ve been waiting a lot of years and we’ve spent a lot of money. Both our LHINs agree that these projects need to go forward. Even without the go-ahead from your government, both communities have pretty much raised their community share. So we’re doing our part, and we need the government to do your part.

After all, I think everyone would be very happy, including the Liberal candidate in my riding for this election, who is the Premier’s son-in-law. Maybe if you want to keep your job over the next couple of weeks, you would announce these couple of hospitals.

Hon. Helena Jaczek: As I’ve said before, we know that infrastructure is absolutely vital to provide high-quality health care in our communities. We’ve been investing very heavily in that infrastructure to provide these types of facilities. Certainly I would like to commend the community for their part, as related by the member for Simcoe–Grey, in terms of the fundraising that they’ve been able to achieve. This is obviously good news, and I’m sure we will yet again look into the matter.

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): I want to thank the member for going easy on me today. That was really good. I appreciate that.

Ms. Lisa MacLeod: What? I tried.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): No, I know you did.

Tabling of sessional papers

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): I do beg to inform the House that the following documents were tabled:

—a report entitled Lottery and Gaming, from the Financial Accountability Office of Ontario; and

—a report entitled Business Support Programs, from the Financial Accountability Office of Ontario.

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

The House recessed from 1141 to 1300.

Introduction of Visitors

Ms. Sophie Kiwala: Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to welcome a little later this afternoon to this House my former boss and former Speaker of the House of Commons, Peter Milliken. I extend a warm welcome to him when he arrives.

Mr. Jeff Yurek: I have a few constituents here—also some from Lambton–Kent–Middlesex. I missed them earlier this morning because I was making an announcement elsewhere.

I’d like to welcome Bonnie Rowe, Yvonne Brooks and Elaine Brown, members of the Dutton Dunwich Opponents of Wind Turbines executive; Mike Rowe; Dianne Beattie; Jim Ford; Councillor Mike Hentz from Dutton Dunwich; Marg Hulls; Mary Durham; and from Monte’s riding, Mary Rosseel and Denise Shephard.

On behalf of Monte and I, welcome and thank you for being here.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): That would be the member from Lambton–Kent–Middlesex; is that right, member from Elgin–Middlesex–London?

Mr. Jeff Yurek: I’d like to correct my record.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): So done.

It’s time for members’ statements.

Members’ Statements

Wind turbines

Mr. Jeff Yurek: I rise today to bring attention to the wind turbine project in the municipality of Dutton Dunwich, which is located in my riding.

As this government is well aware, the municipality of Dutton Dunwich conducted a survey of residents before declaring themselves a non-willing host, with 84% of the community against the wind turbines. This survey and report was shared with the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change. Unfortunately, the government chose to ignore the people of Dutton Dunwich and moved forward with the project.

Later this afternoon, I’ll be bringing forward a petition, on behalf of the residents, calling on the government to make it mandatory that all renewable energy developers use the new noise modelling guidelines.

On January 23, 2018, the Dutton Dunwich Opponents of Wind Turbines filed a notice of application for a judicial review in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice. The application declares that the transition provisions should not be used in the five large renewable procurement wind turbine projects, which include the Dutton Dunwich Strong Breeze; two in Chatham-Kent, the Romney near Lakeshore and Otter Creek near Wallaceburg; and two in eastern Ontario, Eastern Fields in the municipality of the Nation, and Nation Rise in the municipality of North Stormont.

I’m calling on this government to take the concerns of Dutton Dunwich residents and the communities in the province and signatories on this petition seriously and stop the project at Dutton Dunwich, or at least put it on hold until all the concerns are addressed.

Workplace safety

Ms. Teresa J. Armstrong: This Saturday, April 28, I attended an event in London to recognize the day of mourning and injured workers. I was honoured to attend the London Steps for Life—Walking for Families of Workplace Tragedy. Funds raised from this walk help provide support services to families who have been affected by workplace tragedies and raise awareness about injury prevention.

Threads of Life is a national, not-for-profit charitable organization dedicated to supporting families, along their journey of healing, who have suffered from a workplace fatality, life-altering injury or occupational disease. They bring awareness to the event every year and believe that injuries in the workplace are predictable and preventable, and through Steps for Life they spread this important message.

There were 40 events taking place across Canada, with more than 4,000 families, corporate teams and partners participating. The community came together to mourn and honour all those who have been injured, afflicted with an occupational illness, and those who have lost their lives while working.

This day of recognition provides each of us with the opportunity to stand side by side as workers across Ontario, to renew and inspire our commitment to improving the health and safety of everyone in the workplace.

In 2016, the greatest number of workplace deaths in the country was in Ontario. That is simply deplorable.

We all have a part to play. Unions, management, employers, workers and government all need to work together to reduce workplace injuries and better support injured workers. We cannot forget the work that still needs to be done. The fight will only end when no worker has to risk his or her life on the job and all can go home to their families.

Rankin Cancer Run

Mr. James J. Bradley: Saturday, May 26, will see thousands of people gather at Grantham Lions Park in north St. Catharines for the annual Rankin Cancer Run, an event that has raised $7.55 million over the past 12 years and has attracted as many as 13,000 participants for a single day.

Under the enthusiastic and capable leadership of run director Mary Ann Edwards and the sponsorship of generous businessman Tom Rankin and the Rankin family, this outstanding fundraising endeavour, which dedicates all of its proceeds to local health care facilities, has contributed $3.5 million to the St.

Catharines general hospital cancer centre; $1.64 million to Wellspring Niagara; $380,000 for Hospice Niagara; $500,000 for West Lincoln Memorial Hospital; $450,000 for the Greater Niagara General hospital; $349,000 for the Douglas Memorial hospital; $315,000 for Welland county general hospital; $240,000 for Port Colburne hospital; $90,000 for the former Niagara-on-the-Lake Hospital, and funding will go to Hotel Dieu Shaver this year.

All people in Niagara are grateful to Mary Ann Edwards, Tom Rankin and the fabulous volunteer team for their tireless efforts and generosity, and to the walkers, runners and sponsors for their energetic participation.

Vision Health Month

Mr. Bill Walker: I rise today to bring to the attention of the Legislature the upcoming Vision Health Month, which is celebrated across Canada during the month of May.

This is a time when we raise public awareness about the importance of protecting vision health and encourage Ontarians to have regular eye exams as they are the best form of early detection and prevention, improving the chances of detecting eye conditions early enough to help control and treat the disease.

There are an estimated 5.5 million Canadians living with an eye condition that could lead to vision loss. Age-related macular edema is the leading cause of vision loss in this country, affecting 1.4 million Canadians, and diabetic retinopathy is the major cause of vision loss in working-age adults, affecting 500,000 Canadians.

Many blinding eye diseases that affect children still have no treatments; that’s why the Foundation Fighting Blindness funds sight-saving research. But there are effective sight-saving treatments for both age-related macular edema and diabetes-related vision. Unfortunately, many Canadians are losing their sight to preventable forms of blindness, including right here in Ontario. This is simply unacceptable.

We commend the work of the Foundation Fighting Blindness and hope to work collaboratively to build the tools and frameworks that will ensure that Canadians are not going blind when they don’t have to.

We also commend the work of the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, the CNIB, the Canadian Council of the Blind, CCB, the Ontario Association of Optometrists and all others who are raising awareness about eye health and help prevent avoidable sight loss across Ontario.

Great Lakes protection

Mr. Peter Tabuns: The Great Lakes are an incredible gift of nature to this province and to the people who live in the Great Lakes basin. Most of Ontario’s population depends on those lakes; 40% of Canada’s economy depends on the health of the Great Lakes. But there are incredible pressures to draw water out of the Great Lakes to areas that are not part of the basin. Recently, Racine, Wisconsin, put forward a proposal to draw seven million gallons a day for a new industrial project in one of their suburbs—seven million a day, Speaker.

The Canadian Environmental Law Association and others are calling for a review of this proposal, given that it sets a dangerous precedent. We have the power and authority under the Great Lakes agreement that Ontario is a signatory to. Ontario needs to protect our Great Lakes and use its power to call for a full review.

The Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry is the person responsible for speaking out, and in this statement I ask her to in fact take hold of this file and move on it. The project is one of many that will come in the future if we don’t stand up. It’s time for Ontario to protect the Great Lakes.

Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan

Ms. Sophie Kiwala: Last Friday I had the pleasure of attending the Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan annual fundraising gala in Kingston. CW4WA is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is for Canadians to take action in partnership with Afghan women towards improving education and conditions of human rights, ending women’s oppression and providing opportunities for Afghan women to live their lives with dignity, certainty and purpose. Since 1998, they have raised $8 million to support women and girls in Afghanistan.

The theme for the gala this year was “From Kandahar to Canada: Roya’s Story” and featured guest speaker from Afghanistan Roya Shams, as well as Michael Cooke, an editor of the Toronto Star, who took a very active role in bringing Roya to Canada for her education.

I want to thank Michael, and Lisa LaFlamme, in particular for her fireside-chat style interview with Roya. Her story was pin-dropping and so inspiring, but it also showed the many barriers that girls face in Afghanistan. Her path demonstrates just how valuable organizations like the CW4WA are for women both at home and abroad.

I want to give special thanks to the local

chapter in Kingston, Madeleine Tarasick, Margaret Stewart and all of the Kingston chapter, including many of the retired teachers from the retired teachers’ association for all of their hard work in bringing a better life to women and girls in Afghanistan.

Thank you. Merci. Meegwetch.

Phragmites

Mr. Monte McNaughton: Spring has at long last arrived. Lawns and trees are turning green, but unfortunately, the less-than-desirable species have also been revived. I would like to give the Legislature an update on the invasive species phragmites, or common reed.

Since being given a tour of a phrag-invested wetland in 2012 by the Lambton Shores Phragmites Community Group, I’ve been advocating to this government that action needs to be taken. Through statements, letters and questions, I’ve been telling the government about this very real threat to Ontario’s wetlands, but despite increasing awareness, that threat is no less real today than it was six years ago. It is still spreading, and in every corner of southern Ontario it has covered ditches and drains, rivers and streams.

At this stage, manual cutting and burning is unrealistic and inadequate. Herbicides have been used against phragmites for some time now across the United States and in several other Canadian provinces, but they’re not allowed in Ontario. It took a long time, but the Ministry of Natural Resources is finally taking some small, experimental steps toward using such herbicides to control the spread. Unfortunately, the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change has been blocking the approval of any of the safe glyphosate herbicides for use over water.

I urge the ministers of this government to take this threat seriously and to work together to give speedy approval to the most efficient means of its control.

Carnation Revolution

Mrs. Cristina Martins: I rise today to recognize the 44th anniversary of 25 de Abril, the Carnation Revolution, which was a pivotal moment in the history of Portugal.

On April 25, the Portuguese community celebrates the peaceful deposition of the authoritarian party Estado Novo that had ruled Portugal from 1926 until its fall in 1974.

April 25, 1974, is undoubtedly a pivotal moment in the history of Portugal. What started as a military coup organized by the Movimento das Forças soon became an unanticipated and unprecedented campaign of civil resistance. What came next was not only the fall of the Estado Novo but also the withdrawal of Portugal from its African colonies and East Timor.

The name “Carnation Revolution” comes from the fact that what was supposed to be an armed revolution transformed into a population that took to the streets to celebrate the end of a long and unforgiving dictatorship and war in the colonies by placing carnations into the muzzles of rifles and on the uniforms of the army.

This past weekend, I attended a gala dinner hosted by the cultural association of April 25. Present were also Capitães de Abril, Colonel Jorge Henriques Caetano and Colonel António Marques Lopes, who came from Portugal to be present at this event.

Mr. Speaker, as a Portuguese Canadian, I stand here today as a beneficiary of the courage and compassion of so many hundreds of thousands of Portuguese men and women who helped transform Portugal into the country that it is today.

Access to health care

Mr. Norm Miller: I rise today to acknowledge the exemplary job done in my riding to bring more accessible health care into rural communities. The nature of my riding makes access to care difficult for many.

During my tenure as MPP for Parry Sound–Muskoka, I have witnessed tireless work on both sides of the riding to create sustainable and connected nursing stations and health hubs, which have proven to be a model for rural health care.

With four health hubs, including a mobile unit in Muskoka, and an impressive six nursing stations operating under the West Parry Sound Health Centre, my riding has a very unique care model. This model has proven to be so successful that this year, both sides of the riding are celebrating some milestones.

As of April 1 of this year, it was announced that the Muskoka Community Health Hub demonstration project has been approved for permanent funding by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. I want to thank the minister for that.

Just this afternoon, the West Parry Sound Health Centre is celebrating an expansion of care being offered at every one of its nursing stations, with the addition of more health care practitioners. The new on-site service visits will now include mental health, social work, physiotherapy, nursing, and additional nurse practitioner time.

In representing both of these areas, I often hear from constituents about their difficulty accessing care, but I have also heard from many how these new and improved services are making their lives better.

I particularly want to thank the nurse practitioners in the Parry Sound area for their exemplary services of late, as the area struggles to deal with an ongoing doctor shortage. Their presence and care has been touted as a lifesaver in my offices many times over.

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

Reports by Committees

Standing Committee on Justice Policy

Mr. Lorenzo Berardinetti: I beg leave to present a report from the Standing Committee on Justice Policy and move its adoption.

The Clerk-at-the-Table (Ms. Tonia Grannum): Your committee begs to report the following bill, as amended:

Bill 6,

An Act to enact the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services Act, 2018 and the Correctional Services and Reintegration Act, 2018, to make related amendments to other Acts, to repeal

an Act and to revoke a regulation / Loi édictant la Loi de 2018 sur le ministère de la Sécurité communautaire et des Services correctionnels et la Loi de 2018 sur les services correctionnels et la réinsertion sociale, apportant des modifications connexes à d’autres lois et abrogeant une loi et un règlement.

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

Report adopted.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Pursuant to the order of the House dated April 12, 2018, the bill is ordered for third reading.

Introduction of Bills

Registered Professional Planners Act, 2018 / Loi de 2018 sur les urbanistes certifiés

Mr. McMeekin moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 64,

An Act respecting the regulation of Registered Professional Planners / Projet de loi 64, Loi concernant la réglementation des urbanistes certifiés.

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

First reading agreed to.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member for a short statement.

Mr. Ted McMeekin: This bill repeals the Ontario Professional Planners Institute Act, 1994, and enacts an updated and more modern act called the Registered Professional Planners Act, 2018.

The new act continues the Ontario Professional Planners Institute, an organization that governs and regulates its members, made up of urban, regional and rural planners from across the province. The act safeguards consumer protection in the public interest and provides

definitions and title protection for professional planners. The act also provides a framework for membership, creates prohibitions and offences respecting designations, and sets out procedures for dealing with complaints against members of the institute.

No Flak for Carrying Racks Act (Highway Traffic Amendment), 2018 / Loi de 2018 interdisant les objections aux supports de transport (modification apportée au Code de la route)

Mr. Norm Miller moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 65,

An Act to amend the Highway Traffic Act to end flak for carrying racks / Projet de loi 65, Loi modifiant le Code de la route pour mettre fin aux objections aux supports de transport.

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

First reading agreed to.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member for a short statement.

Mr. Norm Miller: The No Flak for Carrying Racks Act (Highway Traffic Amendment), 2018: The bill amends the Highway Traffic Act. If a carrying rack, such as a bicycle rack, is mounted on the rear of a motor vehicle in accordance with the regulations made under the act, a person may drive the vehicle on a highway even if the rack obscures the number plate for the vehicle that is required to be attached to the rear of the vehicle.

Asbestos Use Prohibition Act, 2018 / Loi de 2018 interdisant l’utilisation de l’amiante

Mr. Bailey moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 66,

An Act prohibiting the use of asbestos / Projet de loi 66, Loi interdisant l’utilisation de l’amiante.

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

First reading agreed to.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member for a short statement.

Mr. Robert Bailey: The bill bans the use, reuse, import, transport or sale of asbestos in Ontario. It also requires the Ministry of Labour to create a register of all provincially owned or leased buildings containing asbestos, and for that register to be updated from time to time as work to remove asbestos from buildings listed on the register is completed.

Petitions

Employment standards

Mr. Ted Arnott: “To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas as of January 1, 2018, the Ontario government’s public holiday pay calculation no longer delivers earned benefits fairly to all employees as the calculation used is not based on the contributions that all employees have made to the business;

“Whereas when the same base wage for both part-time and full-time employees is combined with public holiday pay, the part-time employee that works less days in a week will receive higher earnings per hours worked than that of a full-time employee, resulting in unfair earnings between employees;

“Whereas the Ontario public holiday pay now favours employees that contribute less to a business, which devalues those employees that contribute more to a business;

“Whereas under the pay equity law, employees performing work of equal value are to have equal wages, and that the wages consist of all forms of remunerations, including vacation pay and bonuses. Yet the Ontario government currently mandates employers to break this pay equity law by enforcing an unfairly proportioned public holiday pay that can result in part-time employees receiving higher wages for hours worked than full-time employees;

“Whereas the current holiday pay calculation raises the question of lawfulness and fairness to the employer that is now forced to provide additional financial aid instead of an earned benefit to an employee;

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

“To abolish the current public holiday pay calculation and reinstate the prior Ontario public holiday pay calculation as it was in 2017; to recognize that the requirement of the employer is to pay an employee for earned benefits and that unearned benefits are not the responsibility of the employer; to ensure that the government of Ontario and all aspects of Bill 148 are in compliance with pay equity laws and do not mandate that employers pay a higher wage to one employee over another; to recognize that policies and laws need to be fair to both employees and employers.”

Energy policies

M me France Gélinas: I would like to thank Vince Meunier from Westree in my riding for this petition. It reads as follows:

“Whereas hydro bills in Ontario have become unaffordable for too many people, and that reducing hydro bills by up to 30% for families and businesses is an ambitious but realistic target; and

“Whereas the only way to fix the hydro system is to address the root causes of high prices including privatization, excessive profit margins, oversupply and more; and

“Whereas Ontario families should not have to pay time-of-use premiums, and those living in a rural or northern region should not have to pay higher, punitive, delivery charges; and

“Whereas returning Hydro One to public ownership would deliver over $7 billion back to the province and the people of Ontario”;

They petition the Legislative Assembly as follows:

Reduce “hydro bills for businesses and families by up to 30%, eliminating mandatory time-of-use, ending unfair rural delivery costs, and restoring public ownership of Hydro One.”

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

Voting age

Mr. Arthur Potts: I, too, have a petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to amend

section 15(1)(

a) of the Election Act to lower the eligible voting age in Ontario.

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas pursuant to S. 15(1)(

a) of the Election Act, every person is entitled to vote who, on the general polling day, has attained 18 years of age; and

“Whereas youth in Ontario want to be politically engaged; and

“Whereas younger person(

s) have a vested interest in the selection of their political representatives; and

“Whereas young person(

s) should not have to pay taxes without representation; and

“Whereas jurisdictions including (and not limiting) Austria and Brazil have extended the eligible voter age ...; and

“Whereas electoral polls indicate a higher rate of electoral turnout in these jurisdictions; and

“Whereas young person(

s) have the knowledge and maturity to participate in the electoral process;

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

“That the province of Ontario lower the eligible voter age to 16 years old, pursuant to amendments made to S. 15(1)(

a) Election Act.”

I certainly agree with this. It ties right in with my private member’s bill, Speaker, and I initial it and send it down with page Mia.

Wind turbines

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

“Whereas an industrial wind turbine (IWT) project is being proposed for the community where I live; and

“Whereas the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change (MOECC) created revised guidelines for developers to use in modelling the noise level that the turbines will cause at nearby receptors, in order to correct known errors in the existing noise modelling; and

“Whereas the MOECC allowed large renewable procurement 1 (LRP1) IWT developers the option to use the new noise modelling guidelines, using the transition provisions; and

“Whereas the developer of the project in my neighbourhood opted to use the outdated noise modelling guidelines in the development of the project in my community;

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

“To rescind the renewable energy approval transition provisions and make it mandatory that all LRP1 IWT developers use the new noise modelling guidelines.”

I agree with this petition, and I hope the Minister of Energy does as well.

Injured workers

Miss Monique Taylor: I have a petition, titled “Workers’ Comp is a Right.”

“Petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I couldn’t agree with this more, Mr. Speaker. I’ll affix my name to it and give it to page Ryan-Michael to bring to the Clerk.

Sexual violence and harassment

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

“Whereas one in three women will experience some form of sexual assault in her lifetime;

“When public education about sexual violence and harassment is not prioritized, myths and attitudes informed by misogyny become prevalent. This promotes rape culture;

“Less than 10% of sexual violence cases are reported to police. For every 33 that are reported, only” one results in a conviction;

“Sexual violence and harassment survivors too often feel revictimized by the systems set in place to support them. The voices of survivors, in all their diversity, need to be amplified; ...

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

“Support the findings and recommendations of the Select Committee on Sexual Violence and Harassment’s final report, highlighting the need for inclusive and open dialogue to address misogyny and rape culture; educate about sexual violence and harassment to promote social change; fund sexual assault support services adequately to meet the demand for their counselling and public education programs; address systemic assumptions....”

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

Wind turbines

Mr. Monte McNaughton: I have an important petition signed by thousands of people and addressed to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

“Whereas an industrial wind turbine (IWT) project is being proposed for the community where I live; and

“Whereas the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change (MOECC) reated revised guidelines for developers to use in modelling the noise level that the turbines will cause at nearby receptors in order to correct known errors in the existing noise modelling; and ...

“Whereas the developer of the project in my neighbourhood opted to use the outdated noise modelling guidelines in the development of the project in my community;

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

“To rescind the renewable energy approval transition provisions and make it mandatory that all LRP1 IWT developers use the new noise modelling guidelines.”

I’m proud to support this and hope the government changes their mind.

Provincial truth and reconciliation day

Ms. Teresa J. Armstrong: “To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario: Proclaim June 21 as a Statutory Holiday Called Provincial Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Ontario.

“Whereas June 21 is recognized as the summer solstice and holds cultural significance for many indigenous cultures; and

“Whereas in 1982, the National Indian Brotherhood (Assembly of First Nations) called for the creation of a National Aboriginal Solidarity Day to be celebrated on June 21; and

“Whereas in 1990, Québec recognized June 21 as a day to celebrate the achievements and cultures of indigenous peoples;

“Whereas in 1995, the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples recommended that a National First Peoples Day be designated;

“Whereas in 1996, the Governor General of Canada proclaimed June 21 as National Aboriginal Day in response to these calls;

“Whereas in 2001, Northwest Territories became the first province or territory to recognize June 21 as a statutory holiday; and

“Whereas in 2015, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission recommendation number 80 called on the federal government, in collaboration with aboriginal peoples, to establish a National Day for Truth and Reconciliation as a statutory holiday;

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

“To designate June 21 of each year as a legal statutory holiday to be kept and observed throughout Ontario. This day should serve to create and strengthen opportunities for reconciliation and cultural exchange among Ontarians. The day should facilitate connections between indigenous and non-indigenous Ontarians in positive and meaningful ways. This day should solidify the original intent of National Aboriginal Day as a day for Ontarians to recognize and celebrate the unique heritage, diverse cultures and outstanding contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples.”

I fully support this petition and give it to page Faraaz to deliver to the table.

Government anti-racism programs

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

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

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

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

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

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

“This petition encourages the directorate to consider initiatives that would increase public education and awareness of racism, and to consider various methods by which a wide anti-racism lens can be applied during the development, implementation and evaluation of government policies, programs and services.”

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

Wind turbines

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

“Whereas an industrial wind turbine (IWT) project is being proposed for the community where I live; and

“Whereas the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change (MOECC) created revised guidelines for developers to use in modelling the noise level that the turbines will cause at nearby receptors, in order to correct known errors in the existing noise modelling; and

“Whereas the MOECC allowed large renewable procurement 1 (LRP1) IWT developers the option to use the new noise modelling guidelines, using the transition provisions; and

“Whereas the developer of the project in my neighbourhood opted to use the outdated noise modelling guidelines in the development of the project in my community;

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

“To rescind the renewable energy approval transition provisions and make it mandatory that all LRP1 IWT developers use the new noise modelling guidelines.”

I have thousands of names on this petition.

Celiac disease

M me France Gélinas: I would like to thank Erin Wood from Fort Frances, in Kenora–Rainy River, for this petition. It reads as follows:

“Whereas the IgA TTG blood screening is the internationally recognized standard as the first step in diagnosing a person with celiac disease;

“Whereas celiac disease is an autoimmune disease that can strike people with a genetic predisposition at any time of life and presents with a large variety of non-specific signs and symptoms;

“Whereas many individuals, such as family members of diagnosed celiacs, are at higher risk and pre-symptomatic screening is advised;

“Whereas covering the cost of the simple test would dramatically reduce wait times to diagnosis, save millions to the health care system due to misdiagnoses, unnecessary testing and serious complications from untreated celiac disease and reduce the painful suffering and health decline of thousands of individuals;

“Whereas Ontario is the only province in Canada not to cover this blood test”;

They petition the Legislative Assembly as follows:

“To cover the cost of the diagnostic blood test (IgA TTG) for celiac disease for those who show symptoms, are a first-degree relative or have an associated condition.”

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

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

Orders of the Day

Government Contract Wages Act, 2018 / Loi de 2018 sur les salaires pour les marchés publics

Resuming the debate adjourned on April 26, 2018, on the motion for second reading of the following bill:

Bill 53,

An Act respecting the establishment of minimum government contract wages / Projet de loi 53, Loi concernant la fixation de salaires minimums pour les marchés publics.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): When we last debated this bill, the member for Haldimand–Norfolk had the floor but had concluded his remarks, I understand. He’s here. We ask now for questions and comments related to the presentation that was given by the member for Haldimand–Norfolk.

I recognize the member for Nickel Belt on questions and comments.

M me France Gélinas: It was last week that the honourable member made comment on Bill 53. Bill 53 is there to establish minimum government contract wages that the government would pay for building cleaning work and security services work. It is something that is very limited in its scope and very limited in its application. For construction work, at least the applicable minimum government contract wages shall be paid before the procurement process, if it is set. Here again, the particulars of where this minimum wage would apply are very narrow, and a lot of the enforcement of it relies on people making complaints.

I can tell you, Speaker, that if you are in a situation where you’re in precarious employment, if you have to initiate a complaint in order to be a beneficiary of this bill, most people are not going to do this. We know from many other bills that fall under the Ministry of Labour that where it is complaint-driven, a lot of departures, I will call them, from the law or the spirit of the laws that exist happen every day in our province simply because there isn’t the proper oversight and proper number of inspectors to make sure the labour laws are being enforced.

The bill says, “Provision is made for the enforcement of these rights and duties by means of complaints to the Ministry of Labour.” This is a very small step.

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

Mrs. Liz Sandals: I am very pleased to comment on Bill 53, the Government Contract Wages Act. To quote our Premier, Premier Wynne, “Every worker deserves to be paid a fair wage. And every business bidding for a government contract deserves a fair shot.” Where this bill comes from is that, of course, if you’re going to get a contract to build government infrastructure, to clean a government building or provide government security services, there must be a fair and open competition; that is, you go to tender or RFP and there’s a competitive process.

What we don’t want to see happen is have people win contracts by undercutting what they pay their workers. That’s what this bill does. There actually was a fair wage bill years ago which did exactly this, but it hasn’t been updated for decades, so the wage is so low and out of date. We need to make this up to date so that everybody who bids on government contracts must pay a fair wage to the people that they are going to employ to do that contract. The bill would apply to people in construction, building services, as I said—things like security, and building cleaning services—to make sure that all those folks get a fair wage.

I want to say that there’s quite a contrast here to what we’ve seen with the leader of the Conservatives, Doug Ford, and his promise that he would actually roll back the $15 minimum wage legislation with the $15 that would, with our legislation, take effect on January 1—and his commitment to cut that back.

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

Mr. Monte McNaughton: I’m happy to join the debate. I’ll be speaking at length later on today regarding Bill 53,

An Act respecting the establishment of minimum government contract wages.

Regardless of what the members are saying opposite, our caucus, our party, believes that everyone should earn a living wage in Ontario. We are fighting for low-income people in this province by offering policy ideas to put more money back into their pockets. Our leader, Doug Ford, has quite clearly said that if you make minimum wage in the province of Ontario, you shouldn’t pay any provincial income tax. That’s real relief; that’s putting money back in the pockets of hard-working people in this province.

With this issue specifically and Bill 53, the stakeholders have long been calling for this legislation to come forward. But like every single other thing we’ve seen from this Premier and this government over the last number of months, they know that there is an election coming. This piece of legislation in particular was introduced in this Legislature two weeks before the beginning of an election campaign. If they had concerns for all those hard-working people in Ontario out there, they should have been doing something about this.

The member from Guelph mentioned that it was a former PC government that introduced legislation to make changes a number of years ago, but I have to remind the members opposite that this government has been in charge now for 15 years, and, Speaker, they have done nothing when it comes to this issue.

I see this as another cynical ploy by the Liberals. They’re trying to win the election that’s going to be on June 7, but it’s our party and our leader, Doug Ford, who is going to put more money in the pockets of hard-working people in this province.

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

Ms. Jennifer K. French: I’m glad to add a few minutes of comments on Bill 53, the Government Contract Wages Act. This two-minute opportunity is in response, I think, to the longer comments made by the PCs. I wasn’t in the room to catch all of that and I really wish that I were, because I know that I have questions about their stance on this. I certainly know that Ontarians have questions when it comes to their thoughts and ideas about fair wages and contract employment. To hear the member talk about living wages and fair wages, I’ve got to give my head a shake.

I wonder if their ideas of living wages would align with those of the folks who are so desperate to earn a fair wage and earn that living wage and to have those protections for basic wages. Where were they with the $15 and fairness campaign? They were nowhere to be seen, and now they’ve come out saying that that is not the right direction for the province, and it absolutely is. Of course it is. If you ask anyone doing the heavy lifting and the work in this province, they deserve to be paid fairly.

The member who just spoke reminded us that there’s an election on the horizon, on June 7. I don’t think that I have to remind anyone in this room or the folks in Ontario, because they are absolutely ready for change. They’re ready for a change for the better. No one in Ontario is interested anymore in this race to the bottom. They deserve better in the province. They deserve fairness when it comes to wages, when it comes to workplace protections, and they’re going to ensure that they have it going forward.

I love that they are dropping language like “living wage” and “fair wages”; I just wish that they would stand behind that and the people in this province.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): That concludes our questions and comments. The member for Haldimand–Norfolk can respond.

Mr. Toby Barrett: Yes, Speaker, I do wish to comment further on Bill 53. It’s obviously another minimum wage bill. We saw one of these come through a year ago. We have certainly received feedback on so much of the negative impacts of minimum wage legislation—in this case, a minimum wage for government contracts for cleaning staff, construction and security.

Obviously, this government makes it very clear that it supports contract work and it supports outsourcing. Maybe that can be seen as a positive in bringing in contract legislation like this, but it has to recognize that there is a big disparity in remuneration. Cleaning staff in, say, a factory or an office, compared to a government office, make a lot less money.

I think the other thing that’s very important, perhaps the benefit of Bill 53, is that it does put a spotlight on public sector compensation. It talks about minimum wage. We don’t know where this will lead. There will be staff appointed to take a look at bringing in fairness. In this case, it would mean increasing wages in the government sector. It’s not looking at increasing wages in the private sector, and that can be debated.

But when we look at compensation, we’ve got to look at so many other things, and this legislation clearly recognizes that, if you work for the government, you make an awful lot more than if you work for the private sector for comparable work.

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

M me France Gélinas: I will try to use my time wisely regarding Bill 53, the 20 minutes that are allotted to me to talk about this bill,

An Act respecting the establishment of minimum government contract wages.

Just to put it into a little bit of perspective: In 1995—a long, long time ago, remember?—this bill was first brought forward. It was an important bill at the time, and I would say that it is still an important bill. But when you look at the time frame, it’s from 1995 to 2018, and for the last 15 years that the Liberals have been in power, they never saw it as important enough to revise this bill to bring it up to today’s standards. But six days before the writ drops, all of a sudden it becomes very important that we deal with this.

I’m thinking, “Where have you been?” I don’t like to give people false hope; I don’t like for us to be led to believe that something will happen when the chances of this happening are zero. Even if they time-allocate—I assume that by mid-afternoon this afternoon, we will have reached the magic 6.5 hours of debate, and at the first opportunity they have, one of the Liberal members will stand up and say, “This is it. We’ve talked enough. Time-allocate it.”

Still, most of the bill relies on regulations that have not seen the time of day—regulations that, frankly, have not been written up and have no chance of ever being written up, put into the Gazette, given a minimum of 30 days, usually 60 days, for people to comment, and become a reality in six days. So I will talk about the issue of fair wages, but to say that what’s in this bill has any chance of seeing the light of day—it does not. I wish it did.

When the bill was brought forward in 1995, it was relevant, it was meaningful, and it did help a lot of people who worked in the cleaning area and a lot of people who worked in the construction area. If they were getting a contract coming from the provincial government, they got paid a fair wage. This is great. But I can tell you that this bill has not been looked at for 23 years, which means that the amounts that are in the bill as it stands right now are below minimum wage.

The need to upgrade that legislation has been there for quite some time with no interest, apparently, by the government in power to do just that, except six days before an election, when there is absolutely zero chance that regulations will be written so that this bill will actually become reality and help the people it is meant to help.

To give you a little bit of background on this: In 1997, an NDP government put forward a fair wage bill, and it is still in place. In 2007, we had a Liberal government in power, and there was enough of a push that they actually commissioned a report. They had a professor from the University of Toronto’s Centre for Industrial Relations and Human Resources conduct a full, independent review of Ontario’s fair wage policy. They knew, in 2007, that the bill needed to be updated. This good professor did the full review and wrote his report. Many of us on this side of the House read the report and saw the good things that were in it.

The government has had this report for 11 long years and has never seen the need to actually work on this till six days before the writ drops. Now, six days before the writ drops, it becomes an emergency that we get the bill passed, with zero chance of having regulations and it becoming a reality for the workers depending on us to help them with a fair wage policy.

In 2008, the report was submitted to the government. For reasons unknown, it was never released to the public. Those of us who got a copy didn’t get it through the government; I can guarantee you this.

No update has been made to Ontario’s fair wage policy. I would say that for the last 10 years this issue was completely off the agenda. But here we are, six days before the writ drops, and we are talking about this.

If you look at what’s in the bill, some people will tell you that it is rather surprising that it does not take into account the recommendations that were made in 2008. But what’s even more surprising is that they never did a new consultation. The last one was done in 2007; we’re now in 2018. You figure that if they were really interested in this topic, maybe they would have asked the good professor, or a similar fellow, to brush it up a bit. There’s only 10 years’ worth of dust collected on top of it. They could have gone out to the field and talked to people who are interested in this topic.

Certainly the Ontario Federation of Labour would have a thing or two to say about this. We have lots of universities—I’ll include Laurentian University—that have top-notch labour studies that do a lot of work on what a fair wage policy should look like, but none of that was done; nothing.

Out of the blue, eight days before the writ drops—and we’re now six days before the writ drops—this bill is introduced. It becomes an emergency, and it is so narrow in its focus, it is almost sad. Don’t get me wrong. Do I want to dust off the fair wage policy? Absolutely. Is this the way to do this? Absolutely not.

Presently, we have people like David Frame, who said that basically the skilled trades right now are so competitive that if a worker feels that he or she isn’t receiving fair compensation, likely they would be able to find more lucrative work in their field just about anywhere across the province. Maybe they should have taken the time to listen to the people in the field before they introduced their bill so that some of that feedback could have been taken into account.

Of course, the gaping hole is that the government is only using a few workers within that sector. “The act provides for the establishment of minimum government contract wages that shall be paid for building cleaning work and security services work ... and for construction work....” That’s it; that’s all.

Things have changed. Now, even when you talk about building cleaning work, there is a group of workers that all they do are windows. They clean inside and outside the windows. We’re not sure if they are considered building cleaning workers. Are they? Are they not? They don’t know, and the bill is silent on this. The same thing with security service work. If the work happens in a place where there are other tenants around and there’s already a security service, will that apply to them? It doesn’t look like it will because, if the government is only using part of that building, then this bill won’t apply.

This is very problematic, Speaker, because it leaves out a whole lot of workers in our province who happen to be defined in the bill but, as we can see, won’t be covered because things have changed in 22 years. The government used to own their own buildings and provide programs and services to the people of Ontario from buildings that they owned; more and more now, you see services being provided in mixed-tenant buildings where there will be services from the provincial government, but you could also see private services or not-for-profit associations all under one roof because it makes sense for the type of service that will be provided there.

But it’s not the way things were done in 1995. In 1995, it sort of made sense to describe workers that way. In 2018, it doesn’t make much sense anymore.

Then comes the part where it becomes even more problematic where I will quote from the bill, which says, “Provision is made for the enforcement of these rights and duties by means of complaints to the Ministry of Labour. The process is analogous to the enforcement process under the Employment Standards Act, 2000, and several provisions of that act are incorporated by reference into the act.” Basically what that means is that there won’t be any enforcement. There won’t be any proactive checking to make sure that those workers get the amount of money that is owed to them. There won’t be any of that.

It will be up to the workers to first of all know that this law exists; right there is a stretch. If you’re not unionized, if you’re a young worker, if you’re part of the gig economy, if this is your first time at work or if you are precarious and are just really, really happy to have a few dollars coming your way at the end of the week—what are the chances that those workers will actually put in a complaint, even if they did know that they are allowed to be paid more?

They seem to have forgotten the human element of every worker. There’s this element that they know full well that if they are the one who rings the alarm bell, they will also be the one who will lose their job. There will be a very good reason why they don’t need their services anymore, and it will be set out as an example for all of those other workers who are not being paid a fair wage, who are not being respected by this law, to keep quiet and keep working, because if you put in a complaint, the same thing will happen to you. We have many, many examples of that.

In my riding, I have lots of trucking industry. The ores are mined, and the mines are all outside of the downtown in more rural areas. They get trucked in to the smelters, the crushers and the different plants, so we have a lot of trucks going on. Well, health and safety says that if you get to your truck and your truck is not safe, you have a right to refuse work.

It happens all the time. Workers will go and see that the brakes are failing on their trucks. They are carrying I don’t know how many, but tens of tonnes of ores on the backs of their trucks. They know full well that if they need to apply the brakes and there’s a kid in front of them, they don’t want to be the one responsible for an accident, so they refuse work. And it’s always the same thing: For some strange reason, within two or three days they won’t be needing their services anymore, and they find themselves on the blacklist as somebody who reported unsafe work.

When you call the Ministry of Labour to say, “Hey, I think they lost their job because they reported unsafe work, which is under the standards,” nothing happens. Absolutely nothing happens. I actually have a freedom-of-access-to-information in to the government right now to see how many of those complaints actually led to a reversal of the findings, and I have yet to receive anything.

But I can tell you that if one MPP has as many as I do, that number of workers, you multiply that by 107 MPPs to say that we will have another one of those bills that are supposed to protect workers, but the duty is left by means of complaints to the Ministry of Labour—it doesn’t make me feel warm and fuzzy or anything, because I know full well what that will mean to the people who speak up.

Interjection: Nothing. “You’re fired.”

M me France Gélinas: Yes, it doesn’t mean too much, or it means you lose your job, which means that it’s all for nothing.

If you are serious that you want fair wages—by the way, I’m really proud to talk about when John Rodriguez was mayor of the city of Greater Sudbury. John Rodriguez was an NDP MP for many, many decades, actually, in Nickel Belt, and when he became mayor of the city of Greater Sudbury, he put forward a fair wage policy for everything that the city did. This fair wage policy is still in place, the city of Greater Sudbury is still afloat and things still get done. Workers in Sudbury are paid a fair wage, but it is not complaint-based; it is in the contract. There are people who oversee this. It can be done.

When the will is there, the way is there also, because it exists. Right here, right now, in my city, in Sudbury, we have a fair wage policy for contract work for everything the city does, and it works. Why is it that at the provincial level they say the right thing—it always sounds really good that the government is committed to a fair wage policy—but this is where the feel-good ends?

As soon as you turn the first page of the bill and you start to look at what’s in it, as soon as you look at when the bill was introduced, how it’s going to be implemented and how workers are actually going to be protected, you realize that the commitment is not there. The headline is there and the title is there, but nothing else is there. All of the foundations that we know need to be in place in order to bring forward a fair wage policy were all left behind, all to be done at a time yet to be determined—if and when the Liberal government wins the next election. Who are we kidding here? This is not going to see the end of day.

To make matters worse, Bill 53 won’t apply to current contracts. If you look at many of the contracts that exist, some of them are for pretty long periods of time. We’re talking many years that the existing contracts are in place. Bill 53 won’t bring fair wages to those people. I am guessing that by the time those contracts are up for renewal, the fair wage policy will have been the same thing as the one we had in 1995: completely irrelevant and ineffective, because things will have changed so much.

There are many things that people wanted them to address, one that the member from Hamilton Mountain presented a petition about today: deeming. This is something that needs to be addressed and could have been addressed in the labour bill. We’re opening up the labour bill; why didn’t we get it done? But it didn’t.

The opportunities to talk about changing the labour laws—something that is very near and dear to the people of Sudbury, since we had the one-year-long Vale strike, is the use of replacement workers. We know full well that the strike in Sudbury dragged on for almost a year and the strike in Brant dragged on over a year because of replacement workers. There is no valid reason why Ontario could not bring back an anti-replacement-worker, an anti-scab, policy. We have the labour bill open. Why didn’t we get that done so that we can guarantee that the next strike—nobody likes strikes and nobody likes—not lock-offs—

Miss Monique Taylor: Lock-outs.

M me France Gélinas: Lock-outs—sorry; I’m thinking in French. It happens every now and again.

Nobody likes those, but they do happen. When they happen, we know that the use of replacement workers makes them last way longer. But here again, an opportunity in the labour bill to do the right thing: Nothing right is being done by this bill, six days before the writ drops, with huge, gaping holes in it.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Ted Arnott): Questions and comments. The Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport.

Hon. Daiene Vernile: Thank you very much, Speaker, and good afternoon to you and to all members of this House. I’m pleased for the opportunity to join the debate this afternoon on Bill 53, the Government Contract Wages Act.

The member for Nickel Belt spent some time asking the question why: Why bring this forward now at this time? The answer to that question is: Because it’s always a good time to ensure Ontario workers are paid fairly.

This legislation hasn’t been updated in over a decade.

Interjection.

Hon. Daiene Vernile: I would ask the person who is laughing at us right now when they think it would have been a good time to do this. Now is the time to do this. It’s always a good time to address wages for employees in Ontario.

This is all about fairness. Getting government contracts should not be an invitation to lower wages for workers. Workers’ wages should not be the primary factor in bidding. Ontario is committed to building a strong workforce. Fair, balanced and progressive