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April 5, 2017

41st Parliament, 2nd Session

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Hansard Transcripts

Votes and Proceedings

Orders and Notices

Hansard Transcripts 2017-Apr-05 (PDF)

L064 - Wed 5 Apr 2017 / Mer 5 avr 2017

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO

ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE DE L’ONTARIO

Wednesday 5 April 2017 Mercredi 5 avril 2017

Safer School Zones Act, 2017 / Loi de 2017 sur la sécurité accrue des zones d’école

Introduction of Visitors

Oral Questions

Climate change

Executive compensation

Executive compensation

Tenant protection

Executive compensation

Tenant protection

Services for disabled children

Sexual violence and harassment

Executive compensation

Flooding

Hydro rates

Long-term care

La Francophonie

Health care funding

Hydro rates

Visitors

Correction of record

Introduction of Visitors

Members’ Statements

Parkinson’s disease

Hydro rates

Services for disabled children

Amateur sport

Hydro One

Sanjha Punjab Radio and TV

Dianne Winmill

Dentists

Ontario’s Green Leaf Challenge

Introduction of Bills

Mandatory Sexual Assault Law Training for Judicial Officers Act, 2017 / Loi de 2017 sur la formation obligatoire des fonctionnaires judiciaires en droit relatif aux agressions sexuelles

Petitions

Medical assistance in dying

Long-term care

Primary health care

Government advertising

Water extraction

Dental care

Service clubs

School closures

Animal protection

Special-needs students

Lyme disease

Elevator maintenance

Orders of the Day

Anti-Human Trafficking Act, 2017 / Loi de 2017 contre la traite de personnes

The House met at 0900.

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

Prayers.

ORDERS OF THE DAY

Safer School Zones Act, 2017 / Loi de 2017 sur la sécurité accrue des zones d’école

Resuming the debate adjourned on March 30, 2017, on the motion for second reading of the following bill:

Bill 65,

An Act to amend the Highway Traffic Act in respect of speed limits in municipalities and other matters / Projet de loi 65, Loi modifiant le Code de la route relativement aux limites de vitesse dans les municipalités et à d’autres questions.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Further debate.

Mr. Mike Colle: We’re here this morning to speak to a very crucial bill that I know many families, mothers, fathers and teachers are very, very supportive of because there have been too many accidents by motorists speeding through school zones and too many near accidents that occur on a daily basis around our schools. Not only is it around our elementary schools, but also our high schools.

This act, as you know, Mr. Speaker, is called the Safer School Zones Act, Bill 65. I have a great deal of interest in this act because I have a complementary private member’s bill which deals with some of these same issues.

The one thing that’s very perplexing in this province, and even in the city of Toronto and the area I represent, is that there’s no standard signage for motorists around schools. You’ll come to major school areas on major arterials—I have major roads in my riding of Eglinton–Lawrence. I’ve got Yonge Street, Avenue Road, Bathurst Street and I’ve got Allen Road. You’ll have 50,000 cars a day going by a school, and there’s no signage. There’s no requirement to have signs adjacent to schools.

Some schools will have a sign or two, the yellow sign, the fluorescent sign. Other schools—and some of the pages, maybe think of where their schools are. Are there signs around your schools where you come from? You’ll see some schools will have one sign; some will have no signs. I have two of my grandchildren going to St. Pius X school at Bloor and Jane, a major intersection in the city of Toronto—no signs on Jane Street. Thousands of cars go by the school—no sign.

People blame the motorists: “It’s the motorists’ fault.” How can the motorists know they’re coming into a school zone when they’ve maybe never been by that school and don’t know the neighbourhood? Yet they’re expected to watch out for children. There are no signs. There are no signs required. We need to have an indication to remind motorists to slow down and be careful when you approach a school. That’s why many parents all across Ontario—and certainly across the city of Toronto we’ve had some serious, tragic accidents, like the young girl in Leaside—are saying that we have to have some standards of safety so that motorists are warned about the school zone, and they slow down.

I know that in my private member’s bill I called for robust signage on all sides of the school where there’s traffic. I called for road hatchings, the thick white lines on the street. I also called for a digital speed indicator—you’ve seen those things; they tell you how many kilometres you’re going an hour—to be put those up in school zones.

This bill calls for the use of radar—photo radar, whatever you want to call it—camera technology to essentially catch motorists who are breaking the speed limit. But I think that before you can allocate these fines, you have to have proper signage. You’re coming into a community safety zone. I hope the signs that say “community safety zone ahead” are put up all around these schools, because we have to warn motorists that they’re entering a school zone.

Right now, there is no warning. It’s a free-for-all out there, and there are kids. I have another granddaughter at the largest public school in Canada, probably, Runnymede public school. There are 1,200 kids at Runnymede school—1,200 kids—and no signs on Runnymede Avenue. This is what’s happening in the province. There is no standardization of safety zones.

In terms of the technology that this bill calls for, I know that I was very involved in another private member’s bill when I was in opposition. That was a private member’s bill to introduce red light camera technology. I had, I remember, a friend in Ottawa whose son got T-boned and killed in an unfortunate red light running incident. I worked with him to try and bring red light camera technology to dangerous intersections. The bill was introduced, and for a couple of years we tried to convince the government of the time.

Eventually, they did introduce it. It was the Conservative government of Mike Harris. I remember the minister at the time was Tony Clement who finally caved in to the pressure. They introduced red light camera legislation, technology to make our streets safer, because repeatedly—I’m sure in Hamilton, where you are, Speaker, there are certain streets where people drive very aggressively, or they try to run the red lights constantly.

People at that time, I remember, said, “Well, why don’t you have a cop standing at the corner?” Well, at how many intersections are you going to have the cops babysitting the red lights? You can’t do it.

The proposal at the time—I said, “Let’s do what they’re doing in Israel, what they’re doing in Australia. They use these red light cameras.” Not only do you catch people, but it slows people down because they know that they’re going to get a ticket if they run the red light.

That red light camera technology is now all over Ontario. I know it works, and I think it’s saved a lot of lives, a lot of people. Because if you think, “Well, it’s a green light. I’m going to proceed,” no, you’ve still got to look both ways because there are a lot of red light runners that figure they can beat the light the other way, and there you are looking straight ahead—boom. You get T-boned. So the red light cameras have worked. They’re a deterrent, and the runners get hefty fines.

That’s why the use of technology at the school zones at the discretion of the municipalities is another tool that municipalities can use to basically protect our children. That’s what this is about. If anybody says they can’t use the cameras because of their ideological positions or whatever the heck it is against technology or whatever, that’s their decision. I know that the majority of parents want everything done to make the streets around our schools safe. They’re saying, “Forget about these inside baseball arguments. We want our school zones to be safe. We want them to be marked.”

We also want to make sure that our crossing guards are respected. I know that in St. Catharines there are a lot of very serious crossing guards. At all of those streets in the mornings, they go out, rain, shine or sleet.

I’ve got this amazing crossing guard, Edda Wright. Edda is an Avon lady on the side, and then she does the crossing-guard work. She’s a great community person. She’s at the corner of Northcliffe and Eglinton, near Dufferin and Eglinton. Edda is there every morning, making sure the kids are safe.

Being a crossing guard can be a risky job, because there are a lot of people running through her stop sign. But Edda is there, looking out for the safety of kids. Children—five-, 10-, 15-year-olds—can be very careless or playing around, pushing, not paying attention to the traffic.

The crossing guards are also a critical partner for safety around our schools. We should thank them for the work that they do.

I urge every member, be like the member for St. Catharines. Every year, he has a crossing guard appreciation night where he rewards and recognizes the good work these crossing guards do. I think all members should be doing that. I know that in Quinte West, he should be recognizing his crossing guards in Quinte West. Have a little bit of pizza for your local crossing guards.

Anyway, we’ve got to recognize our locals, whether it be the police, who do a fantastic job, or our crossing guards. They all work together in a community safety team.

I’ve got incredible police officers in my 13 Division, with Superintendent Scott Baptist. They’re always working together with the community volunteers. The police can’t do it by themselves. The crossing guards can’t do it by themselves.

This is why this legislation is an attempt to reinforce all the good work that parents do, that teachers do. Yes, let’s not forget the teachers, because in many cases, the crossing guard sometimes is late, so the teachers will step in and help with the children crossing.

Let’s support this incredible, crucial piece of legislation and make our schools safer for our children. Please support this legislation.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Paul Miller): Questions and comments?

Mr. Michael Harris: I appreciate the member for Eglinton–Lawrence’s comments. I do know he has put forward a few private member’s bills when it pertains to traffic safety in our communities.

I wanted to touch upon a point he did mention, and that was the radar speed signs that he called for. I think he touches on a great point. This government is quick to move to photo radar to generate a significant cash flow here, but Toronto actually did a pilot project on these. The program was called Watch Your Speed, and it has had some fantastic success. I think it’s something that they should obviously consider first, before putting photo radar boxes on the poles. It’s a basic program. It’s not a photo radar ticket. In the city of Toronto report, after an 11-month trial period, the program saw up to a 33.8% reduction in vehicles over the speed limit.

When you drive through those and see those signs, you’re instantly flashed the speed that you’re travelling—instantly. It’s an instant behavioural change that needs to happen. Unlike a photo radar ticket that shows up in your mail four weeks later, it’s instant. I know that even in my community of regional Waterloo, in Woolwich and Wilmot, they’re rolling these out because they see the benefits of the signs in these areas.

I hope I get a chance to chime in later on this. I really think it’s a reasonable first step and, frankly, a long-term, effective strategy when it comes to this. We need to address those behavioural problems of driver speeds. Of course, this government would easily jump into a revenue-generating form.

I want to commend my colleague across the way for mentioning those speed signs. Watch Your Speed—again, I encourage people to have a look at the report from the city of Toronto. There’s some great success from that program.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Paul Miller): The member from Essex.

Mr. Taras Natyshak: I’m pleased to join the debate this morning. I’m in support of the bill. I believe our party is in full support of the bill too, because it makes sense. It makes sense to utilize technology that exists almost everywhere in our lives. I would imagine every member in this House has a cellphone. That phone has a camera on it. The camera that we use can, in some instances, be utilized as evidence in court and legal proceedings. This is no different than just deploying that type of technology to make our communities and our kids safer.

I presented a bill, Bill 99, the Safer Roads and Safer Communities Act, that had a similar effect and similar mechanisms in that it gave municipalities the ability and the right to designate zones as community safety zones as well as to extend it to construction areas on our highways where construction workers in a zone are vulnerable. That could act as a deterrent. I believe that it should be reviewed by the government to be melded into this bill because it’s another area where workers and citizens are vulnerable on our road system.

I do take issue with the point that the majority of the Conservative caucus has raised, calling it a “money grab” or a “cash grab.” You won’t get cash from people who aren’t breaking the law. It’s pretty simple in that respect. So I don’t understand why they would do that. They’re trying to demonize the use of photo radar because at some point, back a hundred years ago, they scored some political points with it when the NDP brought in photo radar. They’re reliving the glory days of the old PCs. I don’t think it’s going to work these days because cameras are, again, a fact of everyday life.

Police officers are now wearing body cameras. The vehicles that we buy off the dealership lots have cameras in them already pre-installed. Technology is here. We can’t help that there is a caucus that doesn’t believe in technology, but we certainly do believe that it can make our communities safer.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Paul Miller): The member from Kitchener Centre.

Ms. Daiene Vernile: Thank you very much, Speaker. Good morning to you and good morning to all my colleagues. I’m very pleased to get in on the conversation this morning on Bill 65, the Safer School Zones Act.

My colleague for Eglinton–Lawrence began the discussion this morning. Just as a recap, I know we’re into about hour number nine of this, but if you’re tuning in for the first time, this particular bill is going to give local municipalities the ability and the tools that they need to calm down traffic.

Hon. Jeff Leal: Channel 97 in Peterborough.

Ms. Daiene Vernile: Is it? Channel 97 in Peterborough, my colleague says.

There are three main points in this bill. Automated speed enforcement—you can call it photo radar. Essentially, it’s cameras that have the technology to capture a picture and to fine someone if they are speeding. Reduced default speed limits: Currently, it’s at 50 kilometres per hour. That would come down to whatever the municipality feels is useful. The third point is red light cameras. There are some municipalities that already have this. We’re using this in my region, in Waterloo region, quite successfully, and there are other municipalities that want to use this.

I just want to very quickly share with you some feedback that I have received as the parliamentary assistant for the Minister of Transportation. This was last year at AMO—for people who are watching, AMO is the Association of Municipalities of Ontario—and at ROMA this past January; that is the Rural Ontario Municipal Association. Over and over and over again, we heard from mayors and councillors and chiefs of police in the province who support Bill 65. They want to see this go through. They need these tools in order to calm down traffic.

I’ve mentioned this before, but I’ll conclude with this: The mayor of Zorra township, Margaret Lupton, after one of her presentations, took me aside and said, “Daiene, I just want to tell you that we are frustrated beyond belief with speeders in our community. We need this tool to calm down traffic and to make the streets safer.” So, Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Paul Miller): The member from Wellington–Halton Hills.

Mr. Ted Arnott: I’m pleased to respond to the speech just given by the member for Eglinton–Lawrence. I know that Ministry of Transportation staff are carefully monitoring this debate on this important piece of legislation, Bill 65, the Safer School Zones Act.

Listening to government members as they’ve participated in this debate, they would have us believe that this bill will improve safety for students going to and from school. Of course, in principle, all of us would support that. But, once again, I’m going to draw the attention of government—the Minister of Transportation, the President of the Treasury Board and the other members on the government side—to an important school safety issue in our constituency in Wellington–Halton Hills in the community of Rockwood: the need for full traffic signals at the intersection of Highway 7 and MacLennan Street and Dunbar Street in the community of Rockwood.

I’ve raised this with the minister many times over the last couple of years, working with the township of Guelph/Eramosa council. The mayor of that community was here, actually, yesterday as part of the Conservation Halton lobby day—Mayor Chris White. We discussed it again. He is very, very concerned about the safety of the students going to and from the new École Harris Mill Public School that was opened about two years ago now. Together, we’ve been advocating for traffic signals now for two years.

I understand that the Ministry of Transportation, having studied the intersection, has determined that the signals are warranted and, in fact, should be installed. I urge the minister to make this a priority. This is a school safety issue in our riding. If the government is truly committed and sincere in terms of what they’re saying on Bill 65, they will approve these traffic signals immediately in the community of Rockwood. I’ve raised this many times with the minister, and again suggest to the ministry staff who are monitoring this that this is an urgent safety need for our students.

Again, thanks to the member from Eglinton–Lawrence for his comments, but I would commend this issue to the government and urge its immediate consideration and resolution.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Paul Miller): The member from Eglinton–Lawrence has two minutes.

Mr. Mike Colle: I want to thank the member from Kitchener–Conestoga for his always insightful comments on transportation.

I thought the member from Essex made a very good point. He said that all the cars have cameras on them—and for what reason, anyways? For safety reasons—yet the police or the local officials can’t have cameras. It’s really ironic.

The member from Kitchener Centre talked about the support, and the member from Wellington–Halton Hills has a safety issue in his riding.

It’s beyond me why the Conservative caucus is saying, “Our ideology is more important than the safety of our children.” That’s what they’re saying. This is so arcane, it’s really beyond belief. Anyways, I won’t dwell on that because the majority of people in Ontario want their kids to be safe; they want us to use technology.

The other thing is that the most dangerous trend that has happened in school safety or in safety on our roads, as you know, is distracted driving. That has been the game-changer, negatively. That is the number one cause of accidents. That’s why it’s incredibly important for us to act to offset that distraction which occurs every day in all of our communities. Distracted driving is a great danger to the safety of our children. That’s why we have to be proactive in the Legislature and counteract that with this safe technology.

Plus, the fact is we’re going to allow municipalities to make the choice. What have you got against municipalities deciding, “I want to make my schools safe”? The Tories are saying, “No, the municipalities have no say in making the schools in their municipalities safe.” I do not know how they could go home to their ridings and say that. How could they do that?

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Paul Miller): Further debate? The member from Nipissing.

Mr. Victor Fedeli: Thank you and good morning, Speaker. I’m pleased to be able to speak to Bill 65, the Safer School Zones Act. I’d like to begin right off the bat by saying that we, our party, the PC Party, have always supported and continue to support initiatives that help make our school zones safer.

I actually regret the fact that the minister took an opportunity to enhance safety for children to open the door to photo radar on expressways, parkways and highways across the city. Instead of working to create safer school zones, the minister has introduced legislation that will mean a reduced police presence in our school areas and photo radar on expressways, parkways and highways across the province. Until the government is prepared to define just what a “community safety zone” is, we aren’t prepared to endorse the “photo radar anywhere” approach that they have.

Substituting cameras for officers does nothing to catch other dangerous driving behaviour, such as distracted driving, weaving or tailgating.

Interjection.

Mr. Victor Fedeli: I hear from the Minister of Transportation over there. I will actually read a quote from the minister that ran in the London Free Press and up in Sudbury. In March 2015, the minister said, “Photo Radar Not Coming Back.” The minister was quoted as stating that “the province doesn’t have an interest in returning to photo radar.” It is one thing to hear what he said when he wasn’t running for leader of the party and it’s another thing to hear what he has to say now.

I’ve heard from a former Liberal cabinet minister as well. We all did in March in a CBC report. He’s now the mayor of Ottawa. “Mayor Jim Watson said he’s ‘not convinced’ of the public demand for photo radar and worries the technology could become a ‘cash grab’ for the city.” That’s a former Liberal cabinet minister. Now, of course, eight months later he posed with Premier Kathleen Wynne for a photo op at an area public school.

Speaker, it’s very—

Interjections.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Paul Miller): Stop the clock. There seems to be quite a little chatter coming from the government side there. I hope we’re going to cut that back—aren’t we? Thank you.

Continue.

Mr. Victor Fedeli: Thank you very much, Speaker. It was hard to concentrate in the Legislature with so much heckling, especially from the member from Barrie.

The former Premier McGuinty said: “More needs to be done to crack down on speeding, but photo radar is not the answer.” I can go on and on with quotes from Liberal members here.

Quite frankly, photo radar in school zones is not a suitable substitute for police presence. That just happens to be an absolute fact. It does nothing to catch other dangerous driving behaviour—distracted driving, driving without a licence or insurance, weaving and tailgating and, as the member from Huron–Bruce has talked about, the issues related to licence plate bubbling, for which this government has yet to provide a proper solution. The bill’s call for photographed peeling, damaged plates to be returned to the ministry will leave more families across Ontario paying out of their pockets for the government’s own lack of oversight and quality assurance.

Stakeholders with fleets of vehicles are concerned with the inability of photo radar to penalize the speed violator, which would be the intent one would think.

The Ontario Trucking Association has noted that “a return to photo radar could unearth problems associated with vehicle/trailer ownership and associated payment of fines.”

The Ontario Provincial Police Association, their former president Karl Walsh noted that, “Taking a photo of a speeding vehicle does not target the person responsible for the illegal activity, and that is the driver.”

As the member from Kitchener–Conestoga mentioned, if Ontarians want to deter excessive speed on our streets and highways, there must be more serious consequences for drivers who speed beyond the posted limit when they get behind the wheel of their vehicle.

The CAA, Canadian Automobile Association, noted that “While a marked police cruiser on the side of the road does slow traffic, drivers won’t be deterred by receiving a ticket in the mail weeks after speeding past an unmarked photo radar van.” The deterrent needs to be applied at the time. The CAA went on to say, “The only way that this is going to save lives and improve traffic safety is if there’s a deterrent involved. Photo radar doesn’t provide that.”

So, Speaker, at this time, I move adjournment of the debate.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Paul Miller): Mr. Fedeli has moved adjournment of the debate. Shall the motion carry? I heard a no.

All those in favour, please say “aye.”

Those opposed say “nay.”

I believe the nays have it.

Call in the members. This will be a 30-minute bell.

The division bells rang from 0928 to 0958.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Paul Miller): Members, take your seats.

Interjections.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Paul Miller): Order. Order, please.

Mr. Fedeli has moved adjournment of the debate.

All those in favour, please rise and remain standing to be counted by the Clerk.

All those opposed, please rise and stand to be counted.

The Clerk of the Assembly (Mr. Todd Decker): The ayes are 16; the nays are 40.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Paul Miller): I declare the motion lost.

Further debate?

Mr. Victor Fedeli: As I said a half hour ago, we have always and continue to support initiatives to help make our school zones safer, and we regret the fact that the minister took an opportunity to enhance safety for children to open the door to photo radar on expressways, park—

Interjections.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Paul Miller): Stop the clock. The vote is over, folks. We’re back in business. Could we have some quiet, please?

Mr. Fedeli.

Mr. Victor Fedeli: Thank you, Speaker. As I was saying, we regret the fact that the minister took children’s safety as an opportunity to open the door to photo radar on expressways, parkways and highways across Ontario. Instead of working to create safer school zones, the minister has introduced legislation that will mean a reduced police presence in our school areas and photo radar on those expressways, parkways and highways that I mentioned.

The very fact that municipal officials are already lining up to propose cameras in areas well outside of school zones highlights the importance of getting this right to avoid the concerns of—

Interjections.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Paul Miller): Stop the clock. You notice which direction I’m looking.

Continue.

Mr. Victor Fedeli: Thank you, Speaker. We would rather see targeted police presence in school areas, which provides enhanced safety, far beyond the photo radar’s reach—from a bill that will bring cameras to our highways.

I know that we heard earlier from the member from Kitchener–Conestoga as well. I thank him for his comments. He was referring to the fact that a true deterrent would occur when the infraction happens. Getting a bill a month later does nothing to deter. In fact, the Ontario Provincial Police Association—the former president of the OPPA, Karl Walsh—noted that “Taking a photo of a speeding vehicle does not target the person responsible for the illegal activity, and that is the driver. If Ontarians want to deter”—

Interjections.

Mr. Victor Fedeli: I’m sorry, Speaker. It’s very difficult to—I may have misread my notes here. I apologize.

“If Ontarians want to deter excessive speed on our streets and highways then there must be more serious consequences for drivers who speed beyond the posted limit when they get behind the wheel of their vehicle.” That’s the point.

The CAA said, “While a marked police cruiser on the side of the road does slow traffic, drivers won’t be deterred by receiving a ticket in the mail weeks after speeding past an unmarked photo radar van.” I think that’s the point that our member from Kitchener–Conestoga made earlier. The CAA goes on to say, “The only way that this is going to save lives and improve traffic safety is if there’s a deterrent involved.” They finish with, “Photo radar doesn’t provide that.”

I go back to some comments made by Minister Steven Del Duca, transportation minister, under a headline in the London Free Press, Sudbury and over at Niagara Falls: “Photo Radar Not Coming Back: Del Duca.” The minister was quoted stating that “the province doesn’t have an interest in returning to photo radar.”

I’ll talk about former Liberal cabinet minister, and current Ottawa mayor, Jim Watson, back in March of last year: “Mayor Jim Watson said he’s ‘not convinced’ of the public demand for photo radar and worries the technology could become a ‘cash grab’ for the city.” Those are his words. The former Liberal cabinet minister called it a “cash grab.” Of course, eight months later, he did join the Premier for a photo op at an area public school to announce the return.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Paul Miller): Questions and comments?

Mr. Taras Natyshak: I listened to the comments by the member from Nipissing. It is interesting. Despite the little break that we had, I think I am able to decipher what they’re trying to say here: Photo radar is good when they propose it for school buses, as the member from Chatham–Kent–Essex has proposed in a bill that would initiate buses having a camera system that would catch people who run school buses. That’s a measure that they support, but they won’t support photo radar—that same technology—being implemented in school zones, in designated safety zones.

I’m reminded of a song by the great Stevie Wonder: “We are amazed but not amused / By all the things you say that you’ll do.”

It is amazing that they will say one thing in here and they’ll do another. It’s incredible. We’ll anticipate a flip on this somewhere down the road—no pun intended—but, Speaker, we have evidence of other jurisdictions, mainly Quebec, that have initiated photo radar systems in designated jurisdictions. The statistics are factual. You can’t dispute the statistics. Bodily injury resulting in property damage has gone down by 59%, and the incidence of accidents in those areas where safety cameras or photo radar have been initiated has gone down 23%.

If they went down 1% to save one child’s life in a safety zone near a school it’s worth it, and I would support it, Speaker.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Paul Miller): The member from Kitchener Centre.

Ms. Daiene Vernile: I’m very pleased to be able to offer some comments on the member for Nipissing’s discussion on Bill 65.

Throughout his 10 minutes this morning, he kept quoting our transportation minister, saying that photo radar is not coming back, but what he neglects to say is that it’s not coming back on provincial highways. Why does he keep leaving that out?

The member for Essex quoted Stevie Wonder. I would add to that that perhaps the opposition is tone-deaf in trying to give the full story. It is not coming back to provincial highways. Let me say that one more time: Our transportation minister has said that it is not coming back to provincial highways. I hope that that has registered with them.

It’s being talked about for municipalities. They want to have this tool in order to calm down traffic. Quite frankly, we’re disappointed and dismayed that the member for Nipissing has tried to collapse the debate this morning on this very important road safety bill.

Beyond that, I really don’t have more to add, except to say that we’re pleased to see that the third party is going to be supporting this bill, and I think that we need to get on with this.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Paul Miller): The member from Kitchener–Conestoga.

Mr. Michael Harris: I want to just clarify that photo radar is going to come back on two major Ontario highways. You look at the city councillor from your neck of the woods in Hamilton, Speaker, that would like to put photo radar on the Red Hill expressway and the Lincoln Alexander. These are major highways in Ontario. Other highways around the province that are in municipalities: These are roads that it’s going to be put on. It’s a slippery slope. Of course they say that now it’s not coming back to the 401 or the 403, but we all know that when it comes to Liberals and what they say—I’ll just leave it at that.

The Minister of Transportation has been the minister now for a few years. He took over Bill 31, and I would have hoped—we’ve got a year to an election—he would have brought in a substantial highway traffic amendment or

an act that would deal with a variety of different things. Of course, the Premier’s office forced him to bring forward this photo radar bill because they took the tolling ability away from the city of Toronto so now they’re giving them a bit of a bone here on photo radar. But looking back at his tenure as Minister of Transportation and the legislative work his ministry has put forward, I just don’t know if this is the one that I would want. But hey, I guess that’s what happens.

I want to commend, quickly, a traffic blitz in Halton Hills and Milton done by the Halton Regional Police. They set up shop in 13 locations for over 76 combined hours, enforcing high-risk zones. There were 90 charges laid—a variety of different charges: distracted driving, speeding, interfering with traffic, and impaired operation of motor vehicles. This was just done. It was called Project Safe Commute 2017. Enforcement is how you will deal with these behaviours. Distracted driving, one of the leading causes of death on our roads today—we’ll have done nothing to combat that through photo radar by taking a picture of your licence place.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Paul Miller): Questions and comments?

Ms. Teresa J. Armstrong: I think we’re losing sight of what we’re debating here today. We’re debating the Safer School Zones Act, which means we are trying to create and debate legislation to protect our students’ safety. They’re our children. We’re talking today, of course, about not having photo radar, or having photo radar specifically in school zones, and that’s what we should be debating.

I don’t agree with the Conservatives, Speaker. I don’t agree that we should be collapsing debate. The member who spoke earlier, the member from Kitchener Centre, said that she doesn’t want debate collapsed. I hope the Liberals agree that we need to have more debate on this, to try to let the Conservatives know that this is on the right track. We’ve had instruments in safe school zones in order to protect students, and one of those instruments does make sense in this case. It makes sense to have cameras.

The member from Essex talked about how we have cameras everywhere now. They’re in people’s vehicles, on their dashboards. They’re in school buses. This is another layer of safety measures for our children, and we need to talk about this. We need to make Conservatives understand that this is the right thing to do when it comes to the safety of our children. When we’re talking about that, this is where we need to focus.

We don’t want to collapse debate, because we want to make sure each member has an opportunity to talk about how serious this issue is. This is a life-and-death issue, really. I know that today our member from Algoma–Manitoulin has debate that he wants to contribute, so I hope we’re going to keep continuing debate on this issue. Then, when it gets to committee, I hope this can be worked out so that we can have the right direction about keeping our children safe. That could be a combination of two things: lowering speed and having cameras.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Paul Miller): The member from Nipissing has two minutes.

Mr. Victor Fedeli: I want to thank the members from Essex, Kitchener Centre, Kitchener–Conestoga and London–Fanshawe for their commentary.

I want to take exception with the member from Kitchener Centre. She suggested that I am trying to collapse debate. She should learn the difference between adjournment and collapsing, something I suspect their government will attempt to do on this very bill. So we’ll look forward to the discussion on collapsing debate when her government proposes this, perhaps as early as tomorrow.

I want to again remind everyone here that we have always supported and continue to support initiatives that help make our school zones safer and, indeed, we regret the fact that the minister is taking an opportunity to enhance safety for children to simply open the door to photo radar on expressways, parkways and highways across Ontario by allowing the use of photo radar in a community safety zone.

Without indicating any definition for what a community safety zone is, the bill allows carte blanche for photo radar and its associated fines to be implemented virtually anywhere, or virtually everywhere for that matter, within a municipality’s jurisdiction. Until government is prepared to define just what a “community safety zone” is, we aren’t prepared to endorse a photo radar approach anywhere.

We have heard from many experts who continue to tell us that photo radar in school zones is not a suitable substitute for a police presence and for immediate impact to the—

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Paul Miller): Thank you.

Second reading debate deemed adjourned.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Paul Miller): It being 10:15, this House stands recessed until 10:30 this morning.

The House recessed from 1014 to 1030.

Introduction of Visitors

Mr. Michael Harris: I see Kate Ivanchenko coming in to watch her first question period. She’ll be joining my office in a few weeks. We look forward to seeing you, Kate. Thanks for coming.

Mr. Arthur Potts: I’m happy to introduce my friend Professor Peter Love. He’s here with his fourth-year environmental class. We have Suren Balendran, Anne Kendall, Sarah McGlade, Michelle Vasconcelos and Mitch Zarycki.

Ms. Sylvia Jones: Please join me in welcoming four visitors from Dufferin–Caledon: Eileen Fernandez, Betty Zamida, Rebecca Hodges and Catherine Hodges. Welcome to Queen’s Park.

Mr. Ernie Hardeman: I’d like to welcome Ian and Fran Macfarlane to the Legislature today to see their grandson Coleton, who is a page. I want to welcome them to Queen’s Park.

I want to apologize to them, because they have not yet been able to arrive because of traffic, but I wanted to get it on the record anyway.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Thank you for that introduction.

Introductions?

Hon. Tracy MacCharles: It’s my pleasure to welcome Esther Kothapally, the mother of our page captain Rajeev Danam. She’s here today from the riding of Pickering–Scarborough East.

Ms. Sophie Kiwala: I’d like to give a warm welcome to Jeff Holmes, the general manager of Kingston Bingo Group.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): We have with us today, in the Speaker’s gallery, Mrs. Tania López Larroque, the Consul General of Cuba at Toronto. Welcome, Consul General.

Also in the gallery is a former MPP, who served from the 32nd to the 39th Parliament: Mr. Tony Ruprecht. Welcome, Tony.

There are no further introductions. Therefore, it is time for question period.

Oral Questions

Climate change

Mr. Patrick Brown: My question is for the Premier. I hope everyone has had a chance to see the Ontario Chamber of Commerce letter today. They had a lot to say about cap-and-trade. In fact, they have many of the same concerns that the Ontario PC caucus has been raising.

They noted the costs could lead to Ontario “losing out on jobs and investment.” That’s from the chamber of commerce—“losing out on jobs and investment.”

The chamber noted that the Liberals “must consider how we can prevent exporting jobs” and investment “while importing pollution.” But that’s just what their scheme does.

Will this government stop exporting jobs and importing pollution under their dangerous cap-and-trade scheme?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: I’m sure the Leader of the Opposition knows that the federal government has mandated that every province and territory have some form of carbon pricing in place by 2018; I’m sure he’s aware of that. I’m sure he’s aware that the reason for that is that, as humanity, we are facing the greatest challenge in our history: understanding that climate change is real.

We’re taking the lead in Ontario to move forward with a plan to cap the pollution that businesses can release in order to reduce that pollution, in order to reduce those greenhouse gas emissions. We’ve chosen this because it best balances affordability with emission reduction. That’s why we’ve chosen it.

In fact, the proposal that the Leader of the Opposition has talked about would cost four times as much—

Mr. John Yakabuski: That’s why you’ve chosen to export jobs and import pollution?

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Member from Renfrew, come to order.

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: —as what we are going to be proposing.

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

In case he didn’t hear it, the member from Renfrew, come to order.

Supplementary?

Mr. Patrick Brown: Again to the Premier: The Premier said that this is mandated by the federal government. Let me say, the federal government did not mandate Ontario to be sending $200 million to California by 2020. It did not mandate Ontario to be sending almost $2 billion by 2030 to subsidized businesses in California and Quebec. This makes us less competitive.

The Auditor General has said that this does not even help with reducing emissions in Ontario. As the chamber says, this is about importing pollution to Ontario. So now we have the Auditor General saying that you’re not going to significantly reduce emissions in Ontario and you’ve got the chamber saying that you’re going to import pollution. Can you not take a pause and look at this? Why are you going to continue to help businesses in California?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Let’s just look at what the Conservatives want us to do. They want us to go down a road that would be more expensive, but even more worrisome, it would be less effective. There are young people sitting in the gallery today who are interested in a sustainable future for the planet, so it is critical that every jurisdiction do its part.

We’ve chosen the most effective, most cost-effective, most affordable process. What the Conservatives are suggesting would cost businesses, individuals and families four times what the plan we are putting in place would cost. It makes no sense, it would not be as effective and it certainly would not be as affordable.

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

Mr. Patrick Brown: The Premier makes assertions that are not based on reality. The reality is the chamber is not concerned about any other plan. The chamber is concerned about this Premier’s cap-and-trade—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Stop the clock. My hope was that as soon as I started hearing some of the heckling, I ask people to stop. That has not happened, so I am dangerously close to going to warnings quickly. If that’s the case, so be it.

Mr. Patrick Brown: The Premier says that this is about protecting the planet for the children watching here today. The reality is her plan does not do that. According to the Auditor General, their plan will cause us to lose jobs and lose investment. The chamber has made that clear. We’re going to be importing pollution under their plan. Can you imagine that? Importing pollution. We’re not even reducing emissions here, yet we’re putting a huge new cost on business.

Why does this Premier want to kill jobs in Ontario and actually import pollution? It doesn’t make sense. It’s as bad as the Green Energy Act. It hurts Ontario and makes us less competitive.

Interjections.

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

Premier?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Minister of the Environment.

Hon. Glen R. Murray: The Leader of the Opposition is proposing to increase carbon pricing in Ontario from $18 a tonne in ours to $72 a tonne.

I’m just curious about something. If the Leader of the Opposition could turn slightly to the left and talk to the member from Leeds–Grenville, who supports Kevin O’Leary for leadership. Kevin O’Leary said, “Patrick Brown, if he wants to bring carbon taxation into Ontario, even though he’s a Conservative, I’ll campaign against him. I’ll work very hard to make sure he stays out of power.” Even his deputy leader doesn’t agree with him. Carbon taxes make no sense.

Interjections.

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

New question.

Executive compensation

Mr. Patrick Brown: My question is for the Premier. From April 29, 2015: “Any decision of that ... magnitude would require a two-thirds majority of the Hydro One board of directors, which means that having 40% ownership protects us.” Who said that? The current Premier of Ontario.

October 20, 2015: “With 40% ownership of the board, that would require that the people of Ontario have a say.” Who said that? The Premier.

October 28, 2015: “Will there be the ability of the government to retain control over major decisions because of that 40% ownership? Yes.” That’s the Premier again.

All of these were said by the Premier.

So, Mr. Speaker, my question to the Premier is very clear. The Premier has always maintained that with this share, the government will have control of Hydro One’s big decisions. These are the Premier’s words. Is that still the case today?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Yes, it is.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Patrick Brown: Again to the Premier: The Premier is saying that we have control of Hydro One. She’s on the record numerous times saying that. Yet when we ask about the Hydro One executive salaries, the government’s response is, “We have no control. We have no say. This is a private company.”

You can’t have it both ways. The Premier is on record saying that we’ll retain control. She pitched that to Ontarians under her fire sale of Hydro One, and now we have salaries that, frankly, are offensive. We have multi-million dollar salaries, we’ve got a millionaires’ club of senior executives at Hydro One, and the government is saying they have nothing to do with it.

They are speaking out of both sides of their mouth. They can’t have it both ways. My question is—yes or no—given the fact that you’ve said you have control, will you rein in these offensive executive salaries?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Minister of Finance.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Be seated, please. As I have done in the past, I just want to tell the member that an expression was used that I do not allow to have happen. I didn’t see an outrage, but I will remind him not to use that phrase again, please.

Hon. Charles Sousa: As the member opposite probably knows, when we put the prospectus out, it was very clear as to what those salaries would be. We were very transparent and open as to what would occur going forward. We recognized that we wanted the company to be more responsive to consumers, ensuring that they relate better to the customers and the rate base.

They’ve been doing so. The company has now improved dramatically since its inception. They attracted some of the brightest and the smartest out there to enable us to attract greater value for this company, which ultimately benefits all Ontarians going forward—including our ability now to reduce rates by 25%.

The salaries were fully disclosed last year—before today.

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

Mr. Patrick Brown: Again to the Premier, I did not get an answer. The Premier is on the record that “the people of Ontario will retain de facto control of Hydro One.”

The Premier promised Ontarians that we’d have control over Hydro One. Yet here we are seeing offensive salaries—$4.5 million as a salary is appropriate? Give me a break. It’s not. This government is trying to hide from it. They promised us control. They’re walking away from that.

It’s not too late to do the right thing. You still have a majority of the shares. You still have control, if you actually meant what you said.

My question is this: Yes or no, will you rein in these offensive executive salaries that are completely out of context with the rest of the country, completely out of context with what people make? It’s too much. It’s wrong. The Premier needs to clean this up.

Hon. Charles Sousa: It’s critical that this corporation do its utmost to provide greater value for the ratepayers and for the people of Ontario. That is what is occurring, because a net value to the ratepayers and the shareholders, which, as the member opposite has rightly noted, is the province of Ontario—it will always be the majority shareholder, will always have the largest say. We do have the ability of gaining more value from this corporation and to allow the operator to do its job effectively and in a competitive manner.

Now we have an opportunity to foster consolidations around the industry. There are 72 competitors in Ontario distributing hydro. We need them all to do better. This corporation is doing just that.

Executive compensation

Ms. Andrea Horwath: My question is for the Premier. Does the Premier believe it’s fair for Hydro One to jack up delivery rates by 20% at the same time as hydro executives get a multi-million dollar raise?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: We are reducing people’s hydro bills around this province by 25%. There is already an 8% reduction in place, and on top of that, another 17%. We recognize that people across the province need help with their electricity bills. We recognize that with the 8%, that was not enough; there needed to be more.

We also recognize that people outside of dense urban areas, so in more remote and rural areas, need more support. So they will see not a 25% reduction, but in some instances, a 40% or 50% reduction.

That is going to happen this summer. Those are real impacts of the plan that we’ve brought forward that will help people in their lives to make sure they can pay their bills and look after their families. That’s the step that we are taking.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Yesterday, the Premier and her Minister of Energy defended the Hydro One CEO’s 500% salary increase, saying it was because they introduced e-billing. I’m not sure if that was a joke or not, Speaker, because—let’s be honest—the biggest news coming out of Hydro One is that they want to have an increase of delivery rates by 20%. That’s the biggest news coming out of Hydro One.

Will the Premier tell Ontario families whether she thinks Hydro One’s CEO should be getting a 500% raise?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: As I have said many times, I know that these are high salaries; I understand that.

The focus of our initiative has been on reducing people’s hydro bills, giving them a break, because we recognize that the building that we have done, the investments that had to be made because the electricity system was in shambles, that there’s a cost associated with those. So we’ve been removing costs from the electricity system.

We recognize that wasn’t enough, and so this summer, people will see a 25% reduction on their electricity bills, and outside of the urban areas in more remote and rural areas, a 40% to 50% reduction. We understand that that’s what people need. That’s the plan that we’ve brought forward, and that’s what we’re implementing.

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

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Speaker, there is no plan, but it sounds like a bouncing ball. First it was 17%, then 25%, now it’s 40% or 50%. I don’t think a single Ontarian believes this government.

Hydro One has applied to jack up delivery rates by 20% at the same time that hydro executives get multi-million dollar raises. The Premier and her Minister of Energy don’t seem to have a problem with this at all.

When will the Premier stop advocating for the 1% and start advocating for the 99%?

Interjections.

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

Premier?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: The 99% are exactly who are going to see a 25% reduction. If you add 17% and 8%, you get 25%. If you look at distribution charges that are going to be brought down in the remote and rural areas, you get that 25% up to 40% or 50%. That’s how those numbers have been calculated, because those are the reductions that people are going to see on their electricity bills.

The reality is that we recognize that the costs of the investments that we have made in an electricity system that was in shambles, was not reliable and was not clean—that there was a cost associated with that. That’s why people will see those reductions, come summer.

Tenant protection

Ms. Andrea Horwath: My next question is for the Premier: $1,650 is already a ridiculous amount of money to have to pay to rent a one-bedroom apartment that is less than 500 square feet and has no balcony, but that is the reality of Graham Farquhar. As if $1,650 a month wasn’t high enough, Graham got a shock recently when he found out that his landlord is planning to double that rent on July 1 of this year.

Yesterday, the Premier said this was “really unacceptable,” but refused to say when she’s actually going to do something about it. Can the Premier tell us when her expressions of sympathy will be backed up by something a little more tangible, like closing the 1991 rent control loophole, which we could actually do today?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: I’m well aware that certainly the member for Toronto–Danforth understands how important this is, because when he raised it and our Minister of Housing was able to respond to it, we made it clear that we get this. Something has to be done. We are going to be bringing forward not just a plan on that particular issue, but on housing affordability, on rental affordability. There are a number of changes that need to be made, and we’re going to bring those forward in context.

There is no argument between me and the leader of the third party. Something needs to be done. We recognize that. We’re going to be bringing forward proposals very soon.

Interjections.

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

Supplementary?

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Well, time is ticking. Landlords are licking their lips and tenants are getting really nervous about the future.

Generation Squeeze issued a report today, saying that the quality of life for young people living in the GTA is slipping. The report singles out the high cost of rental housing as one of the causes, saying that young people are working full time, but watching their money “down to the penny.”

Is the Premier planning to tell a whole generation of young people that they’re going to continue to see their quality of life decline because she is afraid to take action quickly to close the 1991 loophole immediately?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: As I said in my first answer, we are not having an argument about this. I actually agree that there are things that need to be done.

In fact, this issue of fairness for tenants, in the context of fairness for landlords—when I came into office in 2003 as the member for Don Valley West, I actually advocated within our caucus to change the Landlord and Tenant Act. It got changed to the Residential Tenancies Act. We made a lot of changes that would help people put in place supports for tenants.

But there’s more that needs to be done. There is no argument between me and the leader of the third party. There is no argument between me and the member for Toronto–Danforth. There is more that needs to be done. We are bringing forward not just one item, but a package of proposals that will deal with housing affordability in our province.

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

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Well, if I were the Premier, I’d be awfully embarrassed—admitting she’s been advocating for this since 2003 and nothing has happened on this file, and people are getting economic evictions from the places where they live.

If the Premier wanted to help, if she actually wanted to take some action to do something about this major issue that’s facing young people and thousands of tenants, she could. She could do it right now.

Will the Premier bring in the NDP bill? Will she bring it forward for a vote today, close that 1991 loophole immediately and protect the renters of this province?

Interjections.

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

Premier?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Minister of Housing.

Hon. Chris Ballard: Thank you for that question. It goes without saying that it’s unacceptable that so many Ontarians are faced with housing costs that are rising so dramatically. It goes without saying when we talk about that. As Minister of Housing, I want to help every Ontarian reach home ownership. For Ontarians, a house is more than a place to sleep; it’s a source of pride.

Let’s just talk about some of the things we’ve done. We’ve already said that rent control—we’re open to expanding that. We’ve said time and again, “Sooner rather than later,” so perhaps the third party can’t take yes for an answer.

We’re working with our municipalities to promote secondary suites because supply is important. We’ll have more in a supplementary.

Executive compensation

Mr. Todd Smith: My question this morning is for the President of the Treasury Board. Yesterday, we learned that the president of OPG, who was the top earner on the province’s payroll in 2016, actually made $700,000 more than the sunshine list disclosed on Friday. The difference was a bonus that showed up on OPG’s books, but was suspiciously left off the government’s books.

How many more six-figure bonuses has the President of the Treasury Board hidden from the people of Ontario?

Hon. Liz Sandals: What is reported on the sunshine list, as I’ve said several times in here, is not the annual salary. It is—as your legislation requires—what is reported in box 14 of the T4. It is whatever Canada revenue says should go in box 14 of the T4. That is what is reported.

Now, it is also true that there are things that aren’t reported, for example, pensions. So it is not—

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Member from Bruce–Grey–Owen Sound, come to order.

Finish, please.

Hon. Liz Sandals: So the fact that the pension contributions are not reported is perfectly consistent with the law, as you laid it out, because that isn’t in the T4 salary box.

What is also true is that our new executive compensation legislation says no bonuses—

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

Mr. Todd Smith: We’ve watched this government hand out six-figure performance bonuses for projects that were over budget and late or built upside down. They operate like The Oprah Winfrey Show over there. “Look under your seat. There’s probably a bonus there waiting for you.”

Here we have a project that isn’t even done yet, and the government’s hitting taxpayers up for hundreds of thousands of dollars again. How many more big bonuses did the President of the Treasury Board hand out this year for projects that were over budget, late or incomeplete?

Hon. Liz Sandals: Minister of Energy.

Hon. Glenn Thibeault: When it comes to OPG and the work that’s happening right now with our nuclear refurbishment, the OPG president has reported to us that they’re actually under budget and on time, something that we expect from our executives. That’s great news for Ontario ratepayers.

When it comes to OPG, as the President of the Treasury Board outlined, the process is being followed by us as laid out by our framework. OPG sought appropriate comparators and set compensation at a level that is restrained but is competitive for the industry.

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member from Nepean–Carleton.

Hon. Glenn Thibeault: Let’s not forget that these are our nuclear technical experts, and we want the operators in our plants to be the best in the world.

As the President of the Treasury Board outlined, Mr. Lyash’s salary was reported accurately in the sunshine list, just like every other person’s salary appears on their T4.

Tenant protection

Mr. Peter Tabuns: My question to the Premier. Today I read about Victoria Mininni, a young woman who did everything right, but still can’t seem to get ahead here in Toronto. Victoria works as a designer, a coveted job in her field, but she couldn’t afford her rent on just that salary, so she also works as a bartender. She works 60 hours a week, and says she doesn’t know when she’s going to be able to stop living like this.

The Premier could help her right now. Will she commit to the supporting my bill to close the 1991 rent control loophole, and help Victoria and people like her?

Interjections.

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

Premier.

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Once again, I said earlier that I know that the member for Toronto–Danforth understands. I know he listens to tenants’ advocacy groups. He talks to individuals as I do in my own riding. I know that some of the people, like Abbas Kolia, like Pat Moore, who have been working with me—that he knows those people. He knows the concerns of tenants around the province.

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Chief government whip, second time.

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: When he brought his bill forward, on that very day the Minister of Housing made it clear that this is something that we are concerned about and that we are moving forward on. We’re going to be bringing forward a proposal for a number of changes.

As I said to the leader of the third party, there is no argument between us on this. This is something that needs to be done, and it’s something that is a series of changes on top of changes that this government has already made. We look forward to moving forward, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Peter Tabuns: Concern and commitment are two very different things.

University of Toronto housing advocates say that young people like Victoria may have the mistaken impression that it’s their fault that their economic stars have not aligned. “There might be a sense that they’ve done something wrong,” reads the Generation Squeeze report.

Will the Premier commit today—not just express concern—to taking the first step in fixing the mess that is causing so many young Ontarians to lose hope for their future? Will she commit to ending this rent control loophole now?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Minister of Housing.

Hon. Chris Ballard: Again, housing affordability is on the lips of virtually all of us. I can’t walk down the street without bumping into a neighbour who not only talks about the price of housing on our street but the struggle their children face in renting and accommodation or buying their own place. What I will commit to today, Speaker, as I said last week to the member opposite—that’s why we’re already developing a plan to address unfair rises in rental costs by delivering substantive rent control reform in Ontario as part of an ongoing review of the Residential Tenancies Act. Mr. Speaker, we’ve been working on this since June of last year. We’ll have a whole suite soon.

Services for disabled children

Mr. Yvan Baker: My question is to the Minister of Education. Speaker, soon after I was elected, I learned that the TDSB was planning to sell Silver Creek Public School, which would displace hundreds of children with special needs at the Etobicoke Children’s Centre and Silver Creek Pre-School in my riding of Etobicoke Centre. It was unacceptable to me that we would endanger services for the most vulnerable children in our community.

That is why I made saving Silver Creek a priority and worked alongside members of our community, including the Friends of Silver Creek, Etobicoke Children’s Centre, Silver Creek Pre-School; multiple ministries; and multiple ministers and staff here in our government to save these essential services.

Yesterday, Minister, you made an announcement in my riding regarding what our government is going to do about these issues. Speaker, through you to the minister: Can you tell us more about yesterday’s announcement?

Hon. Mitzie Hunter: Phenomenal colleagues like the member from Etobicoke Centre and the member from Kingston and the Islands are exactly what we need in this Legislature.

I was at the Etobicoke Children’s Centre to announce that the province intends to acquire two facilities to preserve the full range of support services that are available to local families. This proposed investment would preserve the supports for children’s mental health and autism; licensed child care, including specialized care for children with a range of special needs; and the early years child and family support program currently offered at McNicoll Public School in North York and at Silver Creek Public School in Etobicoke.

Local families can now rest assured that the programs and services they rely on continue to be there for them and their children. This development was made possible because of collaboration. Our government has listened to the communities and the MPPs who represent them. Our government is committed to making it easier to create and maintain community hubs across Ontario.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Yvan Baker: It was a true honour to participate in yesterday’s announcement. I have to tell you that moments like yesterday are why I ran for MPP: to make a difference for people in our community, and we did that yesterday. Yesterday, people had tears in their eyes during that moment.

Through our collective work to protect and preserve these essential services at Silver Creek Public School, I have spoken to countless families, and I have to tell you that I’ve developed a new appreciation for the importance of these services for children and families in our communities across Ontario.

I’m proud that we recognize the value of preserving both Silver Creek Public School and McNicoll Public School as vibrant and essential community hubs to support community services in our communities. With yesterday’s announcement that the province intends to acquire Silver Creek, I think families in Etobicoke Centre can take comfort in knowing that we are working to maintain services for children with special education needs.

Minister, can you tell us more about the important services that these hubs will continue to offer?

Hon. Mitzie Hunter: Minister of Children and Youth Services.

Hon. Michael Coteau: I want to thank the member for the question. You know, these types of initiatives make me proud to be part of this government here in Ontario.

Silver Creek and McNicoll schools are more than just schools; they are spaces where families come together to access important services. Silver Creek public school offers licensed child care and specialized care for children with special needs. Both Silver Creek and McNicoll offer a range of child and youth mental health services and autism programs, and they’re able to do this through two amazing organizations: Adventure Place and the Etobicoke Children’s Centre.

These types of supports are so important to our communities. In my role as the Minister of Children and Youth Services, I’ve spent a lot of time with parents across the province who know that these types of programs are so important to help build families and support children here in Ontario.

Sexual violence and harassment

Ms. Laurie Scott: My question is to the Attorney General. Two weeks ago in question period, I called on this government to require mandatory sexual assault training for judicial appointees. At that time, the Attorney General rejected the idea completely, claiming that to do so would undermine judicial independence. So it was curious that yesterday we saw a government member announcing her intention to introduce a private member’s bill that does what the Premier and Attorney General, as recently as last week, said they would not support.

During her announcement, the member for Davenport claimed that she had the support of her caucus in introducing this bill. All of this makes me wonder if the Attorney General even knows what his caucus colleagues think about this issue.

My question to the Attorney General is: Has he come around to supporting mandatory sexual assault law training for Ontario judicial appointees, or is he just playing political games to avoid taking responsibility?

Hon. Yasir Naqvi: I thank the member for asking the question. I appreciate the press conference that the member from Davenport did yesterday.

All members of this House, I hope, recognize that when we’re dealing with issues around sexual assault, sexual violence or harassment, it’s not something that is partisan in nature. That is not something that we should be debating in political terms.

What we should be doing is exactly what our Premier has done: show leadership in making sure that we’ve got effective strategies and plans in place to combat sexual violence and harassment. I’m really proud of the Premier for bringing forward the It’s Never Okay strategy, which will ensure that we, in a very meaningful way, put an end to sexual violence and harassment in our province. There is an opportunity for us to be a leader for the rest of the country.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Ms. Laurie Scott: Back to the Attorney General: You are making it partisan. There are mixed signals coming from this government on what is a clear issue: doing what is right to protect sexual assault survivors. What you’re doing is appalling.

I’ve received many expressions of public support for mandatory sexual assault training for provincial judges, which confirms it is a pressing issue for Ontarians. Hiding behind judicial independence shows a lack of will to act on the part of the government. If the Wynne government was truly serious about this issue, they would introduce this as government legislation, not a private member’s bill.

In any case, it always seems like the only way to get this government to act, whether it’s on sexual assault training for judges or human sex trafficking, is to shame them into it.

My question to the Attorney General is: When will he stop the political games and tackle the issue of sexual assault training head-on like a responsible—

Interjections.

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

Attorney General.

Hon. Yasir Naqvi: I want to tell the member opposite and all members of this House that I, as a member of provincial Parliament, as the Attorney General of this province, as a son and a husband and as a father of a young daughter, take the issue of sexual assault and harassment very, very seriously. To make accusations like this is beneath any member of this House.

What I also take very seriously is the very—

Interjections.

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

Hon. Yasir Naqvi: What I also take very seriously as Attorney General is the fundamental tenet of our democracy, and that is the independence of the judiciary. We all know that in our system of democracy, we do not get to tell the judiciary what they should or should not do. That is totally within their scope.

I look forward to reviewing the member from Davenport’s bill, which I have not, to see exactly what the scope of that bill is.

Executive compensation

Ms. Catherine Fife: My question is to the Premier. The CEO of OPG earned more than $2 million in total compensation last year, not the $1.2 million that was stated on the sunshine list. The government’s gradual thawing of public sector executive pay allowed the CEO to walk away with over $2 million in salary, bonuses and pension money, and almost $40,000 in other pay. That $40,000 is what most young people in this province would be thrilled to earn. They face stagnant wages. How can this Premier justify these executive salaries to the struggling young people of this province?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Minister of Energy.

Hon. Glenn Thibeault: I’m pleased once again to rise and speak to the great work that OPG is doing in our province, making sure that we have affordable power that’s also clean. I know that on paper those salaries do look very large, but let’s not forget that these individuals are nuclear technical experts. The comparators that are used make sure that they’re not the highest-paid in this sector, but they’re also not the lowest-paid in this sector.

We also want to ensure that our nuclear facilities are run by the best—

Interjections.

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

Hon. Glenn Thibeault: —that our nuclear facilities are run by the best people to ensure the safety and health of everyone in the province. That’s what the executive is doing at OPG.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary.

Ms. Catherine Fife: Again to the Premier: These high salaries, bonuses and pension perks are indefensible. They are not just high on paper; they’re high in the real world, which is the province of Ontario.

Does the Premier understand that a whole generation in this province is struggling with part-time, contract and unstable work? They’re not getting ahead; they are barely treading water.

A new report out today shows that Ontario has the second-worst economy for young people in the country. In fact, “No province reports a decline in full-time earnings since 2003 except Ontario.” This means young Ontarians are working for less money than their parents, at a time of skyrocketing rents and hydro costs.

When is this government actually going to do something and make life more affordable for the people of this province?

Hon. Glenn Thibeault: Once again, I do acknowledge that these salaries are high, but these are our nuclear technical experts who are keeping our facilities operating at high safety standards, making sure that all health and safety standards are being met, and making sure that we have power right across this province.

But when it comes to making sure that people have affordable lifestyles, that’s what we’ve done with our fair hydro plan. Bringing forward a plan with a 25% reduction—we worked with the experts at OPG to ensure we can find ways to bring down our rates. A 25% reduction for all families, small businesses and farms right across the province is extremely—

Interjections.

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

Hon. Glenn Thibeault: It is something that we’re very proud to bring forward, our Ontario fair hydro plan, which is helping families and businesses right across the province.

Flooding

Ms. Ann Hoggarth: My question is to the Minister of Indigenous Affairs and Reconciliation. I know that our government is dedicated to working with First Nations as partners in order to achieve better social and economic outcomes. The Kashechewan First Nation community, with an estimated 2,300 residents, has faced a series of floodings for years. Flooding has often caused the community to declare a state of emergency, leaving its residents vulnerable. This is an issue that has been going on for a while, and one that requires immediate attention.

Can the minister please elaborate on what our government is doing to help the Kashechewan First Nation community?

Hon. David Zimmer: The safety and well-being of indigenous communities in Ontario, especially First Nations, is a top priority for this government. We take that matter very seriously. For too long, the people of Kashechewan have had to endure yearly evacuations and to endure all the difficult social and physical problems that those evacuations entail.

With my federal colleague Minister Bennett, I went to Kashechewan this past Friday, where we signed a tripartite agreement between the Kashechewan First Nation, the federal government and Ontario.

I met with many members of this community. I was particularly touched by my meetings with the children of the community, who are so looking forward to having this difficult issue resolved, along with their parents and grandparents.

Canada, Ontario and the Kashechewan First Nation are committed to working together to fix this problem of flooding.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Ms. Ann Hoggarth: I’m glad to hear that our government is committed to working with First Nations communities such as Kashechewan to address the issues that they face. Everyone should live in a safe, sustainable environment, and should not be subject to hardships that are out of their control. Although there is much work left to do, I am encouraged to know that this government is taking the necessary steps to solve this issue. Agreements such as this will help strengthen our partnership with indigenous communities.

Can the minister please elaborate on what led to the signing of this important agreement?

Hon. David Zimmer: This is what led to the signing of this tripartite agreement: Over the past years, Kashechewan has been subjected to states of emergency and evacuations due to flooding and other issues time and time again. It has had serious safety, social and economic impacts on the community.

Chief Friday, from Kashechewan First Nation, wrote to Premier Wynne and asked that Ontario join with him and the federal government at the table to tackle this issue. We answered Chief Friday’s call. We are at the table with the First Nation and the federal government.

We understand the concerns, and that immediate action has to be taken. That’s why I went to Kashechewan on Friday and signed that agreement with Minister Bennett and with Chief Friday of the Kashechewan First Nation.

Hydro rates

Mr. Victor Fedeli: My question is for the Minister of Energy. On the weekend, I spoke with the executives of Legion Branch 23 in North Bay. Their hydro bill had climbed from $38,000 to over $48,000. That’s despite converting to LEDs, changing the ballasts, and doing everything else they were advised to do.

Preston Quirt, Bill Wilkins and Jim Thompson told me that “hydro has broken our backs.” They told me they were “forced into bankruptcy because of their hydro bills.” Eventually, the Legion was forced to sell their building. They’re a prime example of how this government’s failed energy policies are hurting communities across Ontario and creating hydro horror stories.

I ask the minister: Will the government put a stop to their costly vanity ads and address the real hydro crisis they created in Ontario?

Hon. Glenn Thibeault: I want to thank the member for the question and for highlighting some of the organizations in this province that are having a difficult time. That’s why we acted with the Ontario fair hydro plan. Organizations like Legions and many other institutions that we all have in our ridings will see this 25% reduction. That’s why we brought forward this plan, to actually help those organizations.

I’m hoping that the member actually talked about what they would do as a party if they ever had the opportunity to bring forward a plan. But, Mr. Speaker, they have no plan. They have no idea on the system. All they did was allow the system to deteriorate for decades. Under our government, we’ve rebuilt the system to make sure that we have power in northern Ontario, that we now have an affordable plan that will help Legions right across the province.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Victor Fedeli: Back to the minister: He obviously missed the point that the Legion was forced to sell their building. They’re gone.

Preston, Billy and Jim told me, “This hurts us; we had to lay off staff ... and it’s hydro that did it.” They can no longer support their pipe band. They can no longer support their track and field grants that helped so many area men and women to make it to the Olympics. They can no longer have a hall to give out for charity events. They can no longer properly take care of their vets, and they told me that’s what hurts them the most. They want to “lay the blame where it lies—and that’s with their hydro bill.” Proud ownership of the Legion Branch 23 building is nothing but a distant memory today.

Our party has been sharing these tragic hydro stories at question period—mostly to heckling. How many more Legions, rinks and restaurants need to close before this minister takes any action?

Interjections.

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

Minister?

Hon. Glenn Thibeault: Long before my arrival in this ministry this government took action on building a system to ensure that we have a clean system and a reliable system, something that they didn’t do when they were in power. They actually froze rates to make sure that there was no investment in the system. We invested $50 billion to make sure that we have a clean system, a green system and a reliable system.

The fair hydro plan coming forward will help Legions. It will help curling clubs. It will help 500,000 small businesses and families. What we are doing is making sure our fair hydro plan will actually benefit everyone in this province.

They don’t have a plan. They don’t even have time to consider one. The only thing that leader can do is pen a letter about saving the NHL and the Olympics.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): New question? The leader of the third party.

Ms. Andrea Horwath: My question is for the Premier—

Interjections.

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

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member from Leeds–Grenville.

The leader of the third party.

Long-term care

Ms. Andrea Horwath: My question is for the Premier. The Ministry of Health has stopped all new admissions to Cedarwood Lodge, a temporary long-term-care home in Sault Ste. Marie. The ministry says there is serious “risk of harm to the health or well-being of residents.”

This is deeply troubling news for families whose loved ones live at Cedarwood and it adds to the stress and worry felt by the 553 people who are waiting today for long-term care in the Soo.

Will the Premier tell the people of Sault Ste. Marie what the serious risks are that have been found at Cedarwood Lodge and, since the Premier has refused to support the NDP’s call for minimum standards of care, how she is ensuring residents are going to be kept safe?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Minister of Health and Long-Term Care.

Hon. Eric Hoskins: I appreciate the question with regard to Cedarwood. It goes without saying that all long-term-care residents in this province deserve to live in their homes in these residences safe and secure, and in a compassionate environment. That’s why the safety and the quality of care is so important to this government. We’ve implemented an inspection regime which allows us to provide those assurances in the minority of cases when and if a home isn’t providing the standard of care that they’re required to under the act or that Ontarians should expect to receive in these homes.

It is true that a cease of admissions was issued. The Ministry of Health did this in the case of Cedarwood, and I’m happy to explain the reasons behind that in the supplementary, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Families have been concerned about their aging loved ones in Cedarwood Lodge for a long time. In less than two years, this for-profit facility has received at least 20 orders to comply and—get this—84 written notices of violation of the law. New admissions were suspended back in 2015, yet it’s happening again.

People in the Soo and across Ontario want real action to improve the quality of long-term care for all of our seniors, but this Premier is refusing to properly staff long-term-care homes and refusing to support the NDP’s call for a minimum standard of care.

Why is this Premier failing to ensure that every senior in Ontario lives with the dignity, the comfort and the safety that they deserve?

Hon. Eric Hoskins: When the ministry conducted a quality inspection late last year, they found a number of areas of non-compliance. They included not following resident plans of care; not identifying triggers to responsive behaviours following a resident altercation that resulted in physical injury to another resident; not having a program in place for skin and wound care, as well as no falls prevention program; not reporting abuse to the director immediately; not ensuring that there was sufficient collaboration between staff and others in the assessment of resident care and their care plans. There were instances where changes were made without the approval of the attending physician.

These are serious matters. I want to reassure the residents of long-term care as well as their families that their safety is assured. We are addressing these issues and we’re monitoring the situation very closely.

La Francophonie

M. Shafiq Qaadri: Ma question est pour la ministre déléguée aux Affaires francophones, l’honorable Marie-France Lalonde.

Comme vous le savez, monsieur le Président, nous avons célébré la Journée internationale de la Francophonie le mois dernier. Je sais que notre gouvernement, et plus particulièrement la ministre déléguée aux Affaires francophones, l’ont commémorée de plusieurs façons.

En effet, c’est la première Journée internationale de la Francophonie que l’Ontario célèbre en tant que membre observateur de l’Organisation internationale de la Francophonie. Je crois que c’est un moment fort pour les francophones dans notre province. Il y a plus d’opportunités que jamais auparavant.

Est-ce que la ministre peut nous expliquer comment notre gouvernement travaille pour faire rayonner notre francophonie ontarienne en dehors de nos frontières?

L’hon. Marie-France Lalonde: Je remercie le député d’Etobicoke-Nord pour sa question et je tiens vraiment à souligner qu’il est un très grand ami de la francophonie.

En effet, l’Ontario n’a jamais rayonné autant en francophonie, et ce, au-delà de ses frontières.

La semaine dernière, j’ai eu la chance de participer à notre première séance du Conseil permanent de la Francophonie à Paris en tant que membre observateur : une autre belle occasion de parler de nos 611 500 Franco-Ontariens, de nos institutions bilingues et francophones ainsi que des atouts de notre province à des diplomates francophones et francophiles de partout dans le monde.

Laissez-moi vous dire que la communauté internationale a beaucoup à apprendre sur la francophonie ontarienne et que les gens à qui nous parlons sont vraiment impressionnés par son dynamisme, sa vitalité et ses institutions. De plus, cette expérience fut une opportunité pour en apprendre davantage sur ce que la Francophonie a à offrir et sur notre rôle futur dans cette grande organisation internationale.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary.

M. Shafiq Qaadri: Je remercie la ministre pour sa réponse. Je suis vraiment fier de tout le progrès réalisé pour les Franco-Ontariens et Franco-Ontariennes. Les francophones font

partie de l’histoire de l’Ontario. Moi-même, j’ai aussi une communauté francophone et francophile très, très dynamique et vocale dans ma circonscription d’Etobicoke-Nord.

Est-ce qu’il y a d’autres initiatives qui pourraient soutenir notre francophonie pour que la ministre continue de rayonner pour les générations à venir?

L’hon. Marie-France Lalonde: Vendredi dernier, ma collègue Laura Albanese et moi-même, ainsi que le D r Qaadri, avons participé à un forum fédéral-provincial-territorial sur l’immigration francophone. Cette rencontre était historique : pour la première fois en 150 ans d’histoire, les ministres de l’immigration et de la francophonie se rencontraient pour discuter de stratégies pour renforcer l’immigration francophone.

Nous le savons ici en Ontario : cette immigration sera cruciale pour nos communautés francophones. Laissez-moi vous dire que la voix de l’Ontario a été entendue à ce

chapitre à Moncton.

D’ailleurs, j’en profite pour remercier tout particulièrement ma collègue Laura Albanese pour son dévouement par rapport à cet enjeu alors que nous travaillons fort pour tenter d’atteindre la cible de 5 % d’immigration francophone en Ontario. Et laissez-moi vous dire que nous allons continuer de soutenir nos communautés francophones, que ce soit à travers des initiatives locales ou globales, pour qu’elles puissent croître et prospérer.

Health care funding

Ms. Sylvia Jones: My question is to the Minister of Health. I’ve been working with a constituent from Dufferin–Caledon who is languishing on one of your wait-lists. Mr. Alcorn’s surgeon has told him that he requires immediate back surgery, but there is such a long waiting list it will be one year until his next consultation and at least two years until his surgery. Mr. Alcorn wants to know: Why is he being forced to wait three years for his needed back surgery?

Hon. Eric Hoskins: Mr. Speaker, of course, not knowing the specifics of this gentleman’s situation, I can’t comment specifically, but we are working hard and making targeted investments to reduce wait times.

I had referenced, I believe yesterday, that Ontario, when it comes to the time from family doctor to specialist and specialist to the procedure, if one is necessary, has the shortest or among the shortest wait times in the entire country. But there’s more work to be done.

One of the challenging areas is with orthopedics, particularly with back surgery. We have some great examples around the province where we have managed to make improvements, both to the wait times, but also to enable people who perhaps don’t need that surgical consult and that surgery to have other opportunities to get the support.

But it is a challenging situation. I’d be happy to talk to the member more in detail about that case.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Ms. Sylvia Jones: I appreciate the offer, Minister. The targeted wait times are clearly not working for Mr. Alcorn. He needs help now. He is not a candidate for cortisone injections, and his surgeon has told him that there is no other relief that is appropriate or would help.

Mr. Alcorn’s surgeon has told him that he would be willing to do more back surgeries, but he can’t because the operating room has been limited due to the minister’s funding model. When will this government stop blaming doctors, and address these unacceptable wait times?

Hon. Eric Hoskins: Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned, I’m happy to talk to the member opposite about this specific case because it’s difficult not knowing the particulars.

We have invested almost $2 billion for more than three million additional procedures since we came into office. Much of that is specific to surgical procedures, as well as to those who are experiencing back problems that require a surgical outcome.

As I mentioned, in Toronto, Hamilton and Thunder Bay, we have a program called ISAEC which addresses specifically people with lower back pain. Through a centralized process and through different supportive measures, we are able to provide them with the support that they need and, if necessary, the surgery that they require in greatly expedited ways. We’re looking at expanding that further.

Again, I make the offer to the member opposite to discuss it further.

Hydro rates

Mr. Percy Hatfield: My question this morning is for the Premier. Good morning, Premier. I have a sad and an unbelievable story for you. My constituent Larry Bruner is on Ontario Works. He gets the max, $706 a month. His rent is $406. He has to pay back $35.30 as part of an overpayment, so that leaves him with $264.70 a month to live on. But his hydro bill has gone up to $273.40, so he’s $8.70 in the hole before he even thinks about how he’s going to get anything to eat or pay any other bills.

Speaker, does this government still believe their flawed energy policies are going to make life easier for everyone in Ontario?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Minister of Energy.

Hon. Glenn Thibeault: I’d like to thank the member for bringing forward that question. I would like to maybe talk with the MPP afterwards to see if there’s anything we can do to try and help this individual, because I don’t know all of the circumstances that relate to that. But there are programs that are in place to actually help individuals like that. That’s why we brought forward the Ontario Electricity Support Program, to help individuals like that.

We are working with the Ministry of Community and Social Services to ensure that all OW clients get that reimbursement right away. And we’re actually working with the CRA to ensure that there is no requirement for a wet signature, because we do want to see those rebates go to those individuals as quickly as they can. It is in place to help individuals, just like what the member opposite was talking about.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary.

Mr. Percy Hatfield: The rising cost of hydro is fast outpacing any increases people may get on Ontario Works or the ODSP. Even with a 17% cut to hydro bills that’s coming sometime next summer, it would leave Larry $37.78 to live on for the month. That’s $1.26 a day—$1.26 a day to live on after your 17% cut that you say is coming sometime next summer.

Speaker, what’s it going to take to get this government to take better care of people like Larry Bruner, people who need their help the most?

Interjections.

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

Minister?

Hon. Glenn Thibeault: Once again, I thank the member for the question and for highlighting these issues.

That’s why we acted with the fair hydro plan. The fair hydro plan is going to be that 25% reduction by this summer. We’re going to make sure that individuals who are on OW and are most vulnerable actually will see that OESP program, the Ontario Electricity Support Program that I talked about in my previous answer—we’ve increased that by 50%.

Then on top of that, we’re actually allowing more individuals to qualify for this program, to ensure that they can get these savings back into their pockets.

We had to, as I said before, invest in our system, and we recognize that that cost money. That’s why we’re now making sure that the fair hydro plan will bring forward a 25% reduction for everybody across the province.

Visitors

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member from Essex on a point of order.

Mr. Taras Natyshak: Thank you, Speaker. I want to recognize some friends, Cody Cooper and Dan Gelinas, who are here from my neck of the woods, Chatham–Kent–Essex and Essex.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): I normally don’t do this, but we did have a former member in the House, who regrettably had to leave quickly. The member from Fort William in the 30th Parliament, Mr. Iain Angus, was here. He also was an MP. I wanted to recognize him for being in the House.

Correction of record

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The Minister of Finance on a point of order.

Hon. Charles Sousa: Mr. Speaker, I’d like to correct my record. I said that we will hold a majority share when we complete our sale with regard to Hydro One. We will be a major shareholder of their operations.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): All members have the right to correct their records.

There are no deferred votes. This House stands recessed until 3 p.m. this afternoon.

The House recessed from 1138 to 1500.

Introduction of Visitors

Mr. Han Dong: Good afternoon. I would like to welcome, in the public gallery, Ms. Helen Armstrong. She’s a community development and social action worker at St. Stephen’s Community House in my riding. She’s with a group of residents who I wish to recognize: Yu Ren Randy Wu, Ya Qin Yu, Ju Yuan Yu, Hua Ming Shen, Wen Qian Qiu, Jian Fu Liu, Xiu Luan Zhang, Zuo Yi Zhang and Qing Fang Zhang. Welcome to the Legislature.

I will be reading their petition later on this afternoon.

Ms. Sophie Kiwala: I would like to welcome, a little later this afternoon, Maria Barahona and Gustavo Gutierrez-Barahona.

Members’ Statements

Parkinson’s disease

Mr. Jeff Yurek: April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month. Parkinson’s is a neuro—

Ms. Sylvia Jones: Degenerative.

Mr. Jeff Yurek: —thank you—a neurodegenerative disease involving the malfunction and death of neurons in the brain. These neurons produce dopamine, which sends messages to the brain, which controls the body’s movements. As these cells diminish, it becomes difficult for the body to control movement and coordination. Individuals will experience tremors, slowness, stiffness, impaired balance, rigidity of muscles, fatigue and sleep disturbances. Parkinson’s affects everyone differently. It can take a long time to find the diagnosis, and progression varies amongst persons.

A patient’s journey starts with the family doctor, and continues on to touch many health care professionals; including a neurologist, a Parkinson’s nurse specialist, a psychiatrist/psychologist, a physiotherapist, an occupational therapist, a speech-language pathologist, a dietitian, a social worker and, of course, a pharmacist.

Unfortunately, there is still no cure for Parkinson’s, but there are new treatments coming out year to year.

I’d like to just take a moment and mention Dr. Jog, who works at the Lawson Health Research Institute in London. Dr. Jog’s research is using what is called TremorTek, which uses sensory devices hooked to software. What they do is detect where the tremors are occurring in the body, and then inject Botox into those muscles. He has had great success. He’s hoping to turn this research into practice across the province. It needs a few billing number changes. I’m glad the Minister of Health is here, because his office will be meeting with Dr. Jog in the near future. I think it’s a great advancement for Parkinson’s across the province.

I want to take this time to thank Parkinson Canada for their commitment in supporting over 100,000 Canadians affected by Parkinson’s disease.

Hydro rates

Ms. Jennifer K. French: I recently had the opportunity to attend Lights Out!, a forum on the cost of energy in Ontario, hosted by the Greater Oshawa Chamber of Commerce. The panel focused on the rising costs of hydro and the impact it has on business and industry in Ontario.

What I heard from the presenters was that however bad we imagine the situation to be, it’s so much worse. They spoke about how the system has been designed to benefit political objectives rather than to support growing businesses. They spoke about how this government signed contracts at high, fixed rates, and left ratepayers and businesses on the hook. They spoke about how high rates drove away manufacturing, causing demand for energy in the province to drop, leaving us all paying more for government fixed-rate contracts.

I also heard their assessment of the Liberal hydro scheme. They saw right through it. They know that it’s short-term thinking that will just cost us more in the end.

Speaker, it was interesting to hear that while the government defends time-of-use pricing—which the NDP plan would eliminate—local industry has realized that time-of-use pricing doesn’t work. For example, one local high-power-using industry switched to nights to reduce costs. It turned out that with all of the transportation, labour and other night-shift costs, it was more cost-effective to run smack in the middle of the day—so much for incentive.

It was an excellent event and it provided some valuable insight into how this government’s mismanagement is hurting all of us. Their energy policies have hurt our businesses, and they’ve hurt our potential. It’s time that we turn things around.

Services for disabled children

Mr. Yvan Baker: For some time, the Toronto District School Board has been considering the sale of Silver Creek Public School in my community of Etobicoke Centre. My constituents and I were very concerned about this, as Silver Creek is leased to two organizations: the Etobicoke Children’s Centre and Silver Creek Pre-School, both of which provide essential services to children with special needs. The property also includes green space that is very important to our community.

The sale of the property would have displaced the programs, and it was unacceptable to me that we would endanger services for some of the most vulnerable children in our community. It’s for that reason that I have worked with members of my community, including the Friends of Silver Creek, Etobicoke Children’s Centre, Silver Creek Pre-School, members of this government and the TDSB over the past year to protect these critical services for our most vulnerable children.

Our efforts have paid off. This week, Minister of Education Mitzie Hunter and Sophie Kiwala, who is the parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Children and Youth Services, came to Silver Creek Public School in Etobicoke, where Minister Hunter made a very important announcement to the kids, parents, teachers and staff in attendance: that the government will be submitting an offer to purchase the Silver Creek property from the TDSB.

I rise today to thank all those who helped save Silver Creek and these essential services: Ministers Hunter and Coteau, staff in multiple ministries who worked so hard on this, and the trustees at the TDSB. But most importantly, I would like to thank members of my community, the Etobicoke Children’s Centre and Silver Creek Pre-School, that have dedicated countless hours to this cause. Thank you for your time, your passion and your commitment to our community.

Together, we will protect the invaluable services offered to children with special needs—

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

Amateur sport

Mr. Monte McNaughton: I rise today to congratulate the new OFSAA triple-A girls hockey champions: Medway High School. On March 24, the Medway team—hailing from Arva, in the great riding of Lambton–Kent–Middlesex—knocked out the top-seeded team, Lawrence Park from Toronto, in the gold-medal game.

The final was especially exciting because last year, the Medway girls settled for bronze after being defeated by Lawrence Park in the semifinal, which just goes to show the determination and hard work of these young women, who not only won the gold but went undefeated at OFSAA this year with a perfect six-game run, including a dramatic win which came with a goal scored only 22 seconds before the end of overtime in their quarter-final.

I want to congratulate the team, their coaches and supporters on this outstanding achievement. Thank you for bringing home the gold. Lambton–Kent–Middlesex is very proud.

Really, I want to congratulate and commend all the athletes who competed at OFSAA in Port Credit this year. It takes dedication and perseverance to reach that level of competition, and every one of you should be proud of what you have accomplished.

Hydro One

Ms. Catherine Fife: In 2015, Liberal adviser Ed Clark stated that “having Hydro One broadly held will have a favourable impact on electricity rates over time ... private sector discipline—should improve Hydro One’s business performance.” After two years, these favourable impacts have not been seen. Instead of reducing rates as promised, Hydro One requested a 6.5% distribution rate increase next year and a total increase of 20% by 2022.

The people of Ontario are continuing to struggle with high hydro rates, yet in this context, Hydro One executives receive bloated bonuses. The CEO of Hydro One received $4.5 million in executive compensation in 2016. In fact, the top five executives at Hydro One shared $11 million in executive compensation on top of their salaries.

Privatization was sold to us by Ed Clark as a means for Hydro One to undergo private sector discipline, all in the name of lower rates. We now know private sector discipline does not mean lower hydro rates. Private sector discipline means that costs will continue to rise while we lose out on valuable revenues. Private sector discipline means that five Hydro One executives receive $11 million.

The privatization of Hydro One is a complete betrayal of the people of this province. This government should not put executive interests above those of everyday Ontarians.

Sanjha Punjab Radio and TV

Mrs. Amrit Mangat: This past weekend, I had the pleasure of attending Sanjha Punjab Radio and TV’s 10th anniversary celebration. This evening of song, dance and cultural entertainment attracted more than 400 guests from throughout the GTA, including my great riding of Mississauga–Brampton South.

The celebration offered a taste of excellent programming and a display of diversity over the past 10 years.

Sanjha Punjab Radio and TV is an excellent example of Ontario’s thriving multiculturalism. In fact, multicultural media allows us to share diverse cultural experiences with other communities and enriches our province. Such media also helps to build stronger communities that are informed, engaged and empowered. I was impressed by Sanjha Punjab Radio and TV’s mission to bring communities together so that we can live together in peace and harmony.

Remarks in Punjabi.

I congratulate Bob Dosanjh and his team at Sanjha Punjab Radio and TV. I wish them success going forward.

Dianne Winmill

Mr. Todd Smith: The Juno Awards were handed out Sunday in Ottawa, marking Canadian excellence in music. I’ve got a great-news story to tell you about Prince Edward–Hastings. It comes from the music program at North Hastings High School, where Ms. Dianne Winmill was named the MusiCounts Teacher of the Year for all of Canada.

MusiCounts is a division of the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, which is the group that hands out the Junos, so getting named teacher of the year by them is a very significant accomplishment, not just for Ms. Winmill but for all of the students who have been lucky enough to work with her, and for the whole community and the school as well, which she devotes her talents to.

You know, music is a special sort of subject, Mr. Speaker. Maybe unlike some other subjects, it’s the one where the person teaching really, really is just as important as the material, and maybe even more important. When someone comes along who can do it as well as Ms. Dianne Winmill, it’s right to recognize her, and good on the Junos for doing just that.

The other great news for Bancroft is that the school’s music program will get a $10,000 grant with the award, which she says will go toward fixing up and buying new instruments.

Again, congratulations, Ms. Dianne Winmill of North Hastings High School. She’s a very, very talented teacher, she’s a very talented musician, and she can sing too. Keep on rocking, Ms. Winmill, and congratulations on being named the music teacher of the year.

Dentists

Ms. Sophie Kiwala: I’m thrilled to rise today to recognize the important work and valuable service Ontario’s dentists offer to our society.

Dentists often experience significant challenges in their career: long hours, excessive back pain and continuous stress—and I’ve heard that they’re a magnet for bad teeth stories at parties. But our dentists are among the finest in the world, and despite their challenges, many continue to offer their patients invaluable support, patience and education to keep our pearly whites strong and healthy.

In my riding, we’re so fortunate to have a number of incredible dentists who are champions for oral health and general well-being, and strong champions and advocates for their community.

Dr. Waji Khan is a dear friend who has been practising dentistry for nearly 20 years. While he is known throughout Kingston for the wonderful services he and his team at Cataraqui Woods Dentistry offer, it is also his work in the community that makes him stand out. As a recipient of the 15-year volunteerism award from the Ministry of Citizenship, and the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal, his voluntary contributions reflect that high level of passion all dentists have for their communities and for the well-being of society.

It is important to formally recognize the work and contributions of all dentists in Ontario. This is why I intend to table a motion later that seeks to proclaim April 26 as Ontario Dentist Day, as recognition for the vital role Ontario doctors play in maintaining overall health.

I’m proud to offer my support, and I hope that everyone here will acknowledge our dentists in Ontario.

Ontario’s Green Leaf Challenge

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Point of order, the member from Wellington–Halton Hills.

Mr. Ted Arnott: Speaker, I’m seeking the unanimous consent of the House to allow me to display this white pine seedling—that was given to me by the Minister of Natural Resources last week—on my desk while I do my statement.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member from Wellington–Halton Hills is seeking unanimous consent to use a prop. Do we agree? I did not hear a no.

Members’ statements: the member from Wellington–Halton Hills.

Mr. Ted Arnott: Last week, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry announced the launch of Ontario’s Green Leaf Challenge, with the goal of planting millions of additional trees in 2017 to mark Ontario’s 150th anniversary within Confederation.

This initiative is inspired by the county of Wellington’s Green Legacy Programme, which is the largest municipal tree planting program in North America. Working with community partners, over two million trees have been planted in the county since 2004. This year, they plan to plant an additional 163,000 trees, which will help make our air cleaner and help to fight climate change.

I want to commend the county of Wellington staff, in particular Gary Cousins, Mark Van Patter and Rob Johnson, for their stewardship with Green Legacy. I also want to thank past warden George Bridge and current warden Dennis Lever for their leadership. We should also acknowledge the county’s CAO, Scott Wilson, and former warden, the late Brad Whitcombe, who together initiated the county’s Green Legacy Programme.

In May 2015, I attended a meeting in Georgetown to discuss how we might celebrate Canada’s 150th anniversary. It struck me that a great way to do this would be to take the county of Wellington’s Green Legacy Programme province-wide, with the goal of massively expanding our tree planting efforts as a community-building exercise, as well as getting people involved to help address the challenge represented by climate change.

Since then, working with our municipal partners, we have been pushing the government to establish an Ontario green legacy program. On October 22, 2015, this House debated my resolution calling on the government to establish an Ontario green legacy program. It passed unanimously, with support from all parties. Since then, I have been repeatedly and persistently following up with the government to urge them to implement our idea.

Let’s work together to build the promise of the future in Ontario. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): You can take your prop down now, to make sure that it doesn’t spring roots into your desk.

I thank all members for their statements, even with the props.

Introduction of Bills

Mandatory Sexual Assault Law Training for Judicial Officers Act, 2017 / Loi de 2017 sur la formation obligatoire des fonctionnaires judiciaires en droit relatif aux agressions sexuelles

Ms. Scott moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 120,

An Act to amend the Courts of Justice Act and the Justices of the Peace Act / Projet de loi 120, Loi modifiant la

Loi sur les tribunaux judiciaires et la

Loi sur les juges de paix.

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.

Ms. Laurie Scott: The Mandatory Sexual Assault Law Training for Judicial Officers Act, 2017: Currently, under

section 43 of the Courts of Justice Act, the Judicial Appointments Advisory Committee makes recommendations to the Attorney General for the appointment of provincial judges. New subsection 43(10.1) provides that the committee cannot consider a candidate unless he or she has completed comprehensive sexual assault law education.

Section 51.10 of the act is amended to require the plan for the continuing education of judges to require judges to complete education in respect of matters related to sexual assault law.

Similar amendments are made to the Justices of the Peace Act with respect to justices of the peace.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Motions? The member from Kingston and the Islands.

Ms. Sophie Kiwala: I move that, in the opinion of this House, the Legislative Assembly of Ontario should—

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Excuse me. This is not the spot for that. The Clerk will explain.

Petitions

Medical assistance in dying

Mr. Robert Bailey: I’ve got a petition here:

“Whereas Bill C-14, the federal legislation which legalized medical assistance in dying (MAID) in Canada explicitly affirms it is not intended to compel anyone to act against their deeply held beliefs; and

“Whereas the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario has adopted the effective-referral protocol for MAID, which may compel health care professionals to act contrary to their deeply held beliefs; and

“Whereas the effective-referral protocol for MAID is globally unprecedented; and

“Whereas there are viable alternatives for the provision of effective access to MAID that would allow all health care professionals to continue to practise with ethical integrity; and

“Whereas this effective-referral-protocol policy may compel health care professionals to make a dehumanizing choice between their profession and their faith, conscience or commitment to the Hippocratic oath;

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

“To immediately take action” to protect the rights of Ontario citizens by eliminating the effective-referral protocol for medical assistance in dying, upholding the conscience rights of health care professionals.

I agree with this petition and will send it down with Catherine.

Long-term care

M me France Gélinas: I have this petition that comes from all over the northeast. I’d like to thank Mrs. Sylvia Lachance from my riding, in Hanmer, for signing. It goes as follows:

“Whereas frail elderly patients needing long-term-care placement in homes within the North East Local Health Integration Network (NE LHIN) have been pressured to move out of the hospital to await placement, or stay and pay hospital rates of approximately $1,000 per day; and

“Whereas frail elderly patients needing long-term-care placement in Sudbury and Sault Ste. Marie have been pressured to move to homes not of their choosing, or to ‘interim’ beds in facilities that don’t meet legislated standards for permanent long-term-care homes; and

“Whereas the practice of making patients remain in ‘interim’ beds is contrary to Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC) policy which identifies ‘interim’ beds as intended to ‘ensure a continuous flow-through so that interim beds are constantly freed up for new applicants from hospitals’;

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

“—Ensure health system officials are using ‘interim’ beds as ‘flow-through,’ in accordance with fairness and as outlined in MOHLTC policy;

“—Ensure patients aren’t pressured with hospital rates and fulfill promises made to hundreds of nursing home residents who agreed to move temporarily with the promise that they would be relocated as soon as a bed in a home of their choosing became available.”

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

Primary health care

Mr. James J. Bradley: “Whereas the Ontario government needs to strengthen primary care as the foundation of the health care system to achieve health system transformation goals of Patients First; and

“Whereas research shows that interprofessional primary health care delivers better outcomes for people and better value for money; and

“Whereas an investment in primary care will help address recruitment and retention challenges, build strong interprofessional primary care teams and ensure high-quality people-centred primary health care delivery in Ontario; and

“Whereas over 7,500 staff in over 400 community health centres, family health teams, aboriginal health access centres and nurse practitioner-led clinics are being paid below rates recommended in 2012 and as a result are facing challenges recruiting and retaining health providers, including chiropodists, nurse practitioners, dietitians, registered nurses, registered practical nurses, health promoters, occupational therapists, psychologists, pharmacists, respiratory therapists, chiropractors, physiotherapists, mental health and social workers, physician assistants, managers and administration;

“We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to invest in interprofessional primary health care teams with a commitment of $130 million annualized, with an implementation plan over two years, to ensure interprofessional primary health care teams can effectively retain and recruit staff.”

Government advertising

Ms. Sylvia Jones: My petition is to stop taxpayer-funded partisan ads.

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas since 2006 the Auditor General of Ontario had been responsible for reviewing all government advertising to ensure it was not partisan; and

“Whereas in 2015 the Wynne government watered down the legislation, removing the ability of the Auditor General to reject partisan ads; and

“Whereas the Wynne government has since run ads such as those for the Ontario Pension Plan that were extremely partisan in nature, which cost almost $800,000; and

“Whereas the Wynne government is currently using taxpayers’ money to run partisan hydro ads; and

“Whereas history shows that the Wynne Liberal government has increased government ad spending in the year prior to a general election;

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

“To immediately restore the Auditor General’s authority to review all government advertising for partisan messages before the ads run.”

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

Water extraction

Ms. Catherine Fife: I’m very proud to present this petition on behalf of the Wellington Water Watchers for the first time in the House today.

“Protect Water as a Public Good.

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas groundwater is a public good, not a commodity; and

“Whereas local ecosystems must be preserved for the well-being of future generations; and

“Whereas the United Nations recognizes access to clean drinking water as a human right; and

“Whereas the duty to consult indigenous communities regarding water-taking within traditional territories is often neglected, resulting in a disproportionate burden on systemically marginalized communities during a period of reconciliation; and

“Whereas a poll commissioned by the Wellington Water Watchers found that two thirds of respondents support phasing out bottled water in Ontario over the course of a decade; and

“Whereas a