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March 28, 2011

39th Parliament, 2nd Session

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Hansard Transcripts

Votes and Proceedings

Orders and Notices

Hansard Transcripts 2011-Mar-28 (PDF)

L098 - Mon 28 Mar 2011 / Lun 28 mar 2011

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO

ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE DE L’ONTARIO

Monday 28 March 2011 Lundi 28 mars 2011

RESIGNATION OF MEMBER FOR

MISSISSAUGA EAST–COOKSVILLE

INTRODUCTION OF VISITORS

USE OF QUESTION PERIOD

ORAL QUESTIONS

GOVERNMENT SPENDING

TAXATION

TAXATION

TAXATION

TAXATION

TAXATION

ENERGY POLICIES

ENERGY POLICIES

EDUCATION FUNDING

EDUCATION FUNDING

NORTHERN ECONOMY

NURSES

ARTS AND CULTURAL FUNDING

HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION

HEALTH CARE

SENIOR CITIZENS

MEMBERS’ STATEMENTS

DANIEL CARRIERE

CARLETON UNIVERSITY RAVENS

STUNTMAN STU

HUMAN RIGHTS

MINE101

PREMIER OF ONTARIO

ABITIBIBOWATER

ALGONQUIN THUNDER

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

ONTARIO POWER AUTHORITY

WITHDRAWAL OF BILL 170

INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

PROHIBITION AGAINST GOVERNMENT

FUNDING OF THE PROMOTION

OF HATRED ACT, 2011 /

LOI DE 2011 INTERDISANT

AU GOUVERNEMENT DE FINANCER

LA FOMENTATION DE LA HAINE

STATEMENTS BY THE MINISTRY

AND RESPONSES

GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS

MINING INDUSTRY

ONTARIO HUMAN

RIGHTS COMMISSION /

COMMISSION ONTARIENNE

DES DROITS DE LA PERSONNE

GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS

MINING INDUSTRY

ONTARIO HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION

MINING INDUSTRY

ONTARIO HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION

GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS

PETITIONS

REPLACEMENT WORKERS

PARAMEDICS

DEVELOPMENT IN VILLAGES

OF HEART LAKE

HOME WARRANTY PROGRAM

PARAMEDICS

DEVELOPMENT IN VILLAGES

OF HEART LAKE

DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES

CREDIT SCORING

REPLACEMENT WORKERS

PARAMEDICS

OAK RIDGES MORAINE

REPLACEMENT WORKERS

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

OPPOSITION DAY

ONTARIO POWER AUTHORITY

ORDERS OF THE DAY

CHRISTOPHER’S LAW (SEX OFFENDER

REGISTRY) AMENDMENT ACT, 2011 /

LOI DE 2011 MODIFIANT

LA LOI CHRISTOPHER

SUR LE REGISTRE

DES DÉLINQUANTS SEXUELS

The House met at 1030.

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

Prayers.

RESIGNATION OF MEMBER FOR

MISSISSAUGA EAST–COOKSVILLE

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): I beg to inform the House that a vacancy has occurred in the membership of the House by reason of the resignation of Peter Fonseca as the member for the electoral district of Mississauga East–Cooksville.

Accordingly, I have issued my warrant to the Chief Electoral Officer for the issue of a writ for a by-election.

INTRODUCTION OF VISITORS

Ms. Helena Jaczek: In the east public gallery, we are joined by the grade 10 class from St. Augustine Catholic High School in my riding. Also, teacher Christina Iorio is accompanying the class.

Hon. Monique M. Smith: This morning, I had the privilege of meeting with some medical students from the OMA. Chloe Ward is at the University of Ottawa, and she is from the great town of Pembroke. Sophia Lane is at the University of Western Ontario, and she is from Kitchener. I don’t think they’re in here yet, but they’re on their way, and we’re delighted to have them this morning.

Mr. Reza Moridi: It’s great pleasure to introduce Master Alijan Alijanpour and his family and friends in the east gallery. This morning, Mr. Speaker, you hosted an event where you unveiled his masterpiece painting of this Legislative Building. Please join me in welcoming them.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): And on behalf of the Legislature, I would just like to say thank you very much for the kind donation of the painting. It’s going to hang proudly here at Queen’s Park.

Mr. Robert Bailey: It’s a great pleasure for me today to welcome to the members’ west gallery the parents and grandparents of our page Travis Poland: Christine Poland and Dave Poland, his mother and dad; and his brother Tyler. They’re joined by his grandparents Joyce and Bob Poland, their granddaughter Alison Poland and my wife, Elizabeth Bailey, his aunt. I’d like to welcome them to the Legislature today.

Hon. Deborah Matthews: I’d like to introduce members from the Ontario Medical Students Association, including co-chairs Christina Nowik and Kyle Cullingham, who join 50 other medical students who are visiting Queen’s Park today for their seventh annual lobby day. Welcome to all.

USE OF QUESTION PERIOD

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): During question period on Thursday, March 24, I interrupted a question being posed by the member for Thornhill, Mr. Shurman. I did so out of a concern that it was more of a not-so-veiled attempt to import the Canadian general election onto the floor of this chamber as opposed to a question that related to and dealt with matters of provincial policy and issues within the jurisdiction of this assembly.

Following question period, the House leader of the official opposition, Mr. Yakabuski, raised a point of order. He was followed by the House leader for the third party, Mr. Kormos, and the government House leader, Ms. Smith.

I have nothing but a desire to see this place function well. This happens when the House is operating within a band of reasonably acceptable decorum, where members can hear each other and business actually can be conducted. This band is actually very broad, and I think there is almost an intuitive consensus among us as to where that band usually lies.

Last Thursday, I was asked for my guidance on what is an appropriate exchange between members of this House. My point of view in that regard has never changed, nor is it a new perspective.

The purpose of question period in this House is to seek and provide information relating to provincial policy. Questions asked of a minister and answers given must be relevant to his or her program responsibilities. As I said, this is not new; a cursory glance at the precedents in this regard reveals such rulings going back as far as 1978. Specifically, in a case on point, Speaker Carr had this to say on June 4, 2001: “To read other people’s records during a by-election is not the purpose of question period.… I will not allow people to use the questions to turn them into partisan situations.”

Last Thursday, I simply asked the member for Thornhill to link his question to this government’s policy. He attempted to do so, and I allowed the question. I do not think it is too difficult a concept to grasp that the executive council is responsible for the policies of this government and not for the comments or opinions of candidates in the federal election, and that it is these policies upon which they should be questioned.

I fully expect that the Canadian general election—only a prospect last Thursday, but now in full swing—will find its way onto the floor of this Legislature. As the member for Welland said, politics is what this place is all about. Of course, national issues are of significance and relevance here. However, it is that relevance to provincial policy that I insist on. I would ask all members to keep that in mind when crafting their questions and formulating answers so that we can maintain the integrity of question period and not succumb to the temptation to wander too far into the political battlefield of a federal election.

I thank the House leaders for all your submissions on this issue.

ORAL QUESTIONS

GOVERNMENT SPENDING

Mr. Tim Hudak: My question is to the Premier. Last year, after finally admitting that your runaway spending meant Ontario was on the verge of doubling its debt, you famously retreated to your “thinking place.” When you emerged, you said that you finally had a plan. You said two things: One, you would freeze public sector wages, and second, you would find savings by streamlining agencies.

Now, a year later, we see that your public sector restraint package is badly off the rails and arbitrators are thumbing their noses at your wage freeze, driving up costs. Secondly, you seem to want to pat yourself on the back on agencies, but in reality you’ve pared back only 0.0002% in spending.

Premier, since you didn’t keep your promises last year, why should we believe your budget commitments in 2011?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: I appreciate the question, and we look forward to presenting our budget inside this hallowed precinct, not over at Magna. I can also assure you that there will be no hidden deficits. We will be very transparent, very open and honest with the people of Ontario, unlike the government before us.

I also want to say that when it comes to our plan, there’s no doubt about it: It differs dramatically from that which would be proposed by my honourable colleague and his party. We are not prepared to fire nurses. We are not prepared to shut down hospitals. We’re not prepared to lay off meat inspectors and water inspectors. Those are the kinds of investments, the kind of public services, that our families have to be able to count on. We have another way when it comes to introducing balance and responsible progress when it comes to eliminating the deficit over time.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Supplementary?

Mr. Tim Hudak: You know, Premier, the reality is that you are on track to doubling the provincial debt. The fact of the matter is that you and your caucus are hard-wired to tax and spend. It’s simply part of the McGuinty DNA.

Last year, you pushed your luck by telling families you were a changed man, that you finally understood the need to get spending under control and give average families a break. But now, a year later, Premier, we see you have not changed at all. You’ve made no attempt to get your spending under control, your wage restraint package is badly off the rails and Ontario families are paying more and more and getting less in return.

Quite frankly, Premier, why should we believe a single word in tomorrow’s budget?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: As I like to say, history can be our friend. Let’s revisit what happened in 2003. We asked the Provincial Auditor to take a very close look at the books, because the government before us had asserted that the budget was balanced. But we discovered that the previous government had hidden a $5.5-billion deficit. So we worked very hard to eliminate that deficit over time, which we did. We then balanced the budget for three successive years.

Then we were hit with a global recession. We thought it was important to support our auto sector. We thought it was important to participate in the global effort to stimulate the economy. That meant we borrowed money. That led to a larger deficit. That’s the rationale behind the deficit. What we’re going to do now is lay out a plan that’s going to eliminate the deficit over time.

But we will not, for example, as my colleague opposite insists, take $3 billion out of health care. That is unacceptable and not in keeping with our values and the values of Ontario families.

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

Mr. Tim Hudak: The Premier obviously has an eight-year amnesia case going on affecting his judgment. The Premier forgets about the fact that he raised taxes on Ontario families through the roof with his HST tax grab, with his so-called health tax, with his eco tax—the list goes on and on.

The problem, Premier, is that it’s in your DNA to ramp up spending, and you keep increasing taxes to try to pay for it. But it doesn’t work. Ontario families are absolutely tapped out. Families need a break, and they need a Premier to rein in his runaway spending.

Premier, why is it that you see every Ontario family as your own personal ATM?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: I can always appreciate the perspective offered by my honourable colleague, but it’s obviously something I don’t share. In addition to that hidden $5.5-billion deficit, which is part of the record now, we also passed a law to ensure that that kind of thing doesn’t happen again, so we’re being very open and transparent.

We’re also open and transparent with our values, and those distinguish us from the party opposite. Again, they are determined to take $3 billion out of health care. I can only begin to imagine the pain and suffering and anxiety that will cause Ontario families. They are also determined to shut down full-day kindergarten in the province of Ontario. They want to bring their traditional slash-and-burn approach to our schools and our health care.

Again, I say that that is not in keeping with the values of the people of Ontario, and it’s not in keeping with the approach we will continue to bring in the budget we will present in this chamber tomorrow.

TAXATION

Mr. Tim Hudak: Back to the Premier: The Premier uses the phrase, “History can be our friend.” If the Premier truly believes it, then that indicates one thing clearly: After eight years, Dalton McGuinty’s government is hard-wired to increase taxes to pay for his runaway spending. It’s in your genes. Even when Premier McGuinty says, “Read my lips: I won’t raise your taxes,” there’s a 100% guarantee, Premier, that you will raise taxes on Ontario families.

Last year’s budget said “no tax increases,” and on Canada Day you brought in the underhanded eco tax to try to hide it behind the HST. You said that’s gone, but we find out today that you’re going to continue with the eco tax with an $18-million so-called cancellation fee.

Premier, tell us it’s not so. Is the eco tax back on the table?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: Let’s talk about my honourable colleague’s obsessive determination to make cuts to public services.

I notice that there are some medical students who are visiting us today. I welcome them and wish them the best in their careers, and I thank them for pursuing such an honourable calling.

I want to talk a little bit about all the investments we have made in health care to strengthen that for our families: We have billions more invested in the system, 94% of Ontarians now have a family doctor, we put in place 200 family health teams that are caring for 2.3 million Ontario patients, we’re building 18 new hospitals, we’re investing in 100 major hospital expansion and renovation projects, there are over 10,000 more nurses working in the province of Ontario today and we have the shortest wait times in the country. That’s what it means when you put your values into your budget.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Supplementary?

Mr. Tim Hudak: Premier, the eco tax was simply the latest greedy tax grab from the McGuinty Liberal government. You swore in your last budget that you wouldn’t increase taxes, and then you nailed families with your underhanded eco tax grab. Now, we find out today you’re going to go back to Ontario families to ask them to pay $18 million more toward your eco tax.

The record is clear: In 2003, Premier, you actually signed an oath to say that you would not increase taxes, and then you nailed families with your greedy health tax increase. Then you did it again: You said that you wouldn’t increase taxes after 2007, and you brought in your greedy HST tax grab.

Families are saying that enough is enough. They need a break. We’ll deliver it; you’ll increase taxes. Why don’t you get it?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: Let’s just break down their commitment to take $3 billion out of health care so that families better understand what we’re talking about here. When they scrap the health premium—I mean, they rail against it every single day; the only logical

interpretation to give that is that they’re going to eliminate it. They’re going to stand by their convictions, surely, and eliminate $3 billion from health care. We’ll take them at their word on that.

That means that we fire 15,000 doctors or almost 72,000 nurses. It means that up to 40 hospitals are at risk of closure, and it means eliminating care for 75,000 seniors in long-term-care homes.

When my honourable colleague says that he doesn’t like the health premium, he’s saying that he’s going to take $3 billion out of health care. I think that’s something families want to hear just a little bit more about, so we’re going to take the time to make sure Ontario families understand that.

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

Mr. Tim Hudak: The sad reality, Premier, is that families are waiting up to 26 hours today in the McGuinty Ontario for ER service. Families that I talk to across the province say that they can’t get a loved one into a long-term-care home for up to two years. Then you took a billion dollars, flushed it down the drain and put it into the pockets of Liberal-friendly consultants in the billion-dollar eHealth boondoggle. There’s enough on that to defeat a government right there, with that waste of precious health dollars.

Now, we find out today that after you brought in the so-called health tax, which just goes into general revenue, after you brought in the HST, after you brought in the eco tax, it’s $18 million more for the eco tax.

Premier, will you at least admit that the eco tax is back on the table for Ontario families?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: It’s interesting: This may be the first time ever I’ve heard my honourable colleague talk about a concern connected with health care—because we know that their agenda is, in fact, to take $3 billion out of health care.

It’s interesting that we measure wait times today in Ontario. We have the shortest wait times in Canada today in Ontario. They didn’t even mention them in the past. They were afraid to mention them; they were afraid to get the answers.

Again, what I’d ask my honourable colleague to do is to stand up in this Legislature—at some point in time, surely, there will be some specificity and some clarity with respect to their plan—and assure Ontarians that they’re not going to take $3 billion out of health care, that they’re not going to fire all those doctors and those nurses and close those hospitals. I think that’s something they owe Ontario families.

TAXATION

Ms. Andrea Horwath: My question is for the Premier. Yesterday, the McGuinty government trotted out the oldest trick in the pre-budget playbook, a trick sponsored by the Enron accounting department. Yes, it’s the incredible shrinking deficit.

If the Premier is as committed to slaying the deficit as he claims, why won’t he pull the plug on his $6-billion corporate tax giveaway?

Interjection: Just can’t take good news.

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: There was some talk of some good news. We’ll have to wait and see the budget tomorrow to see exactly what we’re talking about. I think if you look at our record, though, you’ll see that we worked very hard to eliminate the hidden deficit we inherited from the previous government.

We have revitalized and inspired public confidence once again in our public services, especially in education and in health care. We were side-swiped, like everybody else, by the global recession. We decided it was important to support our auto sector and to stimulate the economy. Now what we are going to do is put forward a budget that protects our public services, that continues to engender economic growth and more job creation and that, at the same time, puts ourselves on a plan to eliminating the deficit and balancing the budget over time. We’re going to do it in a thoughtful, balanced and responsible way. That’s what families want.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Supplementary?

Ms. Andrea Horwath: In my humble opinion, this is where the Premier loses all credibility. As his government imposed $6 billion in new taxes on home heating, gas and other daily essentials, it shovelled more than $6 billion out to some of the biggest corporations around, including $550 million to big banks, through the elimination of the capital tax. At a time when Ontarians are struggling to pay 8% more to keep their homes warm and their cars on the road, how does the Premier justify his corporate tax giveaway?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: I would again recommend to my honourable colleague a study called Not a Tax Grab After All. That came out in December 2009. I would recommend that to my honourable colleague. She will see that the study looks in a comprehensive way at our package of tax reforms. It comes to the conclusion that for lower-income families they’re ahead. For middle-income families, to use the report’s language, it’s “a wash.” For higher-income families, they’re going to pay a little bit more because of the consumption tax associated with the HST.

The fact of the matter is that we’ve got a package of tax reforms in place that, among other things, reduces income taxes on the average Ontario family by $355 this year and every year going forward.

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

Ms. Andrea Horwath: The Premier likes to claim it’s “good economics” to dole out tax cuts to large corporations already sitting on record profits; corporations like the Bank of Montreal, whose profits rose to $2.8 billion last year and whose CEO got a tidy $2-million raise. Does the Premier really believe that it’s good economics for the Bank of Montreal to get a tax cut of $125 million paid for by the people of Ontario?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: It’s an old-fashioned approach. I gather it’s one that my honourable colleague is going to stick with, which is: As the NDP you’ve got to hammer business and you’ve got to lose your objectivity. We’re bringing a balanced, thoughtful, responsible approach. We understand that it’s important to lighten the tax load on our businesses, those people who create jobs for us. We also understand it’s important to reduce the tax burden on our families, which is what we’ve been doing: $355 off the average family’s income tax bill this year.

We also have our clean energy benefits there to take 10% off all of our electricity bills for five years. While we are lightening the load on our businesses, we’re also making dramatic investments in our schools and in our hospitals. We’re bringing a thoughtful, balanced approach.

TAXATION

Ms. Andrea Horwath: My question is to the Premier. There are more than 1.6 million Ontario families living in poverty, and our province is the child poverty capital of Canada. But the big banks are doing more than okay: Scotiabank’s profits rose to $4.2 billion and their CEO took home more than $10 million. Yet the Premier is giving Scotiabank a $150-million tax break. In tomorrow’s budget, will the Premier finally start looking after the interests of Ontarians or will it be more of the same for his well-heeled corporate buddies?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: It’s that old-fashioned approach. If you are in the NDP and you are steeped in kind of a traditional socialism, then you’ve just got to hate business. You can’t accept that they have a valuable role to play in our economy and in our society. In fact, there are millions of Ontarians who are employed by businesses. That’s very important to those families.

I would ask my honourable colleague, then, to acknowledge our Ontario child benefit, the first provision of its kind in our province. We started it at $600 per child. It’s now at $1,100 per child. It’s benefiting 1.3 million children in 600,000 Ontario families. I would ask my honourable colleague: Why does she not support that provision to help Ontario kids?

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Supplementary?

Ms. Andrea Horwath: The McGuinty government’s taxation policies are so obscene, they should be labelled “for adults only.” Take the case of TD Canada Trust: That bank made $1.5-billion profit in the last quarter. Their CEO, Ed Clark, a well-known insider, made more than $11 million in salary. Yet, TD—surprise, surprise—is cashing in as well, thanks to the Premier’s corporate tax generosity.

Will that generosity be rolling out again tomorrow, as Ontarians continue to get squeezed out of every last penny?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: My honourable colleague tells us that we shouldn’t be working with our businesses, but I want to remind her about some of the investments we’ve made to support businesses in her own community. We work with Max Aicher North America; we’re creating 300 high-value jobs in Hamilton. JNE and Daqo New Energy: That’s 300 new jobs in Hamilton over the course of two years. ArcelorMittal Dofasco: We’re investing $44 million. I’ve never heard my colleague stand up and say, “No, we should not be investing and working with businesses.

They’re making too much money.” We put $150 million into Stelco to participate in their restructuring process. I don’t recall my honourable colleague saying, “Stop working with businesses in my riding, because you’re helping to support jobs in my riding.”

She can’t have it both ways. Either you work with business, you work to ensure we have a strong, growing economy that creates more jobs for our families, or you don’t.

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

Ms. Andrea Horwath: I’m very, very proud to remind the Premier and his group over there where New Democrats stand. We don’t believe that it makes sense to fork over hundreds of millions of dollars to banks and their CEOs when they’re already making billions of dollars in profits as Ontarians are forced to dig deeper and deeper into their pockets to pay the bills, bills made 8% more expensive by this government’s unfair HST. Tomorrow’s budget can give recession-weary Ontarians a real break or it can keep profitable banks and big corporations at the trough. What’s it going to be? Whose side will the Premier be on?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: Again, “at the trough” is a very old-fashioned line. I just don’t think it has a place in modern, progressive debates about how you build a strong economy that supports good public services.

If we were doing nothing to support our social programs and our public services, I would say that my honourable colleague has a point, but the fact is, we’re doing much in that regard. We have launched full-day kindergarten. When it’s fully implemented, that’s $1.5 billion. We’ve accelerated the phase-in of the Ontario child benefit, two years ahead of schedule, to $1,100 per child. We’re investing $63.5 million per year to permanently fill in a funding gap left by the federal government for licensed child care spaces.

We have launched a social assistance review and we think we can find better ways to work in that regard. We have increased the social assistance rates, I think, six times over and the minimum wage seven times over. So we’re doing what we need to do on both sides of the spectrum.

TAXATION

Ms. Lisa MacLeod: My question is to the Premier. Ontario families saw you use the HST to sneak a greedy eco tax past them and they’ve had enough. At the time, they demanded that you show them respect and do something about the eco taxes that you added to literally hundreds of household products that they use every day. After you were caught, the last environment minister was fired for his

part in trying to slip those eco taxes right past Ontario families. Now we learn that the new environment minister is ready to agree to sell Ontario families down the river and make them foot the bill for an $18-million eco tax cancellation. How will you hold him accountable?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: To the Minister of the Environment.

Hon. John Wilkinson: It’s important to remember that on this side of the House, we don’t believe that hazardous materials should get into our landfills. That contaminates our groundwater, and that’s exactly why we have a number of increasingly successful programs to keep hazardous materials out of our landfills.

The member opposite needs to understand that the fees that were brought in on July 1 are cancelled and they’re not coming back. It’s that simple. But there were six items that we thought it was in the public interest that we ensure do not get into a landfill and that the cost does not rise. We do not believe that the cost of a fire extinguisher should go up. People should buy fire extinguishers, and that’s why our government is proud, when it comes to fire extinguishers, compact fluorescent light bulbs and switches that contain mercury, that we will bear that cost, and we were very clear. But if Stewardship Ontario thinks they can negotiate on the front page of the Toronto Star—

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

Ms. Lisa MacLeod: I don’t think Ontario families are really in the mood to listen to the father of the $3-billion greedy HST tax grab, and he’s going to nail them with another $18 million.

They’re fed up. They’ve had enough. They stood up to you when you tried to sneak that tax grab through with the HST, and they demand respect. It does not respect Ontario families to try to slip it past them again. That’s $18 million of their money.

Ontario families are asking for relief, but you’re still trying to make them foot the bill for this $18-million eco fee fiasco. Why should Ontario families believe you won’t try to raise taxes again tomorrow or before the next election?

Hon. John Wilkinson: It’s very clear that the party opposite wants to do what they did when they were in government, which is to download the costs onto municipalities. We have uploaded that cost.

Once again, the Tories are trying to have it both ways. They think it’s acceptable to waste. They said to people, “We’re going to get rid of those fees.” Well, where do you think all of that hazardous material is going to go? It’s going to go into our landfills and it’s going to contaminate our groundwater for our children and our grandchildren. We will ensure, and we’ll continue to ensure, that that is not happening.

There will be no additional eco fees. We’ve been very clear.

But we will not negotiate with Stewardship Ontario on the front page of the Toronto Star. According to my officials, I can tell you that the number that is reported is inaccurate. The taxpayers of Ontario will make sure that if there are any fees that will be paid by our government to ensure that hazardous materials stay out of landfills, they will be audited.

We are not going to go down the path of the previous government that said, “Well, we’ll just get rid of these fees.” It’s all right by them that these hazardous—

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

TAXATION

Mr. Peter Tabuns: My question is to the Minister of the Environment. Today the eco fee fiasco continues. Industry-run Stewardship Ontario is asking taxpayers to cover millions more in costs for the bungled program.

You’ve been making some very interesting statements. Are you going to tell us right now that they’re out of luck, that in the end, it’s companies that will pay, not families?

Hon. John Wilkinson: What is the position of the NDP today on extended producer responsibility? We’re not exactly sure on this side of the House.

There are programs that we had prior to July 1 to make sure that used tires, household hazardous waste, used electronics and the blue box program were all up and running. Those programs are getting better.

On July 1, there was a program that was brought in that does not work for consumers. It confused them, it wasn’t transparent, and it left people confused. That’s why, in October, we cancelled that program, and we said that those fees are not coming back. But that does not mean that the extended producer responsibility that looks after all of our other programs is not still in force.

When it comes to the

article in the Toronto Star, I say quite clearly to Stewardship Ontario: We’re not negotiating on the front page of the Toronto Star. If there are any payments, they will be the result of an audit—an audit that is ongoing, as reported by the Toronto Star. We await the results of that audit.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Supplementary?

Mr. Peter Tabuns: It’s no wonder the public is confused: They can’t get straight answers out of this minister.

It’s very clear: We have said companies should pay for their toxic waste—simple as that. Your government hasn’t upheld that principle. You’re about to go into what sounds to me like backroom negotiations on this.

Tell them, “Forget it.” Are you going to tell them that?

Hon. John Wilkinson: I ask the NDP: Do you think that the price of fire extinguishers should go up? It is in the public interest that the price of a fire extinguisher not go up. That’s why we’ve decided that it’s in the public interest that people have fire extinguishers.

Now, the NDP over there have an interesting idea: that when it comes to sharps, to pharmaceuticals, to mercury-containing devices and to compact fluorescent light bulbs, they believe the cost of those items should go up, even though they benefit the environment, even through they’re for public safety.

That’s why we cancelled the program on July 1, but we’re proud, as a government, to ensure that we’re there on the side of the consumers when they do things that are in the public good, like buying a fire extinguisher, like buying a compact fluorescent light bulb. I say to the member, if you’re for an increase in those costs, then you should be very clear about that, because we do not think that that is in the public interest.

The programs that we have, through extended producer responsibility, are increasingly working. We’re very proud of that.

ENERGY POLICIES

Mr. Bob Delaney: This question is for the Minister of Energy. For more than a year and a half, the Leader of the Opposition has tabled no energy plan to share with this Legislature and no energy plan—

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): I would just remind the honourable member of a statement I delivered earlier. I trust he’s going to tie this question into government policy.

Mr. Bob Delaney: Thank you, Speaker. I will—and no energy plan to share with the people of Ontario.

Last week, the Conservatives did share something they would do, which is to propose to destroy the Ontario Power Authority and to fire the expert power system planners who are bringing cleaner, more reliable and modern electricity to the province of Ontario.

Minister, could you describe what Ontario is doing to get the best value from our province’s energy agencies?

Hon. Brad Duguid: I want to thank the member for the question. The member for Mississauga–Streetsville raises a really good point.

The government has taken several steps to keep the cost of electricity down through our agencies, and those actions have saved consumers over $1 billion so far. The Ontario Power Authority has reduced its overall operating budget by 4.1% this year, and we’ve frozen executive salaries. Hydro One is reducing operating costs as well, by $170 million this year. Ontario Power Generation is reducing operation costs by more than $600 million over the next four years.

Now, I know that the PC Party never misses an opportunity to insult the good work being done by public servants, from nurses to teachers to power workers. They take a great deal of pride in insulting their work, and I suspect this latest assault on the Ontario Power Authority is part of a bigger plan to lay siege to the public sector of this province—

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

Mr. Bob Delaney: Thank you, Minister. Since 2003, Ontario’s power agencies have become more accountable and more transparent and delivered value for money to Ontarians. The dark days of hiding yachts and lavish expenses from public view went out like the lights once did with the previous government.

From the Ontario Power Authority, our province’s citizens expect tangible, cost-effective program delivery and efficient power system planning. Minister, please tell the House how the focus of the Ontario Power Authority adds value to Ontario’s power system.

Hon. Brad Duguid: I’d be pleased to do that. Yes, indeed, the Ontario Power Authority is diligently focused on their power system planning responsibilities, on conservation, on working with Ontario’s local distribution companies and, of course, on administering Ontario’s hugely successful feed-in tariff and microFIT programs.

The Leader of the Opposition’s plan to kill this job-creating clean energy program puts the boots to Ontario farmers and isn’t something that he really likes to talk about; he has his staff and caucus members do that dirty work for him.

Ontario farmers want to participate in our efforts to build a clean and reliable energy system. Hundreds of Ontario farmers are leasing their land for wind and solar projects. Thousands of Ontario farmers are participating in our microFIT program. They’re earning, on average, $10,000 per year. PC members have arrogantly taunted those farmers, saying they should enjoy these contracts while they have—

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

ENERGY POLICIES

Mr. John Yakabuski: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Interjection.

Mr. John Yakabuski: Has the minister finished? I’m not sure.

To the Premier: An Ontario PC caucus motion to dismantle one of your unneeded hydro bureaucracies and pass the savings on to Ontario families and seniors will be voted on this afternoon. You in the McGuinty Liberals hear the same things I do from Ontario families and seniors who are stretched to the limit and can’t afford hydro increases for smart meters, hydro exports and rate hikes. They want clean energy, but they can’t afford subsidies of 80 cents for five-cent power to companies like Samsung that you hand them over to.

You’ve given them skyrocketing hydro bills and a scheme that makes our children and grandchildren pay a billion dollars a year for the mess that you’ve made of hydro today.

Today, will you support our motion to give Ontario families some relief?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: To the minister.

Hon. Brad Duguid: What the PC Party really wants to do is scrap planning for our energy system in Ontario. It’s plain and simple.

One of the key functions of the OPA that they do on behalf of consumers is long-term planning. They want to scrap the OPA so they can go back to the days when their leader sat in the cabinet, helplessly watching our energy system fall apart, with no plan from that PC government. The lack of a plan forced that government to roll out energy generators across this province in fear of outages. Their lack of a plan forced Ontario families to pay $1 billion in their last two years in office to pay for expensive imports of power from coal plants in the US.

By contrast, we do have a long-term energy plan, and we will provide a clean, reliable power system for the people of this province.

You’ve learned nothing from your mistakes in the past, and your motion today—

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

Mr. John Yakabuski: The minister talks about a long-term plan that is breaking Ontario families and a long-term energy plan that he keeps tearing pages out of by the day.

It’s against the character of the Premier to help families make ends meet, which is probably why he has ruled out tax cuts in the budget. From the moment they get up to the moment they go to bed, Ontario families pay more for hydro under the McGuinty Liberals—16% more in the last year alone. The Canadian exporters’ and manufacturers’ association says hydro bills will go up another $732 in the next five years.

It may seem small to you, Premier, but the price Ontario seniors and families pay for a bloated Ontario Power Authority bureaucracy they don’t need is a big deal to them. Why are you voting to help a bureaucracy that no one needs, instead of helping Ontario families and seniors make ends meet?

Hon. Brad Duguid: Speaking of plans, I just got late-breaking news: I just heard the PC Party is now considering moving their policy convention and delaying the release of their platform yet again. They’re stalling again, trying to hide from Ontarians the true motives of their plan to cut deeply into health care, to cut—

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): I’d just remind the honourable minister to talk about the government policy, please.

Hon. Brad Duguid: Absolutely, Mr. Speaker—and to remove planning from energy altogether.

This is the latest in a series of delays in the PC Party platform saga. Ontario families deserve to know what you’re going to do in energy.

Let’s look back. The member for Simcoe–Grey said it was “close” last October. The member for Thornhill said, “Sometime in early 2011.” That leader is not only keeping his plan hidden from Ontario families; he’s afraid to share it with his own caucus—

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

EDUCATION FUNDING

Mr. Rosario Marchese: My question is to the Minister of Education. On Friday, the minister released guidelines for school fees. The guidelines make it official. The government is happy for schools to charge parents fees for field trips, sports uniforms, student agendas, art and music supplies, and much more. If a parent can’t afford these fees, then their child will simply sit out the field trip or simply go, as a child, and ask the principal—maybe beg—for him or her to pay for the fee, or drop off the sports team or have fewer materials for art class.

Is this the kind of public education system you, Minister, and the education Premier want?

Hon. Leona Dombrowsky: What I think is very important to remind the people in this House and the people of Ontario is that we are the first government in the province of Ontario, in the history of our province, to bring some rigour to fees and fundraising in our schools. Certainly there were fees in place when they were in government and with the previous government, and we are the first government that brought some rigour. We now have guidelines on what is appropriate to charge students for fees.

There’s also a component that does enable schools and boards to have a program in place to address the fact that there may be students in schools who are not able to pay fees. We think that it’s absolutely appropriate that school communities would be sensitive to that and that they would have an option, within their board and within their schools, to provide those students, in a very discreet way, with the resources that they might need to—

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

Mr. Rosario Marchese: The minister already has guidelines and a policy banning course fees, but we know that 70% of the schools are still charging fees for courses. We know that.

The enforcer—that would be you, Minister—is missing in action. What the new guidelines do is make school fees permanent. The policy will allow schools in wealthy areas to raise hundreds and thousands of dollars for educational programs, equipment and activities, while students at schools in lower-income areas, which can’t raise this kind of money, go without these opportunities.

Why won’t the government properly fund schools so that all students have access to educational opportunities instead of only those who can afford it?

Hon. Leona Dombrowsky: I think that it’s important for the people of Ontario to be aware of the fact that this government has increased funding in education by 40%. It is for that reason that, as a government, we are saying that no student should be charged a fee that is directly related to the course of studies that would be required for their graduation. We feel comfortable saying this because of the investments we have made over the years, the 40% investment that is getting directly into schools to support students.

There has been no government that has had guidelines in place around fees until this government. We have worked with parents, with students, with school communities and with school boards to ensure that we have the appropriate guidelines in place to ensure—

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

EDUCATION FUNDING

Mr. Rick Johnson: My question is also for the Minister of Education. A recent report published by People for Education is reporting that many Ontario high schools charge student fees not allowed under the Education Act for courses. We know that caring, involved parents want the best for their children. Minister, this practice is not in keeping with the fundamentals of public education.

Would the minister tell me what I can tell my constituents about this? Is this a growing problem across the province, and what are we doing to address this?

Hon. Leona Dombrowsky: We have listened very closely to parents and people within our school communities and students who have identified that, indeed, there was a lack of consistency, and there were inappropriate fees being charged to students to participate in programs. Our government has changed that. We’re the first government in Ontario to do that.

The Education Act states already, and we have made it very clear to school boards and, through them, to schools, that no student should be charged a fee to participate in a course or for any material that is required for the completion of a course that is required for their graduation. We have worked collaboratively to understand where fees were being charged, and we have made it very clear what is not appropriate for students to be paying for in our schools.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Supplementary?

Mr. Rick Johnson: Minister, it’s good to hear there are now guidelines in place that will help ensure schools and boards understand how to best apply school fees. Parents in my riding will be pleased to hear that they will now know what fees can be applied and what fees cannot.

Would the minister tell me and my constituents about the process leading up to the guidelines being implemented? Were parents and communities consulted?

Hon. Leona Dombrowsky: This is such an important issue. We thought it was important that we undertake a very comprehensive collaboration with parents, with schools and with students. As a result of that, we put out a draft document; it was on our website some months ago. That was the result of, again, working together with our school communities. We received input from that. We made changes to the draft. Then last week, we put out the final document.

We’re following the same process for guidelines around fundraising, and following that, we will be introducing guidelines on corporate participation in our school communities.

This is the first time that this exercise has been undertaken by any government in Ontario. We think that very it’s important for our students and their families. We’re going to take the time to get it right so that when we do bring out the guidelines, they will reflect what the students and communities have told us they need—

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

NORTHERN ECONOMY

Mr. Randy Hillier: My question is for the Minister of Northern Development. I recently met with the mayor of Iroquois Falls, who expressed a deep concern for his town’s future. Thanks to the exorbitant cost of hydro in this province, AbitibiBowater, which operates a mill in Iroquois Falls and also owns a dam that powers the mill, have been forced to sell off their hydro-electric facilities. The mayor’s concerns are clear: Once Abitibi sells the dam, the likelihood of them being able to continue to operate the mill is next to none, which means more lost jobs in northern Ontario.

Minister, when the Premier told you in cabinet that he was going to raise hydro prices by 50% in five years, why didn’t you stand up for northerners and northern Ontario?

Hon. Michael Gravelle: To the Minister of Natural Resources.

Hon. Linda Jeffrey: I’m happy to answer this question. This government absolutely understands how important the ability of northern dams to generate electricity is for local pulp and paper and how important those economics are to northern communities.

I know that Abitibi’s business decisions have the potential to impact a lot of mill workers in northern communities. We have worked closely with a lot of the northern mayors; they’ve talked to us about this issue. Our government formally requested that Abitibi ensure that these dams maintain an available supply of competitively priced hydro to the mills.

I understand that Abitibi has agreed to sell its shares in Abitibi-Consolidated Hydro Ltd., which owns the eight water power facilities, to a Canadian consortium. My office has requested that Abitibi arrange a meeting between the Canadian consortium and Iroquois Falls to discuss the future of these dams. This is an extraordinarily important issue to them. We’re going to work with—

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

Mr. Randy Hillier: We have already seen the loss of over 60 mills and 40,000 forestry sector jobs under this McGuinty government. Due to the combination of a disgracefully empty forestry policy and skyrocketing hydro rates, the forestry sector continues to disintegrate under your watch. This is a result of the Green Energy Act. For every subsidized green energy job, you’ve lost three good, real forestry jobs.

Families and industries across northern Ontario have been begging for a sliver of help to restore their forestry sector. How many lives will be ruined and northern communities destroyed by the McGuinty Liberals before you convince the Premier that he represents all Ontarians, including those north of Barrie?

We support our northern communities, and we know how important these jobs are to northern Ontario. We’re in their corner, and we’re going to be working closely with them. The town has been adamant in their choice to have MNR act as a spokesperson for them on this issue. We continue to be in their corner, and we we’re going to work closely with them.

NURSES

Ms. Andrea Horwath: My question is to the Premier. Last year, Sault Area Hospital was hit by deep nursing cuts. Two dozen nursing positions were cut, and Sault Ste. Marie patients lost 24,000 hours of nursing care. Now we hear that Sault Area Hospital is about to lose an additional six nursing positions.

Why is it that the Premier thinks our hospitals can deliver the necessary care when they are losing the very health professionals who are responsible for delivering it?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: To the Minister of Health.

Hon. Deborah Matthews: I have to say I was absolutely delighted to be at the opening of the brand new Sault Area Hospital with the member from Sault Ste. Marie and the member from Algoma–Manitoulin. The sense of pride in that community, a community that had raised enormous amounts of money to pay their share towards the new hospital—it was a truly a wonderful, wonderful event. I want to take this opportunity to say congratulations and thank you to the people of the Sault area for having gotten behind this project in a way that was to me very, very moving.

Our commitment to improving health care spreads right across this province, and it includes the Sault area. I look forward to the supplementary.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Supplementary?

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Well, a shiny new hospital is no darned good without any nurses in it to provide the care.

We’ve been through all this before. Our hospitals are placed in an impossible position because of the McGuinty government’s failure to adequately fund the front-line care. The government is so busy with their numbers game and their happy, happy comments that they can’t see the devastation that their health care cuts have on local communities.

Residents in the Soo want to know that health care services will be there when they need them the most. They want assurances that there will be no more cuts to nursing and support staff at Sault Area Hospital.

Will the Premier commit to ending these nursing care cuts once and for all?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: I really want to stress that health care is a whole lot better in the Sault Ste. Marie area than it was when we took office in 2003.

The fear-mongering that has become the norm for the party opposite is simply not borne out in fact. We’ve got almost 11,000 more nurses working in Ontario than when we took office in 2003. There is no denying that—11,000 more. They may want to create this narrative of cuts but they’re simply making it up. We’ve got almost 3,000 more doctors working. We’ve got 94% of Ontarians now with access to primary care, and we’re working hard to find primary care for the remaining 6%. Our wait times have come down dramatically. They are now the best in Canada. Yes, there is more to do, and we are doing it.

ARTS AND CULTURAL FUNDING

Mr. David Zimmer: My question is for the Minister of Tourism and Culture. Last night, thousands of Ontarians and Canadians gathered in Toronto to participate in the Juno Awards festivities, and last night at the awards show we were reminded again of the talent and strength of the Canadian music industry. The Junos brought Canadians from every corner of the country to Ontario, contributing millions of dollars to the economy. The Juno Awards is a marvellous example of the kinds of events we need to continue to attract in Ontario. It pumped $15 million into our economy.

Minister, what’s the government doing—what are you doing—to continue to help Ontario attract these kinds of events?

Hon. Michael Chan: I want to thank the honourable member for the question. Last week, the Junos celebrated a very important milestone: their 40th anniversary. One more time to the Junos: Happy birthday.

We understand the importance of the arts and culture sector. It generates over $20 billion in our economy, supporting over 200,000 jobs.

We are proud of our support for the Juno Awards, a celebration of the talent of the Canadian music industry. We plan to continue to invest in other events, like the Toronto International Film Festival, in blockbuster events to celebrate Ontario and in the Ontario Media Development Corp.

Ontario is a dynamic place for the creative industry, an exciting place—

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

Mr. David Zimmer: Government support in attracting these kinds of international events is critical. It helps to ensure that Ontario is well positioned to compete for these events as they become available, and that’s all very good.

The economic benefit, though, must transcend beyond the borders of Ontario’s large cities to our local communities in Ontario. Arts and culture events in local communities help showcase the diversity of the talent in this province. They provide an avenue for artists to display their craft, they helps students to learn the value of arts, they help Ontario families celebrate our culture and they help local communities create jobs.

Minister, what is our government and what are you doing so that Ontario promotes arts and cultural events not only in the big cities but in our local communities?

Hon. Michael Chan: The member is right. We need to invest in festivals in local communities. This is why our government continues to support festivals and events of all sizes across Ontario. Since 2003, we have supported over 3,500 events, from the Sound of Music Festival in Burlington to the Brantford International Jazz Festival, an event with a stage dedicated to local and young people.

These events are helping to attract tourists and providing economic support to local communities. Beyond this, our support is helping to provide an avenue for local artists and helping to celebrate the culture of Ontario, a province we call home, a province like no other.

HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION

Mr. John Yakabuski: My question is for the Minister of Transportation. Minister, I’ve met with you on this subject more than once, along with officials from Renfrew county. I’ve written to you, I’ve spoken to you, and you’ve indicated that you’re supportive of the issue.

The issue, of course, is the extension of the 417 beyond Arnprior. The work that is being done in Arnprior as we speak is scheduled to be completed in 2012. The next logical step for that highway—obviously, after doing all this bridge work in Arnprior—is to complete the

section between Arnprior and Renfrew, which is vital for the economic development of my county and much of eastern Ontario.

Will you commit to giving a commitment today, to us and the people in Renfrew county and all of eastern Ontario, to make that happen so that project 417 is not unduly stalled?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: As the member opposite has said, we have had a conversation about this. I think he knows that in principle I understand the concerns of the community and we would like to move ahead. But the reality is, we’ve spent $2.8 billion on road expansions, road repairs and bridges in the province of Ontario. When they were in office they spent about $670 million a year. I only raise that number to show the magnitude of what we have done and how we recognize how important it is to deal with our infrastructure.

There are many projects across the province that are in the process of being planned; we’re looking at them; communities are interested in them. We are doing everything we can to get on top of the infrastructure deficit, really, that was left to us when we came into office.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Supplementary?

Mr. John Yakabuski: Minister, I didn’t hear the answer there, but if we’ve got money—you’ve made the commitment to the 407 extension—for political reasons, I might add. People in eastern Ontario want to know what’s on the table for them.

I’ve asked you about supporting—for example, your government decided they would have no money to support the OVR, the Ottawa Valley Railway, between Smiths Falls and Mattawa, which is in danger of being decommissioned and shut down. If that actually happens, then this transportation highway link becomes more vital than ever. It is an absolute necessity that your government make the commitment today that when the Arnprior job is finished, they will move post-haste to start building that highway between Arnprior and Renfrew and take the next logical step.

I ask you, Minister: Give us that commitment. In eastern Ontario and Renfrew county, our economic development needs that and needs that today.

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: I think it’s interesting that the member opposite is part of a party that is attacking us because we’ve been spending money on infrastructure, we’ve been spending money on services, we’ve being trying to get this province back into shape because when we came to office we had a social deficit, we had a financial deficit and we had an infrastructure deficit in this province. We’ve been working on all of those fronts and this member has the gall to stand up, after his leader has been attacking us, to say, “Actually, for us, we need more spending in our community.”

There is a planning process that goes on in the Ministry of Transportation. The member opposite knows that full well. It is even-handed. It is based on evidence. We know, across the province, there is more work to be done, and we’re spending three or four times what that party did to make infrastructure in this province work.

HEALTH CARE

M me France Gélinas: Ma question est pour la ministre de la Santé et des soins de longue durée.

In every community across the province, Ontarians have been struggling to get the care they need from our increasingly overburdened health care system. Our hospitals are the canary in the coal mine. The problems in home care, long-term care, primary care, palliative care, and mental health and addictions have all fallen on the doorsteps of our hospitals.

In tomorrow’s budget, will this government be presenting a plan to address these growing problems?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: Thank you for the question. I think the member opposite knows that I obviously will not be commenting on tomorrow’s budget today. What I can tell you, though, is that this is a government that is led by a Premier who has reiterated many times that our commitment is to maintaining the progress we have made in health care and education. Our commitment to improving health care is as strong as you could hope a government’s could be. We have the evidence to demonstrate that more people are getting more care; they’re getting it more quickly. We know there is more to do, and that’s why we are going to continue to do it.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Supplementary?

M me France Gélinas: I certainly hear commitment, but it’s rolling out on the ground in a completely opposite manner. Thousands of nurses have been laid off. ERs have been closed. The home care system has been sold off to the highest bidder. The long-term care is not meeting the needs of the growing senior population. Up until now, the government has tended to blame the hospitals when they face the crisis that lies at their doorstep.

Can the minister assure Ontarians that tomorrow, they will finally deliver a plan?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: Let’s just remind ourselves that Ontario was the first province that actually started to measure wait times in our emergency departments. No other province did that, and the reason may well be because it’s a big challenge to get those emergency department wait times down—because, as the member opposite has said, the problems that are not being addressed in the community do end up in the emergency department.

We are working hard to get those emergency department wait times down. We are seeing some significant success in some places. We know there’s more to do. In those places where they are not seeing the success, there’s more to learn from successes. But absolutely: Getting wait times down in emergency departments by providing more care in the community is our highest priority as a government.

SENIOR CITIZENS

Mrs. Maria Van Bommel: My question is for the Minister of Revenue and minister responsible for seniors.

When I speak to seniors in my riding of Lambton–Kent–Middlesex—or, for that matter, people who are fast approaching retirement age—there are many questions and thoughts about issues that worry them, especially health care, elder abuse, retirement homes and the rising cost of living.

I hear most from seniors in my riding that they are concerned about the rising cost of living in our communities. They ask me what our government is doing to help them make their lives a bit easier. Can the minister tell me what the government is doing to help seniors in my riding and across the province?

Hon. Sophia Aggelonitis: I want to thank the member from Lambton–Kent–Middlesex for being a great advocate for seniors in her community and all across Ontario.

When it comes to our seniors, seniors are a priority for our government, and this government has done a lot for our seniors. What would be really great is to see the opposition parties stand up for our seniors.

Some of the things that we have done in our tax plan to help seniors include the enhanced Ontario energy and property tax credit. That’s about $1,025 for seniors. The other thing we’ve done is we’ve doubled the Ontario senior homeowners’ property tax grant. It was $250; it’s now $500. Seniors are receiving the HST transition cheque, $300 for singles and $1,000 for families. We’re also helping low- to middle-income seniors with a new permanent Ontario sales tax credit. That’s about $260 per senior per year.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): The time for question period has ended. There being no deferred votes, this House stands recessed until 1 this afternoon.

The House recessed from 1138 to 1300.

MEMBERS’ STATEMENTS

DANIEL CARRIERE

Mr. Frank Klees: I rise today to pay tribute to Daniel P. Carriere, one of this country’s distinguished leaders and visionaries in the field of health care administration.

Throughout his career, Dan has inspired colleagues and communities with his commitment and untiring dedication to the delivery of world-class health care services. Dan’s contributions to Ontario’s health care system have reached far beyond his leadership responsibilities in community health care systems. His expertise and advice has often been sought out by Ministries of Health both here in Ontario and internationally.

Since his appointment as CEO and president of York County Hospital, not only has the name of the hospital changed to the Southlake Regional Health Centre, but under Dan’s leadership it was transformed from a small community hospital into the dynamic care facility that it is today. It was under Dan’s leadership that Southlake Regional Health Centre doubled both its physical and its staff size.

Dan was instrumental in establishing several advanced diagnostic and treatment services, including the recently opened Stronach Regional Cancer Centre, the regional thoracic program and the regional cardiac program, which today is recognized as the fourth-largest program in Ontario.

I ask all members of this Legislature to join me in thanking Dan Carriere for his exemplary service to health care in the province of Ontario and to wish him well in his pursuit of health care excellence at a national level as the president and CEO of the Centric Health Corp.

CARLETON UNIVERSITY RAVENS

Mr. Yasir Naqvi: I’m very pleased to rise today to recognize the Carleton University Ravens men’s basketball team, Ottawa Centre’s home team.

The Ravens won the Canadian Interuniversity Sport—CIS—National Championship recently with an 82-59 victory over the Trinity Western Spartans. This capped off an amazing season which saw the Ravens go 22 and zero in the regular season. This was the seventh national championship for the Ravens in nine years—another W. P. McGee Trophy triumph.

This year’s Ravens have also won a number of the top CIS men’s basketball awards. Coach Dave Smart was named CIS coach of the year for a fourth straight year, tying the record.

The Ravens are led by Tyson Hinz, who was awarded the Jack Donohue Trophy as tournament MVP and named CIS player of the year. He is the first player in five years to earn both honours in the same year and, most importantly, he is from Ottawa.

Elliot Thompson scored a game-high 19 points in the championship game, and Philip Scrubb won the CIS Rookie of the Year award.

I want to congratulate all of the Carleton University Ravens men’s basketball team players for their outstanding season and another national championship. You make us proud.

STUNTMAN STU

Ms. Lisa MacLeod: I just want to echo my colleague from the city of Ottawa’s great statement. We’re really proud of those Carleton Ravens. Great job to the member from Ottawa Centre.

I’m rising today to acknowledge a great community hero in Nepean–Carleton and, of course, across the entire city of Ottawa.

Stuntman Stu, who’s known by live audiences and Ottawa Senators’ fans but also by Bob FM listeners, has used his local celebrity status to raise money and give back to our community by advancing many causes and charities. Of course, he is a Barrhaven resident, so I’m particularly proud of Stu and his wife, whom I often see at charitable events throughout our community.

Just last week, Stuntman Stu and his co-host, also a Nepean–Carleton resident, Sandy Sharkey, sold their show, so to speak, to raise money for the Ottawa Humane Society. They raised $11,000 for the Fur Ball.

Last Thursday, Stu was also at an event I had attended called Twestival Ottawa, a fundraiser for the Royal Ottawa Hospital. They again raised $11,000, for mental health awareness and treatment in our city.

Stu has also become a wine connoisseur of sorts. Last year he launched Stuntman Stu wine, with $2 of every bottle going to benefit the Sens Foundation.

Let me tell you a little bit about the Sens Foundation. Among other things, they contribute to Roger’s House, which is Ontario’s first pediatric respite and palliative care home.

On May 1, however, Stuntman Stu will be taking his philanthropy to a new level. He will bike 70 kilometres in the CN Cycle for CHEO to help kids with cancer in our region.

He has a heart of gold, and I know, on behalf of all of my colleagues in the Ontario Legislature, that we support his efforts to raise money for this very important charity. Thank you very much, Stu. We appreciate you.

HUMAN RIGHTS

Ms. Cheri DiNovo: I was both privileged and honoured to be one of three international observers in Nepal last week to observe the Tibetan government in exile elections. Unfortunately, unlike everywhere else in the world, the Nepalese government refused to allow the Tibetans to hold these elections. In fact, 10,000 Tibetans in Nepal have no right to vote, no right to work, no right to drive, no right to an education and finally, and most egregiously, no right to leave the country. They’re incredibly precarious. They live in danger every day, and we certainly urge all governments to do what they can.

While we were there, we witnessed the army close the monasteries. They put all Tibetans under house arrest on the days the elections were to take place.

The question is, what can Ontario do? Number one, you can urge your federal counterparts, particularly those civil service folk who are involved in immigration, to get them out and get them safe. Number two, we can welcome His Holiness the Dalai Lama here at the Ontario Legislature the next time he is in Ontario. Number three, we can join the Ontario Parliamentary Friends of Tibet. They are the ones who sent me over there to witness the elections and to witness the precarious situation of Tibetans in Nepal.

And fourth, and probably most importantly, every member of this Legislature can add their prayers to those around the world who believe in human rights for those who are trapped in Nepal at this time.

To all the Tibetans, I dedicate this one-and-a-half-minute little rant.

MINE101

Mr. Khalil Ramal: Last Thursday, I had the opportunity to attend the grand opening and a fashion show at Mine101 in my community of London. Mine101 is a used clothes store which operates in support of Women’s Community House, an outstanding organization in my community that provides emergency housing, second-stage housing and transitional support for women and their children who are victims of abuse.

Mine101 is a creative project spearheaded by Susan Dill and made possible through funding from the Ontario Trillium Foundation and the Ministry of Community and Social Services.

Women’s Community House receives more clothes donations than it needs. Through Mine101, the extra clothing can be turned into cash to help finance programs for the women who depend on them at Women’s Community House.

I’d also like to take the opportunity to thank Kate Wiggins, Rhonda Hallberg and their staff and volunteers at Women’s Community House in London.

Violence against women is something we must all work together to end through education and by speaking out against it. The work they do at Women’s Community House and the services they provide for abused women and their children in London are incredibly important, and I thank them for that.

Mr. Speaker, hopefully if you get the chance one time when driving to London, you can visit the store. They have men’s and women’s clothes, they have good prices, and all the proceeds go to support women who need it badly, and also their children.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for allowing me to read this statement.

PREMIER OF ONTARIO

Mr. Randy Hillier: The people of Ontario are angry. They can’t afford the Premier’s energy. They can’t afford his HST. They would like to tell him so, but our Premier does not have a toll-free number where people can call his office. Why, when the Premier would have people pay for all of his visions, must they also pay long-distance charges to express their thoughts to him?

On this side of the House, we’ve been saying for some time now that this Premier is out of touch with the people he taxes. We didn’t know at the time that what we were saying was literal. We’ve been saying that the Premier has abandoned taxpayers in favour of downtown Toronto lobbyists. No wonder nobody from outside downtown Toronto can reach him. This is the final insult: a Premier who not only refuses to talk to taxpayers, but refuses to even pretend to listen.

ABITIBIBOWATER

Mr. Bill Mauro: Two weeks ago I was pleased to be on site at AbitibiBowater in Thunder Bay to help announce a $50-million cogen project that our government will support with a $9.6-million grant. AbiBow already produces around 20% of their own power. That will now be around 60%. Additionally, this combined heat and power project will allow them to use the heat from the condensing turbine to warm intake water for their production processes, thereby lowering their costs. A third benefit is that any unused power can be sold back into the grid, providing a revenue stream for their operation.

Our spring 2010 budget one year ago reduced energy costs for the north’s big industrial users by up to 25%. Coupled with our industrial conservation initiative, these two programs will save AbiBow’s Thunder Bay operations approximately $25 million on an annual basis. Now, by adding this third piece, the savings will be even more than $25 million annually.

As a result of the new project, 56 permanent new jobs will be created. When added to the 50 new jobs announced at the AbiBow sawmill, that’s over 100 new jobs at AbiBow in Thunder Bay in the last month, and that’s not including the jobs that will be created due to this significant construction project.

Any time a major employer invests their own private money in a significant way like this, it is a very positive sign for the employees and the community. This announcement was another good day for the community of Thunder Bay and northwestern Ontario.

ALGONQUIN THUNDER

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Mr. Phil McNeely: Last week, the Algonquin College Thunder Women’s Basketball team won a silver medal at the Canadian Colleges Athletic Association national championship. In doing so, the Thunder became the first team from Ontario to make it to the CCAA final. They also are the first Algonquin College women’s basketball team to make it to the national championships. They did so by winning the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association championship to cap a perfect 16-0 season and become the first Thunder team to win the provincial championship since 1973.

I’m especially proud of the fact that the entire starting line-up is from the Ottawa–Orléans riding, including point guard Jenny Allen, who was named to the all-Canadian team during the pre-tournament banquet. The rest of the starting line-up included former St. Peter High School standouts Tina Ethier and Dayna Dover, and former St. Matthew High School teammates Trish Grey and Sandre Bascoe.

I would also like to congratulate the head coach, John MacInnis, and assistant coaches Cassandra Carpenter and Jeremy Sims for a job well done. I would also like to mention Jori Ritchie, Brigitte Gratton, Samantha Lariviere and Jennifer Wolfe-Bard, all from Ottawa.

Making it to the finals of the national championship is a tremendous accomplishment. Doing so with such poise and grace speaks volumes about the character of the players and their coaches. In fact, the Algonquin Thunder won the tournament Fair Play Award.

Ottawa and the entire province of Ontario can be proud of these 12 young ladies, both on and off the court, and I know you will join me in applauding their tremendous accomplishment.

ONTARIO POWER AUTHORITY

Mr. Jeff Leal: Today I rise in defence of the Ontario Power Authority and the important role it plays in Ontario’s electricity system. The OPA was created in the wake of the blackout in 2003, which saw millions of Ontarians without power due to the mismanagement of the previous Conservative government.

With the help of the OPA, our government has restored reliability to Ontario’s electricity system. We’ve added 8,400 megawatts of supply and 5,000 kilometres of new transmission lines. Through the OPA, we’re also investing in new, cleaner technology like wind and solar. These investments mean a cleaner, more reliable energy system for all Ontarians. They’ll also help Ontario become coal-free by 2014, the first jurisdiction in North America. The ambitious conservation targets set by the OPA have saved the electricity system 1,700 megawatts, or $8.3 billion in savings to ratepayers. All these initiatives would be impossible without the work of the OPA.

The opposition would like to return Ontario to the dark days of 2003, when Ontario families had to cross their fingers in hopes that the lights would stay on. They want to eliminate our conservation programs, throw out long-term planning and return to the days of rewarding Tory insiders at the expense of Ontario ratepayers.

Ontario families won’t be fooled. They remember the rolling brownouts that were all too common under the previous government. They understand the important role the OPA plays in creating a smarter, cleaner, reliable energy system for all Ontarians.

WITHDRAWAL OF BILL 170

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): I beg to inform the House that I have directed that order M170, second reading of Bill 170,

An Act to proclaim Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, standing in the name of Mr. Fonseca, be removed from the Orders and Notices paper.

INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

PROHIBITION AGAINST GOVERNMENT

FUNDING OF THE PROMOTION

OF HATRED ACT, 2011 /

LOI DE 2011 INTERDISANT

AU GOUVERNEMENT DE FINANCER

LA FOMENTATION DE LA HAINE

Mr. Shurman moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 171,

An Act to amend the Financial Administration Act to prohibit government funding for the promotion of hatred / Projet de loi 171, Loi modifiant la

Loi sur l’administration financière afin d’interdire au gouvernement de financer la fomentation de la haine.

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

First reading agreed to.

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

Mr. Peter Shurman: This is a bill that follows up on my resolution, passed unanimously by this House about 14 months ago, that condemned the use of the term “Israeli Apartheid Week” in the province of Ontario. That resolution, like all resolutions, carries a fair amount of moral suasion, and the word went out far and wide. However, it didn’t put any teeth into the intent that I expressed in the resolution.

This bill takes a look at hate, as described under the Criminal Code of Canada, and attaches penalties to the promotion of hatred at events or venues in the province of Ontario. We hope that it will pass with the unanimous support we got last year.

STATEMENTS BY THE MINISTRY

AND RESPONSES

GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS

Hon. Sandra Pupatello: I rise in the House today to talk about the success that this government has achieved in reducing regulatory burden, delivering faster and improved government-to-business services and creating a new relationship with the business community.

I am delighted that today I’m joined by a number of industry associations and their representatives in the galleries, on both sides. We’re thrilled that you are here, because we think it’s time that we celebrate how active the businesses have been with us as we change the way we do business. So, welcome to the House, every one of you. We’re delighted that you’re here. Thank you.

Through our Open for Business initiative, we’re saving Ontario businesses both time and money, two important resources that entrepreneurs and small business owners can reinvest to grow their own business, create jobs and strengthen our economy.

One of the many ways we’re fostering a new relationship with business is through our business sector strategy. The strategy is based on five top priorities that the industry representatives bring to us during the consultations. The government then has 60 days to find a way to implement these or provide an alternative solution that is agreeable to the sector, and the sector then signs off on that solution.

We’ve already addressed or are in the midst of addressing the top five priorities of the building and land development sector, the manufacturing sector, the medical technology sector and the information and communication technology sector, and our consultations with the agriculture and agrifood sector have already begun. Today, this afternoon, the hospitality sector is about to begin.

As a result of our round table discussions with MEDEC, as an example, which represents Canada’s medical technology industry, Ontario is now the leading jurisdiction in establishing a method of assessing and evaluating medical devices before they’re introduced on the market. This doesn’t happen anywhere else, and now these companies are saying they wish every province would follow Ontario’s lead.

The building and land development sector: another example. They requested a simplification of the permit process for the development of residential subdivisions. The Ministry of Transportation responded, and now only one building and land permit is required. Faster approvals are saving the construction industry money. Paul Golini, Jr., the chair of the Building Industry and Land Development Association, says that these changes will have a tremendous positive impact on the industry.

In response to the information and communications technology sector’s request to simplify public procurement rules and processes for the health care sector, the Ministry of Finance refined its Doing Business with the Broader Public Sector handbook for small and medium-sized enterprises across the province, an immediate response and something that the sector agreed with.

As a government, we recognize that we can continue to protect the public interest without creating unnecessary barriers to business.

The Open for Business Act, which was tabled and then passed in this House last October, contains more than 100 amendments across 10 different ministries, all making it easier for businesses to do business—for example, making it easier for internationally trained engineers to work here in Ontario.

The Ministry of the Environment is developing a modern and risk-based approach to environmental approvals. It’s consistent with other jurisdictions like BC, California and New York.

We’re also making it easier to comply with regulations. For example, under the Highway Traffic Act—I’m delighted the Minister of Transportation is here to hear this; her ministry did a tremendous amount of work—we harmonized inspection standards for large trucks, trailers and buses with national requirements. It sounds so simple, but for business it represents a reduction and a tremendous amount of time and effort—by way of example, through our Open for Business initiative, we’ve delivered real results, including a 15% reduction in regulatory burden across the government already.

Let me give you an example about what the number means. Governments for decades have talked about reducing regulation. In the past, businesses would hear the example, “Oh, we got rid of a regulation that required the horse and buggy not to park outside of the saloon doors.” Businesses would laugh and they’d say, “What does that have to do with business in Ontario today?”

Yes, the number is important, but it’s irrelevant compared to how businesses need government to simplify their interaction with business. So, yes, we get the number, but the number isn’t nearly as important as the quality. Ask the businesspeople represented in the House today if what they’ve been getting is quality. That’s what we’ve been working on.

We introduced a new toll-free number to provide businesses with a single contact for government programs and services, instead of 160 different numbers. Regulations affecting businesses now come into effect two routine dates per year, giving businesses that kind of routine they need: predictability and helping them to plan ahead, not married to the website to check every day in case something has changed. That, in fact, was the world before.

In closing, we continue to work to make Ontario a top destination for business investment. We want to grow the economy. We need these folks to help us do exactly that.

I’d like to take the opportunity to thank, in particular, the Small Business Agency of Ontario. Representatives who sit on this agency represent multi-sectors in our economy. They do important work for our government.

I’d like to thank the Canadian Federation of Independent Business. Everybody knows that they’re like a lion on every government to make us stick to it, to find better ways to work with business, and we appreciate their presence today in the House.

Our government is committed to working with industry and their associations to save business time and money, create jobs for Ontario families, strengthen our economy and make Ontario truly open for business.

MINING INDUSTRY

Hon. Michael Gravelle: Every year at about this time, members of the Ontario mining industry come to Queen’s Park to discuss the challenges and the opportunities associated with the mining sector and some of their accomplishments and achievements. Today, indeed, is that day. This is Meet the Miners Day, and we certainly welcome all those who are here in attendance today, and also look forward to a reception this evening that I hope all members of the Legislature can attend.

Certainly, it gives me an opportunity to discuss some of the progress that we’ve been able to make and the work that we’ve been able to do with the sector, as well, because, indeed, we are very fortunate in Ontario to have considerable mineral wealth, valuable mining sector expertise and an industry that’s completely committed to economic success.

I’m pleased today to provide an update on the resurgence of Ontario mining and a report on the milestones that we’ve been able to achieve in Mining Act modernization and, of course, the Ring of Fire.

First, let me say that a thriving mineral exploration and development sector is an extremely important part of our recently released growth plan for northern Ontario. This plan will guide decision-making and investment planning in the region for the next 25 years, and it will help create a stronger, a more diverse and a more sustainable northern economy.

These efforts will also support our broader Open Ontario plan, which is focused on creating jobs and strengthening the provincial economy. Initiatives such as the Mining Act modernization are critical to helping us achieve our growth plan objectives, and may I say I believe we are on very good footing.

Mining in Ontario is rock-solid—excuse the expression, but it certainly is. The economic downturn, which was pretty substantial, has been replaced by a much-anticipated and a very exciting upswing. Preliminary estimates for 2010 indicate a total value of Ontario’s mineral production in metals and non-metals of $7.7 billion, an increase of $1.4 billion over 2009.

As well, a great story in terms of exploration investments: We reached a record $801 million in 2010; again, a very significant recovery from 2009, where we had about $536 million—still an impressive amount, all things considered, but it’s great to see the upswing. What is even more exciting is that last year’s record is very likely to be broken again as mineral exploration spending is forecast to reach close to $940 million in 2011.

Innovative changes implemented through the Mining Act modernization will also help build on this and keep Ontario competitive and responsive in the global marketplace. Streamlined approval processes are bringing more clarity to the industry, something that indeed they welcome, and are resulting in a more balanced approach to mineral exploration and development.

January 1 marked the first in a series of changes anticipated over the next two to three years as we continue our dialogue with industry, First Nations and Métis communities, as well as other northern municipalities. With these changes, surface rights holders can now seek withdrawal of crown mining rights on their property in northern Ontario, and private landowners can apply for an exemption from the mining land tax under certain circumstances.

And of course we are continuing our work and our very important discussions related to the Ring of Fire. It is certainly no surprise that the Ring of Fire has generated global interest since the potentially world-class chromite deposit was discovered in the Far North of Ontario in 2007. Although it’s still in a relatively early exploration stage, industry experts are predicting that the area could well see over a century of production.

A mine could open as soon as 2015 or 2016, resulting in exciting new economic opportunities, especially for those in nearby First Nation communities, but, as we’ve said many times, this is a process that needs to be managed very well. We believe that can be done with the leadership of our Ring of Fire coordinator, Dr. Christine Kaszycki, who will continue to work closely with aboriginal peoples, explorationists, miners and all members of the mineral sector to encourage responsible, sustainable economic development in the area that very much balances the need of industry and First Nations and Métis communities.

As companies move forward with their plans, our efforts are focused on attracting value-added opportunities such as the establishment of a ferrochrome processing facility in Ontario and advancing discussions—very important discussions—on infrastructure planning. We are proud to play a very strong leadership role, and we will continue to be very directly involved as development progresses in this extremely exciting venture.

I also want to take this opportunity today to recognize the Ontario Mining Association, under the presidency of Chris Hodgson, for their ongoing leadership, vision and invaluable contributions to the sustainability and growth of mining in Ontario and the great work that we’ve done with them as we worked our way through the modernized Mining Act as well. This evening, as I mentioned earlier, I’m looking forward to co-hosting their annual Meet the Miners reception at the Sutton Place Hotel, Stop 33, I believe. Certainly, I hope to see all members of the Legislature drop in to meet industry leaders.

We look forward to continuing to work with partners like the Ontario Mining Association to strengthen the mining industry.

ONTARIO HUMAN

RIGHTS COMMISSION /

COMMISSION ONTARIENNE

DES DROITS DE LA PERSONNE

Hon. Christopher Bentley: I’m pleased to rise in the House today to recognize the 50th anniversary of the creation of the Ontario Human Rights Commission on March 29, 1961. I’m delighted that we’re joined in the House, in the gallery, by Commissioner Ruth Goba, Commissioner Bhagat Taggar, Executive Director Nancy Austin, and Kevin Marsh, the manager of communications. I’d like to welcome them and thank them for being here.

L’Ontario est reconnu dans le monde entier comme un chef de file de la protection des droits de la personne, mais cette réputation n’est pas née en une nuit. Nous avons évolué au fil du temps, secondé par les efforts d’un grand nombre d’hommes et de femmes courageux.

Ontario is recognized throughout the world as a leader in human rights, but we didn’t achieve this overnight. We’ve evolved over the course of time, aided along the way by the efforts of many, many courageous men and women.

One of them was Hugh Burnett, an ordinary man who became an extraordinary leader. He fought for his country during the Second World War and then returned to southwestern Ontario, only to be denied service at a local cafe because of the colour of his skin. Hugh became a leader in Ontario’s civil rights movement, and that movement encouraged then-Premier Leslie Frost to establish not only a human rights code, but a commission to enforce the provisions of the code.

Notre province a accompli des progrès énormes dans le domaine des droits de la personne depuis la création de la commission en 1961.

Our province has made great strides in human rights since the creation of the commission in 1961. Ontario’s Human Rights Code, the first in Canada, provided us with a framework of human rights goals and standards to aspire to. It was a declaration to all that injustices would not be tolerated here in the province of Ontario.

For a half-century now, the commission has played an important role in upholding Ontario’s commitment to human rights, and since the system was transformed in 2008, the commission has continued to help prevent discrimination and promote and advance human rights through partnerships, consultation, education and policy development. By working with individuals, groups, institutions and employers across the province, the commission encourages respectful dialogue that helps bring people and communities together to resolve issues of tension and conflict.

Notre gouvernement est fier de sa longue tradition à la tête du mouvement de promotion et de défense des droits de la personne.

Our government is proud to have continued Ontario’s tradition of being a leader in promoting and defending human rights.

Three years ago, our government took bold steps to transform the system to better protect rights and prevent discrimination. Today, anyone in Ontario can apply directly to the tribunal to have their claim resolved. The tribunal’s primary role is to provide an expeditious and accessible process to assist parties to resolve their applications. Nearly 8,000 new applications have been received since the change to direct access.

Our new system provides the people of Ontario with immediate access to the decision-makers, and also provides legal support to those who would otherwise have difficulty accessing justice, difficulty accessing the ability of justice to resolve issues. It continues to proactively address systemic human rights issues.

We’ve led the way in strengthening our human rights system to better ensure dignity and justice for all Ontarians. To make sure help was available to all, we created, at the time of the transformation, the legal support centre. The Human Rights Legal Support Centre provides free legal advice and services to those who need it. It also helps settle claims before an application needs to be filed at the tribunal. In fact, more than 70% of claimants who receive early intervention can reach a full or partial settlement.

Our government is continuing to strengthen Ontario’s human rights system and ensuring dignity and justice for all who face discrimination. As a province, we’ve always taken a leadership role when it comes to protecting human rights. It’s one of the reasons that our justice system is envied throughout the world.

As we recognize the Ontario Human Rights Commission’s 50th anniversary, I take this opportunity to reaffirm our commitment, the commitment of all of us, to upholding human rights here in the province of Ontario.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Responses?

GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS

Mrs. Julia Munro: I’m pleased to respond on behalf of the Progressive Conservative caucus to the announcement made by the Minister of Economic Development and Trade.

Red tape was, of course, one of the things that we recognized when we formed the government back in 1995 and moved ahead in a number of significant areas. It was also an opportunity for other provinces to look at what the problem was and how to address it, and so we saw Alberta and British Columbia move forward and today, certainly, take leadership roles in this country on that.

What we also see is that internationally governments have come to recognize that there has been, in some cases, creeping and in other places galloping regulation growth. This government has come to the table late in the game. What I would suggest is that the comments we have today are simply the brush strokes that come into play in terms of the various areas which have been described that the government has taken an interest in. I would, however, just offer the caution that was given to us by the industry group that commissioned a paper on Ontario’s regulatory policy.

Their caution was that with this announcement of being open for business—and of course I must digress and say that it looked as if, logically, they hadn’t been open for business for seven years. The response to the regulatory policy was the caution that with this, Ontario has not yet created an institutional framework that would ensure effective implementation; in other words, the brush strokes looking at where you can make those changes. The 15% reduction that the minister references is set in the background of a 25% commitment that was made by this government.

In all, what we are looking at—and certainly, talking to any small business person in this province, they are constantly beset by overlapping and contradictory relations. What we need is a change in the culture of government. Small business needs that change of culture, and the only way is for Ontario to have a change in government.

MINING INDUSTRY

Mr. Randy Hillier: It’s my pleasure to respond to the Minister of Northern Development. I noticed that he had his rose-coloured glasses on as he was reading his statement today.

I and the PC caucus would like to recognize the great contribution that mining has made to Ontario and all of our citizens. Mining has always been a major engine of our economy; it drove the development of the north and built great cities. The mining industry is known for creating good, stable jobs which allow Ontario families to prosper. This century brings numerous new challenges. There is more uncertainty in mining today with legislation like Bill 191, which suffocates exploration and opportunities. However, I have no doubt that Ontario miners will face that challenge. And we will make the commitment to Ontario miners that the PC Party is ready to meet those challenges with them.

When the PC Party was in government, Ontario was the best jurisdiction for mining anywhere in the world; today we’ve dropped to 20th. We’ll bring it back to number one. Thank you, and join with me in welcoming the miners of Ontario to Queen’s Park. See you tonight.

ONTARIO HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION

Mr. Ted Chudleigh: In 1961, in the spirit of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Human Rights Commission of Ontario was established to administer Ontario’s first human rights code. The code was enacted in 1962 by the Progressive Conservative government, under the leadership of John Robarts. Since that time, our party has remained steadfast in its commitment to Canada’s international human rights commitments and the code more specifically.

For 50 years, the Human Rights Commission of Ontario has been a foundation of the human rights system. The work of Barbara Hall and commissioners before her has helped to ensure that in Ontario all people are treated with dignity and respect. On the 50th anniversary of the Human Rights Commission, I would therefore like to acknowledge the work of those who have worked and continue to work at the commission. As a valued partner in Ontario’s human rights system, you have helped to progress our province so that, true to the purpose of the code, people in Ontario know that in our province discrimination will not be accepted.

Today, as educators and promoters of human rights, members of the commission should be proud to know that they play a key role in ensuring respect for the dignity and worth of all Ontarians. To know our human rights is to have the opportunity to defend them. In your work, promoting and expanding our understanding of the discrimination experienced by people because of their religion, race, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, a disability, mental health and numerous other grounds, members of the commission have supported and continue to support human rights. I commend you and our party thanks you.

MINING INDUSTRY

Mr. Gilles Bisson: On behalf of the New Democratic Party and our leader, Andrea Horwath, we want to say we are looking forward to tonight’s meeting, Meet the Miners, that’s going to be held at the Sutton Place Hotel. It’s an opportunity for all of us in this Legislature to meet those people who are creating wealth in this province.

I just want to quote something that was written by my good friend Christina Blizzard in the Toronto Sun a while back. Thank God for Moammar Gadhafi. He’s done more for Ontario than Dalton McGuinty did because of the price of gold.

Often, you’ll hear the members of the government get up and say, “We’re doing such a great job. Look what’s happening in the mining industry in northern Ontario”—I would say, despite yourselves. When you’ve got $1,400 gold, it’s pretty hard not to have ore. Waste is stuff that doesn’t pay. Ore is something that does pay, and there’s lots of ore because we have $1,400 gold. We have some good base metal prices.

Despite a lot of what this government has tried to do which, I would argue, has made things a lot more difficult, we’re very thankful that we have $1,400 gold and good base metal prices.

I look at our community. We’ve lost the Xstrata refinery smelter, something we should never have allowed to happen. I still feel to this day that the Liberal government, under Dalton McGuinty, was wrong. We should have intervened on that. The money is in the refining; the money is in the smelting. You have a processing facility in Ontario; that means you can develop more copper and zinc mines. You’re able to produce in this province in a way that would have been a lot more interesting if those had stayed in place.

My last point is that we had finally the consensus—First Nations, local municipalities, chambers of commerce and everybody—when it came to the issue of development in the Far North. I think this government, quite frankly, has stood us back and brought us back about 10 years on the file. It has not brought us forward.

ONTARIO HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION

Ms. Cheri DiNovo: Congratulations to the Ontario Human Rights Commission for its 50th anniversary. I want to, however, correct the Attorney General in saying that, unfortunately, the Ontario Human Rights Code does not cover every marginalized and oppressed group. We have three times now brought Toby’s Law before this House to ask for gender identity to be added to the Ontario Human Rights Code, and we have the support of Barbara Hall in doing that; she wrote a letter to the Toronto Star. Yet Egale and all the LGBT activists across this country have lobbied this Attorney General to no accord.

Luckily, federally, Bill Siksay brought in a bill, and that’s now lost. So it’s back in your court again, Attorney General. Let’s make the Ontario Human Rights Code really cover everyone.

GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS

Ms. Cheri DiNovo: I also want to respond regarding small business and that statement by the minister. Everyone knows Dalton McGuinty’s government is not a government that is supportive of small or medium-sized business. They are a government supportive of big business and banks; about $6 billion of Ontario tax dollars has gone into banks. But small business? A record number of bankruptcies in the last while.

What have they done? We had the Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas come to this House, and this government wouldn’t even meet with them. In fact, they don’t even have a minister in charge of small business anymore. They’ve eliminated that role in cabinet. That’s sad. TABIA couldn’t get a meeting. Why were they here? Because they wanted to object to the harsh HST, which they knew would hurt their business.

Certainly, one thing after another has been lobbed at small-to-medium business. The so-called smart meters—we call them stupid meters over here—have really targeted small and medium-sized business because most of them have to stay open during the day, when rates are highest. That hurts small and medium business. This government brought that in.

Certainly, this government is, again, a friend of large corporations and multinationals. That’s not what small to medium-sized business needs. No, they don’t need a government supportive of the mall; they need a government that’s supportive of Main Street, and this government is not. You have only to talk to any small business holder and you’ll find sector-by-sector problems, where this government has targeted from small butchers to small pharmacies in favour of large business.

Again, it’s nice that they’ve rid themselves of a little bit of red tape, but the problem still remains. We need some help for small business and we need some help for medium-sized businesses in this province, because that’s who provides 90% of the new jobs in this province. We need a government that really looks to their interests, that doesn’t just look to Bay Street.

With that, I’ll stop. Again, congratulations on the 50th anniversary. Please take my regards to Barbara Hall. She is doing an amazing job. I wish the Attorney General would help her a little bit better.

PETITIONS

REPLACEMENT WORKERS

“Whereas strikes and lockouts are rare: 97% of collective agreements are settled without a strike or lockout; and

“Whereas anti-temporary replacement workers laws have existed in Quebec since 1978; in British Columbia since 1993; and successive governments in those two provinces have never repealed those laws; and

“Whereas anti-temporary replacement workers legislation has reduced the length and divisiveness of labour disputes; and

“Whereas the use of temporary replacement workers during a strike or lockout is damaging to the social fabric of a community in the short and the long term as well as the well-being of its residents;

“Therefore, we, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to enact legislation banning the use of temporary replacement workers during a strike or lockout.”

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

PARAMEDICS

Mr. Reza Moridi: “To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas paramedics play a vital role in protecting the health and safety of Ontarians; and

“Whereas paramedics often put their own health and safety at risk, going above and beyond their duty in servicing Ontarians; and

“Whereas the government of Ontario annually recognizes police officers and firefighters with awards for bravery; and

“Whereas currently no award for paramedic bravery is awarded by the government of Ontario; and

“Whereas Ontario paramedics deserve recognition for acts of exceptional bravery while protecting Ontarians;

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

“Enact Bill 115, a private member’s bill introduced by MPP Maria Van Bommel on October 6, 2010,

An Act to provide for the Ontario Award for Paramedic Bravery.”

I sign this petition and pass it on to Jia Jia.

DEVELOPMENT IN VILLAGES

OF HEART LAKE

Mr. Ted Chudleigh: I’m pleased to read this petition submitted by the people from the Villages of Heart Lake, many of whom are here today to witness the presentation. There’s over 1,000 signatures on this petition.

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas we voiced disapproval of the Ontario Municipal Board’s (OMB) decision of April 15, 2010, to build a development which includes six (6) high-density, high-rise apartment buildings, one seven-storey commercial building and 42 townhouse work/live units in the Villages of Heart Lake; and

“Whereas this is a small tract in the centre of an area of single-family dwellings, and this proposed development simply does not belong in this area; and

“Whereas our elected officials unanimously rejected this proposal; and

“Whereas the OMB—which is not an elected body and supplies no infrastructure support to the city—has ignored the wishes of both council and the residents by approving this development;

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

“To have the OMB decision of April 15, 2010, regarding the Villages of Heart Lake reconsidered, ensuring the size of a new development is supported by adequate infrastructure and land and that the position of elected municipal officials and the existing residents is given greater consideration.”

I’m pleased to submit this petition. I’m in agreement with it, I affix my signature to it and pass it to my page, Gemma.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): I’d just remind our guests that they are more than welcome to be here. The only ones, though, allowed to applaud are the elected officials on the floor. Thanks.

HOME WARRANTY PROGRAM

Ms. Cheri DiNovo: This is a petition to support extending the Ombudsman of Ontario’s jurisdiction to include the Tarion Warranty Corp.

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas homeowners have purchased a newly built home in good faith and often soon find they are victims of construction defects, often including Ontario building code violations, such as faulty heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, leaking roofs, cracked foundations, etc.;

“Whereas often when homeowners seek restitution and repairs from the builder and the Tarion Warranty Corp., they encounter an unwieldy bureaucratic system that often fails to compensate them for the high cost of repairing these construction defects, while the builder often escapes with impunity;

“Whereas the Tarion Warranty Corp. is supposed to be an important part of the consumer protection system in Ontario related to newly built homes;

“Whereas the government to date has ignored calls to make its Tarion agency truly accountable to consumers;

“Be it resolved that we, the undersigned, support MPP Cheri DiNovo’s private member’s bill, which calls for the Ombudsman to be given oversight of Tarion and the power to deal with unresolved complaints;

“Therefore we, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to amend the Ontario New Home Warranties Plan Act to provide that the Ombudsman’s powers under the Ombudsman Act in respect of any governmental organization apply to the corporation established under the Ontario New Home Warranties Plan Act, and to provide for necessary modifications in the application of the Ombudsman Act.”

I couldn’t agree more. I’m going to sign it and give it to Madelaine to be delivered to the clerks.

PARAMEDICS

Mr. Jeff Leal: Today, I have a petition from Bill Campbell from the wonderful community of Strathroy, Ontario.

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas paramedics play a vital role in protecting the health and safety of Ontarians; and

“Whereas paramedics often put their own health and safety at risk, going above and beyond their duty in servicing Ontarians; and

“Whereas the government of Ontario annually recognizes police officers and firefighters with awards for bravery; and

“Whereas currently no award for paramedic bravery is awarded by the government of Ontario; and

“Whereas Ontario paramedics deserve recognition for acts of exceptional bravery while protecting Ontarians;

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

“Enact Bill 115, a private member’s bill introduced by MPP Maria Van Bommel on October 6, 2010,

An Act to provide for the Ontario Award for Paramedic Bravery.”

I agree with this petition and I will give it to page Devon.

DEVELOPMENT IN VILLAGES

OF HEART LAKE

Mr. Peter Shurman: I too have a petition concerning the Villages of Heart Lake, with over 500 signatures on it.

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas we voiced disapproval of the Ontario Municipal Board’s (OMB) decision of April 15, 2010, to build a development which includes six … high-density high-rise apartment buildings, one seven-storey commercial building and 42 townhouse work/live units in the Villages of Heart Lake; and

“Whereas this is a small tract in the centre of an area of single-family dwellings, and this proposed development simply does not belong in this area; and

“Whereas our officials unanimously rejected this proposal; and

“Whereas the OMB—which is not an elected body and supplies no infrastructure support to the city—has ignored the wishes of both council and the residents by approving this development;

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

“To have the OMB decision of April 15, 2010, regarding the Villages of Heart Lake reconsidered, ensuring the size of a new development is supported by adequate infrastructure and land and that the position of elected municipal officials is given greater consideration.”

I agree with this petition, will affix my name to it and hand it to page Leighton.

DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES

M me France Gélinas: I have this petition that was gathered by Tony Sottile from the people of Sudbury.

“Whereas the Ontario government is making ... PET scanning a publicly insured health service” available to cancer patients under certain conditions; and

Whereas, since October 2009, insured PET scans are performed “in Ottawa, London, Toronto, Hamilton and Thunder Bay; and

“Whereas the city of Greater Sudbury is a hub for health care in northeastern Ontario, with the Sudbury Regional Hospital, its regional cancer program and the Northern Ontario School of Medicine”;

They petition the assembly “to make PET scans available through the Sudbury Regional Hospital, thereby serving and providing equitable access to the citizens of northeastern Ontario.”

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

CREDIT SCORING

Mr. Mike Colle: A petition to ban credit scoring for home insurance in Ontario:

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas a growing number of insurance companies are using credit scoring to significantly increase insurance premiums or to deny home and personal property insurance; and

“Whereas the use of credit scoring is hurting Ontario consumers; and

“Whereas the use of credit scoring is not being used to predict whether customers will pay their bills; and

“Whereas the use of credit scoring punishes consumers who can least afford it, namely: seniors, newcomers to Canada, the unemployed, single-parent families and small business persons with extended lines of credit; and

“Whereas the use of credit scores is not transparent and credit scores are a factor that consumers have little control over...; and

“Whereas 75% of Ontarians do not know credit scores are being used to set the price of their home insurance; and

“Whereas the Ontario government has banned the use of credit scoring completely ... in auto insurance; and

“Whereas the provinces of New Brunswick and Newfoundland both have announced their intent to ban the practice of credit scoring for home insurance;

“We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to extend the ban on the use of credit scoring in auto insurance to home and other personal property insurance by passing Bill 130, the Homeowners Insurance Credit Scoring Ban Act, 2010.”

I totally support the banning of credit scoring and I affix my name to this.

REPLACEMENT WORKERS

Mr. Jerry J. Ouellette: I have a petition that reads:

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas strikes and lockouts are rare: 97% of collective agreements are settled without a strike or lockout; and

“Whereas anti-temporary replacement workers laws have existed in Quebec since 1978; in British Columbia since 1993; and successive governments in those two provinces have never repealed those laws; and

“Whereas anti-temporary replacement workers legislation has reduced the length and divisiveness of labour disputes; and

“Whereas the use of temporary replacement workers during a strike or lockout is damaging to the social fabric of a community in the short and the long term as well as the well-being of its residents;

“Therefore we, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to enact legislation banning the use of temporary replacement workers during a strike or lockout.”

I affix my name. These were presented to me by Tim Eye and Chris Buckley.

M me France Gélinas: J’ai une pétition qui m’a été donnée par ceux avec qui je travaillais avant au Centre de santé communautaire de Sudbury. Ça dit :

J’appuie cette pétition et je demande à Sydney de l’amener à la table.

PARAMEDICS

Mrs. Laura Albanese: I have a petition addressed to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas paramedics play a vital role in protecting the health and safety of Ontarians; and

“Whereas paramedics often put their own health and safety at risk, going above and beyond their duty in servicing Ontarians; and

“Whereas the government of Ontario annually recognizes police officers and firefighters with awards for bravery; and

“Whereas currently no award for paramedic bravery is awarded by the government of Ontario; and

“Whereas Ontario paramedics deserve recognition for acts of exceptional bravery while protecting Ontarians;

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

“Enact Bill 115, a private member’s bill introduced by MPP Maria Van Bommel on October 6, 2010,

An Act to provide for the Ontario Award for Paramedic Bravery.”

I will affix my signature to this petition, and I will hand it to page Madelaine.

OAK RIDGES MORAINE

Mr. John O’Toole: I’m pleased to present a petition to the Legislative Assembly, which reads as follows.

“Whereas citizens are concerned that contaminants in materials used as fill for pits and quarries may endanger water quality and the natural environment of the Oak Ridges moraine; and

“Whereas the Ministry of the Environment has a responsibility and a duty to protect the Oak Ridges moraine; and

“Whereas the government of Ontario has the lead responsibility to provide the tools to lower-tier government to plan, protect and enforce clear, effective policies governing the application and permit process for the placement of fill in abandoned pits and quarries; and

“Whereas this process requires clarification regarding rules respecting what materials may be used to rehabilitate or fill abandoned pits and quarries;

“Therefore we, the undersigned, ask that the Minister of the Environment initiate a moratorium on the clean fill application and permit process on the Oak Ridges moraine until there are clear rules; and we further ask that the provincial government take all necessary actions to prevent contamination of the Oak Ridges moraine” especially on Lakeridge Road and Morgans Road in the riding of Durham.

I’m pleased to sign and present this to Devon.

REPLACEMENT WORKERS

M me France Gélinas: I have a petition from the people of Sudbury and Port Colborne.

“Whereas the strike at Vale Inco’s mines, mill and smelter” lasted way too long—close to a year;

“Whereas this strike is causing hardship to the 3,300 workers, their families, the communities and the businesses and contributing to a significant net drain to the economy; and

“Whereas the resumption of production with replacement workers has demonstrated an unwillingness to negotiate a fair collective agreement with the workers and has produced undue tension in the community; and

“Whereas anti-replacement legislation in other provinces has reduced the length and divisiveness of labour disputes;

“Therefore we, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to enact legislation banning the use of replacement workers....”

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

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Mr. Yasir Naqvi: “To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas all Ontarians have the right to a safe home environment; and

“Whereas the government of Ontario works to reduce all barriers in place that prevent victims of domestic violence from fleeing abusive situations; and

“Whereas the Residential Tenancies Act does not take into consideration the special circumsta