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April 22, 2013

40th Parliament, 2nd Session

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Hansard Transcripts

Votes and Proceedings

Orders and Notices

Hansard Transcripts 2013-Apr-22 (PDF)

L028 - Mon 22 Apr 2013 / Lun 22 avr 2013

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO

ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE DE L’ONTARIO

Monday 22 April 2013 Lundi 22 avril 2013

INTRODUCTION OF VISITORS

ORAL QUESTIONS

POWER PLANTS

POWER PLANTS

TAXATION

GOVERNMENT SPENDING

GOVERNMENT SPENDING

AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

POWER PLANTS

ELLIOT LAKE INQUIRY

ENERGY POLICIES

POWER PLANTS

ASSISTANCE TO FLOOD VICTIMS

GO TRANSIT

POWER PLANTS

HEALTH CARE FUNDING

POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION

VISITORS

INTRODUCTION OF VISITORS

MEMBERS’ STATEMENTS

UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO

GREEN SPACE

TRUCKING INDUSTRY

ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST

ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH

WASTE DIVERSION

NORTHERN ONTARIO

AQUACULTURE ASSOCIATION

BAHA’I COMMUNITY

MILTON LEGION CRIBBAGE TEAM

OAKVILLE AWARDS FOR BUSINESS EXCELLENCE

AGGREGATE EXTRACTION

NOTICES OF DISSATISFACTION

INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

AGGREGATE RECYCLING

PROMOTION ACT, 2013 /

LOI DE 2013 SUR LA PROMOTION

DU RECYCLAGE DES AGRÉGATS

STATEMENTS BY THE MINISTRY

AND RESPONSES

NATIONAL ORGAN AND TISSUE

DONATION AWARENESS WEEK

NATIONAL VOLUNTEER WEEK

NATIONAL ORGAN AND TISSUE DONATION AWARENESS WEEK

NATIONAL VOLUNTEER WEEK

NATIONAL ORGAN AND TISSUE

DONATION AWARENESS WEEK

NATIONAL VOLUNTEER WEEK

PETITIONS

ONTARIO COLLEGE OF TRADES

GOVERNMENT SERVICES

AGRI-FOOD INDUSTRY

WATER QUALITY

SERVICES FOR THE

DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED

AGRI-FOOD INDUSTRY

ONTARIO COLLEGE OF TRADES

DOG OWNERSHIP

ELECTORAL BOUNDARIES

DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES

ONTARIO COLLEGE OF TRADES

WORKPLACE INSURANCE

AIR QUALITY

TIRE DISPOSAL

ORDERS OF THE DAY

LOCAL FOOD ACT, 2013 /

LOI DE 2013 SUR

LES ALIMENTS LOCAUX

The House met at 1030.

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

Prayers.

INTRODUCTION OF VISITORS

Hon. John Gerretsen: I know that my good friends from Kingston, John and Diane Fielding, are here today. They may not have come into the chamber yet, but they’re here to watch question period and to have lunch with their MPP.

Hon. Harinder S. Takhar: I would like to welcome the parents of my page Theodore Vaidhyan to the Legislature today. He is acting as a captain, and his parents, Titus and Elizabeth, and sister Tricia are also here today. They’re seated in the east gallery. I want to extend them a very warm welcome. I’m very proud of him as well.

Mr. Jim McDonell: I’d like to welcome today Jim Facette. He’s not quite through security yet, but he’s the president and CEO of the Canadian Propane Association. Welcome to see what’s happening at Queen’s Park today.

Hon. Deborah Matthews: Speaker, I believe we have unanimous consent that all members be permitted to wear ribbons in recognition of National Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Week.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The Minister of Health and Long-Term Care is seeking unanimous consent to wear the ribbons acknowledging organ awareness week. Do we have agreement? Agreed? Agreed.

Further introduction of guests?

Mr. Michael Harris: Speaker, I’d like to welcome the newest resident of Ontario, who’s watching on TV, Benjamin Leone, son of MPP Rob Leone and wife, Kate. The smaller brother of Alex and Aiden was born on Saturday, April 20, weighing in at 8 pounds, 14 ounces. The healthy family is at home; I know they’re watching on TV. Welcome Benjamin Leone.

Applause.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): I’m sure the member from Leeds–Grenville will not want to hurt his hand.

Mr. Steve Clark: I’m excited.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): I can feel that excitement. We’re all excited about the birth of a new Ontarian, so we obviously offer our deepest congratulations and healthy wishes to the entire family. I’m sure he’s watching.

Clarification from the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care: Are the ribbons available on both sides? Are they now being distributed?

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Thank you. All ribbons are being distributed on both sides of the galleries.

Further introductions?

Mrs. Laura Albanese: I would like to introduce to the Legislature Mr. Rick Ciccarelli from the Labour Education Centre. He’s here at Queen’s Park this morning to speak about community benefits agreements. I’d like to welcome him in the Legislature.

Mr. Frank Klees: I want to welcome all members of Leafs Nation who are observing question period this morning and are looking forward to the member from Nepean–Carleton to acknowledge the fact that the Leafs have made it to the playoffs.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Not to diminish this opportunity, so the member from Nepean–Carleton.

Ms. Lisa MacLeod: On behalf of all the eastern Ontario members, with the exception of the man beside me, who is a Leafs fan, I must say we’re still praying in eastern Ontario.

To the member for Newmarket–Aurora: Congratulations. I just want you to know, though—to all the Leafs fans—the little stick that you’re going to use after May 1 is not a golf club; it’s actually a hockey stick, and we’ve got a little bit of experience in eastern Ontario with the Ottawa Senators playing in the playoffs.

ORAL QUESTIONS

POWER PLANTS

Mr. Tim Hudak: My question is to the Minister of Finance. Minister, could you please brief the assembly on the additional costs in your budget from the Liberal government’s decision to cancel both the Oakville and Mississauga gas plants?

Hon. Charles Sousa: Members of the opposition are inquiring about something that they said they would do. Members of the opposition are saying, “We’ll cancel the power plant.” In fact, the Leader of the Opposition was there on a bus, doing a press conference, with a pink elephant, no less, saying, “We are the ones who will stop the power plant. We are the ones who will cancel it.” We said we would move it. The member now is suggesting that somehow, what they said they would do, they now say they could not do. We, on this side of the House, said we would—a promise they made that we kept. We’ve accounted for it, and it is going through as it should be.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Tim Hudak: I don’t think I got an answer to a very straightforward question. I think that when you’re—I recognize that this is the minister’s first budget as finance minister, and as some of my colleagues say, hopefully his last so that we get Ontario back on track in the province. Surely your budget must be close to finality, if not ready to go.

You are aware of the gas plant cancellation costs. After all, you were in on the decision. You were a key component of making that situation, and now you see the actual numbers.

You can play political games, Minister. You can continue the sort of political stonewalling that has become the typical Wynne-McGuinty government approach, or you could just answer a very simple and direct question as finance minister. Your budget’s ready to go. Why don’t you just please tell us what are the costs that you’ve assigned for the Liberal decision to cancel both the Oakville and Mississauga gas plants?

Hon. Charles Sousa: We have accommodated a price that was established a couple of years back, and it was put forward last year when it was at $190 million, and the contingencies and so forth going forward have been accommodating for a number of initiatives.

But more importantly, the member opposite is right now suggesting—and he’s committed this—he hasn’t even read the budget, doesn’t even know what it states. We have been on target; we’ve exceeded our target. Our fiscal controls are working; we are en route to balance the budget. Four years running, we’ve beat those targets, and more jobs are being created.

The response is, “We don’t care what it has been doing. We’re not even going to look at it. We’re just going to defeat it without even reading it.” Now, that’s a shame.

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

Interjections.

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

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): If there’s going to be any assistance from me, I’d like to ask for it first.

New question.

Mr. Tim Hudak: Thank you, Speaker. The minister uses the term “it’s a shame.” What’s clearly a shame is, the minister, who’s preparing a budget, can’t even stand in his place and tell us exactly what the costs are going to be to cancel. I mean, let’s be very direct here. You’ve been in on this decision to cancel the gas plants from day one. You are intimately aware of the details of how much this is going to cost taxpayers and increase the fiscal hole in your budget.

If I heard you correctly, Minister, you said that $190 million has been booked; I was listening closely to your answer. So are you telling us that the hole in your budget is only $190 million for the cancellation of the gas plants, when the Auditor General himself says it’s much more than that? Are you really sticking to that old story that it’s only $190 million? Or will you come clean and tell us exactly how big of a hole your cancellation of the Mississauga and Oakville gas plants costs the Ontario taxpayers?

Hon. Charles Sousa: We’re moving forward on a very strong, balanced budget, a budget that doesn’t put at risk our economic recovery. It’s a budget that speaks to the needs of the people of Ontario, and it’s not about political games. This is about what’s in the best interests of the people of Ontario.

The opposition are obviously gunning for an election. That is not what the people of Ontario want. That is not what we want, on this side of the House. We want to work collaboratively with all members of the House for the best interests of the people of Ontario. This budget is going to speak to them. It’s going to be a balanced approach that talks about the way forward to balance, and it’s going to initiate even more economic recovery, more economic stimulus, more jobs.

Our restraint measures, as well as our stimulus measures, are working. We’ve beat targets; we’re exceeding results. We’re ahead of all other areas of Canada. That’s what we should be doing together for the people of Ontario, and that’s what we’re going to be doing going forward from the next budget.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Tim Hudak: Speaker, back to the—

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Sorry, Leader. That was the final supplementary. You’re now on a new question. Thank you.

POWER PLANTS

Mr. Tim Hudak: Still to the Minister of Finance, who had a bit of a slip: He said it’s a “balanced budget.” The reality is, with how hard Ontarians are working, with the amount of revenue that’s come in, it should be a balanced budget in Ontario. We should be creating jobs. We should be at the top in Canada, not at the back of the pack.

The minister can’t answer a very basic question. I know you know the answer, because you were there at the cabinet table when Dalton McGuinty and Kathleen Wynne made the decision to cancel the gas plants. You were the finance minister. You were one of the members for whom taxpayers may have paid anywhere from $650 million to over $1 billion to save your seat. This is not just simple wasteful spending. This is a direct and conscious decision of your Liberal government to use taxpayer dollars to cancel gas plants.

Minister, I’ll give you one last chance on this. Will you please tell us exactly how much you have booked in your fiscal plan for the cancellation of the Oakville and Mississauga gas plants? It’s a simple question. Why not a simple answer?

Hon. Charles Sousa: Mr. Speaker, we have brought forward the materials necessary. The AG has signed off on our fiscal matters. We’ve been very open and transparent. We’re the government that didn’t hide $5 billion when they were last elected. We’re not the government that is putting forward any secrets. We’re being very open and transparent, and we’re not selling off assets that are going to provide even more revenue and more growth for the province of Ontario. We’re going to continue doing what’s in the best interests of our public.

I can tell you, Mr. Speaker, our deficit is under control. We have what it takes to balance our books by 2017-18. We’re exceeding our targets four years running. Our growth in spending last year was under 1%. Coming forward in our next budget, you’re going to see even better results.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Tim Hudak: I’m sadly startled, Speaker, that the Minister of Finance says they’ve had no secrets; he has said they’ve been open and transparent. Then I ask the minister, why did you bury 40,000 to 60,000 documents, why did you keep the costs covered for so long, and why were you in on the decision around the cabinet table to bury the costs of the gas plant cancellation? It was PC members here in the House, supported by the NDP, who brought the contempt motion to the floor, who got the answers here. You try to keep it hidden. We want taxpayers to know the answers. It’s far from no secrets. It’s far from open and transparent.

Minister, this shakes our very confidence in your ability to bring in a budget that will actually get us some balance. It shakes our confidence in your ability to grow the economy. It shakes our confidence in this government’s ability to help those 500,000 women and men, our friends, neighbours and relatives, who are out of work.

I’ll ask you, why won’t you be honest with taxpayers and tell us exactly what this is going to cost? Surely to goodness it must be in the budget plan. You know the numbers. You made the decision.

Interjections.

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

Minister of Finance.

Hon. Charles Sousa: The people of Ontario want their representatives to represent them. I have been representing my community with pride and with responsibility. I have stood in this House, even prior to being elected, to defend the interests of our communities right across the province.

A mistake was made. We corrected it. You agreed with it. It should have been done much earlier. As a result, we’re taking the actions necessary and we’re taking the decisions that are necessary to get it right.

Mr. Speaker, we made other tough decisions, like tax reform, like lowering business taxes, like lowering consumer taxes, like ensuring that we have a value-added tax system that makes us competitive. As a result, we’re the third-largest jurisdiction in North America to attract direct foreign investment. People are coming to Ontario. More businesses are coming here, and more jobs are being created because of the actions that we’ve taken.

The opposition are advocating a slash-and-burn policy that would hurt our—

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

Mr. Tim Hudak: I’m incredulous that the finance minister would simply dismiss the cancellation of Oakville and Mississauga as a mistake that was made—a mistake that was made. This was not ordinary incompetence. This wasn’t standard waste we’ve come to expect. This was you putting the Liberal Party ahead of the interests of taxpayers, ahead of the interests of jobs, ahead of the interests of ratepayers in our province. It was a deliberate decision to spend money to save Liberal seats, including yours.

We see what the thinking is. The minister says he has a duty to represent his constituents; he has a duty to be their representative. Sir, you have a duty to spend taxpayer money wisely. You have a duty to look out for the money that people send to Queen’s Park, and you have the gall to spend a billion dollars to save your own seat. That’s not what a finance minister does.

Speaker, clearly, it’s time to change the government if this finance minister thinks he should spend a billion dollars to save his own seat. We can do a lot better than this. This finance minister is clearly out of his depth.

Interjections.

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

Minister of Finance.

Hon. Charles Sousa: I said also that I have a duty and a responsibility to the province of Ontario. That’s why the lessons learned—what we’ve done in terms of what we’re going to do going forward in the siting of such projects will be corrected, and that is what’s necessary.

We’re always working for the best interests of the entire province, one thing that the opposition member and the leader has not been doing. In fact, he has been talking down Ontario by calling us a banana republic.

We are the province that has been leading all of Canada with more jobs than the rest of Canada combined. We’re taking the necessary steps to try to promote certain sectors of our economy for greater economic renewal.

The opposition members would rather fight as opposed to collaborate. They would rather put us down than pick us up. Fortunately, the people of Ontario know better. They’re willing to work. They’re doing their job, and we’re going to do ours, as well.

TAXATION

Ms. Andrea Horwath: My question is to the Premier. In an interview in today’s Wall Street Journal, the finance minister is quoted as saying, “People are aware of the fiscal realities before us. They know the government must take a measured approach to bend the cost curve and control our spending.” Does the Premier agree with this view?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Absolutely, Mr. Speaker; I absolutely agree that we need to take the measures necessary to stay on track to balance the budget by 2017-18. That’s exactly what the Minister of Finance has been talking about in the previous questions. It’s what the leader of the third party will see as we bring our budget forward. That is what is expected of us by the people of Ontario.

In order to be able to deliver the services that everyone in this province needs, we need to make sure that we have fiscal responsibility along with investment in a fairer society. That’s the balanced approach our budget will take.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Well, Speaker, other media reports indicate that the government still plans to phase in new corporate tax loopholes that will let Ontario’s biggest corporations write off the HST when they buy gas or take clients out on the town.

If the government is trying to bend the cost curve, why are they investing over a billion dollars a year in yet another no-strings-attached corporate tax loophole? Is that what the people of this province can expect from the Liberals?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: I know that the Minister of Finance will want to speak to the details, Mr. Speaker, but I just want to say that I think what is necessary now is to look at the budget in its entirety.

It is an organic document in the sense that there are supports, obviously, for business—it’s very important that we make sure that business is competitive and that we can bring business to the province—but at the same time, there are areas of concern that we have identified, that we know are areas that we need to be working on, and some of those I think the leader of the opposition would like to work on with us.

Whether it’s home care, whether it’s youth unemployment, whether it’s making sure that the social assistance system is unravelled in the sense that it becomes a more rational system—all of those things are areas that we want to work on. At the same time, we have to get our fiscal house in order.

We need to work towards a balanced budget in 2017-18, and that’s what you’ll see in the budget.

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

Ms. Andrea Horwath: Speaker, $1.3 billion goes a lot of way to make the books balance, I’ve got to tell you.

Look, it’s people who make our economy work, and it’s people who need to be the priority when we plan for the future. But time and time again, they see a government that just doesn’t seem to care about their challenges. They’re scrambling to find home care for loved ones. They worry about their kids finding a decent job. They pay the bills that keep climbing higher and higher and higher, and the government tells them that they have to tighten their belts even more. But when it comes to handing Ontario’s largest corporations yet another tax break, the belt can’t be loosened quick enough.

How can the Premier tell people they have to pay more and expect less while she’s handing Ontario’s largest corporations over a billion dollars a year in HST breaks?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: I think the leader of the third party knows that the finance minister is working with the federal finance minister on this particular issue, Mr. Speaker, because there is a connection between what the federal government does and what we do here in the province.

The reality is, the budget document will cover a range of issues. We are taking a balanced approach to putting this budget in place.

Indeed, our businesses are competitive and need be competitive, and we are demonstrating that business is coming to Ontario. Jobs are being created. At the same time, we need to make sure that those services that are so critical to people’s lives every single day improve, Mr. Speaker. There’s always a way to make those services better and to continue to make sure that our young people, our First Nations children, our seniors, people across the province who need government supports have those supports.

GOVERNMENT SPENDING

Ms. Andrea Horwath: My question is to the Premier. People are hoping for a new approach, but all Ontarians see is a Liberal government that’s the same old same old. They see a government that has no problem spending what could be more than a billion dollars to cancel two private power deals, or spending over a billion dollars on a new corporate tax loophole, Speaker. But when it comes to a First Start program to get 25,000 young people working, or eliminating the home care wait-list in this province, the government is suddenly very cautious.

Will the government tell Ontarians whether they should expect another status quo Liberal budget this time around? Or will the Premier finally commit to putting families first?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Again, I know that the leader of the third party—she and I have had conversations about these issues, and she has been very public about the issues that she identified. They were issues, in fact, that I had already identified during my leadership campaign, that were things that I want to work on. I’ve been very clear, whether it’s home care or whether it’s youth unemployment, those are things that are of deep concern to me, and they are things that we need to advance.

We need to make sure that we move the bar on those issues, because we know that there are more people who need home care, and they need it in a timely way. We know that there are young people who are not able to find a job, partly because of a mismatch between labour market and labour force, but also because I think we need to make better connections—labour, government and business. That’s the kind of work we’re going to be doing as a result of our budget.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Ms. Andrea Horwath: People understand very well that these are tough times, and they want to see smart investments that will improve health care, that will create jobs and that will make life more affordable for them. Instead, they see a government that seems much more interested in helping themselves with hundreds of millions of dollars spent on private power deals that help the Liberal Party, and over a billion dollars on yet more corporate tax loopholes about to open up.

Why won’t the Premier put corporate tax loopholes on ice and make the people of this province the priority in this upcoming budget?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Minister of Finance.

Hon. Charles Sousa: I appreciate the question, but let’s be clear: There is no new corporate tax loophole that’s being opened up. These are, as you know, restricted input tax credits that are—and it’s not a billion dollars; I think the rough number is around $600 million. But, regardless, we are taking steps to close those loopholes. We are taking steps to ensure that we protect the interests of Ontario. That’s what we’ve been saying and that’s what we’re doing. We look forward to continuing to work together to try to find the best way forward to both support business and encourage investment while, at the same time, ensuring that Ontario has what it takes to balance its books by 2017-18.

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

Ms. Andrea Horwath: When times are tough, you have to make some pretty tough choices. New Democrats don’t think this is the time for new, no-strings-attached billion-dollar handouts to corporations so that they don’t have to pay the HST. It makes no sense at all.

Instead, we think this is a time to invest in prosperity that everyone can share in, not just a few well-connected insiders. Instead of billions of dollars spent on gas plants or billions of dollars spent on corporate tax loopholes, we think it’s time to invest in jobs, health care and making life more affordable for the people who make this province work.

Will the Premier agree that now is not the time for a corporate tax loophole, but rather a time for a balanced approach that puts people first, instead of the Liberal approach that puts insiders first?

Hon. Charles Sousa: Mr. Speaker, that’s what we’re saying. We’re taking a balanced approach. We’re not going to take extreme measures that would hurt our sensitive recovery, a slash-and-burn, across-the-board cut to an Ontario government that’s already the lowest-cost-per-capita government anywhere in Canada, but we’re also not going to take extreme measures of taxing and overspending that would also hurt our economic recovery.

We need to be on that balanced approach, on that road to ensuring that we eliminate and tackle our deficit by 2017-18, and that means eliminating these tax loopholes. I’ve committed to doing that. Our party has said we would. We’re taking those measures. We’re dealing with the federal government as well, and we’re going to encourage that we’re all at our best. I hope everybody will work with us as well.

GOVERNMENT SPENDING

Mr. Peter Shurman: For the Minister of Finance: Anyone who has ever watched the budget process knows this one is more than just odd. When I asked the minister for a date last week, he dismissed me and said, “Imminently.” Budgets usually come in March, prior to the end of the previous fiscal year; next week, it will be May.

Liberals cannot fathom what the word “balance” even means. The minister’s numbers don’t add up, but he promises balance by 2017-18. We can only conclude that there’s no plan, just a black hole that keeps on expanding and swallowing up Ontario.

Yes, Minister, we’ll all know more after your speech at noon, but the Economic Club of Canada is a group of business people who pay to hear you talk. Why won’t you just tell all Ontarians right now, for free, how you can control spending without a single piece of legislation aimed at doing that? Ontario’s jobs and spending crisis aren’t even on your radar. Are you planning on slamming Ontarians with massive tax increases?

Hon. Charles Sousa: I’ve been waiting, and I’ve been talking with all members of the opposition, as well as my own caucus. More importantly, I have been consulting with people all across our province. We’ve touched more people than we’ve ever done before in preparing a budget that speaks to them.

In our consultations with the member opposite was the delivery of the finance committee’s report. I’ve committed to reviewing that report prior to announcing our budget. I received it just last week at the end of the week. I’m making every commitment possible to work together, and I’m hopeful that you’ll read the budget before you announce what you’re going to do, because you’re already saying you won’t even approve it. We have a strong plan, a plan that’s balanced, a plan that’s going to take us on a path to recovery, a plan that’s going to ensure that we balance our books by 2017-18.

Mr. Peter Shurman: Minister, you may soon have a budget, but most people watching you seem to feel much like we do: You have no credible plan. You’re in the front benches of a government that has nothing in the cupboard because it tosses taxpayer money down the drain. Imagine how far the billion-plus power plant dollars burned by the McGuinty-Wynne election team would have gone if available now, or the $300-million-plus and counting that you’ve handed teachers to cover your missteps of last fall.

Minister, tell us how you plan to balance the budget by 2017-18 as you have promised. What will we call them: new taxes, levies, fees, premiums? Here’s the thing, Minister: You cannot just come in here next week, read a speech and expect Ontarians to believe one single thing you say. The record for your non-mandated government speaks for itself. What is being cut? What is increasing?

Hon. Charles Sousa: The member opposite just made up a bunch of numbers that are untrue. Unlike the opposition, when they were in power—in fact, they came out with a budget that was untrue: $5 billion in the hole—we have proven that we can exceed our targets. For four years in a row, we have been able to surpass everything that we said we would do because we’re working together with Ontarians. We have attracted more investment than any other place in Canada, and we’ll continue to work with them to ensure that businesses see Ontario as a good place to do business.

We will continue to ensure that our public and our people are at their best and working. We have over 400,000 net new jobs since the recessionary lows.

The entire world is having issues with their growth. We recognize that. That’s why we’re taking measured steps. That’s why we’re taking restraint measures to ensure that we balance our books by 2017-18. We’re moving towards that target. I look forward to having you read the budget—

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

AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE

Mr. Jagmeet Singh: My question is to the Minister of Finance. In 2010, this government made changes to the auto insurance system in Ontario that slashed benefits in Ontario paid out to drivers by 50% and to drivers in the GTA by 70%. Last week in committee hearings, the IBC themselves admitted that these changes resulted in $2 billion of annual savings for the insurance industry. The IBC themselves admitted it. Yet in the past two years, drivers have seen their own premiums go up by 5%. When will this government pass on a portion of those billions of dollars of savings to drivers in Ontario?

Hon. Charles Sousa: You just sort of answered it, didn’t you? You just said that the measures we took with the anti-fraud task force to go at the root causes of that fraud to ensure that we’re able to lower some of those costs will enable us to have the opportunity to have reduced premiums. We need to do just that.

I agree that premiums are too high. I agree that in Ontario the costs of insurance are 10 times higher than provinces in other parts of Canada. So we need to ensure that we work together to reduce those costs and ultimately reduce our premiums, and that’s what we’re working towards doing.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Jagmeet Singh: Just to correct the Minister of Finance, it’s not the anti-fraud task force; it’s this government’s decision to slash the benefits paid out by insurance companies to drivers in Ontario that resulted in those billions of savings. On April 12, FSCO released its annual report for the first quarter of 2013. No surprise: There’s absolutely no cut to the premiums for drivers in Ontario.

In the upcoming budget, this government has a choice. It can either choose to again support the multi-billion dollar insurance industry or it can pass on the billions of dollars of savings to drivers in Ontario. Which will it be?

Hon. Charles Sousa: Let’s be clear. When the NDP were in power, insurance rates went up 27%. When the PCs were in power, they went up 43%. We took power in 2003, and in 2004 we put legislation in place to try to lower those insurance premiums; we are now working with the opposition to try to do the same in 2013. We’ll get there. We’ll work with you. The people of Ontario expect us to do just that.

I agree that we need to lower those premiums. We need to work with the industry to make it so. Let’s do that together.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

Mr. Grant Crack: My question is to the dedicated and experienced Minister of the Environment.

Today, people across the province and around the world will be celebrating Earth Day, an initiative to show public support for environmental protection. This year, it is estimated that Earth Day will take place in more than 190 countries, with over a billion people participating in activities to support our environment.

I know that in my riding of Glengarry–Prescott–Russell, families will be taking

part in events to show their support for tackling climate change.

Speaker, through you, would the minister be able to explain the significance of Earth Day and what the people are doing to participate in this important event?

Hon. James J. Bradley: Excellent question. Today marks the 43rd Earth Day since its civic observance first took place on April 22, 1970. This year, individuals, businesses, schools and organizations across the province will be joining the over one billion people across the globe taking

part in their communities to address environmental issues.

Everyone can take

part in Earth Day. Just one act symbolizes the difference we can make in addressing climate change. For example, on the weekend, I joined BurlingtonGreen Environmental Association, in Beachway Park, for a shoreline cleanup, where it was great to see so many people pitching in to help in the environmental cleanup.

I was also able to join the many volunteers in Streetsville on Sunday. Along with Credit Valley Conservation and the Sierra Club group, we honoured greenbelt champion Peter Orphanos and planted trees in his memory.

It was encouraging to see people around the province know that their efforts are making a difference in the fight against climate change and environmental degradation.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Grant Crack: Thank you, Minister, for providing this House with some examples of the wonderful work people are undertaking to help protect the environment.

The theme for this year’s Earth Day is “The Face of Climate Change.” The Earth Day Network describes the faces of climate change as those facing the reality of its effects—and there are other faces: the faces that are doing their part to fix the problem, just like the people you participated with over the weekend.

Speaker, through you, would the minister be able to explain what our government is doing to ensure that we are a part of those faces that are working to fix the problem?

Hon. James J. Bradley: Well, our government is phasing out coal and replacing it, through the Green Energy Act, with thousands of megawatts of emission-free electricity. Coal-fired electricity generation, with its huge CO 2 emissions, is down by more than 95% since 2003.

We invested $16 billion in public transit, to address the largest domestic source of smog-causing pollutants in Ontario: motor vehicles.

We’re also committed to stopping urban sprawl in the GTA through initiatives such as the greenbelt, which protects nearly two million acres of green space, the equivalent of Prince Edward Island.

The Far North Act protects a land mass of 225,000 square kilometres.

In 2005, we passed the Places to Grow Act to protect our agricultural lands and green spaces from urban sprawl.

By 2020, we will have fulfilled our commitment to plant 50 million trees in southern Ontario.

Just last week, the federal government’s National Inventory Report showed that from 2005 to 2011, greenhouse gas emissions in—

Mr. Gilles Bisson: Speaker, this is a statement.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Thank you. I know my job.

New question.

POWER PLANTS

Mr. Victor Fedeli: My question is for the Premier. Premier, it would appear that everything you’ve done on this gas plant scandal has been to benefit the Liberal Party. Nothing, absolutely nothing, was done in the interest of any of the taxpayers.

You told us that the cost of Mississauga was $190 million when the Auditor General told us that you had to know all along the true cost was $275 million. In fact, most of it was already paid out when you announced that bogus number.

It’s clear you can’t be trusted with our money. The confidence of your government is at stake here. Premier, will you stand up and give us one good reason to believe anything you ever say?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: I’ve done exactly what I said I was going to do. I said during the leadership that when I got into office, I would be opening up the process, I would provide opportunity for every single question that was asked to be answered, that we would make sure that every document that was asked for was made available. I started acting on that the day that I came into this office. In fact, we offered to broaden the scope of the committee, and the party opposite did not want to do that.

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member from Renfrew, come to order. The member from Renfrew needs to sit in his seat so I can tell him not to talk.

Thank you. Finish.

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased that the scope of the committee is broader, that every question can be answered, that all documentation can be and has been asked for. That is what I said I would do. That is what I have done.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Victor Fedeli: Premier, let me give you the latest example of your government saying one thing when the complete opposite is true. Last week, your energy minister had the nerve to say, “We were not in a very good bargaining position, mainly because the opposition forced us to show our hand and put all documents on the table, and ... compromised our bargaining position.” Premier, your bogus $40-million Oakville number was announced before any of the documents were ever released. How could he stand and say that?

With the confidence of your government at stake, why do you continue to spread this nonsense? I ask you again, stand up and give us one good reason to ever believe anything you ever say again.

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: The Minister of Energy.

Hon. Bob Chiarelli: Mr. Speaker, we’ve been extremely transparent on this issue all the way through. We have a committee that’s working—and we have a person who’s leading this for the opposition. His brand is a yellow tie, but I think he wants to change his yellow tie for a trench coat and call himself Columbo, because he’s trying to parse and split every fact and every answer in committee and make a tremendous scandal out of it.

We’ve been open, we’ve been transparent, we’ve been sharing the information. Most importantly we have accepted the Auditor General’s report, and we’re encouraging the committee to move forward and be diligent in trying to get better rules for locating energy sites.

ELLIOT LAKE INQUIRY

Mr. Michael Mantha: My question is to the Premier this morning.

Elliot Lake is still looking for answers into the devastating Algo Mall collapse from last June. The legal counsel for the mall action committee and the Seniors’ Action Group of Elliot Lake at the public inquiry is now unable to continue representing these groups because his office has not been paid by the Liberal government since last summer. Even the commissioner himself indicated that this was a concern for the commission counsel and staff.

For a community that has suffered so much, this government-caused delay is utterly unacceptable. Will the Premier commit to removing barriers at the Elliot Lake inquiry so that the voices of the victims are not silenced one minute longer?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Attorney General.

Hon. John Gerretsen: We know how important the Elliot Lake inquiry is, first of all. That’s why it was initiated within a week or so after the tragedy took place.

I’ve looked into the issue that’s been raised with respect to the payment of the lawyers. It’s my understanding that the bill was actually submitted sometime near the end of February and it’s being looked after today.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Michael Mantha: Again to the Premier: As stated in the order in council, it is the responsibility of the Attorney General’s office to reimburse the legal fees of the participants who are granted funding. Yet the government hasn’t fulfilled its responsibilities in Elliot Lake for eight months now.

It is shameful that this government’s failures have put extra hurdles in the victims’ quests to get answers. Will the Premier ensure that these delays do not hurt the families of the victims, as well as the community, who are desperately waiting for answers?

Hon. John Gerretsen: Well, Speaker, absolutely. We want to get down to the bottom of this. We want the inquiry to get to the bottom of this. As I indicated before, the first legal bill that was presented to the government was sometime near the end of February. It went through an assessment process as soon as the story came out that the lawyer wasn’t being paid. We’ve looked into it, and it’s being looked after today.

ENERGY POLICIES

Mr. Phil McNeely: My question is for the Minister of Energy. Minister, since 2003, our government has built a clean, reliable energy system in Ontario. We have introduced stability into the system, invested in renewable energy to become a leader in North America and created a culture of conservation across Ontario. Those investments have helped us get off of coal-fired generation and ensure that Ontarians have clean air to breathe.

Minister, I know a key part of our energy system has been the long-term plan. Will the minister please update the House on what our government is doing to plan for our future of our energy system?

Hon. Bob Chiarelli: I thank the member for Ottawa–Orléans for the question. We’ve made real progress in Ontario’s energy sector since 2003. The long-term energy plan has been an important part of that progress.

The energy sector is constantly evolving, and that’s why a three-year review was part of the plan. That’s why I announced last week that we will be conducting a formal review of the long-term energy plan to be completed within six months. Our review will be based on a strong and transparent consultation process with the public, municipalities and the energy sector. Consultation sessions will be held in every region of the province, and we’ll engage the aboriginal communities and their leaders. I’m particularly interested in reviewing our supply mix, how conservation can play a larger role and how we can create a predictable and stable clean energy procurement process.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Phil McNeely: Thank you, Minister, for your response. As we look to the future of our energy sector, I’m glad to see strong leadership from our government as we look to the best way to evolve. Public consultation is an important part of what we do as a government. I’m glad it will be central to the review.

Minister, you mentioned three key areas for consultation as part of our long-term energy plan review: supply mix, conservation and procurement of clean energy. These are issues that affect the members of my community and families and businesses around the province. Speaker, would the minister expand on those key areas?

Hon. Bob Chiarelli: Thank you to the member, again. The member is right: There will be three core areas of our review. The first is to receive feedback on Ontario’s supply mix, which is one the greatest strengths of our electricity system right now. We’ll ask broad questions about where and how Ontario should produce power in the future.

The second element is conservation. Our government strongly feels that conservation must play a more prominent role. Whether it’s through our innovative smart grid or home retrofitting, conservation gives ratepayers power over how much energy they use and how much they pay for it.

Finally, we will create a predictable and sustainable clean energy procurement process. We will provide the right conditions to continue building our green energy industry, including listening to municipalities and recognizing that communities want greater involvement in local energy projects.

We’ve had great success in our energy system, and I look forward to building on that success.

POWER PLANTS

Mr. Frank Klees: My question is to the Premier. Speaker, the member for Don Valley West was the co-chair of the Liberal election campaign in 2011. In that capacity, she was responsible for a decision that she knew would result in the appropriation of millions of tax dollars for the sole purpose of getting the member who sits to her immediate left re-elected. It’s also widely known that that same member played a key role in her election as leader of the Liberal Party. Now he’s the finance minister, and she’s the Premier.

Would the Premier tell us what she plans on doing to repay that campaign debt of $275 million to the taxpayers of this province?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Again, I will just say that I was very clear during my leadership bid that there had been a decision made about the moving of gas plants. There was a cost associated with that. Everyone agreed that those gas plants should move. We have acted on that. What I said was that we were going to make sure that all the questions that were being asked were going to be answered, that all the documentation would be available. We opened up the process, Mr. Speaker. I did exactly what I said I was going to do, and we will continue on that path, making sure the questions get answered.

That’s why I asked the Auditor General—I asked the Auditor General—to look at the Oakville situation. That is what’s happening, and we await his report.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Frank Klees: The Auditor General made it very clear that spending $275 million to move that gas plant was a decision of the Liberal Party of Ontario. The Liberal Party may consider it acceptable to spend $275 million to save one seat. We don’t, and we don’t believe the taxpayers of this province do either. We certainly hope that the third party doesn’t support that either and won’t prop up a government that is so scandal-ridden.

I will repeat my question one more time: Will the Premier stand up—she’s already admitted it was a political decision—and tell us how they are going to make it up to the taxpayers of this province? Don’t give us a budget that will mean nothing. Call an election and have the people of the province pass judgment on her decisions.

Interjections.

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

Premier.

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: The member opposite has acknowledged that there was a political aspect to these decisions. Every candidate in the party opposite who was close to this issue in the ridings that they were running in advanced the position of those parties that they would cancel those gas plants. That’s what they said. That was their position.

I really believe that Ontarians want to see people in this Legislature working together. We’re going to bring a budget forward, and we’re taking a balanced approach to that budget.

I hope that both the parties opposite look at that budget and they realize that we are on track, that we are going to balance our budget by 2017-18, that we are being fiscally responsible, and then they will look at the investments that we propose to make sure that we have as fair a society as possible. I hope they will look at that balanced approach. I believe that that is what the people of Ontario want us to be doing as a government, and they want that discussion to happen in this Legislature.

ASSISTANCE TO FLOOD VICTIMS

Ms. Andrea Horwath: My question is to the Premier. The last couple of days, we have been witnessing some pretty serious flooding in Huntsville, Kawartha Lakes and the Muskokas. We hope and expect that the province will provide residents in those communities with timely assistance.

Flood victims in Thunder Bay are still waiting for help, even though a flood that devastated 700 homes in that community happened almost a year ago. Last week, the Thunder Bay flood victims learned that the government will only provide $300,000 for private damage claims to houses and small businesses.

When will this government focus more on helping people and less on public relations?

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

Hon. Linda Jeffrey: I just want to comment on the recent flooding we heard about this week. I want to comment and commend the people and the staff and the first responders in the town of Bracebridge, the town of Huntsville, the town of Bancroft, the city of Kawartha Lakes, the township of Minden Hills, the township of South Algonquin and the municipality of Markstay-Warren. Certainly, they have been under great duress over the last week, and I want to thank them for their hard work and their dedication to their community.

Certainly, Emergency Management Ontario and municipal staff are working on the ground. We have my ministry, the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, and we have the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services, the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Ministry of Transportation all helping on that front and helping the mayors and the individuals to minimize damage. Certainly, we want to offer our assistance.

In the supplementary, obviously, I will get back to the Thunder Bay issue that the member opposite raises.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Ms. Andrea Horwath: The Premier herself, Premier Wynne, promised up to $3.2 million during her tour of the flood-damaged areas of Thunder Bay last year. But instead of the usual $2 contribution for every dollar raised locally, the flood victims of Thunder Bay are only getting 20 cents on the dollar. This nickel-and-diming is hard to take for people who have already lost so much.

The government can find $275 million to cancel the Mississauga gas plant. Why can’t it pony up $3 million for the flood victims of Thunder Bay?

Hon. Linda Jeffrey: The province committed up to $17.2 million to Thunder Bay and area municipalities. The ODRAP program has been on the ground since the flood occurred last year. We were there immediately to help, and certainly we’re ready to provide more than is actually currently projected.

The city of Thunder Bay asked the province to help cover the cost of their Safe Homes program, and because things are covered under private insurance, some of the items reimbursed from this program were actually not eligible. We’re working with the municipality. We understand that when you’re in the middle of a crisis, you try and reimburse your community. We’re there on the ground, helping. We have made substantial investments. We continue to do that because we want to make sure that this community gets back on its feet as quickly as possible.

I plan to be in Thunder Bay later this week to talk with the mayor and councillors to make sure that we have the receipts we need because, at the end of the day, we have an Auditor General we’re responsible to. We have to provide the paperwork, but we want to be there to help that community.

GO TRANSIT

Mr. Lorenzo Berardinetti: My question is for the Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation. Our government is making record investments in public transit, which will benefit my riding of Scarborough Southwest, where constituents rely on public transit to get to work and to get to school.

I know that reducing congestion is a priority in the GTHA region, and I’m happy that our government is moving forward to address this need. But many of my constituents are looking for more flexibility and convenience when using public transit to get home to their families. They need options if their work demands make them stay late, and they shouldn’t have to worry about whether transit will be available when they want to go home.

The government’s recent announcement that 30-minute GO train service is coming to the Lakeshore line will address many of these concerns. Could the minister please update the House on this recent announcement?

Hon. Glen R. Murray: I’m just wondering if my opposition critics could stand up so we could all figure out who they are, because it’s one of the best-kept secrets in the House. I am indebted to members on this side for holding the government accountable on transit and transportation yet again. Maybe we should double the member’s pay because he has to be an MPP on the government side and do the opposition’s job. The member is quite correct because he does the math before he makes commitments. He actually reads budgets before he votes on them—another uniquely Liberal attribute, Mr. Speaker.

We are introducing half-hour or better GO service all day, and the greatest advantage is, you don’t have to fumble with the

schedule and figure out whether the train is at 11:17. It will be there when you get to the station. This is the biggest expansion of GO in its history, and we’re darned proud to be moving on it.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Lorenzo Berardinetti: Thanks to the minister for his excellent answer. GO Transit’s new seasonal weekend

schedule sounds much improved, and summer travel should be made more convenient than ever. My constituents in Scarborough Southwest will be pleased to hear that our transit investments are making public transit a better choice for commuters. This will reduce congestion on our roads and improve quality of life for Ontario families.

But it’s strange to me that this service will stop short of Hamilton. It seems like a natural fit for residents there, and I know that people in Hamilton and Scarborough Southwest will be wondering why the service stops before it reaches them.

Can the minister explain why this 30-minute, all-day, two-way GO service will not be extended to Hamilton?

Hon. Glen R. Murray: I kind of love Hamilton. It’s one of my favourite cities in the country.

The challenge we have is that the tracks from Aldershot to Hamilton are not owned by us. They’re owned by CN and CP, and we continue to negotiate with them.

But I’m happy to report that is not stopping us from improving service to Hamilton. As a matter of fact, we are building a new GO station in Hamilton, supporting the great work of LIUNA. Hamilton will now have two GO stations. Two more trips will be added in the morning and the afternoon, starting in 2015 as one of the legacies of those amazing Pan Am Games. We continue to spend hundreds of millions and billions of dollars in improving track capacity.

But I would suggest that when the opposition was in power and froze funding for GO, had they not done that, we’d already be in Hamilton.

POWER PLANTS

Mr. Todd Smith: My question is for the Premier this morning. As the chair of the cabinet meeting where the cost of the Oakville cancellation was discussed, it’s clear that you know the cost of cancelling the gas plant. Yet whenever you’re asked about the cost of cancelling the gas plant on the floor of the House here, you bring up your offer to appear before committee.

Premier, surely we shouldn’t have to haul you before committee like some Quebec construction industry snitch just to get an answer to a question. How long do you really expect the Liberal farm team to my left to prop you up and prop up your scandal-plagued government when you can’t even answer a simple question?

This is question period. I’m expecting an answer. I would hope to get an answer from you. If you can give an answer at committee down the road somewhere, then you can tell us right now: How much will it cost to cancel—

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

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Minister of Energy.

Hon. Bob Chiarelli: I want to read one paragraph from the memorandum of understanding with respect to the costs, and I would like to challenge the member who asked the question to tell me what it means:

“[T]he OPA shall pay to TCE the positive difference, if any, between (

i) the aggregate amount of costs confirmed by the opinion of an independent auditor to have been paid by TCE in respect of costs contemplated by sections 2(

a) and (

b) of this

schedule B and (ii) the amount paid by the OPA to TCE in accordance with the provisions of sections 2(

a) and (

b) of this

schedule B; or TCE shall pay to the OPE the positive difference, if any, between (

i) the amount paid by the OPA to TCE in accordance with the provisions of sections 2(

a) and (

b) of this

schedule B, and (ii) the aggregate amount of costs confirmed by the opinion of an independent auditor to have been paid by TCE in respect of costs contemplated by sections 2(

a) and (

b) of this

schedule B;”

That’s why we have the Auditor General looking into the costs and that’s why we’ll accept his report.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Mr. Todd Smith: The fake transparency continues.

I’d like to ask the member a question. Maybe he should ask Bob Delaney how much $1.3 billion would go—

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Thank you. Minister of Energy?

Hon. Bob Chiarelli: Mr. Speaker, on September 24, 2012, an agreement was signed between the province of Ontario, TransCanada and the OPA which set out the details of the cost of the Oakville plant. They were put on the website. There’s also a 216-page contract signed by the parties that’s on the website. We now have the Ontario Power Authority and the Auditor General looking into verifying the costs in a report that will be provided by the Auditor General of Ontario.

We are awaiting the report of the Auditor General to deal with those difficult clauses in trying to calculate the cost.

HEALTH CARE FUNDING

Ms. Teresa J. Armstrong: My question is for the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care. Last month, St. Joseph’s Health Care centre announced the closure of the hydrotherapy pool. This pool regularly serves 300 residents, many of whom face significant health challenges and issues.

I have dozens of letters from seniors like Ms. Hilda Petch who are devastated by the closure. Ms. Petch wrote, “Ten years ago I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis and osteoporosis, and I looked for something that would help me ... and the pool has been the answer for me.”

My question is simple: Is the minister going to allow the hydrotherapy pool to close or will she intervene?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: Thank you to the member opposite for the question. Of course, I have also heard from people who would like to see the pool remain open. What I can say is that hospitals across the province, including St. Joe’s in London, are looking very closely at their budgets. They must continue to provide that important service that can be delivered only in hospitals. If there are services they are providing that can be delivered in the community, then that is the appropriate thing to do.

I know that St. Joe’s hospital has determined that there are facilities outside of the hospital that can provide this important care for people. I look forward to the supplementary and I could talk about some of the reforms we’re making on physiotherapy.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?

Ms. Teresa J. Armstrong: The community pools don’t meet the needs of these patients because the hydrotherapy pools are designed for medical reasons, to help them for rehab. The hospital is looking for $6.3 million in savings and they feel as though they can’t justify the $25,000 expense of hydrotherapy, but this closure is nothing short of penny-wise and pound foolish. The future cost of caring for 300 residents who will lose their main source of rehab and therapy will undoubtedly be more expensive than the cost of keeping these people healthy. A solution needs to be found. Will the minister take the steps necessary to ensure that the community continues to have access to this vital service?

Hon. Deborah Matthews: Of course, it’s very important to me that the people who take advantage of that pool now do have access to other places in the community that can provide that kind of physio, that kind of health—last week, I was very pleased to announce that we are almost doubling the number of people in this province, most of them seniors, who will have access to one-on-one physiotherapy and exercise programs and falls prevention programs.

By changing the way we deliver those services, we’re going to be able to significantly expand access, including in communities that do not currently have access to those physiotherapy clinics. This is advice that we’ve received from Dr. Samir Sinha, from Dr. David Walker and, indeed, from Dr. Don Drummond.

We’ve also got the support of the Ontario Physiotherapy Association and seniors and their advocates right across the province.

POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION

M. Shafiq Qaadri: Ma question est pour le ministre de la Formation et des Collèges et Universités, l’honorable Brad Duguid.

Recently, the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities released the new tuition framework for post-secondary education. I know first-hand from encountering families and students in my riding of Etobicoke North that there’s a sense of gratitude and anticipation about our government’s steps to make post-secondary education more affordable.

To finance their education, many students in Etobicoke North have part-time and summer jobs. Studying at the post-secondary level and financing a degree or a diploma can be a significant concern and undertaking. The reduction in tuition caps has significantly helped students in my riding, but many students and families worry that this initiative won’t be enough.

Speaker, through you, I ask the minister, on behalf of students in Etobicoke North and beyond: Will the minister please inform the House what other programs, initiatives and directives will allow students in our province to access our world-class post-secondary system?

Hon. Brad Duguid: I know that the member has been speaking to students in his riding just by virtue of the issues he brings forward in the question. I think it’s safe to say that students would have liked to have seen us go even further, but they understand that we’re trying to balance quality with affordability. Frankly, we’re not willing to compromise on either. This measure will save the average undergrad student in university about $1,200 over the course of this tuition framework, which is really important.

Despite the tough fiscal times that we’ve been going through, our government has implemented the 30%-off tuition grant that goes to low- and middle-income students. In all, 230,000 low- and middle-income students are benefitting from that grant this year. That’s making our post-secondary education system more affordable and more accessible, and reducing the burden of student debt.

VISITORS

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

Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne: Thank you very much. I beg the indulgence of the House. I want to introduce my constituent Janet MacDougall and her daughter Marnie, who are here with us today.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): There are no deferred votes. This House stands recessed until 1 p.m.

The House recessed from 1139 to 1300.

INTRODUCTION OF VISITORS

Hon. Michael Coteau: I’m proud to welcome the extraordinary recipients of the Ontario Medal for Young Volunteers. We are joined here today in the members’ gallery by Janelle Brady, Mariah Bunz, Alex Escobar, Tyson Grinsell, Mohsin Khan, Josie Linton, Jean-Phillippe Vinette, Haleigh Wiggins and Stephanie Zhou.

We also have members of the advisory council in attendance. Please join me in welcoming Robert Bennett, Shaun Chen, Nancy Averill, Alexis Smith and Rashad Saad. Welcome very much. Welcome to the Ontario Legislative Assembly, and congratulations.

Hon. Deborah Matthews: I’m delighted to welcome two people from the Trillium Gift of Life Network who are making their way in: Ronnie Gavsie and Versha Prakash. I think we will be speaking about organ and tissue donation.

Ms. Laurie Scott: I’d like to introduce two guests this afternoon. I’m pleased to have His Worship Mayor Terry Clayton of the township of Brock and regional councillor Debbie Bath, also of Brock township, who are here today to attend the awarding of an Ontario Medal for Young Volunteers to one of our constituents, Josie Linton.

MEMBERS’ STATEMENTS

UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO

GREEN SPACE

Mr. Rod Jackson: It’s my pleasure to recognize that today is Earth Day and speak about the benefits of having sustainable green space in Toronto and indeed across this province.

I’ve been informed by many in the University of Toronto community that important green space is about to be permanently removed. This June, there are plans to dig up a significant part of the natural heritage landscape of U of T’s campus to replace it with synthetic Astroturf for the use of field hockey in the 2015 Pan Am Games.

Green space is an important and valuable part of our environment. It helps contribute to healthy living by providing space for the community to enjoy the outdoors. Preserving these spaces helps keep a clean earth for future generations.

Though a venue for field hockey is an important aspect of the Pan Am Games, I sincerely hope the minister has weighed the importance of green space for the community against possible alternative venues.

I’d like to recognize the University of Toronto Keep Back Campus Green movement for raising awareness on this issue. They’ve collected close to 5,000 signatures in support of saving this green space, and their commitment to the environment should be applauded.

I hope that the minister responsible for the Pan Am Games responds to this group and gives consideration to their concerns.

TRUCKING INDUSTRY

Mr. Gilles Bisson: More and more, we’re getting complaints from constituents across my riding, and I imagine it’s the same in Algoma–Manitoulin as it is in Sudbury and other communities, where people who have been truck drivers—commercial truck drivers—for many and many a year are now being refused access into the United States when driving into the States because of Ontario’s driver’s card.

The issue is that the American government has a rule that doesn’t allow particular people to drive commercial vehicles in the event that they have certain medical conditions. That is not the case in Ontario. For example, a person who has diabetes, or a person who has a disease that we’re able to treat, is allowed to drive commercial vehicles in Ontario.

Ontario is now putting a code on the driver’s licence that makes it, when the commercial driver drives into the United States, that that person is refused entry because the code says they have a medical condition. They’re unable to cross the border. Clearly this is an oversight, I would hope, on the part of the Ministry of Transportation in doing this, or it’s part of the Homeland Security issue, in which case, either way, this is not on. We have our rules here in the United States because of something we’re doing is wrong.

If United States has rules, it’s up to them to figure out which of our drivers are classed in any way. It shouldn’t be up to us to divulge that information freely and openly to the United States and their customs.

ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST

ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH

Mrs. Laura Albanese: I am honoured today to rise in the House to give recognition to St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church of the village of Weston, which this year celebrates the 160th anniversary of the church as a community of faith and the 100th anniversary of its recognition as a parish within the archdiocese of Toronto.

The church was honoured to celebrate its anniversaries on Sunday, April 14, 2013, with His Excellency Bishop John A. Boissonneau, auxiliary bishop of Toronto.

A hundred and sixty years ago the Catholic community in Weston came together to establish a church so they could worship together. The community of St. John the Evangelist has grown through many difficult and exciting decades, always being an important part of the community of York South–Weston.

The church is, Mr. Speaker, the little parish with heart in the big city, and I wish to extend my most heartfelt congratulations to the church, pastor Father Michael McGourty, laypersons and staff, and to all its parishioners for 160 years of playing a vital, vibrant, central role in the community. This community will soon also be looking forward to having a new school built next to it, a brand new elementary school that bears the name of St. John the Evangelist Catholic School.

WASTE DIVERSION

Mr. Michael Harris: Speaker, last November the PC Party laid out a bold new plan to protect consumers, preserve our environment and create good-paying jobs in the recycling sector. The plan starts with ending the eco tax schemes that Liberals created in 2008 and in 2009 so that government can be returned to its role as a regulator.

The PC Party would improve our environment and kick-start economic growth in the recycling sector by setting measurable and achievable waste diversion targets, establishing environmental standards and monitoring those outcomes. We’d apply this approach to much more than the Liberals’ fixation on less than 5% of Ontario’s annual waste accounted for in their three costly eco tax programs. All three of these programs—for electronics, tires and household hazardous materials—have failed to make waste diversion the cost of doing business, because the Liberals continue to approve new eco-tax schemes that allow companies to pass those costs on to consumers at the cash register.

Now we’ve heard the environment minister say that none of this money goes to the government. Well, that’s simply not true. In fact, over the last four years the Liberals have allowed its recycling agencies to embed $10 million a year in hidden HST charges into eco taxes. To add insult to injury, those eco taxes are then subject to HST again. That means every time Ontarians purchase an item that has an eco tax, they’re paying a tax on a tax on a tax. If anyone wants to know why the Liberals will stop at nothing to prop up their failing eco tax programs, simply follow the money.

NORTHERN ONTARIO

AQUACULTURE ASSOCIATION

Mr. Michael Mantha: Mr. Speaker, you’re going to enjoy this. I know you like fish, so let’s talk about Algoma–Manitoulin fishing.

For the past two weeks in the Ontario Legislature, we have been talking about the importance of local food. I would like to take this opportunity to recognize a group in my riding that is working to provide sustainable, healthy, local food to Ontarians. The Northern Ontario Aquaculture Association represents the environmentally sustainable cage culture and land-based agri-food fish farming industry primarily based here in Ontario.

As part of the northern growth plan, the government identified aquaculture as a promising sector. The Ontario aquaculture sector contributes to local economies while producing safe, quality foods for many Ontarians to enjoy. The northern aquaculture industry is a source of sustainable economic development and employs innovative research and practices. The Northern Ontario Aquaculture Association works with aquaculture operators to ensure ongoing research on issues pertaining specifically to the industry, working to promote and enhance aquaculture in Ontario.

Local cage culture operations in Lake Huron produce over nine million pounds of rainbow trout annually, with the deep cold water of the lake providing an ideal environment for raising the fish.

Aquaculture and related activities contribute more than $50 million annually to the Ontario economy, supporting over 200 jobs.

Farmed fish is naturally low in sodium and is an excellent source of protein, allowing Ontarians better access to healthy foods.

While we continue to discuss the importance of local foods, I would like to take this opportunity to recognize a group in Algoma–Manitoulin who are providing locally fresh, healthy options to the community and Ontarians.

BAHA’I COMMUNITY

Ms. Helena Jaczek: I stand in this House, joined by my colleague Reza Moridi, MPP for Richmond Hill, to wish the people of the Baha’i faith a joyful Ridvan.

Ridvan is a 12-day religious festival, and is one of the most important celebrations in the Baha’i faith. Often referred to as “the king of festivals,” it takes its name from the Garden of Ridvan, located near Baghdad, Iraq. The site is historically significant, as it is a location where Baha’u’llah, the faith’s founder, spent 12 days prior to his religious journey to Istanbul before declaring that he was a divine messenger in 1863.

Beginning at sunset on April 20, until sunset May 2, followers of the Baha’i faith honour the 12 days that Baha’u’llah spent in the Garden of Ridvan by celebrating spring and a renewal of spirituality.

There are approximately 12,000 individuals who practise the Baha’i faith living in Ontario, and more than five million followers globally. This includes the great ridings of Oak Ridges–Markham and Richmond Hill, which are home to a number of families practising the Baha’i faith and celebrating the festival of Ridvan.

I would like to wish everyone celebrating this 12-day religious festival a happy Ridvan.

MILTON LEGION CRIBBAGE TEAM

Mr. Ted Chudleigh: It’s my pleasure to rise in the House this afternoon to congratulate four legionnaires from the great riding of Halton. Ken Johnson, Gloria Murray, and Phyllis and Carson Smith from the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 136, Milton, were recently crowned Ontario Legion cribbage champions.

Legion sports are an important part of the Legion activities, offering members the opportunity to compete against each other and other branches in a wide variety of sports and gaming events. Some of the activities include darts, euchre, cribbage, pool, curling, golf, track and field, and many more. Legion sports are separated into two categories, one being for adults and the other for youth under 17. Legion members can show their talents by competing and advancing from the branch level to zone level to provincial, and even the national dominion level, where competition is of an expert calibre.

For the Milton Legion cribbage team, travelling to Liverpool, Nova Scotia on Friday to take on other provincial championship teams from across the country will be no small task. I have complete confidence in our Milton team to bring back first place to Branch 136.

I would ask all members of the House to join with me in wishing the Milton Legion cribbage team all the best as they compete for gold at the Dominion cribbage championship.

Good luck to Ken, Gloria, Phyllis and Carson. I know that you will do us proud in Nova Scotia. I also know that you’ll have a pretty good time, and after all, that’s what it’s all about.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Dare I—15-4 and there ain’t no more.

The member for Oakville.

OAKVILLE AWARDS FOR BUSINESS EXCELLENCE

Mr. Kevin Daniel Flynn: It’s a pleasure to rise in the House and tell you that I had the opportunity recently to attend the 18th annual Oakville Awards for Business Excellence, hosted by the Oakville Chamber of Commerce. The awards are dedicated to recognizing models of excellence and community service by Oakville’s businesses.

I’d like to congratulate SOS First Aid for winning small business of the year and Astound Group Inc. for winning the large business category. Other winners include Cucci Ristorante for best restaurant; Oakville Endoscopy Centre for best professional services provider; and Dufferin Construction for best community builder.

I’d also like to congratulate Tal Dehtiar from Oliberté Limited for receiving the young entrepreneur of the year award, as well as Michelle Eglington from Euro-Line Appliances for being named the best employee.

On the eve of hosting the Canadian Open, Glen Abbey golf course was named best hospitality and visitor attraction, and Ford was named Oakville’s business icon.

I’d like to applaud the chamber for hosting another great event, for raising funds that go to numerous youth and academic programs, and I’d like to take this opportunity to congratulate all those who were nominated and all those who won that evening.

AGGREGATE EXTRACTION

Ms. Sylvia Jones: Happy Earth Day, Speaker.

I wanted to let everyone know that I will be introducing a private member’s bill this afternoon entitled the Aggregate Recycling Promotion Act. I chose Earth Day to introduce my PMB because at its heart, the Aggregate Recycling Promotion Act is about helping to address the need for aggregates while at the same time preserving the finite supply of land from which we extract.

Currently across Ontario, there are dozens of public sector bodies like the Ministry of Transportation and select municipalities that are doing a great job incorporating recycled aggregates into their construction work, but we can do more. There are still too many cases where bids to complete public sector construction work are restricted to using only 100% virgin or primary aggregates, thereby excluding recycled materials from being considered.

Recycled aggregates have proven to be as safe and reliable as primary aggregates. No one should be prevented from competing for a contract solely because they propose to use recycled aggregates.

If an Ontario business wants to make a bid to build or resurface a road, then they should be able to include recycled aggregates in their proposal. That is not something we should be stopping; that is something we should be promoting.

During the review of the Aggregate Resources Act last year, we heard from countless presenters that more recycled aggregate should be used in Ontario. Today I say to my fellow members: Let’s get it done, let’s show some leadership and let’s promote aggregate recycling in Ontario.

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

NOTICES OF DISSATISFACTION

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Pursuant to standing order 38(a), the member for Prince Edward–Hastings has given notice of his dissatisfaction with the answer to his question given by the Minister of Energy concerning the cost of the Oakville gas plant cancellation. This matter will be debated tomorrow at 6 p.m.

Pursuant to standing order 38(a), the member from Nipissing has given notice of his dissatisfaction with the answer to his question given by the Premier concerning the cost of the Oakville gas plant cancellation. This matter will be debated tomorrow at 6 p.m.

Pursuant to standing order 38(a), the member from Newmarket–Aurora has given notice of his dissatisfaction with the answer to his question given by the Premier—

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): —the Attorney General will not only sit in his seat, if he wants to heckle, and then when he sits in his seat, I’ll tell him to stop heckling—concerning her role in the authorizing of the closure of the Mississauga gas plant. This matter will be debated tomorrow at 6 p.m.

INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

AGGREGATE RECYCLING

PROMOTION ACT, 2013 /

LOI DE 2013 SUR LA PROMOTION

DU RECYCLAGE DES AGRÉGATS

Ms. Jones moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 56,

An Act to prohibit certain restrictions on the use of aggregates in performing public sector construction work / Projet de loi 56, Loi interdisant certaines restrictions frappant l’utilisation d’agrégats lors de la réalisation de travaux de construction pour le secteur public.

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

First reading agreed to.

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

Ms. Sylvia Jones: From the

preamble: Ontario residents expect the government of Ontario to take a leadership role in balancing the relationship between primary aggregate extraction and secondary aggregate recycling, the latter of which contributes to preserving the environment.

Ontario residents expect the government of Ontario and the broader public sector, including government-funded institutions, to conduct business in a sustainable way that is both operationally and economically viable.

Ontario residents also expect that, where appropriate, recycled aggregates will be fairly considered in all construction contracts entered into by the government of Ontario and the broader public sector. This allows for a better balance between the need for primary aggregate extraction and secondary aggregate recycling in Ontario.

STATEMENTS BY THE MINISTRY

AND RESPONSES

NATIONAL ORGAN AND TISSUE

DONATION AWARENESS WEEK

Hon. Deborah Matthews: April 21 to 28 is National Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Week in Canada. It’s a time when we take the opportunity to help increase awareness of organ and tissue donation registration so we can help save more lives.

I am delighted to be joined today by Ronnie Gavsie and Versha Prakash from the Trillium Gift of Life Network. They devote their lives to helping those who need transplants get those transplants.

It is not an overstatement to say that organ donation is a matter of life or death. A single donor can save the life of up to eight people and, through tissue donation, enhance the lives of 75 others. I’m delighted to say that in the last fiscal year, there were a record-breaking 1,009 live-saving transplants performed in Ontario, and over 1,600 tissue donors helped thousands to live healthier lives.

Yes, the numbers are slowly going up, but we have so much more work to do. The fact is, only 22% of Ontarians are registered as organ and tissue donors. We know from research that as many as one in five people mistakenly believe that they have registered consent. The old paper card that people have been carrying around in their wallets does not mean they are registered. Speaker, I’m encouraging all Ontarians to take a couple of minutes from their day and register online at beadonor.ca or in person at ServiceOntario.

Our government is helping to make it as easy as possible to register. I’m pleased to say that since February of this year, after a successful pilot, ServiceOntario is now asking all Ontarians who renew their driver’s licence or obtain an Ontario photo card to register their consent to donate. This is in addition to the practice already established to ask the same of those obtaining or renewing their Ontario health card.

I’m asking MPPs and anyone watching at home to take out your health card. I know it’s there. It’s in your wallet; it’s in your purse. Mine says “donor” on the back. If yours doesn’t, I hope you’re going to take the next step and register, because we all need to lead by example.

Ontario still faces an urgent challenge. The list of people waiting for a life-saving or -transforming transplant is too long. One person dies on that list every three days. Ontario’s world-class hospitals have the skills, they have the knowledge, to perform medical miracles, but the people on the transplant wait-list need more of us to register our consent to become organ and tissue donors.

I’ve had the opportunity to see the impact of organ donation first-hand. I’ve met a number of organ and tissue recipients. It strikes me that they would not still be living if it were not for the generosity of a complete stranger. I’ve registered my consent to be an organ donor. I can tell you, it’s a good feeling, knowing that even after I’m gone, I could still make a positive difference for my fellow Ontario citizens.

The Gift of 8 movement website has a couple of pretty neat features. First, it provides local communities across Ontario an electronic display of their donor registration data. You can learn how your community compares to others across the province, and I’d like to give a shout-out to the top communities in the province right now for their organ donor registration.

At the top of the list are the communities of Garson, Hanmer, Lively and Val Caron. All of those are represented by the member from Nickel Belt. They’ve got a registration rate of 49% to 50%. Next is Parry Sound, represented by the member from Parry Sound–Muskoka, at 49%; and North Bay, represented by the member for Nipissing, at 47%. The member from Sudbury can take pride in his community, at 45%.

There are many communities that could do way better, and it wouldn’t hurt to have a little more competition. That’s why, and more importantly, the Gift of 8 movement allows individuals and organizations to create customized web pages on beadonor.ca and run their own registration campaigns through their digital and real-world networks.

Last year, I personally mounted a registration campaign on the site, and I’m challenging all MPPs to work with their constituents and start their own registration campaigns. I’m setting a new goal of registering 1,500 people to do my part to ensure that Gift of 8 becomes a movement rather than merely an initiative. This is the kind of personal involvement we need to truly mobilize Ontarians and get this conversation into the open. Organ and tissue donation is also a testament to the power of individuals and networks to make a world of difference.

You’ve doubtless heard of Helene Campbell, the remarkable young woman from Ottawa who last year underwent a double lung transplant in Toronto. She raised her awareness about organ donation through her tweets to high-profile celebrities. As a direct result of her efforts there was a remarkable uptick in the number of people who signed their organ donation consent form.

So let’s keep that momentum going. By working hard together, by encouraging people to register their consent to donate and by sharing their wishes with their families, we can all help save lives. Ontarians are caring people. I know we can do this. I have every confidence that together we will increase those registration rates so that fewer people will have to wait to receive the transplants they need.

NATIONAL VOLUNTEER WEEK

Hon. Michael Coteau: I rise today to recognize National Volunteer Week. Every year during this special week we take a moment to say thank you to the more than six million volunteers who work hard to make a difference in our province. National Volunteer Week is our chance to celebrate their compassion, generosity and hard work. It’s a time to honour their commitment to service.

Day in and day out, volunteers of all ages give their valuable time to make our communities stronger. They change our world as mentors, caregivers, fundraisers and board members.

Volunteering is a valued tradition in this province. It’s my privilege, as Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, to recognize our exceptional volunteers across the province and to say thank you.

Ontario’s selfless volunteers make a difference. This year, close to 10,000 volunteers of all ages who are making a difference are being recognized with Volunteer Service Awards. Since their inception, more than 170,000 Ontarians have proudly received Volunteer Service Awards. We’re very proud of them.

During National Volunteer Week we also present the June Callwood Outstanding Achievement Award for Voluntarism, recognizing individuals, businesses and other organizations for their outstanding volunteer contributions. Our youth are our future, and that’s why young people are being recognized for their outstanding community service with the Ontario Medal for Young Volunteers.

This National Volunteer Week, we also are launching our sixth annual ChangeTheWorld: Ontario Youth Volunteer Challenge. Since 2008, more than 63,000 students have participated, volunteering hundreds of thousands of hours in their communities. This year we’re aiming to engage more than 30,000 youth.

And that’s not all. Through the partnership project, Ontario is taking concrete steps to support our strong tradition of volunteerism and to find new ways to work together for the not-for-profit sector. Volunteerism is a win-win for everyone. It helps students develop skills that can get them jobs in the future, it helps communities deliver services to the less fortunate and it helps Ontario newcomers make connections so they can acquire valuable Canadian work experience. Finally, and most importantly, volunteerism helps to make Ontario one of the best places to live on the planet.

I urge the members of the Legislature to recognize their community volunteers this week and during the Volunteer Service Awards ceremonies that are taking place in the upcoming weeks.

NATIONAL ORGAN AND TISSUE DONATION AWARENESS WEEK

Mr. Bill Walker: At moments of profound need we count on each other for compassion, kindness and generosity. This week we recognize all people whose compassion and giving spirit saved another’s life. National Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Week is a time when we reflect on their noble acts and recognize the indelible mark they have left on the lives of countless Ontarians.

Sadly, however, the need for organ and tissue donors continues to be greater than ever before. Today, more than 1,500 Ontarians await an organ transplant. While many individuals will receive life-saving treatment, too many will pass before help arise. All of us can play a

part in ending this loss of life, because it is preventable. I encourage all of us to consider becoming a donor.

People often become apprehensive when thinking about donating their organs after death. Thinking about our own mortality is uneasy, and it is difficult to plan for such an event. However, by choosing to be a donor now people can rest assured knowing that they are making the ultimate sacrifice, saving the lives of people who would not otherwise survive.

Consider this: One organ donor can save the lives of nine transplant recipients, one tissue donor can enhance the lives of more than 50 people and one cornea donor can bring sight to two people. So, as 1,500 Ontarians continue to wait for an organ transplant in Ontario, we in the PC Party call upon everyone—all health care professionals, educators, government agencies, volunteers, community groups and private organizations—to join forces to boost the number of organ and tissue donors throughout the province.

My colleague the MPP for Northumberland–Quinte West, Rob Milligan, brought this campaign to boost organ donations to the floor of this Legislature when he introduced the Organ or Tissue Donation Statute Law Amendment Act this time last year. Likewise, leaders in education, such as the Bruce-Grey Catholic District School Board, have kicked off their own campaign, aimed at raising staff and student awareness about the value of organ donation under the slogan, “Don’t Take your Organs to Heaven. Heaven Knows We Need Them Here.”

I commend everyone who is doing his or her

part in helping to save a life. Kindness, compassion and a giving spirit are the pillars that shape Ontario’s character. So, let’s commit to sticking to them by ensuring that every individual has access to the care and services they need. You can register now at beadonor.ca.

NATIONAL VOLUNTEER WEEK

Ms. Sylvia Jones: It’s an honour to rise on behalf of Tim Hudak and the PC caucus to respond to the minister’s statement on National Volunteer Week.

It’s a time to recognize and celebrate the incredible efforts of our volunteers. As the minister said, six million Ontarians volunteer in our province each year. In Ontario, our incredible volunteers contribute more than 860 million volunteer hours every year.

Volunteers are an important part of a healthy community. This is why I was proud to support our volunteers with my private member’s bill, the Helping Volunteers Give Back Act, which would make it easier to volunteer with multiple organizations across Ontario.

In my own riding of Dufferin–Caledon, we have an excellent spirit of volunteerism, and I want to mention two organizations specifically for all the hard work they do helping people find fulfilling volunteer opportunities. One is Volunteer MBC, or Mississauga Brampton Caledon, which does great work referring potential volunteers with placements in our community. MBC serves all ages, including youth, seniors, newcomers and groups, and provides education and support for volunteers and community service agencies.

Another great organization is Volunteer Dufferin which, like Volunteer MBC, specializes in matching people with organizations to volunteer. An online matching site, Volunteer Dufferin is part of a larger initiative to strengthen the volunteer base in Dufferin county.

National Volunteer Week is the perfect time to thank volunteers for all they do for us and in our communities. So to all our volunteers: Thank you. We cannot say enough, and appreciate your dedication and hard work.

Speaker, I must mention that this weekend you might have noticed it was a bit snowy, a bit cold and a bit rainy. On Saturday morning, there were literally hundreds of volunteers who participated in a Make Orangeville Shine program. They were out there in the snow flurries and the wind, picking up garbage to make our community better and improve it for everyone. I really have to give them a shout-out, because I’m sure it wasn’t a very pleasant Saturday morning. But they came away with a glow and an opportunity to do something special for the community. Congratulations.

NATIONAL ORGAN AND TISSUE

DONATION AWARENESS WEEK

M me France Gélinas: It is my pleasure to add a few comments to what was already said about National Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Week, which we are already in.

Last year, I used most of my time to brag about what Hélène Campbell had been doing with her tweets and with increasing the number of people who sign up to be a donor. I also want to highlight Mr. George Marcello, with Torch of Life, who has also brought a significant increase in the number of people who know about organ donation and know how to sign up and be a donor.

This year, I want to focus a little bit on somebody all of you know well. His name is Peter Kormos. Peter Kormos was the member from Welland, and he spent a great deal of his time here at Queen’s Park supporting what is called presumed consent. Presumed consent is another step that jurisdictions have taken; Ontario is not one of them. But he wanted Ontario to become a jurisdiction where presumed consent would become the law of the land, where basically we make it easy for everybody to be a donor. Like the minister has said and the critic has said, people in Ontario are good people. We want to help one another.

We want to live by the motto of, “Don’t Take Your Organs to Heaven. Heaven Knows We Need Them Here.” That makes it even easier.

Peter had done a ton of research on the subject to look at: What are those jurisdictions who have presumed consent, and what kind of differences do we see? I have more or less taken the torch from my good friend and will try to continue pushing this concept.

There were also other pieces in there. When a child reaches 16—when a young person, really, has to go for their own health card and renew their health card, it would be a good time to add in the curriculum the fact that by signing your card, one donor can help eight lives—to do that education. For a lot of families, it is hard to talk about death, and a lot of organ donation happens during that really, really busy period when somebody passes. So make it a little bit easier by having the school curriculum talk to young people, at about age 16, about this.

I have to leave some time on the clock for my colleague, but I want to say, from the member from Algoma–Manitoulin, all best wishes to Kim Cloutier. Kim Cloutier is from Elliot Lake. She’s recovering from a double lung transplant right now. Our best prayers go to you.

NATIONAL VOLUNTEER WEEK

Ms. Cheri DiNovo: It’s my honour and privilege to rise to recognize the phenomenal work done by our tens of thousands of volunteers. One in particular, Janelle Brady, from Parkdale–High Park, is receiving a medal from the Lieutenant Governor, probably as we speak, so a shout-out to her as well—but also to recognize the work that’s done, just to add to what has been said, by the incredible number of faith community volunteers: from our synagogues, mosques, temples and churches. People pour out their hearts and their souls and their efforts to help the marginalized, and they do this year in and year out, without a great deal of recompense—certainly no money.

Our volunteers contribute about $45 billion into our economy every year in this province. It’s an incalculable sum. We literally couldn’t run the province without them. Without our volunteers, this province would simply grind to a halt. That’s the reality.

Here’s something we could really do for our volunteers, and that is—increasingly, they’re becoming exhausted. The Out of the Cold program has a hard time recruiting, because folks simply can’t keep up with the demands of the marginalized.

What we could really do, if we really respected and loved our volunteers as we should, is to have government step up and do what government should be doing. It’s government’s responsibility to look after the marginalized and the vulnerable. We should not leave this to the volunteers. This is our responsibility, collectively. So let’s help our volunteers. Let’s not leave what should be government’s responsibility to the good people in our faith communities and in our institutions.

Let’s provide real jobs with real pay, real benefits and real pensions, and let’s step up and do what we should be doing—hopefully, in the budget.

PETITIONS

ONTARIO COLLEGE OF TRADES

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

“Whereas Ontario’s tradespeople are subject to stifling regulation and are compelled to pay membership fees to the unaccountable College of Trades; and

“Whereas these fees are a tax grab that drives down the wages of skilled tradespeople; and

“Whereas Ontario desperately needs a plan to solve our critical shortage of skilled tradespeople by encouraging our youth to enter the trades and attracting new tradespeople; and

“Whereas the current policies of the McGuinty/Wynne Liberal government only aggravate the looming skilled trades shortage in Ontario;

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

“To immediately disband the College of Trades, cease imposing needless membership fees and enact policies to attract young Ontarians into skilled trade careers.”

I support this, will affix my name and send it with page Jason.

GOVERNMENT SERVICES

Mr. Michael Mantha: The petition is presented by members from Kagawong—again from Manitoulin Island—Gore Bay and Mindemoya.

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas northern Ontario will suffer a huge loss of service as a result of government cuts to ServiceOntario counters;

“Whereas these cuts will have a negative impact on local businesses and local economies;

“Whereas northerners will now face challenges in accessing their birth certificates, health cards and licences;

“Whereas northern Ontario should not unfairly bear the brunt of decisions to slash operating budgets;

“Whereas regardless of address, all Ontarians should be treated equally by their government;

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

“Review the decision to cut access to ServiceOntario for northerners, and provide northern Ontarians equal access to these services.”

I agree with this petition and will present it to page Glory.

AGRI-FOOD INDUSTRY

Mr. Phil McNeely: A petition to the Ontario Legislative Assembly:

“Good Things Grow in Ontario.

“Whereas the agri-food industry is now, and has historically been, one of the primary economic drivers in Ontario; and

“Whereas the people of Ontario support local processors and producers in Ontario through purchasing and consuming locally grown and raised fruits, vegetables, meat and processed food products; and

“Whereas the government of Ontario, and the Premier of Ontario, support Ontario farmers and Ontario food producers by leading by example; and

“Whereas the province of Ontario celebrates local Ontario producers and processors and promotes the good things grown, harvested and made in Ontario;

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

“That the Legislative Assembly of Ontario pass and enact, during spring of 2013, Bill 36, the Local Food Act.”

I agree with this petition, affix my signature to it and will send it up with Nicholas.

WATER QUALITY

Mr. John O’Toole: I’m pleased to present a petition on behalf of my constituents in Durham.

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas, under the Health Protection and Promotion Act, Ontario regulation 319/08, public health inspectors are required to undertake risk assessments of small drinking water systems;

“Whereas many of these small drinking water systems are located in homes operating bed and breakfasts in rural Ontario;

“Whereas private homes that are the sites of bed and breakfasts already have potable drinking water used by the homeowners and their families every day;

“Whereas many of these bed and breakfasts have established the quality of their drinking water through years of regular testing;

“Whereas these home-based businesses are facing high costs to comply with the new requirements of regulation 319/08;

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

“That the Ministry of Health amend Ontario regulation 319/08 to give the testing track record of a small drinking water system greater weight in the risk assessment pro-cess;

“Furthermore we, the undersigned, ask that bed and breakfasts operated within a private home with a drinking water supply meeting all the requirements of a private home not be subject to regulation 319/08.”

I’m pleased to present this on behalf of Pat Drysdale and other constituents in the riding of Durham, and present it to Bonnie, one of the pages.

SERVICES FOR THE

DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED

Ms. Cheri DiNovo: This is a petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

“Whereas agencies that support individuals with a developmental disability and their families have for several years (beginning in 2010) faced a decline in provincial funding for programs that support people with developmental and other related disabilities; and

“Whereas because this level of provincial funding is far less than the rate of inflation and operational costs, and does not account for providing services to a growing and aging number of individuals with complex needs, developmental service agencies are being forced into deficit; and

“Whereas today over 30% of developmental service agencies are in deficit; and

“Whereas lowered provincial funding has resulted in agencies being forced to cut programs and services that enable people with a developmental disability to participate in their community and enjoy the best quality of life possible; and

“Whereas in some cases services once focused on community inclusion and quality of life for individuals have been reduced to a ‘custodial’ care arrangement; and

“Whereas lower provincial funding means a poorer quality of life for people with a developmental disability and their families and increasingly difficult working conditions for the direct care staff who support them; and

“Whereas there are thousands of people waiting for residential supports, day program supports and other programs province-wide;

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

“

(1) To eliminate the deficits of developmental service agencies and provide adequate new funding to restore services and programs that have in effect been cut;

“

(2) To protect existing services and supports by providing an overall increase in funding for agencies that is at least equal to inflationary costs that include among other operational costs, utilities, food and compensation increases to ensure staff retention;

“

(3) To fund pay equity obligations for a predominantly female workforce;

“

(4) To provide adequate new funding to agencies to ensure that the growing number of families on wait-lists have access to accommodation supports and day supports and services.”

I couldn’t agree more. I’m going to give it to Glory to be delivered to the table.

AGRI-FOOD INDUSTRY

Mr. Grant Crack: A petition to the Ontario Legislative Assembly:

“Good Things Grow in Ontario.

“Whereas the agri-food industry is now, and has historically been, one of the primary economic drivers in Ontario; and

“Whereas the people of Ontario support local processors and producers in Ontario through purchasing and consuming locally grown and raised fruits, vegetables, meat and processed food products; and

“Whereas the government of Ontario, and the Premier of Ontario, support Ontario farmers and Ontario food producers by leading by example; and

“Whereas the province of Ontario celebrates local Ontario producers and processors and promotes the good things grown, harvested and made in Ontario;

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

“That the Legislative Assembly of Ontario pass and enact, during spring of 2013, Bill 36, the Local Food Act.”

I agree with this, Mr. Speaker, and I sign it and give it to page Jarrod.

ONTARIO COLLEGE OF TRADES

Mr. Jim McDonell: “To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas Ontario’s tradespeople are subject to stifling regulation and are compelled to pay membership fees to the unaccountable College of Trades; and

“Whereas these fees are a tax grab that drives down the wages of skilled tradespeople; and

“Whereas Ontario desperately needs a plan to solve our critical shortage of skilled tradespeople by encouraging our youth to enter the trades and attracting new tradespeople; and

“Whereas the latest policies from the” McGuinty-Wynne “government only aggravate the looming skilled trades shortage in Ontario;

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

“To immediately disband the College of Trades, cease imposing needless membership fees and enact policies to attract young Ontarians into skilled trade careers.”

I agree with this and I will be signing it.

DOG OWNERSHIP

Ms. Cheri DiNovo: “To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas currently the law takes the onus off of owners that raise violent dogs by making it appear that violence is a matter of genetics; and

“Whereas the Dog Owners’ Liability Act does not clearly define a pit bull, nor is it enforced equally across the province, as pit bulls are not an acknowledged breed;

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

“That the Legislative Assembly passes Bill 16, Public Safety Related to Dogs Statute Law Amendment Act, 2011, into law.”

A thousand dogs have already died this year just because of the way they look. I certainly agree and am going to sign this and give it to Madeline to be delivered to the table.

ELECTORAL BOUNDARIES

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

“Whereas Agincourt is historically recognized as north Scarborough’s oldest and most well-established community; and

“Whereas the residents of the community of Scarborough–Agincourt share unique interests; and

“Whereas historically Agincourt’s electoral voice has always been found in an electoral district north of Ontario Highway 401; and

“Whereas communities, such as Scarborough–Agincourt, with historical significance should be protected and not divided; and

“Whereas the Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for Ontario has recently released proposals to redraw the federal riding map of Scarborough–Agincourt; and

“Whereas ‘community of interest’ is a mandated consideration of the federal Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Act; and

“Whereas the original proposal from the commission included a unified Scarborough–Agincourt riding; and

“Whereas the commission’s report would inexplicably divide the Scarborough–Agincourt community; and

“Whereas the residents of Scarborough–Agincourt should not be divided and the electoral riding should remain, in its entirety, with its northern Scarborough neighbours;

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

“To call upon the Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for Ontario to recognize the historical and demographic context of the Scarborough–Agincourt community and to preserve riding boundaries that include a protected Scarborough–Agincourt community north of Ontario Highway 401.”

I fully support this petition, and I’ll give it to Annie.

DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES

Mr. Jerry J. Ouellette: I have a petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas the Ontario Health Insurance Program (OHIP) previously covered one Papanicolaou (Pap) test a year for women in the province of Ontario; and

“Whereas the Canadian Cancer Society estimated that 1,350 Canadian women were diagnosed with cervical cancer and 390 died from the disease in 2012, and that this valuable test is a simple screening procedure that can help prevent cancer of the cervix; and

“Whereas the province through OHIP now only covers the cost of a test once every three years under new rules that took effect January 1; and

“Whereas women who want an annual Pap test now have to pay for the screening themselves under the new rules;

“We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to immediately return the OHIP funding for annual Pap tests for women in order to help prevent cervix cancer and ensure women’s overall health and well-being.”

ONTARIO COLLEGE OF TRADES

Mr. Norm Miller: I have more petitions I’ve received to do with the trades tax: “Stop the Trades Tax” petition. It reads:

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas the newly created Ontario College of Trades is planning to hit hard-working tradespeople with new membership fees that, if the college has its way, will add up to $84 million a year;

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

“That the Liberal government stop their job-killing trades tax and shut down the Ontario College of Trades immediately.”

I support this petition, Mr. Speaker.

WORKPLACE INSURANCE

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

“Whereas the WSIB has mandated that, effective January 1, 2013, all independent contractors and small business owners operating in the construction industry must have WSIB coverage;

“Whereas many of these business owners have their own private workplace insurance that in most cases is more affordable, more efficient and provides … extensive coverage;

“Whereas mandatory WSIB premiums add significant costs to small businesses and adversely affect their growth prospects and in some cases their solvency;

“Whereas the government provided minimum notice about the change to businesses, with WSIB sending out an official letter dated November 25, 2012;

“Whereas, at a time when Ontario is facing a jobs crisis with 600,000 people unemployed, the government and its agencies should not be discouraging private sector job creation and growth by levying additional, unnecessary costs;

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

“To direct the Minister of Labour to issue an order in council eliminating the requirement that mandates compulsory WSIB coverage on all independent contractors and small business owners in the construction industry.”

I agree with this petition and I sign my name to it.

AIR QUALITY

Mr. Monte McNaughton: I’m presenting a petition on behalf of the residents of Lambton–Kent–Middlesex.

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas Ontario’s Drive Clean program was implemented only as a temporary measure to reduce high levels of vehicle emissions and smog; and

“Whereas vehicle emissions have declined so significantly from 1998 to 2010 that they are no longer among the major domestic contributors of smog in Ontario; and

“Whereas the overwhelming majority of reductions in vehicle emissions were, in fact, the result of factors other than the Drive Clean program, such as tighter manufacturing standards for emission-control technologies; and

“Whereas from 1999 to 2010 the percentage of vehicles that failed emissions testing under the Drive Clean program steadily declined from 16% to 5%; and

“Whereas the environment minister has ignored advances in technology and introduced a new, computerized emissions test that is less reliable and prone to error; and.…

“Whereas the new Drive Clean test has caused the failure rate to double in less than two months as a result of technical problems with the new emissions testing method; and

“Whereas this new emissions test has caused numerous false ‘fails,’ which have resulted in the overcharging of testing fees for Ontario drivers…;

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

“That the Minister of the Environment must take immediate steps to begin phasing out the Drive Clean program.”

I’ll affix my name.

TIRE DISPOSAL

Mr. Toby Barrett: Signatures keep coming in, Speaker, from farm dealerships—all the farm dealerships, now—in my riding.

“Stop the Tire Tax Hikes.

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas the Ontario government has approved massive increases to Ontario Tire Stewardship’s eco fees for farm and construction tires;

"Whereas Ontario imposes tire eco fees that are dramatically higher than those in other provinces;

“Whereas other provincial governments either exempt agricultural tires from recycling programs or charge fees only up to $75;

“Whereas Ontario’s opposition has proposed a plan that holds manufacturers and importers of tires responsible for recycling;

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

“Suspend the hikes to Ontario Tire Stewardship’s fees on farm and off-the-road tires pending proposals to lower costs.”

I sign my name to these petitions.

ORDERS OF THE DAY

LOCAL FOOD ACT, 2013 /

LOI DE 2013 SUR

LES ALIMENTS LOCAUX

Resuming the debate adjourned on April 18, 2013, on the motion for second reading of the following bill:

Bill 36,

An Act to enact the Local Food Act, 2013 / Projet de loi 36, Loi édictant la Loi de 2013 sur les aliments locaux.

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

Mr. Michael Mantha: I’m so happy that I have an opportunity to finish speaking to this bill. Agriculture is very important to many of the communities and many in Algoma–Manitoulin.

When we first saw this bill in 2012, Local Food Week was designated to be the week after the long weekend. When this plan was created, there was obviously no consultation with farmers, and no foresight by the ministry, as this week coincides with farmers planting their crops. Anyone with any knowledge of farming would have enough foresight to know that this would mean we could not have ensured an abundance of local food, which the week intends to celebrate.

For the government’s second kick at the can, the ministry had time to think about these implications but still picked a week that is not ideal. The government would like to make Local Food Week the same week as Agriculture Week. This just goes to show how out of touch this government is. The government had the opportunity to show rural and northern Ontario that they are listening to their needs. Why don’t Local Food Week and Agriculture Week deserve their separate weeks? I would think that if the government is serious about making local food a priority, a separate week would have been chosen.

To even think that local food is the only issue that farmers care about is misguided and uninformed. There are many other concerns farmers have that do not include local foods. Just to name a few of these concerns, to remind the government they exist, how about cumbersome legislation; food processing standards; funding for crop risk management; and the increasing price of eco fees on farming equipment?

This bill then goes on to stipulate that the ministry publish, at least every three years, a

summary of provincial local food initiatives, and highlight successes and innovations in the broader public sector and elsewhere. It makes sense for the ministry to publish a

summary of provincial local food initiatives and highlight success stories, but there is no reason why this report should only come out once every three years.

The report must include ministerial and public institution achievements in the increase in local food awareness. We need safeguards in place to ensure that it includes a fair and honest assessment of how the ministry is succeeding or failing in attempts to increase the utilization of local food in Ontario.

This bill needs to go much further, not only for the sake of local farmers but also to give our communities what they deserve. I am not the only voice who feels this way about this bill. Even the leaders in the academic world have spoken out about this bill.

University of Guelph Professor Evan Fraser told the CBC on March 26 that the Local Food Act “is a foundational stone that will be made more concrete in subsequent years, but right now it sounds pretty aspirational.” Professor Fraser acknowledges that this legislation is a stepping stone, but even he can tell that this bill does not set out to achieve real results. It just aspires to do that one day, if and when the government feels like it.

Or should the government always aspire to make suitable legislation on the first try? This should be about quality, not about putting something through with a nice-sounding title, with no meat on the bones.

This government needs to show real commitment to farming. After all, Ontario is home to Canada’s largest food processing sector. It’s time we give this sector the attention it rightfully deserves. The Ontario agri-food sector contributes more than $34 billion to the economy and employs more than 700,000 people. This sector stands to grow if it gets the proper supports.

It’s time to create real initiatives to buy local. The act requires Ontario ministries to buy local food, but does not include quotas or legislated requirements for the amount of local food sold or bought by retailers or institutions, such as schools and hospitals. Quotas should not be avoided. They are real, tangible numbers that provide security to the industry.

The number of farmers across Ontario is falling. If we are going to have a sustainable local food production industry, we need to do more to make farming a viable and attractive career option for young people. We need to do something about the falling numbers of farmers, in order to address the problem of food security.

When people buy local, it helps local economies. This is a simple step to ensuring that local and small-scale farmers stay in business and help the local economy, while improving food security in our province. All of these factors working together are important pieces of the puzzle.

Many farmers have been forced out of all forms of markets, which affects access to a diverse