role="main" class="main-container container js-quickedit-main-content" id="main-content">

May 18, 2005

38th Parliament, 1st Session

< Previous sitting day

Next sitting day >

Hansard Transcripts

vol. A

Hansard Transcripts

vol. B

Votes and Proceedings

Orders and Notices

Hansard Transcripts 2005-May-18 (PDF)

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO

ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE DE L'ONTARIO

Wednesday 18 May 2005 Mercredi 18 mai 2005

LEGISLATIVE PAGE

MEMBERS' STATEMENTS

COMMUNITY SAFETY VILLAGE

OF YORK REGION

CRIME STOPPERS

CANADIAN TULIP FESTIVAL

TOURISM

ST. STEPHEN-IN-THE-FIELDS

ANGLICAN CHURCH

POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION

SKILLS TRAINING

AGRICULTURAL FUNDING

ONTARIO BUDGET

REPORTS BY COMMITTEES

STANDING COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT AGENCIES

INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

VICTIMS' BILL OF RIGHTS AMENDMENT ACT

(CRIME REDEPICTION), 2005 /

LOI DE 2005

MODIFIANT LA CHARTE DES DROITS

DES VICTIMES D'ACTES CRIMINELS

(RECONSTITUTION D'ACTES CRIMINELS)

ONTARIO WINE WEEK ACT, 2005 /

LOI DE 2005 SUR LA SEMAINE DES VINS DE L'ONTARIO

VISITORS

WEARING OF BRACELETS

STATEMENTS BY THE MINISTRY

AND RESPONSES

SERVICES FOR THE DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED

VISITORS

COMMUNITY LIVING DAY

ORAL QUESTIONS

POLICE SERVICES

SOCIAL ASSISTANCE

PENSION PLANS

ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION

POLICE OFFICERS

SOCIAL ASSISTANCE

MEAT INSPECTION

POLICE USE OF TASERS

WATER QUALITY

HYDRO RATES

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION

TRANSIT FUNDING

VISITOR

PETITIONS

GRAVENHURST HYDRO ELECTRIC INC.

ANTI-SMOKING LEGISLATION

DISABLED PERSONS

PARKING PERMIT PROGRAM

COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTRES

WILDLIFE PROTECTION

HALTON RECYCLING PLANT

CREDIT VALLEY HOSPITAL

REGIONAL CENTRES FOR THE

DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED

ONTARIO BUDGET

MOTORCYCLE INSURANCE

CREDIT VALLEY HOSPITAL

ORDERS OF THE DAY

LABOUR RELATIONS STATUTE LAW

AMENDMENT ACT, 2005 /

LOI DE 2005 MODIFIANT DES LOIS

CONCERNANT LES RELATIONS

DE TRAVAIL

The House met at 1330.

Prayers.

LEGISLATIVE PAGE

Mr. Ted Arnott (Waterloo-Wellington): On a point of order, Mr. Speaker: I need to bring this to the attention of the House.

Inderraj, will you stand up? Inderraj Singh Grewal is one of our pages here, and yesterday was his 13th birthday. I know that all members of the House will want

to wish him a belated happy birthday.

MEMBERS' STATEMENTS

COMMUNITY SAFETY VILLAGE

OF YORK REGION

Mrs. Julia Munro (York North): On Saturday, I was pleased to represent my constituents and this House at the grand opening of the Community

Safety Village of York Region.

The community safety village is owned and operated by the York Regional Police and is designed to teach interactive safety lessons. Teaching topics include

traffic and road sign safety, fire safety, bicycle safety, and youth and the law. The centre will teach safety to students in grades 1 to 5, expanding in later years to both higher and lower

grades.

Safety villages are a proven educational tool throughout North America because they involve children in the learning process. Teaching is hands-on and

interactive. Educating children about safety is vital. Injury is the leading cause of death among children, yet up to 95% of all injuries can be prevented through education and increased awareness.

This is what the safety village will help to do.

I would like to thank all the staff and the sponsors of the safety village. Chief Armand LaBarge and the police and emergency personnel of York region also

deserve our thanks.

Children will be safer because of what they have learned at the safety village. I encourage all members to support their construction throughout Ontario.

CRIME STOPPERS

Mr. Bill Murdoch (Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound): On Thursday, June 2, Crime Stoppers of Grey-Bruce will play their 13th annual golf tournament at the

Chippewa Golf and Country Club in Southampton.

The previous 12 tournaments raised and donated just over $223,000 to Crime Stoppers. Some 144 golfers register for this popular tournament, which has attracted

hockey greats like Bobby Hull, Pat Hickey, Paul MacDermid, Curtis Sanford and Chris Neil.

Crime Stoppers, as you know, is a community-based program that combines the police, media and members of the public in a co-operative effort to solve crime. Cash

rewards are given for information leading to the arrest of criminals or the seizure of stolen property or illegal narcotics.

Crime Stoppers of Grey-Bruce started in May 1987 and since that time has paid over $91,000 in rewards and recovered over $3 million worth of property and $17

million worth of narcotics. Concerned citizens operate under a volunteer board of directors and since 1987 have taken nearly 8,000 tip reports leading to 1,117 arrests.

I am proud to make my contribution to this worthwhile organization by playing in this golf tournament. I would encourage all of you to recognize and support your

local Crime Stoppers organizations and thank them for the assistance they give to our police services.

I want to say that I'm sure Bobby Hull will be there again.

CANADIAN TULIP FESTIVAL

Mr. Richard Patten (Ottawa Centre): I rise today to inform members about an important tradition that is taking place in the Ottawa community. On

May 5, the Canadian Tulip Festival began its 19-day celebration, with the closing concerts and ceremonies scheduled for Victoria Day. The theme of this year's festival is "A Celebration of Peace

and Friendship," and it will honour the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War as well as the gift of tulips to Canadians by the people of the Netherlands. The Canadian Tulip Festival

is the largest event of its kind in the world, and it has helped to distinguish Ottawa as the tulip capital of North America.

It is interesting to note that the idea for the festival originated from a gift of thanks given six decades ago. In 1945, Dutch Princess Juliana presented Ottawa

with 100,000 tulip bulbs in recognition and appreciation of the significant role that Canadian troops played in liberating the Netherlands. The first Canadian Tulip Festival was held in 1953, and

since that time it has become an annual tradition.

This year's festival will include some of the following: the opening of the new Canadian War Museum, which presents Canada's military past and shows how it has

shaped our country; 12 evenings of musical concerts of Canadian and international talent; a flotilla on the Rideau Canal, the event's ever-popular parade on water; and a visit by Princess Margriet

of the Netherlands, who was born at the Ottawa Hospital during the Second World War. Interestingly, the princess's hospital room was declared Dutch territory in order to maintain the tradition of

Dutch royalty being born on Dutch soil.

The Canadian Tulip Festival attracts over half a million visitors, many of whom are tourists, resulting in a positive economic impact. As past president of the

festival and the MPP for Ottawa Centre, I am well aware of the importance of this event. I invite all members of this House and all those who hear this call to come and enjoy a wonderful time on

this particular final weekend.

TOURISM

Mr. Ted Arnott (Waterloo-Wellington): Last week, in their 2005 Ontario budget, the Liberal government drastically cut funding to the Ministry of

Tourism and Recreation. Tourism advocates are appalled that the budget was slashed by 11.4% -- some $21 million.

The government's indifference overlooks the fact that tourism is the economic lifeblood of scores of communities across the province. In fact, the Ministry of

Tourism and Recreation estimated that in the year 2003, tourism generated almost $20 billion in economic activity, about $8.5 billion in total taxes and supported almost 303,000 direct and indirect

jobs. With these cuts to the tourism budget, the government is putting these jobs at risk.

Tourism advocates are telling me that the McGuinty government doesn't recognize the importance of tourism to the economy. Perhaps they've forgotten that Ontario

tourism is still recovering from the perception created by SARS, mad cow and the West Nile virus. Just as the tourism industry is preparing to turn the page on these catastrophes, recover and

hopefully grow again, the government responds by cutting the budget. What impeccable timing.

Whether it's because the government didn't listen to the minister and the other advocates for tourism or they don't understand the industry, the people in

Ontario's tourism businesses are facing yet another extraordinary challenge with these severe budget cuts, and it appears that the government does not care.

ST. STEPHEN-IN-THE-FIELDS

ANGLICAN CHURCH

Mr. Rosario Marchese (Trinity-Spadina): There is a national treasure in my riding: St. Stephen-in-the-Fields Anglican Church. It is a fine

example of Gothic Revival architecture. Its architect, Thomas Fuller, designed the Parliament Buildings in Ottawa, and St. Stephen's is the only building designed by Fuller left in Toronto.

The people of St. Stephen's are also a treasure. Their weekend breakfast program feeds up to 200 people a week who would otherwise go hungry. They provide ESL

classes to the immigrants who flock here, training for student volunteers, and a home for a youth theatre company. In this multicultural neighbourhood, they house three separate congregations:

For the past eight years, the Anglican diocese of Toronto has paid a total of $375,000 for a priest. All other costs have been paid by the parish. Now the parish

has been told that they must repay the diocese by June of next year or move. The church would be rented to a commercial tenant. If it cannot be rented, the building's fate is in doubt.

The congregation is prepared to pay off the debt. All they want is a reasonable

schedule of repayment. They have suggested 15 years. I urge the Anglican diocese

of Toronto to listen to them. And if you people watching agree with me, please call the diocese at 416-363-6021 and urge them not to close St. Stephen's. We need them in our community.

POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION

Mr. Khalil Ramal (London-Fanshawe): I would like to spend some time today speaking about the budget and the opposition's hypocrisy. On budget

day last week, John Tory went on the CBC and told Ontarians that he welcomed our investments and thought that the principle of what was being done in the budget was right. Then there's the NDP, who

always talk about how important it is that we invest in post-secondary education in this province.

Last night, they both had a chance to show Ontarians that they really do support the largest investment in post-secondary education in 40 years. And what did

they do? John Tory, along with his party and the NDP, rose and voted against the budget. They voted against more financial assistance for students; increased enrolment in colleges, undergraduate

programs and medical schools; more apprenticeship positions; more faculty; more innovative research; more accountability; and against setting Ontario's economy on a firm footing for generations to

come.

The opposition is all talk. When it comes time to stand up and be counted and to support the priorities of the people of Ontario, they are on the wrong side.

I was proud to stand in this House with my colleagues and vote in favour of post-secondary education funding. The McGuinty Liberals are moving forward and

investing in post-secondary education after years of neglect. These investments will ensure that Ontario has a highly skilled and the best-educated workforce that will help keep Ontario's economy

strong.

SKILLS TRAINING

Mr. David Zimmer (Willowdale): I'd like to tell the House about an important announcement made yesterday in my riding of Willowdale. Minister

Kennedy and I were at Newtonbrook Secondary School touring their state-of-the-art woodworking shop. At Newtonbrook, they're training some very talented teenagers to become the city's next

generation of skilled carpenters.

Our government has committed to ensuring that every student remains in the educational system until they are 18 years of age. That means that every student will

have the education they need to ensure success in today's economy.

That success doesn't necessarily mean going on to college or university, although it can mean that. It also means being trained in a skilled trade. That's why

I'm proud that our recent budget contains an additional $25 million for technological education. That brings our total investment to $45 million. This money will be used in schools like Newtonbrook

in Willowdale to assist students in areas like machine shops, culinary studies and horticultural work -- in other words, concrete, hands-on projects. These are the kinds of subjects that can only

be taught with a hands-on approach. They require equipment and training.

We're prepared to make that investment for the success of our students. We need to reduce the dropout rate, because future prosperity for us in Ontario depends

upon it.

I'd like to congratulate the minister on this initiative.

AGRICULTURAL FUNDING

Mrs. Maria Van Bommel (Lambton-Kent-Middlesex): I rise today to assure the farmers of Lambton-Kent-Middlesex that funding for the Ontario

Ministry of Agriculture and Food has not been reduced.

Despite severe financial constraints that continue to face our government, I can reassure all Ontario farmers that the core budget for the ministry will increase

by $15 million. In other words, there will be a core budget increase from $549 million this last fiscal year to $564 million in 2005-06. The fact that OMAF gets an increase is proof of this

government's support for agriculture and our rural communities.

By the end of the last fiscal year, we had spent over $1.1 billion, which included one-time funding for grain and oilseed producers, tobacco producers, and BSE.

We've provided over $375 million of financial aid to our farmers, and we continue to be there for our agricultural industry. The $15-million increase in budget is proof of our commitment.

I know that farmers across Ontario understand that we are taking their concerns very seriously. We know that the crisis is not over. Farmers are a top priority

for our government, and we're making sure that they have the necessary programs and services available to them so that they will continue to drive the entire province.

As chair of the rural caucus, I want our farmers to know that we will continue to support them this year and into the future, together with the Honourable Steve

Peters, Minister of Agriculture and Food.

ONTARIO BUDGET

Mr. David Orazietti (Sault Ste. Marie): Residents and community leaders in Sault Ste. Marie have very positively received our provincial budget,

which was introduced last week.

Our government is playing a crucial role in addressing long-standing issues in Sault Ste. Marie after years of ineffective representation by the NDP and a

Conservative government that ignored our city.

Only 19 months ago, we inherited a $5.5-billion deficit when Ontarians were told that the books were balanced. We have now reduced the provincial deficit by $2.5

billion to $3 billion through a responsible, balanced plan to both reinvest in core provincial services like health care and education while effectively managing our finances. Our budget contains

no new taxes or tax increases.

Here's what community leaders in Sault Ste. Marie are saying.

Algoma University president Celia Ross called the budget "very good news for post-secondary education" and said, "I'm particularly pleased that the government

picked up on the recommendations that will be good for northern Ontario as a whole."

The president of Sault College, Tim Meyer, said he was pleased the provincial government is reinvesting in colleges, and he called the Rae report commissioned by

our government "a catalyst for" our "government to have a profound understanding of the post-secondary education system."

Cecile Somme, director of the Huron-Superior Catholic District School Board, said, "This is good news for students. It's money that's directed at students ...

and that's great."

Here's what our mayor said: "This is generally a good-news budget, and this certainly sounds like good news for ... northern Ontario."

In less than two years, we've made the investments Ontarians said they wanted and put our province on a solid financial footing.

REPORTS BY COMMITTEES

STANDING COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT AGENCIES

The Speaker (Hon. Alvin Curling): I beg to inform the House that today the Clerk received the report on intended appointments dated May 18,

2005, of the standing committee on government agencies. Pursuant to standing order 106(e)(9), the report is deemed to be adopted by the House.

INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

VICTIMS' BILL OF RIGHTS AMENDMENT ACT

(CRIME REDEPICTION), 2005 /

LOI DE 2005

MODIFIANT LA CHARTE DES DROITS

DES VICTIMES D'ACTES CRIMINELS

(RECONSTITUTION D'ACTES CRIMINELS)

Mr. Jackson moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 202,

An Act to amend the Victims' Bill of Rights, 1995 to provide remedies against redepicting circumstances involving a crime / Projet de loi 202, Loi

modifiant la Charte de 1995 des droits des victimes d'actes criminels pour prévoir des recours contre la reconstitution des circonstances entourant les actes criminels.

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

Mr. Jackson?

Mr. Cameron Jackson (Burlington): I believe, from the clerks' table, that this will become Bill 202, which will amend the Victims' Bill of

Rights, 1995, to allow victims of a prescribed crime to recover damages for emotional distress from a person or body that produces, distributes or otherwise makes available to the public, whether

or not for profit, any visual or audible product that re-depicts in any way the circumstances of the crime or the circumstances leading up to it, except in two cases. The two exceptions are the

cases where the product is made available to the public for the purpose of the administration of justice or the product depicts a crime that took place more than 50 years before the product was

made available to the public. The regulations made under the act can provide for a longer time period in the second case.

ONTARIO WINE WEEK ACT, 2005 /

LOI DE 2005 SUR LA SEMAINE DES VINS DE L'ONTARIO

Mr. Crozier moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 203,

An Act to proclaim Ontario Wine Week / Projet de loi 203, Loi proclamant la Semaine des vins de l'Ontario.

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

Mr. Crozier?

Mr. Bruce Crozier (Essex): That's spelled w-i-n-e. The act recognizes the efforts of Ontario grape growers and wine makers by designating the

third week in June as Ontario Wine Week, a week to celebrate the wines of Ontario's four wine regions: the Niagara Peninsula, Pelee Island, Lake Erie North Shore and Prince Edward county. This year

is significant because June 16, 2005, will mark the 10th anniversary of the Ontario wine competition and is the day that consumers can taste and celebrate the best VQA wines Ontario has to

offer.

VISITORS

Mr. Peter Kormos (Niagara Centre): On a point of order, Mr. Speaker: I want to recognize in the visitors' gallery today Reverend Father

Nicholas Deak, pastor of St. John the Baptist Hungarian Greek Catholic Church in Welland; his wife, Ethel Deak; Reverend Father Leslie Miskei of Slovakia, pastor of Our Lady of Hungary Roman

Catholic Church in Welland; and two of their friends, Veronika Lakatos and Martha Szekes of Toronto.

The Speaker (Hon. Alvin Curling): That is not a point of order, but I hope the reverend brings some decorum to the House too.

WEARING OF BRACELETS

Hon. Sandra Pupatello (Minister of Community and Social Services, minister responsible for women's issues): On a point of order, Mr. Speaker:

May I ask for unanimous consent for all the members of the House to wear today this wrist bracelet, which is denoted with "Community Living"? It's available in both of the anterooms on both sides

of the House.

The Speaker (Hon. Alvin Curling): The member has asked for unanimous consent. Do I have unanimous consent? Agreed.

STATEMENTS BY THE MINISTRY

AND RESPONSES

SERVICES FOR THE DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED

Hon. Sandra Pupatello (Minister of Community and Social Services, minister responsible for women's issues): I'm very pleased to be able to

share with the House today news about some very exciting steps in our plan to transform and strengthen community-based services for adults with a developmental disability.

Earlier today, I was very pleased to have with me on the podium representatives from those who work in this field. Glen Walker, president of the Ontario

Association on Developmental Disabilities, is here in the House today. We welcome Glen to the House. Maybe you could stand, Glen. Nice to have you here today. We also have John Flannery from Surrey

Place Centre right here in Toronto, a very specialized agency. We were very pleased to have him join us for the announcement. Garry Cooke, president of Community Living Ontario, is also joining us

in the members' gallery today. Maybe Garry could stand and be recognized.

I was very pleased to have people who know this business be certain that the government is on the right track. Many of you will remember that last September

our government announced a $110-million plan to strengthen community supports for Ontarians with developmental disabilities. At the same time, we launched a major review of the province's

developmental services system to make sure of three things: that it's fair, accessible and sustainable. And we announced the phasing out of three remaining residential institutions for adults with

a developmental disability by March 31, 2009.

Since then we've been very busy, talking to the people who make up our developmental services sector in this province, to get their input and ideas so that our

plan truly reflects the priorities of people with developmental disabilities and their families. While we've been getting their ideas on a whole host of subjects, there are a couple of messages

that were very loud and clear. We need to move now to strengthen specialized services for people who have the highest needs. We need to move now to create more homes for people who live in the

community, not just the people who will be leaving our institutions but those who live in the community right now and are waiting for a home where they can get the supports they need, a home they

can call their own.

I'm very pleased to announce today that the McGuinty government is investing $41 million in a comprehensive plan to strengthen specialized care for people with

a developmental disability who have the highest needs, and to create 390 new homes in the community through our Home of Your Own Initiative.

Our three-part specialized services plan focuses specifically on adults who have a developmental disability, as well as mental health issues and challenging

behaviours. These are individuals who often need extra support to cope with serious behavioural disorders, psychiatric illness or behaviour that leads them to hurt themselves or others.

We know there's a tremendous demand for services right now in communities across the province, and in the coming years we're going to have hundreds more people

returning to our communities from our facilities. We intend to be ready for them. That's why I'm happy to announce that we're talking about a bold, new approach today to strengthen services for

adults with a developmental disability and very high care needs.

Part one of our plan is creating the first-ever community networks of specialized care for these individuals. We have lots of experience in Ontario when it

comes to specialized services, but even the experts say that they can and must work together. That's what these networks will do.

There will be four regional networks across the province, each staffed by a team of professionals from a range of disciplines, including behaviour therapy,

social work, psychology and nursing, to name but a few. These professionals will pool their clinical expertise to provide the best care available for some of our most challenging clients. They will

work closely with community agencies, hospitals, police and mental health units to provide a full range of community-based services across the province, services such as clinical assessment,

consultations and behaviour therapy. For the first time ever in this province, they will give us a base of leadership for cutting-edge research and clinical care in the field of developmental

disabilities and services.

We know there is great expertise and best practices across Ontario, here and there. What our announcement does today is link that greatness and that expertise

so it is available across the board. No more patchwork: We need it available across the board. They will put us, as a province, on the leading edge of developmental research and services.

But we need to make sure we stay there. Having had the opportunity as the minister to travel with my colleagues across the country and see what happens in

other jurisdictions, let us keep in mind that Ontario is a leader in this area of delivering developmental services in our communities, thanks in large part to our agencies that have allowed us to

do that. These networks will modernize the way we provide services to reach more people and take advantage of the newest and best research in the field.

Secondly, our plan makes a three-year, $300,000 investment in recruiting and retaining the young talent who will help us build a better developmental services

system in the future. This initiative will begin with a $100,000 commitment this year, which will support up to 20 students in a variety of health fields during the placement component of their

degree or diploma. They will get on-the-job experience in disciplines such as behaviour therapy, social work, speech pathology and occupational therapy, through placements in designated specialized

services agencies across the province. This investment will enhance opportunities for students to develop the clinical and research skills they need to provide the best in professional care for the

next generation of adults with developmental disabilities.

As a final part of our specialized services plan, we are creating 90 new homes in the community specifically for individuals who have the highest care needs.

Some of these homes will provide permanent, 24-hour care to individuals who are at risk of hurting themselves or hurting others. Others will be transitional spaces for adults who require a safe

temporary placement because they are at risk of hurting themselves or their caregivers, or because their current caregiver needs additional training or support. These new homes are in addition to

the 300 we are committed to creating for people currently living in the community who have been waiting for a home with the right services and supports to help them live and participate in their

communities; a home they can truly call their own. Just to be clear, these are on top of the hundreds of places we are going to build for residents of our facilities as they move to community life

over the coming years.

We know that providing a strong network of community services is the key to making Ontario more inclusive. That is why we are taking a bold, new approach to

strengthen services that will keep Ontario at the cutting edge of leadership and expertise in the developmental services: leading-edge networks to provide the best in clinical services, an

investment in young people who will make our sector the best it can be, and 390 new homes in Ontario that give adults with a developmental disability a home of their own.

For people with a developmental disability, for their families and for the professionals who support them, this is an exciting time in Ontario, a time on which

we'll be able to look back and say, "Today, we took a big step forward in building stronger, more inclusive communities for all of Ontario."

The Speaker (Hon. Alvin Curling): Responses?

Mr. Cameron Jackson (Burlington): Let me say at the outset that any time we receive an announcement that expands services to the developmental

services sector it's good news. But I do wish to put on the record some of the concerns the association has expressed, as the government has made a fundamental decision to shift slightly the

priorities for this sector in its announcement today.

I would be remiss if I didn't acknowledge my colleague John Baird and the work we did together with our multi-year plan: $264 million, a quarter of a billion

dollars, to this sector in a five-year plan. Why I raise this in the House today is very simply because there was a change in the government and we are waiting for the current Liberal government to

honour some of the fourth-year commitments and virtually all the fifth-year commitments that were made and budgeted for this sector.

Today's $41-million announcement over the next five years, although good news -- I think it's worthy of note that we analyze exactly where this money is going

and how it's going to be spent.

At the outset, in the first full year the only real guarantee for expenditure is the $2 million that is going to the community networks for specialized care,

and I see this as a positive initiative. However, when we listen to our community living associations across the province, we clearly get a deeper understanding of just how severe their challenges

are.

One of the things this government has refused to acknowledge and include in its funding is the revitalization dollars. They still owe somewhere between $27

million and $35 million to those agencies, which are clearly about 25% behind the MUSH sector. Now that there is an agreement with Ontario elementary and secondary teachers, this real gap in wages

may grow to as high as 50%. This is creating all sorts of problems in this sector.

I spoke earlier today with the St. Catharines and Niagara associations. They have a considerable concern. They have a 30% staff turnover as a result of the

failure to flow the full amount of these revitalization dollars. These agencies, over 100 of them across Ontario, have signed contracts in good faith, based on the promises made by the McGuinty

Liberals when they campaigned and by the previous Conservative government, that the balance of the revitalization dollars would flow. They have not flowed and, as a result, there are huge staff

turnovers. You can't blame these workers. To go to work for a school board and make $5,000 or $10,000 more money, not even to do quite comparable work that they are called upon to do every day in

the settings that they do for persons with developmental disabilities -- this is an issue that has been unaddressed in today's announcement.

There is the issue of the aging out of CAS wards in this province. This is a serious challenge. We have a growing number of wards of the CAS with developmental

disabilities who age out between 18 and 21. The school boards are kicking these people out of school with a higher degree of regularity, because they have zero tolerance for any kind of behavioural

challenges and lack the direct sensitivity to deal with these challenging students. As a result, foster parents, many of whom are in their 50, 60s and 70s, are saying, "We can no longer cope. We're

not prepared to be a foster parent," once the CAS has their funding cut off. What happens is, these people become warehoused or they go to the front of the line of waiting lists all across Ontario,

and that's unfair.

Finally, the growing waiting lists in this province are getting out of hand. It was this government that decided to accelerate the deinstitutionalization plan.

It is this government's responsibility to now come forward with a plan that shows that they can build enough capacity in our province that every one of these residents will have a home. That is not

included in today's announcement, and the proof of that is that most of the homes, 390 of them, are for the SIL program. This is supported independent living: less than 15 hours of supports in a

given day. These are not the individuals in crisis. It's the 75-year-old husband and wife who have been caring for a loved one for years upon years, and they are getting pushed further back on the

waiting list. I challenge the minister and her government to listen to these concerns and address them in the manner in which people were promised years ago.

Mr. Michael Prue (Beaches-East York): Any money to the developmental sector is good money. We cannot and will not stand here and say that any

program that enhances the lives of people who need it is not a good thing.

However, I don't know where to begin. The plan today is for 390 people. I welcome that 390 people are going to have a good place to live. But we know that in

Toronto alone there are 2,200 people on the waiting list for these very homes.

When the minister was asked today in the press conference how many people there were in Ontario on the waiting list, the minister couldn't answer it, nor could

the people from Community Living Ontario. But it's our understanding that there are more than 6,000 people on the waiting list. What the minister has announced today is but barely 6% of the actual

need that is out there.

Would I say that to give 6% is wrong? No, I'm not going to say that, but I'm going to say it's not enough. It is not enough for the people out there who

desperately need these services. It's not enough for their families, many of whom are getting older and want to have a place for their loved ones when they pass on.

It's not enough for the 1,000 people whom the minister also talked about today who are going to be deinstitutionalized in the next three years. There are going

to be 1,000 more people added to that waiting list and there is not sufficient planning that has gone ahead to date.

We look at the agencies themselves, these agencies that do such a wonderful job for the community. We look at the problems that they have. Each one of the

agencies has a backlog of how they are going to deal with the people who actually want to make use of their services. Each one of them is under some form of financial duress. They do not get enough

money today to accomplish the lofty goals that we in this Legislature set for them. Many of them are being forced into closures. I know from my colleague from Timmins-James Bay that a community

living centre in Timmins has been forced to close and that the people who used to be housed in that community are no longer able to do so. Sure, we can set up some new ones, but don't you think we

should be trying to save some of the old ones that are in the community now?

The minister has not talked at all about or put forward any money for the real problem here, which is the turnover of staff who work for Community Living

Ontario. There is a 25% turnover each and every year. The people who go into those jobs go in because they love those jobs, they want to contribute to the community, and they have a soft spot in

their heart for those who need them. But they do not stay there, because the pay is so abysmal and bad and the working conditions are so bad, and the minister has said virtually nothing about that

today.

We are afraid as well that these networks of specialized care that are being set up -- and I use her words -- will be the future victims of competitive bidding

that has, so far this year alone, devastated the local community service agencies. Members on the government side will know that these were set up and they will know that what were once community

agencies providing care for the poor, providing care for the aged and providing care for the infirm have now been taken over by private, for-profit agencies, because they are better able to meet

the government's specifications.

The networks: Good idea for rural areas and northern communities, I'm sure, but what exists already in most of the urban core of Ontario is there, and I note

that the networks are not going to include them.

The $100,000 a year: That is going to train 20 individuals to get into the field, but how are you going to keep them there with the lousy wages that you

pay?

Last but not least, the families are distressed again today in listening to the minister's announcement on the closure of the three centres: Huronia, Rideau

and Southwestern Ontario. They are distressed, they are in trepidation, they are in fear, because they fear that their families are going to lose the homes some of them have lived in for 50 years.

They know that the workers who work there are professional and will be hard to replace, and they know that the facilities are first-rate and there is no guarantee that the ones being built will

come even close.

VISITORS

The Speaker (Hon. Alvin Curling): We have with us this afternoon in the Speaker's gallery the following former Speakers: John Turner, who

represented the riding of Peterborough in the 29th, 31st, 32nd and 33rd Parliaments and was also the Speaker in the 32nd Parliament; Mr. Hugh Edighoffer, who represented the riding of Perth in the

28th through 34th Parliaments and was Speaker in the 33rd and 34th Parliaments; and also David Warner, who represented the riding of Scarborough-Ellesmere in the 30th, 31st, 33rd and 35th

Parliaments and was Speaker in the 35th Parliament. Please join me in welcoming them here.

COMMUNITY LIVING DAY

Hon. Dwight Duncan (Minister of Energy, Government House Leader): I believe that we have unanimous consent for each party to speak for up to

five minutes in recognition of Community Living Day.

The Speaker (Hon. Alvin Curling): Do we have unanimous consent? Agreed.

Hon. Sandra Pupatello (Minister of Community and Social Services, minister responsible for women's issues): I rise today in honour of

Community Living Day in Ontario. For many of us as local MPPs, we know that the meaning of community living in our communities isn't just the name of a provincial association that includes over 100

local associations and represents more than 12,000 Ontarians.

Today in the House, we have the president of the Ontario Community Living association, Garry Cooke, who we met a moment ago. We'd like him to stand, as well as

his executive director, Keith Powell, who is also in the House today.

These two individuals represent hundreds and hundreds of volunteer board members and staff people across Ontario who work in this field. In my view, those who

work in this field of developmental services truly work in a vocation. They have a vision at Community Living that started over 50 years ago and continues to grow in our communities today, making

them reach out and be more inclusive, more welcoming. That vision of Community Living is about opportunities and about participation.

Thanks go to Community Living Ontario. Because of them, thousands of people with a developmental disability are leading remarkably full lives today. They go

shopping, to the theatre, to restaurants. They go out with their friends, take courses at community college, complete job placements and get jobs. Thanks to Community Living and that vision, people

with developmental disabilities are part of our everyday community life. It is much different from where we were 50 years ago, and it is because they have pushed for this inclusion and integration

in our communities that this has happened. Our galleries today are full of people from community living organizations right across Ontario. We say thank you to them, and thank you for coming here

today.

Yesterday, Graham McKenzie came to visit me. Graham McKenzie is here today; he's standing and waving in one of our galleries. I had a distinct pleasure

yesterday, because Graham was busy working. He was busy bringing us lunch. He brought the Premier lunch and he brought me lunch, and we had a chance to chat. Then he moved over and sat right in my

minister's chair and decided he really liked the feel of that chair in the minister's office. We are glad to see Graham here today: another example of integration. People should be in this chamber.

People should be in the Legislature. This Legislature represents Ontario, and when you're here and in every community, you are a part of everyday life, and we applaud you for that.

These community living agencies everywhere are doing a terrific job of supporting people with a developmental disability in the community, including

individuals with very high needs. I recently read a letter in the Chatham Daily News from a family whose son has lived in a group home run by Community Living Chatham-Kent for many years. His

mother describes him as needing total care: "in a wheelchair and completely dependent on staff for his physical needs." The parents can't say enough about this group, the home and the dedicated

staff there who care for their son. The staff at the home always treat him with kindness and dignity. They take care of him when his family is not able. They don't know what they would have done

for all these years without the help of such a caring organization as Community Living Chatham-Kent.

Community Living Welland-Pelham is another example of what it means to support people with a developmental disability in the community. They approached Burger

King about an opportunity for employment for one of their members. After completing a job placement at Burger King and receiving on-the-job support provided by Community Living, he was hired by

Burger King. Today this young man works four one-hour shifts at Burger King. He loves his job and the people he works with, and his boss wouldn't want to do it without him. This is a great example

of community living in action.

Today, to the people of Community Living who are here and to those who couldn't make it here, we want to say thank you on behalf of the government and on

behalf of all of the MPPs who represent Ontario. Thank you for setting a high standard when it comes to including and supporting people with developmental disabilities. We know that the work of

Community Living is very important, keeping families and communities together. Our government recognizes the importance of that and wants to continue the high standards they have set for us.

We also know we have to be ready to provide for future generations of Ontarians who have developmental disabilities. That's why we're working with stakeholders

throughout the developmental services system to create a system that's fair and sustainable and that addresses the needs of them and their families across the province. We are hearing more and more

about our plans, and more and more about the action we are taking. We've made a $110-million announcement and another $41-million announcement today: several parts of the plan we are bringing

forward.

Earlier, I launched four networks of specialized care, about the interactive video conferencing that we have already launched and exists in many, many places

in Ontario today. It's comforting to know that we can rely on Community Living to help us enact those plans.

On behalf of all of us -- Garry, on behalf of all of the organizations -- we say a grand thank you.

Mr. Cameron Jackson (Burlington): On behalf of our leader, John Tory, and the PC caucus, many of whom are actively involved with their local

associations for community living, we want to acknowledge this very important and significant event in the life of our province, and most of all to acknowledge those heroes who are with us in the

chamber, and who will leave here today and continue to be heroes on a daily basis across Ontario as they help to teach us the importance of community living and full acceptance of persons who are

not disabled but differently able, and that they have every right to live in our communities with dignity and respect, with access to all manner of support services, and to enjoy the quality of

life we are so proud of in our province.

Members have heard me tell the story of my introduction to this. It was from my mother, who, 75 years ago, lived next door to Terry Sawchuk, the famous goalie.

Terry had a much younger brother who had Down's syndrome, and it was the custom in those days just to leave this boy chained to a tree. That was accepted -- almost the norm -- in those days. For us

to be here today, 75 years later, to acknowledge the 51st anniversary of the Community Living movement in this province is a great testament to the compassion of a great number of Ontario citizens

who determined, through love and through care, that their children would enjoy as full a life as this province could provide.

As a young university student, I recall attending a lecture by Wolf Wolfensberger at York University, where the normalization theories were thought to be very

radical in North America. Yet today they have become the standard and the norm in terms of acceptance and embracing individuals in all manner of life, but in particular to employers.

On a personal note, I want to commend my own association, Burlington Community Living, which I have been a member of for 32 years. Just last weekend we had our

Walk'n Roll fundraiser, which I started 30 years ago as its publicity chairman. It was an extraordinarily uplifting day of involvement and integration of people in our community. I salute not only

the staff and the great team at Burlington Community Living, in fact all of them across Ontario, but also the parents and volunteers and the organizations that have made it a priority to support

these agencies in their extraordinary work.

There are many challenges. Since we celebrated this day a year ago, we had a tragic death at Oaklands. All of us share the concern and grief associated with

that. But there are a further eight or nine coroners' inquests currently engaged, and we have to ask ourselves fundamental questions if we're going to be closing three institutions: How are we

dealing with organizations like Oaklands, which was an intake and assessment model that was to provide a degree of respite? Why has that now become a permanent home for so many adults with

developmental disabilities in our province? What does that say about our commitment to deinstitutionalization? We still have much to learn about the challenges that befall us.

Earlier, I made comments about the aging out of CAS wards in the province, and I know the minister must be aware of this issue. It is a challenge every single

day for our associations, and we call upon the government to acknowledge the substantive size of these waiting lists.

I want to acknowledge, as I did last year, two great pioneers for the People First movement: Patrick Worth and Peter Park. In my 20 years in this House, I've

had occasion to meet with them on many occasions. They were pioneers as individual advocates from within the disability community, and they are just as worthy of our commendation as is Keith

Powell, the executive director, and Garry Cooke, their current president. On behalf of our caucus, we wish to salute these modern-day heroes in our community. Thank you for being differently able

and enlightening us on a daily basis.

Mr. Michael Prue (Beaches-East York): Ten years ago this very month, as the mayor of East York, I went to an event called The Three Guys. It

was at the Mennonite Centre, St. Clair O'Connor Community, and it was an enlightening and wonderful experience. What happened was, these three young men and their families were there, and the three

young men moved in together in an apartment of their own. One parent would stay per night and there was a worker there to help them. But the three young men, for the first time in their lives, had

an opportunity to live independently, apart from their parents. And the three young men proved that they could do it, much to the surprise of their parents and to the general community, but

probably not to themselves. This year marks the 10th anniversary, and they're planning a little celebration for the end of this month or the beginning of June. I hope to be at that, to commend them

for the remarkable way that they proved themselves that they could integrate into the community.

I have to say that I'm proud that Community Living Ontario was there and showed us the way, and helped to give a plan and helped the parents to develop that

plan, and that they continue to do that for all of those intellectually disabled Ontarians so that they can prove that they belong and are part of our community.

I want to take a moment as well to thank the many staff, both those who are paid and those who are not paid, who work for Community Living Ontario. Those

staff, many of whom are here today -- and I can see some nodding to me in the gallery -- work in very challenging circumstances. They work hard every day. We cannot possibly pay you enough for what

you do, but I'm still going to try to make sure you get more. Because if anyone deserves more, they certainly do. They are underfunded; they go there because they love the work. We need to make

sure that loving the work is not simply enough but that we give them satisfactory remuneration for doing exactly that.

I would like to thank the volunteers, and I have one in my community by the name of Marie Perotta, who heads up and works for Pegasus, the group that

fundraises for intellectually disabled adults in the community, where they go for day programs. She has dances for them and visits and places to go -- down to the beach. She fundraises every single

Saturday at a place on Kingston Road where people bring in those goods that you might ordinarily find in a garage sale. Instead of holding a garage sale, you give the goods to them, they sell them

and they fund all the programs, because there simply isn't money elsewhere. She was named this year's Beaches citizen of the year. We recognize her for her tremendous efforts.

This morning, I was hugely touched when I went to the press conference to listen to Donald Parent, who has made a successful transition from

institutionalization to living and working in the community. He talked about his life. He talked about his wife and his cat -- I think it was a cat, not a dog -- about how he lived in his own

apartment and how he is so happy with his accomplishments.

I was reminded of other groups, like the Dream Team, who have come and talked to people in this community about their life experiences and how they have made

the transition and how they have asked this government to build more supportive housing so that people can get out of the institutions and find lives for themselves.

But I have to say, we need to talk about more. We need to talk about all of those who are waiting for the services of community living. We need to talk about

where those monies are going to come from.

The NDP caucus, to a person, supports community integration, but with this transition comes many challenges. We need to be certain that the funding and the

supports are in place before we force people to make moves that they themselves are afraid of and that their families are afraid of. This is not the case at the moment. It is all very well and good

to give lip service on this very special day, but lip service does not guarantee smooth sailing for those individuals who require special care and support. This government has not kept all its

promises, and we're worried that this one may not be kept as well.

Part of the work done daily by Community Living Ontario is to keep ongoing pressure on government to immediately provide those supports to parents who have

been forced to give up their children to the CAS in order to receive adequate treatment. As well, they continue the ongoing campaign to help families whose adult children live at home and are badly

in need of additional Special Services at Home funding.

I listened today to Kathy Badeau, president of Community Living Toronto. She expressed her deep concern for those employees who provide community-based

supports. She wants to know why the wages are 25% below employees in similar sectors. She stated, I think strongly, that we cannot afford to contribute to already high staff turnover by continually

ignoring the staff who give so very much to those who need them.

The government can help by infusing badly needed dollars. The government can do very much, and I'm going to give five suggestions:

(1) Help the people who are making a difference in the lives of Ontarians with developmental disabilities.

(2) Don't force parents to give up their own children to get them the help they need.

(3) Assist the families with adult children living at home in providing an appropriate level of support to keep them there.

(4) Stop squandering our money to appeal court-ordered autism treatment for all those who need it.

(5) Continue to celebrate this wonderful day.

I commend each and every member of Community Living Ontario for the strength and dedication they show, for the direction they are sending us in, and for the

support they give to those who need it in our community.

ORAL QUESTIONS

POLICE SERVICES

Mr. Tim Hudak (Erie-Lincoln): A question for the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing: Today's announcement on police funding is yet

another broken promise by the Dalton McGuinty government. In fact, when you look at the details, it works out to about 30 cents on the dollar, with municipalities required to fund the other 70

cents for each new police officer they hire. Minister, you've already cut municipal funding by some $47 million annually under the new funding formula. How can you expect municipalities to pay 70

cents on the dollar when you're breaking promises and cutting funding to Ontario's municipalities like Grimsby?

Hon. John Gerretsen (Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, minister responsible for seniors): Since it deals with police matters, I'll

refer it to the Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services.

Hon. Monte Kwinter (Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services): I'm delighted to have the member of the opposition raise this

question, because it gives me an opportunity to share with the people of Ontario this great announcement we just made. For those of you who weren't there, I announced that this government is

providing $35 million a year in perpetuity to provide funding for police service officers. Just so you get the mathematics straight, the previous commitment of that government, which was the

community policing program, provided $30 million. This is a 12% increase and will provide at least about 50% of the cost of putting a police officer on the street. So rather than saying it's

35-cent dollars, it's a $35,000-per-year cap on a program that, when we're finished, and we've picked up the obligation that you had --

The Speaker (Hon. Alvin Curling): Thank you. Supplementary.

Mr. Hudak: Back to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing: I think municipalities and police forces will respond. They don't believe

you. They know that this works out to about 30 cents on the dollar -- far from your campaign promise during the last election. In fact, my colleague the member for Niagara Falls --

Interjections.

The Speaker: Order. This is the second question. Yesterday, I cautioned many of the members on the government side not to shout when there's a

question being put, and I'd like some co-operation.

Mr. Hudak: As I was saying, my colleague the member for Niagara Falls, in Niagara This Week, April 1, criticized the 50-50 funding formula as

not being good enough and said the Liberals would do even better than 50-50, yet we find out today that Dalton McGuinty's Liberal government is caught in yet another campaign promise.

Back to the region of Niagara: Some $1.7 million was cut out of that region, just like many regions and counties throughout Ontario. Minister, I say to you,

how is it possible for municipalities to hire these officers when you're cutting the funding, or are these officers simply to patrol the twilight zone of Dalton McGuinty's broken promises?

Hon. Mr. Kwinter: I couldn't have presented a better question myself, because I want to quote Roger Anderson, president of the Association of

Municipalities of Ontario: "Crime prevention and community safety are front of mind for many citizens. This partnership" -- referring to my announcement today -- "will help growing municipalities

that require additional police officers in their communities or help municipalities where they have identified a need to bolster their community policing needs."

I'm delighted that we are able to provide this funding; not only that, we're continuing your program, which was on a 50-50 shared basis. When this program is

fully implemented, we will be providing the police services in Ontario with $65 million per year.

Mr. Hudak: I know the minister probably doesn't know this, because I suspect the Ministry of Municipal Affairs has not been fighting for

Ontario municipalities, but let me read off some of the municipalities that have had a 100% cut in funding by the McGuinty government: Dufferin county, the city of Vaughan, the region of York gets

zero dollars, Halton Hills, the region of Waterloo, Northumberland county, Oakville, the region of Durham, Middlesex county. I can go on and on.

Minister, 95 municipalities across Ontario will be getting zero dollars in ongoing funding from the Dalton McGuinty government despite your campaign promise to

the contrary. Please tell me and those municipal leaders how they're going to pay for these new police officers when you've cut 95 municipalities' funding right to the bone.

Hon. Mr. Kwinter: I'd like to quote someone else. His name is Curly Everitt, president of the Ontario Association of Police Services Boards.

He says, "Police services boards will adjust their budget planning next year, putting more officers on the street for community policing and drug enforcement.... Our members endorsed these

proposals during earlier consultations, and we continue to support them today."

You never miss an opportunity to dump on a fabulous announcement. This is something where the police community is delighted, the municipalities are delighted,

the police services boards are delighted, and I can tell you that we, on this side, are delighted.

The Speaker: New question?

Mr. Garfield Dunlop (Simcoe North): My question is also for the Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services.

Interjections.

The Speaker: Order.

Mr. Dunlop: Jeez, it's unbelievable. Maybe he can't even hear me.

Minister, in today's announcement you claim that 500 of the new officers will be assigned duties related to youth crime, guns and gangs, organized crime,

dangerous offenders, domestic violence and protecting children from Internet luring and child pornography. I'm not trying to make this mean-spirited in any way, but how many of the 500 officers

will be allocated to the Ontario Provincial Police for specialized duties such as drug enforcement, and is the 100% cost per OPP officer included in your announcement of the $35 million? I'm

wondering, will there be any of that allocated to the OPP?

Hon. Mr. Kwinter: I thank the member for the question and I thank him for being at the press conference. It was very nice of him to be

there.

Interjections.

Hon. Mr. Kwinter: The program, as we have outlined it, is going to provide 500 police officers for community policing and 500 police officers

for six areas of crime prevention.

We didn't just dream this up; this was done in consultation with police services boards, police chiefs and the associations. This was a requirement and a need

that they saw that had to be addressed.

Section 10 municipalities, over 50% of the municipalities in Ontario, have OPP policing, and if they choose to participate in this program for their OPP

officers, they're free to do that.

Mr. Dunlop: I appreciate your acknowledging that I was out at the press conference, Minister.

You announced, at the end of the fiscal year last year, $30 million in training for fire departments. In this announcement, you allowed fire departments a

great deal of flexibility in how they spend those allocations. It appears that the promise of 1,000 new police officers is dragging on and on. It started last September, and now we're having

another announcement today asking for more detail. I'm just wondering why you're not showing more trust in the police by giving them the same kind of flexibility in the police services and in the

OPP that you gave to the fire departments.

Hon. Mr. Kwinter: The answer is very simple: For the first time since 1982, a government has provided funding for firefighters. We provided

one-time funding -- and I stress "one-time funding" -- totalling $30 million. Every single fire service got money based on their population, one-time, and that's how it was done.

This is a totally different type of program. We will be funding this in perpetuity. We have to make sure that we understand what police services are going to

participate. They have told us where they want their officers, and that's why we've designed that program that way. But once we make that commitment, we will continue it in perpetuity in the same

way that we have continued the community policing program that you initiated. Your program was supposed to last five years. We've extended it in perpetuity. Just last week, I sent out $30 million

to police services in Ontario.

Mr. Dunlop: In a media scrum this morning, you said, "Municipalities have to tell us, once they see the parameters, what the uptake is going

to be." The problem I have, Minister, is that in your platform announcement you just announced 1,000 new police officers. I know you've turned it into a municipal type of partnership where they

will be funding a certain percentage -- up to $30,000 per officer.

My question is, with all these specific areas that you outlined, like child pornography, gang violence and grow-op operations etc., do you plan on expanding

the number of officers in the Ontario Provincial Police to accommodate those divisions of the OPP so they can do their job as well?

Hon. Mr. Kwinter: First of all, I want to correct the member. The amount is not $30,000 per officer; it's close to $35,000 an officer. We

actually provided a 12% increase over the previous program that was put in place by your government.

The OPP is currently doing an outstanding job. I can tell you that under

section 10, as I said, they provide policing in over 50% of the communities in

Ontario. They will be able to access that through the municipalities that they have contractual arrangements with. The main thing about this program is, we are putting 1,000 new police officers on

the streets, and we are putting them in areas where the police, the police services boards and the municipalities themselves have identified that they need help.

SOCIAL ASSISTANCE

Mr. Michael Prue (Beaches-East York): My question is to the Acting Premier. Acting Premier, your Bay Street budget leaves disabled people

behind. Before the election, you said, and I quote from your own pamphlet, "We will implement a cost-of-living adjustment to both OW and ODSP, and this will occur on an annual basis." You and your

cabinet colleagues have decided you are going to break that promise. Minister, tell the people gathered here today on Community Living Day why you have betrayed them and put nothing in this year's

budget for disabled people on ODSP.

Hon. Leona Dombrowsky (Minister of the Environment): I know the Minister of Community and Social Services is very anxious to answer this.

Hon. Sandra Pupatello (Minister of Community and Social Services, minister responsible for women's issues): If I may say, in last year's

budget, for the first time in 12 years, people on social assistance saw a 3% increase, which was double the level of cost of living in that year. That went beyond the Premier's commitment to make a

cost-of-living adjustment to the welfare rates. We understand the level of supports that people who are on the Ontario disability support program need, and we continue to work on ways to improve

their lives.

Everything that we do across our government means that every minister has to collaborate to find solutions for people in need. Just last week or two weeks ago,

we had a tremendous announcement on housing allowances, on a housing program, because we know that a significant cost to people is how much they pay to live and rent. We know we are coming together

with solutions on a regular basis. I appreciate that that's not enough for the NDP. We will continue to move forward.

Mr. Prue: Every member of this House, including the honourable minister, got a 1.9% increase, and yet those on OW and ODSP get nothing.

Here is what the Toronto Star said about your discrimination against disabled people. I'd like to quote them: "On Tuesday, citizenship minister Marie

absolutely ignored the needs of people struggling to get by on the Ontario disability support program."

Minister at the cabinet table, did you fight for the rates for people with disabilities or did you just roll over and agree with your colleagues that you

should break the most important election promise you made?

Hon. Ms. Pupatello: I think what's very telling today is that this is the same member from a party who did not vote for this act, who took

years away from people who have been waiting to see a real act for people with disabilities. We applaud and hail our Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, who was hailed by the people in these

galleries today, by Community Living Ontario. They stood up and said that this is the best act they have seen to improve the lives of people with disabilities. Let me say to this member opposite

that we in this government, across ministries, are working every day to improve the lives of people with disabilities. We will continue to do that. We will continue to move forward on

Mr. Prue: I hope the minister will read the note she just got, because it was unanimous. I voted for it and so did every other member.

Minister, today's Toronto Star says that last week's budget "leaves the province's most disadvantaged citizens behind." They detected "a compelling kind of

arithmetic at work," and said "Health and education expenditures are vote-getters. Welfare spending isn't." Minister, tell the people of Ontario, when the time came for you to break your promise to

disabled people on ODSP, did you do it because you were too weak to fight for them or because it was politically easy to ignore them?

Hon. Ms. Pupatello: I have been called a lot of things, but that one is going to be new to the list; let me say that first. Let me just say

that this member clearly does not remember the hallmark of the budget last week which will, in turn, help 32,000 low-income people with post-secondary education, and we thank Mary Anne Chambers for

that fabulous part of the budget. Let me say to Minister Caplan how proud we were of him with -- finally -- a housing agreement that will help folks who come to my ministry for help. Let me tell

you, if you had paid attention even for a nanosecond to the number of things we announced yesterday in this House to help move people from welfare to work -- finally there's a government that will

have people working for a living instead of working for welfare. You should pay attention to this House.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Alvin Curling): Let's see if the government side can settle down a bit.

PENSION PLANS

Ms. Andrea Horwath (Hamilton East): My question is to the Minister of Finance. There is another group of people who didn't get anything from

your budget, and that's Ontario's pensioners. I have been touring around the province recently and people have been telling me that the rules governing Ontario's workplace pensions need a major

overhaul, not just minor tinkering, which is what happened in your budget. About 60% of Ontario workers have no pension plan at all. Of the minority of those in the private sector that have pension

plans, 83% are not indexed to inflation, so month after month their income erodes because it's being eaten away by rising inflation.

Minister, it's been almost 20 years since we've had any significant pension reform in the province. Where is your plan to deal with Ontario's growing pension

crisis?

Hon. Greg Sorbara (Minister of Finance): I'm delighted that my friend from Hamilton has raised this question. It gives me an opportunity to

remind her and this House and the people watching us of the steps we've taken over the course of the past 19 months to direct attention once again, finally from the government of Ontario, to

Ontario's most vulnerable.

For example, she talks about pensioners. In last year's budget, we were able to provide a 25% increase to seniors in this province who are on low and fixed

incomes. This year in the budget, as my friend the Minister of Community and Social Services noted, we will be providing some 15,000 additional affordable housing units across the province. In this

budget we are matching what is being proposed in the federal budget to provide more assistance for low-income people, seniors and others as well.

She mentions that there has been no major review of the pension system in Ontario. What I'm telling her is that, within this government, we finally have --

The Speaker (Hon. Alvin Curling): Thank you. Supplementary.

Ms. Horwath: Minister, the truth of the matter is that very few people who are vulnerable in this province saw very much in that budget at

all, whether it's autistic children, families depending on ODSP, and even pensioners.

I want to focus on a pension issue, specifically one that illustrates the crisis in the pension system right now. We have the pension benefits guarantee fund,

which you know about. It's a backup fund for pensions. That backup fund hasn't been updated since 1980 and right now it's unable to protect the pensions of millions of Ontarians. The pensions of

millions of Ontarians are at risk, and also we are in a situation where the $1,000 maximum monthly guaranteed amount that the fund backs up has been frozen for 25 years. That $1,000 is completely

inadequate to protect existing pensions. What are you going to do about that?

Hon. Mr. Sorbara: My friend from Hamilton East was not a member of this Legislature many years ago when the New Democratic Party changed the

Pension Benefits Act and created a lack of stability in the pension benefits guarantee fund that we have taken some 13 years to work our way beyond. I just want to tell her that the good news is

that in our budget last year we were able to make a $330-million, one-time payment to the pension benefits guarantee fund to ensure that under that act the pensions of people in Ontario were

safeguarded. I am able to say at this point that finally, once again, there is stability in that fund under that act.

Ms. Horwath: Minister, I really think that your callousness on this issue is a bit frightening. There are 2,300 members right now

participating in the Co-operatives of Ontario pension plan whose very modest pensions have been cut in half because of your unwillingness to reform the pension system.

But it's not just the guarantee fund that needs fundamental reform. You'll know that that this province should also implement mandatory indexing so that modest

pensions are not eroded by inflation. We need to have expanded employee involvement in the governance of plans, and that's not just plans like OMERS. From that huge plan to the smallest pension

plan, employees need to have more of a say over what's happening in their plans. Minister, will your government move on, and will we start getting some fundamental changes to our pension system in

Ontario?

Hon. Mr. Sorbara: My friend mentioned one group in particular, the co-operative pensions. I remember meeting with those pensioners even before

our government was elected. Without getting into the details of their particular case, I should advise you and the members of this Legislature that I think they have now initiated an action against

certain trustees of the plan, and that court action will be proceeding. Under those circumstances, it would be entirely inappropriate for me to comment on the particular case.

But I would like to say to my friend, who raises the issue of pensions, that for the first time in many, many years, we have some stability in the pension

benefit guarantee fund. We are completely conversant with the issues that are facing pensioners in this province, and I think it's safe to say that the issue is in good hands.

ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION

Mr. Toby Barrett (Haldimand-Norfolk-Brant): To the Minister of the Environment: This morning I received over 70 government amendments to the

spills bill, Bill 133 -- 70 amendments that will leave Bill 133 unrecognizable. That's 70 amendments that suggest this bill is flawed. They say, "Go back to the drawing board." Minister, why

continue this charade? Why will you not scrap the bill and, as we read in the media, leave it to your successor to work with stakeholders and get this bill right?

Hon. Leona Dombrowsky (Minister of the Environment): I'm surprised that the honourable member, if he has read the proposed amendments that

have come forward, would suggest that he was surprised by those amendments. I think the amendments demonstrate that this government has used the committee process appropriately and that we have

listened to what the people in the committee have recommended we pay attention to. If you were paying attention during the committee meetings, you would now know that the proposed amendments in

fact reflect exactly what the deputants recommended that this government consider by way of amendments.

Mr. Barrett: Minister, I'm surprised that you provide no amendments for tax breaks or other incentives for investments in plant and equipment

to prevent spills. This was recommended in your own industrial pollution action team report, the supposed basis for Bill 133. The IPAT report recommends "a legislative framework that incorporates

economic or other incentives to go beyond compliance."

Minister, why are you stuck in the command-and control-and-penalize old school? Why have you ignored your own IPAT report, a report that recommends carrots,

something beyond sticks?

Hon. Mrs. Dombrowsky: It is unfortunate that the honourable member doesn't do more homework, because if he did, he would know that our

government has implemented the environmental leaders program. There are many fine industries across the province that are participating in the environmental leaders program. This program is offered

to those industries that demonstrate environmental leadership and go above and beyond their regulatory requirements, and when they do so, they enter into an agreement with the Ministry of the

Environment. It means that they are subject to fewer inspections, based on their good performance. So we do, in fact, have very solid carrots for good environmental performers.

We know that the member and the party opposite are in favour of allowing polluters to get away and communities to be left not compensated when spill events

happen. Our government is committed to the idea that if you spill, you pay.

POLICE OFFICERS

Mr. Peter Kormos (Niagara Centre): I have a question to the Acting Premier. Your government keeps claiming that you are funding 1,000 new

police officers on the streets of Ontario. Well, today's announcement is the same announcement that was made seven months ago, in October 2004, and my question to you is this: How many of the 1,000

new police officers that you promised seven months ago were hired pursuant to your funding proposal?

Hon. Leona Dombrowsky (Minister of the Environment): The Minister of Community Safety will answer this.

Hon. Monte Kwinter (Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services): Just so you'll understand what our commitment was, we said that

we would provide 1,000 new officers during the term of our mandate. OK?

Interjections.

Hon. Mr. Kwinter: You may think that's funny, but that is what the commitment was.

Today we made an announcement that was universally acclaimed, and I would like to share another quote with you. This is a quote from Chief Armand LaBarge, who

is the first vice-president of the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police and in one month's time he is going to become the president of the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police. He says,

"Putting new police officers on Ontario streets is an investment in our communities.... It's important that the Ontario government, police leaders and police service boards continue to work

together to ensure that all police services can benefit from this and future programs."

That is what we're doing. We are honouring our commitment, and I'm delighted, as I've said before, to have been able to share this.

Mr. Kormos: We know exactly how many new police officers were hired as a result of your announcement in October 2004, because we talked to

those police service boards and police associations: None. Not one cop was hired as a result of your promise in October 2004 to put 1,000 new cops on the streets of Ontario. And that promise isn't

going to be kept now either, because municipalities across Ontario can't afford to pay for your promises. When are you going to fully fund 1,000 new cops, rather than giving municipalities 35-cent

cops that they simply can't afford, and you know it?

Hon. Mr. Kwinter: The member thinks that bluster overcomes rationality. Just so you'll understand how the program works, the municipalities

have to decide, once they get the criteria -- and that's what we announced today -- how many officers they're prepared to take up. They will be sharing in 50% of the amount of money we are

providing. That is the program we are contemplating. That is the program that is already in place under the community policing program. And when we are finished, we will be providing funding for

2,000 new police officers, because we're continuing to fund the first 1,000 and we'll be funding the second 1,000.

SOCIAL ASSISTANCE

Mrs. Donna H. Cansfield (Etobicoke Centre): My question is for the Minister of Community and Social Services. Yesterday in the House you

announced that the McGuinty government is helping Ontario Works clients to move from welfare to employment by overhauling the existing social assistance programs. This government is removing

barriers that were embedded -- built, actually -- and maintained by the previous government. We are now empowering people through Ontario Works, as clients, so they can get themselves back into the

community with some dignity and respect.

Your parliamentary assistant, Deb Matthews, came to my community, as she came to many communities throughout her consultations, and spoke not only with folks

who were on Ontario Works but also with the community agencies themselves.

I'd like to know if you could tell us exactly what types of programs are being put in place, with what kind of assistance.

Hon. Sandra Pupatello (Minister of Community and Social Services, minister responsible for women's issues): I very much appreciate the

question, especially because it highlights the tremendous work done by my parliamentary assistant, Deb Matthews.

Hon. George Smitherman (Minister of Health and Long-Term Care): She rocks.

Hon. Ms. Pupatello: She rocks, as the Minister of Health says. She went far and wide across Ontario and she did speak with front-line people

working in agencies. She spoke with clients, people who are in receipt of social assistance, and spoke to them directly. What's really important is that we really did hear what the barriers are

that are stopping people from going into work. Much of those barriers are our own rules, rules that were created when workfare was launched back in 1998. Unfortunately, those have been very

prohibitive. We've started to take those down. Of the 800 rules that make it so difficult for people to manoeuvre through that system, we've started looking at which ones we can eliminate.

Firstly, we have simplified the rules on those earnings exemptions. Right now, we have changed it so that it is 50% across the board. No more funny rules, no

more two years and then it's over. It is extended. Any time people want to work, even on a part-time basis -- we believe they need to be in the workforce and we're making those changes.

Mrs. Cansfield: Minister, it's good to hear that we're helping to remove these barriers to work and giving social assistance clients more

support. I also understand that these new and innovative measures are in addition to the improvements we've made in the past. I remember the first time I heard that if someone on social assistance

actually was saving money for their child's education -- the registered education savings plan -- they were penalized for helping to save for their children's education. I thought that was

unconscionable. We've removed that barrier. Most recently, we launched JobsNow. It's a pilot project that will provide ongoing individual job placement.

Minister, for clarification, what I'd like to ask you is to please explain the difference between the full-time employment benefit and the current employment

start-up benefit, and what additional health and child care deductions and benefits will be included.

Hon. Ms. Pupatello: What we have done is created this employment benefit, which is a $500 fund that individuals can now access in order for

them to move into a full-time job. What we know is that once you start working full-time, there are costs associated with that. Individuals who have been on welfare, especially for some time,

simply don't have the money to buy the uniform required for the job, to buy the work boots or the steel-toed boots or whatever it's going to take.

Interjections.

Hon. Ms. Pupatello: I appreciate that the members opposite are yelling and don't like what we're doing, but --

The Speaker (Hon. Alvin Curling): Order. The member from Nepean-Carleton, I'd like you to come to order.

You have 10 seconds.

Hon. Ms. Pupatello: In addition to that, we've also increased, for the first time in 16 years, the exemption for informal child care from $390

to $600, very much in keeping with what moms who are on welfare today need. We're very pleased with this next but very large step, the most significant of which is being able to keep that drug card

a little bit --

The Speaker: Thank you. New question.

MEAT INSPECTION

Mr. Ernie Hardeman (Oxford): My question is to the Minister of Agriculture and Food. Meat inspectors in Ontario are in a position to strike

and will in effect bring the processing of meat and provincial abattoirs to a halt. By allowing meat inspectors to become part of a union, you have actually put food safety in grave danger. This

certainly is not what beef farmers who are already reeling from the effects of BSE need.

Minister, the Ontario Federation of Agriculture and the Ontario Independent Meat Packers and Processors both expressed concern when you made a purely political

move and brought meat inspectors back into the Ontario public service. Now that we are faced with the real possibility of a strike, we ask the Minister of Agriculture to take responsibility for the

results of his actions. Minister, what are you going to do to help the farmers, the provincial abattoirs and their employees when the meat inspectors go on strike?

Hon. Steve Peters (Minister of Agriculture and Food): I'm very disappointed in the question, because there are ongoing negotiations taking

place, and I think the member is being a little presumptuous.

I would say that, when it comes to food safety, food safety has been the number-one priority of this government. Unlike the previous government, the previous

minister, who raced around the back roads of Huron county, running away from reporters in dealing with food safety issues, we're not afraid to run away from food safety issues, unlike a government

that in 2001 passed the Food Safety and Quality Act and sat on it and sat on it. It did not do anything for food safety in this province. They turned their backs on food safety. We weren't prepared

to do that.

As well, we saw unprecedented turnover in meat inspectors in this province. In excess of 30% of our meat inspectors were turning over because the previous

government had privatized that service. We recognize the importance of that service, and we brought those individuals back into the public sector.

Mr. Hardeman: I just want to point out that the meat packers in this province are not interested in your opinion of previous governments; what

they would like is an answer as to what they're supposed to do if, through no fault of their own, they cannot open their processing plant.

Minister, the Ontario Independent Meat Packers have asked you to deem meat inspection an essential service. What I hear from the independent meat processors is

that you don't consider meat inspection an essential service. Your essential service agreement only includes 16 meat inspectors, and I understand that these 16 meat inspectors won't be ensuring the

safety of meat slaughtered; instead, they will travel the province and make sure that not one of the 192 plants is conducting slaughter.

Minister, again, what are you going to do to help our farmers and meat processors avoid financial devastation if there is a work stoppage in the civil service?

Could you please answer to the meat processors in the province what you intend to do if the strike puts them out of business? Would you please help them and inform them? Don't tell us what you

think; tell us what you're going to do.

Hon. Mr. Peters: I would like to refer this question to the Chair of Management Board, please.

Hon. Gerry Phillips (Chair of the Management Board of Cabinet): Let me inform the member opposite what we are doing. We very much value our

public service. We thought it was a big mistake to privatize the meat inspectors, and we brought them back in.

Where we are putting our time and attention is in reaching a fair and equitable agreement with our employees. That is where I'm devoting my energy. As I say,

we value our public servants. We are dedicated to reaching a fair collective agreement with them and, at the same time, we're dedicated to preserving the safety of our meat in the province, the

safety of our institutions.

I would just say to the member, it was a big mistake to privatize those inspectors. We have brought them back into the public service. We are dedicating our

time and energy to reaching a fair and equitable agreement with our employees, and that is what we intend to do.

POLICE USE OF TASERS

Ms. Andrea Horwath (Hamilton East): My question is for the Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services. Minister, what are the

provincial standards and protocols specifically governing the use of Tasers by police in Ontario?

Hon. Monte Kwinter (Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services): The member will know, or should know, that Tasers have been

authorized for specific use in Ontario for some time. The only thing that has changed recently is that there was a particular Taser, an M26, and now there is a new and better Taser, an X26, and

we've approved that for use. That is something that is available to police services across Ontario. They have protocols. They themselves have those protocols as to how they are to be used, and it's

effective. We are convinced that they're less than lethal, and as a result they're a good alternative to a lethal weapon.

Ms. Horwath: In Hamilton last week, police chased down a 15-year-old boy and shot him twice with a Taser. He didn't commit any crime. In fact,

he wasn't even charged by police with any crime at all. When the police use Tasers on unarmed teenagers, frightened kids, don't you think there should be some Ontario standards for the police and

their use of Tasers? Why haven't you developed any province-wide?

Hon. Mr. Kwinter: I can tell you that before we authorized the use of Tasers, we made sure that they were properly tested and that the proper

procedures were in place.

I cannot comment on a particular incident in a particular police service. That is something you have to deal with in that particular police service. I do not

monitor the police services and their operation; that is the responsibility of the chiefs and their police services boards. All I can tell you is that in our ministry we evaluated the use of the

Taser and we stand by our decision that it's a far better alternative than using a lethal weapon.

WATER QUALITY

Mrs. Carol Mitchell (Huron-Bruce): My question is for the Minister of the Environment. Ontario's drinking water system regulation 170 has

certainly been a cause for concern in my riding. Many people have written me or come into my office to share their concerns about very poorly crafted legislation in the past.

Regulation 170 was introduced by the previous government following the Walkerton tragedy. While perhaps well-intentioned, the previous government failed to

anticipate the excessive costs that the water testing and treatment requirements would impose on community halls and small businesses in rural Ontario.

I know that you ordered a review of reg 170 last year and, as I recall, this review included the appointment of an independent advisory council that held

public consultations. Could you please explain to the members of this assembly and to the people of Ontario what these consultations determined and what the advisory council recommended?

Hon. Leona Dombrowsky (Minister of the Environment): I appreciate the question from the honourable member, and I know that members on all

sides of this House, particularly those representing rural and northern communities, appreciate the challenge that regulation 170 presented within our communities. There were community halls,

Legions and bed-and-breakfasts that were on the verge of closing.

And I know that all members of this Legislature would want to join me in congratulating the good work of the advisory council. We also received a great deal of

support and assistance from AMO and from ROMA. We consulted with these groups extensively. As a result of the good work they have done, they've provided excellent recommendations, and I'm very

pleased to say that we are now able to bring forward what I believe to be a risk-based approach to managing safe water, particularly in rural and northern communities across Ontario.

Mrs. Mitchell: Thank you very much for explaining to members of the assembly and to the people of Ontario what the public consultations

determined and what the advisory council recommended. Could you please describe some of the key changes that the government is making to reg 170, and provide the people of Ontario a reassurance

that the protection of public health will not be compromised?

Hon. Mrs. Dombrowsky: I'm very happy to say that the Ministry of the Environment put out a release yesterday explaining when and how the new

and improved regulation will take effect across the province of Ontario. I've already indicated that we are taking a risk-based approach. We heard very clearly through the recommendations, and

certainly from the many people who presented in communities across Ontario, that they value the role that health units could potentially play. That is definitely a part of the regulatory framework

we are bringing forward. It will reduce costs for most community halls, small rural businesses and bed-and-breakfasts in Ontario. But what is most important to keep in mind is that our number-one

priority is to ensure that water is protected and that people will be accessing safe and clean drinking water.

It's also important to share with you today that facilities that still have to comply are those that provide services for vulnerable children and the elderly,

and municipally owned residential drinking systems as well as private systems that serve year-round trailer parks and subdivisions.

HYDRO RATES

Mr. John O'Toole (Durham): My question is for the Minister of Energy. My colleague and our critic for northern development, MPP Norm Miller,

has recently completed a working fact-finding tour across northern Ontario. He heard how hard your excessive health tax and soaring electricity costs are hurting northern Ontario. Furthermore, your

plan to close the coal plants at Thunder Bay as well as Atikokan will also cost jobs and put at risk not just the reliability but also the affordability of electricity. Minister, do you understand

any of your energy policies and how they're threatening jobs and the economy of northern Ontario, and can you, for once, please tell the people of Ontario what your true-cost-of-electricity plan

is?

Hon. Dwight Duncan (Minister of Energy, Government House Leader): We've closed Lakeview, and we have outlined a number of options that we're

looking at with respect to the other coal-fired plants. Let me be clear: We will close all of Ontario's coal-fired plants, as per our commitment. We believe that is in the interest of the economy

and in the interest of the environment. We believe the people of Ontario will extract enormous benefits. I can tell the member opposite, for instance, that there are already close to $7 billion

worth of new energy projects under development in Ontario, in the ground, with the creation of literally hundreds of jobs. We believe it is important to improve our environment, to bring down the

rate of asthma, to bring down all the downsides associated with with coal-fired plants. We're moving to close those plants in a responsible fashion that protects the interests of all the

communities affected.

Mr. O'Toole: Again, Minister, there's a headline today in the Globe and Mail on the forestry sector, and they're quoting here: "Warns of ...

`consequential damage' in Ontario without government relief." Frank Dottori, president and CEO of Tembec, in the forest industry, said that governments "must shoulder some of the blame for the

financial straits the forestry sector finds itself in." He went on to blame your high "taxes and the layers of costs" of putting the forest industry out of business. Mr. Dottori singled out --

here's what he said -- the "soaring electricity rates in Ontario and an absence of a government policy" for the sector.

Minister, the question is very simple: What is your energy policy, not just for this sector but indeed for all of Ontario? Think of industries like the

petrochemical industry, the steel industry, the auto sector. Minister, this is about the jobs and the economy of Ontario, and you have no plan.

Hon. Mr. Duncan: Energy costs are an ongoing problem for the resource-based industries, and I can assure you that this government is dealing

with that. I remind the member opposite that Tembec closed four plants today. Three of them were in Quebec, where you have the lowest-priced electricity in the world. There are a number of factors

affecting that industry and a number of other resource-based industries. This government takes those challenges very, very seriously.

I'll also remind you that John Tory never even mentioned the forestry industry in his 2004 leadership platform. Given a choice between Dalton McGuinty and this

government and our approaches to the resource development industry in the north, I believe that this party and our Premier have the answers that are needed to assist this economy, particularly the

north, as we move forward into the future.

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Ms. Andrea Horwath (Hamilton East): My question is to the Minister of Economic Development and Trade. Because of the disarray in your

ministry, Ontario is likely going to lose a world-class molecular research project. The project Blueprint Initiative is creating a large and growing biomolecular database for scientists around the

world. Already the project has been forced to lay off half its staff, and the entire project is very much at risk of being lost to Singapore because your ministry hasn't had the opportunity to come

up with the funding. How many world-class research facilities does Ontario have to lose before your ministry gets its act together?

Hon. Joseph Cordiano (Minister of Economic Development and Trade): Let me thank the member for the question, first of all. The McGuinty

government is funding research in this province to the tune of $1.8 billion over four years. Recently, we matched the latest CFI round of funding to the tune of $53.2 million, and I want to go

through some examples of the funding: new therapies for Alzheimer's disease at the University of Toronto; a centre for the study of chronic gastrointestinal disease at McMaster. There's a long

list. We've funded research at a very high level.

What happened with previous rounds is that we matched CFI funding. That is done on a regular basis. There are subsequent rounds. What I say to this group is,

bring forward a proposal. This group, in fact, has not even made an application to our ministry in a formal way. The door is always open. We want to make sure that we don't lose any fine

researchers anywhere.

Ms. Horwath: Minister, you just don't get it. I know you have a nice list, but that's not the only organization that's having trouble with

your ministry. In fact, Marcel Chartrand, a Genome Canada spokesperson, said, "Provinces have been very good supporting (such) initiatives coming from their regions. Ontario has not, unfortunately.

And that, you know, becomes a problem eventually." This is from Marcel Chartrand, Genome Canada, another person who's saying that your ministry doesn't have its act together. I repeat: How many

world-class research projects does Ontario have to lose before you do get your act together?

Hon. Mr. Cordiano: I don't know what this member is talking about. As usual, she has her facts all wrong. The CEO of the Ontario Genomics

Institute said that the delay had nothing to do with Ontario's plan. I quote its Christian Burks, who said, "The delay as Ontario rejigged its funding plans was not to blame." Clearly, that is not

the case.

I say to the member: These proposals are peer-reviewed, and they're also looked at for their business case capability. The proposal should be brought forward,

and I say, the door is open. If there is an additional proposal, we will look at it, it will be peer-reviewed and a business case assessment will be made. No one is being turned away in Ontario. As

I say, we've funded all the CFI rounds previously, and we will continue to fund those CFI rounds: $1.8 billion, I repeat, over the next four years. That's what this government is committing to

research.

HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION

Mr. David Zimmer (Willowdale): My question is for the Minister of Transportation. Minister, yesterday you were at the Ministry of

Transportation's state-of-the-art Compass facility and made an announcement about highway construction in the GTA. How much has our government committed to provincial highway construction in the

greater Toronto area, and specifically what benefits can the people of the GTA expect?

Hon. Harinder S. Takhar (Minister of Transportation): I am very proud of the announcement that we made yesterday. It is about the record

investment we are making in our highways: about $1 billion in total. Out of that, $620 million will be spent in the GTA alone. What that really means to the GTA is that we will have, in total,

about 33 projects. It will mean 100 kilometres of new lanes and 76 bridges repaired. We will be repaving 600 kilometres of highway, and 47 kilometres of Highways 404 and 403 will have HOV lanes. In

addition to that, on the 401, we will have 36 kilometres of new concrete barriers. We are committed to easing the congestion and making traffic smoother on our highways.

Mr. Zimmer: That, indeed, was a very large investment in the greater Toronto area. But what about the rest of the province? How will the rest

of Ontario benefit from this record investment?

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Alvin Curling): I think the minister is prepared now to answer the question. Order.

Hon. Mr. Takhar: We are investing $1.1 billion in our highways. Let me just say what we are doing outside the GTA. We are investing $140

million in the southwest region, and that means 22 new projects. We will be widening Highway 401 from Windsor to Tilbury and from Cambridge to Woodstock, and we will be repaving about 15 kilometres

of Highway 3. In the eastern region, we will be spending about $100 million on 20 new projects. In addition to that, in northern Ontario we will be spending almost $290 million. That will mean we

will have 24,000 people employed to keep this work going in the province.

Interjections.

The Speaker: Order. Maybe your colleagues don't want to hear the answer. It doesn't seem so. Member from Nickel Belt, come to order.

TRANSIT FUNDING

Mr. Frank Klees (Oak Ridges): My question is as well to the Minister of Transportation. Phase one of York region's Viva rapid transit will be

operational in September. You will know that when I was Minister of Transportation, I committed $50 million on behalf of the province to that project, and I was pleased to see that you honoured

that commitment. The region of York not only committed their $50 million but since then has contributed an additional $30 million.

You will know that phase two will require an additional commitment of $7.3 million from each of the levels of government. Will you today commit, on behalf of

the province, to a $7.3-million investment in phase two of this important transit project?

Hon. Harinder S. Takhar (Minister of Transportation): Our government is absolutely committed to improving transit in this province. It's

interesting to note that the member from the opposite side is asking me this question, because it took them 10 years to destroy the transit system in this province. We are rebuilding it.

It's true that he made the announcement, but we actually delivered the cheque. In this budget, we are spending a considerable amount of money to move our

transit forward because we feel it is important for our province to keep doing that.

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Alvin Curling): Minister of Public Infrastructure Renewal, come to order.

Supplementary.

Mr. Klees: Minister, I complimented you on delivering that cheque, and I'm pleased that this project has gone forward. What I'm asking you now

is whether or not your government will come to the table for this very important second phase of this project. It is $7.3 million. The region is prepared to commit that, they're asking you to

commit that, and I'm sure the new member from Newmarket in the Liberal government will ensure that the federal government does its part. Will you today commit on the part of the province of Ontario

to deliver that funding to York region?

Hon. Mr. Takhar: We are absolutely committed to moving forward with the EA on the next project, and we are giving York region $1.5 million to

do that. As I already said, we have given $50 million for the first phase of the project. Once the EA is done, we will be sitting with York region and we will see where we need to go with this

project. We will support them the way we can to move forward with this project.

VISITOR

The Speaker (Hon. Alvin Curling): I just want to draw your attention to the fact that joining us in the Speaker's gallery is a former

parliamentarian for the federal Parliament, Mr. Jesse Flis.

Mr. Tim Hudak (Erie-Lincoln): On a point of order, Mr. Speaker: Given the timing, I would like to seek unanimous consent for the member from

Nepean-Carleton to ask a question, just in case.

The Speaker: Do we have unanimous consent? There is an enthusiastic no here.

PETITIONS

GRAVENHURST HYDRO ELECTRIC INC.

Mr. Norm Miller (Parry Sound-Muskoka): I have a petition from constituents in the Gravenhurst area.

"To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas the town council of Gravenhurst has accepted the offer from Veridian Connections Inc. to purchase Gravenhurst Hydro Electric Inc.;

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

"That the Ontario Energy Board deny this purchase on the basis that it is not in the best interests of the present and future ratepayers in the town of

Gravenhurst."

I know there are thousands of signatures on this petition.

ANTI-SMOKING LEGISLATION

Mr. Bob Delaney (Mississauga West): I have a petition here from Cindy Ferrier-Hastie of Hollypoint Avenue, Patricia Miller of Banwell Road and

some of their neighbours in western Mississauga. It's regarding the banning of smoking in public places in Ontario. It reads as follows:

"We, the undersigned, petition the Ontario Legislative Assembly as follows:

"Whereas some 16,000 Ontarians each year die of tobacco-related causes; and

"Whereas the inhalation of direct and second-hand tobacco smoke both lead to health hazards that can and do cause preventable death; and

"Whereas more than four out of every five Ontarians do not smoke, and this large majority desires that enclosed public places in Ontario be smoke-free at all

times; and

"Whereas preventing the sale of tobacco products, especially to young people, and banning the use of tobacco products in public and gathering places of all

types will lower the incidence of smoking among Ontarians, and decrease preventable deaths;

"Be it therefore resolved that the Ontario Legislative Assembly enact Bill 164, and that the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care aggressively

implement measures to restrict the sale and supply of tobacco to those under 25; that the display of tobacco products in retail settings be banned; that smoking be banned in enclosed public places

or in workplaces, and banned on or near the grounds of public and private schools, hospitals and day nurseries; that designated smoking areas or rooms in public places be banned, and that penalties

for violations of smoking laws be substantially increased."

I wholeheartedly support this petition. I have affixed my signature to it and ask Owen to carry it for me.

Mr. Frank Klees (Oak Ridges): I have a petition here that proposes to balance off Bill 164 and consider the freedom of choice for Ontario

residents. It reads as follows:

"To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas Bill 164 takes away civil liberties and freedom of choice;

"Whereas Bill 164 is an attempt to remove freedom for smokers to exercise their choice in a way that does not bother others;

"Whereas Ontario smokers are paying close to $1.5 billion to the Ontario Liberal government and more than $1 billion more to the federal government in tobacco

taxes alone;

"Whereas Bill 164 is aimed at punishing smokers and forcing them to make the choices that the government feels they should make;

"We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to amend Bill 164, respect smokers and provide fair and balanced legislation."

I am pleased to affix my signature to this petition.

DISABLED PERSONS

PARKING PERMIT PROGRAM

Mr. Michael A. Brown (Algoma-Manitoulin): I have a petition signed by a number of my constituents, mostly along the north shore of Lake

Huron.

"To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas there currently exist problems of exposure to theft and the weather when displaying a disabled person parking permit on a motorcycle while parked in a

disabled parking space;

"We, the undersigned, petition our members of Parliament to promote the development of a special, fixed permit as proposed by the Bikers Rights Organization,

for use by disabled persons who ride or are passengers on motorcycles, even if that requires an amendment to the Highway Traffic Act."

I agree with this petition and will be signing it.

COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTRES

Ms. Laurie Scott (Haliburton-Victoria-Brock): "To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas Brock township has been declared an underserviced area by the Ministry of Health with respect to physician services since 1996; and

"Whereas the Ontario government announced the creation of 150 family health teams, just like the community health centre in the spring budget; and

"Whereas a community health centre in Brock township could provide a range of community-based health and social services provided by a multidisciplinary team

including physicians, nurse practitioners, nutritionists, health promotion coordinators, social workers, counsellors and other health professionals needed in our local community;

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

"That the Brock community health centre proposal submitted on February 27, 2003, be funded as recommended by the district health council."

It's signed by many of my constituents and I'm going to give to page Paula Sanderson.

WILDLIFE PROTECTION

Mrs. Maria Van Bommel (Lambton-Kent-Middlesex): I have a petition here to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas wildlife rehabilitators provide an essential public service for many thousands of people seeking help on behalf of orphaned and injured wildlife in

Ontario;

"Whereas the unreasonable release restrictions imposed on wildlife rehabilitators for animals in their care by the OMNR will prevent responsible wildlife

rehabilitation, not only compromising wildlife and frustrating the public but forcing it underground and thereby jeopardizing safety;

"Whereas this will incur significant new cost for local governments with respect to bylaw and public health and safety interventions while creating an

emotional and volatile climate because the majority of people in Ontario are simply unwilling to see healthy young animals euthanized;

"We, the undersigned, are deeply concerned that the care and release restrictions imposed by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources which are in violation

of the international standards will eliminate the provision of responsible wildlife services in our community.

"We petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to work with wildlife rehabilitators to ensure progressive, humane and responsible regulations that reflect

the international care and release standard that states:

"`Orphaned wildlife should be raised with others of their own species, to learn proper conspecific behaviours, and the group should then be released together

in appropriate natural areas, with the transitional care for those species that require it, generally within the city or county of origin.'"

HALTON RECYCLING PLANT

Mrs. Julia Munro (York North): "To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas noxious odours from the Halton Recycling plant in Newmarket are adversely affecting the health and quality of life of residents and working people in

Newmarket; and

"Whereas local families have lost the enjoyment of their properties for themselves and their children, face threats to their health and well-being, and risk a

decline in the value of their homes; and

"Whereas for the 300 members of the nearby main RCMP detachment, as well as other workers in the area, the odours are making their working conditions

intolerable;

"Therefore, we, the undersigned, demand that the Minister of the Environment take immediate action to halt all noxious emissions and odours from the Halton

Recycling plant, and take all steps necessary to force Halton Recycling to comply with environmental rules, including closing the plant if the odour problems continue."

As I am in complete agreement, I will be signing this petition and giving it to Trishaala.

CREDIT VALLEY HOSPITAL

Mr. Kevin Daniel Flynn (Oakville): I have a petition signed by people from the Oakville and Mississauga area, among them, Lorraine Gonsalves

of River Oaks Boulevard. It reads as follows:

"Whereas some 20,000 people each year choose to make their home in Mississauga, and a Halton-Peel District Health Council capacity study stated that the Credit

Valley Hospital should be operating 435 beds by now, and 514 beds by 2016; and

"Whereas the Credit Valley Hospital bed count has remained constant at 365 beds since its opening in November 1985, even though some 4,800 babies are delivered

each year at the Credit Valley Hospital in a facility designed to handle 2,700 births annually; and

"Whereas donors in Mississauga and the regional municipalities served by the Credit Valley Hospital have contributed more than $41 million of a $50-million

fundraising objective, the most ambitious of any community hospital in the country, to support the construction of an expanded facility able to meet the needs of our community;

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

"That the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care undertake specific measures to ensure the allocation of capital funds for the construction of A and H block at

Credit Valley Hospital to ensure the ongoing acute care needs of the patients and families served by the hospital are met in a timely and professional manner, to reduce wait times for patients in

the hospital emergency department, and to better serve patients and the community in Halton and Peel regions by reducing severe overcrowding in the labour and delivery suite."

REGIONAL CENTRES FOR THE

DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED

Mr. Jim Wilson (Simcoe-Grey): A petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas Dalton McGuinty and his Liberal government were elected based on their promise to rebuild public services in Ontario;

"Whereas the Minister of Community and Social Services has announced plans to close Huronia Regional Centre, home to people with developmental disabilities,

many of whom have multiple diagnoses and severe problems that cannot be met in the community;

"Whereas closing Huronia Regional Centre will have a devastating impact on residents with developmental disabilities, their families, the developmental

services sector and the economies of the local communities; and

"Whereas Ontario could use the professional staff and facilities of Huronia Regional Centre to extend specialized services, support and professional training

to many more clients who live in the community, in partnership with families and community agencies;

"We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to direct the government to keep Huronia Regional Centre, home to people with developmental

disabilities, open, and to transform them into `centres of excellence' to provide specialized services and support to Ontarians with developmental needs, no matter where they live."

I agree with this petition and I've signed it.

ONTARIO BUDGET

Mr. Lorenzo Berardinetti (Scarborough Southwest): I have a petition, and it's addressed to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. It reads as

follows:

"Whereas the McGuinty government inherited a hidden structural deficit of $5.5 billion upon taking office in October 2003;

"Whereas the McGuinty government is committed to a balanced fiscal approach that eliminates the deficit and restores essential public services;

"Whereas Ontarians demand the best public health care, public education, and economic prosperity; and

"Whereas passing the 2005 budget will ensure new funding for post-secondary students, reduced waiting times for medical procedures, more child care spaces, and

new investments in public infrastructure;

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

"To pass Bill 197, Budget Measures Act, 2005, as soon as possible."

As I agree with the petition, I affix my signature to it and hand it to page Madison.

MOTORCYCLE INSURANCE

Mr. Toby Barrett (Haldimand-Norfolk-Brant): I've got a petition titled "Fix Motorcycle Insurance." These were gathered on Friday the 13th in

Port Dover.

"Whereas responsible motorcyclists have been hit with huge increases in insurance or are being denied coverage; and

"Whereas motorcycle insurance has increased over 40% in the past two years; and

"Whereas sales of motorcycles in Ontario have dropped over 7%; and

"Whereas many businesses and individuals in the motorcycle industry are suffering because of the loss of sales and decreased employment that high insurance

rates are causing;

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

"That the Dalton McGuinty government take steps to make motorcycle insurance more affordable and ensure that motorcyclists are treated fairly and equitably by

the insurance industry."

This is signed by Chris Simons and Greg Yerex, who helped initiate it on Friday the 13th in Port Dover a number of years ago.

CREDIT VALLEY HOSPITAL

Mr. Bob Delaney (Mississauga West): I have a petition here from Peter and Patricia Leupen and their family in Erin Mills, Susan Molrine of

Arvida Circle in Meadowvale, and Karen Newman of Atherly Crescent in Meadowvale and some of their neighbours. It reads as follows:

"Whereas some 20,000 people each year choose to make their home in Mississauga, and a Halton-Peel District Health Council capacity study stated that the Credit

Valley Hospital should be operating 435 beds by now, and 514 beds by 2016; and

"Whereas the Credit Valley Hospital bed count has remained constant at 365 beds since its opening in November 1985, even though some 4,800 babies are delivered

each year at the Credit Valley Hospital in a facility designed to handle 2,700 births annually; and

"Whereas donors in Mississauga and the regional municipalities served by the Credit Valley Hospital have contributed more than $41 million of a $50-million

fundraising objective, the most ambitious of any community hospital in the country, to support the construction of an expanded facility able to meet the needs of our community;

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

"That the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care undertake specific measures to ensure the allocation of capital funds for the construction of A and H block at

Credit Valley Hospital to ensure the ongoing acute care needs of the patients and families served by the hospital are met in a timely and professional manner, to reduce wait times for patients in

the hospital emergency department, and to better serve patients and the community in Halton and Peel regions by reducing severe overcrowding in the labour and delivery suite."

This is my home hospital. I'm pleased to support it. I affix my signature and ask Jonathan to carry it for me.

ORDERS OF THE DAY

LABOUR RELATIONS STATUTE LAW

AMENDMENT ACT, 2005 /

LOI DE 2005 MODIFIANT DES LOIS

CONCERNANT LES RELATIONS

DE TRAVAIL

Mr. Bentley moved third reading of the following bill:

Bill 144,

An Act to amend certain statutes relating to labour relations / Projet de loi 144, Loi modifiant des lois concernant les relations de travail.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Michael Prue): Mr. Bentley.

Hon. Christopher Bentley (Minister of Labour): At the outset I'd like to note that I'll be sharing my time with the member for Oakville,

should he return, and I expect he will.

It gives me great pleasure to ris