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April 16, 2007

38th Parliament, 2nd Session

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Hansard Transcripts

vol. A

Hansard Transcripts

vol. B

Votes and Proceedings

Orders and Notices

Hansard Transcripts 2007-Apr-16 (PDF)

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO

ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE DE L'ONTARIO

Monday 16 April 2007 Lundi 16 avril 2007

MEMBERS' STATEMENTS

ONTARIO LOTTERY

AND GAMING CORP.

TRASH BASH

ONTARIO LOTTERY

AND GAMING CORP.

COMMUNITY LIVING GUELPH WELLINGTON

ONTARIO LOTTERY

AND GAMING CORP.

GWEN LEE

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

YORK SUBWAY EXTENSION

NORTHERN ECONOMY

VISITORS

INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

CONSUMER PROTECTION AMENDMENT ACT

(PAYDAY LOANS), 2007 /

LOI DE 2007 MODIFIANT LA

LOI SUR

LA PROTECTION DU CONSOMMATEUR

(PRÊTS SUR SALAIRE)

MOTIONS

HOUSE SITTINGS

COMMODITY FUTURES LAWS REVIEW

STATEMENTS BY THE MINISTRY AND RESPONSES

VOLUNTEERS

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION /

PROTECTION DE L'ENVIRONNEMENT

VOLUNTEERS

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

VISITORS

VOLUNTEERS

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL DAY

ORAL QUESTIONS

ONTARIO LOTTERY

AND GAMING CORP.

DISCLOSURE OF TOXINS

AND POLLUTANTS

ELECTORAL REFORM

ONTARIO LOTTERY

AND GAMING CORP.

HOSPITAL FUNDING

CLIMATE CHANGE

ONTARIO LOTTERY

AND GAMING CORP.

WASTE DIVERSION

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

ONTARIO LOTTERY

AND GAMING CORP.

MINING INDUSTRY

EASTERN ONTARIO DEVELOPMENT

PETITIONS

MULTIPLE LEGAL PARENTS

REGULATION OF ZOOS

GRAVESITES OF FORMER PREMIERS

LANDFILL

YORK SUBWAY EXTENSION

STEVENSON MEMORIAL HOSPITAL

CHILD CUSTODY

CORMORANTS

PENSION PLANS

YORK SUBWAY EXTENSION

ONTARIO LOTTERY

AND GAMING CORP.

BRIDGE REPLACEMENT

ONTARIO LOTTERY

AND GAMING CORP.

LONG-TERM CARE

LAKERIDGE HEALTH

YORK SUBWAY EXTENSION

OPPOSITION DAY

ONTARIO LOTTERY

AND GAMING CORP. /

SOCIÉTÉ DES LOTERIES

ET DES JEUX DE L'ONTARIO

The House met at 1330.

Prayers.

MEMBERS' STATEMENTS

ONTARIO LOTTERY

AND GAMING CORP.

We've asked 133 questions so far and received no answers. Dithering, dodging and deflecting have been the only responses forthcoming for three weeks. That indicates a government scared of transparency and accountability. A government that is afraid to answer for its actions is irresponsible and arrogant. The Premier and the minister consistently refuse to account for what they knew, when they knew it and what action they took.

A legislative committee empowered to call witnesses and fully investigate is necessary for the public to get the answers that McGuinty refuses to provide. The investigation could be completed by June if the Premier would only agree. Dalton McGuinty continues to hide behind the Ombudsman investigation and the OPP investigation. The Premier knows neither one will look into the Premier's office or the minister's office. This Premier talked about giving all MPPs a bigger role to play when he was campaigning for election. But now that he has won, he won't even allow a legislative committee of MPPs to examine a scandal with troubling connections to his own office.

Today we will have a motion to launch an inquiry to investigate what really happened. If Dalton McGuinty really has nothing to hide, then he should support the motion and support this inquiry.

TRASH BASH

Mr. Ernie Parsons (Prince Edward–Hastings): I would like to take a moment today to express my thanks to a very special group of volunteers who will be walking the highways and byways of my community over the next few days. I'm referring, of course, to the participants in our annual Trash Bash event. Trash Bash, for those of you who have not heard the expression before, refers to picking up litter that is along the sides of our roads.

I've taken part myself for many years, and while at times it's hard work, it's also a great deal of fun. The increasing numbers of participants in Prince Edward county, Quinte West and Belleville bear testimony to that.

It's also a very interesting insight into our current society. I now know as a fact the most popular brand of coffee as well as the most popular cigarette in Ontario.

Our family always picks up garbage over the same stretch of road. When I say "our family," I really mean Linda and the kids, folks. The situation is getting better in my area. The first year, we picked up 43 bags of garbage within sight of our house. However, I'm thrilled to report that there is without question less and less garbage every year, and I'm proud of my community for that. People are getting the message.

For those communities that have never organized a Trash Bash, I urge you to. It does wonders to brighten up the rural areas, and you'll meet other great people. In my area, the municipalities take the garbage away and then host a reception to thank the volunteers.

So I want to conclude by saying thank you to the organizations and firms that sponsor these events, to the organizers themselves, and especially to the people who give freely of their time to make our province a better place.

ONTARIO LOTTERY

AND GAMING CORP.

Mr. John Yakabuski (Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke): The odds of winning the 6/49 jackpot are one in 14 million; the Super 7, one in 21 million. The odds of this government responsible for the Lottogate scandal being forthcoming about their involvement in trying to cover it up are approximately one in 10 billion.

The reason we need a legislative inquiry into this scandal is because the McGuinty government refuses to answer simple and direct questions. Dodge, deflect, dither and deny is their only plan of action.

How does the Premier justify the presence of Warren Kinsella and other political fixers in meetings with the OLG? The Premier won't tell us.

What discussions took place between the office of the minister and the OLG regarding the issue of suspicious insider wins? What actions did the minister take after April 11, 2006, when his chief of staff was informed that the CBC was looking into insider wins? He says he wasn't aware.

The people of Ontario need more than evasiveness and dismissals from the McGuinty government. They deserve a full investigation to shine a light on the government's actions. This afternoon our leader, John Tory, will address this issue in an opposition motion calling for a committee of the Legislature to look into this scandal. I hope the government members will support his motion and our ongoing efforts to uncover what Ontarians deserve—the truth—and I'm sure they'll all vote for it.

COMMUNITY LIVING GUELPH WELLINGTON

Mrs. Liz Sandals (Guelph—Wellington): Today I am pleased to recognize Community Living Guelph Wellington, which provides support to those who have an intellectual disability as they live, learn and work in our community.

Adult Rehabilitative Centre, or ARC, is a program of Community Living that provides employment and training to approximately 125 people. During a recent visit to ARC, the participants proudly showed me their skills: skills like building picnic tables, assembling dishwasher wheels, stuffing bulk mailings, and painting and bundling surveyor stakes.

I had the privilege that day of announcing almost $2.3 million of new funding for Community Living Guelph Wellington from our economic stimulus package. Two million dollars will be spent on expanding and renovating the ARC workshop and building a brand new recreation centre at the ARC site for Community Living's clients. The rest of the funding will be used to renovate Community Living's group homes.

I am proud of the McGuinty government's support for developmental services in my riding of Guelph—Wellington, and I want to congratulate the exceptional team of support workers at ARC who provide a positive approach that facilitates a fun, energetic and effective workplace.

ONTARIO LOTTERY

AND GAMING CORP.

Mrs. Julia Munro (York North): Over the course of three weeks, we have asked 133 questions about the involvement of the Premier and the minister responsible for lotteries in the Lottogate scandal. We have received 133 dithering, dodging and deflecting responses from the McGuinty government.

Last Wednesday, the Deputy Premier defended this government's focus on a public relations strategy rather than on corrective action by stating, and I quote, "When someone like The Fifth Estate is involved in doing an exposé, of course the machinery responds. This is appropriate."

It is shameful that this government considers that it is fulfilling its duties and responsibilities by ignoring problems until the point that an exposé publicly reveals suspicious activities. If everything is above board and the machinery responded appropriately to warning signs that a scandal was occurring under your watch, why won't the Premier support our call for a legislative committee to investigate? A committee would probe into areas outside the purview of the Ombudsman and the OPP.

It is the only way the people of Ontario will know with confidence what role was played by the Premier's and minister's offices. I encourage all members of this House to support our PC motion for a legislative investigation.

GWEN LEE

Ms. Andrea Horwath (Hamilton East): The Hamilton community lost a legend and a wonderful woman on April 7 with the passing of lifetime NDP and CCF supporter and activist Gwen Lee, at the age of 93. Gwen was an amazing woman who devoted her life to putting her ideals into practice for the benefit of others. This won her many awards and honours throughout her illustrious life. She was named Hamilton's Woman of the Year in 1991, earned a Senior Achievement Award in 1994, and was honoured as Senior of the Year in 1998.

Untold numbers of Hamilton seniors' groups are indebted to the efforts of this spirited and tireless trailblazer. The Gwen Lee Assisted Housing Building in Hamilton, for example, bears her name and pays tribute to Gwen's success in realizing housing for seniors. Sackville Hill Senior Centre has a room named in her honour. She helped prepare a study of transportation needs and services for disabled persons in our community. She was a superb fundraiser for the Salvation Army, the Canadian Cancer Society and many other groups.

Gwendoline Lee will be remembered for always trying to make Hamilton a better place for all. There wasn't a Labour Day Parade, an injured workers' memorial or a social justice rally of some kind where you wouldn't find Gwen Lee.

Last Friday's memorial service celebrating Gwen's life featured words from a verse typifying her inspiring and positive outlook: "If you must bury something, let it be my faults and my weaknesses. If, by chance, you wish to remember me, do it with a kind deed or a word to someone who needs you." That typifies Gwen Lee. She was a wonderful human being. We'll miss her greatly. The spirit of Gwen Lee will remain with us, as will her legacy.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

Mr. Kevin Daniel Flynn (Oakville): I rise in the House today to discuss the McGuinty Liberals' green plan and our commitment to making Ontario a cleaner and a greener place to live.

The McGuinty Liberals have passed the Clean Water Act, which will give Ontarians the best-protected drinking water in all of Canada. The McGuinty Liberals have also introduced the Safeguarding and Sustaining Ontario's Water Act, which would strengthen Ontario's ability to protect and conserve the water of the Great Lakes and would allow charges to industrial and commercial water users. The days of giving Ontario's water away for free are now over.

Our commitment also extends to protecting Ontario's endangered species through our species-at-risk legislation. We are even building 28 more provincial parks and conservation reserves.

Our dedication to protecting the environment can also be seen in such initiatives as our greenbelt legislation that is in place to protect 1.8 million acres of ecologically sensitive land. We have also reduced our reliance on coal by one third. That's the equivalent of taking two million cars off the road.

The leader of the official opposition has criticized the McGuinty government's environmental reforms, suggesting that protecting the environment will chase jobs out of the province. We know that's not true. We on this side of the House recognize that Ontario can have both. We're working to ensure a vibrant economy alongside a much cleaner environment.

YORK SUBWAY EXTENSION

Mr. Mario G. Racco (Thornhill): Last week, the leader of the third party spoke against the Spadina-York subway extension. On April 11 he was quoted as saying, "We don't need another subway mega-project ... extending the subway ... into a lightly populated York region." This is a clear betrayal of public transit.

In the days since this disappointing statement, a variety of citizens and politicians from the region have contacted me to voice their support for the Spadina-York subway extension. I have in my possession a 41-page petition from members of my community pledging their support for the Spadina-York subway extension and expressing their disappointment with the comments made by the leader of the third party.

In addition, last week the Spadina-York subway extension committee, which has representatives from the city of Toronto, the city of Barrie, Vaughan, Brampton, the region of York and York University, reiterated their endorsement of the extension.

Today, the council of the city of Vaughan has before it a motion expressing its support for the subway extension. The chairman of the region of York has also indicated to us that the Spadina-York subway extension is an integral component of their long-term growth plan which will ensure the preservation of the greenbelt and the Oak Ridges moraine.

As you can see, there is tremendous support for the Spadina-York subway extension. The leader of the third party should be ashamed of his comments, and he has once again demonstrated that the NDP is stuck in the past without a clear, workable plan to benefit the people of the region of York and Toronto.

NORTHERN ECONOMY

Mr. Michael Gravelle (Thunder Bay—Superior North): I rise in the House today to talk our government's commitment to workers and families in northwestern Ontario. Last week, the leader of the third party talked about cancelling the York University subway line, which would have a devastating impact on the workers of Bombardier in Thunder Bay. It is reprehensible that at a time when we are facing tough economic challenges in the northwest, the leader of the NDP would jeopardize good-paying, stable employment in Thunder Bay just to score a couple of cheap political points in Toronto.

The McGuinty Liberals have made a commitment to this Toronto transit project, and we've already put the money on the table. We will continue to move forward with this plan, and we want the people of Thunder Bay and northwestern Ontario to know about it.

Neglectful treatment from the NDP is not a new phenomenon, however. The NDP has a record of abandoning northern Ontario. In 1995, the NDP government sneakily took $60 million from the northern Ontario heritage fund.

Interjections.

Mr. Gravelle: Oh yes, you did, and you put it into general government revenues, weakening this important resource for the north. For our part, we've revitalized the heritage fund to provide support for economic initiatives in northwestern Ontario, from forestry to genetics to small business.

I also remember that it was the NDP who—

Interjection.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Bruce Crozier): The member for Timmins—James Bay, please come to order.

Member for Thunder Bay—Superior North, are you finished?

Mr. Gravelle: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It's very difficult for the NDP to hear this, I realize.

I remember it was the NDP who slashed medical school spaces in the early 1990s, leading to a doctor shortage and increased wait times, especially in smaller—

The Deputy Speaker: Okay. Thank you. I think there's been adequate—

Interjections.

The Deputy Speaker: The member for Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, the member for Timmins—James Bay—

Mr. Gravelle: Mr. Speaker, I didn't have enough time.

The Deputy Speaker: I think the member for Thunder Bay—Superior North has had enough time. We'll now move on to reports by committees.

VISITORS

Mr. Phil McNeely (Ottawa—Orléans): On a point of order, Mr. Speaker: I would like to introduce to you visitors to the members' gallery today: Mr. Kim Allen, CEO and registrar of the Professional Engineers of Ontario; Mr. Bob Goodings, past president of the PEO; Mr. Walter Bilanski, president-elect of the PEO; Mr. David Adams, president of the Professional Engineers of Ontario for 2008-09; and Mr. Howard Brown, of Brown and Cohen. I'd like all members to give them a good hand.

I would also like to encourage all members of this Legislature to attend their reception this evening, which will take place from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Stop 33 in the Sutton Place Hotel. There are 700 engineers in each riding in Ontario. Let's show our appreciation for these great engineers.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Bruce Crozier): Thank you. Had it not been for an invitation, I would have called that not a point of order.

The member for York South—Weston.

Mr. Paul Ferreira (York South—Weston): I wish to draw attention in this House today to the presence of two distinguished parliamentarians from the Azores: Dr. Carlos Costa Neves, leader of the social democratic party and leader of the official opposition in the Azorean assembly; and his colleague Dr. António Pedro Costa, himself a member of the assembly and his party's critic for immigration. I ask all members to join me in welcoming these fine members.

Mr. Frank Klees (Oak Ridges): On a point of order, Mr. Speaker: I'd like us to welcome Galina Bajenova and her mother, Elena Bajenova, from Richmond Hill; also George Utsin and his mother, Svetlana Utsin, from Scarborough.

Galina is a 7th-grade student at Trillium Woods Elementary Public School in Richmond Hill. I would ask us all to give her a special welcome, along with her mother and her friends.

INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

CONSUMER PROTECTION AMENDMENT ACT

(PAYDAY LOANS), 2007 /

LOI DE 2007 MODIFIANT LA

LOI SUR

LA PROTECTION DU CONSOMMATEUR

(PRÊTS SUR SALAIRE)

Mr. Tascona moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 205,

An Act to amend the Consumer Protection Act, 2002 with respect to payday loans / Projet de loi 205, Loi modifiant la Loi de 2002 sur la protection du consommateur en ce qui a trait aux prêts sur salaire.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Bruce Crozier): Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

Does the member wish to make a short statement?

Mr. Joseph N. Tascona (Barrie—Simcoe—Bradford): The federal government is in the process of divesting responsibility with respect to payday loan legislation, and the province will be responsible for licensing and making sure that consumers are protected. This bill provides for a regime to deal with the definition of what a loan is, and also puts in some licensing requirements for borrowers and lenders.

MOTIONS

HOUSE SITTINGS

Hon. James J. Bradley (Minister of Tourism, minister responsible for seniors, Government House Leader): I move that, notwithstanding any other order of the House, pursuant to standing order 9(c)(i), the House shall meet from 6:45 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Monday, April 16, 2007, and Tuesday, April 17, 2007, for the purpose of considering government business.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Bruce Crozier): Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry?

All those in favour, say "aye."

All those opposed, say "nay."

In my opinion, the ayes have it.

We will call in the members. This will be a five-minute bell.

The division bells rang from 1352 to 1357.

The Deputy Speaker: All those in favour will please stand one at a time and be recognized by the Clerk.

Ayes

The Deputy Speaker: All those opposed, please stand one at a time and be recognized by the Clerk.

Nays

The Clerk of the Assembly (Ms. Deborah Deller): The ayes are 42; the nays are 24.

The Deputy Speaker: I declare the motion carried.

COMMODITY FUTURES LAWS REVIEW

Hon. James J. Bradley (Minister of Tourism, minister responsible for seniors, Government House Leader): I seek unanimous consent to move a motion respecting the consideration of the January 2007 report of the Ontario Commodity Futures Act advisory committee.

I move that pursuant to subsection 76(5) of the Commodity Futures Act, the standing committee on finance and economic affairs be authorized to review the January 2007 report of the Ontario Commodity Futures Act advisory committee, sessional paper number 417, and that the committee be authorized to report to the House its opinion, observations and recommendations concerning amendments to the Commodity Futures Act.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Bruce Crozier): Is there unanimous consent? Agreed.

The motion has been moved, so I don't think you have to read it again. Is it the pleasure of the House the motion carry? Carried.

STATEMENTS BY THE MINISTRY AND RESPONSES

VOLUNTEERS

Hon. Mike Colle (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration): I rise to recognize National Volunteer Week, which runs from April 15 to April 21. It is a great opportunity for us to applaud the work of thousands of Ontarians who donate their time and energy to volunteer activities in their community.

Each year, more than five million Ontarians volunteer to improve the quality of life for others in their communities. That's why our government is supporting and revitalizing volunteerism and volunteer organizations in Ontario.

Right now, the volunteer service awards are underway across Ontario. By the time the 45 volunteer service award ceremonies are completed in June, over 9,000 Ontarians will have received their pins of recognition this year alone.

Colleagues in this House have been invited to participate in these local events to honour their constituents for their service and commitment. I know that several members of this House accepted that invitation and have participated in the VSA ceremonies to honour their constituents.

This year, the Outstanding Achievement Award for Volunteerism was renamed in honour of June Callwood, one of Canada's most famous social justice activists, who helped create numerous social action organizations. Sadly, June Callwood passed away this weekend, but her memory lives on through the many people that she touched and the many organizations that she founded. Her passion and her inspiring legacy to give back to our community is an example for all Ontarians.

It was my honour, two weeks ago in London, to present the first June Callwood Outstanding Achievement Award for Volunteerism to the Friends of the Cove Subwatershed Inc., a vibrant local environmental group in London, which works to improve the quality of life in this community through the protection, rehabilitation and wise stewardship of the Coves subwatershed system in London.

And last week in Sarnia, at the volunteer service awards, Harmony for Youth was recognized. Harmony is a non-profit organization that promotes self-esteem in young people through music. The organization averages 700 youth registered in their programs each year and is run entirely by volunteers.

Both of these organizations are a testament to the kind of civic participation and incredible volunteer engagement that is found throughout the province.

Ontarians of all ages and backgrounds volunteer, and there is no area of the province that has not benefited from volunteerism.

In recognition of those who have contributed to our cultural vibrancy, our government has established a new award, called Newcomer Champion Awards, to recognize those who have enriched cultural diversity, facilitated harmony and understanding, or have helped newcomers to settle successfully in our great province.

As we all know, Ontario is the province where more than half of Canada's immigrants choose to live. We know that part of successful integration is being and feeling a part of their new home, and what better way to achieve this than through volunteering?

That is why we are opening doors to the volunteer sector for newcomers by investing more than $547,000 to expand volunteer opportunities for newcomers through the following initiatives. First, in partnership with the Maytree Foundation, the abcGTA program is expanding to recruit, train and match candidates from diverse backgrounds to volunteer for leadership positions in agencies, boards, commissions and not-for-profit organizations.

Second, the Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants, OCASI, is developing resources to increase awareness of the importance of volunteering and increase newcomer participation in volunteerism. Third, the Catholic Immigration Centre Ottawa is developing opportunities to engage new retirees and individuals who are approaching retirement to engage in volunteerism with newcomer communities. This is a win-win situation for talented newcomers and for our voluntary organizations. It means that our increasingly diverse communities will be able to benefit from the global experience newcomers bring to volunteering.

Ontario has a rich history of volunteerism. Volunteers established organizations such as the YMCA in 1851 and the St. John Ambulance in 1877. Today's volunteers are continuing this proud tradition of giving through organizations such as Meals on Wheels and thousands of others across the province. Volunteers are compassionate; they are invaluable. They embody commitment, passion and excellence, and they empower others to reach their potential. Like June Callwood, they turn idealism into action.

The responsibility that Ontario's volunteers demonstrate for the well-being of their fellow citizens and for the betterment of our province must be continually recognized and nurtured. That is why I urge my colleagues to join with me during National Volunteer Week, and every week, to show Ontario's volunteers we value them greatly.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you to all Ontario's incredible volunteers.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION /

PROTECTION DE L'ENVIRONNEMENT

Hon. Laurel C. Broten (Minister of the Environment): I rise today to share with honourable members an important announcement about the work our government is doing to preserve our province's green spaces.

J'aimerais partager aujourd'hui une nouvelle importante avec les membres de l'Assemblée sur le travail que notre gouvernement fait pour préserver les espaces verts de la province. Je suis très heureuse de faire cette annonce alors que l'Ontario commence sa célébration de la Semaine de la terre dans la semaine qui suit.

I rise today to share with the honourable members an important announcement about the work our government is doing to preserve our province's green spaces, and it gives me great pleasure to make this announcement as Ontario celebrates Earth Week next week.

Thanks to the leadership of Premier McGuinty, this government has an impressive record of protecting the environment. We have introduced tough new laws that protect our drinking water. We are producing more renewable energy and doing more to conserve electricity. And our government's award-winning growth plan for the greater Golden Horseshoe will ensure that growth planning is strategic for one of North America's fastest-growing regions. We are committed to strengthening our economy and fostering new growth and development, but we have made this commitment with the environment in mind.

This means that we have protected 1.8 million acres as part of the green belt that stretches across southern Ontario.

Nous préservons les espaces verts de la province afin que les familles ontariennes puissent bénéficier d'un environnement naturel sain, dynamique et magnifique pour de nombreuses générations à venir.

Le gouvernement McGuinty sait qu'il y a encore beaucoup à faire pour l'environnement. Nous devons tous apporter notre contribution.

We are preserving our green spaces so that Ontario's families can rely on a healthy, vibrant and beautiful natural environment for generations to come. But the McGuinty government knows that there is more work to be done on the environment. We must all do our part.

I would like to share with the honourable members today yet another example of how we're demonstrating our environmental stewardship. Our government made yet another strong demonstration to the natural and agricultural heritage of one of North America's largest urban green spaces by providing $2 million to the Rouge Park Alliance. Rouge Park is Canada's premier urban wilderness park. Over 11,500 acres in size, it is a protected parkland in the Rouge River, Petticoat Creek and Duffins Creek watersheds in and near Toronto.

These funds, a significant $2 million, will be dedicated to restoring lands and historical properties in the park, increasing public awareness of the park's values, and will help to provide an enjoyable and memorable experience for visitors.

Earlier today, my colleague Michael Chan, Ontario's revenue minister and MPP for Markham, made this announcement at the park in his home riding. Mr. Chan, along with our colleagues Brad Duguid and Bas Balkissoon, joined the Rouge Park Alliance and a group of local children for a tree-planting ceremony in the park. I understand that the event was very well attended by residents from the area, and everyone celebrated, despite the rain.

At the announcement this morning, Gord Weeden, chair of the Rouge alliance's board of directors, applauded the McGuinty government for its outstanding support in bringing Rouge Park closer to meeting our natural, cultural and agricultural heritage objectives.

This event at Rouge Park is part of a larger, province-wide series of events and announcements that demonstrate our government's commitment to preserving and expanding Ontario's green spaces. In all, our government has donated more than 400 acres to parks across the province over the past six months, including the Eramosa Karst in Hamilton, Hidden Valley Park in Burlington and Glenorchy Conservation Area in Oakville.

In the last year alone, the McGuinty government has dedicated more than 2,000 acres of provincially owned land to Rouge Park and Bob Hunter Memorial Park, bringing the total amount of provincially owned land dedicated by the Ontario government to these parks to more than 5,500 acres.

L'an dernier seulement, le gouvernement McGuinty a offert plus de 2 000 acres de terres appartenant à la province au parc Rouge et au parc commémoratif Bob Hunter, ce qui porte à plus de 5 500 acres la superficie totale de terres appartenant à la province offertes à ces parcs par le gouvernement de l'Ontario.

The Rouge Park family is preserved as part of Ontario's 1.8-million-acre greenbelt and protects natural areas, national historic sites and green spaces that stretch from the Oak Ridges moraine to Lake Ontario. Visitors to the park enjoy hiking, camping, a beach and spectacular views, elements that will be more enjoyable thanks to today's $2-million investment. Across Ontario we're expanding on our commitment to protect our natural green space, giving Ontarians more opportunities to enjoy the outdoors for leisure activities, and today's investment of $2 million in the Rouge Park Alliance strengthens that commitment.

As Ontario's Minister of the Environment I'm proud that the McGuinty government continues to demonstrate our dedication to the environment and to sustainable development. We have not just talked about why it's important to protect the environment; we continue to deliver.

En préservant les parcs et zones naturelles de l'Ontario, nous faisons de notre province un endroit où il fait mieux vivre, travailler et se divertir. L'octroi de 2 $ millions au parc Rouge annoncé aujourd'hui par le gouvernement McGuinty nous aidera à créer un Ontario plus respectueux de l'environnement, aujourd'hui et pour de nombreuses années.

By preserving Ontario's parks and natural areas, we're making our province a better place to live, work and play. The McGuinty government's investment today of $2 million for Rouge Park is one way our government is helping create a greener Ontario now and for years to come.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Bruce Crozier): Statements by the ministry? Responses?

VOLUNTEERS

Mr. Frank Klees (Oak Ridges): On behalf of the leader of the official opposition, John Tory, and the PC caucus I would like to acknowledge National Volunteer Week and to pay tribute to the more than 2.5 million Ontarians who freely contribute more than 400 million hours of their personal time each year to community service and to meeting the needs of others.

Volunteering is indeed a lifeblood of our communities that allows us to participate in nurturing our environment, bringing people together in hospital corridors and schools, on playing fields and in boardrooms for good reasons and for common purposes.

Volunteering develops within us an understanding of our communities, of the needs of people, of the needs that they have that sometimes can only be met with a helping hand: people with disabilities, people in financial distress, children with special needs—and sometimes that special need may be that of a Big Brother or a Big Sister in their lives—or the elderly, who may simply need the assurance that they are not alone and that someone cares.

Volunteering allows us to give of ourselves, to share our wealth and to express our human values of community and of caring.

Today I say thank you to our outstanding organizations and their volunteers who are representative of that volunteer spirit. These volunteers mentor our children, feed our hungry, comfort our lonely, beautify our green spaces and fundraise for our charitable organizations. Ontario's volunteers are young, old, members of families, workers, retirees: men and women of all ages and of all backgrounds. They work in our hospitals, our long-term-care facilities and hospices, who give tirelessly to improve the quality of life of those they serve.

They are a part of the many service clubs of our province for their volunteer initiatives through which youth are encouraged to become the best that they can be and our communities are strengthened.

I would also like to pay tribute to one of Canada's foremost examples of the spirit of volunteerism: June Callwood, who passed away this Saturday. Saint June, as she always will be remembered, worked with over 50 social organizations and fought for countless causes throughout her life in which she demonstrated an unwavering capacity for compassion, empathy and understanding. Today, we celebrate her contribution and the contribution of many volunteers in our province.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

Ms. Laurie Scott (Haliburton—Victoria—Brock): I'm pleased to respond to the Minister of the Environment. We fully support the protection of green spaces so that our children and our grandchildren in urban areas have access to green spaces to enjoy the outdoors and breathe the clean air. But I would also like to note that in the minister's statement she attempted to use "Minister Caplan" and "leadership" in the same sentence, and I think we all know how ridiculous that sounds over here.

The previous PC government established some highly successful and revered policies such as the Living Legacy and the Lands for Life program as well as the Oak Ridges moraine. Extending and protecting Ontario's green spaces by this government reflects no real leadership; it's just finishing up some of the hard work that came before them, which Dalton McGuinty always loves to take credit for.

But the truth of the matter is that this Liberal government under Dalton McGuinty has failed Ontarians when it does come to the environment. It was nearly five years ago when Dalton McGuinty stood on stage after stage and made a bunch of promises to close coal plants with absolutely no plan on how to get there. The Liberals have shown their dedication to something, and that something is nothing more than environmental rhetoric. In fact, keeping up the coal-closing charade just delayed measures that could have made the environment cleaner and Ontarians healthier. Promises broken, promises re-broken and re-broken.

Those plants are still spewing out the emissions that Dalton McGuinty said he would stop. Although I do believe someone over there is reading the polls, because in the last three weeks we've seen a small handful of announcements with boatloads of that all-too-familiar Liberal rhetoric on green policies.

The McGuinty solution to broken promises is to delay and defer deadlines—weak leadership. So after four years of delaying and breaking almost every election promise he made on the environment, Dalton McGuinty announces that he is going to come out with yet another plan, and this time the plan is on climate change, thanks to the funding by the federal government.

Our leader, John Tory, today showed real leadership when it comes to the environment. I was pleased to join in when he announced setting ambitious and measurable targets that a PC government would set for the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in Ontario. He laid out a concrete plan detailing how he would show real leadership of a government that would play its

part in helping to meet that goal.

Ontarians do their best work when they have a competent, accountable leadership with real plans and a real desire to be measured on real results. That's the difference between John Tory as opposed to Dalton McGuinty's lack of leadership, his "Say anything to get elected" and Dalton McGuinty's extreme lack of accountability. We can't believe them to get it right.

VISITORS

Ms. Cheri DiNovo (Parkdale—High Park): On a point of order, Mr. Speaker: I just wanted to introduce a wonderful group from a wonderful school: Ursula Franklin high school. Welcome.

VOLUNTEERS

Mr. Paul Ferreira (York South—Weston): I'm pleased to respond on behalf of my party to the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration's statement on National Volunteer Week. Each and every year more than five million Ontarians give generously of their time to volunteer at more than 45,000 charitable and not-for-profit organizations across the province. We salute these volunteers and the important role they play in improving the quality of life in their communities. Their selfless contributions should be applauded by us all.

This year, we are witnessing the inaugural presentation of the June Callwood Outstanding Achievement Award for Voluntarism in Ontario. June Callwood, sadly, lost her battle with cancer this past weekend.

Along with being a prolific writer and commentator, she was a tireless crusader for social justice and a passionate volunteer for many worthwhile causes. The positive difference she made over the course of her lifetime is immeasurable. The people of Ontario, especially the poor and disadvantaged, will forever be grateful for June Callwood's long-lasting contribution to the betterment of our province.

In the spirit of Ms. Callwood's rich and powerful legacy, thousands of my constituents, many of them new Canadians, volunteer their time on a variety of important community initiatives. I wish to highlight just three of these which are symbolic of the volunteer spirit that cuts across the age and socio-economic backgrounds of these individuals. The Syme 55-Plus Centre, which provides much-needed recreational and social programming for adults 55 and over, operates with the contribution of hundreds of volunteers each and every year.

The For Youth Initiative gives young people an outlet to channel their creative talents in a productive and positive way. FYI's efforts would not be possible if not for the efforts of a significant number of dedicated and committed volunteers. The Mount Dennis Community Association counts on dozens and dozens of volunteers for community cleanups and other activities that improve the quality of life in one of Toronto's neediest neighbourhoods. Just this past weekend, I joined a couple of dozen of those volunteers for a clean up of the Eglinton Flats ravine.

On behalf of my NDP colleagues, I commend the work of these and all volunteers across this province.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

Mr. Peter Tabuns (Toronto—Danforth): I find it ironic to hear the comments from the Minister of the Environment today, given the threat of the big pipe to Bob Hunter Memorial Park. Because the McGuinty Liberal Party approved the big pipe, the Bob Hunter park is now a greenbelt hot spot. That big pipe was approved without a comprehensive environmental assessment. The construction that is going on there of that big pipe is de-watering the Oak Ridges moraine aquifer.

That big pipe will support sprawl, and, frankly, if there had been a full environmental assessment, the proposal to put a sewer through an aquifer would have been properly examined and properly rejected. Instead, what we have is a situation where we're putting a sewer through an aquifer, an aquifer that is being drained, resulting in wells going dry, streams going dry.

If we'd had a full environmental assessment, we would have looked at the fact that this big pipe is going to facilitate sprawl across southern Ontario. In the absence of scrutiny, we're now in a situation where the big pipe is going to be tunnelled under Bob Hunter Park. All but one of the proposed routes goes through the heart of Bob's park. Now, I think that tunnelling a giant sewer through a park named after one of Canada's leading environmentalists shows a total lack of respect for the man and the work that he did in this country.

Today, the minister could have made a different announcement. She could have announced that Bob Hunter park would not be subjected to the impact of this pipe. She could have announced that she in fact was reconsidering these matters, but reconsideration, or thorough consideration, does not seem to be part of this government's and this minister's approach. When we look at the environmental assessment process, it was shelved when it came to the Portlands Energy Centre, notwithstanding the concerns of the residents, notwithstanding the concerns of the city of Toronto medical officer of health.

When it came to the nuclear mega-scheme, environmental assessment was shelved, notwithstanding the fact that this will be one of the biggest construction projects in Ontario's history, with huge implications for us environmentally and economically, and no environmental assessment for incinerators—that whole process expedited. And in Bath, Ontario, the Canada Cement Lafarge proposal wasn't subject to an environmental assessment. The citizens were left to defend themselves. That shouldn't be the way it is. The minister and the ministry should defend them.

HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL DAY

Hon. James J. Bradley (Minister of Tourism, minister responsible for seniors, Government House Leader): Mr. Speaker, I believe we have unanimous consent for all parties to speak for up to five minutes in recognition of Yom Hashoah.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Bruce Crozier): The Government House Leader has asked for unanimous consent. Agreed? Agreed.

Hon. Monte Kwinter (Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services): The Holocaust is something we must never forget: the intensity of evil, the twisted ideas, the inhumane behaviour, the suffering of people who were targeted and died simply because they were a people. It seems unthinkable, yet we must think of it. We must remember all that occurred in those terrible times, and we must honour and remember the six million people of Jewish faith who were systemically killed by the Nazis. We must remember so we will never forget.

Yesterday was Yom ha-Shoah V'Hagvurah, the 27th day of Nisan in the Hebrew calendar, and Holocaust Memorial Day. It has become one of the most significant days on the calendar here at Queen's Park and in communities across Ontario and around the world. This Legislature can be proud that Ontario was the first jurisdiction outside of Israel to officially recognize this day—a day of remembrance, one on which we bear witness to the victims of the Holocaust and honour the survivors.

We are privileged that so many survivors call Ontario home, these people of great courage and dignity who brought with them all the richness of their Jewish heritage and who have contributed so much to our province as they built businesses, started families and shared their culture. Today we thank these extraordinary men and women for all they have done and all that they continue to do. It is also our responsibility and our duty to join them in remembering all those who shared their devastating experience in Europe and who lost their lives in those terrible times.

Acceptance, respect and understanding are values that define our province and values that Ontarians hold dear. Our government is diligent in protecting the rights and dignity of every citizen. Yet every year, hatred, racism and intolerance still raise their ugly heads. Last month, the League for Human Rights of B'nai Brith Canada released its 2006 Audit of Anti-Semitic Incidents, an annual study on patterns of prejudice in this country. It found that anti-Semitism reached its highest levels ever reported to the league. Worldwide incidents show a similar rise. Together with the terrible atrocities in Darfur and in other parts of the world, it is clear that we must remain diligent.

Holocaust Memorial Day underscores both our duty to remember the horrors of the past and our shared responsibility in shaping the future so such horrors are never repeated. We must educate our youth about the evils of racism and the value of every culture. We must teach the values of respect and human rights. We must refuse to be silent when we see an injustice, and stand up and speak out for one another.

We are the last generation who will be able to hear directly from the survivors and the liberators of the Holocaust. Today we hear anew their testimony. Today we remember the innocent victims. We honour the triumph of spirit of those who survived and remember those who stood against the tide of evil and risked all in the name of humanity. Today, on Yom ha-Shoah V'Hagvurah, we remember so we and the world will never forget.

Mr. John Tory (Leader of the Opposition): It's my privilege to join in the comments made by the minister as we commemorate the Holocaust and Holocaust remembrance.

Any event having to do with Holocaust remembrance is always a profoundly moving one. That was true yesterday as I attended the service at Earl Bales Park, which Minister Kwinter and my colleague the member for Halton also attended, among others.

My own visit, I recall very well—and there are others, I'm sure, in this assembly who have visited Yad Vashem in Jerusalem—was profoundly moving, especially the stunning room in which there was a star in the night sky for each of the six million victims of the Holocaust while a voice continuously spoke their names.

At yesterday's service, Irwin Cotler, member of Parliament and a great human rights lawyer, was quoted as saying that the Holocaust was too terrible to be believed but not too terrible to have happened. That is why it is crucially important for us to remember, to commemorate and to continue to teach.

Herb Goldstein also spoke at yesterday's service at Earl Bales Park here in Toronto. He told his story as a Holocaust survivor in Montreal earlier this year and a young person came up to him after he told the story and said it would be too bad when Mr. Goldstein was gone and there would be no one to tell his story of Holocaust survival. Mr. Goldstein said to the young man, "That's why I told you the story."

The keynote speaker yesterday was Sibylle Niemoeller-von Sell, a remarkable woman who was married to Pastor Martin Niemoeller, who led strong Christian resistance to the Nazis and was personally imprisoned by Adolf Hitler, spending seven years in solitary confinement in concentration camps.

Pastor Niemoeller made the following observation about his own experience: "First they came for the Communists, but I was not a Communist, so I did not speak out. Then they came for the socialists and the trade unionists, but I was neither, so I did not speak out. Then they came for the Jews, but I was not a Jew, so I did not speak out. And when they came for me, there was no one left to speak out for me."

Therein I think lies the key in remembering and commemorating the Holocaust, in that it reminds us of our duty to be ever vigilant in the defence of civility but also steadfast in our opposition to racism and to discrimination and to hate.

We're reminded of the need for this vigilance when we see the still all too frequent acts of anti-Semitism which were just catalogued by the minister a few moments ago. And we're reminded of the need for this vigilance when we see the emergence of things like Islamophobia and anti-Muslim behaviour, which we all know are the result of misunderstanding and misrepresentation and ignorance, and in some cases the teaching of hate.

As people who have had the wonderful blessing that public life brings of getting to know people of all races and creeds and colours and religions, we have the duty to be the storytellers that Mr. Goldstein referred to, to use the horrors of the Holocaust to lead in the fight against racism and anti-Semitism and Islamophobia, and all other forms of hatred and discrimination. It's one of the parts of this job that I take up with the greatest pride and enthusiasm, and I'm sure that is true of every member of this House.

Elie Wiesel perhaps articulated best that sense of determination and vigilance that we have to show in just never, ever forgetting the horrors of the Holocaust but in standing on guard as well for those most precious rights of our fellow citizens. He said the following in 1986: "I swore never to be silent whenever, wherever human beings endure suffering and humiliation. We must take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. Sometimes we must interfere.

When human lives are endangered, when human dignity is in jeopardy, national borders and sensitivities become irrelevant. Wherever men and women are persecuted because of their race, religion, or political views, that place must—at that moment—become the center of the universe."

Words to remind us all how important it is to remember the Holocaust, those who have suffered and those who have died, and to do everything we can to make sure that nothing like it ever happens again.

Mr. Paul Ferreira (York South—Weston): I am very proud to rise on behalf of our leader, Howard Hampton, and the rest of the Ontario NDP caucus to speak in remembrance of the Holocaust.

More than six million, the vast majority of the Jewish faith, lost their lives during the Holocaust. The horror they suffered at the hands of an evil regime is a permanent dark stain on the fabric of humanity. The horrific barbarism of those heinous atrocities must never be forgotten.

Approximately two decades ago, in a moment that will be permanently etched in my memory, I came face to face with a Holocaust survivor. I was among a group of two dozen or so schoolchildren on a visit to a Holocaust exhibit. The man who greeted us was about 70. He was soft-spoken but his words were powerful and poignant. He described in great detail how one day he and his family were herded into a train car at gunpoint and taken to a place that will live forever in infamy—the concentration camp at Auschwitz.

He was at the time a young many full of life and love, full of dreams and aspirations. What he lived through for the next three years was something so unimaginable as to be a nightmare. But it was a nightmare he endured each and every day. Forced to perform backbreaking labour, he managed to survive in deplorable conditions, surrounded by the stench and taste of death. The fact he survived was a testament to his resiliency and his resolve. Sadly, he was the only member of his family to do so.

At the end of his address to us, in front of wide eyes and open mouths, he rolled up his sleeve and held up his arm, displaying a blue tattoo. It occurred to me many years later that his courageous display was

an act of defiance of those who had tried in cowardice to dehumanize by branding him with a mere number.

I don't know what became of this brave man, but the recollection of my encounter with him will forever stay. As the years I go by, fewer and fewer of his fellow Holocaust survivors remain with us. While we lose them gradually, we must continue to remember so that mankind never again goes through what they went through.

To quote Elie Wiesel, a great citizen of the world, "I decided to devote my life to telling the story because I felt that having survived I owe something to the dead ... and anyone who does not remember betrays them again."

Indeed, to forget would be a betrayal to all. It would also be to let our vigilance down.

To this very day, we hear and see the hate-mongers beat their drums of denial and destruction. Too close to home, weak men of small minds use paint and vandalism to spew hatred. Far from home, a powerful man of unsound mind uses the veil of so-called "democracy" to spew venomous words.

These are dangerous men with very dangerous thoughts. To forget the Holocaust would be to give them the opportunity they crave.

That's why it is so important that each and every one of us remember the Holocaust: to ensure that the darkness and wickedness of evil can never again see the light of day.

The Deputy Speaker: Will members please rise and join me in a time of silent remembrance.

The House observed a moment's silence.

The Deputy Speaker: Thank you.

ORAL QUESTIONS

ONTARIO LOTTERY

AND GAMING CORP.

Mr. John Tory (Leader of the Opposition): Speaker, originally we were told the Premier was not going to be here today and then he was. Is he going to be here? My first and second questions are for him.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Bruce Crozier): The Chair has no idea.

Mr. Tory: I can read my notes to the appropriate minister.

My question then is to the minister responsible for lotteries and it concerns the lottery scandal—133 questions so far and not one single answer.

No answer, for example, to the question surrounding the claim by this minister that he did not become aware of a lottery scandal until October 2006, despite an e-mail going to his current chief of staff, dated April 11, 2006; no explanation of the late-August meeting attended by that very same adviser, his own chief of staff; no explanation of the Deputy Premier's comments where he said, "When someone like The Fifth Estate is involved in doing an exposé, of course the machinery responds. This is appropriate," and no explanation of what the Deputy Premier meant by the machinery responding.

I'd like to just quote to you the words of your own leader, the Premier of this province, who said on a previous day, "Given the seriousness of the situation, will you agree here and now for an all-party legislative committee to get to the bottom of this matter?"

The Deputy Speaker: Question?

Mr. Tory: That's what he said on another day. Why won't you agree to a legislative committee to look into this?

Hon. David Caplan (Minister of Public Infrastructure Renewal, Deputy Government House Leader): I understand the partisan perspective of the member opposite. He's quite wrong in a number of the things that he stated earlier in his question, and I'm very happy to lay out the facts for him.

We've had a third party investigation by KPMG, the same accounting firm used by yourself in the private sector, used by your party. In fact, all of the recommendations by KPMG are ongoing. I directed Ontario Lottery and Gaming to implement the Ombudsman's recommendations and indeed all of the KPMG recommendations.

We've had the Ombudsman, a non-partisan, unbiased, independent officer of this Legislature, do a very broad and thorough investigation. I've instructed that all of the material that has been reviewed by the Ombudsman be referred to the Ontario Provincial Police for their review. They have subsequently—

The Deputy Speaker: Response?

Hon. Mr. Caplan: They have subsequently brought in the Toronto police force to get to the bottom of the matter, to determine the appropriate next steps. I want you to know that I have full trust and confidence in the OPP and the Toronto Police Service to determine whether and what type of review—

The Deputy Speaker: Thank you. Supplementary?

Mr. Tory: We're at 134 questions and still zero answers. When you talked about what you've directed the lottery corporation to do, we want to know whether you directed them or didn't direct them to do anything in the period before you got caught. That's really what we want to know.

Here's another quote, from Premier Dalton McGuinty when he was Leader of the Opposition. He said that the privacy commissioner "will not, for instance, consider the issue of ministerial accountability—that does not come under the jurisdiction of his office—and that's something we're very interested in."

It's exactly the same situation here. The police have no responsibility to look into ministerial accountability, nor does the Ombudsman, nor does KPMG, and you absolutely refuse to deal with the question of ministerial accountability, which could be looked into by a committee of this Legislature.

Here's one more quote from now Premier Dalton McGuinty when he was on this side of the House: "There are many, many more questions that we feel ought to be answered, and for that reason once again I'm asking that you allow this House, through an all-party legislative committee, to subpoena witnesses and have them answer questions under oath."

I agree with what Mr. McGuinty said then. Why won't you agree to do it now? What are you hiding?

Hon. Mr. Caplan: Contrary to my partisan friend opposite and members of his caucus—I understand where they come from. All members of this Legislature have their own partisan perspectives, but of course, an independent officer of this Legislature, the Ombudsman—I would quote, for the member opposite, his report, page 68. The member is so fond of quotes. The Ombudsman says, "I commend the minister and the government for its openness and responsiveness to my report and recommendations and for their immediate and resolute commitment to ensuring change."

This is in stark contrast to the actions that were taken under a previous government, many of its members who sit in Mr. Tory's caucus along the front bench with him. I do note that last week the leader of the official opposition indicated that member from Erie—Lincoln and the member from Lanark—Carleton had some additional information to be able to shed views on these particular matters, yet for some unknown reason the leader of the official opposition will not ask his members to come forward and share what they knew, when they knew it, what actions they did or did not—

The Deputy Speaker: The question has been answered. Final supplementary.

Mr. Tory: That is a completely ridiculous answer, because of course what those two people said—actually, I correct myself: It's a completely ridiculous non-answer. What those two people said was that they were willing to come before a committee and answer any questions anybody had, which is a lot more than what you've been prepared to do. You're not prepared to appear anywhere and answer any questions for anybody, including right here in this House.

Again, let me quote Liberal Premier Dalton McGuinty when he was Leader of the Opposition. He said: "This has everything to do with political standards. It has to do with what this government sees as acceptable and unacceptable behaviour." I'll go on to quote a former Liberal cabinet minister, Elinor Caplan, on a different matter, when she said that "only a legislative committee with the authority to subpoena people under oath can get to the bottom of that."

What are you hiding? All you have to do is say that you'll have a legislative committee. We can bring all the papers forward, bring everybody forward—former ministers, current ministers, Premier's office, your staff—and answer whatever questions the members of the Legislature have. Why won't you do that?

Hon. Mr. Caplan: The Ombudsman is very clear in his March 26 press conference. He said: "I conclude that they"—the OLG—"put profits ahead of public service. I think there was a point, a crossroads, in 2002.... At that point, the OLG could have gone two ways. It could have said, 'We'll apply the law and take the measures to act diligently.' One month later, Bob Edmonds surfaced, and they pretended that binding law from the Supreme Court didn't apply. Then it became a slippery slope."

When Mr. Tory and his party and members of his caucus were at the helm, they looked the other way. They attempted to sweep these matters under the rug.

This government has brought in KPMG. We've welcomed the Ombudsman's investigation. We've referred the appropriate matters to the OPP and subsequently to the Toronto Police Service for their review. This government has taken decisive action. This government is protecting the public interest. Unfortunately, that contrasts—and I understand that the leader of the official opposition is rather sad to hear the record of his party and is ashamed of it. He should stand in his place. He should apologize for the way—

The Deputy Speaker: The question has been answered. Thank you.

New question.

Mr. Tory: My question is for the same minister in charge of lotteries and it concerns the lottery scandal. We're now at 136 questions and still no answers but a lot of hot air and pomposity.

Here is a quote from Hansard: "Our public and our traditions of fairness demand that this matter be reviewed by a committee of this House. The course that the government members of the committee have embarked the committee upon means that this government has no intention of dealing with this matter publicly and fairly. Government members have accused us of being on a witch hunt.

We are on a hunt—a hunt for the facts, and we will pursue those facts relentlessly, rigorously and unfailingly." The speaker was a relatively new member of provincial Parliament for Ottawa South who is now the Premier of this province, Dalton McGuinty. It's remarkable how much sense he made back then and it's remarkable how arrogant it is today for this government to refuse to do the very thing they talked about then and refer this matter to a legislative committee—

The Deputy Speaker: Question?

Mr. Tory: —so that the kind of things that no one has asked about can be asked about.

Once again, I want it ask the minister, does he agree with the sentiments expressed by his leader, now Premier, in 1991, and can we get these matters in front of a legislative committee so we can get to the bottom of it?

Hon. Mr. Caplan: I say to the member opposite that I and the government are doing what is the responsible thing. We're rolling up our sleeves. We're working on behalf of Ontarians to fix the problems. Unfortunately, the members on the other side looked the other way or swept these matters under the rug. We will rebuild the confidence of the public in their corporation. We have begun to act quickly to implement the recommendations of both the Ombudsman and KPMG. Ontario Lottery and Gaming is in the process of implementing many of those recommendations.

I will review them for the Leader of the Opposition: 17 have already been acted upon or are already implemented; 25 more will be in place by the end of June; the remaining 18 are ongoing and will be complete as soon as possible. Some of these include self-checking—

The Deputy Speaker: Response?

Hon. Mr. Caplan: —and 8,800 self-checking devices have been made available and will be fully rolled out by the end of June. As of April 10, there are 6,557 ticket-checkers that have been installed at lottery terminals right across the province. There is—

The Deputy Speaker: The question has been answered. Supplementary?

Mr. Tory: I notice how the minister over and over again—that's question 137 and no answers—conveniently ignores the portion of the Ombudsman's report that says that the record pace of insider claims, including the famous $12.5-million cheque that was just sent out the door with people holding their noses and whatnot, occurred on the watch of this administration. That's what we want to get to the bottom of: what has happened on their watch.

In 1996 the current Premier, Dalton McGuinty, said the following, and I quote from Hansard: "If the Premier is convinced that the minister has nothing to hide, then why not agree to the all-party legislative inquiry? Do the minister a favour. He's going to be hanging under a cloud after the result of this commissioner's inquiry. There's always going to be a lingering doubt. Do the minister a favour. Give him the opportunity to come before a legislative committee."

I find myself again in agreement with those words—

The Deputy Speaker: Question?

Mr. Tory: —and wonder why you don't want to have the opportunity, as Mr. Hudak and Mr. Sterling have said they would, to appear in front of that committee to answer any questions that anyone has so that you can show, for once and for all, that you do have nothing to hide. What are you hiding? Why don't you want to have a legislative inquiry to get to the bottom of ministerial—

The Speaker: The question has been asked. Minister.

Hon. Mr. Caplan: Frankly, nothing. The Ombudsman was interviewed on CH television just this past weekend. I have a quote from his interview. He says, "Well, I'm pleased that the recommendations were accepted. I think the recommendations are very substantial. Key to them: screening of retailers, the secret shopping scheme we recommended, the policing of retailers by an outside agency, a new adjudicative agency to decide who gets awards in what disputes."

The Ombudsman goes on: "These are radical changes and I'm happy with the government's response. Now the government has chosen to move forward to the OPP. It is not a recommendation I made at that time."

I can assure the members opposite and the leader of the official opposition that I have engaged my colleague the Minister of Government Services in the work as far as setting up the appropriate oversight and regulatory agency.

The Deputy Speaker: Answer?

Hon. Mr. Caplan: He has already engaged, on more than one occasion, Ontario's Ombudsman in order to get the proper insight and view to make sure that Ontarians' trust and confidence in their lottery scheme are well placed, making sure—

The Deputy Speaker: The answer has been given. Final supplementary.

Mr. Tory: Mr. Speaker, 138 questions and no answers. Again, the people would like to see us get to the bottom of this so they will know that they can buy their tickets and that the lottery corporation is being run in a proper manner and that we go back and determine the important matter of who knew what inside the government of Ontario, in the Premier's office and in the minister's office, when did they know it and what did they do about it when they found out this information?

What we have going on here is nothing short of a cover-up. It is obvious, when you don't agree to some kind of an open committee hearing like this, that you must have something to hide. The Premier himself, when he was Leader of the Opposition, said, "There are many, many more questions that ... ought to be answered and that it should be done through an all-party legislative committee which can "subpoena witnesses and have them answer questions under oath." I'm assuming that the minister disagrees with the statements made then by his own leader, mainly that this is the best place to deal with it.

Will you support our motion to have this go to a legislative committee? Will you appear there and support the words of your own leader that this is the best way to get to the bottom of this terrible scandal?

Hon. Mr. Caplan: I can understand the partisan opinion of my friend opposite. It doesn't make that truthful or factual; it doesn't make it the facts of the matter as the Ombudsman found them. The Ombudsman is an independent, unbiased, non-partisan officer of this Legislature. I am very heartened when the Ombudsman has commendation for me as a minister and for this government when he says, "I commend the minister and the government for its openness and responsiveness to" my important "recommendations and for their immediate and resolute commitment to ensuring change."

Regrettably, in 2002, when that crossroads was reached, members to your left and members to your right chose to look the other way, chose not to act to protect the public interest. But this government is different than the members across the way. We have chosen to take decisive action to protect the public interest, to make sure the right things are done, to ensure that all Ontarians will know that when they put their loonie or toonie down, they are playing a fair game. Would that actions had been taken appropriately when they were—

The Deputy Speaker: The question has been answered. Thank you.

New question?

DISCLOSURE OF TOXINS

AND POLLUTANTS

Mr. Howard Hampton (Kenora—Rainy River): My question is for the Minister of the Environment. Minister, New Democrats believe that Ontarians have a right to know about the toxins they may be exposed to in consumer products and by industrial operations. Toxic chemicals can be found in many everyday products like household cleaners, beauty products, even children's toys. The question is this: Do you believe people have the right to know what toxic chemicals they may be exposed to on a daily basis?

Hon. Laurel C. Broten (Minister of the Environment): Certainly as a mother of two small children, I am somebody who reads labels and pays attention to what products I bring into my household, and I know that many Ontarians do that. My primary focus as Minister of the Environment is, though, not about notification but about reduction, what science we have before us and has been developed in the province. We want people to know that the government is taking steps to reduce the amount of toxins in the atmosphere.

One of the things that we did very early on in my mandate was update the standards for 40 air pollutants. That was really the biggest move on that single file in more than 25 years. Since that time, we have been tackling another 15 air standards with the most up-to-date scientific information. That is something that is critical to mothers, because they expect that if we have information, we take steps to remove those pollutants from the atmosphere.

Mr. Hampton: Minister, this is about the public's right to know. The public wants to be able to take action. In beauty products alone, there are 10,000 ingredients that are suspected or confirmed carcinogens, hormone-mimicking chemicals or substances linked to birth defects. The question is, don't you think people ought to be able to know about this? Don't you think there ought to be public disclosure so that people can know about this?

Minister, there is a bill before this Legislature. In fact, it's going to committee. It's called the Community Right to Know Act, and it would provide that kind of public disclosure. The question is this: Will the McGuinty government bring it forward for third reading and will the McGuinty government vote for it after it is addressed in committee next week?

Hon. Ms. Broten: I want to encourage my friend opposite to look at the new Ministry of the Environment website, because we already do have a lot of toxic-use reporting and public notification. One of the things that we've tried to do is make some of that information more accessible to the public. The ministry's airborne contaminant discharge monitoring and reporting regulation, which is regulation 127, and Environment Canada's national pollutant release inventory were developed to provide the public with access to information on industrial emissions in their own community. Regulation 127 requires the reporting of some critical substances, and from smaller facilities.

So here in the province we're really doing our part to ensure that that information is made available. We work closely with the federal government, which certainly has a large role to play in providing this information. It is also incumbent upon each of us—

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Bruce Crozier): Answer.

Hon. Ms. Broten: —to ensure that we are cautious about the products that we bring into our own homes.

Mr. Hampton: Speaker, you said it when you asked for an answer.

Minister, it's about the public's right to know. Environmentalists will tell you that one of the best ways to clean up the environment and to protect public health is to provide people with information. That's what this is all about. We've got neighbourhoods that are built next to old industrial waste dumps. We've got soccer fields and sports fields that are built on top of old garbage dumps. We have situations in urban neighbourhoods where we've had industrial fires and people have simply been told, "Stay indoors.

Keep your windows and doors shut." Really, what it boils down to is that people need to know what kinds of toxic chemicals may be in their neighbourhood, what kinds of toxic chemicals may be in everyday products.

The question is simple: Does the McGuinty government support the Community Right to Know Act? Yes or no?

Hon. Ms. Broten: The McGuinty government and the Ministry of the Environment have state-of-the-art air monitoring technology. We send that technology each and every time there might be an incident in a project to make sure Ontarians are safe.

What I think that folks in Toronto in particular do have a right to know is that the leader of the opposition, the third party—this is a party that has taken a position against an extensive subway expansion that would be something that would improve air pollution and help tackle climate change in our province.

ELECTORAL REFORM

Mr. Howard Hampton (Kenora—Rainy River): My question is for the minister responsible for democratic reform. Yesterday, the citizens' assembly recommended proportional representation as the basis for our electoral system. This means that we will now vote on the recommendation in a referendum in October. But the McGuinty government has already set 60% as the approval rating for the referendum.

New Democrats believe your requirement for a 60% approval rating is both undemocratic and unfair. Minister, will you show respect for democracy and set the referendum approval level at 50% plus one?

Hon. Marie Bountrogianni (Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, minister responsible for democratic renewal): I thank the honourable member for the question and for his interest in this process.

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank the 103 randomly selected Ontarians from across the province who did this work. They got together every second weekend for seven months, away from their families, right here in Toronto to learn and then deliberate about this. They did in fact come up with a recommendation, which is not quite what the honourable said. It's mixed member proportional representation, which means that 70% of the seats will be just the way they are elected now, if this passes, and 30% will be from party lists.

Having said that, to answer the honourable member's question directly with respect to the referendum threshold, we believe that if Ontarians vote for a change, this will be a foundational change. It won't be something easily undone in four years, as an election, if you want to un-elect a government. Therefore, we believe it's a reasonable threshold. It's a good threshold. It's the one that British Columbia and Prince Edward Island also follow.

Mr. Hampton: Minister, if you were to go out there across Ontario and say to people, "Do you believe that a requirement of 60% approval is fair and democratic?" I think I know what you'd get. People would say no. Democracy in our society is 50% plus one, and to require more than that is both undemocratic and unfair.

My question is this: A majority reflects the will of the people. Will you set the referendum approval rating at 50% plus one and genuinely respect the will of the people?

Hon. Mrs. Bountrogianni: Again, I thank the honourable member for the question. I understand his excitement over this proposed change for electoral system reform; I understand that completely. Having said that, we have set 60% as the threshold and we will not change that threshold.

Mr. Hampton: I don't think I need to tell you the reaction of the public in British Columbia, where people there, by a significant majority, voted for electoral reform, but then, even though a significant majority had voted for electoral reform, the Liberal government said, "No, we're not having any electoral reform." It seems to me that you have stacked the deck against democratic electoral reform by requiring a majority of 60%.

Minister, it's about the will of the people. If 50% plus one vote for electoral reform, is the McGuinty government going to stand there and say, "Despite the fact that this is the will of the majority, the McGuinty government says no"?

Hon. Mrs. Bountrogianni: There are some differences between the experience of British Columbia and the experience here. What the assembly has recommended in MMP is quite a bit easier to understand than the STV in British Columbia. One of the criticisms in British Columbia that we are attempting to learn from is that it was a very complicated system for many people to understand. That is the feedback that we received when we were there from a number of people and groups. This will be easier to understand. We're committed to a well-funded public education campaign to explain it to the people of this province.

In New Zealand, 80% voted for change. If people want a change, they'll vote for change. If they want to keep the status quo, they'll keep the status quo. That's democracy.

ONTARIO LOTTERY

AND GAMING CORP.

Mr. Robert W. Runciman (Leeds—Grenville): My question is for the minister responsible for lotteries, and once again concerns the lottery scandal. I think this is the 139th question to this minister and his Premier. Hopefully, we'll get a response this time.

As the minister is aware, the official opposition has a motion coming before the House today that would refer the scandal to the standing committee on the Legislative Assembly. If the issue goes to committee, we can then have witnesses attend and testify under oath. For example, we could have Wilson Lee, your current chief of staff, testify as to what happened April 11, 2006, when he received an e-mail advising that the CBC was looking into the insider-win scandal. Mr. Lee could testify as to what he told you about it and what he told other people about it.

My question for the minister is this: What are you afraid of? Why don't you want to give Mr. Lee the opportunity to testify before the committee? Why don't you want that to happen?

Hon. David Caplan (Minister of Public Infrastructure Renewal, Deputy Government House Leader): First of all, I disagree with the member opposite. The facts are not as he states them. I should tell you that this government has a track record of opening doors where they were previously locked, shining a light on these particular matters.

I understand this member was the former chair of the executive council, the chair of cabinet under the previous government. For eight years, under this minister's watch, not one committee, not one agency was called before the standing committee on government agencies. When this government came into place, we said that wasn't acceptable, that we would allow standing committees to have an opportunity to review various agencies. So this Premier and this government empowered the committee, chaired by a member of your own caucus, to look into government agencies.

They subsequently concluded reviews into Ontario Lottery and Gaming, Hydro One and the LCBO—that's three—and they're now in the process of reviewing the next three: HPARB, WSIB and OPG. That will be six agencies in four years—

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Bruce Crozier): The response has been given. Supplementary?

Mr. Runciman: You know, if there's a light being shone here, it's being shone on the phoniness of the Liberal Party's 2003 election promises. One of them was to give more responsibility to backbenchers and legislative committees, and certainly they're not doing that in this instance.

You have to ask, what is the reason you're not allowing this to happen? You apparently don't want people to know that you were either asleep at the switch or negligent in terms of your own responsibilities. Apparently, you don't want people to know your re-election team apparently participated in a cover-up of this scandal, an effort to sweep it under the rug. This was all about political protection, not public interest.

If none of that is true, I ask the minister: Prove it by voting for our motion this afternoon. Will you do that?

Hon. Mr. Caplan: I think you've got to look at the veracity of the member—who has previously been found in contravention of the Members' Integrity Act—asking these kinds of questions. He sits beside the former minister responsible for the agency when they arrived at the crossroads, as the Ombudsman called it, in the year 2002. The Ombudsman says, "At that point, the OLG could have gone two ways. It could have said, 'We'll apply the law and take the measures to act diligently.' One month later, Bob Edmonds surfaced, and they pretended that binding law from the Supreme Court didn't apply. Then it became a slippery slope."

This member, a former chair of the executive council, chose to look the other way, chose to sweep these matters under the rug, chose not to want to get to the bottom of it. in contrast to this minister and this government, who have rolled up their sleeves, who have called in KPMG, welcomed the Ombudsman, referred these matters to the OPP and on to the Toronto police force, who have begun to implement the recommendations—some 60 in total—about the Ombudsman and KPMG. Seventeen have been implemented already, another 25 by the end of June, and the other 18 are ongoing.

I'll put the record of this government against this member and his colleagues any day of the week.

HOSPITAL FUNDING

Mr. Howard Hampton (Kenora—Rainy River): My question is for the Minister of Health. Minister, the McGuinty government has not been straightforward with the taxpayers of Ontario about the true cost of the private, profit-driven hospital deal in North Bay. You say you got an independent assessment, but in a letter dated March 16, PricewaterhouseCoopers admitted they couldn't independently verify the numbers that the McGuinty government gave to them about the cost of the deal.

Minister, will you table the PricewaterhouseCoopers report today so that Ontarians can see for themselves how the McGuinty government has skewed the numbers regarding the private, profit-driven hospital deal in North Bay?

Hon. George Smitherman (Deputy Premier, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care): To the Minister of Public Infrastructure Renewal.

Hon. David Caplan (Minister of Public Infrastructure Renewal, Deputy Government House Leader): As I indicated to the member last week, the value-for-money report will be posted very shortly on the Infrastructure Ontario website.

I would invite all Ontarians to take a look at that report and to form their own opinions. We have previously, with the Montfort Hospital, which was under an execution order by a previous government—that hospital is being rebuilt. In fact, Deloitte and Touche took a look, comparing it apples-to-apples versus a traditional method, versus AFP, and have found that Ontarians have saved approximately $19.5 million when it comes to constructing that hospital.

Better than saving the money, that hospital is being built. Under previous governments, these capital projects were not undertaken. Ontarians had to wait long times to get access to modern, state-of-the-art medical services. It's only because of the actions of members like Monique Smith from Nipissing that the North Bay hospital is even going ahead. I'll be happy in supplementary to share with the leader of the third party many of the other wonderful achievements in the other communities—

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Bruce Crozier): Thank you. Supplementary.

Mr. Hampton: The government says that when the cost of a hospital goes from $200 million to $1 billion, that's a wonderful achievement. I don't think it is. But I've got the letter from PricewaterhouseCoopers that you cite, and it's very interesting.

They say, "We did not audit or attempt to independently verify the accuracy or the completeness of the information or assumptions underlying" the public sector comparator which were provided by Infrastructure Ontario, the McGuinty government—"and/or the successful proponent's final offer, nor have we audited or reviewed the successful proponent's financial model." In other words, your own consultant is saying that the numbers aren't there to verify what the McGuinty government is saying.

Minister, when is the McGuinty government going to come clean? When are you going to table the PricewaterhouseCoopers report? When are you going to put the numbers on the table so that people across Ontario will see how much more they're going to pay on these private, profit-driven hospital deals?

Hon. Mr. Caplan: In fact, the price of the hospital is $551 million. That's very well known. The financing for the hospital will be spread out over a 25- to 30-year period of time, making it affordable. I think most Ontarians are familiar with the concept of a mortgage, where you do not pay everything all up front, but spread out the cost over a period of time and pay less. In fact, this is one of the ways in which we are able to ensure that hospitals, whether they happen to be in Sudbury, in Barrie, in St. Catharines, Sarnia, Sault Ste. Marie or indeed North Bay—

Hon. George Smitherman (Deputy Premier, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care): Sioux Lookout.

Hon. Mr. Caplan: —and I hear the Minister of Health say in Sioux Lookout, in the member's own riding—that we've been able to get these projects going, which languished under your government and under a previous government. In fact, posted on the Infrastructure Ontario website are the details, the project milestones, the other project announcements, and the value for money report is no different. This government sets a hallmark for transparency where that did not—

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Bruce Crozier): The question has been answered.

CLIMATE CHANGE

Mrs. Carol Mitchell (Huron—Bruce): My question is for Minister Broten. Minister, there seems to be a considerable buzz around the word "green." Over the past few months, green or environmental issues have skyrocketed to the top of the agenda for industry and politicians alike. Al Gore is touring around, his movie is winning Oscars, and everyone is talking about the environment.

My constituents are very concerned about global warming. While I understand the government will be coming forward with a climate change plan this spring, can you outline for this House the measures the government has taken to date to tackle this very critical issue?

Hon. Laurel C. Broten (Minister of the Environment): I want to thank my colleague for talking and raising this important challenge and critical issue. Absolutely, yes, we have our sleeves rolled up and are working very diligently on a comprehensive plan that will be released later this spring.

But what I can tell this House is that that plan will be established on our record of action, steps that we have taken that we will build upon when we release that comprehensive plan. Those actions include the fact that carbon dioxide emissions from Ontario's coal-fired power plants are now down 29%, below 1990 levels. Our ethanol-in-gasoline regulation, which puts 5% ethanol in all gas sold in Ontario, reduces our greenhouse gas emissions by 800,000 tonnes. We've invested $838 million to expand and modernize public transit in the GTA.

We are supportive of a subway to move that forward and that will see 35 million fewer car trips on Ontario roads. And those are only a few of the accomplishments.

Mrs. Mitchell: Thank you, Minister. I'm very proud of what this government has accomplished. There is a lot of support from buzz.

Last week, this House debated a private member's bill from the member from James Bay that would exempt land use planning and forestry from emissions reductions. Today I read with interest a press release from John Tory with his climate change plan, this plan from a party that opposed measures like the Clean Water Act and greenbelt legislation, a party that absolutely gutted the funding to the Ministry of the Environment.

Ernie Eves, John Tory's immediate predecessor, called the environmental agreement the "so-called—

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Bruce Crozier): Stop the clock.

Mr. Norman W. Sterling (Lanark—Carleton): On a point of order, Mr. Speaker: I believe this question is out of order. It is not asking the minister a question about his or her duty.

The Deputy Speaker: It's not a point of order. Member for Huron—Bruce.

Mrs. Mitchell: —"the so-called Kyoto accord." And in June—

Interjections.

The Deputy Speaker: Stop the clock again, please. Order. The member for Durham.

Interjection.

The Deputy Speaker: The Minister of Health, come to order so we can all listen to the member for Huron—Bruce ask the question.

Mrs. Mitchell: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

In June 2001, the Sierra Club of Canada said that the Harris—Eves Tories were the worst in Canada on climate change. They gave the government of the day an F-minus. They failed with flying colours. Minister, can you shine some lights on our climate plan?

Hon. Ms. Broten: I'm waiting for my microphone to start working here. I'm not surprised that there is some tension on the other side of the House.

Interjections.

The Deputy Speaker: No, your microphone is working; I just can't hear you above what's going on.

Please, listen to the response of the minister. Minister?

Hon. Ms. Broten: I know that there's some tension on the other side of the House and some concern that some of us might look at some of the proposals being put forward by the opposition, a plan that seems to have been cobbled together by reading our "already done" list. Mr. Tory advocates raising the standards of the building code. We've already done that. The opposition advocates putting in energy-efficient standards. We've already done that. The opposition advocates energy-efficient appliances for government.

We passed a law that sets energy-efficient standards for a wide range of projects and the Energy Conservation Responsibility Act, not just for the government, so that all Ontarians can save money on their electricity bill. The opposition and Mr. Tory voted against those measures. Their plan also says we should sit on our hands until 2012 and study things from 2012 until 2016, five years from now. That's not leadership—

The Deputy Speaker: Thank you. The response has been given. New question?

ONTARIO LOTTERY

AND GAMING CORP.

Mr. Tim Hudak (Erie—Lincoln): I have a question for the minister responsible for lotteries in light of the ongoing lottery scandal. Minister, in March 2005, some 60 or more news articles and significant television and radio coverage blew the lid off the scandal at the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. when it came to insider wins. Minister, when you became minister, were you briefed on insider wins, and if so, when?

Hon. David Caplan (Minister of Public Infrastructure Renewal, Deputy Government House Leader): We now have an opportunity from the former minister responsible for OLG. The Ombudsman indicates that there was a crossroads in 2002. At that point, the OLG could have gone one of two ways. They could have said, "We will apply the law and take the measures to act diligently." But a month later, Bob Edmonds surfaced, and they pretended the binding law from Superior Court didn't apply. Then it became a slippery slope. The real question here is: What did this member know? Why didn't he act? Why did he cover up these matters? Why did he sweep them under the rug?

I hear members of his caucus say that he wants to talk, that he wants to tell what he knew. Come forward. Tell us what you knew. Tell us what you did or did not do. Don't let the leader of the official opposition gag you. Don't allow him to keep these matters in the dark, just like it was previously. Do what this government does: Be transparent, shine a light on these matters.

Mr. Hudak: With all due respect, what a load of horse feathers coming from the minister across the way—again, a simple question that he won't answer. He won't answer what happened with the April 11 e-mail to his staff and his senior staff. He won't answer a simple question about the triumvirate of Liberal spin doctors: Mr. Warren, Mr. Kinsella and campaign manger Don Guy, the Who's Who of the Liberal campaign that appeared to participate in the cover-up of this issue—simple questions the minister refuses to answer.

Minister, why won't you go to committee, swear an oath and answer these questions? I said I will; I know my colleague from Lanark—Carleton would. I'll bet you Joe Cordiano from York South—Weston would come before the committee. Listen, I'll hold your hand. I'll rub your back. I'll pour you a warm tea. It ain't going to be so bad. Minister, come clean, come before the committee.

Hon. Mr. Caplan: I don't need a special date to be able to provide answers and insight.

Interjections.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Bruce Crozier): Order. Keep the clock going. The opposition, I cannot hear the minister's reply, and now I can't hear it from the government side. Please, listen to the minister's response. Minister of Public Infrastructure Renewal.

Hon. Mr. Caplan: The member says he has something to offer. He has some insight to provide. He has some information that he is feeling perhaps guilty about not providing at an earlier time. I'm sure that his colleague from Lanark—Carleton too feels the same way. Then the question is: Why not be open? Why not provide the information to this House, indeed, to all Ontarians? Currently, the Ontario Provincial Police and the Toronto police department are reviewing these matters. If the member has some information, I don't know why he wouldn't want to provide it.

Hon. Mr. Caplan: The only reason I can assume is that some information was known, that the appropriate actions were not taken at that time, that the member does not want these matters to come to light and that—

The Deputy Speaker: Thank you. The question has been answered. New question?

WASTE DIVERSION

Mr. Peter Tabuns (Toronto—Danforth): My question is for the Minister of the Environment. Minister, for some years people have been calling for reform of funding for blue box here in Ontario. Today, the front page of the Toronto Star talked about the shaky financial ground that Toronto's blue box system is on. Will you immediately order Waste Diversion Ontario to pay the full cost of all blue box programs?

Hon. Laurel C. Broten (Minister of the Environment): I am very proud of the actions that our government has taken. We have responded to a call made by AMO, made by municipalities, for so many years to see that our waste is properly diverted from landfill and to no longer have broken glass ending up in a landfill. That's what the deposit return program has put in place: a sustainable future here in this province. I am very proud of that action and we will continue to move to divert more waste from landfill every step of the way.

Mr. Tabuns: Minister, you have no diversion plan. You broke your promise on diversion. You broke your promise on banning organics going into landfill. You stand up and you take credit. You've got problems with the financing of blue box here in Ontario. You've got municipalities in trouble. When are you going to actually take action and help municipalities divert that waste? When are you going to direct the waste diversion office to fund those blue box programs?

Hon. Ms. Broten: My friend needs to do a bit more research. Municipalities support the action that we have taken because they were losing money with respect to that structure of the blue box program. We were the first government that funded the blue box program. So now I guess Ontarians are to believe that the opposition is against the blue box and against the subway. What a shameful record.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

Minister, given the significance of this project, can you tell the members of this House why it is so important that we move forward in making the subway extension to York University a reality sooner rather than later?

Hon. Donna H. Cansfield (Minister of Transportation): I'd like to thank the member for York West for his steadfast encouragement around the subway extension. Unfortunately, I can't say the same thing about the NDP caucus. They voted against it and they actually voted against funding for it as well.

Every day 65,000 people travel to York University. We also know that within the greater Toronto region the numbers are going to increase substantially. What we're doing for the first time ever is actually planning ahead as opposed to behind. We're looking at how we in fact provide for the future, not only for those students but ultimately we're talking about 36 million transit trips. That will eliminate 30 million car trips, which means that 250,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions will be reduced. That's the difference between the NDP and their particular perspective of cancelling something,

whereas we know it's—

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Bruce Crozier): Thank you. Supplementary?

Mr. Sergio: Minister, I can appreciate the importance of the subway extension to York University. It brings much-needed relief to students, staff and all commuters who travel between York region and Toronto. I am sure that, beyond this, the local business community will also see enormous benefits. They will have more opportunity by creating much-needed jobs and an easier commute for all those involved.

Minister, on Wednesday, April 11, 2007, in this House the leader of the third party said that we don't need another subway mega-project, a shocking admission by the leader of the NDP.

Minister, for the benefit of the people of York West and the benefit of this House—

Interjections.

The Deputy Speaker: Order.

Mr. Sergio: —can you tell us where this government stands on the issue of public transit and the need for sustainable transportation systems in Ontario?

The Deputy Speaker: I don't know how the Minister of Transportation heard the question, but we'll see if she can answer it. Minister of Transportation?

Hon. Mrs. Cansfield: I did hear, however, when the leader of the third party, Mr. Hampton, indicated—

Mr. Tim Hudak (Erie—Lincoln): What did he say?

Hon. Mrs. Cansfield: He said, "We don't need another subway mega-project ... extending the subway ... into a lightly populated York region"—which has a mere 870,000 people. Obviously the member can't count, either.

There is no question that since being in government, we've put $3.6 billion into public transit in this province, and we've done it for a reason. We know that the greater Toronto area is growing, and it's growing at an exponential rate. We know that we need to do some strategic planning today for tomorrow. Part of that has to be how we deal with gridlock issues, and one of the best ways, of course, is making sure that public transit plays just as pivotal a role as air, rail, marine, land and bridges do.

It makes a difference when you've got that kind of investment. That's why you need a subway—we need a subway—going into areas like York region. It's the first time we're actually looking at an interjurisdictional transit program of this nature. And it means jobs.

ONTARIO LOTTERY

AND GAMING CORP.

Mrs. Elizabeth Witmer (Kitchener—Waterloo): My question is for the minister responsible for gaming. Fully 144 questions have now been asked on the lottery scandal, and you and your government have not answered a single one. This stonewalling, this cover-up is why we need to get the scandal to a standing committee on the Legislative Assembly so that we can have people testify under oath about matters that have not been investigated by the Ombudsman or by the police. You would agree I'm sure, Minister, that this is the right thing to do, because so far we have seen only a cover-up. There has been no attempt to get to the bottom of this situation.

Your Premier once said this about something similar: "It becomes more obvious why only a public, all-party inquiry can find out what really happened." This applies to this scandal. Will you and your government support our request that this go to a standing committee?

Hon. David Caplan (Minister of Public Infrastructure Renewal, Deputy Government House Leader): I don't share the partisan political views of my friend opposite or her speculation, innuendo or opinion. In fact, what Ontarians support as well is action being taken where she and her colleagues sat around the cabinet table, looked the other way or swept these matters under the rug.

This government, in contrast, has taken action. We've called in KPMG—the accounting firm of your party, I would say—and we are implementing all of their recommendations. I've directed Ontario Lottery and Gaming that the recommendations of the Ombudsman be implemented as well. We've had the Ombudsman, an independent officer of this Legislature who doesn't have the partisan bias of any member—and the government in fact is implementing his recommendations. We've laid the material the Ombudsman reviewed in front of the Ontario Provincial Police, who certainly do not have a partisan bias, as do members here.

The Ombudsman has indicated that we should separate the functions, eliminate that culture he said so badly needs changing that was nurtured under your government—

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Bruce Crozier): The answer has been given. Thank you. Supplementary?

Mrs. Witmer: I would say to the minister that it's obvious that your government is showing no leadership on this issue once again. When your leader sat on this side of the House, this is what he had to say about things: "You've got a chance to show some leadership here.

You can refer this to a legislative inquiry and we'll get to the bottom of this affair once and for all, or you can stonewall and you can sweep things under the rug and you can hide." So far, your government and your Premier have chosen to stonewall; you've chosen to sweep things under the rug; you've chosen a course that, in the words of Murray Campbell, is "too patronizing for words." Why won't you finally do the honourable thing today and support our motion to get this to a standing committee so we can put this whole scandal behind us? Show some leadership, you and your government.

Hon. Mr. Caplan: I disagree with the member opposite. She's entitled to her views and her opinions. I understand they're clouded by her partisan perceptions. But the only ones who swept these matters under the rug were her and her colleagues when they were sitting in cabinet. In fact, the opposite is true. This government has shone a light on these matters. We're rolling up our sleeves to fix a problem and a culture of an organization that, unfortunately, members opposite left.

We made a commitment to act quickly to implement the recommendations. In fact, I would share with the member opposite that, of the total 60 recommendations from KPMG and the Ombudsman, 17 have already been implemented, 25 will be implemented by the end of June, and the remaining 18 are ongoing. Some of those include implementing self-check machines; 8,800 self-check devices will be made available and fully rolled out by the end of June. As of April 10, there were 6,557 of these machines. We have lowered the threshold at OLG from a $50,000 to a $10,000 level when an investigation—

The Deputy Speaker: A response has been given. Thank you. New question.

MINING INDUSTRY

Mr. Gilles Bisson (Timmins—James Bay): My question is to the Minister of Northern Development and Mines. Minister, your government in the last budget singled out the diamond mining industry by almost tripling royalties paid by diamond mines. This change in tax policy not only treats diamond mines differently than any other mining jurisdiction but also moves Ontario from one of the most competitive mining sectors in the world to one of the least competitive mining sectors in the world and, as a result, will curtail future investment in this province by the mining industry.

My question's a simple one, Minister. You're the minister of mines. Do you think this won't hurt the mining investment that's coming to Ontario, tripling the royalties on diamond mining?

Hon. Rick Bartolucci (Minister of Northern Development and Mines): I know one thing: Our very, very proactive approach to mining has ensured that more new mines were opened in 2004 than in any other year. We look at the opportunity of mining as an economic pillar: $9.4 billion to the Ontario economy. Then we compare that against the NDP record when they were in power: 13 mines closed and six mills connected to mining closed. I will match our record in mining against their record in mining any time.

Mr. Bisson: Last week, the head of De Beers Canada stood in this Legislature downstairs and said, "Look in the back. Here's the first diamond mine to be opened in Ontario, and it will be the last diamond mine to open in Ontario because of your fiscal policies."

So I ask you again—you were standing there—will you do what is right as the minister of mines: stand up for the mining industry, northern Ontarians and workers within that industry and the communities they live in, and beat back this attempt by your government to triple diamond royalties in this province, killing future investment in the province of Ontario?

Hon. Mr. Bartolucci: I don't mind the fact that we try to play partisanship, but when it comes to our natural resources, we should all be on the same page, trying to maximize opportunity.

Let's be honest here. If we look at the Ontario mining association report, we will see that of minerals produced in Ontario, nickel led the Canadian ranking; gold led the Canadian ranking; the platinum group led the Canadian ranking; cobalt led the Canadian ranking. When we look at capital investment, Ontario led the Canadian ranking. Why? Because we have set the table for future development in the mining industry in Ontario. I am proud of our record. I continue to be proud of our record. We're creating real jobs, real sustainability, not like their record of abuse, neglect and closure.

EASTERN ONTARIO DEVELOPMENT

Mr. Jean-Marc Lalonde (Glengarry—Prescott—Russell): My question is for the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. Minister, I was pleased to learn that your parliamentary assistant and our colleague the hard-working member for Northumberland made an important rural economic development announcement this morning in Perth, Ontario. I understand that this is just one of the ways the McGuinty government is working on the side of businesses and families to strengthen Ontario's economy and build prosperity. I can appreciate how important these announcements are for eastern Ontario.

Just last September, I announced funding support on your behalf which will help the eastern Ontario agri-food business sector and potentially lead to more jobs and new opportunities for our communities.

Minister, can you please inform the House how this morning's announcement will build economic prosperity for the eastern Ontario region?

Hon. Leona Dombrowsky (Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs): I'm happy that the hard-working member from Glengarry—Prescott—Russell brought this question to the floor of the Legislature, because I think it's very important. People in the province of Ontario and members of this House appreciate the investments that our government is making in rural communities.

As he indicated, this morning there was an announcement in Perth providing $500,000 to Code's Mill Inn and Spa in the beautiful village of Perth. Code's Mill Inn and Spa is currently working to establish an accredited college-level training program for hospitality and restaurant management in that community. They put together a very compelling application, and our government is happy to support partnership arrangements like the one that has been identified for the Perth community.

In addition to investments in RED, our government is investing in rural Ontario through COMRIF: $84 million—

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Bruce Crozier): Thank you. Supplementary.

Mr. Lalonde: Minister, the people of eastern Ontario are extremely pleased by your dedication to rural Ontario.

Interjections.

Mr. Lalonde: I'm glad that our government has committed to working with small towns and rural communities to develop well-qualified workers, better jobs and an innovative economy. This is an important announcement and will be welcome news in eastern Ontario.

Our government's commitment to rural and eastern Ontario has not always been shared by previous governments. The former Conservative government, as you are well aware, was neglectful of rural Ontario, especially eastern Ontario. Can you please share with this House their record of neglect and mismanagement?

Hon. Mrs. Dombrowsky: I could barely hear the honourable member because the NDP weren't paying very much attention to this very good question. That is regrettable and I think reflects the fact that they don't care about rural Ontario, or they would have been listening to this honourable member.

Interjections.

The Deputy Speaker: We're not going to get as many questions in today, because you have been a bit rowdy.

Interjections.

The Deputy Speaker: Order. Member for Niagara Centre.

Interjection: He's not in his seat.

The Deputy Speaker: It doesn't matter whether you're in your seat or not; heckling isn't allowed.

Minister.

Hon. Mrs. Dombrowsky: Thank you, Speaker. Again, I think it's unfortunate that the leader of the third party would say that this was not an important question. Certainly for people in eastern Ontario it's a very important question.

There is no question—and this has been the problem—that governments before have neglected eastern Ontario; certainly the previous government did. It's unfortunate that the previous government cut $164 million from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food budget. They closed—

Interjections.

The Deputy Speaker: Stop the clock.

Minister?

Hon. Mrs. Dombrowsky: The previous government collapsed the Eastern Ontario Development Corp. The previous government downloaded 40% of provincial highways in eastern Ontario, a burden that the communities in eastern Ontario are still reeling from. That is the sorry record of the previous government. They closed OMAFRA offices in rural Ontario. Also, they have voted against our government's initiatives to invest in eastern Ontario. They—

The Deputy Speaker: Thank you. The time for oral questions has expired.

PETITIONS

MULTIPLE LEGAL PARENTS

Mr. Bill Murdoch (Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound): I have a petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas the appeal court of Ontario on January 2, 2007, ruled that 'a child may have more than two legal parents';

"Whereas that sets a precedent and leaves many unanswered questions which could result in possible multiple legal parents and unknown devastating ramifications to children and families of Ontario;

"Therefore we, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to appeal the Ontario Court decision, so that various levels of government may thoroughly study the personal, societal and legal implications of allowing more than two legal parents."

I've signed this also.

REGULATION OF ZOOS

Mr. Michael Prue (Beaches—East York): I have a petition to the Ontario Legislative Assembly that reads as follows:

"Regulate Zoos to Protect Animals and Communities

"Whereas Ontario has the weakest zoo laws in the country; and

"Whereas existing zoo regulations are vague, unenforceable and only apply to native wildlife; and

"Whereas there are no mandatory standards to ensure adequate care and housing for zoo animals or the health and safety of animals, zoo staff, the visiting public or neighbouring communities; and

"Whereas several people have been injured by captive wildlife and zoo escapes are frequent in Ontario; and

"Whereas these same regulatory gaps were affirmed recently by the Environmental Commissioner of Ontario in his annual report;

"We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly ... to support MPP David Zimmer's bill, the Regulation of Zoos Act."

I am in agreement with that and will send it down with page Craig.

GRAVESITES OF FORMER PREMIERS

Mr. Jim Brownell (Stormont—Dundas—Charlottenburgh): I have a petition signed by a number of members of the Cornwall Township Historical Society, and it reads as follows:

"To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas the Premiers of Ontario have made enormous contributions over the years in shaping the Ontario of today; and

"Whereas, as a result, the final resting places of the 18 deceased Premiers are among the most historically significant sites in the province, but have yet to be officially recognized; and

"Whereas, were these gravesites to be properly maintained and marked with an historical plaque and a flag of Ontario, these locations would be a source of pride to the communities where these former Premiers lie buried, and provide potential points of interest for visitors;

"Now therefore we, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as follows:

"Enact Bill 25,

an act that will preserve the gravesites of the former Premiers of Ontario."

As I agree with this petition, I shall sign it and send it to the clerks' table with Ashley.

LANDFILL

Mr. Norman W. Sterling (Lanark—Carleton): This is a petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas there is currently a proposal to more than triple the size of the Carp landfill in west Ottawa; and

"Whereas this site has been in operation for some 30 years and had been expected to close in 2010; and

"Whereas this landfill sits on porous fractured limestone, the worst possible substratum for a landfill; and

"Whereas the dump is in direct conflict with the exploding residential and commercial growth, soon to be 150,000 plus in Ottawa's west end; and

"Whereas the municipal councillors representing this area—Eli El-Chantiry, Shad Qadri and Peggy Feltmate—and the MPP, Norm Sterling, all oppose this expansion;

"We, the undersigned, support our local representatives and petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to ensure the Minister of the Environment does not approve the expansion of the Carp landfill and instead seeks other waste management alternatives."

And I sign that.

YORK SUBWAY EXTENSION

Mr. Mario G. Racco (Thornhill): I have a petition in relation to the subway:

"Whereas York region and the city of Toronto have witnessed a substantial increase in traffic gridlock over the last several years; and

"Whereas these two regions continue to face traffic gridlock, which is an overwhelming economic and environmental problem; and

"Whereas we are significantly disappointed with the position of the leader of the NDP who wants to cancel the Spadina-York subway extension;

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

"That all York region and Toronto MPPs do their utmost to have the Spadina-York subway extension construction start during the year 2007."

STEVENSON MEMORIAL HOSPITAL

Mr. Jim Wilson (Simcoe—Grey): "To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas Stevenson Memorial Hospital needs $1.4 million in new funding over the next three years to get its birthing unit reopened and to ensure that they can recruit enough obstetricians and health care providers to supply a stable and ongoing service for expectant mothers in our area; and

"Whereas forcing expectant mothers to drive to Newmarket, Barrie or Orangeville to give birth is not only unacceptable, it is a potential safety hazard; and

"Whereas Stevenson Memorial Hospital cannot reopen the unit under its current budget and the McGuinty government has been unresponsive to repeated requests for new funding;

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

"That the McGuinty Liberal government immediately provide the required $1.4 million in new funding to Stevenson Memorial Hospital so that the local birthing unit can reopen and so that mothers can give birth in Alliston."

I agree, and I've signed that petition.

CHILD CUSTODY

Mr. Kim Craitor (Niagara Falls): My petition reads as follows:

"To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas the people of the province of Ontario deserve and have the right to request an amendment to the Children's Law Reform Act to emphasize the importance of children's relationships with their parents and their grandparents; and

"Whereas subsection 20(2.1) requires parents and others with custody of children to refrain from unreasonably placing obstacles to personal relations between the children and their grandparents; and

"Whereas subsection 24(2) contains a list of matters that a court must consider when determining the best interests of a child. The bill amends that subsection to include a specific reference to the importance of maintaining emotional ties between children and grandparents; and

"Whereas subsection 24(2.1) requires a court that is considering custody of or access to a child to give effect to the principle that a child should have as much contact with each parent and grandparent as is consistent with the best interests of the child; and

"Subsection 24(2.2) requires a court that is considering custody of a child to take into consideration each applicant's willingness to facilitate as much contact between the child and each parent and grandparent as is consistent with the best interests of the child; and

"Whereas we support Bill 8 as introduced by" the member for Niagara Falls;

"We, the undersigned, hereby petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to amend the Children's Law Reform Act to emphasize the importance of children's relationships with their parents and grandparents."

I'm pleased to sign my signature in support of this bill.

CORMORANTS

Mr. Norm Miller (Parry Sound—Muskoka): I have a petition to do with cormorants. It reads:

"To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas recent scientific studies have conclusively demonstrated that double-crested cormorants consume more fish than commercial fishing, sport fishing and poaching combined;

"Whereas double-crested cormorants are devastating nesting areas for other birds;

"Whereas double-crested cormorants are fouling water and making beaches unusable;

"Therefore we, the undersigned, support the private member's Bill 156 of Ernie Parsons, MPP Prince Edward—Hastings, to reclassify the double-crested cormorant into the same family as American crows, brown-heade