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October 17, 2005

38th Parliament, 2nd Session

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Hansard Transcripts

vol. A

Hansard Transcripts

vol. B

Votes and Proceedings

Orders and Notices

Hansard Transcripts 2005-Oct-17 (PDF)

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO

ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE DE L'ONTARIO

Monday 17 October 2005 Lundi 17 octobre 2005

MEMBERS' STATEMENTS

VETERANS

THAMES VALLEY

DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD

CITIZENSHIP WEEK

RIDING OF ANCASTER-DUNDAS-FLAMBOROUGH-ALDERSHOT

WEST LINCOLN MEMORIAL HOSPITAL

POVERTY

TTC SAFETY

SCHIZOPHRENIA

GEORGE HISLOP

VISITORS

RESIGNATION OF MEMBER FOR SCARBOROUGH-ROUGE RIVER

LEGISLATIVE PAGES

INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

AND HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENT

AMENDMENT ACT (HASTINGS

AND PRINCE EDWARD REGIMENT

MEMORIAL HIGHWAY), 2005 /

LOI DE 2005 MODIFIANT LA LOI

SUR L'AMÉNAGEMENT DES VOIES

PUBLIQUES ET DES TRANSPORTS EN

COMMUN (ROUTE COMMÉMORATIVE

HASTINGS AND PRINCE EDWARD

REGIMENT)

FRED GLOGER TENANT PROTECTION

AMENDMENT ACT

(VITAL SERVICES), 2005 /

LOI FRED GLOGER DE 2005

MODIFIANT LA

LOI SUR LA PROTECTION

DES LOCATAIRES

(SERVICES ESSENTIELS)

BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT

MOTIONS

COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP

HOUSE SITTINGS

STATEMENTS BY THE MINISTRY AND RESPONSES

SEMAINE DES BIBLIOTHÈQUES

PUBLIQUES DE L'ONTARIO /

ONTARIO PUBLIC LIBRARY WEEK

HEALTH PROMOTION /

PROMOTION DE LA SANTÉ

ELECTRICITY SUPPLY

HEALTH PROMOTION

ONTARIO PUBLIC LIBRARY WEEK

ELECTRICITY SUPPLY

VISITOR

ORAL QUESTIONS

CRIME PREVENTION

WASTE DISPOSAL

ELECTRICITY SUPPLY

CANCER TREATMENT

WASTE DISPOSAL

RENEWABLE FUELS

TEACHER MISCONDUCT

CRIME PREVENTION

POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION

FOREST INDUSTRY

GASOLINE PRICES

EMPLOYMENT SUPPORTS

PETITIONS

CANCER TREATMENT

AUTISM TREATMENT

HOSPITAL FUNDING

SERVICES FOR THE DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED

HOSPITAL SERVICES

HOSPITAL FUNDING

QUEENSWAY CARLETON HOSPITAL

OPTOMETRISTS

PERMIS POUR LA VENTE

DE BOISSONS ALCOOLIQUES

HIGHWAY 26

GASOLINE PRICES

VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS

QUEENSWAY CARLETON HOSPITAL

ORDERS OF THE DAY

THRONE SPEECH DEBATE

The House met at 1330.

Prayers.

MEMBERS' STATEMENTS

VETERANS

Mr. John O'Toole (Durham): I rise in the House today to pay tribute, in this international Year of the Veteran, and thank veterans for their

courage and determination. It's also my privilege to congratulate Branch 178 of the Royal Canadian Legion in Bowmanville for 75 years of service. I rise because paying tribute to Branch 178 of the

Royal Canadian Legion in Bowmanville is paying tribute to my community and the members who make it strong. On Saturday, October 1, the Legion hosted a special evening to celebrate this anniversary.

One of the highlights was paying tribute to the many veterans who have been Legion members for 60 years. I would recognize Rae Abernethy, Don Brooks, Art Brooks, Eric Andrews, Floyd Beckett, Bill

Colville, Art Hooper, Ian Hovey, William Kilpatrick, Harvey Jones, Michael Owchar, Don Parker, Ken Palmer, George Bellman, Robert Lockhart and the late Clarence Oke.

Today's Legion continues the important work of helping veterans and their families. The Legion ensures that our community remembers and honours the sacrifice of

those who served Canada at war. Branch 178 has also made our community a stronger place, with stronger values that you can count on. This includes support for the sea cadet program through the Navy

League, sponsoring sports activities, donating high school scholarships for our youth and sponsoring our pipe band.

I'm proud to stand and respect members of the Legion, our veterans, especially during this Year of the Veteran.

THAMES VALLEY

DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD

Mr. Khalil Ramal (London-Fanshawe): I learned last week that the Thames Valley District School Board will save $2.7 million a year on their

utility bill. The board has found its savings by focusing on about 10 million square feet of space in 197 board buildings and 229 portables across the school district.

Every year, the Thames Valley District School Board will achieve savings in utility areas such as natural gas, water systems and electricity. Some examples of

savings: more than $159,000 saved in replaced boilers at 30 schools; more than $132,000 saved in upgrades to caulking, weather stripping in many different schools; over $103,000 saved in water

system improvements at 35 schools; $314,000 saved in upgrades -- lighting, ventilation, sensors -- for 229 portables.

We know that students have a much better chance at success when they learn in schools that are clean, safe and in good repair. The McGuinty government's Good

Places to Learn plan is strengthening our province by strengthening the education of our children. The savings on energy costs in Thames Valley means that there will be more resources for Thames

Valley classrooms. I congratulate Thames Valley District School Board on its energy savings.

CITIZENSHIP WEEK

Mr. Frank Klees (Oak Ridges): I'm pleased to rise today to mark Citizenship Week in Ontario as we celebrate our diversity and the freedoms and

privileges that we enjoy in this great province.

As an immigrant myself, I am well aware of the challenges that are faced daily by the 125,000 people each year who adopt Ontario as their home. We must ensure

that those coming to Ontario have the opportunity to put their qualifications to work so that they can support their families and make a positive contribution to our communities.

This government wants us to believe that a federal-provincial agreement to increase funding for immigration services is imminent. Through two provincial and

three federal ministers, there is still no formal agreement and no additional funds. Our settlement agencies desperately need increased funding to provide services for newcomers.

As the Legislature marks Citizenship Week, let me remind and renew John Tory's challenge to the Premier in this House last week, which was to increase funding to

the South Asian earthquake relief efforts beyond the $1-million commitment and to match private donations, thereby demonstrating in a very practical way that this government recognizes and is

prepared to do something to support our citizens and those citizens abroad. I call on the Legislature and I call on this government to do the right thing: Increase funding to the South Asian relief

effort.

RIDING OF ANCASTER-DUNDAS-FLAMBOROUGH-ALDERSHOT

Mr. Ted McMeekin (Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Aldershot): With all the talk about democratic renewal, allow me to share some insights from our

recent ADFA constituency council. The council is a non-partisan group of 60 local community champions. Listening carefully to their advice is always refreshing.

Here are some insights from our most recent meeting:

There is an appreciation that stability and civility have been returned to our education system. The new emphasis on local health care decision-making was

applauded. The greenbelt initiative has been well received. One caution, however: We must find ways to bring added value to our agricultural stakeholders. The group recommends responding to the

looming energy crisis with a more aggressive conservation program, smart meters and a greater emphasis on public transit. Uploading social services from municipalities to the province was seen as a

priority. Finally, amalgamation isn't working. The constituency council would like to see a full fiscal and social audit of the impact of amalgamation, something our mayor promised in his last

election campaign.

I believe that while democratic reform in this place is important and necessary, an even more important opportunity for real reform exists at the local riding

level. I deeply value the efforts of the difference-makers in my community who are prepared to dare and share and care with each other and with their provincial member to build the stronger,

healthier, more caring and sustainable communities we all desire.

WEST LINCOLN MEMORIAL HOSPITAL

Mr. Tim Hudak (Erie-Lincoln): As members of the chamber know, west Niagara is in need of a new hospital. There are great, talented, hard-working

people at the West Lincoln Memorial Hospital in Grimsby. They and the hospital have an excellent reputation. I know that the minister across is very well aware of that. But they work in a tired,

old building in need of renewal in a community that is seeing an aging population grow in numbers and many young families moving to the area.

The community has already raised $12.9 million for the new West Lincoln Memorial Hospital. Over the summer, I have written to both the Minister of Health and the

Premier asking for a firm commitment to this hospital and for a clear outline of what the funding formula will be. As of yet, we have not had a satisfactory answer to those inquiries. If there were

a clear funding formula in place based on need, local fundraising and the quality of the plan, we would be very confident of our hospital moving forward expeditiously. However, unfortunately,

instead it is starting to look like the hospital capital process is more about politics and less about building the hospitals that we need.

I think we deserve the answers to these simple questions, and we deserve these answers promptly: Will the McGuinty government fund the new West Lincoln Memorial

Hospital; what will the split be between the local and provincial fundraising; and when will the new West Lincoln Memorial Hospital be opening to serve their community?

POVERTY

Ms. Marilyn Churley (Toronto-Danforth): Today is the UN International Day for the Eradication of Poverty and the National Day of Action to End

Child Poverty in Canada. This day arrives on the heels of yet another report detailing the growing disparity and inequity within this city.

The Toronto Community Foundation released its annual report card, Vital Signs, on how this city is faring. It repeated what it has been saying for several years:

Poverty is prevalent and is growing. But while the gap between the poorest and the richest families' incomes continues to rise, the McGuinty Liberals have not yet moved on improving income

assistance programs to meet people's most basic needs, and they continue to take funds away from the poorest families with its odious clawback of the national child benefit supplement, money that

would prevent parents from having to choose between paying the rent and feeding the kids.

Sue Cox, executive director of the Daily Bread Food Bank, a position formerly held by the current Minister of Education, was quoted in the Toronto Star this

weekend as saying that she "has never seen the food bank network in the Greater Toronto Area as strained as it is now."

The Vital Signs report echoed the United Way report of a few years ago, Poverty by Postal Code. The numbers show that the areas of concentrated poverty in

Toronto have risen from 30 in 1980 to 120 in 2001. Among those most impacted are our young people. There has been a 100% increase in the number of children living in high-poverty neighbourhoods and

a 60% increase in the number of youth living in higher-poverty neighbourhoods.

This is not good enough.

TTC SAFETY

Mr. Lorenzo Berardinetti (Scarborough Southwest): I rise today on behalf of all of us to offer sympathies and get-well wishes to a dedicated TTC

employee who was the victim of a shooting this past Saturday night while on duty in the northeast area of the city of Toronto.

It is an unfortunate fact that transit operators have to be subjected to daily confrontations, verbal abuse and, at rare times, violence. All TTC operators are

to be commended for their strong abilities in dealing with dangerous situations.

This government is tough on crime and the causes of crime in Toronto and across this province. Just recently, our government's Mandatory Gunshot Wounds Reporting

Act came into effect. It requires hospitals to report gunshot or other wounds to the police. We are the first province in Canada to pass such legislation. Furthermore, our government will be

working with communities, including the city of Toronto, to hire 1,000 more police officers across the province, 500 of which will be deployed to combat guns, gangs, youth crime and other priority

areas. As well, our government is taking positive steps to prevent crime in the community with the safer communities grant and the community-use-of-schools program. We are also making communities

safer by getting offenders in tough, structured, community-based work programs instead of spending the weekend watching television.

Again I would like to extend our sympathy and best wishes to the bus driver, his family and his extended family at the TTC. We have every confidence that the

Toronto Police Service will find the suspects and ensure that our communities remain safe.

SCHIZOPHRENIA

Mr. Kuldip Kular (Bramalea-Gore-Malton-Springdale): I am pleased to rise today to acknowledge that October is Schizophrenia Awareness Month, and

to applaud the Schizophrenia Society of Ontario for its efforts to draw much-needed attention to this increasingly serious illness which affects the lives of so many Ontarians.

Schizophrenia affects one in 100 people in Ontario; that's over 120,000 people. It affects both youth and adults alike and is often misunderstood or stigmatized

as being weird or unusual. The reality is that schizophrenia can be treated and its impact significantly lessened with proper medication and behavioural therapy.

As a family physician turned politician and as a strong advocate of educating others on mental health issues, I know first-hand the importance of raising

awareness on schizophrenia. Education alone makes early detection possible. Together, we can all work to eliminate the stigma attached to this illness.

I would like to commend the efforts of the Schizophrenia Society of Ontario for helping to make this illness better understood and treated both within the

medical community and in the public. I want to acknowledge some of the members of the Schizophrenia Society of Ontario, who have joined us here today in the east lobby.

GEORGE HISLOP

Ms. Kathleen O. Wynne (Don Valley West): I rise today to honour the death of a hero and icon of the gay community in Canada, George Hislop, who

died just over a week ago, on October 8, at the age of 78.

George Hislop was a role model, demonstrating to countless young gay men how to live openly without shame and without fear. He always said, "I never came out of

the closet because I was never in it."

George was an actor in his early days who became an activist later, almost by accident, because of the homophobic "nonsense," as he called it. He said, "I

couldn't stand it any more. But then you speak up, attract attention and it snowballs from there."

He led the first gay protest on the steps of the House of Commons in 1971. Around the same time he helped organize Toronto's first Gay Day, a gaggle of brave

souls which has grown into the huge annual Gay Pride celebration. Thirty-four years later, Hislop was named the grand marshal of the Pride Parade.

In 1980, he was the first openly gay candidate to run for municipal office in Toronto, running for city council. When George's partner of nearly 28 years, Ron

Shearer, died in 1986, George fought to access survivor benefits from the Canada pension plan. He finally declared victory in November of 2004, and in August he received his first cheque from the

federal government.

Strong, honest, open men and politicians like Toronto city councillor Kyle Rae and our own Minister of Health, George Smitherman, can be models for a younger

generation at least in some part because George Hislop went before them. I understand from George Smitherman that the very first gay bar he ever went to was owned by George Hislop.

George Hislop was a hero in the gay and lesbian community. He was a man who made Canada a safer, more tolerant place. I am privileged to ask all members to join

me in honouring the life of George Robert Hislop for the brave hero that he was.

VISITORS

Mr. Jeff Leal (Peterborough): On a point of order, Mr. Speaker: In the members' gallery today I would like to introduce Diane Austin, who is the

executive director of Community Living Peterborough, and four individuals who are supported by Community Living Peterborough: Lynda Nairn, Barb Anderson, Gord Herd and Graham Sheldon. I want to

welcome them to Queen's Park.

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): Thank you. That of course is not a point of order, but welcome.

RESIGNATION OF MEMBER FOR SCARBOROUGH-ROUGE RIVER

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): I beg to inform the House that during the adjournment a vacancy has occurred in the membership of the House

by the reason of the resignation of Alvin Curling as member for the electoral district of Scarborough-Rouge River, effective August 19, 2005. Accordingly, my warrant has been issued to the Chief

Election Officer for the issue of a writ for a by-election.

LEGISLATIVE PAGES

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): I beg the indulgence of the House to allow the pages to assemble for their introduction.

I would ask all members to join me in welcoming this group of legislative pages serving in the second session of the 38th Parliament: Trevor Appleby from Halton,

Joyce Berkers from Lambton-Kent-Middlesex, Mandy Min Che from St. Paul's, Alexandra Da Silva from Mississauga East, Loreena Dobson from Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke, Jasmine Haemel from Peterborough,

Graeme Kennedy from Don Valley East, Michael Kirkland from Sarnia-Lambton, Kiki Kirkpatrick from Haliburton-Victoria-Brock, Michelle Lauzon from Eglinton-Lawrence, Austin MacDonald from London

West, Frances Maranger from Perth-Middlesex, Andrew McMahon from Elgin-Middlesex-London, Nina Patti from Toronto Centre-Rosedale, Kerby Reed Balen from Simcoe North, Anika Roberts from Beaches-East

York, Adam Rupani from Nepean-Carleton, Jeffrey Skinner from Markham, and Charlie Tan from Mississauga West. Welcome.

Applause.

INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

AND HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENT

AMENDMENT ACT (HASTINGS

AND PRINCE EDWARD REGIMENT

MEMORIAL HIGHWAY), 2005 /

LOI DE 2005 MODIFIANT LA LOI

SUR L'AMÉNAGEMENT DES VOIES

PUBLIQUES ET DES TRANSPORTS EN

COMMUN (ROUTE COMMÉMORATIVE

HASTINGS AND PRINCE EDWARD

REGIMENT)

Mr. Parsons moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 5,

An Act to Amend the Public Transportation and Highway Improvement Act to name a portion of Highway 62 and Highway 33 the Hastings and Prince Edward

Regiment Memorial Highway / Projet de loi 5, Loi modifiant la

Loi sur l'aménagement des voies publiques et des transports en commun pour nommer une

section des routes 62 et 33 route

commémorative Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment.

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

Does the member have a brief statement?

Mr. Ernie Parsons (Prince Edward-Hastings): We enjoy a level of freedom in this country that is the envy of the rest of the world. I'm sure I

can speak on behalf of every member in this House when I say that we are very conscious of the price that has been paid for that freedom -- a horrible price by some individuals and families.

The Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment, affectionately known as the Hasty P's, is a regiment that dates back to 1800. The modern regiment won tremendous battle

honours in Italy, Sicily and Greece during World War II.

I would like to see this highway named so that we can remember, each and every time, as we drive on this highway, the price that was paid for our freedom. Our

veterans are leaving us far too soon and in far too large numbers. This is an opportunity for the young people of this province and of this country to be reminded every day of the price that has

been paid to ensure that we enjoy the freedom and quality of life that we do in this province.

FRED GLOGER TENANT PROTECTION

AMENDMENT ACT

(VITAL SERVICES), 2005 /

LOI FRED GLOGER DE 2005

MODIFIANT LA

LOI SUR LA PROTECTION

DES LOCATAIRES

(SERVICES ESSENTIELS)

Ms. Horwath moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 6,

An Act, in memory of Fred Gloger, to amend the Tenant Protection Act, 1997 in respect of vital services / Projet de loi 6, Loi à la

mémoire de Fred Gloger modifiant la

Loi sur la protection des locataires à l'égard des services essentiels.

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

Does the member have a brief statement?

Ms. Andrea Horwath (Hamilton East): This bill replaces my former bill, Bill 170, which died along with a number of other important bills when

the McGuinty government prorogued the House. My bill amends the Tenant Protect Act, 1997, to ensure that tenants who pay for their utilities through their rent don't have their vital services, like

hydro, gas or water, disconnected because their landlord refuses to pay the bill.

I have a lot more detail around that, but I think now is the time that this bill needs to be passed. We're going into the cold winter months, and the tenants

of Ontario deserve to be protected by basic legislation, because they've already paid their utilities in their rent and they need to make sure that those utilities are kept on during these cold

upcoming months.

BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): I have an announcement. I am going to announce the latest addition to the Milloy family, the member for

Kitchener Centre. Last Saturday evening, John and Sara gave birth -- mostly Sara, I'm told -- to a beautiful eight-pound, nine-ounce baby boy. Mom and dad are doing just fine.

MOTIONS

COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP

Hon. James J. Bradley (Minister of Tourism, minister responsible for seniors, Government House Leader): I move that the following amendments

be made to the membership of certain committees:

On the standing committee on estimates, Mr. Dunlop replaces Mr. O'Toole; on the standing committee on finance and economic affairs, Mr. Arthurs replaces Mr.

Colle.

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): Mr. Bradley has moved that the following amendments be made to the membership of certain committees:

On the standing committee on estimates, Mr. Dunlop replaces Mr. O'Toole; on the standing committee on finance and economic affairs, Mr. Arthurs replaces Mr.

Colle.

Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

HOUSE SITTINGS

Hon. James J. Bradley (Minister of Tourism, minister responsible for seniors, Government House Leader): I move that, pursuant to standing

order 9(c)(i), the House shall meet from 6:45 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Monday, October 17, 2005, for the purpose of considering government business.

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): Mr. Bradley has moved that, pursuant to standing --

Interjection: Dispense.

The Speaker: Dispensed.

Shall the motion carry?

Interjections.

The Speaker: No, we'll do it. I heard a no.

Mr. Bradley has moved that, pursuant to standing order 9(c)(i), the House shall meet from 6:45 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Monday, October 17, 2005, for the purpose

of considering government business. Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry?

All in favour will say "aye."

All those opposed will say "nay."

In my opinion, the ayes have it.

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

The division bells rang from 1357 to 1402.

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

Ayes

Arthurs, Wayne

Baird, John R.

Bartolucci, Rick

Bentley, Christopher

Berardinetti, Lorenzo

Bradley, James J.

Brownell, Jim

Bryant, Michael

Cansfield, Donna H.

Caplan, David

Chambers, Mary Anne V.

Chudleigh, Ted

Colle, Mike

Craitor, Kim

Crozier, Bruce

Delaney, Bob

Dhillon, Vic

Di Cocco, Caroline

Dombrowsky, Leona

Duguid, Brad

Dunlop, Garfield

Flynn, Kevin Daniel

Fonseca, Peter

Gerretsen, John

Hardeman, Ernie

Hudak, Tim

Jackson, Cameron

Jeffrey, Linda

Klees, Frank

Kular, Kuldip

Kwinter, Monte

Lalonde, Jean-Marc

Leal, Jeff

Levac, Dave

Marsales, Judy

Matthews, Deborah

McMeekin, Ted

McNeely, Phil

Meilleur, Madeleine

Miller, Norm

O'Toole, John

Orazietti, David

Parsons, Ernie

Peters, Steve

Phillips, Gerry

Pupatello, Sandra

Qaadri, Shafiq

Racco, Mario G.

Ramal, Khalil

Rinaldi, Lou

Runciman, Robert W.

Ruprecht, Tony

Sandals, Liz

Scott, Laurie

Smith, Monique

Smitherman, George

Sorbara, Gregory S.

Takhar, Harinder S.

Tory, John

Van Bommel, Maria

Watson, Jim

Wilkinson, John

Wilson, Jim

Witmer, Elizabeth

Wynne, Kathleen O.

Yakabuski, John

Zimmer, David

The Speaker: All those opposed will please rise one at a time.

Nays

Bisson, Gilles

Churley, Marilyn

Horwath, Andrea

Kormos, Peter

Marchese, Rosario

Prue, Michael

The Clerk of the Assembly (Mr. Claude L. DesRosiers): The ayes are 67; the nays are 6.

The Speaker: I declare the motion carried.

STATEMENTS BY THE MINISTRY AND RESPONSES

SEMAINE DES BIBLIOTHÈQUES

PUBLIQUES DE L'ONTARIO /

ONTARIO PUBLIC LIBRARY WEEK

L ' hon. Madeleine Meilleur (ministre de la Culture, ministre déléguée aux Affaires francophones) : C'est avec

plaisir que je me lève devant la Chambre aujourd'hui pour faire honneur à nos bibliothèques publiques et à nos bibliothèques des Premières nations durant la Semaine

des bibliothèques publiques de l'Ontario, qui se déroulera jusqu'au 23 octobre. Le thème de la Semaine des bibliothèques publiques de l'Ontario est Destination Imagination.

Destination Imagination is the perfect theme to celebrate the great selection of creative stories in our libraries and an outstanding range of programs,

resources and services that help build stronger, healthier communities. We should all be very proud of our libraries. Ontario has one of the best public library systems in the world.

La Semaine des bibliothèques publiques de l'Ontario est un excellent moyen de faire honneur aux contributions culturelles, éducatives et

économiques qu'apportent nos bibliothèques. Source fiable d'information dans nos collectivités, elles assurent la réussite de nos étudiants, maintiennent la

compétitivité de nos entreprises et améliorent notre qualité de vie.

En utilisant une nouvelle technologie pour numériser l'histoire locale et permettre aux gens d'accéder à l'Internet grâce à plus de

6 000 ordinateurs dans toute la province, les bibliothèques publiques sont véritablement devenues l'une de nos plus importantes ressources communautaires, au service des Ontariens et

Ontariennes de tout âge.

In 2003, 66 million people visited our public libraries, circulating more than 100 million items. In that same year, more than 2.2 million people participated

in over 110,000 library programs.

En 2003, 66 millions de personnes ont visité nos bibliothèques publiques, circulant plus de 100 millions de documents. Au cours de la même

année, plus de 2,2 millions de personnes ont participé aux plus de 110 000 programmes organisés par les bibliothèques.

Our public libraries make our province a better place to live and work. I encourage all residents to visit their local public libraries this week to take

part

in the celebration. To each of you, I extend a special invitation to add one of your local libraries to your destination list.

Bonne Semaine des bibliothèques publiques.

HEALTH PROMOTION /

PROMOTION DE LA SANTÉ

Hon. Jim Watson (Minister of Health Promotion): I'm honoured today to stand before you to give my first statement as Ontario's Minister of

Health Promotion. As members know, Premier McGuinty announced the creation of the Ministry of Health Promotion last June. It was an historic announcement because it's the first time Ontario has had

a ministry devoted entirely to the promotion of healthy and active lifestyles.

It was with interest I noted just last Friday that the Premier of Saskatchewan appointed a counterpart and followed our lead by creating the new Ministry of

Healthy Living.

The smoke-free Ontario campaign tops our list of key priorities as the cornerstone of our government's health promotion effort. My number one priority is to

deliver on the promise we made during our election campaign, the promise to move toward a smoke-free Ontario.

The groundwork for that task has already been laid by my cabinet colleague the Honourable George Smitherman, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, and Dr.

Sheela Basrur, our chief medical officer of health. As you know, the work that these two and many others in this House and in the community did on Bill 164, the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, was a

tremendous and positive step forward. The bill was passed and received royal assent in June of this year. In essence, it will ban smoking in all enclosed workplaces and public places in the

province beginning on May 31 next year, and will phase out the display of tobacco products, with a complete ban beginning May 31, 2008. I thank my colleague from Ottawa-Orléans for the work

that he did on that file.

In addition to helping Ontarians quit smoking, smoke-free Ontario aims to prevent our young people from starting to smoke and to protect all Ontarians from

exposure to second-hand smoke.

Il s'agit de la plus vaste campagne de lutte contre le tabagisme de l'histoire de la province de l'Ontario. Je dois aussi ajouter que la campagne Ontario sans

fumée fera de notre province un des chefs de file en Amérique du Nord en matière de lutte contre le tabagisme.

Pour appuyer cette campagne, nous avons mis sur pied le Comité consultatif de la campagne Ontario sans fumée, qui est composé de 15 membres.

Avec l'aide de ce comité, nous inciterons les Ontariennes et Ontariens à s'engager à préserver leur santé et celle des autres.

I am proud to be chairing the smoke-free Ontario campaign committee and grateful for the experience and expertise of the committee members. I'd like to give

you a list of those committee members and a brief

summary of their contributions:

John Beaucage, former chief of the Wasauksing First Nation, chief, and president of the Union of Ontario Indians, with a strong commitment to the Premier's

brighter future for aboriginal children and youth initiative;

Ted Boadway, executive director of health policy for the Ontario Medical Association, who led the OMA fight against tobacco;

Peter Goodhand, chief executive director of the Canadian Cancer Society's Ontario division, an organization that has one of the most long-standing commitments

to tobacco control;

Steve Goren, past president of the Ontario Dental Association, who played an important role in the clinical tobacco intervention program;

Marc Kealey, chief executive officer of the Ontario Pharmacists' Association and a strong supporter of the clinical tobacco intervention program;

Michael Perley, executive director of the Ontario Campaign for Action on Tobacco and a leader of the tobacco control movement for more than a decade, with

notable success in moving the Ontario tobacco strategy forward community by community;

Andrew Pipe, founder of Physicians for a Smoke-Free Canada and director of prevention and rehabilitation at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, who has

demonstrated outstanding scientific and professional leadership in the tobacco control battle;

Manu Malkani, president and chief executive officer of the Ontario Lung Association, an organization that has been impressing upon young people the dangers of

smoking;

Isabelle Michel, gérante de pratique professionnelle et de développement au Service de santé publique de Sudbury et du district, qui a une vaste

expérience et une compréhension du rôle des services de santé publique dans la lutte contre le tabagisme;

Merle Nicholds, former mayor of Kanata and active community volunteer for asthma and cancer awareness campaigns;

Jenny Rajaballey, vice-president of health care planning at Cambridge Memorial Hospital;

Rocco Rossi, chief executive officer of the Ontario Heart and Stroke Foundation, and key in fighting tobacco advertising aimed at young people;

Terry Sullivan, president and chief executive officer of Cancer Care Ontario, who has had a strong background in tobacco control and representing an

organization that is developing an aboriginal tobacco strategy;

Michelle Tham, an anti-smoking activist since the age of 14, who has worked with the youth advisory group that brought us the ministry's very successful

stupid.ca campaign aimed at steering young people away from smoking; and finally,

Carol Timmings, director of chronic disease prevention at Toronto Public Health, who brings many years of experience in developing prevention programs.

All of these men and women from across the province of Ontario are giving of their time and their expertise. They are volunteers, and I'm very appreciative of

their efforts.

Je suis ravi d'avoir l'occasion de travailler avec ces professionnels dévoués à réduire l'usage du tabac et à sauver des vies.

These people will be making a concerned effort to advise the government on developing regulations for the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, preparing for enforcement of

the new act on May 31, 2006, rolling out educational programs this fall aimed particularly at young people, creating a provincial smoking cessation program, and evaluating the results of the

campaign.

In conclusion, I'd be remiss if I did not take this opportunity to pay tribute to someone who has been, for us, a living, breathing example of why the

smoke-free legislation is so important. Many of you will remember Heather Crowe. Heather is the waitress who developed lung cancer due to second-hand smoke and who has been featured in many of the

commercials and material related to the need to protect non-smokers from the ravages of second-hand smoke. Heather's cancer, unfortunately, has advanced considerably, and she now resides in a

nursing home to get the additional support for living and pain management that has become necessary.

Despite this, Heather continues to speak out and to speak to hospitality workers and legislators across the country about the need to take action. In fact,

last week she received an award from an Ottawa youth group, Exposé, for her work in letting young people know the devastating consequences of second-hand smoke.

I spoke with Heather a few weeks ago when she attended a farewell reception for Dr. Rob Cushman, who was leaving as our very well known and well regarded chief

medical officer of health in Ottawa, and she was still at this point offering to do whatever she could to help me in my new portfolio.

On behalf of all of us, I believe, in this chamber, I'd like to thank Heather for her courage, dedication and commitment to this cause. Single-handedly,

Heather has made an unparalleled contribution to our society.

ELECTRICITY SUPPLY

Hon. Donna H. Cansfield (Minister of Energy): I am pleased to announce today that our government has reached an agreement with Bruce Power.

Throughout the negotiation process, the government's key objectives were to reach an agreement that is fair for Ontario ratepayers and taxpayers and to ensure that the financial risks would not be

left on the shoulders of Ontarians. I'm pleased to report to the House that the government was successful in meeting these objectives. Bruce Power has agreed to pay the full cost of the capital

upgrades required to bring units 1 and 2 on-line. In addition, Bruce Power is paying the full capital costs of refurbishing unit 3 when it reaches the end of its operational life and replacing the

steam generators at unit 4. The investment by Bruce Power is estimated to be $4.25 billion. Ontario ratepayers and taxpayers will not -- not -- be contributing capital funds to this project. Let me

say this again: Ontario ratepayers and taxpayers will not be contributing capital dollars to this project.

This project will deliver 1,500 megawatts of electricity, a significant boost to our province's energy supply. To put this into perspective, refurbishing units

1 and 2 will generate almost as much power as Niagara Falls. That's enough power for one million homes, or a city the size of Ottawa. In addition to increasing our electricity generation capacity,

this four-year project is estimated to create an additional 1,500 construction jobs. This will have a significant impact on the security, growth and prosperity of the community.

I would like to thank all staff in the Ministry of Energy who were involved in this initiative. Thank you for your hard work on behalf of all Ontarians.

This truly is a landmark transaction for our province, but it is not a decision we have taken lightly. To ensure that we are reaching the best agreement

possible for Ontario ratepayers and taxpayers, the agreement was subjected to a number of due diligence reviews by financial, legal and technical advisers, all of whom have signed off on the

agreement that has been reached. I would like to express my thanks to our advisers for their counsel throughout this process.

In addition to these due diligence reviews, the government engaged CIBC World Markets to conduct a review of the agreement and to provide a fairness opinion. I

am pleased to report today that CIBC has indicated that the agreement is a fair deal for Ontario ratepayers and taxpayers.

The final contract was also subject to cabinet approval.

The agreement and the fairness opinion have been posted on the ministry's Web site as of today at 1 o'clock so that all Ontarians can have access to this

information.

Finally, I'm pleased to report to the House that I've referred the agreement to the Auditor General for review.

As honourable members know, Ontario faces a looming electricity supply gap, the result of inaction by previous governments. I would like to remind the House of

the dire straits in which previous administrations have left us. Following 10 years of neglect, there was no plan for new electricity generation, no plan for energy conservation, no strategy for

managing our existing access, no accountability, no transparency or oversight of our crown corporations and absolutely no leadership. In the 10 years leading up to the last election, less than

2,900 megawatts of new power was brought on-line in Ontario, and yet, over the next 15 years, Ontarians will need to refurbish, rebuild or replace 25,000 megawatts of supply.

One week ago I was appointed Minister of Energy, with a mandate to continue the transformation of our electricity system to ensure the future prosperity of our

province. I'm honoured to serve this province, and accept this responsibility with great humility. I had the pleasure of working very closely with my predecessor, the member for Windsor-St. Clair,

who was responsible for turning around a system that was beginning to fall to pieces.

The member for Windsor-St. Clair deserves our sincere thanks and appreciation for starting the process of transforming our energy system. We have come a long

way, and we have further to go. Let me tell you, I'm here to finish the job.

In the days and weeks ahead, I will be taking bold and decisive action to ensure Ontario has an energy system that is safe, clean, reliable and affordable, and

that we deliver on our plan. Our energy plan consists of three key components: We will maximize our existing generation and transmission assets; we will build new generation capacity; and we will

create a culture of conservation in this province.

This agreement with Bruce Power ensures that we continue to maximize our existing assets to ensure a stable supply of energy. This government has set the

wheels in motion to create more new generating capacity than any other jurisdiction in North America, with nearly 9,000 megawatts of diversified generating capacity, enough for 4.1 million homes. I

will continue to carry out this plan.

Our plan is bold; our vision for our province is clear: an Ontario where industry has a reliable source of clean, affordable energy; an Ontario that leads in

sustainable and affordable energy supply; and an Ontario that remains prosperous and the envy of the world. I will carry out this plan, and I look forward to working with all Ontarians to make it

happen.

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): Responses?

Mr. John Yakabuski (Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke): First, let me congratulate the new Minister of Energy on her appointment; I wish her the very

best.

What a difference a week makes. A week ago, I would have been making this response to the former Minister of Energy, but the self-proclaimed expert on human

evolution has decided to write his thesis on neanderthals from seat five, so we will respond to the statement from this minister.

While we believe this is a positive move, we ask the government what took so long -- two years. While the energy situation in this province has deteriorated,

they've taken two years to reach this agreement with Bruce Power. The fact that they have reached this agreement is a complete validation of the previous government's plan to enter into a

private-public partnership with Bruce Power.

They're taking credit for bringing all this power on-line. I think it should be pointed out that the agreement to refurbish Bruce units 3 and 4 was done under

the previous government.

One of the problems is that with their dithering over two years, this project will not be done before their self-imposed deadline to shut down 25% of our power

supply in Ontario, with no plan for how to replace it. The other concern we have is that power consumption and demand in this province are growing at a minimum rate of 250 megawatts a year. By the

time this work is completed, we will have eaten up 1,000 of the 1,500 megawatts this project is supposed to provide.

Under this government's policies, Ontarians are continuing to fall further and further behind. This announcement, while it is positive, will not answer the

question of where we in this province are going to be in 2007 and 2009 with regard to our energy needs under the policies of this government. They have yet to answer those questions. We are

awaiting those answers.

HEALTH PROMOTION

Mrs. Elizabeth Witmer (Kitchener-Waterloo): Congratulations to the new energy minister on her first speech.

I'd just like to briefly respond to the announcement that was made today by Minister Watson regarding smoking and tobacco. Certainly we support any initiatives

that are going to have a positive impact on ensuring that young people do not start to smoke. We also think that much more needs to be done in the way of cessation programs; I see that's going to

happen. I see you've set up a committee, and I hope you will allow all those individuals to participate fully in the discussions and decision-making.

The one thing I do not see reflected here is that as this policy moves forward, we also need to be cognizant that it's going to have an impact on the economy

of this province. I hope you will take a look at how you will deal with those who are no longer going to have their livelihood, and what you are prepared to do as well to assist those individuals

who grow the tobacco and what other crops are available for them.

We applaud you today. There are still far too many people who die of cancer. We certainly wish the committee well in all their endeavours.

ONTARIO PUBLIC LIBRARY WEEK

Mrs. Elizabeth Witmer (Kitchener-Waterloo): I would like to speak briefly to the fact that this is library week. I think it's extremely

important that the government remember what they have done this year. Here is a headline: "Ontario Slashes Library Funding $1.2 M." This was in the Toronto Star on June 27 this year, and the other

headline says, "Budget cuts called `kick in the teeth' for rural areas."

This government "quietly slashed funding for public libraries." Not only did they hurt all libraries in the province of Ontario, but they particularly hurt

rural and northern libraries, because there was this cut of $1.2 million from services, including the interlibrary loan system. Again, people say that this "flies in the face" of a government that

says it's emphasizing education and yet is taking away this tool from people in this province. In fact, the chief librarian at Bruce County Public Library said that at least with Harris, you knew

what he was going to do. "These guys just did it and ran" --

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): Thank you. Response?

ELECTRICITY SUPPLY

Mr. Howard Hampton (Kenora-Rainy River): I want to reply to the Minister of Energy and the McGuinty government on today's announcement about

the McGuinty government now endorsing private nuclear power in the province of Ontario.

What I want to do, though, is contrast what the McGuinty government is saying with what the private corporations are saying. The McGuinty government wants the

people of Ontario to believe that this will only cost them $4.25 billion. What do you get for $4.25 billion? Do you get a new facility? No. For $4.25 billion you get a fixer-upper.

It is very important that the hydro ratepayers in the province read the print that is enclosed in what the private corporation is saying to investors. Here is

TransCanada PipeLines' press release. What do they say on page 4 of the press release? The McGuinty government doesn't want to talk about this. They point out that if there are cost overruns with

these facilities, the ratepayers of Ontario pick up 50% of the cost overrun up to $618 million and 25% beyond that.

Some of us have watched nuclear power in Ontario over the past 30 years. There has never been a nuclear plant constructed or refurbished that has come in at

cost. To repeat: Darlington was supposed to cost $4.7 billion. When it was built by the former Liberal government under David Peterson, it came in at $15 billion -- a $10-billion cost overrun.

Pickering was supposed to cost, oh, about $800 million for total refurbishment. The final bill still isn't in on that, but the cost overrun was more than 50%.

The McGuinty government wants hydro consumers to believe that you get a good deal at $4.25 billion, but if there is a $2-billion cost overrun, the people of

Ontario pick up another billion dollars, so that a $4.25-billion cost suddenly becomes a $5.25-billion cost.

But then you have to read TransCanada's note to their investors, because what it also says is that in this deal the lease costs for units 1, 2 and 3 will each

be reduced by $20 million per year. Well, $20 million times three is $60 million. The government talks about a 20-year agreement: over 20 years, another $1.2 billion. So suddenly what the McGuinty

government wants to sell to hydro consumers as a $4.25-billion good deal becomes an over-$6.5-billion deal. What do you get for it? Do you get brand, spanking new nuclear reactors? No. You get

another nuclear fixer-upper.

The McGuinty government says this is a good deal. What is really also missing here is, I was hoping we would hear from the McGuinty government today a strategy

for dealing with nuclear waste because we've been accumulating radioactive nuclear waste now since the 1960s and still no plan for the storage of very toxic nuclear waste -- no plan. I was hoping

the McGuinty government would disclose how they're going to balance this private corporation's drive for profit against protecting the public interest in terms of public safety. Any plan today?

Nothing.

I want to be clear what this is: This is a sweetheart deal for a private nuclear company. The McGuinty government advertises it at $4.25 billion. You read the

fine print: This is easily a $6.5-billion sweetheart deal for private nuclear power.

VISITOR

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): I'd like to welcome our friend Bob Frankford, who was the MPP for Scarborough East in the 35th

Parliament. Bob is in the west public gallery. Welcome, Bob.

ORAL QUESTIONS

CRIME PREVENTION

Mr. John Tory (Leader of the Opposition): My question is for the Premier. I understand that the government is preoccupied with other matters,

given the resignation we saw last week, but in light of your relative silence to date, can you list for us the specific initiatives implemented by your government in recent months to address the

gun crime we've seen for months and months here in Toronto and in other communities around the province?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty (Premier, Minister of Research and Innovation): I'm pleased to be able to speak to this question. I know this is a matter

that concerns all of us. Let me just take the opportunity today, on behalf of everybody in the House, I know, to extend our sympathies to the TTC bus driver who sadly sustained injury during the

course of the weekend.

There is a real issue before all of us when it comes to guns and gangs, particularly insofar as it affects the city of Toronto, and we have a role to play in

this; of that, there is no doubt. In addition to the federal government, the municipal government, the police and, I would argue, the communities themselves as well here in the province, we have

some responsibility too. I can say, with respect to our general approach -- and I'll provide more details in ensuing questions -- we believe that an intelligent approach to crime demands that it be

two-pronged in nature, that you be both tough on crime and tough on the causes of crime. I look forward to providing more details in ensuing questions.

Mr. Tory: I agree with the Premier, and you said the same thing in the throne speech about being tough on crime and tough on the causes of

crime. But the fact of the matter is that only after intense pressure did you or anybody from your government say anything on this subject. The Attorney General of Ontario set out to a hastily

arranged news conference, where he put forward a series of measures -- no timing, no funding, no details. In fact, just now you had no answer when it came to the specifics of what you've done. That

press conference he had was 47 days ago, and we've heard nothing in terms of details from your government since.

My question is this: How many gun shops, whether they needed it or not, have been inspected, as promised 47 days ago? What about a gun amnesty program? Crime

Stoppers managed to come up with one. Where's yours? And what specifically have you done on gun sentencing and crime that you talked about in the throne speech? Specifically, what have you done

about it?

Hon. Mr. McGuinty: I'll detail some of the things we've done with respect to getting tough on crime, and in a supplementary, I'll talk about

some of those things we've done with respect to causes of crime.

Of course, you will know that we are putting another 1,000 police officers on the streets of Ontario. We've already hired 29 new judges, 50 new crown attorneys

and 55 more parole and probation officers. We've established an anti-guns-and-gangs unit to make it easier for all law enforcement personnel to work together. It is true, the Attorney General is

seeking tougher penalties in the Criminal Code for gun-related crimes. I am pleased to report as well that we are the first jurisdiction in North America to make mandatory the reporting of gunshot

wounds. We've also brought in new tools for our prosecutors, improved the witness protection program, launched a blitz of gun businesses and several other initiatives, and there's more to come.

Mr. Tory: I think most people in Ontario would want to see what you're doing to stop gunshot wounds from happening instead of just reporting

them.

This weekend, police forces in Toronto and Barrie were left to investigate horrific shootings, including the one you referred to, and I join you in expressing

our condolences to the bus driver involved, an innocent bus driver shot in the face while driving a bus in Toronto. Unfortunately, this is a pattern that has plagued our cities all summer long.

Twenty-nine months ago, you promised for the first time to put 1,000 new police officers on the streets. As of today, 29 months after the promise, there's not 1,000, there's not 100, there's not

one new police officer on the streets of this province based on that promise, and that, I tell you, is not acceptable.

In each instance, your government is long on talk and short on results, and nowhere are the results needed more than in fighting gun crime. When can we expect

some real action and some real results from your government? When?

Hon. Mr. McGuinty: I have already listed a number of initiatives with respect to dealing with crime and attacking criminality itself.

There is another important dimension to this, one which in fact the union representative made reference to in his remarks reported in the media today. He said,

"We need to establish better programs in the inner city to make sure that these young people ... have avenues to allocate their time so they're not hanging out on the streets." I fully support the

sentiment conveyed in that statement.

So in addition to those elements where we are getting tough on crime, we're doing some other things to reach kids before they get involved in criminal

activity.

We've introduced community use of schools. As a result of cuts made by the former Conservative government, those were shut down. Now opportunities for young

people have opened up in those schools again.

The Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities recently announced a new pre-apprenticeship project to ensure that young people get the necessary skills to

enrol in apprenticeship programs.

We have summer job programs that we are supporting, together with the city of Toronto as well.

We have done much, and there is still more to do.

WASTE DISPOSAL

Mr. John Tory (Leader of the Opposition): My next question is for the Premier as well. Premier, like crime, you have been silent on another

important issue facing communities across Ontario. Do you have a plan, or have you insisted there be a plan, with respect to the possibility that the US border might close to garbage from the

greater Toronto area?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty (Premier, Minister of Research and Innovation): I know that the parliamentary assistant to the Minister of the

Environment is eager to speak to this, but let me just begin by saying that we are working with the city of Toronto. The responsibility, of course, for management of waste is municipal. Businesses

which have contracts of their own also must assume responsibility for that. There is a contract in place. We are assured by the city of Toronto that should the hauler be unable to deliver that

garbage to the landfill site in question, it has an ensuing responsibility to deliver it to yet another landfill site. We will continue to monitor the situation very closely.

If the leader of the official opposition has specific sites in mind, I would ask that he put those communities on notice today so that they have some

understanding of where it is he thinks Toronto's waste should be delivered.

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): Stop the clock. Order.

Supplementary?

Mr. Tory: The Premier would try to pass the buck on this to anybody he could, including me. But the bottom line is, just think about your own

answer you just gave, where you said that the contractor has the responsibility to find some other place for it.

If the border is closed, I say to you, Mr. Premier, where are they going to put it -- under their bed? For goodness' sake, your own environment minister said

it best two weeks ago when she said that your government has no plan to deal with the possibility of the border being closed.

Toronto, York, Peel and Durham all now rely on Michigan to dispose of their garbage. They issued to you a report that outlines 12 Ontario landfills that could

take waste, but warns that all of that capacity would be full in six months. It also recommended that your government should be involved in developing a contingency plan.

Premier, given that that report was eight months ago and we've heard precisely zero from you or your minister since then, I will ask you again: Are you working

on a plan or are you requiring that a plan be delivered to you by a specific date from the municipalities you say are responsible? If not, why not, and if you are working on such a plan, when will

it be made public?

Hon. Mr. McGuinty: To the parliamentary assistant, Speaker.

The Speaker: The parliamentary assistant to the Minister of the Environment.

Mr. John Wilkinson (Perth-Middlesex): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. First of all, congratulations; Hugh Edighoffer would be proud of you, sir.

I would be remiss if I didn't note, for all the members of the House, that I'm sure we all join in sending congratulations to our colleague the member for

Etobicoke-Lakeshore on the safe delivery of her two bouncing baby boys, Zachary and Ryan.

Applause.

Mr. Wilkinson: I'm at a loss to listen to the Leader of the Opposition, because I'm referred to the Tory party Web site of February 24 this

year -- a beautiful picture of one John Tory on it, and, I might add, a quote from Mr. Tory himself: "All municipalities must have long-term contingency plans for the management of waste to

safeguard the environment and public health."

It seems that we've had some revelation here. If you'd like to suggest to us what communities in Ontario you think should be taking that trash, you just let us

know over here.

Interjections.

The Speaker: Order. Stop the clock.

Leader of the Opposition, final supplementary.

Mr. Tory: This is an important occasion for the member to be answering his first question, but I must say it was a very, very poor start,

because the fact of the matter is, to the member, I will name four communities that need to have plans. It is your obligation and the Premier's obligation, and the question is to the Premier. Let's

start with the government requiring, as it's mandated to do, plans from Toronto, York, Peel and Durham, which is what I asked for.

Premier, your government has been in office for two long years now. In those two years you've done nothing except to sit on a report for eight months about

garbage in this province. You haven't developed a plan, you haven't required anybody else to develop a plan, nor have you done anything to really embrace the new technologies in this area. You've

done nothing. Don't you think it's time that you gave yourself and everyone else involved, including those communities, a real deadline by which they have to come forward with a plan as to what

we're going to do?

Mr. Wilkinson: The McGuinty government has done more in the last two years than the Leader of the Opposition's party did in eight years. Your

bright idea was that Toronto should take its trash, put it on a train, go up 600 kilometres and dump it in a lake, and you're coming in here and telling us that we don't have a plan?

We have an amazing plan. The first thing we tell municipalities is that we remind them, as all parties have agreed in this House forever, that waste is a

municipal issue. The responsibility of our ministry is, if requirements come before us, solutions come before us, that we will take a look at that and we'll be expeditious in our reply. Because of

that, new landfill sites have been approved in this province in the last two years. Perhaps you're unaware of that. Given the Tory tiny researchers around here, there are a lot of things you're

unaware of.

But I want to say that it's nice to see that Adam Vaughan has lit a fire under the Leader of the Opposition today.

ELECTRICITY SUPPLY

Mr. Howard Hampton (Kenora-Rainy River): My question is to the Premier. Premier, in May you promised, and I quote, "an open and public debate

on nuclear power." Today you acknowledge that you have already signed a private nuclear deal with Bruce Power for more than $4.25 billion. Nuclear power is expensive and unreliable, with serious

concerns about nuclear safety, storage of nuclear waste, and profit-driven private operators. Premier, what happened to your promise of an open and public debate?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty (Premier, Minister of Research and Innovation): I thank the member for the question. Let me just say that it's important

to understand the context in which we find ourselves. Over the course of the next 15 years we are required, as a province, to replace, renew or refurbish some 25,000 megawatts of generation. That's

one huge challenge.

I'm pleased to say that, as a government, we have grabbed the energy bull by the horns. We are the most active jurisdiction in all of North America. Like my

friend, I would love it if we lived in a world where we could rely entirely on solar, wind power and hydroelectric, but we live in this world, not that one. So we are absolutely determined to leave

no stone unturned when it comes to ensuring that we have in place a reliable supply of clean, responsibly priced, reasonably priced electricity.

This deal that we're doing with Bruce Power is a fair deal. It is a reasonable deal. It has been approved by fairness oversight. It's a matter that we also

return to the Auditor General for the province of Ontario. In fact, the contract is on-line now. It's over 200 pages. We've been very open, very public, very transparent.

Mr. Hampton: Premier, the question was about what happened to the promise you made to the people of Ontario about an open and public

debate.

Now, as for your deal for privatized nuclear power, it is a sweetheart deal for Bruce Power. OPG says that nuclear power costs about four and half cents a

kilowatt hour to produce, but your private deal with Bruce Power will give them 6.3 cents plus inflation. That's 33% more for this private, profit-driven nuclear operator.

Premier, Ontario families and Ontario industries are already paying a lot more on their hydro bills because of your broken promises and your electricity

mistakes. How do you justify making them pay 33% more for privatized nuclear power?

Hon. Mr. McGuinty: The price of this deal is 6.3 cents per kilowatt hour. It has been, since January of this year, averaging 6.7 cents per

kilowatt hour, so we think this is a fair deal in the circumstances. Everybody would like to have lower-priced electricity. We'd like to find ourselves in a position where, frankly, this work could

have been started some eight or 10 years ago. But it wasn't, so here we are, and we are determined to get the job done.

In addition to this particular arrangement that we're entering into with Bruce Power, we have done much by way of insuring that we've already brought some

2,200 megawatts of new generation on-line. We have 9,000 more megawatts in the pipeline, 1,500 of which are going to be represented by this particular arrangement. This is the kind of arrangement

which we have spent a great deal of time deliberating. There are no easy answers when it comes to generating new electricity in the province of Ontario, but I'm convinced at the end of the day that

this is fair, it is reasonable and it protects the interests of ratepayers.

Mr. Hampton: The Premier says that this is a good deal for ratepayers, but if the private nuclear deal at the Bruce goes over budget -- and

nuclear projects always go over budget -- then hydro consumers will have to pick up half the cost overrun. If the project goes over by $2.5 billion, which is not unheard of, hydro's consumers pay

another $1 billion. That makes your $4.25-billion deal into a $5.25-billion deal. Premier, why are you forcing ordinary families to pay for cost overruns by a profit-driven private nuclear

plant?

Hon. Mr. McGuinty: Just so we have a good understanding of our recent history in this regard, ratepayers were required to pick up 100% of the

$1-billion cost overrun when it came to the Pickering reactor retrofit. What we have managed to do is to shift 50% of potential overruns to the private sector. In an ideal world we would love to

have been able to shift 100% of the cost overruns. One of the things we had done -- and it was in the background information that was put out today -- is that we had CIBC act as an overseer. They

compared this particular arrangement with, I believe, some 18 others, typical deals, similar deals, in North America and perhaps other parts of the world as well. They said that this was fair, it

was in keeping with standards and that this was fair again to both ratepayers and taxpayers. This is not easy for us, to ensure that we have a reliable supply of electricity, but I can tell you we

are determined to make that happen for the people of Ontario.

Mr. Hampton: Premier, yes, I'm sure that CIBC believes this is a great deal for the private, profit-driven nuclear operator. There were cost

overruns at Pickering, but Pickering didn't cost in the neighbourhood of $6.5 billion, which is where you're headed here.

It's interesting to read the briefing note from TransCanada, because they say that the McGuinty government's going to give them a $60-million reduction on the

lease costs every year. So over a 20-year deal, that's another $1.2 billion more for a profit-driven private nuclear operator. No wonder CIBC thinks this is such a great deal. You're shovelling

money out the door to a private, profit-driven nuclear operator. Premier, how do you justify giving a profit-driven private nuclear operator another $1.2 billion that you don't even refer to in

your press release?

Hon. Mr. McGuinty: To the Minister of Energy.

Hon. Donna H. Cansfield (Minister of Energy): I'm pleased to respond to the honourable member's question. I have to tell you, I just started

reading a new book and I got to page 18, where they spoke about, "I'm not ideologically opposed to private power." I wonder who wrote that particular book.

We have to replace 25,000 megawatts of new supply by the year 2020. Our government has a plan to provide safe, clean, reliable energy, and we will do it three

ways: We will build, we will refurbish and maximize what we've got, and we will create a culture of conservation. We will ask all Ontarians to work with us to do it.

I can assure you that at 6.3 cents, when the current price from January to October is 6.8 cents, is a good deal for Ontario, in addition to the fact that $4.25

billion will not be borne, as the $10 billion was, as three times what Pickering cost --

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): Thank you. Supplementary.

Mr. Hampton: I'm not sure what the answer was. The question was about, how do you justify giving this profit-driven private nuclear company a

further $1.2 billion, and you don't even refer to it in your press release?

Do you know what is really galling here? When you read the fine print, this doesn't even provide new supply. Under the fine print, if Bruce A units 1 and 2

come on-line in 2009 -- and that's a big "if" -- then units 3 and 4 will come down for further refurbishment. This doesn't add new supply. If these come on-line, the other ones come down. As for

all of your statements about 9,000 megawatts of new supply, here again it's not true.

How do you justify a $6.5-billion deal for a profit-driven private nuclear operator when people don't --

The Speaker: The question has been asked. Minister.

Hon. Mrs. Cansfield: Let me talk a little bit about that 9,000. We have clean energy supply and demand side at 1,955 megawatts; the Niagara

tunnel at 200 megawatts; first renewable, 395 megawatts; the second renewable RFP is 200 megawatts; and the third RFP is 1,000 megawatts; replacement of Thunder Bay, 310 megawatts; cogen, 1,000;

downtown Toronto, 500; west GTA, 1,000; and demand side at 250. This is in addition to 1,500 megawatts of new supply. If the member did read the fine print, he'd know that it's to put a new steam

generator in, and that it's a normal practice throughout the process of a nuclear plant to deal with outages.

Mr. Hampton: The McGuinty government refers to new supply, as changing Thunder Bay over to gas-fired as new supply. It simply replaces old

supply. You refer to 1,000 new megawatts in the west of the GTA. Every day when I pick up the paper, I find more of those so-called new gas-fired generating stations falling off the page. Then you

say that Bruce Power A refurbishment of units 1 and 2 is new supply, but if 3 and 4 come down, it isn't new supply. This is $6.5 billion for the hydro ratepayers of the province, and there's no new

supply.

I ask again, what happened to the Premier's promise, made only six months ago, of a full, open public debate about nuclear power?

Hon. Mrs. Cansfield: The Ontario Power Authority, which was given instructions under Bill 100, is in fact conducting consultations now on this

particular issue. That report will be coming to the ministry by December 1. We are dealing with an existing contract that is in place until the year 2018, with an additional 25-year option. We

started these discussions after Bruce did their feasibility study about a year ago.

CANCER TREATMENT

Mr. Cameron Jackson (Burlington): My question is for the Minister of Health. Today in the members' gallery, we are joined by 25 cancer

patients from our province, who earlier at our Queen's Park press conference made an impassioned plea to both you and your government to fix a gap that exists in access to cancer treatment in our

province, which differentiates between those services received by oral chemotherapy and those that are received by intravenous chemotherapy.

After Health Canada approves any new cancer drug, or any drug, for that matter, Ontario conducts its own review, as you well know. Until it is completed, your

ministry has a process that will make exemption to cover the costs of oral drugs as recommended by an oncologist through this

section 8 process. This, in effect, creates two classes of cancer

patients in our province.

Minister, will you please consider having an exemption and an approval process for oral chemotherapy? Why is it that you have it for oral chemotherapy, but you

have no application process to your ministry for coverage of intravenous chemotherapy treatment in our province?

Hon. George Smitherman (Minister of Health and Long-Term Care): I had the chance to speak to this issue somewhat at estimates with the

honourable member. I recently indicated, "Yes, indeed," to his question of will we take a look at processes designed to continue to build on our capacity to fund cancer drugs in our province.

It's of note that our new drug budget related to cancer since we came to office, a budget that is administered by Cancer Care Ontario, has more than doubled. I

think this stands as our commitment to make sure that Ontario patients are receiving access to those drugs that are deemed to be clinically efficacious. In an environment where new drugs are coming

on-line all the time, we need to continue to make sure that we have a process that builds in equitable response with science-based, evidence-based decision-making. But to the honourable member's

direct question of will we take a look at this, I indicated to him at estimates that we would, and I'm happy to reassert that today in the House.

Mr. Jackson: This review is months and months away, and you're not listening to the basic question being asked by cancer patients who are here

today. Carolyn Henry from the London North Centre riding, who has multiple myeloma, stated earlier that today it will be costing her approximately $35,000, and she will pay thousands more to have

the drug administered in a private clinic. "This will put my family into severe financial distress." This is happening today. The courageous Suzanne Aucoin from the St. Catharines riding, who has

colorectal cancer and has been travelling to Buffalo, spent US$65,000 and will return next week with her chequebook for treatment of a drug that's today approved by Health Canada. Dr. Donna Reece

at Princess Margaret Hospital said, "As an oncologist, it's painful to watch patients die on waiting lists when treatment for some with long-term remission is available."

Minister, this is simply a policy decision for you to make. Will you create a matching

section 8 policy approval process so that those patients who need

intravenous chemotherapy treatment, life-saving treatment, will be able to apply and not have to --

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): The question has been asked. Minister?

Hon. George Smitherman: I think it would be helpful for the public discussion to make members and people listening aware that no cancer agency

in Canada has provided full public funding for this drug. We are working very hard, consistent with the necessity of equitable response, and also evidence-based decision-making, to move this

quickly through a process, working alongside the DQTC and alongside a Cancer Care Ontario subcommittee.

We recognize, of course, that the paramountcy for patients is access to any and all treatment that is designed to have some benefit. It is our responsibility,

in a world where more and more products of that nature are available every day, to make sure that we're using a process that provides an equitable response, based on evidence. We're doing that

quickly. I think we've demonstrated our commitment by more than doubling those resources.

But to the member's question with respect to process, I indicated to him previously, and I've indicated again today, that that's something we're very keen to

take a look at, and very much appreciate his interest.

WASTE DISPOSAL

Ms. Marilyn Churley (Toronto-Danforth): A question for the Premier. Premier, back to the garbage issue, and I hope this time you don't dump

the question, so to speak, on the parliamentary assistant, who recycled tired old answers which were no answers at all.

The US House of Representatives could soon vote to allow states to prohibit the import of foreign waste. Within a mere 90 days' notice from Michigan and less

than six months of available landfill capacity, the GTA is teetering on the brink of a garbage crisis. What is your plan if Michigan closes the border to GTA garbage?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty (Premier, Minister of Research and Innovation): To the parliamentary assistant.

Mr. John Wilkinson (Perth-Middlesex): I find it awfully interesting today for the member to be speaking about this issue, because I have two

contradictory messages, right here today in the public record. Today, I note that you sent out a press release from Mr. Hampton: "The New Democrats accuse Ontario's Liberal government of negligence

for not developing a strategy to deal with Toronto's trash." I also see today in his interview with Mr. Urquhart at the Toronto Star, "We have to make communities and regions responsible for their

own development and for their own waste." So you two have a little conclave and then let us know what's going on.

Ms. Churley: Parliamentary assistant, that was a sad, sad answer to a growing crisis in the GTA. You must take this seriously and not keep

playing games with it. And let me say this: It's your government, not municipalities, that fumbled the ball. You promised to ban organic wastes in landfills -- no action. You were responsible for

instituting used oil, electronic waste and tire recycling programs -- no action. You issued a discussion paper in June of 2004 on how to achieve your promised 60% waste diversion rate, yet we're

nearing the end of 2005, a potential garbage crisis, and there's still no action from you. Where is your plan, which is your responsibility, to divert 60% of the province's waste from landfill?

Mr. Wilkinson: I couldn't disagree more with the member. And it really is nice to see you here today. I know that you have other engagements

in this city, but glad to have you here. I can tell you that the McGuinty government has been --

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): Stop the clock. You know that it is out of order to refer to a member's absence from this place. I'm sure

you'll correct that.

Mr. Wilkinson: I withdraw, Mr. Speaker, and I apologize.

What I want to talk about is that I think it's unfair to characterize this government as one that has been doing nothing about waste diversion since we formed

a government. Within one month of being here, we approved the blue box program, a program that the previous government spent eight years deciding not to do. And now we make sure that industry

covers half of the cost of each municipality's requirement into the blue box plan. Our commitment, the 60% diversion -- and I might add that today is the beginning of Waste Reduction Week here in

this province. I was at an event this morning. That is the future for this province. The McGuinty government embraces those changes. We have said to people repeatedly, and led by example, about the

need for us to make sure that we're diverting electronic waste, something that I don't recall any other previous government approving in this province, though you had a chance.

RENEWABLE FUELS

Mr. Jim Brownell (Stormont-Dundas-Charlottenburgh): My question is to the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. Minister, on June 17 of

this year I had the opportunity of standing at the site of the proposed ethanol plant in my riding of Stormont-Dundas-Charlottenburgh and highlight our government's ethanol growth fund initiative

to the Seaway Valley Farmers Co-operative. This initiative of $520 million over 12 years is a boon for the ethanol industry. The plant in my riding, when built, will produce roughly 69 million

litres of ethanol fuel annually, which will help our government reach its announced goal of 10% ethanol at the pumps by 2010. I was delighted to share with the Seaway Valley Farmers Co-operative

the details of your announcement of Friday, October 7, when you indicated that the ethanol growth fund is now accepting applications. They were pleased to hear this announcement. Minister, would

you explain to us how parties interested in benefiting from the ethanol growth fund can apply for grants?

Hon. Leona Dombrowsky (Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs): It is an important question because it is an important initiative. I

also want to commend the honourable member for the good work and advocacy that he has had, particularly with the Seaway Valley Farmers Energy Co-operative.

First of all, on October 7, the government did publish the guidelines for our ethanol growth fund. It's important to state publicly that this fund is available

for individuals, corporations, farm co-operatives -- the one that has been identified by the honourable member. Proponents who are interested in the fund can visit the OMAFRA site to gain the

details on the components of the initiative.

Funds allocated under the Ontario ethanol growth fund are for both capital assistance, operating components. There are other parts of the fund that I hope I'll

have time to respond to in my supplementary.

Finally, I think it's very important to identify here today that proposals must be received by November 10, 2005, and the results will be announced the third

week of December 2005.

Mr. Brownell: Minister, thank you for your assurances and information. I know that you have been a big supporter of the project for some time

in my riding, having met with the Seaway Valley Farmers Energy Co-operative on September 15.

With its ethanol initiative, this government has demonstrated its commitment to the environment and has shown foresight in planning for a stable source of

fuel. As you know, my riding is struggling to deal with a series of plant closures and job layoffs that have had a tremendous impact not just on the local economy, but the very livelihood of my

communities.

The ethanol plant to be built in Cornwall will create jobs, both directly and indirectly, jobs we truly need. Just as the one-time grant component of the

ethanol growth fund will benefit my riding of Stormont-Dundas-Charlottenburgh, so will its various elements be of value to other parts of the province.

Minister, could you explain the various components of the fund as you mentioned in your first answer and how they will be of use to Ontarians.

Hon. Mrs. Dombrowsky: As the honourable member has identified, the ethanol growth fund will be an investment in rural communities across

Ontario but also a very important priority for our government. This will also be an investment in our environment.

I'd like to speak specifically to the four components of the growth fund. There is of course a capital component that will assist those proponents to invest in

capital for the production of ethanol. There will be operating grants that will be available from 2007 until 2017 to promote ethanol production and help the industry manage the fluctuating market

that can be experienced in that industry. There is the independence fund that will provide financial support to the independent gasoline distributors who currently blend ethanol, and they may need

some assistance to meet the requirements of the new standards. Finally, there is the research and development fund, which we believe is going to help farmers as well as other industries as we work

toward a bio-based economy.

TEACHER MISCONDUCT

Mr. Frank Klees (Oak Ridges): My question is to the Minister of Education. On December 9 of this year, Philip Louis King of Chatham will be

eligible to teach in Ontario's public school system again, this despite being found guilty of professional misconduct. That professional misconduct, as you are aware, related to his habit of

viewing child pornography on the Internet from a laptop in his classroom, and this despite professional opinions that restoring a teaching certificate to Mr. King is, and I quote, "too big a risk

to take." Minister, will you give us your assurance that Philip Louis King will never teach in Ontario classrooms again?

Hon. Gerard Kennedy (Minister of Education): To the member opposite, I understand that he is raising a case that requires serious

consideration. We are not at liberty to discuss an individual case here. We're aware of media reports of the names that were raised. I will say that I've made inquiries to the Ontario College of

Teachers, which was established by the previous government to do the exact kind of role that it has in this case, which is to review the merits of the case and take away licences from teachers who

don't warrant them, which they have done in many, many cases to do with Internet porn, not in the sense that there have been that many cases, but in most of those cases it has resulted in a

permanent suspension of the licences, of the few that there have been.

What I would say is that we in the ministry have made inquiries of the Ontario College of Teachers. We have a meeting with them scheduled, in terms of

discussing a number of issues. One of the issues will be our trying to understand whether the media reports, in general, have credence. You will know that there are a number of months, some of the

publicly reported facts say, before the person will be reinstated. I will give the undertaking to the member opposite that we will make certain that all the procedures that --

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): Thank you. Supplementary?

Mr. Klees: Minister, you will know that it's more than just media events that were reported. There is a decision by the Ontario College of

Teachers that is very public.

I have a quote for you to take into consideration as you review this. Detective Sergeant Paul Gillespie, who is the head of Toronto's child porn unit, said the

following: "Every one of these pictures represents a child being tortured...." He goes on to say that restoring the teaching certificates of such individuals is "too big a risk to take."

Minister, it is within your purview, it is your responsibility, to ensure the decision that was made, which is only a two-year suspension, is not adequate.

You, as Minister of Education, can assure this House and people across the province that this individual, Philip Louis King, will never again teach in Ontario schools. Will you do that?

Hon. Mr. Kennedy: The assurance I will give this House is that this government will take every measure to protect not just students, but young

people in this province, from the scourge of anyone who would like to prey on the vulnerable children of our society in any way, shape or form.

In respect to this particular question, I would note that the Robins report made many recommendations which the member opposite's government declined to

implement. This government is bringing those recommendations forward. We'll make sure that there is a complete set of protections in place in our schools to ensure that there is no chance -- at

least the minimum of chances -- that anyone could be exposed to that.

With respect to the case in question, I've given the member opposite my undertaking. It will be followed through in a timely manner to make sure that the

procedures to protect children are ensuring that no person who could be a risk will be in a classroom.

CRIME PREVENTION

Mr. Howard Hampton (Kenora-Rainy River): My question is for the Premier. Over the weekend, another Toronto citizen, a TTC driver, was shot. He

is the latest victim of gun violence. Your response so far has been to hold some meetings and conduct a press conference. Premier, when are you going to take action and make the significant social

and community investments that are needed to address gun violence issues?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty (Premier, Minister of Research and Innovation): I'll refer this to the Attorney General.

Hon. Michael Bryant (Attorney General): Obviously the Premier has spoken, I think, for all members of the House in expressing our concern for

this TTC driver. I can tell this House that I've asked the victim services secretariat within the Ministry of the Attorney General to provide to this victim the full array of services that are

appropriate in this case. In this case, it is appropriate for the victim services secretariat to contact the union because of privacy interests, and we have done that to make sure we're working

with the union to ensure that all services are available to that individual.

With respect to what this government is doing and has done with respect to gun violence, it started at the beginning of the mandate with the establishment of

the guns-and-gangs task force, which has resulted in literally hundreds of arrests, the seizure of more than 100 firearms, and some convictions as well. We have been on the file of gun violence

from day one, and I'm happy to expand on this in our supplementary.

Mr. Hampton: What people have seen is that this government has been missing in action on this issue. Let me be clear: A number of groups and

organizations have met with this government, both collectively and individually, and they have outlined for the McGuinty government what needs to be done. They've outlined the fact that you have

too many youth who do not have after-school opportunities, you have too many youth who do not have summer job opportunities, you have too many youth who have been kicked out of school, you have too

many youth who do not have the opportunities in terms of job training or work.

They're asking this question: When is the McGuinty government going to stop conducting press conferences and when are you going to make the significant social

and community investments to address the real issues with these problems?

Hon. Michael Bryant: Well, the member's quite right: This is a very serious issue, and there is no doubt that we have to do everything we can,

not only to deal on the enforcement side and the prevention side, but also to deal with at-risk youths. That's why we made the investment of more than $20 million in annual funding to keep those

community schools open. That's why we made the investment of a youth-at-risk summer job initiative. That's why Toronto police services receives funding through the Minister of Community Safety for

the PEACE project, which works with young people in the community to target gun violence. That's why we set up the pre-apprenticeship training programs and why we set up the summer jobs program for

at-risk youth. And that's why we made, in addition, a further commitment in the throne speech to ensure that we continue to make significant strides not only in addressing gun violence and

preventing gun violence but in addressing the causes of gun violence.

POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION

Mr. David Zimmer (Willowdale): My question is for the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities. Minister, the McGuinty government is

making the most significant investment in post-secondary education in the last 40 years. The plan features $1.5 billion in additional student support that will provide enhanced assistance to

135,000 students. The plan will see more students having access to higher-quality education. Minister, in addition to these investments, what has been done to ensure that students have an

up-to-date, safe and rewarding learning environment? What has been done to ensure they have the equipment necessary to provide them for a globally competitive, knowledge-based society?

Hon. Christopher Bentley (Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities): I'd like to thank the member from Willowdale for the question and

for his advocacy on behalf of students to ensure they have the type of safe, effective learning environment that he's speaking about.

In the spring, the McGuinty government flowed $250 million extra in capital and equipment funding support to our universities and colleges. This money is

strengthening the foundations for learning. I've had the opportunity over the past several months to tour campuses to see what the colleges and universities are doing with this money.

For example, I've been to Conestoga College, where I saw that they'd invested in new advanced classrooms to ensure more effective learning, but they'd also

invested in energy-efficient equipment to ensure that they can save money while learning, and that money they've saved can actually be reinvested in the classroom.

I've also been to Guelph, and I've seen the new learning and growth environment they have, which, more effective for their experiments, saves money for more

classroom --

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): Thank you. Supplementary?

Mr. Zimmer: Thank you, Minister. I'm gratified to hear how your ministry has invested in the coming generation. I commend you for this

investment.

Specifically, I would like to know what capital money has been invested in Seneca College, whose home is in my riding of Willowdale. Can you tell me what

specific improvements students at Seneca College will see?

Hon. Mr. Bentley: I'm not surprised the question is about Seneca College. I hear regularly from the member for Willowdale about Seneca

College. I am pleased to announce that of those funds, $9.2 million was invested in Seneca College.

For example, they've invested in a new teaching facility for, among other programs, veterinary technician programs. They've also invested $2.2 million for new

flight simulators for the aviation and flight technology course. But it doesn't end there. They've invested in a highly accelerated life test environmental chamber. Seneca College is leading many

jurisdictions in the type of advanced programming that they can provide. They've also invested heavily to ensure that their classrooms have the most up-to-date electronic equipment. It just shows

the type of uses that our colleges and universities are putting this funding to, and I thank Seneca College.

FOREST INDUSTRY

Mr. Norm Miller (Parry Sound-Muskoka): My question is for the Premier. The forestry sector has been facing a looming crisis for the past two

years. Your Minister of Natural Resources has made two announcements to address the crisis. The first was in June, when he released the report that he commissioned, the Minister's Council on Forest

Sector Competitiveness; the second earlier this month. Neither announcement adequately responds to the critical core competitiveness issues facing the forestry sector. Why does the province

continue to ignore the recommendation of the minister's own expert forestry council?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty (Premier, Minister of Research and Innovation): I thank the member opposite for the question, and he raises a very

important, very legitimate issue. The forestry sector is experiencing unprecedented challenges as a result of globalization of the industry. That globalization is leading to consolidations and it's

leading to job losses, not just here in Ontario but indeed throughout North America and much of the world. I'm pleased with the response that we've been able to put together with the forestry

sector.

The first phase of our three-step response was to put in place a $350-million loan guarantee program. The second step was a $150-million forest sector

prosperity fund. That is designed specifically to leverage new investments, including value-added manufacturing and co-generation technology. What we want to do is make this fund available so that

industry here in Ontario can go through the necessary transition to put themselves on a stronger and more sustainable footing going forward.

Mr. Miller: Thank you, Premier. I'm glad you brought up what you've done so far, because I'll respond to that.

Today I met with Glen Morrison, president of local Steelworkers union 1330 from Abitibi Consolidated and the Kenora mill. The future of this mill is at stake,

as are jobs in the community. In fact, this is such an important issue that this delegation is here at Queen's Park for the week. I'd like to inform you of how your minister's recent announcement,

the one you just alluded to, has been received by others in the sector. Cec Makowski of the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union called the announcements "pathetically anemic" and "nowhere

near what is required to turn the industry around." The Ontario Forest Industries Association said that "critical core competitive issues are not addressed." Every day I read in the northern papers

about another paper machine or mill shutting down in a small community. In my own riding, letters are pouring in from families who are in fear for their livelihoods.

Premier, the government's plan has lowered delivered wood costs by US$1 per cubic metre; it's just not good enough. When is your government going to act on the

recommendations of the expert council?

Hon. Mr. McGuinty: I marvel at this new alliance here. I wish them all the best, I really do. But let me tell you a bit more about our

$680-million strategy, in addition to that $150-million forest sector prosperity fund. We have put in place $28 million annually to help support the maintenance of primary access roads, which had

been downloaded on to the sector by the NDP government. We're devoting $10 million to an annual inventory program and $1 million for an annual Ontario wood promotion program.

The first step was the loan guarantee program; the second step was our broader strategy. There's a third step, and it's an important one, and I'd ask my friend

opposite to take up this cause as well. Now that we here, the taxpayers of Ontario, have put in place this plan, we are asking the federal government to come to the table and to match the support

that we've put in place.

GASOLINE PRICES

Mr. Gilles Bisson (Timmins-James Bay): My question is to the Premier, and it's a very simple one. You will know that post-Katrina, we saw gas

prices shoot through the roof to almost $1.50 a litre in some cases. I've got a simple question: Would you agree with me that there's been excessive profit-taking on the part of the gas industry in

Ontario as well as in North America?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty (Premier, Minister of Research and Innovation): Speaker, the Minister of Government Services.

Hon. Gerry Phillips (Minister of Government Services): Just to remind the House of the step we took, and I think it was the appropriate step:

We notified the federal Competition Bureau of our serious concerns with what was happening with gas prices in the province of Ontario, where we saw dramatic changes in prices from area to area. We

saw the price go down more quickly in other jurisdictions.

The member would be aware that the federal government has acknowledged that the Competition Bureau probably needs more teeth; they probably need some change in

legislation; they probably need some tools to do a better job in dealing with this matter.

We, on behalf of the people of Ontario, took I think the appropriate step. The federal government has acknowledged that it needs to take some action, and I

understand that they plan to do that.

Mr. Bisson: Listen, I've just got to say I'm hearing "tools"; I'm hearing "federal government"; I'm hearing everything. That wasn't the

question.

My question to the Premier was a very simple one. People were being hosed at the pumps. They were paying as much as $1.50 a litre for the best part of

September, post-Katrina. I repeat my question to you, Minister: Do you agree with me that the gas companies across this country have been doing excessive profit-taking when it comes to the price of

gas?

Hon. Mr. Phillips: I will repeat what I said earlier: The federal government has acknowledged that the Competition Bureau probably needs some

additional teeth to deal with this matter, and that there may be some cases where the gas companies have not dealt fairly with this.

I'll tell you what we've done, but I'll tell you what we will not do. We won't do what you did when you were in office, and that is raise the gas taxes in the

province of Ontario by 30%. That won't happen. We won't gouge the people of Ontario on gas taxes like you did in the time you were in office. That won't happen, for sure.

EMPLOYMENT SUPPORTS

Mr. Phil McNeely (Ottawa-Orléans): My question is to the Minister of Community and Social Services. Minister, earlier this year, you

launched an employment support initiative called Jobs Now, an initiative that was piloted across Ontario, including the city of Ottawa. Jobs Now is a positive way to restore integrity to social

assistance. I know that in my riding, where there are people on welfare who want to work, finding and keeping a job can be very difficult. I hope Jobs Now has changed that.

Minister, have there been improvements in aiding those on social assistance to find jobs through the JobsNow pilot? More specifically, has the pilot project in

Ottawa seen people on social assistance gain employment?

Hon. Sandra Pupatello (Minister of Community and Social Services, minister responsible for women's issues): Thank you so much for this. I know

you have a particular interest in the Ottawa area and in helping people who are on welfare return to work.

What was very special about this pilot that we launched last spring was that we focused on six areas -- northern, rural, urban communities -- where we could

look at the kind of supports needed to move people back into the workforce, but we specifically targeted individuals who have been on the system for 12 months or more, what we would classify as

"harder to serve" because they've been out of the workforce for so long.

We are very happy to see the preliminary responses. I am getting regular feedback from all six communities and will be happy to share a fulsome report in very

short order, in particular for Ottawa. Both you and the mayor of Ottawa are very happy to see this renewed focus on making welfare a real program -- not just workfare, which was a failure by the

last government -- that returns people, in fact, to working for a living, and assistance to move people into the workforce.

Mr. McNeely: Thank you, Minister. Your attitude toward those Ontarians who need help the most is quite refreshing.

We must never forget how important it is that we continue to help those who need it most. Minister, what plans does your ministry have to move forward with

JobsNow?

Hon. Ms. Pupatello: As I mentioned earlier, we are looking for a very fulsome report of the program, which is to run up to 18 months or beyond

to get some good results on that pilot, as it is operating in six different sites, including Ottawa.

I will tell you, though, that in addition what we are doing is looking at our programs, and with the help of our parliamentary assistant, Deb Matthews, who did

a very good report on social assistance as it relates to employment especially, it has resulted in a significant decrease to the barriers that exist in the welfare system, things like the extension

of our health benefits for a further six months as people move into the workplace, a significant barrier that the Conservatives put up that we are tearing down.

In addition, a special increase for the first time in 18 years in the child care component deductions for people moving into the workforce, from $300 to $600.

In addition, a number of those barriers that we are targeting where we will say to people, "We know you need help getting back into the workforce, and we as a government are prepared to offer that

assistance."

PETITIONS

CANCER TREATMENT

Mr. Cameron Jackson (Burlington): I have a petition to the Parliament of Ontario.

"Whereas Ontario has an inconsistent policy for access to new cancer treatments while these drugs are under review for funding; and

"Whereas cancer patients taking oral chemotherapy may apply for a

section 8 exception under the Ontario drug benefit plan with no such exception policy in

place for intravenous cancer drugs administered in hospital; and

"Whereas this is an inequitable, inconsistent and unfair policy, creating two classes of cancer patients with further inequities on the basis of personal

wealth and the willingness of hospitals to risk budgetary deficits to provide new intravenous chemotherapy treatments; and

"Whereas cancer patients have the right to the most effective care recommended by their doctors;

"We, the undersigned, petition the Parliament of Ontario to provide immediate access to Velcade and other intravenous chemotherapy while these new cancer drugs

are under review and provide a consistent policy for access to new cancer treatments that enables oncologists to apply for exceptions to meet the needs of patients."

This petition has my signature and support.

AUTISM TREATMENT

Ms. Shelley Martel (Nickel Belt): I have a petition that was signed by dozens of people who were at a rally for autism that I spoke at this

morning in Sarnia, and I want to read it into the record. It says:

"To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas children with autism who have reached the age of six years are no longer being discharged from their preschool autism program; and

"Whereas these children should be getting the best special education possible in the form of applied behaviour analysis (ABA) within the school system; and

"Whereas there are approximately 700 preschool children with autism across Ontario who are required to wait indefinitely for placement in the program, and

there are also countless school-age children that are not receiving the support they require in the school system; and

"Whereas this situation has an impact on the families, extended families and friends of all of these children; and

"Whereas, as stated on the Web site for the Ministry of Children and Youth Services, `IBI can make a significant difference in the life of a child with autism.

Its objective is to decrease the frequency of challenging behaviours, build social skills and promote language development';

"We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to fund the treatment of IBI for all preschool children awaiting services. We also petition

the Legislature of Ontario to fund an education program in the form of ABA in the school system."

Clearly, I agree with the petitioners. I've affixed my signature to this.

HOSPITAL FUNDING

Mr. Kevin Daniel Flynn (Oakville): I have a petition regarding Credit Valley Hospital capital improvements.

"Whereas on August 22, 2005, the government of Ontario, through the Ministries of Health and Long-Term Care and Public Infrastructure Renewal, announced that

the Credit Valley Hospital's phase 2 expansion project will proceed, with construction starting in 2007; and

"Whereas the new A and H blocks at Credit Valley Hospital will dramatically improve service and care to the approximately 4,800 babies delivered each year at

the Credit Valley Hospital, improving a facility designed to handle 2,700 births annually; and

"Whereas the expanded capacity will expedite the movement of acutely ill admitted emergency patients on to a nursing unit where they will be cared for in a

timely and professional manner, decrease wait times for surgical patients requiring in-patient care, and also motivate local donors to support our community's hospital;

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

"That the Credit Valley Hospital, its staff, patients, donors and community thank the Ministries of Health and Long-Term Care and Public Infrastructure Renewal

for the government of Ontario's solid commitment to the care and well-being of the growing municipalities served by the Credit Valley Hospital in western Mississauga."

I've affixed my signature as well, Mr. Speaker.

SERVICES FOR THE DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED

The Deputy Speaker (Mr. Bruce Crozier): Member for Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke.

Mr. John Yakabuski (Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke): Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I won the lottery.

"To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas without appropriate support, people who have an intellectual disability are often unable to participate effectively in community life and are deprived

of the benefits of society enjoyed by other citizens; and

"Whereas quality supports are dependent upon the ability to attract and retain qualified workers; and

"Whereas the salaries of workers who provide community-based supports and services are up to 25% less than salaries paid to those doing the same work in

government-operated services and other sectors;

"We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to address, as a priority, funding to community agencies in the developmental services

sector, to address critical underfunding of staff salaries and ensure that people who have an intellectual disability continue to receive quality supports and services that they require in order to

live meaningful lives within their community."

This is signed by many of my constituents. I affix my signature as well and give it to Trevor.

HOSPITAL SERVICES

Ms. Shelley Martel (Nickel Belt): I have a petition signed by hundreds of people from Guelph, Cambridge and Kitchener against P3 hospitals. It

reads as follows:

"To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas all hospitals since the inception of public medicare in Canada have been non-profit;

"Whereas `public-private partnership' (P3) hospitals turn over democratic community control to international investors, making a public service into a

commodity sold for profit;

"Whereas worldwide evidence is that private (P3) hospitals lead to doctor, nurse, staff and bed cuts in hospitals in order to make room for profit taking,

consultant fees, higher borrowing costs and outrageous executive salaries;

"Whereas private (P3) hospitals hide information about the use of tax dollars by claiming `commercial secrecy' when they privatize public institutions;

"Whereas the higher costs, user fees, two-tier services and culture of private (P3) hospitals risk the future sustainability of our public medicare system;

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

"We call on the government of Ontario to stop all current and future `public-private partnership' (P3) hospital deals and return full ownership, operation,

management and delivery of hospital services to non-profit hands, and develop a plan to fund new hospitals through public finance, clearly excluding the privatization of hospital services."

I agree with the petitioners. I have affixed my signature to this.

HOSPITAL FUNDING

Mr. Jeff Leal (Peterborough): I have the pleasure today to introduce a petition on behalf of Ms. Franca Mancini, who lives at 29 Bowman Street

in Georgetown, Ontario.

"Petition to the Ontario Legislative Assembly:

"Credit Valley Hospital Capital Improvements

"Whereas on August 22, 2005, the government of Ontario, through the Ministries of Health and Long-Term Care and Public Infrastructure Renewal, announced that

the Credit Valley Hospital's phase 2 expansion project will proceed, with construction starting in 2007; and

"Whereas the new A and H blocks at Credit Valley Hospital will dramatically improve service and care to the approximately 4,800 babies delivered each year at

the Credit Valley Hospital, improving a facility designed to handle 2,700 births annually; and

"Whereas the expanded capacity will expedite the movement of acutely ill admitted emergency patients on to a nursing unit where they will be cared for in a

timely and professional manner, decrease wait times for surgical patients requiring in-patient care, and also motivate local donors to support our community's hospital;

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

"That the Credit Valley Hospital, its staff, patients, donors and community thank the Ministries of Health and Long-Term Care and Public Infrastructure Renewal

for the government of Ontario's solid commitment to the care and well-being of the growing municipalities served by the Credit Valley Hospital in western Mississauga."

QUEENSWAY CARLETON HOSPITAL

Mr. John R. Baird (Nepean-Carleton): I have been getting literally hundreds of petitions every week which read as follows:

"To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas the Queensway Carleton Hospital is one of the most efficient hospitals in the country;

"Whereas the Queensway Carleton Hospital's priority should be providing excellent patient care, not money for Paul Martin's Liberal government;

"Whereas the number of senior citizens served by the Queensway Carleton Hospital is growing rapidly in the west end of Ottawa and Nepean;

"Whereas the federal Liberal government led by Paul Martin has a surplus potentially as high as $10 billion;

"Whereas all provincial political parties in Ontario have acknowledged the significant fiscal imbalance;

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

"The Ontario Legislature call upon the federal Liberal government to immediately cancel its plans to dramatically increase the rent for the land now being used

by the Queensway Carleton Hospital, and that the hospital be charged only $1 rent per year."

I am pleased to support and sign this petition.

OPTOMETRISTS

Ms. Shelley Martel (Nickel Belt): I have a petition that's been signed by dozens of constituents in my riding that reads as follows:

"Whereas the last funding agreement between the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and the Ontario Association of Optometrists (OAO) expired March 31, 2000;

and

"Whereas the optometric fees for OHIP-insured services remain unchanged since 1989; and

"Whereas the lack of any fee increase for 15 years has created a crisis situation for optometrists; and

"Whereas fees for OHIP services do not provide for fair or reasonable compensation for the professional services of optometrists, in that they no longer cover

the costs of providing eye examinations; and

"Whereas it is in the best interests of patients and the government to have a new funding agreement for insured services that will ensure that the most

vulnerable members of society are able to receive the eye care they need;

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

"That the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care resume negotiations immediately with the OAO and appoint a mediator to help with the negotiation process in

order to ensure that optometrists can continue to provide quality eye care services to patients in Ontario."

I agree with the petitioners. I've affixed my signature to this.

PERMIS POUR LA VENTE

DE BOISSONS ALCOOLIQUES

M. Jean-Marc Lalonde (Glengarry-Prescott-Russell): J'ai une pétition provenant de quatre communautés dans la municipalité de La

Nation.

« À l'Assemblée législative de l'Ontario:

« Attendu que les résidents de St-Bernardin, Fournier, St-Isidore et Riceville dans la municipalité de La Nation, comptant environ 11 000

habitants (villages et rurales), ne sont desservis que par trois dépanneurs sur une grande superficie de territoire en campagne;

« Attendu que les résidents doivent parcourir plusieurs kilomètres afin de s'approvisionner d'une bonne bouteille de vin et/ou de

bière puisque cette marchandise n'est disponible que dans les grandes villes éloignées telles que Alexandria et/ou Vankleek Hill;

« Nous, les soussignés, présentons la pétition suivante à l'Assemblée législative de l'Ontario :

« Que le bureau des liqueurs de l'Ontario émette un permis pour la vente de bières et de vin au dépanneur Méthot-Leroux

situé au 117 rue de l'Église, St-Bernardin, Ontario. »

J'y ajoute ma signature.

HIGHWAY 26

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

"Whereas the redevelopment of Highway 26 was approved by MPP Jim Wilson and the previous PC government in 2000; and

"Whereas a number of horrific fatalities and accidents have occurred on the old stretch of Highway 26; and

"Whereas the redevelopment of Highway 26 is critical to economic development and job creation in Simcoe-Grey;

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

"That the Liberal government stop the delay of the Highway 26 redevelopment and act immediately to ensure that the project is finished on schedule, to improve

safety for area residents and provide economic development opportunities and job creation in Simcoe-Grey."

Obviously I agree with the petition and I've signed it.

GASOLINE PRICES

Ms. Shelley Martel (Nickel Belt): I have a petition about gas prices, which reads as follows:

"Whereas the average price of gasoline has skyrocketed to over $1 a litre, the highest price at the pumps in Ontario history;

"Whereas high gas prices are causing great hardship for ordinary motorists, small business owners and industry;

"Whereas the McGuinty Liberals promised to take action to keep gas prices low;

"Whereas the McGuinty Liberals have broken that promise and have done nothing to help ordinary families getting hosed at the pumps;

"We petition the Ontario government to immediately pass Bill 74, the Keep Your Promises at the Pump Act, which would make the Liberals keep their promise to

freeze gas prices for 90 days, and Bill 93, the Keep Your Promise on the Gas Price Watchdog Act, which would force the Liberals to keep their promise to establish a gas price watchdog to protect

consumers from price gouging."

I agree with the petitioners. I've affixed my signature to this.

VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS

Mr. Ted Arnott (Waterloo-Wellington): I have a petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, and it reads as follows:

"Whereas many volunteer fire departments in Ontario are strengthened by the service of double-hatter firefighters who work as professional, full-time

firefighters and also serve as volunteer firefighters on their free time and in their home communities; and

"Whereas the Ontario Professional Fire Fighters Association has declared their intent to `phase out' these double-hatter firefighters; and

"Whereas double-hatter firefighters are being threatened by the union leadership and forced to resign as volunteer firefighters or face losing their full-time

jobs, and this is weakening volunteer fire departments in Ontario; and

"Whereas Waterloo -- Wellington MPP Ted Arnott has introduced Bill 52, the Volunteer Firefighters Employment Protection Act, that would uphold the right to

volunteer and solve this problem concerning public safety in Ontario;

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

"That the provincial government express public support for MPP Ted Arnott's Bill 52 and willingness to pass it into law or introduce similar legislation that

protects the right of firefighters to volunteer in their home communities on their own free time."

This is signed by a significant number of constituents from the Grey-Bruce area.

QUEENSWAY CARLETON HOSPITAL

Ms. Shelley Martel (Nickel Belt): I have received a petition from concerned residents in Ottawa, and it reads as follows:

"To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

"Whereas the Queensway Carleton Hospital is one of the most efficient hospitals in the country;

"Whereas the Queensway Carleton Hospital's priority should be providing excellent patient care, not money for Paul Martin's Liberal government;

"Whereas the number of senior citizens served by the Queensway Carleton Hospital is growing rapidly in the west end of Ottawa and Nepean;

"Whereas the federal Liberal government led by Paul Martin has a surplus potentially as high as $10 billion;

"Whereas all provincial political parties in Ontario have acknowledged the significant fiscal imbalance;

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

"We call on the federal Liberal government to immediately cancel its plans to dramatically increase the rent for the land now being used by the Queensway

Carleton Hospital, and that the hospital be charged only $1 rent per year."

I agree with the petitioners, and I have affixed my signature to this.

ORDERS OF THE DAY

THRONE SPEECH DEBATE

Resuming the debate adjourned on Thursday, October 13, 2005, on the motion for an address in reply to the speech of His Honour the Lieutenant Governor at the

opening of the session.

The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): The Leader of the Opposition.

Mr. John Tory (Leader of the Opposition): Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I would like to begin, as I did the other day -- and I think it's

appropriate in this debate -- by extending a warm welcome to you, to congratulate you on your election to the Chair, and to extend my best wishes to all of our colleagues in all parties in this

Legislature as we resume this new sitting of Parliament.

I would also like to thank His Honour for graciously opening this new legislative session. As for the content of the throne speech, I will be getting to that

in more detail later, and I will have an amendment to move to the address in reply moved the other day. But we can certainly all agree that His Honour has set an outstanding example for this House

and for Ontario generally, be it as an advocate for aboriginal literacy or be it as someone who is working hard to try to increase public information on mental health issues or a wide range of

other issues. He remains a model of public service that I think we can all learn from.

Ontario remains a place of tremendous opportunity, a blessed place to live, especially when we see it against the backdrop of the trials and the tragedies that

have happened elsewhere. Again, I would take a minute, as I did the other day, and join the leaders of the other parties in extending our condolences to the people in South Asian communities who

have been the victims of the most recent tragedy we've seen this year, the earthquake that befell India, Pakistan,